Crossing The Line

In Sunnydale there was no better place to get that breakdown on things better than Willy's Alibi Room. Behind the bar, the little man who ran the place ran a strict one rule service, everyone was a customer, money spent the same way, it didn't matter where or who it came from. Vampires, sorcerers, demons, and a few humans with a deathwish spoiling for a fight, or just there to drink and play pool made a typical night at Willy's.

But tonight wasn't a typical night. Rayne entered the rundown building, midly surprised as she noticed there wasn't a demon in sight; the place however was crawling with vampires. She spotted Willy sitting behind the bar, engrossed with a newspaper. He looked up over the top of the paper, spotting her. A ripple of satisfaction ran through her blood as Willy quickly covered his face with the newspaper, trying to act indifferent about her presence.

"Hello Willy," she greeted him, perching on the seat next to him, the newspaper acting as a barrier between her eyes and his. "I see you have quite the full house tonight." she observed, ignoring a few glares from a certain group of vampires off to the far left corner by the pool tables.

Willy said nothing. Rayne found it amusing, Willy trying to act tough with her. His attention on the newspaper did not falter.

"You know eventually your arms will tire Willy, and you're going to have a damn heart attack with me sitting so close." She said. In her mind's eye she could picture herself yanking Willy onto the bar, snapping his head to the side and sinking her fangs into the tender flesh around his throat.

But she couldn't do that anymore, no matter how bad she wanted to. She had made a promise to Dawn, that she would never hurt another human again and she was going to keep that promise. However Dawn never said anything about scaring the shit out of them. And there was something about Willy, besides him being a snitch, a thug, a rat, and a complete loser, that just called out for a good scare.

Had it been a few months earlier, she wouldn't have thought twice about going through with something drastic in order to get what she wanted. However, now, she wasn't so heartless, and she could smell the fear rolling off of Willy in waves. She sighed.

"Listen up here Willy," she started, leaning in closer, "A few months ago I would have just grabbed you by the neck and squeeze until your eyes popped out and rolled on the floor, but I won't do anything to you. I just need a little help with something and I'll be on my way."

A loud crack came from the back of the bar, a new game of pool had commenced, and was followed by the soft, muffled thumping of the balls on the felt bumpers. The vampires that'd been eyeing her when she entered were playing, and keeping a wary eye on her all the same time.

They had good reason to be wary of her, that made them smart. Before she'd met Dawn, she had been making a name for herself in the underground and the nightlife. She ran in illegal street races on some nights, and went out to play with the vamps and demons on others. Her favorite sport, and the game that had gotten her to the top of the undead world was Tom and Jerry, a game where the basic was put into play, cat eats mouse, but in their situation, vampire eats human.

Willy shifted in his seat uncomfortably, trying to be sly and risking a glance at the girl, only to find himself sinking into hazel green eyes, like seawater.

Rayne smiled a true smile, trying to set the shaking bartender at ease. Slowly Willy lowered the paper, a look of resignation in his dulled brown orbs. When he spoke, he did so quietly, barely loud enough to legally be called a whisper. "What do you want?"

Rayne frowned, almost startled by how truly afraid he sounded. "Those boys giving you trouble Willy?" She asked with true concern, "I'll get rid of them for you."

Willy shook his head in a jerking fashion.

"Well, okay then. What I want is information Willy. Have you heard anything about Omega?"

Willy seemed to think about her question, some of his fear giving way to concentration. Rayne waited patiently for his answer, every now and again looking over her shoulder to the group by the pool table. Something about those vampires in the group set them apart from the rest in Willy's. They seemed alert, on the guard, too aware, but at the same time they were trying to cover it.

Willy cleared his throat, "Omega, the vampire. I heard the slayer put him back in the dirt some time ago, what's it got to do with anything now?" he asked her, his curiosity getting the best of him despite knowing that he could die right that second.

"Tell me what you know and I'll give you what I have."

He shrugged nochalantly, "That's all I know, that the slayer killed him and that he was a vampire god, like a hellgod."

The vampire patted Willy's head, giving him a magazine and raising it over his face, "Thanks Willy. If you hear a comotion, just ignore it okay, for your own good just pretend nothing's going on." she advised him, starting towards the pool table where the vampires were gathered.

Ever since she became a vampire, all she could remember that was consistent in her life, was talk of two vampires that seemed to reign supreme above all others. There was Dracula, supposedly the first vampire on earth, a high warrior from the order of the Dragon, set about to conqueor and destroy all enemies of the church. It was said that after his lover killed himself after falling prey to false news, he cursed the church, and therefore was cursed by god himself to forever roam the night, unable to walk amongst rays of light, unable to survive without blood.

Personally she had found the tale of the Romanian knight intriging, but it never really sparked fear in her. Noone was afraid of Dracula, he was more like the big brother vampire, abd everyone respected him.

And then, well then there was Omega, the boogeyman to the vampires, the first ever in all dimensions of creation, the dark prince said to scare satan himself with his cruelty and brutalness. Not much was known about Omega, except that he inspired fear in the hearts of even the darkest demons and monsters.

Tonight, there was a reason why most of the vampire population was gathered inside of Willy's, and she was going to find out why.

The vampire leaning over the table about to take a shot was the first to notice her presence, he began to straighten out. The three vampires that were paying attention picked up on the sudden intrusion and grinned at her.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Rayne," said the vampire with the cue, his attention focused pointedly on her, the game forgotten. He was the largest of the immediate three, with saggy leather pants, a faded denium jacket, and shades. The other two wore almost identical outfits except for a few minor differences, mainly the glasses and the material of the jackets.

"Are you here to play with us?" The one on the left wearing a white leather jacket asked her, seeming greatly interested, almost too eager.

Rayne rolled her eyes, pulling her jacket closer around her shoulders, vampire, demons, or humans, all males were the same. Reaching out, she chose a cue stick, testing out a few in her hand, check their weight and reach before deciding on a black one with a cheery red tip. Jutting her chin out at them, she smirked, feeling her fangs tickle her chin.

"I'm not much for games right now boys, but I'll play anyway, but under one condition."

The vampires were already lining around the table, getting ready for a good time. The one who'd spoken first stared at her intently. "What's that girl?"

"I need to know what you've heard about Omega." She went straight to the point, not attempting to sugarcoat, it would seem suspicious. Bending over the table, she stretched on her left leg, bringing in the right and positioning her cue. Taking a second to aim carefully, she gave the stick a little shove. It hit the white ball, knocking it into the lined up 12, 7, and 3 and into the hole.

"Nice." The two followers gave each other high fives, uninterested in their conversation.

"Where exactly have you been Rayne?"

"What do you care David?"

David shrugged, clearly he didn't, but he was surprised that she wasn't up to date on the happenings lately. "I couldn't care less to tell you the truth." he leaned on his cue stick, looking Rayne dead in the eyes. "Word is Omega is here to finish off the slayer and her little possie, when he's done with that, he's reopening the hellmouth."

Rayne tried to hide her surprise, so it was true. "And he exactly is he planning on doing that? The slayers destroyed it remember?" She could at least confirm that Omega was indeed back, but she needed more information.

"One of the slayers had a friend, a witch. This witch is very powerful. Omega's followers plan on kidnapping the slayer and holding her hostage until thw witch escavates the seal, after that it really doesn't matter, all Omega will have to do is kill the slayer over the seal and ta-dah, the hellmouth is open."

Rayne fought down the urge to smack the smile off of David's face, but once again held back. Starting a fight with him would only make her look bad, and she would feel bad for staking him with a pool stick.

"You know," David started, but cutting off as a hand slapped across his shoulder. Jumping free, he swirled around, the cue stick n his grip postioned to be used as a weapon. The man smirked at him, clearly pleased with the reaction he'd ignited. After the initial shock, David's vamped out face returned to normal, recognizing the man. "Angelus?"

"The one and only," he snickered, licking fresh blood from his lips.

David dropped the cue, reaching out and slapping hands with the vampire, laughing obnoxiously. "Angelus, buddy, long time no see man! What the hell are you doing here?" he shouted over at Willy to get him two warm ones.

Angelus smiled sweetly, but his eyes were feral, even more so than normal. "Me? Well, just decided to hit up good ol Sunnydale, maybe finish off what I started with that damned slayer."

"You mean Bufy?" Rayne offered, still acting her part, trying to hide the fact that suddenly she was wishing it was daylight outside of the bar.

"That one too, but no," Angelus took his fresh blood, taking a hearty sip before continuing, "Faith. The dark slayer, the one that actually gives me a run for my money."

Rayne wasn't sure, but he sounded exhilarated. So she's obtained all the juicy details, now it was time for her to split and make a mad dash for Buffy's place. Five in the morning was fairly early, but they would thank her for it later, after the avoided the end of the world. Setting her cue down, she buttoned up her jacket, slipping her hands into her pockets just to feel the smooth wood of the stake tucked in securely.

"I'm ganna head out David, I have some things to do, people to eat, all that good stuff."

David waved at her, returning to the game, but Angelus took another sip, waited until she was close to the door before peeking up and shouting loud enough for the bar to hear, "Say hello to the slayer's sister for me, and tell Buffy I said hi."

Rayne froze, feeling her blood suddenly go cold in her veins. The entire bar became silent, nothing but the sound of Angelus' taunting chortle from behind her. She took in a deep breath, then slowly turned to face him, a fake smile in place. "What did you say?"

"Well that's were you're going aren't you? Come on girl, I can smell her all over you, practically taste her on you."

By now the other vampires' facial features had changed, had morphed into the viscious animalistic like features she would never have, despite being a vamp herself. It was now Angelus decided to stand and start circling around her like a tiger stalking its prey.

"You know, a seer told me you would try a stunt like this. That you'd try and stick your nose where it doesn't belong. David over here told you everything because frankly, I told him you wouldn't be getting out of here alive tonight. Not with all these vampires here. Why do you think there were no demons tonight? You should have listened to Willy there." He chuckled, his fangs gleaming in the dim light.

"You're forgetting one thing." Rayne announced, her muscles tensing to the point where she might have resembled a spring.

"Oh yeah," another vampire from beside her took a shot at her leg. She jumped over it, snapping her foot out and catching his jaw, making him fall back with his neck broken. Another quickly took his place, a knife's glint catching her attention.

"You guys missed a key piece of the puzzle," craning her neck, she saw the door still open, if she could get outside there was no doubt in her mind that she could outrun them all, "the part where I bolt!" She shouted, making a mad dash for the exit. She could hear all the distubance behind her as all the vampires started pushing into each other and what not in their haste to catch her.

Leaping over the rail, she felt a renewed burst of speed as she slammed the door shut behind her, placing a board across the handle. It wouldn't hold for long, in fact she'd be astonished if it held long enough for her to make it ten feet from the door. But none the less, a head start was a head start. No second guessing was required as she sprinted across the parking lot and scaled up the fence, her feet hitting the concrete on the other side just as she heard the door burst open.

She was ahead of them by at least fifteen yards, but that wouldn't do much help after the got across the fence. Pushing herself even harder, she willed herself to make it back to Buffy's house, to make it back to Dawn.

She'd never really noticed just how dark Sunnydale was after dark, but, as buildings and trees flashed around her, merging together into one big black blur, she saw just how scary it could be in Sunnydale, in the dark.