Sire

By KnightMare

Willow's heart beat a bit too fast as she hesitated at the library doors.  She'd been the one to argue that VampWillow should be sent home.  She'd talked the others into doing that.  

The look of pained shock on that vamp's face last night haunted Willow's dreams.  Willow looked up what she could on the woman and the guilt was gnawing at Willow's heart.  Rachel Mathews had been a mother of two.  She'd worked at a flower shop not far from the Bronze.  

"I'm telling you Giles, those vamps weren't normal."  Buffy's voice carried out to Willow's waiting spot.  For once Buffy had managed to beat Willow to school in the morning.  It could have had something to do with the fact that for once Willow actually considered skipping class, but that would be bad.  It would be adding mistakes to mistakes already made.  "I staked three, three weird vamps in one night and the only thing I can think of is they all bought their fangs from VampWillow.  It was a defective fang sale and everyone was buying."

"What can you tell me about these vampires?"  Giles' curiousity probably meant a lot of research after school tonight.  Willow still stood still straining to listen in.

"Hey Willster." Xander's voice actually made Willow squeak as she spun around.  "Why aren't we marching in and demanding books to read?"  He grinned at her teasingly and Willow took a deep breath to try and stop the pounding of her heart.  He pushed the library doors open and she was forced to follow or look suspicious.

"I'll talk about that... thing later Giles."  Buffy looked guilty.  Willow suspected that the slayer didn't intend to tell Willow about the other two vampires that VampWillow made.

They started towards class immediately because Willow had been late and Buffy also seemed eager to leave the library.  "You okay Will?"  Buffy asked softly.

"Fine." Willow hugged her books to her chest and lied.  "How was patrol after you dropped me off?"

"Uneventful." Willow took a deep breath at Buffy's lie and clenched her books tighter.  The slayer was probably just trying to protect her, but Willow deserved to know if she had vampires around that would be calling her sire.

How were those vampires different?  Rachel had been more human than they usually seem when they come out of the grave.  She'd been horrified that she was a vampire.  She'd caressed the word mother on her tombstone with her fingertips.  What were the other ones like?  Why were they different?  

Was Willow so strange that even as a Vampire her minions would be somehow wrong?  Did VampWillow do something to make them different?  Could that be done?  Willow felt like turning around and going back to research but they were already at their first class.

Willow hadn't even been paying attention to Buffy's talking as they walked and that became painfully clear when the slayer stopped and stared at her.  Yep, Willow was not paying attention gal today.

**************
When she got out of her last class she moved to the library more quickly than she had in the morning.  Where she hadn't wanted to face the others with what VampWillow had done, she was now desperate to hear about the other vampires.  Did they hate her?  Did VampWillow torture them?  Did they stare at their own tombstones like they were mourning the loss of life?

The pointed looks that Buffy sent her and the way they didn't talk about what needed to talk about finally got to her, although it looked like Giles would have said something if Willow hadn't.  "Buffy, just tell us.  What were they like?"  Willow gave her best resolve face as she stared down her overprotective friend.

“Will.” Buffy sighed and Willow gave the best resolve face she could muster as a response. She could see Buffy wilt as she gave in. “Well, the first one I found was kind of weak. He growled and had a normal grr face, but he just didn’t have the grr strength. His prey was beating him when I got there, a kinda scrawny teenage boy, I think I’ve seen him in computer class.”

“Whoa, brutal. What’s this world coming to when computer nerds can pick on vampires.” Xander joked and Willow just gave him a small glare.

“The next one was strong enough. I thought she was normal, but then she sniffed me and said,” Buffy blushed, “Something that made me think she was one of VampWillow’s as well.”

“What did she say Buffy.” Giles asked while still looking at a book. “It might very well be important.”

“It wasn’t.”

Giles looked up and Willow waited. “Fine, fine,” Buffy snapped at him. “She said ‘Are you the Mistress’ kitten? I can smell her on you?’ and then I kicked her away because she was like way too close to my neck for that sexy I’m gonna nibble on your neck in a good way, not a blood sucky way, voice. I think she was kinda gay too. Then when we fought and she was staked, end of story.”

“Oh well.” Giles took his glasses off and polished them while Willow blushed and looked down, using her hair to hid her face. “Yes well that could very well be our Willow she, ah, smelled.”

“What were you doing with Will scent all over you?” Xander asked and Willow felt her blush intensify at the not so hidden glee in his voice.

“I walked her home Xan, get your mind out of the gutter.” Buffy told him.

“So maybe the problem is all over now that Buffy staked them.” Willow looked up, her eyes a little pleading. “They were strange, well that last one sounded normal for a vamp, but now they’re gone and well, all’s well that ends well.” Willow felt sick thinking of what VampWillow had been up to. There were humans that looked at Willow differently around school as well because of that vamp, but being called sire last night had been, well, very wrong.

“That may be Willow, but VampWillow was only here for a night and for her to have three childer in that time is very unusual. It sounds familiar to me but I just can’t place it yet.” Giles shook his head. “We need to research this.”

“Oh man,” Xander groaned. “Even when their dusted already we have to work.”

“Oh and Buffy?” Giles spoke while picking up a book. “See if you can have Angel ask around. Perhaps the local vampire population can shed some light on this.”

Willow picked up a nearby book and started to read, but she couldn’t get rid of the memory of those angry vampire eyes and the blaming. That vampire hadn’t wanted to be a vampire and that was new, unless you thought of Angel, but could she have had a soul? Willow decided to look into that as well.

………………….

“There is a ritual that older stronger vampires do to show how strong their blood is.” Angel was reporting and Willow watched him carefully, not wanting to miss anything. “It’s called a Chaining, and what they do is turn several vampires in a row. The stronger those vampires come out, the number vampires that actually rise, show how potent the Master’s blood is.” Angel looked right at Willow. “There are three levels of vampires that rise, Childer are the strongest, then there are Minions which are the majority of all vampires in Sunnydale, and then as the blood gets weaker with each turning there are the Pets, the weakest of all vampires. They don’t even call them vampires and those don’t live long without a Sire because they are so weak.” Willow felt a wave of pity for the weak vampires, but she just glanced around to the others while Angel continued. “VampWillow did a Chaining while she was here, to prove her blood. There were seven, which is very ambitious for such a young vampire. It would have been ambitious for a Master.”

“You mean there are four more out there?” Buffy interrupted.

“There might not be four left.” Angel shook his head. “If they’re weak the regular nightlife of Sunnydale will take care of them.”

“Darwinism Vampire style.” Willow muttered, and it bothered her to think of this.

“Exactly.” Angel gave Willow a weak smile. “But there is a good chance that not all rose. I’ll keep an ear out, but for now it might be a good idea if Willow didn’t patrol with Buffy for a little while. VampWillow didn’t endear herself to her Childer.”

“Yes, Willow, it would be best if you didn’t patrol with Buffy, at least for now.” Giles spoke up.

Willow just nodded as she struggled with the idea of these vampires existing.

“This Chaining is something I have heard of. There may be something in my books.” Giles’ voice was clearly an invitation to research. “The more we know the better able Buffy will be to deal with this.”

“It isn’t like it’s hard.” Xander spoke up. “Angel said these were these vamps are the Kmart blue special version. We could just sit back and wait for the blood suckers to kill them for us.”

“They weren’t all weak Xan.” Buffy didn’t look at Willow and Willow could feel the tension. “Some of VampWill’s clan are Childer, and I only saw a Pet and two Minions. Out there is at least one stronger one, isn’t there Angel?”

“I doubt that VampWillow’s blood was too weak to make at least one.” Angel’s announcement was weary, “And they’ll be drawn to Willow.”

…………………….

Kristin hugged herself as she wandered the darkened streets, her stomach cramping from the hunger. She really should have tried to hunt yesterday, but she’d stayed near Willow’s house for most of the night before seeking shelter for the day, hoping that her sire would sense her and call her inside. That never happened.

Her eyes swept over the streets searching for someone walking alone. When she noticed a young girl Kristin crossed the street to try and intercept. Her body tensed as she imagined finally eating, she was so hungry. Her teeth ached as they started to descend, but Kristin kept her human face and looked up at the girl. Her own feet slowed as she looked into a much younger face than she’d expected. She noticed the woman was actually a young girl.

When the girl nodded at her with a slightly nervous smile Kristin moved to the side and watched as the girl walked past. She’d planned to follow and then pull the girl into the alley, but Kristin stood staring after the girl for a little too long. “too small.” She whispered to herself. “Kid, go home, it’s not safe after dark.” She yelled out bitterly and turned to walk further. Her stomach screaming at her for passing that one up. “I’ll find something bigger.” She told herself as she continued down the street.

It was a little after two when Kristin noticed the man leaving the bar, and how he swayed on his feet. She started to walk faster to catch up with him. This time she was going to do it, she told herself as she came up behind him. He was so unsteady Kristin wondered what it would do to his blood, but she wasn’t able to be picky now.

Kristin grabbed him tightly and yanked his head to the side. Her face morphed and she bit savagely into his neck, the taste of blood making her body sing. Yes, hungry, she sucked hard at the struggling man’s neck.

“That’s mine.” A cold voice spoke and Kristin ignored it, until something grabbed her hair and pulled her head away. “You heard me bitch, that’s mine.” Kristin turned to see a large male vamp staring at her. “Go get your own.”

“This is mine.” Kristin growled and hugged the human to her body. He struggled and it was hard to hold him still.

The male vamp shook his head and suddenly Kristin was yanked away from her prey. She’d looked all night for that. She screamed in frustration as the male bit her prey, and she started to get up to stop him.

“Don’t do that.” Another voice spoke and Kristin noticed the others. She could feel they were like her only the power radiated more strongly in them. “You’re a Pet and Pet’s only get leftovers.” A man who must have been a biker before he was turned snarled at her.

“Pets have to earn their left overs.” Another vamp smiled wickedly and Kristin took a step back, suddenly more afraid than angry. She turned to run. “Get Her!” Someone yelled and Kristin pushed herself harder to escape. She was slammed to the ground viciously and tried to defend herself from the hands tearing at her.

“No!” Kristin screamed, but no one ever noticed anyone screaming in Sunnydale.

……………..

Willow groaned as she woke up and heard the remote control fall to the floor. She shifted carefully on the couch so she didn’t fall off and considered all the reasons falling asleep to old movies was bad, mostly related to how her back felt when she woke up on the couch. A soft thud at the front door had her listening hard and Willow got up, glancing out the window and noticing it was almost dawn, a little late for Buffy.

Another thud had Willow hesitantly moving to the door. Looking out the window she saw a crumpled form on her porch. “Oh God, Buffy.” Willow moved to open the door quickly, reaching down to check on her friend, when she noticed brown hair and not blonde.

“Sire, help me.” A tearful voice pleaded. “Help me, please, help me.” Willow felt her blood freeze and she stepped back into the house so that the vampire couldn’t touch her.

The vampire didn’t try. Willow stared at the growing puddle of blood and the dark bruises and torn clothes and her eyes widened at the abuse this female appeared to have gone through. “Please Sire.” The voice was soft and hurt and Willow felt tears in her eyes as she took a hesitant step back out onto the porch to carefully turn the vampire, who didn’t have the strength to stop her and Willow stared into scared yellow eyes. Willow’s eyes trailed over the ripped shirt and the blood and knew, just knew that Darwinism in the vampire world was alive and well and this poor creature was the latest victim. “Help.”

The sun was about to rise and Willow nibbled on her lip as she considered that all she’d have to do was go inside and this vampire would just die on her own when the sun hit the porch. “Oh man, this is such a mistake.” Willow muttered to herself as she reached down to gently grip the female under the arms. “come in.” She uttered her invitation as she pulled the vampire into her house. The vampire in question passed out on her before she got her inside.

…………………….

Willow dragged the vampire into the downstairs bathroom, while wincing at the trail of blood that followed. “You are lucky it’s a Saturday.” Willow spoke as she stopped pulling and stared down at the vampire on the floor. “I guess,” Willows hands shook as she kneeled down beside the vampire and hesitantly reached out to the ruined shirt, “I guess I need to see the damage. I’m really sorry about this but I’m going to have to take off your shirt. I promise it’s all medical, nothing bad.”

Two hours later a very pale Willow came out of the bathroom in blood splattered pajamas and a grim look on her face. The vampire hadn’t woken up once and that might have been for the best. “Monsters, well of course their monsters, but to do that to one of their own that’s just more monstery than monster.” Willow babbled quietly as she made her way toward the kitchen. She’d used all of her first aid supplies and still had opened wounds on the woman. Willow had dug wood out of her and some of the places she’d had to dig it out of were way too personal. The vamps that had gotten a hold of this one had tortured her, putting wood in her like that, from the looks of the scrapes and punctures they’d more than threatened to stake her.

She grabbed the phone book and slammed it down angrily on the table so she could flip through it and find a butcher or slaughterhouse, because that vampire needed blood or she still might not make it. Willow didn’t even let herself think about how normally it was their job to kill vampires, because to hurt someone this hurt as just wrong, and she wasn’t going to tell anyone that the vampire was here until the poor female was at least able to sit up. Willow could just imagine what Xander would say about it.

Once she found someplace that had the blood Willow went back to the bathroom. It had no windows, and the rest of the house would take work and be obvious if she tried to block the windows, so it was good that the vampire wasn’t moving much. Still, Willow stared down into the woman’s face and grimaced at the clear evidence she wasn’t healing like a vampire should. “I’m going to go get you some blood. That’ll be good right, some nice yummy blood.” Willow’s expression became disgust as she listened to herself babble. “Not that I drink blood, but you do and I’m sure for you it’s yummy. Me it would make me sick, but then I’m not a vampire.” She shut herself up and kneeled down beside the unconscious female. “I’ll take care of you, get you on your feet, but then you have to leave because I’m not really your sire, I’m a computer girl and research girl and scooby, and we kill things like you. I’ll be right back. You stay in here.”

All the while she was away Willow rushed, afraid that time wasn’t anyone’s friend. She rushed to the shop and ignored the strange looks she got buying blood, or the way the butcher glanced out at the sun and Willow walking out into it. She hurried past Xander’s house even though she knew he’d still be asleep, and when she finally got home and walked into the bathroom she was surprised to see her guest’s eyes opened and her body propped up against he wall in something that loosely resembled a sitting position. It stopped her completely and Willow stood staring at the vampire’s eyes while her heart started to pound. The vampire looked a bit scarier awake, it was easier to forget what she was when she wasn’t awake, but this one was in full grr face now.

“I brought you some blood.” Willow held out the mug she’d brought in.

“Sire.” The vampire’s word was soft and affectionate and Willow blushed at that. “Thank you.” Her hand came up but it was so shaky and Willow worried that the mug of blood would end up mixed with the vampires own blood on the floor. Willow really needed to clean the floors before anyone came by and thought someone was murdered in the house.

“Here,” Willow steadied the vampire’s hands as much as she could, but her own were shaking a little. “You drink as much as you need. I bought a lot and I can’t really keep it in the fridge or they’ll be questions and questions are bad, so you need to drink it all up.” The tears coming from the vampire’s eyes at that were a surprise and Willow stared for a moment before staring down at her own knees. “You’ll be safe here for a little while. You just get stronger.”

The vampire started to drink and Willow stared, wondering at how this didn’t gross her out just a bit more. The vampire kept looking at Willow as Willow refilled the cup several times, but she didn’t say anything. Willow found herself staring back, trying to imagine or remember that this was a soulless monster on her bathroom floor. The vampire’s grr face faded with the last cup and when Willow offered to fill it again the vampire shook her head no.

“I tried to hunt sire, I caught prey, I did.” The vampire looked down and Willow could see the fear in the way the vampire held her body, but the hunting talk was a stark reminder of what she had here. “They took my prey from me, it was mine and then they…” The vampire’s words cracked in pain. “I tried to be strong Sire, I tried to be strong so I wouldn’t shame you, but I couldn’t get away. They left me to die.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong, well,” Willow grimaced, “hunting and killing and the grr isn’t really, but you’re a vampire and that’s what vampire’s do so I guess if you look at it in one way, even though it’s not really, well,” Willow sighed. “You didn’t shame anyone, you were strong and you came here which I don’t really understand why you’d do that but you did and now you’re looking well less pale, still vampire pale but not as bad and it’ll be okay.” The vampire was giving her a strange look and that was when Willow realized she’d been babbling. “This sire thing though,” Her words slowed wondering if explaining was really the right thing to do, but better to explain while the vampire was too weak to do anything if she got mad right, Willow reasoned quickly. “That’s kinda complicated. I’m not really your sire, I’m not even a vampire.”

“You are.” The vampire protested and moved just enough to feel pain because she flinched. “You’re my sire.” The vampire sniffed the air and tilted her head, getting a puzzled look on her face. “Heartbeat.” She whispered.

“Um you see,” Willow swallowed before pressing on. “I’m big with the magic and I did a spell, well it was a big spell and I didn’t know that it would do that, but it brought a double of me to this world and she turned out to be a leather wearing, crazy talking, kinda skanky vampire.” The vampire’s eyes went gold and Willow spoke quickly. “Which I’m sure it perfectly fine for a vampire, but that isn’t me.” The vampire stared down at the floor as she thought and Willow studied her quietly. “I sent her back. I didn’t know she’d been big with the making vampires when she was here.”

“She said I was lucky number six.” The vampire shook her head and looked up, her expression vulnerable and lost. “You’re my sire.” It was like she refused to accept what Willow was saying and Willow opened her mouth to deny it again, but the vampire spoke faster. “You shelter me, you’re my sire.”

“No, no, you aren’t hearing me. I’m not a vampire.”

“No, you’re human.” The vampire’s voice was stronger, more determined. “You’re magic, and you’re my sire.” Willow shook her head. “Please, without a sire,” The vampire looked scared. “You’re my sire.” It sounded desperate. “You’re my sire.”

“You need to get some sleep. You can have more blood when you wake up.” Willow moved to stand up, but the vampire reached out and grabbed her arm. Willow’s heart started to pound and her face paled as she tugged on it and didn’t get free.

“Please, you’re my sire.” The vampire pleaded. “If I have no sire they say I’m anyone’s and they can do anything they want to me. Please. I told them I had a sire. I told them she was strong and beautiful and vicious and if I don’t have a sire…” The vampire let out a sob. Willow hesitantly reached out her other hand and gently patted the vampire on the shoulder.

“No one is going to hurt you here. You just relax and get better.” Willow let out a breath in relief when the vampire let her arm go and leaned back. “I need to clean up the floor and you just rest.”

“I’ll be a good childe, I will.” The vampire was still pleading and Willow felt like she was in the twilight zone. This was a hellmouth version of the imprinting baby birds did. One thing Willow knew was that she wasn’t going to tell the vampire she wasn’t her sire again, not without backup. Willow rubbed at her wrists and wondered if it would bruise.

“You just rest. Knock on the bathroom door if you need me, but don’t come out. There is sunlight all over the place.” And just to be on the safe side Willow was going to open a few more curtains to keep the vampire in the room. It was better to know where the vampire in the house was and not have the sneaking, just in case the vampire decided Willow would make a better lunch than sire. “You have a name?” Maybe Willow could do a little research once the floor was done.

“Kristin,” The vampire’s voice was softer and she looked down, as if afraid to meet Willow’s eyes. “Kristin Peters.”

“I’m Willow.” Willow gave Kristin a small smile. “Willow Rosenberg.”

“I know.” Kristin looked up and smiled just a little. “Thank you.” Willow didn’t know what the thank you was for, but she backed out of the bathroom, careful not to let any light in.

Her mind felt like it was spinning as she scrubbed at the floors. What she really wanted to do was research, but it wasn’t like she could hide this mess if anyone came over, not that they did very much lately, what with Xander being with Cordelia and Buffy being so busy with slaying and Angel, well, Willow thought it was very likely that she wouldn’t see anyone today and for once that was really a good thing. It would give her time to think.

Angel, now wouldn’t it be nice to be able to call him and ask, Willow thought a little bitterly as she tossed the washcloth back in the bucket. “Hey Angel,” Willow pretended she was talking to him, “I was wondering if you could tell me more about Pets and Sires and how to heal a vampire from a vicious attack? Why you ask, oh no reason, I am just curious. No, no need to visit, just tell me and while you’re at it do you have any idea how a VAMPIRE could insist I was her sire and not listen when I tell her I’m HUMAN? What do you mean I’m crazy, no really, I just was curious. Please don’t call Buffy.” Willow let out a sigh. “This is just great. I had to let her in too, I’m sure they’ll all be so lectury about that. Willow you mean you actually dragged a vampire into your home? I can just see it now. No, I can’t tell them yet. Maybe I can get Kristin to just leave and there is that uninvited spell.” Willow stared out at the porch and noticed she’d have to hose it off. Could she really just patch the vampire up and send her back out there for more? Willow’s mind filled with visions of the damage the vampire had been in, and that was with her claiming she had a Sire. No, there had to be something Willow could do. No one deserved that, not even a bloodthirsty vampire, and Kristin wasn’t like the other bloodthirsty vampires anyhow. She just seemed so fragile.

Willow needed books. With a glance at the bathroom door, she made up her mind. She’d clean the porch and then tell Kristin she’d be going out.

………………

Willow was back to the house with a few books that she didn’t think anyone would notice was missing right away.

“Sire.” A voice called out from the bathroom. “Um, I’m hungry again. I’m sorry.” She sounded so upset to bother Willow and it made Willow want to make the vampire feel better.

“No, it’s okay. You were hurt, you need blood.” Willow spoke loudly and moved to the fridge to pull out something to heat up for Kristin. All the books said a vampire needed blood to heal and Kristin had been pretty messed up. Perhaps Willow should take a look to see how she was healing, but that was easier to do when the vampire was unconscious, it felt safer.

With a cup in hand Willow knocked on the bathroom door. It opened slowly, cautiously, and Willow couldn’t see the vampire in the bathroom. It made her tense up as she realized Kristin was hiding from the daylight behind the door and that once Willow stepped into the room the vampire would be between her and the exit. Willow stood in the doorway with the cup for a moment, before deciding to quickly put it on the counter near the door and not go in at all.

“Thank you.” Kristin spoke from behind the door. “I, I can’t call home can I?” Kristin asked and Willow’s mind flashed on the first vampire she met that vampwillow had turned. “I mean, that life, it’s pretty much over isn’t it?” The door closed most of the way and Willow stood in the hallway trying to think of what to say.

“You’ll make a new life.” Willow said, but her own voice was quiet and not too convincing.

“Yeah,” Kristin sighed and Willow leaned forward just a little. “I can cook, and I can clean,” Kristin moved cautiously to look out the door, her eye still vampire yellow and the sun just missed her. “I can be useful and I don’t have anywhere else to go.” Kristin’s voice became a whisper. “I’ll do anything, if you want me, if you want to hurt me, anything, just let me stay.” Willow had to look away and tried to not tear up at the pain and desperation in Kristin’s voice. “I can be good, you just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” Willow started to open her mouth, but Kristin talked faster. “I know you aren’t my sire, but I need you to be. Please.”

“I don’t,” Willow stared into scared vampire eyes and didn’t really know what to do. “I don’t know.” She turned and left, unable to see any more begging. She was afraid she’d say yes if Kristin looked sad enough. No one had ever begged her for anything like this, and that vampire looked so fragile doing it. Willow sighed heavily and went back to the living room, and the books she’d managed to borrow.

……………..

Willow was very tired, she’d barely slept the night before and she’d woken up before the sun to the vampire on her porch. It was no wonder that she fell asleep in the book she was reading. The smell of something really nice started to edge into her awareness and Willow groaned a little as she stretched on the couch while her body started to wake up. “Mom, are you back early?” Willow called out hearing cooking going on in the kitchen. Her mother and father were away for the month leading some couples workshops / vacations in Canada.

“Sire, I looked at your fridge.” The voice had Willow’s eyes widening as the memory of the day hit her and her eyes darted to the opened window and the night sky. “I’m making spaghetti and meatballs.” Kristin stepped into the room and Willow stared at the large blue male shirt on the woman. Kristin looked down and Willow’s eyes moved down to see no pants on the woman either. “I borrowed this, is that okay?” Kristin sounded a little nervous and Willow looked up at the woman. She could still see some light bruising on Kristin’s face, and her long legs showed a few scars that were healing.

“That’s fine.” Willow finally spoke, “But why no pants?” Willow sat up completely and put the book on the coffee table.

“I couldn’t find any to fit me.” Kristin stared down at her legs. “Perhaps yours might, but I’d never go into your room without permission.” Willow stared a little longer as Kristin keep looking down, before her mind made the connection and realized Kristin wasn’t looking at her own legs, she was bowing her head to her sire. That was a behavior that the book mentioned.

“I might have some sweatpants or something. You’re still kinda scrapped up, you need something soft.” Willow stood up and moved around the other side of the couch, not getting too close, but it was getting harder to think of the danger when Kristin acted like this.

“Thank you.” There was a clear pause where Kristin clearly wanted to say more, but didn’t. Willow just nodded and started up the stairs, but once she was at the top she turned and watched as the vampire returned to cooking. That was kind of strange. “You know I don’t, well, I don’t drink blood right?” Willow yelled out when she imagined what would be in a vampire’s red sauce.

“I know.” Kristin sounded just a little amused and Willow nodded, before stepping into her room to pick out some pants.

Kristin didn’t even turn away as she pulled the pants up, so Willow found herself blushing and turning away as she noticed that Kristin didn’t have any underwear either. All of her clothes had been rather ruined by blood and the attack, but Kristin had worn them most of the day anyhow. “I’m sorry, have I done something wrong?” Kristin spoke softly and was looking down again.

“I’m just not used to the changing and naked,” Willow sighed as she watched how Kristin tensed a little.

“I’ll never do it again.” Kristin promised, which was good, but she sounded really upset, which was bad.

“No, no, it’s not that bad.” Willow tried to stop what looked like panic in the vampire. “I mean, I see some in the gym, but I try not to look. I was just trying not to look.” Kristin looked up and stared for just a moment, before nodding.

“I remember doing that, but I just don’t even care about naked anymore.” Kristin spoke slowly, as if considering the change in herself. “I used to change in the bathroom for privacy.”

“I did that too.” Willow smiled a little, but it wasn’t a fond memory. She’d started that to avoid being teased.

“Oh, dinner.” Kristin glanced at the stovetop. “What would you like to drink?” Kristin asked.

“I can get it.” Willow spoke and noticed Kristin’s shoulders sag a little as the woman actually worked to dish her up, but Willow grabbed her drink and sat at the table. Letting someone do this much for her felt strange, but Kristin clearly wanted to do it all.

Kristin was nibbling on her own lip as she set the plate down and looked a little distracted. “Um, Willow?”

“Yes.” Willow looked up from what smelled like a very good dinner to the vampire, glad to hear her name and not Sire.

“Can I eat?” Kristin asked quietly.

“Sure, I don’t want to just eat alone.” Willow blinked at the strange question.

“No, um.” Kristin stared into her eyes. “Can I, am I able to, eat this food?”

Willow’s jaw dropped a little as she realized how little Kristin knew. Vampires were just supposed to know this stuff. “Did it have any garlic in it?” Willow spoke gently as she watched Kristin seeming to realize how different things were, and the vampire looked lost. This was why she needed a sire, these Pets didn’t have the same instinctual knowledge, aside from being weaker. None of the books mentioned this.

“Um, no.” Kristin blinked.

“Then you can eat it. Don’t know that it will do much for you, but I’ve seen vampires eat food.” Willow saw the next question in Kristin’s eyes. “And yes you made the food, of course you can have some.”

“Thank you.” Kristin nodded and turned to fix a plate up while Willow just studied her back with a thoughtful look on her face. This wasn’t a simple case of heal her and let her go wild, this vampire needed help, she really did need a sire.

“After dinner, maybe I could take a look at your wounds.” Willow blushed as she said it, but she knew the worst of the wounds were under that shirt, and with bruises still around she needed to see how bad the stab wounds were. Kristin looked pleased and stared down again, not really at her own plate.

Pets healed slower, and the animal blood wasn’t the best for healing either. Willow took another bite of her own meal and smiled, Kristin cooked pretty well.

…………………

The next morning Willow woke up to the sound of her phone ringing and she stared down at the floor with wide eyes as she answered it distractedly. Kristin was sleeping on the side of the bed away from the window, curled up to a stuffed animal that had fallen on the floor. It was painfully cute. “Hello?” Willow spoke and noticed Kristin sigh in her sleep.

“Hey Wills.” Buffy’s voice was a surprise this early in the morning. Willow turned her eyes to the clock and realized it wasn’t really all that early. “How are you doing?” Buffy sounded concerned.

“I’m fine.” Willow turned so she could stare at the vampire on her floor as she spoke and did her best to not make it obvious she was trying to keep her voice down. If she tried to leave the bed she suspected that might wake Kristin up, and that vampire really did need her sleep.

“Do you want to go to the mall today? I feel bad about you being all locked up at night.” Buffy spoke and Willow wanted to go, but she wasn’t sure about leaving Kristin alone just yet. And she really knew that Buffy couldn’t come by the house.

“It’s not so bad.” Willow commented on the locked up at night part first. As she stared at Kristin, who shifted, she noticed the clothes. Kristin didn’t want to wear Willows clothes, a sort of vampire aversion to them. Maybe Willow did need to go to the mall. Shirts a little big on her would fit Kristin, and pants a little tight. “I’ll meet you at your house.” Willow finally agreed, knowing they’d have to be done well before dark so Buffy didn’t feel the need to walk her home.

It was as she hung up that Willow realized she was really going to lie to her friends about Kristin, keep the vampire her little secret, and that she’d already decided to keep the vampire here where she was safe.

……………………….

Willow just stared at the downstairs and shook her head. The counters were spotless, the mail was sorted, the floor was sparkly. When she’d risked going to bed last night she’d told Kristin she could watch television if she wanted, she hadn’t told her to slave away with housework the hard way. Willow stared at the carpet and swore she would have heard the vacuum if Kristin used it. Did that vampire pick up the pine needles by hand?

“This is sad.” Willow whispered as she opened the fridge to grab something to eat on the run. “She’s so scared she really would do anything.” Willow mused as she took a bite of the apple. “Could I order her to not hunt, not kill?” She thought as she grabbed her purse and headed for the door before Buffy thought to try and meet her halfway and ended up at the door. “But then I’m using her fear, and that’s bad. Even if I’m doing it for good, that would be bad wouldn’t it?” Willow locked the front door and started for Buffy’s house, feeling all twisty and confused inside. There weren’t any books on how to keep a vampire pet, unless it was an account of vampires that had them, and pets weren’t treated well. Willow wanted to be much better than that.

It didn’t even occur to her that she’d already decided to be a sire, because Kristin needed it so badly, Willow just grumbled about the fact that she had no one she could talk to about this. Angel really would tell Buffy, and Buffy really would run into Willow’s house with a stake in her hand ready to end it quickly. Willow winced as her mind filled in the scene, and how Kristin would look at her so scared and wait for Willow to protect her, or how easily she’d be killed because Kristin wasn’t a proper vampire. Kristin was the runt of the litter, the one everyone else picked on, and Willow really understood how that felt. She’d been picked on for years, by Cordy and her Cordettes. Still it took monsters to do to Kristin what the woman had done to her. Willow was surprised the damned vampires hadn’t taken the time to rape her too. Willow stopped walking and had to take a few deep breaths to calm down, so Buffy wouldn’t see angry Willow and ask questions.

Would Kristin want leather pants? Willow focused on the shopping instead, and vampires liked leather, but that was spendy. Perhaps Kristin would like her sire’s leather pants? Willow thought as she remembered she still had them, but part of her didn’t really want to give them away, even if she’d never wear them again.

……………

“Will?” Buffy was grinning at her and Willow blushed as she looked at the tight pants she wore. She could never wear this to school, but Kristin was rather athletic looking, so she’d wear smaller pants. “Looking good Wills.” Buffy spoke and Willow blushed a bit more.

“Um,” Normally now she’d mention how she couldn’t do these pants, but Willow swallowed and nodded, hoping no one else was looking too hard. “Thanks.”

“I guess some of VampWillow rubbed off on you.” Buffy teased and Willow looked away, embarrassed, as she remembered how her double had tried that in a very sexy, skanky way.

“I need more pants Buff.” Willow turned to her friend and nibbled on her lip. “Pick out another color or two for me? Same style?” It was partly to get Buffy to leave her alone as she tried on some shirts. Willow had picked some shirts she thought of as vampire friendly. They either showed cleavage or belly. One showed both and Willow didn’t want Buffy expecting to see any of them at school.

“Sure thing Wills. You didn’t tell me you were after a make over. I would have told mom we were going to be later.” Buffy walked off, looking happy. Willow stared after her a moment before running to her dressing room to toss on shirt after shirt. They just needed to be a little bit bigger, because Kristin had a bit more in the chest than she did.

Looking at her reflection Willow smiled just a little, imagining the timid vampire’s expression when she got the gift. Maybe Willow would really pick out some clothes for herself too, but nothing like this, Willow thought as she removed another top. She could hear Buffy calling her name to find out what stall she was in, so Willow waved a hand over the door and took the pants she was handed.

…………………

“Sire.” The voice was soft and slow, and Willow watched Kristin’s hand reach out to touch the soft silk shirt on the top of the pile. The vampire looked at her and her eyes looked shiny. “Thank you sire.” Kristin whispered and her eyes fell to the ground again, in a pet’s submissive pose. Willow just stared, shocked at the way the gift was taken so seriously.

She didn’t ruin the moment by telling Kristin to not call her sire, Willow just moved a little closer and gently touched Kristin’s arm. “I hope they fit, I tried them on and while they don’t fit me perfectly I was guessing what your size might be.”

“I could try them on.” Kristin looked up and smiled, that was better than the smile Willow had imagined while buying these for her. Kristin reached up to the button on the shirt she was wearing, before stopping suddenly. “Can I change in the bathroom?” Kristin asked for permission, and Willow just nodded, glad that Kristin remembered not to do naked in front of her.

Willow eeped when Kristin stopped before picking up the clothes and pulled her into a hug, startled and her heart started to hammer nervously knowing a vampire was that close to her. Kristin just held her and Willow felt her strength and her cold, but she also could feel some shaking in Kristin’s body, before the vampire pulled back, her grr face in place. “Thank you.” Kristin said and turned to grab the close and darted for the bathroom.

………………….

“I found another VampWill vamp last night.” Buffy said as she came into the library in the morning and Willow looked up quickly. “She got away.” Buffy didn’t look happy and Willow felt strange, because a part of her was happy the vampire escaped, but another part of her worried about what that vampire was up to now. “That’s number four.”

“Five,” Willow whispered to herself and when Buffy turned to look at her Willow’s heart started to pound. “I’m thinking there has to be at least five.” She said louder and Buffy nodded.

“I was thinking five too.” Buffy admitted.

“I wouldn’t discount the possibility of seven too quickly.” Giles said as he came into the room carrying books. “While she was relatively young, she was turned by a very old vampire bloodline, she could have carried some of that power in her blood.”

……………