Green Eyed Slayer
Chapter One: Gwen

Author's Note: This is set post All The Way so Buffy and Spike haven't kissed yet. I'd like to apologise if my history is a bit off, I've tried to get it accurate, but I may have made a few mistakes, so I'll say sorry now!

This story will be told from the POV's of three people - Gwen (Spike's Childe), Spike and Buffy - I'll name each chapter after the person narrating it so you know.

"And where've you been, lass?"

It was the question that always greeted me when I came home, whether I was early or dead on time. When I was younger, I would pretend that it was 'cause she cared about me, as I grew up, I grew to realise that it was 'cause she was a nosy old bag.

"The fells," I answered shortly and grabbed my younger sister Rose as she ran past.

"Don't manhandle her that way, Maggie!" me ma cried.

"I'm not," I answered. "But it would be me doin' the washin' once she's dirtied her clothes, so you sit yourself down, girl," I push her onto a chair and she pouted like the spoiled brat she was.

"Aye," me ma nodded. "But you wouldn't have to help round here if you got yourself a proper job. We need the money as you well know," to make her point, she looked around at the bare room that served as our kitchen and living room with only one tiny room leading off that we all had to share, despite its size.

"We wouldn't need to live like this if it weren't for our Robbie," I muttered.

She turned and waved a wooden spoon at me.

"Don't you talk about your brother that way," she hissed. "He did what he did for this family."

"Aye," I answered. "An' he swung for it, an' our lives have been murder ever since!"

It was true, three years ago, when I was fifteen, me elder brother Robbie - twenty at the time - took it into his daft head to steal money from the clerk at the coal mine he worked in. He wasn't smart enough to carry it out and he swung for it. Ever since, we were treated as outcasts, me ma, and me younger brother and sister. We were all treated like scum 'cause our Robbie got ideas above his station. It didn't matter that he'd paid for it, what mattered was that he did it.

"You're eighteen, my girl," my mother continued. "You went into service at ten, but I brought you back after your da's death - God rest his soul - 'cause I needed your help. We've survived 'til now on that money your da put away an' it's long since gone and we're relyin' on our Hal."

On cue, my younger brother walked in, his face pink beneath the grey hue left by the coal dust. He was the only one of 'em I could stand. At sixteen, Hal was a tall lad, taller than me, but most people are. He was good lookin' and decent enough. I reckoned he took after me da, 'cause he was nothing like ma, unlike me brother Robbie and sister Rose.

"I'll keep ya, ma," I told her. "I'm away to Newcastle the morrow an' I'll get a good payin' job an' send you the money."

"I want no money you've earned in Newcastle," me ma answered and turned back to the scant broth.

"Why not, ma?" Hal asked. "It's money after all."

"I'll not have filthy money in this house, Hal!"

Oh, aye, the old woman thought I'd take to bein' a working woman, walkin' the streets to earn me livin'. Hal seemed to find it as daft as I did.

"Oh, ma!" he laughed. "I can't see our Maggie as a workin' girl!"

"Keep yer mouth closed around yer sister," she returned and pointed to Rose.

"When you sendin' her into service?" I asked. "She'll be twelve in a few weeks."

"She'll go when I'm good an' ready to let her. 'Til then, you an' Hal need to work."

"As I'll do in Newcastle!" I shouted. "An' if you don't like it, I think I'll keep me money and live well, instead of givin' it to you, you ungrateful old mare!"

She belted me hard around the face, so hard I stumbled back. Hal caught me and helped me up.

"Calm down, ma," he said. "She didn't mean owt by it."

"Oh yes I did!" I shouted, all the anger I had felt towards her all these years poured out now, with the knowledge that the morrow I would leave this little Northumberland town of Langley where all the men were smelters or miners and would never have to see her again. "I meant every word an' I'm glad to be leaving the morrow, that I am!"

"The morrow?" me mother questioned. "No lass, you'll leave this minute. Get out of my house an' go to the town where all the other whores are! 'Cause that's all you are, a whore, still running wild with the lads at your age when you should be lookin' for decent employment. If your da could only see you now…"

"But he can't!" I shouted. "An' I'm glad he can't. I bet he welcomed that cave-in as a way out of your house!"

"Get out!" she screeched. "Get out! An' never come back!"

I turned, my long skirt swirling as I did so and marched to my room where I packed my few things. I could hear Hal protesting loudly and Rose crying. I didn't bother to say goodbye to her, I thought it wrong to say goodbye, 'cause that would mean I cared, and I didn't. I marched out of the crumbling two roomed shanty and made to leave through the meagre vegetable patch when I felt a hand on me arm. I turned an' looked at me brother.

"You really goin', Maggie?" he asked.

"Aye," I answered. "Aye, it looks that way and I would've gone long afore now if it hadn't been for you."

"And Rose?"

"No, never her, 'cause she's a spoilt brat if ever there was one. Let me tell you, Hal, you're the only one I'll miss. That's the truth. You get yourself out of there an' get yourself out of the mine."

"And do what?"

"Farm, you're good like that. Let her precious Rose take care of her."

"Aw, Maggie, won't you come back?"

"No," I shook my head. "I always said I would go an' now I am."

"I know," he nodded, "goodbye, Maggie."

"'Bye, Hal," I hugged him tightly, for I would miss my funny and sensible little brother, he was the only one who understood my itching feet that begged to be set upon ground outside of this mining and smelting town.

He watched me walk up the lane to the road where I could get a cart to the coach station. After we broke apart, he had once again repeated "Goodbye, Maggie," and he had added, "An' good luck."

He was the last person to call me Maggie, for after that I was known as Gwen. It were me middle name. Me da's mother's name, for she had been a Welsh lass.

It was the year 1888 when I left me childhood home, hoping for bigger and better things in the great city of Newcastle. I didn't do so well; I worked in a pub. It weren't the best job, but it paid the rent on me room an' I could put up with wanderin' hands an' suggestive comments.

An' put up with it I did, 'til two years later, I met a man by the name of William, who changed me life forever.

There he is. Well, well, it's been a long time, ain't it, Sire? Aaah, he's sleeping. Yeah, he was always cute when he's asleep. Scrap that, the guy's always cute. Y'know, you'd think he'd wake up when I walked in, wouldn't you? But oh no, Spikey boy just keeps on sleeping. I give him a little poke and he rolls over.

"Buffy," he murmurs softly.

Huh, so he's dumped Drusilla. If only I had a nice marching band and the music for "Ding-dong the bitch is dumped!" I sit on the end of the bed and pick at my boots while I wait for him to wake up.

I know I could wake him up, but, despite all these years, I've still got a ton of respect for him. He is my Sire, after all's said and done. Wonder who Buffy is? I've heard he's got a thing for the Slayer. I've also heard he's got a chip that stops him from killing. Then again, I've heard a ton of stuff. Always kept my ear to the ground, you see, for my family and what not. Didn't stick around with them for long. Spike told me to get gone 'bout a month after I rose. Glad he did, I hated Darla and Angelus and it was all I could not to slap Drusilla one. He got that and told my if I wanted to last, I'd have to make it on me own.

He kept an eye out for me. I was in Prague at the same time he and Dru were, he called in on me, asked how I was doing. I got a good Sire, but I wish I could've stuck with him a bit longer. When I saw him in Mexico, he told me that ol' Angelus went and got himself souled and was living the good life in LA. I heard he lost his soul a few years back when he screwed the Slayer, the same Slayer Spike here's s'posed to be arse over tit in love with. Must be some girl.

At last! He's awake. He rolls over all leisurely like and yawns. Then he goes rigid when he senses me. He opens his eyes and stares at me.

"Gwen?" he cries.

"Hey there, Will," I say with a smile.

He leaps up and out of bed. Mmm, nice view, now if you could just do a little twirl... He notices the direction of my eyes and grabs the sheets to wrap around his waist. Damn.

"Still sleep in the nude?" I ask. "So which lucky girl's it in aid of now, eh?"

"Bloody 'ell, Gwen," he mutters and searches for his jeans. I find them on the floor beside me. I pick them up and throw them at him.

"Put them on, Sire," I tell him. "Then we got some catching up to do."

He looks at me strangely then and disappears down the tunnel. While he's gone, I have a look around. Nice place he's got here, then again, he always did have good taste. Downstairs is quite homey, silk sheets, clothes everywhere (typical man), a few stakes and a sword. Hello, what's this? I pull a photo out from under the bed, from the looks of it; he's been sleeping with it under his pillow. Huh, pretty girl. Blonde hair, green eyes, from the tan, I'd say she's human. I'll take a wild guess in thinking this is the latest woman in the middle of breaking his heart, somehow I don't think the teenager with long dark hair and ancient looking blue eyes is his type. He snatches it outta my hands and glares at me.

"Been lookin' for that," he grumbles and smoothes it out.

"Who are they?" I ask.

"No one you know," he answers.

"Which is why I asked. C'mon, Spike, I'm taking an interest. That the Slayer?"

"Slayer?" he asks. "What're you talkin' 'bout?"

"I've heard stuff, as you'll recall, I'm a bit of a gossip. Heard you're in love with her and working with her since you got some programme -"

"Chip," he corrects.

"Yeah, stops you from killing, eh?"

"Yeah," he admits.

"Aw, don't worry, you're not missing you much. Not that that means much coming from the disappointment."

Oh, yeah, I was a disappointment to Angelus. Spike turned me over a century ago and brought me back to a townhouse they were in. Dru thought I was a "sweet little granddaughter." Angelus gave Spike a clip round the ear for turning people without his permission. Huh, Spike was right, Angelus was always a prancing great poof. Anyway, I was apparently this huge disappointment and embarrassment to them 'cause I never killed to feed. I fed, then let them go. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, but I didn't torture and mess around like Angelus, Darla and Dru liked to. Never really saw the point, Spike neither. He said it was the human in me. Being the eldest girl of six, and quite poor since my da died, I was always taught not to play with my food, guess that's where I get it from.

"So, you're still a disappointment then?" he asks.

"By Angelus's standards at least," I shrug, I got over it a long time ago, live by my own rules now, learnt to do that from Spike. "How is Angelus? Heard he lost that soul you told me 'bout when he fell for the Slayer, true?"

"Yeah, they had the big Romeo an' Juliet thing goin' on," he says and fingers the photo before shoving it under his pillow.

"Woah, big with the bitterness, Spike," I say. "So, this the same Slayer I've been hearing stole my da's heart?"

"Don't pull that Dru crap with me," he snaps.

That hurt. Comparing me with Dru. Like I ever called him daddy.

"Shut up, Spike," I answer. "Just 'cause I don't kill humans, don't mean I'm not into roughing up vampires, Sire or not."

"Ever the firecracker," he says and gets off the bed. He grabs my elbow and pulls me up. "C'mon, off you go."

"You what?"

"Go. Outta town. Leave."

"Why?"

"'Cause if the Slayer catches you, she'll do you in. Happens that you're the only one I made that I can stand."

"That'll be 'cause I hate Angelus as much as you do. But I ain't going nowhere."

"Gwen," oh, shit, he's using his Sire voice. "Get the hell out of here, now."

"But it's almost dawn," I whine. "You can't throw me out now. Asylum, I want asylum. Even if you send me out now and I find somewhere to hang, who's gonna protect me from the Slayer, huh?"

"You. Last time I saw ya - "

"Which was nigh on five years ago," I tell him.

"So? Last time I saw ya, you were doin' fine."

"Spike," I'm 'bout to play the card that always works on him. Big softie, always has been. "When you told me to get going before Angelus, the Bitch Queen and L'il Miss Loony Bin got home, you said if I ever needed any help, I could come to you. Well, here I am."

He studies me for a minute, then sighs.

"Sit down," he waves towards the bed but I turn and monkey up the ladder. "Oi! Gwen! Where're you goin'?"

"Upstairs, TV and stereo," I call back.

I hear him chuckle and I sit down in the only chair in the upper level.

"Cheeky bitch," he mutters and sits in front of the chair.

"Soft bastard," I return. "Got any beer?" I ask.

"Here," he goes to the fridge and tosses me a can of beer and a bag of blood while I turn on the stereo. Gotta love the Ramones.

"This what you been living on?" I ask, studying the bag.

"Yeah, you get used to it."

"'Bout the same as what I have, except mine comes from the living, doubt it makes a lot of difference, you feed just the same."

"You haven't changed."

"You neither. So, you gonna tell me what happened to you and the moon whisperer, and what's so great 'bout this Slayer and the kid in the picture?"

"You ain't gonna give up if I don't, are you?"

"Nope."

"Fine. Me an' Dru came here 'bout four years ago -"

"After Prague?"

"Yeah. Dru was attacked and weak - stop smiling," I suppress the smirk I learnt from him and wait for him to continue. "Anyway, I brought her 'ere to cure her. Angelus - Angel, as he's known now -"

"God, what a complete prat."

"Yeah," he agrees with a laugh. "I managed to do the ritual on her, but the Slayer dropped an organ on me."

"Sassy chick."

"Sassy, yeah," he looks dreamy for a second. "So, I'm in a soddin' wheelchair when Dru decides she wants to reassemble the Judge, know him?"

"I've heard the stuff, yeah."

"Then Angel and the Slayer shagged and he lost his soul. Toddles into the factory where me and Dru were an' the Judge can't burn him. Then him and Dru carted big blue off to drain people an' the Slayer stops him an' then Angelus gets hold of some other demon. Didn't particularly want this bloody world sucked into hell, so I sided with the Slayer to get Dru back. Dru decided she didn't want me after that, so I came back here, left to try an' get her back then came back 'ere again. Got the chip, started workin' with the Slayer an' her friends -"

"She's got friends?" I cry, never heard of a Slayer with friends before.

"She's not like any Slayer you or I've ever met, Gwen," he sounds almost proud. That's not good, means he's in love with her, she'll probably screw him over too. "Fell in love with her, she don't feel the same, she died, end of."

"She's dead?"

"No."

"But you just said -"

"She's got a witch friend, brought her back, she thought she was in a soddin' Hell dimension. Only she wasn't. I was the only one she told."

"Must count for something," I offer.

He shrugs and sips the beer he got for himself. I bite into my blood bag and guzzle it back, haven't fed in a while, so sue me. He's smiling at me when I next look at him.

"What?" I ask.

"No game face, good to see you in control."

"I'm over a hundred, not exactly a fledge, Spike. Gonna tell me who the kid is then? The brunette with the weird eyes."

"Dawn?" he frowns. "Weird eyes?"

"They look too old for her," I shrug. "What's the deal?"

"She's the Slayer's sis, the Key made human. Long story, can't be arsed. Nice kid though."

"You hang out with her?"

"When the fancy takes her to pop in. Like I said, she's all right. You? What you doin' 'ere then, eh?"

"Came to see you - problem?"

"No. Five years ago you said we last saw each other?"

"Almost."

"Any great loves in your life since then?"

"Y'know you're the only bloke I've ever loved."

He smiles at me, almost like no one cares 'bout him and that was something unexpected.

"Gwen?"

"Yep?"

"You in control of your bloodlust? You're not gonna go ravaging the first human you meet?"

"Please," I snort. "When have I ever? You know me, feed and run, I don't even kill, never had a mind to. You can't have forgotten that."

"I know, but people change."

"Minute ago you said I hadn't. Why'd you ask anyway?"

"Wondered if you might like to stick around for a bit."

"What 'bout the Slayer and her friends? Won't they stake me on sight? Come to think of it, why ain't they rammed you one?"

"'Cause she thought it unfair to do me in when I'm, well, done in already. Plus the fact I come in handy, that's not to say she don't threaten."

"Must be nice though, to have friends, to know you're doing something worthwhile."

"'S'all right," he shrugs. "Grows on you, like a fungus. If you want to hang around, you gotta stick to the blood bags an' I'll have a word with the Slayer."

"Have a word with me about what?"

The door crashes open and this tiny slip of a girl walks in. Now, I've come across a couple of Slayers in my time and some of them weren't exactly butch, but this is ridiculous.

"Bloody hell," I say and yes, I did learn that from Spike. "That's a Slayer?"

"Yes, who are you?" she asks and narrows her eyes at me before glancing at Spike. "Who is she?"

"Not something the cat dragged in, lass," tell her as I stand up and offer my hand. "I'm Gwen, Spikey boy's Childe."

"You have thirty seconds before I stake her," the Slayer says, peering over my shoulder at Spike.

"Sit down, Gwen," he tells me so I roll my eyes an'dflop into the chair, turning down the music to give him some quiet. Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm quite the obedient little vampire.

"What's going on, Spike?" she asks.

He lowers his voice, but he knows full well that I can hear him.

"I turned 'er 'bout hundred years ago. I had to tell 'er to go, Angelus an' Darla didn't like 'er, even Dru went off 'er -"

"Feeling was downright bloody mutual, I can tell you," I called over. "Hated them all, especially Dru, daft cow, amount of times I've -"

"Gwen," he warns. "Shut up."

So I shut my mouth and settle back in the chair, pouting a little.

"I owe 'er, Buffy," he continues in a low voice. "She's not gonna kill anyone, she's not your usual vampire. She never killed anyone, she drank 'em into unconsciousness and left 'em, that's why Angelus didn't like her, not bloodthirsty enough for 'im."

"She's a vampire," the Slayer answers.

"So's he," I point to Spike. "Would it help if I got a chip and all?"

She blinks at me - ooo, attitude! I like you!

"Slayer, I'll keep an eye on 'er. If she steps outta line, stake her and if it makes you feel better, stake me an' all."

"Oh, don't do that," I say. "Slayer - Buffy, is it? If you stake him, you'll be depriving the world of the cutest arse ever. Not that I ever got a squeeze, it was packaged for Miss Moonshine only."

"Dru," he explains at the Slayer's baffled face. "Her an' Gwen didn't see eye to eye."

"Don't fancy it up, Spike, we hated each other," I state, in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Yeah," Spike nods.

"I'm sorry, Spike," she says and steps towards me. "But it's my duty."

Instinctively, I jump up and back away. Next thing I know, Spike's slipped an arm around my waist and is squeezing reassuringly. I remember this gesture from years ago when he would defend me to Angelus. I could've done it myself, could've given Angelus a right mouthful and enjoyed it, but Spike said I couldn't because I was the youngest and should respect my elders. I remember telling him that Angelus and Darla didn't deserve respect and there was a proud twinkle in his eye when I said that, but he said if I didn't obey him, Angelus'd knock seven bells outta me, then stake me and I didn't want that, did I?

"Give 'er a chance, eh, Slayer?"

She studies me for a second, then lowers her stake.

"Fine," she says, a hard, Slayer-type edge to her voice as she addresses me. "But you hurt anyone, my friends, my sister or anyone else and I will kill you."

"Wouldn't expect anything else," I answer.

She nods, turns on her heel and walks out. Spike pulls his entirely welcome arm from around my waist, sighs, turns the music up and flops dejectedly into the chair.

"Can see why you love her," I tell him.

"Yeah?"

"She's beautiful," I shrug. "But it's more than that, isn't it, Spike?"

"Yeah."

It's nice catching up with my Sire, and he has changed. I knew him when he was ten years into being a vampire and he was still a nice person. He was bloodthirsty and violent, but to me - and especially to Dru - he were kind and funny and could even be shy. When I left, every time I met him, he were harder, 'til when I saw him Prague, he was barely recognisable as the man I knew years ago.

I blamed Angelus to some extent, he would go at Spike, hated his stubbornness and was forever trying to break him. I'm proud to say my Sire never snapped. But I blamed Drusilla most for Spike's change. He had become so vicious and spiteful I could barely talk to him and when I cheeked him, he had me round the throat saying I had to show respect. I'd heard he'd come to Sunnydale, and another time I'd've come here to say hi. But after our last encounter in Prague, I didn't bother. He hadn't threatened me as he did in our previous encounter in France, but he was cold and for the first time I saw him as dead.

I hated Drusilla for making him become a monster just so he'd feel good enough for her. Way I saw it, she weren't good enough for him, he had the perfect combination of monster and man, but she were all monster and crazy. Now though, he's as I remember him, cheeky and kind, though the demon's there, just waiting to break out and if anyone came at someone he loved, he'd have a hard time holding it back.

He told me to leave for me own good. He came into me room in the middle of the morning and asked if I wanted to live, I answered that aye, course I wanted to live. So he smuggled me out through the cellar and told me - when we met briefly a year later just before he was due to leave England with the family - that he had said I'd run away on me own.

The only thing I don't like 'bout this Spike is the defeat in him. Even when he was like this before, before he succumbed totally to his demon, there was an edge, a confidence that told you to be wary of him. That same edge not only erupted fear in men, women and children, but could arouse the women who were not only drawn by his good looks but the depth to him. Exactly as I was, drawn to his looks and the dark attraction and mystery he offered. To a country lass like me, it was wonderful, intoxicating and deadly. Now he seems broken and I can't help thinking it's down to that Slayer. My guess is that she's told him where to go and when she died he fell apart and now she's back, he doesn't know where he stands.

And my guesses are never far wrong.

I was thinking - as I tend to do in the daylight hours when I can't sleep - and my mind turned to my early years as they often do when I meet Spike or after I've seen him. I remember the first voice I heard when I woke up on a table in one of the townhouses not far from where I worked.

"What have I told you about turning just anybody, boy?" the voice was rough, Irish, I immediately disliked the owner.

I felt strange, I wanted to open my eyes, but something told me to be still for a little while, until the quarrelling had died down a bit.

"Hands off me, yer great poof!" I instantly recognised that thick London voice an' knew instinctively that I would always be safe as long as the owner of that voice was nearby.

"You were drunk again, weren't you?" the Irish voice had demanded.

"Oh, Angelus, put him down," the third voice was pretty, feminine but I wasn't daft, that elegant voice was just the façade for a cold hearted whore playing at being a lady. I'd heard enough of them to know that much. "It doesn't matter, we could always use someone to fetch and carry now that young William has decided not to take orders."

"Aye," the Irish voice agreed. "We'll have to do something about that, won't we, Will? Can't have you being disobedient, can we?" I felt his rough hand smooth over my hair and I barely contained my revulsion. "She's awake, conserving her strength. Maybe you did right, my boy. And my, if she isn't a pretty thing. You've fine taste, William; she's got hair like blood. Pretty little friend for you, eh, Dru?"

"Oh, yes," the fourth voice was feminine also, but this one hid no whore, it was the dreamy innocence of a young child, though the cold note in it told me she was no better than the others. "Can I play with William's toy?" the way she said it left me in no doubt that she was mad.

I struggled up then, gazing around, wondering at why everything seemed too sharply defined an' the smallest noise was magnified. The first person I saw was the man from the pub, the one who had pulled me into the alley on my way home.

"Hungry?" he asked.

I nodded, too numbed by a drilling hunger to speak. A broader man that reeked of Irish whisky thrust a blonde servant girl at me. He stepped back an' stood between two women, one dark an' one blonde.

"Drink up, girl," he said. "We'll be going soon."

The man they called William glared at him an' took the girl. He held her steady an' smoothed the hair away from her neck, running a finger along her jugular.

"Here," he said. "Bite here, Gwen."

So I bit. I found it came natural to me. I thought the old witch that lived down the lane must have been right about beings that wandered the night an' drained the blood of their victims. I could smell the girl's fear; she was younger than me. The fear really did nothing for me, I decided that I didn't enjoy it.

That was the first person I've ever killed an' I can count the others on one hand.

We moved on the next night. Angelus and Darla did nothing but moan that I had held them up and Dru flitted about telling William what a "naughty little puppy" he was.

I soon learnt I was the lowest in station, that the only ones lower were the numerous minions and I wasn't very much higher than them. I soon learnt to hate Angelus for reasons other than instinct. Him and his leering and questing hands. He never slept with me, liked to build up to things did Angelus and if I hadn't gone when I did, I've no doubt he would've stopped his teasing and would've done what he had been building up to. I'm thankful that Spike got me out of there before Angelus was able to break me, not that I wasn't already broken, but I would've staked myself than let him touch me. I think Spike knew that.

Drusilla liked me at first, but she soon went off me, she was too used to being the only focus of Spike's attentions - she didn't seem so bothered 'bout Angelus's attentions, though she didn't like it much, but she had long ago gotton used to sharing her daddy. Not that Spike's attentions ever diminished, but she detested that when she went to play with "daddy," Spike and I would sit together and talk or read. We only slept together once, Angelus practically ordered Spike to take that final step in possessing me. It happened just that one time, despite Angelus's urging's and my desperate prayers, I should've known God would've shunned a demon like me.

I did ask Spike once why he had turned me if not to use me for his satisfaction. He shrugged and said, "Dru was off with Angelus an' I was drunk."

He was a good Sire. He only ever hit me once - he threatened me in years to come, but never followed through 'cause I was careful never to give him reason to - we were sitting together while Dru and Angelus were upstairs and I happened to say I thought Drusilla was "a stupid, mad bitch." He leapt up, dragged me from my chair, gripped my upper arm and belted me across my face.

"Never," he had said, breathing hard even though he didn't need to. "Never call her anything like that ever again, understand?"

I nodded and mumbled a feeble yes.

So, you'd think I'd hate him for any number of reasons, that he turned me 'cause he was drunk and jealous, that he didn't want me in a sexual way, that he hit me 'cause I called Drusilla what she was and that he threatened me years later when he became a shadow of the man I knew.

I never hated him. He was my Sire, I loved him

But I soon learnt Drusilla was his world.