2. LAMBING.

[hismasterpiece]

Tonight, just after sundown, there is a ruckus on one of the farms northeast of the village. When the bleating dies down, several dead lambs might be found in one of the enclosures. The ewes paw and nose at the bodies, dumb terror still fresh in their eyes.

Forest animals just have not been cutting it for Drusilla. But the vampire has been too wary to approach the village and feed there -- not without her Family, those who strengthen her. She stalks the journals during the day when she's not sleeping. Two slayers? A vampire hunter? All sorts of overpowered freaks and heroes and demons? She might be mad, but Dru is not stupid enough to attempt any kills in the village. Yet.

As she tears through the last lamb, the vampire laments to herself how much more fun this would be with Spike. And then she convinces herself in a long, drawn-out argument with a curiously red evening star -- which she quickly names Ethelind -- to spy on the sleeping village. Find out where the sweetest victims lay their heads. Her tattered white new-feather sundress, covered only by a black lace shawl, is stained red with lambs' blood. The dress of her porcelain doll, which she is carrying with her, is also stained. Perhaps she can stop at the shop for a new frock, and one for dolly, too.

When she glides through the village, Drusilla will dare to peek into some windows. She cannot enter any homes without an invitation.

[Dru will not be lingering around anyone she has identified as a threat. She is a powerful vampire but far more bold when working with lackeys or her "family" -- Angel, Spike, Darla. IF YOU WANT YOUR CHARACTER TO DIE OR BE INJURED AT THIS TIME JUST TELL ME IN A SUBJECT LINE, otherwise she won't be killing or hurting anyone in this post.]

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[simplestgift]

Archie's walks in the woods are usually during the day, but on some nights, he finds walls too pressing. It's a nice night out, anyway, and while he doesn't venture far from the village, he makes sure it's far enough to get a view of the stars without light pollution.

[hismasterpiece]

"Sweet Ethelinde, sweet Ethelinde, have you heard her singing by the river? Have you seen her, wet to the kneeeees with dew? Seen her stomp her pretty toes over the graaaaves?"

Dru doesn't notice the sailor yet; she is too busy dancing in the clearing, singing in a high girlish voice a song of utter nonsense.


Or IS it?

[simplestgift]

Archie remembers stories his governess told of women found dancing and singing in the clearings of forests. Sometimes they were wicked witches, sometimes mischievous fairies. Some were helpful, some made those who spoke to them into an example. Burd Ellen walking around the church widdershins.

Still he halts and watches, quiet as can be. She's beautiful and graceful and oddly intriguing, but his hard-earned sense of suspicion is tugging at him. He should go. But he doesn't.

[hismasterpiece]

"And she wants a lemon atop her puddiiiiing."

There seems like there should be more of the song, but Dru isn't singing: this is because she has turned and noticed Archie. A smile cracks her face.

"Hallo, my good gentleman!"

[simplestgift]

...Okay, she's slightly frightening. Yet somehow, the only thing he can think to say is, "I'm no gentleman."

And that would be true. His father is the gentleman.

[hismasterpiece]

"Even better! I'm no lady! Would you like to meet my doll, sir?"

[simplestgift]

The eyeballs. The eyeballs are creepy. A witch, in the typical sense?

"It's...quite all right, Miss. I don't need to. Don't you suppose you should be getting home?"

[hismasterpiece]

So creepy.

"But she's here! She's right here." Dru holds up her porcelain doll in the moonlight. The doll's mouth is stained red. Its dress? Spattered with blood.

[simplestgift]

He stumbles backward. Then, collecting himself by force, he glances over her to make sure the blood isn't coming from her. This could be innocent. She could be hurt. In the dim light, it could be something else entirely, not blood...

[bloodwaif]

There is so much blood spattered on her. But she's smiling. "You've frightened her, beautiful boy. Now apologize."

[simplestgift]

He falls back a step. If it weren't for the inherent sexism--women are to be protected--he might be drawing a weapon right now. But he doubts there are two death gods in this town. "Are you hurt?"

[bloodwaif]

"I hurt." Oh, but she was using those words in an entirely different syntax. Dru licked a finger and tested the wind. "It is favorable," she smiled. "I want you."

[simplestgift]

There's an unidentified vamp. But it's a poor King's man who runs from a woman, if she isn't any harm after all. Swallowing, he draws his St. Michael pendant from his clothes. Part of the relief is a cross, and it is all made of silver. If she reacts...

[bloodwaif]

She does. Dru catches her breath in a hiss and starts backward, away from the holy symbol.

"Put it away away! I don't like it at all!" she pouts.

[simplestgift]

Time to go.

"Stay back." He backs away slowly, trying to put distance between them first. Then, heart pounding, he takes off running at a right angle.

[hismasterpiece]

There is a horrific shift of her facial features and Drusilla takes off after the young man. She isn't the fastest runner, for a vampire. She is easily distracted as a rule. But tonight she is craving human blood after being deprived for so long and, even though this man has a cross, she is willing to take a few risks.

[simplestgift]

He's going to die. He's going to die again. He sprints as fast as he can, hearing her take off after him, but doesn't turn to look or listen. The important thing right now is speed.

Speed, not direction. It doesn't take too long before he runs straight into a ravine and is forced to halt and seek a way down. By this point, he has no idea where he is in relation to the village.

[hismasterpiece]

"Look who's in the porriiiiiidge pot! His sweat is sweet his blood is hot. I fancy you, I do. You're quite fit."

She's walking now. They always walk at this point in the horror films, and mostly it's because a victim's panic is so delicious and savory.

[simplestgift]

The song makes his blood run cold. He looks back to see her approach. Slowly. Closer.

Yeah, forget scouting a way down.

He practically throws himself down the ravine, stumbling as momentum carries him faster and faster down the side, until at the last he loses his footing and winds up flat on his face in the leaves at the bottom. It wasn't a long drop--a few feet at most--but various twigs jab into his hands and face, and he spits out a mouthful of rotted leaves. Nothing hurt. He's okay. But going up the other side will take longer, and he glances back to see if she followed him down.

[hismasterpiece]

Of COURSE she is following! He is so beautiful and fine! He would make a perfect pet, and he could hold her all the night after they'd ravaged the village together.

"Come back, don't leave a girl lonely!"

Her satin slippers slide on the gravel at the mouth of the ravine. She purses her lips and gives a soft hiss; getting down will have to be unladylike.

[simplestgift]

Okay, not waiting. Climbing back up the other side would slow her down as well as him, but while she's already slow, he's going to make a mad dash down the ravine to try to lose her before climbing back up.

[bloodwaif]

She gives up on trying to make a dainty descent and instead simply jumps, landing gracefully on the balls of her feet with almost no noise.

"What's your name, sweetie?"

A sniff at the air tells her which direction he's gone, and Dru begins to follow. She calls out as she walks:

"Tell me your name."

[simplestgift]

Surely she can hear him crashing through the leaves. If he's going to shake her, he has to find somewhere to hide and keep quiet until she passes him. But he has no idea where he is any longer. He has his pistol, but that isn't going to do any good. Guns never help. Buffy is finally starting to make sense to him.

Silver. Fire. Beheading. Wood. Things Derek has talked about. He's in a forest, so he's surrounded by wood. But he's not Buffy. His one instance of fighting a vampire was a disaster. He has to hide.

He can't tell if she's within sight when he finally sees a fallen tree as the ravine becomes shallower. The roots clutch shelves of flagstones yanked up from the ground, leaving a large pit where the tree once stood, protected on one side. With a glance backward, he dives into the pit, huddling at the bottom and trying to breathe through his mouth for silence.

He places a hand on his pistol. It won't kill her, but it can make her think twice.

[hismasterpiece]

"Boy? Booyyyyyy?" Delicate lace-and-satin slippers make no sound on the stony bottom of the ravine, but Dru isn't trying to be quiet. "We could dance together forever, you and I! We could dance with their blood on our lips. You could kiss the blood from mine, and I from yours!"

Where did he go, the lovely pet?

[simplestgift]

Suddenly Archie is no longer afraid of dying. Dying, he could come back in a week with nothing worse than another death penalty. But this crazy isn't interested in killing him.

His breath stops altogether.