Challenges

Chapter 7

"Another night on a hell mouth, could things get any worse?" Spike said to himself, reading the local daily newspaper in his crypt. After a loud bang on the door of the crypt, the lock unhinged itself from the frame and Buffy stepped inside, her sights going directly to the vampire sitting in the chair just in front of the television. He didn’t look up, his paper still in hand. “Answers my bloody question…”

The slayer wrinkled her forehead in confusion before walking up and standing before him. She paused a moment after he didn’t return her gaze and snatched the paper right out of his hand.

“ Hey!” He looked up, sighing. “You know, instead of pinching a blokes personals, the polite thing to do would have been to ask first.”

“ I need information.”

“Buy your own damned paper then.” He grabbed at the paper.

She threw it aside.“ One, you didn’t pay it; and two, I don’t need information I can get out of the paper. It’s about a new vampire in town, heard anything?” She put her hands on her hips.

The vampire watched this, a cunning smile placed a moment before answering.“ Lots of vampires in town pet, what makes you think I’d give up my own kind?" Buffy pulled cash from her back pocket. "Oh, money…” He reached for it.

She pulled the bills away.“ Spike, he’s got black hair, jacket, and I met him last night. Looks like a Happy Days wannabe”

“ Doesn’t ring a belahhowww!” She pinched his ear making him stand.

She threw him to the side to stand up straight, inches from a beam of light streaming through the doorway. “ I mean it.”  Her voice was harsh, as if she wasn’t going to be tricked this time. She always sounded pissed, but now she sounded…

The vampire rubbed his ear. “ This fella’s got you scared slayer?”

She crossed her arms.“Your an idiot."

“ Yeah he does, you're scared…" He thought about that, a little insulted. "You were neverTHIS scared of me. Maybe that Halloween...”

“ I was never scared of you, period.... for that Halloween.”

He clutched his heart mockingly. “ Ow, harsh, hurt more then your grip. You should use your mouth often luv..... in fact....”

“ I could make it hurt more with my fist if I don’t get some information out of you quick.”

“ I don’t knowahow ow ow ow OK! His name is Thomas, goes by Tom or Tommy.”

“ Thanks.” she said, thrusting the cash into his chest and walking away into the beam of light coming from the door.

Spike let the cash pool to the ground as he looked sideways as the slayer exited.