At first he planned to ignore the
invitation.
But Jean-Paul was a particular favorite of the L.A. Master;
and Spike had no wish to antagonize him. So midnight found
him gaining admittance to Jean-Paul's elegant mansion in the
Hollywood Hills, waving away the minion who tried to relieve him
of his leather coat.
"Spike!" Jean-Paul greeted him as warmly as if
he'd been a long-time friend rather than a virtual
stranger. "I was just telling Hugh that I have a
special treat for everyone tonight! Do you know Hugh
Campion?"
"Only by reputation," Spike replied, studying the
tall, broad figure of the older vampire.
The Master of Los Angeles nodded graciously. "I must
say the same. And yet, you have quite a formidable
reputation, Spike! Are you enjoying your stay in the City
of Angels?"
Spike's imperturbable mask never slipped; although he
recognized deliberate baiting in the wording of the
question. "Yeah, always liked sunny
California."
Jean-Paul smirked. "But isn't there plenty of sunshine
in Brazil, Spike?"
Spike reminded himself that Jean-Paul was surrounded by plenty of
minions; and contented himself with a cool stare. "I
find I prefer it stateside, mate. Offers
more...scope."
*Let them make what they wished of that, the sodding wankers.*
A minion approached with a tray of wineglasses, and
Jean-Paul handed one to Spike and one to the Master.
"The freshest blood," he said
apologetically. "It's at body temperature. Usually I
provide humans on which to feed, but in light of my little
surprise..."
The blood was fresh, Spike noticed; but for once he would
prefer real wine.
"Well, don't keep us in suspense, Jean-Paul," the
Master chided. "What exactly is this surprise of
yours?"
"What else, in L.A.? A videotape,"
Jean-Paul said smugly.
Spike nearly snorted. All that build-up...just for a
videotape?
Some other vampires surrounded them. "Did you
say a videotape, Jean-Paul? Is it pornographic?"
Their host laughed scornfully. "THAT would scarcely be
special enough to require a premiere party, would it?"
"A snuff film, perhaps?" another vampire
suggested eagerly.
Bored, Spike began to calculate how soon he could slip
away. He wasn't in the mood to watch a video...in fact,
ever since the final split with Drusilla, he'd been feeling
strangely enervated. He no longer missed Dru; but he didn't
seem to know how to live without her, either. It was like
he wanted something else... but he didn't know what.
"No, no! This...this is really something unique,
Werner." Jean-Paul glanced around the ring of excited
faces. "I guarantee it's something no one here has
ever seen before!"
Spike felt a faint stirring of curiousity. Several vampires
present were approaching their tricenntennials; there
wasn't much they hadn't seen.
"At least tell us what the tape's about," begged
Werner.
Jean-Paul snickered. "It MIGHT...I'm not saying it is,
you understand, but it MIGHT...be about...a Slayer!"
This caused a frenzied buzz of specualtion that would have made
Spike think of a beehive...except, he felt like he'd been
sucker-punched. A tape...of a SLAYER?
It had been months since he'd seen her...still small and blonde
and sparkling, somehow..undefeated. He felt a sudden throb
of emotion that might have been- probably was- fear.
But...when had he ever been afraid of her?
Suddenly he couldn't wait until it was time to view the
tape.
Jean-Paul was serving liquor as well as blood; and Spike
indulged himself freely. Yet he was among the first when
Jean-Paul finally led them into the screening room.
Jean-Paul stood in front of the screen, holding a
videotape. "When I said this tape MIGHT be about a
Slayer, I lied!"
Spike held onto control; but a few of the younger ones
vamped and growled.
But Jean-Paul merely chuckled. "It's about TWO
Slayers!"
The room erupted into wild applause, which he acknowledged with a
self-satisfied bow. "This tape," he intoned
solemnly, "is the only one of its kind. It shows a
fight between two Slayers...to the death!"
More applause, reaching frenzied levels. Spike found that
his hands were clenched into fists, and thrust them into his
pockets.
"TWO Slayers? How is that possible?" Werner
demanded.
Several vampires present knew the story; and shouted it
out.
"The Slayer was dead..."
Killed by the Master..."
"Revived by a friend..."
"But dead long enough to call
another..."
Spike had vague memories of fighting that other Slayer, and he
was certain he'd have killed her, if Buffy hadn't stepped
in. Now this one...Faith...had turned traitor; and
the two of them would face off in a fight to end all fights.
"Where did you find such a thing, Jean-Paul?"
Hugh Campion asked curiously.
"The Mayor had a security camera installed in the turncoat
Slayer's apartment. After the big showdown, a vampire who
now works for me retrieved it and fled the Hellmouth.
Unfortunately there's no sound, but we do have full, glorious
color!"
He touched a button, and there they were...two Slayers, facing
each other across the length of a room. Spike was conscious of
the greatest urge to breathe deep...but forced himself to act
normal.
The Slayer- HIS Slayer, Buffy- wore his colors, red
and black; and the sight gave him a momentary thrill as she
walked forward.
"Ahh!" It was the talkative Werner again.
"Beautiful...why are all Slayers so beautiful?"
"Can't imagine," Jean-Paul said lightly.
"Seems an incredible waste, my friends!"
And then- the fight exploded.
Spike watched spellbound as blow and counter-blow landed.
When Buffy was slammed into the mirror, he winced
reflexively; he smiled when she kicked the brunette a hard
one. *God, Slayer,* he thought, as she blocked a
punch, *I never knew what you had in you! Watch luv...move,
NOW! Good...good one! Again...stay on her!
Stay...*
He realized what he was doing, and it gave him pause. When
did the fight become partisan? What did he care which
Slayer won?
But it was; and he did.
In his head, he fought every move of that battle with her, blind
and deaf to his surroundings...until that moment when the two
Slayers crashed out the window in a waterfall of splintering
glass...
The lights came up; and Spike blinked his way back to
reality. Every vampire present was clamoring to view the
tape again. Looking around, Spike wondered if any one of
them was as aroused as he was.
Probably... that tape would turn a vampire on better than
any skin-flick possibly could.
"Enough!" Jean-Paul, laughing and besieged, held
up his hand to still the clamor. "No, we won't rewind
the tape...not tonight! Be content, my friends, tonight
you've seen something other vampires have only dreamed
about."
His smile took on a cruel tinge of sadistic enjoyment.
"And now, I will wish you all a good night."
*He's excited,* Spike thought. *He's so bloody
excited he can't wait to get rid of us; so he can pleasure
himself. Probably with that tape running. . .*
Her image filled his mind. He'd never seen her dressed in
leather before. And in his colors...he found his excitement
becoming painful...
Spike lingered while most of the others took leave, listening
while they tried to bargain with an adamant Jean-Paul for a copy
of the tape. Spike didn't bother; he knew there was
no possibility Jean-Paul would be willing to share his
treasure. No...that wasn't the way....
"Spike? You wish to join us?" Jean-Paul
glanced at Hugh Campion uncertainly.
"We must not be inhospitable, Jean-Paul." The
Master was amenable. "Spike is evidently enjoying your
party, so far." His pale eyes roamed aver the blond's
lean body.
Spike grinned and draped his arm over Jean-Paul's shoulder.
"Right, mates...nothing like a good video to get in the
mood, hmm?"
Jean-Paul shrugged; and exchanged an amused glance with
Hugh Campion. He led the way to his enormous bedroom, a
vampiric haven of crimson brocade.
"Just let me lock up our little beauties," he
opened the wall safe concealed behind an original Rembrandt,
while Spike watched with a bored look of indifference.
"How many copies do you have to make for that lot out
there?"
"There'll only be one copy made," Hugh Campion
drawled. "Mine."
"Of course," Jean-Paul fawned on the older
vampire. "We share everything, don't we, Master?"
The Master nodded slowly, then turned to look at Spike. Their
eyes met. "And tonight, we'll share Spike."
Spike tightened his grip on Jean-Paul's throat; and the
Frenchman gibbered in terror.
"Open the safe." The words were cold,
emotionless; yet something in the blue eyes flickered when
they rested on the videotape.
"You...you want a copy made, Spike?" Jean-Paul
stammered, trying not to look at the bed behind them- the
bed where the naked body of what had been the Master of Los
Angeles sprawled in mutilated obscenity.
Spike's lips curled. "No copies, remember,
Jean-Paul?"
Then the blond vampire snapped his neck.
Deliberately, unhurriedly, Spike got dressed.
He dropped the videotape into the pocket of his leather
coat. Then, hand on the doorknob, he surveyed his work with
satisfaction, and permitted himself a small smile.
How this outing had revived his memories of the London
streets...and of a small urchin, living by picking and stealing,
who was easy prey for the men and older boys who used him for
their own ends! One of them, he recalled, had been very
like Hugh Campion...which was why he'd made the Master's death as
brutal as possible. Spike scowled, studying the body.
"Now, what did I do with the head? Oh, right."
It had rolled into a dark corner; one of Spike's boots
connected and kicked it under the bed.
He let himself out of the mansion, strolling unconcernedly past
the minions.
"Leaving?" It was the young vampire, Werner.
Spike nodded. "Must get my beauty rest, mate.
But it was a real interesting party..."
"Wasn't it?" Werner agreed enthiusiastically as
they headed down the driveway together. "I never
thought I'd see something like that! That videotape must be
worth a fortune. If it was mine, I'd sell copies...it'd
outsell Titanic and Star Wars combined! What would you do,
if you had it?"
Spike lit a cigarette. "Keep it to look at. Just
me."
Werner chuckled. "Well, Jean-Paul has a party piece
that'll last him years!"
They reached the main road, and paused.
Werner said suddenly, "What do you think happened, in that
Slayer fight? Which of them won?"
Spike grinned at him. "I don't think.... I know!"
"Oh?" Werner watched the blond turn away.
"Off to hunt or something?"
Spike glanced back. "No...thought I'd have a bit of a
lie-in tomorrow, mate. Just kick back, relax.... watch a
video..."
