Dark Soul

Almost two weeks had gone by and still there was no sign of Puppy. Xander searched the streets, paid off the local demon population, anything for a information that would lead him to Puppy. But every time he thought he had come close to finding the vampire there was always another dead end, another obstacle in the way, and another clueless demon who didn't know a damn thing that could help.

The thought had briefly crossed his mind that Puppy might have been killed, that this life had become too much for him and the vampire had done something which Xander himself could not do – take his own life.

But deep down he knew that wasn't the case. There was a feeling, a bond, in which he could feel Puppy's energy, perhaps even his soul. From where this feeling came he wasn't sure. It had occurred to him that Puppy having a soul might have something to do with it. But that logic was flawed because even with souls him and Puppy should not have a bond. Yet he could still feel the vampire somewhere in the city if he concentrated hard enough. It gave him hope.

He first discovered his ability to feel Puppy soon after his encounter with the strange blue creature at the demon bar. A day had turned to two and then three, he was beginning to give up, thinking Puppy was actually dead. Then he concentrated on Puppy's image, his scent, everything that Puppy was he thought about and he felt it. It was a spark, a light, energy flowed through him and he could feel something that was uniquely Puppy. He knew that Puppy was still alive.

At first it was blurred. It felt like Puppy but he wasn't entirely sure. He had never felt anything like it before so he practiced. Every night he would run out into dark corners of the city and would concentrate. He tried to clear his mind and soon he could feel that energy. Sometimes the bond was strong and he felt like he was getting closer to Puppy. But at other times it was weak and he knew he had traveled too far, that he needed to back track.

The search became frantic as news traveled of a high level of demon fatality. The blue demon had warned Xander about it in the bar the night Puppy had disappeared. At first he ignored the warning, thinking that it was of no concern to him. He thought that he would find Puppy that same night and then they could find some place safe, somewhere they could be alone and find comfort in each other.

It was romantic dribble but he really thought that's how it was going to be. Whatever it was that connected him to Puppy made him want the vampire more than anything. With his absence the feeling only deepened and Xander didn't know how long he would last without Puppy at his side. These feelings confused him beyond the point of reason.

There was no reason for him to be so... dependent on Puppy. It had just been hours when he got his soul, then he felt the bond between him and the elder vampire and his world began to spiral into an madness.

He decided to figure it out what the link was after he found Puppy. There were dangers lurking throughout L.A. which he vowed to keep away from the vampire. It made his heart clench thinking about the promise he had made to Puppy. He had promised to protect him, to be there, and he let the vampire slip through his fingers.

When Puppy ran away Xander blamed himself. He thought about every scenario, every different possibility in which that night could have gone differently. He could have been more persuasive, more convincing. But instead he laid there and allowed Puppy to leave.

He felt anguish. If anything happened to Puppy, if anything hurt him, he knew he would lose it. He didn't care. If his promise had been broken and Puppy truly was hurt then he knew it would push him off the deep end and he would do something crazy.

Walking down the dark allies of L.A. Xander came to the place he was looking for. He knew he shouldn't have come back, he had been warned. But he needed more information. This was the place he had last sensed Puppy naturally, and it was the place he came to every other night, the place where Puppy's energy called him.

Walking inside he made his way through the demon bar and seated himself. He looked around. There were almost no demons, barely a tenth of the amount there was two weeks ago. Whatever was killing off these demons was serious business. If this thing could decimate a good portion of the demon population in as short of a time as a two weeks, then there was no telling how long it would be until it got them all. Hopefully he would find Puppy before this thing got one or both of them.

"Oi. What are youz doing heres little vampires? I's thoughts I's told youz to never return," a scolding voice came from the bar. Xander turned around in his seat and noticed a very pissed off demon staring directly at him. The demon had set down a glass in front of him and folded it's arms over it's broad chest." I's is waiting little vampires."

"Listen I didn't come here to argue, or fight. I'm still looking for my friend. The one like me. I've looked all over, searched every damn place I could. And I still haven't found him." He tried to appeal to the sympathy the demon held for him the last time he had come to the bar. But it's features did not soften.

"Little vampires, youz are a strange one. I's tell youz never to returns and here you are. Not that it's bad for business. As you can see my customers no show up anymore. It's getting bads." The demon sighed, but the sound was so deep and rasp it could have been a growl. Xander wasn't too sure. " Heres I gets you a drink."

The demon picked up the glass in front of him, which had previously been empty, and returned to the bar to fill it. When it made it's way back to Xander it grabbed the vampires hand and placed the blood filled glass firmly in his grasp. " Heres. Youz drink up. I's hope you have moneys these time. Can't have free loaders nows that I's has no demons."

Xander pushed the glass away and tried to give it back. " Sorry but I really can't afford this right now. I'm running a bit low on cash and right now I really don't care to be drinking blood," he sighed," I just want to find him. Now can you help me or not?"

The demon gave another sigh/growl and shoved the glass in Xander's direction, making sure the vampire had a grip on it. " No! Never minds little vampires. It's free. Doesn't matter anyways, I's leaving these place soon. Don'ts wants to bees dy'in nows do I's?" Xander stared questioningly at the strange creature and it smirked, " I's said takes it little ones. I's no use for it. Theres ares no vampires coming here anymore. I's guessing they all be killed by whatever it is that's killing all the demons in this area. So youz enjoys."

Xander took the drink and slowly brought it to his lips, not sure whether he should be accepting the offered glass. The thought had dawned on him that what he was drinking could have been human blood. Over the last two weeks he had tried to stay away from humans, but inevitably he had to talk to some. It had taken all his self control to not attack them, he had never been so long without blood, but he had to feed.

A look of confusion passed over the demons face as Xander slowly drank the contents of the glass. Stopping halfway through his drink Xander stopped and stared at the demon. They stared at each other questioningly for several moments before the demon's lips curved into a big smile and it burst in a fit of laughter.

"Oh, youz thinks I's give you humans bloods?" It laughed. Xander put the glass down and stared at the creature. He felt like and idiot but he still wasn't sure of the blood that was in the glass. " Listens, I's deals with humans sometimes and I's no kill them. I's sees your souls and I's can tells that killing thems would weigh heavily on youz." Xander continued to stare and the demon laughed harder. " It's otters blood little one."

His lips curved into a smile and Xander laughed with the demon. He was relieved that he hadn't been drinking human blood and he felt like an idiot for thinking twice about it -- realizing that he should have been able to taste a difference, but he was so starved for blood that he hadn't been able. Besides the man the night at the motel Xander hadn't even looked directly at a human, let alone drink from them.

He collected himself quickly and stared the demon in the eyes. " So can you help me?" He became worried when the demon broke eye contact and stared at the floor. It was mumbling and making odd growling noises. " What was that?"

The demon looked up and scowled." I's say I's no help to youz. I'm sorry little vampires but this is something that is out of my hands. I's cannot helps with this problem." It paused and a saddened look crossed it's face. "I's sorry. Youz should go."

The demon turned around but was caught by the shoulder. Xander turned it toward him and stared at it, his eyes pleading. "Please. There has to be something you could tell me. It's been two weeks. Two weeks! I haven't found him and I need to. So * please * help me." He felt disgusting for begging. He was a master vampire, former right hand to The Master, and now he was reduced to begging for help.

The demon sighed and placed a hand on Xander's shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze." I's sorry but this is somethings only youz can do. I's don't know where he is. But if you search your souls I's sure you'll find him."

Xander felt crushed, " What does that mean," he said softly.

"I's thinks youz know what it means." An understanding passed between them and they drifted slowly apart. The demon gave Xander a look of pity and walked off, leaving him standing there.

Xander felt empty.

It was time to leave and continue his search. Hopefully it wouldn't be too long before he found Puppy, but even if it was there was nothing else for him to do. All he could do was keep searching.

A day passed and Xander continued looking for his lost vampire. He wandered the streets aimlessly, hoping that the information he was looking for would fall into his lap. He tried to use the bond to feel Puppy, to be guided to his location, but there was nothing strong enough to go on. The situation was weighing down upon him. He hadn't slept, he hadn't fed, but he kept searching. If it was the last thing he ever did he would find Puppy.

Eventually his search brought him to a vampire nest. He sensed something off in the nest and knew that an answer lie inside. He really didn't want to go in the abandoned building but he didn't have a choice. He had looked everywhere and asked every demon he could. If there was a lead in there then he could not hesitate any further.

He walked in the alley beside the building and took a deep breath before stepping in front of the back entrance and reaching for the knob. Before he could manage a full rotation the door flung open and a vampire jumped out and landed on him.

They fell to the ground and Xander was pinned beneath the vampire as it frantically waved it's limbs around trying to stand. " Get up," the vampire shouted. Xander pushed the vampire off him before rolling to the side and pushing himself off the ground.

Xander stared angrily at the vampire and took a whiff of the air, scenting it. It smelled new, probably a few weeks old, and clearly very stupid. Xander looked on curiously as the vampires eyes shifted to every corner of the alley, searching for something. Eventually it stopped looking and ran a few yards away before coming to a dumpster that protruded from the darkness of the alleyway. Xander watched as it opened the top and reached inside.

"Can you fight," it shouted from the dumpster. Xander didn't answer, he just looked on bemused as the fledge searched. The vampires head popped up from the dumpster and it ran over to Xander, handing him a long metal pipe." Come on, " it tilted it's head, indicated that it wished for Xander to follow.

Xander took the offered pipe and followed the fledge into the building. He was lead through a few hallways before they came to a large empty room. The feeling and look was somewhat like the factory, there were concrete walls, a concrete floor -- a very dead looking place. Perfect for a vampire nest.

The fledge turned to Xander and whispered," Be careful. I'm pretty sure she's in here." Xander was going to ask who but decided he'd watch and let the fledge lead. He had no intentions of helping, so he stuck to the shadows and kept out of sight. The fledge walked into the center of the room, standing in the moonlight which gleamed from the windows.

Mentally Xander laughed at the inexperienced fledge. The stupid fool had just given away his position, and whoever this 'she' was would surely notice him now. Looking around Xander noticed ashes covering a good portion of the floor in the center of the room. He could tell that it was the remains of several vampires.

He backed away to the far end of the room, staying out of sight. He didn't want to run the risk of being noticed.

Sounds of footsteps echoed through the large room causing Xander to tense up. Something was coming. " Come out, come out, where ever you are," a feminine voice mocked. Xander growled and prepared himself to be attacked.

He was worried that he wouldn't be able to fend off his attacker. Not feeding properly, or in his case at all, in days drained a vampire. If this thing had the power to dust a whole nest he knew he wouldn't stand much of a chance. In his mind he kicked himself for being so stupid as to follow this fledge. He prayed he'd make it out of this unscathed.

"Found you!" From out of nowhere a wooden point was brought down on the vampires chest. His eyes widened with shock and he took a last look at the world before his body burned to ash.

Xander watched wide eyed as the fledge disintegrated and a girl stepped out into the light of the room. She was not what he expected. Blond, thin, wore too much eye shadow, and had a scar that ran from her top lip to the end of her bottom lip. If it had not been for his vampiric senses Xander might have thought the girl a vampire. She dressed dark, but still her figure was unimposing. His senses heightened and he took a good whiff of the air, knowing what she was immediately.

She was a slayer.

Xander was feeling conflicted. Part of him wanted to growl in anger and try to kill her, just for being what she was. The other part of him wanted to laugh and point at her unthreatening physique. He had never seen a slayer before and she was not what he had expected. When he pictured a slayer in his head he had imagined a huge mammoth of a woman who could bend men and demons in half with one hand. Not this Goth prom queen.

Then another smell hit his nose. He had to try and keep his angered growl down. She hadn't noticed him and she made her way to leave. Xander was trying but his face shifted from human to demon guise several times over. He wanted to kill her.

What he smelled on her was * his * Puppy.

He knew Puppy was alive. He could feel it. But what his scent was doing on a slayer he hadn't a clue. All he could picture in his head was Puppy chained up while the dumb bitch tortured him. His growl became loud and he roared in anger.

Luckily she had made her way out and was probably long gone. He was so consumed with rage that he lost track of time and stood there trying to control his emotions. If he challenged her in his current conditioned he knew he'd better find himself a new ash tray home.

He pulled himself together and ran from the building, following her scent. If Puppy's scent was all over her then he knew she would lead him to the vampire. This was what he had been waiting for, and it came in the form of a slayer.

Logically he knew that if she held Puppy then she would not willingly give him up. He knew that he would have to fight her for the vampire, something which he was all to eager to do.

The slayer must be fast, he thought as he traveled for miles following her scent. Eventually he came to the place where the scent ended. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the building. The slayer must have it pretty easy, or she was a squatter.

It was a huge hotel.

He stepped up to gated building and walked inside. Stopping at the main entrance he froze. The phone inside was ringing and he didn't think it wise to walk through the front doors with the possibility that the slayer was standing right there.

With his enhanced hearing he was able to identify footsteps. Someone was coming down a flight of stairs. The phone stopped ringing and he listened intently trying to pick up on the conversation.

"Hyperion Hotel. How may I help you," the person laughed. It was the slayer."Oh hi. You feeling better?... No I'm fine, just a little tired. Took out a vamp nest down town... Yes... No...Listen I told you not to worry about it. I'm a big girl I can take care of myself.... Yeah... No he's locked up in my room."

Those words peaked Xander's interest and mentally he begged her to continue." He's harmless... No... Yes...Yeah but he has a soul. Don't really know if that counts for anything."

Xander shifted into demon guise and growled. His demon was rattling, begging for him to jump into action and rip the bitches head off. She had Puppy. * His * Puppy .He knew it had to be Puppy, his scent was all over this place.

"I know it's weird. But I think we should trust him, at least for now... Yeah... But if he's on our side I think we have a better chance... Yeah... Look I know but we need all the help we can get. I'll teach him. He's going to be our backup. Just give me some time to work on it... What?...Listen if he gets out of hand I'll stake him OK? He's strong but we can manage without. Just a vamp right?"

Her talk about Puppy, acting like he was some animal, something worthless, infuriated Xander. His fist clenched tightly and his nails dug into his palm, blood now oozing from his hand to the floor. He was going to enjoy tearing the slayers head off.

"OK, when I get back I'll do it... Yeah... Well not that it's any of your concern but yes, he's still doing it... I don't know. But he keeps screaming for it over and over. It's getting creepy, and annoying... Yeah...I think he called it Xander."

If he had a heart beat it would have skipped a hundred beats. Puppy was calling to him. Puppy was begging for him. Anxiety built and he became eager. The second the slayer left he was going to run into the hotel and rip it apart searching for Puppy. Then he would take the vampire with him and kill the slayer.

The demon rattled but his soul ached. How could he think of killing a human, a slayer? But he couldn't find it within himself to care. He told himself that he would kill anyone for Puppy, even a slayer.

"Well I gave him drugs to get him to relax. Don't think it worked, he's still awake and still fidgeting.... Yeah... OK... So you want I should visit? I can bring you pretty flowers... Oh c'mon lighten up... Alright... No... I can handle it... Fine! I'll bring someone with me tomorrow. How about Gunn?... Yeah I know, but I like him... Well whatever. He's going!... OK fine. I'm on my way. Bye Wes."

The slayer hung up the phone and Xander heard her coming near the entrance. He looked around and decided to hide in the bushes. Yes he was going to kill her, but he needed to see Puppy first. Then he was going to have a brawl with one petite little prom queen.

He peeked through the leaves and saw her open the entrance and leave out of the front gate. When he was sure she had truly gone he jumped up and ran inside the hotel.

There was a huge lobby with elegant staircases leading to the top floor. It was shabby looking and in need of work but Xander didn't have time to ponder interior design, there were more important things to worry about.

Puppy's smell was strong and he felt relief and excitement wash over him. This was it. He had finally found his Puppy.

Running up the stairs he followed the scent until he came to a hallway which looked the same as any of the other ones he passed. Except that behind one of the doors his Puppy would be waiting for him.

He ran to the room, the one he knew held Puppy, and laid his right hand flat against the door. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and took a moment to relax. The feeling of sorrow was swept clean from his soul. It was time to rescue Puppy.

He brought his foot up and slammed it into the door, sending it crashing to the ground. His heart clenched and he felt sorrow once again at what he saw. It was Puppy.

*His * Puppy.

The vampire was lying on a queen size bed, squirming and fighting against the chains which held him to the bedpost. He wore black slacks but no shirt. Xander could see new bruises covering Puppy's body and he knew who had caused them.

He tried to walk in but there was a barrier. He tried once more but was unable to pass. Shifting into demon guise he growled.

"Puppy," he yelled. " I'm here. I'm here," he chanted and tried to break the barrier which kept him out. It was the damn slayers room and he wasn't invited. His anger erupted and he slammed his fists into the barrier, to no avail.

Puppy looked up from the bed and stared at Xander. His eyes filled with tears and he thrashed against his bonds. There were chains wrapped around his waist and shackles around his ankles. " Xander," he yelled, anguish in his voice. "Xander," he yelled again and continued to thrash. But the bonds would not budge -- he was too weak.

Xander looked at Puppy and became lost in his own distress. He wasn't going to be able to pass without an invite from the slayer. He wasn't going to be able to get Puppy out.

Tears filled his eyes and he felt like he was back at square one. He felt worlds away from Puppy and yet the vampire was only several feet away. The overwhelming helplessness was getting to him and he let his anger take over, losing all logical thought.

He thrashed and banged against the barrier, screaming, howling, rage consuming every inch of his being. Nothing was going to keep him away from Puppy, not now.

He was so enveloped in rage that he hadn't noticed the sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs.

His hands clenched into tight fists and he pounded the invisible wall with everything he had. Without warning a fist was smashed into his right cheek and he was punched to the far end of the hall.

"Well what do we have here? God you vamps, so unoriginal. Sneaking into my home, really, is that the best plan you could come with?" His attacker laughed." I'm going to enjoy this."

Xander shook his head and snapped out of his haze of anger. He looked up and saw the face of his enemy. It was the slayer. She was standing in his way, in front of the door, with a stake in her hand.

"Well you going to speak? Is there a reason you're trying to get into my room. Trying to get to my vampire?"

Xander jumped up off the floor and glared at the petite blond. " You stupid bitch! He's not yours," he growled.

"Well yeah, of course not," she rolled her eyes.

"Oh I'm going to enjoy ripping you a new one bitch."

"If I only had a dollar for every time I've heard that."

Xander smirked and prepared himself. He had never fought a slayer and he knew that this was going to be his first, maybe his last, chance to do it. "Before we do this. How about a name little prom queen."

She readied her stake and took a fighting stance.

"Buffy."

TBC