Title: Bitter
Series: The Demon Love Trilogy: Story One
Author: M. Jade
Summary: An alternate take on “Passion”
Rating: PG-14
Warning: Violence, innuendo, and character death
Spoilers: Takes place during the second half of “Passion”
(Everything up to the “Discovery scene” has happened)
Feedback: I crave the constructive kind
Disclaimers: Joss is the big kahuna of BtVS, and Ty King wrote the screenplay for “Passion”, which I love.
Distribution: Anyone who has my previous work can have this, anyone who doesn’t need only to ask
Notes: All I have to say is that Sarah strikes again.  Sit back for the angstorama.

Rupert Giles came home to the sound of “La Boheme” playing over the stereo and a bottle of champagne on the coffee table.  The note read “UPSTAIRS”, and so he followed it with the champagne in hand, inhaling the scent of the rose petals, admiring the soft glow of the candlelight as he ascended the stairs, and humming to the romantic strains of the music she had chosen for him.  He expected to find his love waiting for him.  He didn’t expect to find her dead.  As her lifeless eyes stared into the distance, the whole sickening scene was unfolded for him.  Only one “person” he knew of could be that depraved, that sadistic.  Only one person would have done this to him; to her.  Jenny was dead, and Giles knew who was responsible.  He knew who had set this scene up for him.  He dropped the bottle and wineglasses he was holding in the shock of all the realization, trying to back down the stairs.

He felt oddly numb as he done so, nearly stumbling and missing the first step.  He quickly turned and raced down the stairs, taking them two at a time.  Giles could feel the moisture building in his eyes, fighting the tears.  Jenny, the one woman who had dared to break through his formal exterior to find the man inside was dead, and he felt responsible.  He had been the one to turn on her when Anglus reemerged and she had felt compelled to do something about what had happened, and that’s why she had been alone that night.  That was how Angel had murdered her.  Giles reached out to the phone on the table, but a sudden shuffle caught his attention before his hand reached the receiver.  He turned to see Angel emerge from the darkened hallway, holding a terrified Willow in front of him.

“Hello, Rupert,” the demon greeted him.  “I see you found my little present.  Hoped you liked the wrapping.  But hey, on the upside, look who I found sneaking around outside?  Isn’t she cute when she’s scared senseless?”  Willow struggled under his tight grasp, but Angel refused to release her.

“Willow, what are you doing here!  You’re supposed to be at Buffy’s!” Giles gasped, and Angel threw his hostage in Giles’ direction, the Watcher catching the hacker before she hit the floor.

“Giles, I’m sorry!  Your book… I thought we could find some way to keep him out of the library.  I thought it might help, so I came to see you.  I didn’t think Buffy would want to talk anymore tonight.” she explained in a small voice.  “Jenny…” She began to tremble a little, and Giles gave the redhead a hug.

“It’s all right, love,” he told her gently.  “Are you all right?”

“Just some bumps and bruises,” she confirmed.  “You?”

“Nothing a good stiff drink won’t help,” he said dryly.  Angel looked onto the touching conversation smugly.

“Ah, aren’t they sweet, ladies and gentlemen?  Now, the real question is Rupert, what are you teaching the children?  Going out alone at night?  It’s just not safe anymore,” the vampire said mockingly.  Giles looked up and pulled Willow to his side, trying the put himself between her and Angel.

“You bastard,” he hissed, and Angel gave a hardy laugh.

“Such language, Rupert!  I’m beginning to thing that you’re a bad influence on your charges,” he said with a grin.  “The next thing you know, you’ll be telling me that the real reason Willow came here was to get adventurous with her two favorite teachers,” he said leeringly.  “Not that I can say anything about your tastes in women, Rupert.  I always wondered what it would be like to have a redhead myself.  Being Irish, you would think I have, but hey, it’s been so long that I’ve forgotten what it’s like.”  Giles clenched his fist.

“Shut up,” he said coldly, fire burning in his eyes.

“You really are interested in her,” Angel said snidely, laughing at the thought.  “Why, you dirty old man!  Who would have thought?  The school board will not be pleased!” he admonished.

“Stop it, Angel, please,” Willow stuttered.

“N N N N ooo,” Angel returned mockingly.  “It’s much too fun to see you beg, Little One.  Rupert, you’ve done one Hell of a job with her,” he told Giles, who was barely containing his fury.  His face began to morph, primal ridges raising from the smooth skin, and Willow gasped.

“Oh, God,” Willow whispered, tightening her hold on Giles’ shoulder.

“God has nothing to do with this,” Angel replied.  “But if you’d like to think of me that way, fine.”  Giles darted forward, in full Ripper mode, ready to thrash Angel.  Just as he closed in, Angel gave him a vicious backhand, sending him flying back through the air towards Willow.  He barely missed hitting the hacker, landing roughly on the floor beside her.

“Giles!”  Willow cried as she knelt down to help him.  Before she could, Giles raised up and flew back to his attacker.  “No!”  Willow screamed.  Angel gave the Watcher a hard body block, and Giles skidded back.  He gave his surrounding a quick glance, spotting a quarterstaff against the near-by wall.  He reached out for it, holding it by the end and taking a swing at Angel.  It caught the vampire on the side, and he gave a satisfying grunt.

“Willow, get out of here,” Giles ordered as he turned to face the hacker behind him. She hesitated for a moment as Giles took another swing with the staff, but Angel shot forward, dodging the weapon, and he raced on, straight for a horrified Willow, bodily throwing her against the wall.

“You’re not going anywhere,” the told her as she slumped down, the pain from the blow nearly unbearable.

“Leave her alone!” Giles shouted.  Angel reached out with all his preternatural speed, grabbing the weapon from a startled Giles.  He gave him another backhand, sending the Watcher to the floor.  As Willow watched, Angel picked up Giles with all his might, holding him firm, a perfect position for the kill.  Angel looked to Willow, holding Giles in front of him, fear showing in the Watcher’s eyes.

“All right, Little One.  I’ll give you a choice.  I can kill him and let him stay dead like his precious Gypsy, or I can kill him and make him one of my kind.  What’s your answer?”  Willow began to tremble violently, the shock of the whole scene finally getting to her.  The words died in her throat.

“Stop it,” Giles cried, struggling under Angel’s grasp.  “Don’t do this to her!”  Angel sighed.

“Rupert, I’m the antagonist here!  I call the shots.  If I say she chooses, she chooses.  Now shut the fuck up!” he ordered harshly.  Willow’s eyes went wide, but the words refused to come.  Her tiny body was visibly shaking against the wall, and Giles couldn’t stop it.  “Come on, Willow.  We haven’t all night!  What’s the call?”  Tears began to stream down her face, and she tried again to speak, but her voice refused to be heard.

“Angel, you know she can’t answer!  Stop it!”  He placed his right hand firmly over Giles mouth, silencing him.

“Well, Little One, if you won’t choose old Rupert’s fate, I’ll do if for you,” he said.  He leaned in and buried his fangs in Giles’ neck, his victim giving an audible gasp.  Giles’ body began to tremble as Angel drained him, and he could feel himself growing weaker at the blood loss.  Finally, Angel released his hold, Giles slumping in his arms.  Angel held Giles with his left hand as he bit into his right wrist.  Angel held up the bloody wrist to Giles mouth, pushing his face to it.  Giles tried not to accept the offering, but he was too weak to refuse.  As Willow looked on, he began to take in Angel’s blood, sealing his fate.  The feast turned furious before Giles would let go, his body falling lifelessly to the floor.

“Giles!”  Willow gasped.  Angel gave a smile as he rubbed the tender wrist.

“Now that was cool!” he declared loudly.  “I’ve never turned a Watcher before!  Thanks, Little One,” he told her.

“How could you!” Willow hissed.  “He would never have wanted to die that way!”

“All part of the fun, Willow,” Angel explained with a dramatic flourish.  “If I did what he expected me to do, then where would that get me?  Nowhere,” he replied.  He walked over to her, game face intact, and bent down to stroke her hair.  “I’ll bet you’d taste so sweet,” he mused.  “So innocent and pretty.”  He moved his hand down to her chin.  “I’ll bet you’re even a virgin,” he said in a barely audible whisper.

“Angel…” she trembled under his touch.  She tried to turn away, but Angel’s hand followed her face.  His touch was feather light, so utterly gentle, she couldn’t believe this was the same person.  He leaned in, close to her.

“Don’t be afraid, Little One,” he offered softly.  “It will all be over very soon.”  Angel bent down and gave her a light kiss on her soft lips.  She shook under the shock, causing Angel to kiss her harder.  Remembering her need for oxygen, he let her go.  Her eyes were red with her tears, her breath ragged.

“Giles… why did you have to kill Giles,” she asked softly.  Angel took her chin to his hand.

“Several reasons.  Curiosity, first of all.  Giles will make one Hell of a vampire, don’t you think?  Second, he’s smart.  When Buffy realizes she’s lost him, the whole fucking operation she’s got going will crumble.  She can’t do it with out him, and we’ll have him on our side.  And last…”  He looked her directly in the eyes.  “So I could offer him to you.”

“What!”

“I am offering him to you, Willow,” he repeated.  “No Jenny, no Buffy, no Oz.  Just you and Rupert, living out whatever teenaged fantasies you’ve ever dreamt up,” he told her.  “You know you want him.  Now, he’s yours.”

“He would never… Giles isn’t like that!” she rationalized.  Angel shook his head.

“Have you been blind all this time?  Of course he wants you!  Can’t you feel it?”  She looked over to the librarian; her heart recalling all the emotion she had ever felt around him.  She had never admitted it even to Xander, but she had been harboring a crush on Giles since she had met him.  The dashing looks, the sharp mind, the dry wit, she had found everything about him charming.  And Angel knew it.  God, she had wanted him.  But she had never been convinced that he could ever want her back.  Maybe she had been wrong, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to gamble her life on it.  Angel forced her to face him.  “Don’t think about it, Willow.  You can feel it, can’t you?  Just try.”  She tried, and she succeeded.  Something in him seemed to draw her, and she was sure Giles felt it too.  Angel had won, this time.  She looked into the vampire’s dark eyes, all the emotion draining from her face.

“Do it,” she whispered in a nearly inaudible voice.  Angel inhaled her sweet scent, and leaned in, pressing his mouth to her tender neck.  The skin gave easily, his fangs drove in, and her blood flowed into him.  The taste was unlike any Angel had ever experience, something uniquely Willow, and he took her in with all he had.  He could feel her fragile heart beating against his chest, and the warm tang of her skin.  She gasped as he drained her, her body giving a slight convulsion under the onslaught, which he ignored.  He kept at it, almost draining her completely before he forced himself to stop.  She gave a weak pant as he let go, then she looked into his eyes, ready to finish it.  He stayed close to her to allow her easy access, and she came up to press her lips to his neck.  He could feel her tiny teeth scraping the skin, attempting to break it, and the nip sent a shiver down his spine.  She soon succeeded, drawing a slow stream of blood from him, and she eagerly began to drink.  It had been a long time since anyone had fed off him, and Angel then knew he had forgotten the sensation.  The feel of her swollen lips, the press of her skin to his, it was intoxicating.  He came close to forgetting who he was in all the rush.

After what seemed like an eternity, Willow let go, collapsing to the floor.  Angel could feel the blood coming down his unhealed neck, even as the wound closed.  He took a tissue from a near-by box on the table and wiped off his neck, hoping that he hadn’t stained his shirt.  He looked down onto Willow’s body, sighing.  “Well, Little One, you have your wish.”  His face returned to its normal, human appearance.  “I stopped Jenny with my “cure”.  And I have the two vampires Buffy will never be able to kill.  Nice work, for one night,” he mused.  He took Willow’s hand and drug her body next to Giles, entwining their hands in a symbolic gesture he was sure Buffy would understand.  He looked down to his handiwork, admiring how peaceful they seemed together, even in death.  “See you soon,” he told them.  Angel turned on his heel and began to head for the door.  As he left, he couldn’t help himself and started to hum the tune to “Unchained Melody”, shutting the door behind him.

DISTANT