New Beginnings

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Chapter 5
The Party

Upon reaching the mansion, Julian grabbed Buffy and rushed her into the house and to his room. Throughout the drive, he felt that she had been constantly teasing him just by her presence, winding him up. He could not take it anymore. He felt like a beast that needed to be sated.


Buffy couldn’t remember the last few moments at the club. But what she remembered was, as they reached Julian’s car, they were all over each other. All she had felt was Julian’s hands on her bare skin. The hard strength of his thigh as she sat on it, the feel of his hands under her top, as they made teasing circles on her nipples. And most of all she remembered how he cupped her through her leather pants. How she felt like she was boiling. She had pleaded with Julian to take her, but he had given her biting little kisses to soothe her.


She didn’t remember how they had gotten out of the car. All her senses were alive and washed with his scent, a mixture of pine and musk. Buffy did not remember how she had ended with Julian in his bedroom with his thumb and forefinger teasing her nipples through the fabric of her top.


She gasped, arching into him, as his heated mouth warmed her through the cloth. He pushed her shirt up to expose her bare breasts. Her breasts were not large, but a handful with peach colored nipples.


“Mmm, peaches,” Julian, murmured. “I am wondering if they taste like them too,” he said, bending his head to take a nipple into his mouth.


Buffy moaned and squirmed into his lap, as her butt caressed his penis. Suddenly the strangeness of the situation she was in came to her. “Oh God, what I am doing?” she said, panicking. She hurriedly got off his lap. “This is wrong,” she said backing away and rushed from the room. Oh mi god, I am under some sort of spell. What is the matter with me? He is a vampire, no Kindred. What’s the dif? Here I am almost given Julian the happy, by almost going groiny. Haven’t I learned from the debacle with Angel? I guess I haven’t.


Inside the room, Julian took a deep breath trying to calm his heated body. Everything was going out of control. What just happened? He had not felt this alive since Caitlin. He didn’t know if he should risk his heart again.


Buffy stood shaking, behind closed doors. She felt cold. She wrapped her arms around her naked waist, trying to get warm. Her thoughts were in turmoil. Touching Julian felt so right, but it was wrong. Bad Buffy. He seemed so different. He was smart, well educated, sophisticated, plus he treated her like a queen. Tears formed in her eyes. For the first in many months, years, a part of her she had thought dead was alive. He was making her feel. She was so scared, she hadn’t felt that way since Angel. She didn’t want to feel anything. She liked her life the way it was.


Twelve years had past since she had left Sunnydale. What a misnomer, if she had every heard one. Sunnyhell was more like it. She went to Sunnydale at age 15 when her parents divorced. Brand new start, said her mother. Yeah right. Her mother never told her that this picturesque little town was the mouth of hell. Literally. She had survived, just barely. She remembered the last time she was in Sunnydale. She remembered it all, the pain and sorrow, how scared she was to be battling Angelus.


****Flashback****


It was just another day in Sunnydale, when Buffy woke up earlier that day. If she had known, it would turn out like this, would she have continued to be the slayer or would she have runaway from her destiny. She didn’t know. She sat on the bus, tears falling one by one like raindrops down her cheek. She made no effort to hide the pain; someone so young shouldn’t have to suffer like that: Being expelled from school, Kendra dead, Willow in the hospital and Giles tortured by Angelus. He probably won’t forgive her. To top that off, her mom had kicked her out of the house. She knew at the moment when the sword had struck Angel, not Angelus, she had lost everything, Giles, her friends and her mother. She had nothing left. She was lost. She thought closing out the world would help. Emotions, who need them? No matter how hard she raged, at the fates, at who ever, a coldness seemed to be growing bigger and bigger inside her. She was feeling slightly desperate, trying to stop the awful darkness from surrounding her. She worked jobs just to survive, but she couldn’t help but answer to her calling. The Slayer part of her would not give up. Then one day, Lily reentered her life. Lily was once a young idealistic girl who had thought it would be cool to become a vampire, but after seeing what she would become, her eyes had opened quickly.


After saving Lily, Buffy had a purpose. She could no longer hide what she was, the Slayer. After three months in Los Angeles, she was ready to go home. What she didn’t know was, while helping Lily, ten years had passed...


Buffy was floundering, in pain, lacking direction. She stayed in Los Angeles for a while, but she didn’t have a job or an apartment anymore. She couldn’t face the emptiness that was her life. Yes, she slayed vampires and demons, but her heart wasn’t in it. ‘Did she try to kill her self?’ She didn’t know.


What she remembered of that day was a blur. After what had happened, L.A. was not the place for her. What if she met someone she had known? What could she say, “I was in a hell dimension. Ten years have passed and yes, I am older, but I look young enough to be my own daughter?” She wandered the state for a while, until she found herself in San Francisco, working in a supermarket. She had been there for several months, when the boss came on to her. After repeatedly telling him not to bother her, he ignored her warnings, so she decided to show him. Maybe she shouldn’t have used so much force, but after dealing with demons with the strength of ten men, she had over estimated her own strength. And broken his arm. He fired her after that. She could have fought for her job, but it was time to move on. She was driving out of town in this beat up Volkswagen bug, when it suddenly lost control. No one had seen her when her car had gone over the bridge. She was in the water almost a day.


***End Flashback***


Buffy shivered, remembering the coldness. How she had prayed for rescue. She had once again lost everything. Julian had made her feel something more than lust. It was like a fire slowly burning her from the inside, she was no longer cold. Did she want to be consumed by that fire or did she want to continue to be numbed by the cold? That was the question.


***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***


Days pass, and Julian was avoiding Buffy, but that was okay, because she was avoiding him too. Earlier that morning, he had put a note under her door inviting her to a dinner party, which held later in the day.


Buffy was dressed to kill. Her body flowed seductively beneath a black satin dress. Her smooth shoulders held up by thin spaghetti straps and on her feet were matching heels made out the same material as her dress. With her golden hair loosed on her shoulders, she was a remarkable sight. The lights on the chandelier reflected the warm honey on her skin, bringing a glow around her.


She walked nervously into the living room. It was a large room with multi windows with dark heavy drapes that hid sun treated glass. The room was furnished with large plush chairs decorated in burgundy. This would be the first time she saw Julian since the incident. She blushed, remembering what she did to him and what he did her. The incident, which was what she decided to, called it. She did not want to dwell on it. Everyone was at the party, including Daedalus, who watched the slayer like a wary chicken watches a hawk.


“Hello,” said Buffy to the room at large. Her slayer senses were alive. Her eyes darted around the room, to search out any possible exits and weapons. This was the first time she has been in a room with so many vampires and she was not dusting them. She shook her head, smiling slightly over the irony. She saw Julian across the room, but she didn’t want to deal with him at that moment, so she walked to the opposite side.


“Lissa,” Sasha called. “Over here. I would like you to meet some friends of mine.” Sasha Luna was a beautiful girl with long curly red hair, a heart shape face and large, almond shaped, green eyes. Although Sasha called Julian uncle, she was really, Julian’s great, great grandchild.


Surrounding Sasha was a group of young Gangrel and Brujah. Next to her, keeping watch as always was, Cash. When Cash and Sasha had met, there was an immediate attraction. They liked the same things… but Sasha was Julian’s relative and to mess with the Boss’s relative was to dig your own grave. So they danced around each other for months, not admitting their feelings for each other. After finally deciding to admit how he felt, Cash’s rival clan, the Brujah, made Sasha his enemy by embracing Sasha. They were now in a struggle, each fighting to overcome a century of hatred because of the blood in their veins.


Buffy walked over to meet Sasha and Cash’s friends. For a moment, she had felt out place. It was like starting high school all over again, trying to fit in, trying to find the right clique. But, Sasha and Cash made her feel right at home. She did notice the lack of warmth she felt from the Kindred, but that was fine with her. She still had not gotten used to being friends with vampires.


Across the other side of room, Julian took a wine glass from a nearby table. He held it in his hands and called the room to order. Everyone turned towards him. “We are here for this auspicious occasion. Welcoming old friends,” nodding to the Brujah Clan. “And new friends,” he said nodding towards Buffy.


She smiled.


“Because of this special occasion, I have opened a couple of my prized wines. These wines were one of the first that my family had brewed. Therefore, let’s drink to this happy occasion. Cheers,” Julian said, drinking.


Everyone followed suit, by taking a sip.


It took a few minutes before the poison took affect. The wine glass dropped out of his hand and landed on the carpeted floor.


Julian fell to the floor and went into convulsions.


The first person to reach him was Cameron.


Cash was teasing Sasha, when he saw Julian had fallen. Thinking that Cameron had something to do it, he shouted at him. “Get away from him!” he said running to his boss’s side.


“What is it?” Buffy screamed, also rushing to Julian side, forgetting in that moment, that she was avoiding him.


Julian continued to convulse.


“Julian!” cried Lillie, her anger at him forgotten as she too rushed to his side.

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***


Buffy’s POV


After finding that note under my door this morning inviting me to attend this party, I was a little bit apprehensive in seeing Julian again, after I had run from him. I wanted to look great, not only for myself, but for him too. I choose this great dress, that Sasha talked me into buying. With the way I was feeling right now, it was perfect.

My nerves vibrated under my skin as I stepped into the living room. I could feel the blood pumping in my veins. Vampires! Oh God, I was surrounded. My first instinct was to stand and fight and my second were to flee. Then I noticed Daedalus was watching me. I know Julian told me he was okay, but he makes me nervous. He looked so much like the demons I had fought in Sunnydale. Who am I to judge a person on the way they looked. Then I saw him. Julian Luna. Oh my God, there he is. He looked great. He looked all 007. All that yummy goodness wrapped in such a wonderful package, I could eat him up with a spoon. Mmm mmm. Then I remember that I was avoiding him.


Across the other side of the room, Sasha was trying to get my attention. I made a detour and went over to where she was. Cash, as always was by her side. He reminded me of Oz and the way he was with Willow. Protective. A brief cloud of grief seemed to pierce me for a moment, but I shook it off. This was a party. With a forced smile, I went up to Sasha and Cash. They introduced me to their friends. If I hadn’t heard about the Gangrel and Brujah history, this brief introduction would have clued me in. They were acting like children. I wanted to knock some heads together, but before I could do that, Julian called the room to attention.


Julian’s speech was about the wine and about people getting together, but I tuned him out. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Someone handed me a glass of wine but I put it down. When I left Sunnydale, I was 17 and although twelve years as passed since then, I have never gotten into the habit of drinking alcohol. I looked across the room, Julian nodded at me, so I smiled back at him. Then he collapsed. I don’t know when I reached him, I seem to have flown. He was having a fit. I tried holding him down, but he was strong. Someone told me to get out the way, but I did not listen, couldn’t. If I can save him, I will.


“What’s wrong with him?” I asked, but no one seems have the answer. I don’t want to lose him when he just came into my life. I held him, praying to the Powers That Be, to save him. Not to let him die.


“Please don’t die,” I whisper, hugging my arms across my waist for comfort, watching him struggle to breathe.


***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***


Lillie POV


I was talking to Julian, when she walked into the room. How did I know? Because he had stopped listening to me. We were having a conversation and in the middle of it, his attention wandered. How would you feel when you have a gorgeous man and he had stopped paying attention to you? I’ll tell you. You would feel like a second-class citizen that’s who. What does she have that I don’t have, I kept asking my self. We are both women. I am tall with red hair and beautiful white skin. She is short and looked like a child. How old is she? Nineteen. She is a child compared to me. I have lived. When she’s gone, who will be there to pick up the pieces? Me. I knew he was ready, since he had stopped seeing Caitlin Byrne. My first instinct was to push, but I decided to give him time. Time to grieve for Archon and for her. But do you see what time does? It messes up everything.


There she is pushing herself onto him. But I will admit she looked great. I knew something had happened between those two. They seemed to be avoiding each other. Julian looked disappointed when she did not come over to greet him. At least I had him to myself for a few moments more.


After Julian gave this wonderful speech about welcoming new friends and old, he collapsed. Then the upstart Lissa Winters came over and wanted to help. Who does she think she is? She is a human. She was in the way. And Cash and Daedalus couldn’t help Julian if she was in way, could they? So I told her to get out the way. He means so much to me, I don’t want to lose him.


***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***


Julian POV


I felt her gaze on me when she walked into the room, the electric heat arching between us. She looked wonderful. That was the first thing I thought, when she walked into the room. Lillie was going on and on about something or the other. However, I was keeping an eye on Cameron and his Brujah. I did not put it past them to start something. I had decided to have this party, to have bygones be bygones. I still do not trust the Brujah. However, if I wanted to have peace in my city, I have to show a little bit of faith.


I saw Buffy walked over to a group of young Gangrels and Brujah. I thought I saw a shadow pass over her face. But I guess I was wrong because in the next moment she was smiling. She and I had some unfinished business to attend to. For the last two days, I had given her some space. But not anymore, we were going to have it out finally. She was trying to put up barriers up between us. She’s mine and the sooner she knows it the better. I decided to put my speech forward. I did a little bit of song and dance, trying to get it over. I had opened a bottle of my favorite wine, but it must have gone sour, because it tasted like vinegar.


Suddenly I could not breathe. My tongue felt swollen. My brain fuzzy. I could not help my self. I was having a seizure. Distant in the background, I heard Cameron and Cash arguing. Daedalus asked me where it hurts. But I couldn’t talk. Buffy, I called out, but it was only in my mind. I couldn’t get my mouth to open. Buffy, where are you? Ha there she is, I thought, smelling her distinctive perfume. That was wholly Buffy, vanilla. There was a flash of bright light, then darkness.