Author: Kay Tee maybeshedoes@yahoo.com
Distribution: Take it, but tell me where so I can visit.
Rated: R, for twisted sexual situations, references to last story, and severe depression
Category: Series
Feedback: Please please please
Original Character Warning
Spoilers: BBB
Disclaimer: In my dreams I'm Joss, but during the day I have to face the cold hard truth-- I'm a hack who steals characters. But I'm not giving them back! Or I am, just don't sue me, all I have are speeding tickets and student loans.
Summary: Spike can't take care of Druscilla all by himself, so he gets himself a slave to help. Eve realizes her lust for Xander. As does Druscilla. And Buffy. And, well, everybody else.
***
Eve glanced distractedly at the necklace Spike was showing her.
"It's nice," she said insincerely, not pausing in her ministrations as she massaged Spike's leg.
The vampire looked at the necklace and scowled. "You think Dru will like it?" He asked.
"Sure." Eve shrugged, dropping Spike's left leg and picking up his right.
Spike frowned. "Could have got something better. Don"t know why you insist on staying in this dreary attic all day long." He glanced around with distaste. "We could have gone to get something really special, like last year, but instead I had to take a sodding minion... I can't wait to get out of this effin' wheelchair. How much more time?"
Eve sighed. "I don't know how much longer, Spike. You're making steady progress-"
"I'm twitching my toes," Spike interrupted. "That's not the kind of progress I'm interested in."
Eve glared at her former master. "You're moving voluntarily. That's huge." She dropped his leg unceremoniously and stood. "I'm tired."
Spike sighed with impatience. "Right then, I'm off." He wheeled himself to the door and turned back to the slave. "Eve, you can't stay locked in this attic for the rest of your very short life. You'll be worse than Dru before too long."
Without looking at Spike, Eve answered, "I could barely even move for most of this week, and you what-- want me to go for a stroll?"
Her sarcasm was the last straw for Spike, and he rolled away in a huff.
If Eve wanted to self-destruct, let her. Of course, he had to keep her safe and healthy at least until he was safe and healthy...
Spike shook his head, wishing he knew more about humans.
***
Valentine's Day.
Eve remembered that her mistress had wanted to look particularly special for Spike a year ago. Eve had spent hours doing Druscilla's hair and make-up before the vampiress was satisfied.
This year, Druscilla had asked Eve to give her a manicure-- as a gift for Angelus.
The slave was using a nail file to sharpen the edge of each nail until they were 'like razors on my fingertips, the better to tickle you with.'
"Druscilla," Eve said tentatively, "I'm sure Angelus will be so... pleased with this lovely Valentine's Day gift."
"Hmhm," Druscilla giggled manically.
"But, umm," Eve continued, "what are you going to do for Spike?"
"Hmm?" Druscilla barely responded.
Eve sighed. The blond vampire was not going to be too happy about Dru's present. The vampiress had barely paid attention to her mate since Angelus's return, and Spike was becoming rather petulant about it.
"Oh, Dru, maybe you could, I don't know, bring Spike someone. You know, for Valentine's Day." Eve hoped her mistress would agree. Spike truly hated bagged blood, but he couldn't really hunt from a wheelchair. If Druscilla would hunt for him...
"My Spike isn't eating properly," Druscilla pouted. She leaned in towards Eve until their foreheads touched. "You'll feed him, won't you?"
Eve hesitated. "Druscilla, I think Spike would really like it if you fed him, don't you?"
The vampiress's only response was to slump back in her chair, jarring her hand out of Eve's grip. After a long moment of smiling at the ceiling, Druscilla gave her hand back to Eve and commented, "Angelus is going to love his present."
She tilted her head and frowned at the slave. "What are you going to get for your love?" She asked.
Eve met Druscilla's eyes in confusion. "I-- I have no love."
"Silly girl," Druscilla scolded, "you are full of love, it keeps you in our precious family. And only love, love, kitten-love will take you away."
"Oh," Eve answered. She never understood a word Druscilla said when she was 'seeing things;' only Spike could regularly understand the mad vampiress's prophesies. And Eve had learned that it was always best to just humor Druscilla whenever possible.
She continued to sharpen her mistress's nails, comforted by the familiarity of it. Eve had groomed Druscilla regularly for the last two and a half (almost three now) years. The slave's world had been upended since Angelus had moved into the factory. Her life had all but shut down, shrinking to the confines of her little room in the attic. But Druscilla's nails still needed to be shaped and painted into a perfect french manicure once a week. It was comforting to Eve that one thing was still unchanged, and she clung to the motion of the file against the nail, creating perfect talons for Druscilla before she was done.
***
Two days after Valentines, and Spike was still ranting about Angelus and Druscilla.
The vampire was literally frothing about the mouth at this point, and Eve was beginning to wish he would just go downstairs and leave her alone.
Sure, unsolicited company was nice, but this, this was pathetic.
One good thing had come from Spike's anger: in a whirl of fury he had leapt out of his chair, standing on his own two feet for a moment before he realized what he was doing and promptly fell down.
Eve had helped him back into his chair, joking that he should be betrayed by his one true love more often.
Of course, she quickly took her words back when Spike's fist lunged for her throat.
He had been a little subdued after that, watching with trepidation as Eve's throat began to color, turning a dark purple despite the cool blood-bag she held against it. They both knew that Angelus would not react well when he saw the mark.
On the plus side, the older vampire had been so busy 'romancing' Druscilla and plotting Buffy's hideous Valentine's Day Disaster that he hadn't come to visit Eve in a while.
And now Spike's ranting had faded to the back of Eve's mind. She was genuinely concerned for his welfare, but she couldn't stop thinking about the boy she had often seen in the library at the local high school. The boy who had followed her into a demon bar one night ages ago. The boy she'd once shot with a crossbow. The slayer's friend: Xander.
***
Xander was wandering along the back alleys near the Bronze, doing his best to avoid woman-kind in general.
He was really spooked by finding Willow in his bed, and even though he knew he wasn't really safe in those unlit, far-from-anyone-who-would-care-if-they-heard-him-scream alleys, he was afraid to go anywhere he normally went to be alone. Willow knew all his secret hiding spots; Jesse's old tree house, the roof of his favorite bakery, the Rosenburg's kitchen.
He sighed, and slumped against a wall that was slightly less grimy than most. He knew it was bad when even he was astounded by his ability to screw up.
"Xander?" A surprised female voice asked.
He looked up sharply and snorted in self-disgust. "Eve. Of course. The one night I'm not looking for you..."
"Xander," Eve took a step closer, and was hurt when she saw the boy she loved back away. "What are you doing around here? Do you *know* how many vampires there are in this area?"
Xander shook his head as his eyes darted about, searching for a quick escape, but Eve had him cornered.
Eve took a bold step forward. "You know, I haven't been outside in forever, but I just... I needed to see you. And here you are, practically right outside my door. Kismet."
She stopped right in front of the dark haired boy.
"Xander?" She questioned when he closed his eyes tightly. "Xander, speak to me, please. I just need to hear your voice-"
"Look," Xander interrupted, "you're under a spell. I did this stupid love spell, and now every woman in town wants me, but it's not real. You don't really want me." He watched confusion pass across Eve's face, quickly followed by denial and then wide-eyed realization.
"You're right," Eve whispered, not stepping back to allow Xander any personal space at all. "I've never loved anybody like I love you right now," she murmured against his lips.
Before Xander could voice another protest, Eve was kissing him, slipping her tongue into his mouth to stroke against his soft palate.
Xander moaned even as his hands came up to push the slave away. Eve was a really good kisser, but then, she had been taught by a couple of century-old vampires, so of course...
Suddenly, Xander's mind snagged on something: what if those century old vampires found out what he was doing with their pet? This time Xander really pushed at Eve, but instead of moving away, she moved down, trailing tiny biting kisses along his neck and collarbone, tracing his adam's apple with her tongue.
"Uh, Eve? Um, do you really think you should be-- You know. Won't Angel and Spike be pissed?" He was still trying to push the girl away, but his efforts were getting more half-hearted as Eve really got into what she was doing.
"Hmm?" Eve murmured against Xander's chest as she began unbuttoning his shirt.
Xander stared down in disbelief as he realized where the girl was headed. He really wanted to let her keep moving down, keep touching him, but all he could think was how horrible she'd feel when the spell wore off, how wrong this whole encounter was.
"Eve. Eve, stop."
On her knees before him, the slave girl looked up and blinked at Xander with wide innocent eyes. "Stop? I just want to please you. Tell me, tell me what you want," Eve pleaded, nuzzling her face right into Xander's crotch.
"I want you to stand up," he squeaked, not meaning a word of it.
Eve stood, smiling at him softly, the desire to do just what he said-- the instinct to obey-- so clear on her face. Xander had a flash of Eve from Angel or Spike's perspective, and was ashamed that the thought was more erotic than disgusting to him, though there was a good amount of revulsion in there too.
"Listen, Eve," Xander said patiently, inching towards the mouth of the alley. "I've read all about this vampire/human slavery stuff. Angelus would probably kill us both if he was here right now."
Both humans stiffened and searched the deep shadows of the alley for signs of the vampire. When he didn't appear, Xander continued, "I just don't want my spell to get you killed, okay?"
Eve frowned, but nodded. "You're right. Angelus would kill me. And you." She sighed, running her hand through her hair and tilting her head back to look at the sky. She smiled softly again, beaming at Xander. "I'm outside. I forgot how... just nice it is out here."
Xander hesitantly returned her smile. "Yeah, get a whiff of that alley-on-a-hellmouth-air. Wow, I bet you really missed this."
Eve laughed just a little too flirtatiously. "I did." She met Xander's eyes and said in seriousness, "Maybe what I'm feeling is just from a spell, but it's more real than anything I've ever experienced before. It got me out of that warehouse. Thank you."
"You're not gonna try and kiss me again, are you?" Xander asked.
Eve sniffed, "No, as long as Angelus claims me, we can never be together. But I'll always love you, Xander."
"Riiight. Well, I'll be going now." Xander strode quickly out of the alley, but turned at the last minute to add, "Eve, when this spell is over, we really need to talk. About that whole Angelus claiming you thing."
"The claim is unbreakable-"
"Yeah, I know, unless he dies. But we can help you. Willow and me, we're gonna get you help. Just... come to the library when you're not in love with me anymore."
"I'll never not be in love with... Xander?" Eve was startled and impressed by how quickly Xander ran away from her. She sighed.
Looking around, she decided not to return to the warehouse right away. She didn't have permission to leave, but since she was out anyway...
She pointed herself toward the nearby docks and resolved to sneak a visit to Xander the next day.
***
"You smell like freedom," Druscilla whispered in the sleeping girl's ear the next night.
Eve shot bolt upright and almost leapt a foot out of her bed when she saw her mistress. Druscilla used to wake the slave this way all the time, but that was before Sunnydale, and Eve was no longer adjusted to being woken by the stealthy vampiress.
"Dru," Eve shook the sleep off. "What's up? I mean..."
"Let's go see Kitten," Druscilla said, already pulling Eve out the door and down the hall to the lift.
"Who?" Eve asked, though she didn't really care what the answer was. Her mind was already on her love, who she had hoped to visit that evening.
"Ooo, so precious, I could just eat him all up." Druscilla flashed a toothy grin at the slave as they headed through the main part of the warehouse to the exit.
"Dru, what are you doing?" Spike was suddenly in their path, his worried gaze on Eve, whose hand was still being clutched by the vampiress.
"We're going for a walk," Druscilla answered simply. "Want to come?"
Spike scowled for a moment, and then asked Eve directly, "You okay?"
"I'm fine, Spike."
Eve's smile was grateful, and Spike had always hated seeing her like that, so he just snorted softly and rolled away, calling over his shoulder, "Since you're going out again, might want to pick up some supplies. You're getting a bit low."
Eve didn't have time to answer as Druscilla practically dragged her into the open air of the night.
***
Angelus stepped back into the shadows after Druscilla took Xander away. The vampire shook his head at Dru's madness, and turned to see...
"Eve? What are you doing out?" He was too shocked to be angry. The girl had refused to leave her room in so long, he had been sure that she was broken, and had all but forgotten her.
"I- I'm with Druscilla," Eve said, distracted by the sight of her mistress about to turn her true love.
At that moment a mob of women swarmed onto the Summers' lawn, overpowering Druscilla and allowing Xander to run to relative safety inside the house.
"What the hell is going on here?" Angelus demanded.
"Xander did a spell to make every woman in town fall in love with him," Eve sighed, wishing she could cut through the mob and have the boy herself.
"And you?" Angelus asked. "Why aren't you running in there with the rest of those lunatics?"
Eve shrugged sadly. "I guess... I'm used to not getting what I want."
Angelus rolled his eyes and followed Druscilla to the rear of the house. "Go back to the warehouse," he commanded Eve, "and wait for me there."
Eve complied, heading home by way of a few local gardens and Willie's, where she had to buy Spike's blood on credit.
She lay down on her cot and waited for Angelus to arrive and punish her for her latest crime.
***
Angelus sauntered into Eve's bedroom, ready to berate and beat her, but he changed his mind at the sight before him.
Eve had her back to the door and her face buried in a pillow. She was sobbing quietly.
Angelus frowned, but an indulgent smile soon spread across his face. "Beautiful... I have nothing to add." He turned and left, shutting the door behind him.
Eve stilled for a moment at the sound of her master's voice. She quickly collected herself and rolled over to face the door, but found her room empty.
She heaved a watery sigh and decided she needed to take a shower.
Eve hadn't felt her love for Xander flash out of existence, but while she waited for her master, she had thought of the boy, hoping to comfort herself. After a moment's confusion, she realized that his spell must have been broken, and the love that had felt so real was just... dead. Gone.
In the shower, Eve's body began to tremble as she held the tears in. She felt stupid crying. She felt stupid remembering her encounter with Xander in the alley. But mostly, she felt like crying over love lost, and that just made her feel stupid all over again.