Heidi opened her fridge and frowned. She was out of milk again. “Damn, forgot to stop by the store.” She grabbed her keys on the counter and headed out her front door, locking it behind her. She would just walk over to the corner store real quick, but she couldn’t finish the mashed potatoes without milk.

It was a nice Oregon evening. It was one of those nights when the sun didn’t want to leave the sky, the orange orb lingering on the horizon. She could hear the sounds of birds twittering in the trees, and the children playing in the streets before their mothers called them in for dinner. She smiled as she crossed the street and entered the park.

A little market was on the other side of the park. The path she had to take wandered in between the Evergreen trees, causing shadows to spill all around, blotting out the sun. She quickened her step as she rounded the curve that took her deeper into the shadows. Her head was down, so she didn’t see the figure standing in her way, blocking the path, until she was almost upon him.

“Oh.” She looked up and froze. Words left her mouth. The figure, a man, stood intentionally in her way. His arms were crossed, and his feet stood shoulder length apart. But it was the look on his face that chilled her to the bone. His skin was deathly pale, his eyes shown red, and he wore a feral expression on his face. “Hello.” He smirked, and his fangs came out, glistening with saliva. He licked his lips as he gave her an appreciative look.

Heidi held her hands up in protest, taking several steps backwards on the path without taking her eyes from the vampire in front of her. For that is what he must be, a vampire. Direct sunlight could not penetrate into these woods, especially in early evening. There was no where she could run, because as she increased her backward progression, he just smiled wider and leapt upon her. He silenced her scream as his fangs punctured her jugular, her blood spurting out to cover the ground.

The vampire drank deeply until Heidi was almost drained, only pulling back at the last moment. He looked deeply into her eyes, which were now hazy at best. “Bosses orders,” he said. Then he took one of his long fingernails and scraped open his other wrist. His blood, dark and thick, began to pool at the slice, and he pressed Heidi’s mouth to the wound. She couldn’t protest nor fight, because she was already dead for all intent purposes. But instinct took over and she began to drink with profoundness, and glee. Pleasure coursed through both their bodies as the demon took over.

Heidi was turned.

Once the deed was done, she fell unconscious to the ground. The vampire picked her up with ease, and exited off the path and into the woods.

Allison’s eyes grew huge in her head as she peered around at her surroundings. Teddy’s Bar was what she would imagine that the worst “dive bar” could ever look like. The air was thick with tobacco smoke. She could see it swirling in the air, as a lone ceiling fan turned slowly and with a squeak, in the center of the one room. The stairs had ran directly down into this pit. The floor felt mucky under her shoes, and looked even worse. She thought they had at one time been nice hard wood floors, but too much beer and piss and demon blood and God knows what else had stained it long ago.

The bar itself stood on the far side of the room against the far wall. A few haphazard round tables and chairs littered the rest of the space, and an old fashioned Juke Box sat in one corner. It was currently playing, “I Love Rock and Roll” by Joan Jett. No one seemed interested in the music, however. A few men, who Allison assumed must be vampires, sat at the tables playing cards or just drinking pints of blood. None of them paid her or Spike any mind. They were all lost in their own nightmares, it seemed.

Spike still held her hand, and she was grateful. He pulled her towards the empty bar where the bartender was wiping the bar down with a very dirty towel. Allison grimaced as she noticed it was stained with blood, and she fought back the bile that had flown up her throat.

“I’m here to see Teddy.” Spike said.

The bartender didn’t look up as he nodded. “Yep. He’s back there, in his office.” He had tilted his head to show Spike the way.

“Thanks, mate.” Spike kept his wary eyes on the crowd as he now led Allison to the office door and gave it a quick rap.

“Enter,” a masculine voice said from within.

Spike opened the door and dragged Allison inside. He shut the door quickly behind her. “Teddy.” Spike gave the man a little nod as he turned back towards the little man. “Please, meet Allison. She’s a friend of mine and the reason we are here.”

Allison gave Teddy a small, shy smile. He didn’t look very intimidating, and definitely not worthy of all the respect Spike and the others seemed to give him. She saw the passing resemblance of Willie. Teddy was older, harder, and his hair was greased back. Thin glasses sat perched on his nose, and his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. He kind of reminded Allison of a little mole, with spectacles.

“Nice to meet you.” He didn’t stand up from behind his huge desk, but gestured for the two of them to sit. Spike pulled out one of the hard wooden chairs for Allison and then he sunk into the other one to her left. “So, Spike, what can I do for you?”

Spike proceeded to tell Teddy about the situation with Howard. Did Teddy know anything? Had he heard of Ethan Rayne? Did he know where they could find him? Anything he could provide could help them.

Teddy studied Spike for a moment, rarely even looking at Allison. It made her uncomfortable and she squirmed slightly in the hard chair. “And what of the Slayer?” Teddy asked. He tapped his fingers on the desk as he spoke, punctuating each word with a tap.

Spike frowned. “I’d like to do this on my own. Besides, valuable time is wasting.” Spike had omitted the part about Dawn and her keyness. Why confuse the man? Allison remained mum, trusting in Spike. It was his plan, after all. She was just along for the ride, right?

“Sorry, but I don’t know a thing.” Teddy glanced towards Allison then, giving her a little smile. “Truly sorry, ma’am.”

In a blink of an eye, Spike flew out of his chair and over the desktop, landing practically in Teddy’s lap. All friendliness was gone. “I so was in the mood for some violence. I was hoping you’d play it this way.”

Before Spike could act on his threat, Teddy cried out and waved his hands in the air, “Okay, Okay. Geeze, give me a break would ya?”

“Tell me what you know!” Spike growled, still in Teddy’s face but not quite touching the small man. Yet.

Teddy bent down and grabbed a piece of paper off of his desk and scribbled out a note, handing it to Spike. “Here. Take this. It’s an address. I’m sure that’s where your Ethan is. That’s all I know, really.”

Spike snatched the note and gave it a cursory glance before nodding and folding the note to place in his pocket. He gave Teddy a final glance and then walked back around the desk and held out his hand to Allison. “It better check out, mate, or I’ll be back, and I won’t be happy.” Spike then kicked open the door and hauled Allison out of the office and back up the stairs.

The sun was setting as they got back in the truck and Allison started it up. Spike barely needed the blanket any more, but he kept it close just in case. “Okay, now we are on to something. Didn’t I tell you Teddy would know? Take this road down two blocks and then follow the road to the highway.”

Allison nodded and gunned the engine, peeling the tires off as she headed down the road. “Are you sure he’s trustworthy?”

Spike rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t trust him farther than whelp boy could throw him, but Teddy fears violence more than his brother, and he knows not to mess with me. He wouldn’t steer me wrong.”

Allison negotiated another turn and soon they were cruising down the highway. “Why the game then? And why would he let us in the club if he was scared of you?”

Spike took his arm and placed it up on the head rest, his fingers grazing Allison’s shoulder. It made it more difficult for her to concentrate on the road.

“Teddy and I have an understanding. I help protect him and his assets when needed, and he does me little favors from time to time. It’s best that others not know of our arrangement, however, so…the game.” Spike shrugged. “We’ll go down this highway for about twenty minutes and then turn on the Exit for Charbonneau.” He settled in for the ride. “Course, with your driving, it might take an hour.” He gave her a sideway glance from under his lids, smirking as he knew that would get her goat.

It did. She frowned and gunned the old engine even further, shooting out into the fast lane and leaving all the other cars behind. A slow smile formed on her face. She hadn’t had this much fun since….well, in a long time.

Things were not so fun for Howard, however. His throat was raw from the screaming, so he had finally given up. Now he sat on the cot within his cage, watching the man in the room.

Ethan sat alone at his desk. He had told his minions to start preparing the ritual. Eventually he would get rid of this prisoner, and obtain the true one, Dawn. He smiled as he thought of the little girl. She had so much power, and didn’t even know it. He was lost in these thoughts when the door flew open and Miles entered the room with Heidi in his arms.

“Ah, you made it. Great. Just set her down over there.” Ethan jumped up and hurried over to fluff some pillows underneath Heidi’s prone form on the leather couch. “Any problems?”

“None. Piece of cake, boss.”

“Excellent.” Ethan dug around in his pockets and pulled out his wallet, handing the vampire a hundred dollar bill as well as a charm. “Payment, as promised.” Miles smiled and took his loot and then hastily left the room.

Ethan didn’t pay the vampire any attention once payment was rendered. He sank to his knees by the couch and studied Heidi. She was pale, and there was dried blood coating her lips, as well as around the punctured marks on her neck. “So beautiful,” he whispered, taking a finger and caressing her cheek softly.

Howard watched in silence, a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach. Yet he couldn’t take his eyes away from the spectacle.

Ethan shrugged out of his jacket to get more comfortable. It was hot in the room, and a thin sheen of sweat coated his brow. Heidi’s skin, on the other hand, was so cold. It chilled his fingertips as he touched her. He shivered with delight, lowering his hand to cup her breast through her blouse. This was not a time to be distracted, he knew. But he had to have this woman as soon as he had laid eyes on her in that café this morning. It had been so easy. Now that she was turned, once she had awakened in her new demon form, she would be solely under his power and control. Unbeknownst to the vampire, Ethan had cast a spell on Miles. The next victim he turned, in this case it was Heidi, that victim would fall in love with the first man she saw, being his servant in all things until she was turned to dust. Ethan had many plans for Heidi now. Oh yes, he did. His grin widened as he began to unbutton her blouse, and he felt his arousal begin, that exquisite hardening becoming firmer with each button he undid.

Ethan’s breathing began to increase, and he leaned down to run his tongue over the punctures in Heidi’s neck. In his cage, Howard sat transfixed. He was momentarily forgotten by his captor, and he himself forgot that he was captive. All that existed at that moment was the woman lying still on the sofa.

Finally Ethan undid the last button on her blouse, exposing her white stomach. He ran his fingers over the soft flesh there. It was so still and cold, and he was so hot. It was such a contrast. He yearned to feel more. What would that coldness feel like all around him? He ripped the blouse out from underneath her throwing it over his back. It landed mere inches from the door of Howard’s cage.

She was so still. There was no breathing, no gasping, no writhing. Just stillness. She wore a simple cotton white bra, and Ethan took his finger and gently lowered each strap. He bent and kissed her collar bone on each side, as the straps were lowered.

He couldn’t stand it anymore. He got up from the hard floor and climbed up on the sofa, straddling her. His eyes never left her face, willing for her eyes to open. It was time. It had to be time! He ground his hardness into her, and ran his fingers over her skin and arms, before again cupping her breasts. They filled his palms perfectly. They felt exquisite in his hands. He burned for her. “Heidi, come to me, Heidi. Open your eyes, girl. Open your eyes and see me.”

Howard stood and came to the door of his cage. He gripped the bars tightly in his hands, his knuckles turning white. He wanted to help the girl, but he couldn’t. Part of him wanted to join her on the sofa, but he couldn’t. He could do nothing but watch. Howard was riveted.

It was at that moment that the door exploded inwards. Chaos ensued. Spike stood in the doorframe throwing the brown robed minions to the ground. Allison was behind him, a stake in her hand and she was brushing off the dust from her clothes. That was what was left of Miles, after she had plunged the stake into his surprised back.

“What the?” Ethan fell off of the sofa, rolling into the room. Spike swooped down, grabbing him by the collar of his shoes. “Hullo mate, remember me?”

“Should I?” Ethan asked, his voice shaky with fear.

“Howard?” Allison stood stock still in the entryway, her eyes focused on her husband in his enclosed cage. Howard didn’t notice, however. His eyes were locked on Heidi. In the turmoil, as Ethan had rolled off the couch, Heidi’s body had shifted. Her face had turned towards that of the cage, and her eyes slowly opened. Electricity flashed between the two. It was a power unseen, but felt. Howard sank to his knees, his eyes never leaving hers. Heidi’s brow furrowed as she turned into that of the demon, a vampiress. Ethan froze as he saw her. “Oh no, something is wrong with the spell.”

“Spell? What spell?” Spike’s fist stopped in mid-swing as it was headed for Ethan’s jaw.

The love spell intended to enamor Heidi, turning her into Ethan’s love slave, had now been invoked onto Howard. However, the attraction was now mutual. Howard and Heidi were enslaved and bonded together. A smile slowly crept over Howard’s face as his Heidi rose and came towards him. Her fingers reached out and she took hold of the cold steel of the cage door. With one pull she yanked it clean off of it’s hinges. Howard was now free.