Chapter 6

The Wolf watched as the little girl skipped through the flowers, stopping every now and then to pick one. He thought of the wonderful supper he was going to have that night when a crash brought him out of his thoughts.

He turned around and saw a young woman sitting on the ground near the edge of the woods. She was brushing leaves and dirt off her dress, though The Wolf couldn’t see why she bothered. She was already dressed in filthy rags, so what was the point of brushing off the dirt?

She looked up and nodded at him. The Wolf’s heart nearly stopped. Her golden locks fell loosely about her face and her piercing green eyes held such fire.

“Hello, Mr. Wolf.”

“Hello. Looks as if you’ve had a bit of a fall.”

“You could say that, yes,” she frowned. She pushed herself to her feet and looked down at her golden dress lying on the ground. She reached down to pick it up and brushed it off gently.

“That’s a very lovely dress you have there,” The Wolf commented. He walked slowly towards the young woman.

“Thank you. I’m going to a ball tonight,” she said brightly.

“A ball, you say? Would this be at the King’s festival?” he inquired.

“Yes, it would.”

“And why, pray tell, would you be going?”

The young woman scowled at him and gathered her fallen things together. The Wolf could tell that he’d angered her and it worried him. He didn’t want this fiery beauty to be displeased with him.

“I only ask for you don’t seem the sort to go.”

This only seemed to anger her more. She glared defiantly up at him, and he had to force himself not to take a step back.

“I’ll have you know I’m just the sort of person that goes to these things. I deserve to go. I work and slave away, and I have just as much right to go as anyone else. I’ve earned my dues,” she spat.

The Wolf smiled at this, pleased to see that the fire in her eyes came from her soul.

“Forgive me, me lady,” he said bowing deeply. “I did not mean to offend. I simply meant that the people who go to such things are somewhat…flighty.”

“Flighty?” she asked. Some of her anger seemed to slip away with his apology.

“Yes…flighty. They put on airs and are not what they seem. They don’t care for anyone but themselves. They are not like you.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” she frowned.

“No…no perhaps not. But I think that we are more alike, you and I, than you are with them.” His smile was genuine, and he could see its effect on the young woman.

“May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?” he asked.

“Everyone calls me, Cinderella.”

“Tell me, Cinderella,” he spoke softly as he stepped closer to her. “If you’re going to this gala tonight, why are you in the woods?”

“I was…um,” Cinderella’s heart began to race as he drew closer, “I was visiting my mother’s grave.”



The Wolf stopped only a foot from her and looked down at her upturned face.

“I’m sorry to hear you’ve lost her.” His voice was a soft caress.

Cinderella felt a tear slide down her cheek. The Wolf wiped it softly away causing her to look up and smile.

“Well I should be heading home; I still have to get ready.”

They stood there looking into each other’s eyes for a moment more before she took a step away, breaking the spell.

“It would be my pleasure to walk you back. There are dangerous things in the woods you know.”

“I know,” she smiled and looked pointedly at him. “But I’d hate to take you away from your dinner plans.” Her eyes flicked to where the young girl in red had been.

“Dinner plans?” The Wolf asked confused. He followed her gaze and smiled. “Ah yes…well, it can wait.” He turned back to Cinderella and offered her his arm, which she paused for only a minute before taking.

With that they headed back off down the path together.

~*~

The Wolf walked Cinderella to her house and waited till she had entered before he started back into the woods. He had tried without success to convince her to stay with him, rather than attend the ball. He knew it was wrong, but for some reason he could only think of her, being with her, watching out for her. She had such power, such strength, but she was being forced to keep it in check.

He shook off all thoughts concerning her as he slipped into the darkening woods. He inhaled deeply and tried to pick up the scent of the little girl in the red cape. He snarled in frustration when he couldn’t find it. He thought perhaps he should make his way back to where he’d found her. There he would be able to find her scent and see if she had begun her way to her grandmother’s.

Near the edge of the clearing he picked up a scent, the scent of aged meat. He made his movements more precise, more fluid. His footsteps made no noise; he gave nothing away.

Kneeling in the darkness at the edge of the clearing he saw a man and woman arguing. He slowed his breathing and listened to the angry words filling the air.

The couple was arguing about a spell laid upon their house and also about the ingredients to another spell that would lift it. A young man with a dilapidated white cow came down the path and walked past the arguing couple. The couple stopped arguing when they saw the young man.

He watched as they tricked the young man into selling his cow for a few “magic” beans.

“Magic beans,” The Wolf scoffed, “some fools will believe anything.”

After the sad young man left, the couple began to talk again of what else they needed now that they had the cow. When The Wolf heard them mention a cape as red as blood he remembered why he’d gone back to the clearing. Making his way towards the young girl’s grandmother’s house, he left the young couple to their own devices.

~*~

Later that night, the baker’s wife made her way slowly through the woods with the milky white cow. As she made her way past a fallen log, a young woman in a beautiful silver and gold dress came crashing through the woods. She seemed to lose her footing and fell abruptly to the ground.

“Are you alright?” she asked the fallen woman.

“Yes,” Cinderella said taking a deep breath, “I’m fine. I just need to catch my breath.”

“That’s a beautiful gown, were you at the King’s Festival?”

“What?” Cinderella asked as she stood up, “Oh yes. Yes, I was.”

“My, aren’t you the lucky one,” the baker’s wife commented as she admired the dress. “Why ever are you in the woods at this hour?”

Cinderella was about to answer when the sound of voices not far off stopped her short. She looked startled and ran to hide behind a tree.

“Please,” she begged, “don’t say anything.”

“What?” But before the baker’s wife could get her answer, the trumpeting sound of fanfare filled the glen.

A Prince and his steward came into view. The baker’s wife dropped quickly to her knees and bowed. The Prince came to stand before her, his gaze taking in the whole glen. The Prince was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. His short black hair and broad shoulders made him a powerful vision. Finally, his dark gaze fell on the Baker’s Wife.

“Have you seen a beautiful young woman in a ball gown pass through?” He asked. His voice was deep and powerful.

The baker’s wife stole a glance up at the prince, but quickly averted her gaze.

“I don’t think so, sir.”

“I think I see her over there,” the steward said as he pointed to the far side of the glen.

The prince motioned for the steward to go and look. The prince cast one more glance at the kneeling baker’s wife. His eye’s roamed over her, taking her all in. It was an animalistic look: dark, passionate, powerful. But since it was only a glance, in his mind, he quickly turned and made his way over to his steward. As he walked away the baker’s wife allowed her own gaze to take in the retreating form of the prince, and the way his dress uniform clung tightly to his body.

When the Prince and his steward were out of view, Cinderella made her way over to the still kneeling woman.

“I’ve never lied to royalty before,” the baker’s wife said. Her voice held a hint of humor as well as satisfaction.

“Thank you.”

“If a prince were chasing me,” she said as she stood up, “I certainly wouldn’t hide.”

“Well…what brings you here--and with a cow?” Cinderella asked pointing to the old, white cow that was munching slowly on a patch of grass.

“Oh, my husband's somewhere in the woods. He is undoing a spell,” she said with unabashed pride.

“Oh?” Cinderella was quite impressed.

“Oh yes,” she smiled, “Now the Prince, what was he like?”

“He’s a very nice prince.”

“And?”

“And—It’s a very nice ball. ”

“And?”

“And—When I entered they trumpeted.” Cinderella walked over and sat on a fallen log.

“And?” she asked as she sat next to Cinderella. “The Prince?”

“Oh the Prince…”

“Yes the Prince,” she looked over and smiled in the direction the prince had gone.

“Well… he’s tall,” she said after a moment of thinking.

“Is that all? Did you dance? Is he charming? They say that he’s charming,” The baker’s wife could hardly contain her excitement.

“We did nothing but dance.”

“Yes? And?”

“And it made a nice change,” she smiled.

“No, the Prince.”

“Oh, the Prince,” Cinderella sighed.

“Yes, the Prince.”

“He has charm for a prince, I guess.”

“Guess?”

“I don’t meet a wide range. And it’s all very strange…”

“Are you to return to the festival tomorrow?” The baker’s wife inquired.

“Perhaps.”

“Perhaps?” she laughed, “Oh, to be perused by a prince. All that peruses me is tomorrow’s bread.” The chime of a far off church bell rang the first tone of midnight. “What I wouldn’t give to be in your shoes.”

The second chime rang and Cinderella looked off into the distance.

“Will you look over there? An enormous vine is growing from behind that cottage.”

The baker’s wife’s gaze was caught not by the bean stalk, but by the glimmer of gold from Cinderella’s slippers.

“I mean…slippers,” she said in awe.

“It looks like a giant bean stalk growing into the sky,” Cinderella said, unaware of the woman kneeling at her feet.

“As pure as gold?”

“I must return home,” Cinderella said. She turned quickly and made her way quickly down the path.

“WAIT!” The baker’s wife called, “I need your shoes!” she pleaded. She was about to run after her when Milky White mooed and began to go down the opposite way on the path.

“No!” she cried and turned quickly to run after the escaping cow.

 

~*~

The Wolf was making his way quickly towards Riding Hood’s grandmother’s when an intoxicating scent crossed his path. He stopped short and took a deep breath.

“Cinderella,” he sighed.

His body shivered with near pleasure. He turned quickly and followed her scent. He found her moving quickly down the path. Picking up his pace, he came out of the woods to stand in front of her on the path.

She was so focused on making it home as soon as she could, that she didn’t see The Wolf when he stepped in front of her. She collided hard into him, and if his arms hadn’t wrapped quickly around her, she would have fallen. She braced herself against him, her hands gripping his shoulders.

“Hello, milady,” The Wolf said softly.

Cinderella fought to steady her breathing, for she knew only half of her breathlessness was from the shock of running into someone.

“Hello, Mr. Wolf,” she felt proud that her voice came out only slightly out of breath.

“And where are you off to so quickly?” He leaned down every so slightly.

“Home.”

“But the night is so young.”

“I’m very tired. I have been dancing all night.”

The Wolf inhaled deeply and picked up something he didn’t like; the scent of a man. A low growl rumbled from his chest.

“With who?”

“The Prince.”

The growl deepened till his body vibrated. Cinderella closed her eyes against the sensation.

“I left him, though,” she added quickly. She wasn’t sure why she felt she should explain herself to him. But The Wolf smiled when he heard that she left the prince. It was such a pure and happy smile; she wondered what she wouldn’t do to see him smile like that more.

He brushed a stray lock of her blonde hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes and leaned slightly into his touch. She gave herself a little shake and took a step away from The Wolf. His smile faltered a bit, and she almost stepped back into his arms so she could fix his smile.

“I...I really must get home.”

He bowed deeply and stepped out of her way. He offered her his arm and smiled, but it wasn’t the same one from a moment ago.

“Then allow me to escort you home. There are still dangerous things about.”

She took his arm and smiled.

“Don’t worry,” she patted his arm, “I’ll protect you.”

The Wolf threw his head back and laughed. Cinderella laughed along with him as they made their way down the path.

~*~

TBC

 

Rating: PG13…at the moment…

Spoilers: BTVS season 4 and Steven Sondhiem play Into the Woods.

Summary: I was told to write a fic involving the gang and the Steven Sondhiem play Into the Woods. So here you go.

Disclaimer: I own nothing…sad really…

Author’s note: This is dedicated to my beloved Bloodshedbaby and my precious beta, Spikeskat.. Thanks to who ever nominated my fic over at http://www.vkawards.vampires-kiss.net/ http://destined.to/lsawards and http://www.loveslastglimpse.com/awards/index.html please, please, please go vote. I won Judge’s Choice at the VK awards!!! Hehehehe…sorry…gave me a happy.

So I’ve been asked to make a cast list. So as it stands so far, the cast is such:

Cinderella-Buffy

The Wolf- Spike

Baker-Xander

Baker’s Wife-Cordy

Witch-Willow

Narrator-Giles

The Prince- Angel

If you have any questions just drop me a line. Remember this is my first fic, so go easy on me. Also to those of you who know the play, I warn you that this is where I veer off course into my own little world. Thank you to everyone who sent me kind feedback, it meant a lot.

Feedback sends me to the happy place

 

 

Chapter 7

The Wolf paced back and forth at the edge of the woods in front of Cinderella’s home. He knew the festival would continue tonight, and with it another ball. He also knew that Cinderella would attend and that bothered him more than he liked. There was a perfectly good young girl out there with her aged granny just waiting to be his next meal. But this girl, this Cinderella, had distracted him. So why was he there now? Why was he pacing in front of this girl’s house? Simple. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. She was in his thoughts, his dreams; he was very nearly drowning in her.

“You’re wearing a ditch into the ground.”

The Wolf stopped and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes as her scent enveloped him.

“You smell wonderful,” he said quietly. He turned around slowly, opening his eyes. “And you look even more wonderful, if that could be possible.” Her hair was swept up on top of her head, but she had let a few loose curls fall gently around her face. The moonlight shown brightly off her gown.

“You flatter me.”

“You deserve that and so much more,” he said as he reached for her hand. He bent slowly over her hand and brushed his lips very softly against her skin. He felt the small involuntary shiver that ran through her, and he couldn’t help but smile.

He stood up slowly and nearly forgot to breathe at the sight that greeted him. Her lips were slightly parted, and her eyes seemed to have darkened with the reflection of The Wolf’s own feelings.

Cinderella felt The Wolf began to draw her closer and part of her wanted nothing more than to lean into him, but she knew she couldn’t.

“You are too kind, Mr. Wolf,” she said withdrawing her hand from his. “You did not tell me what you were doing here.”

“I was…”

“Yes?”

“I was waiting for you, of course.”

“Me? Why?”

“To see if you would join me tonight.”

“Join you? Where?” She asked skeptically.

“My world,” he whispered. Slowly, he covered the few feet separating them. He leaned down so that his breath tickled along the side of her neck. “Come try my world on. Though this gown is lovely, my world would suit you much better. This world is not where you belong, you don’t fit here, come with me.”

Cinderella stepped away from The Wolf and frowned.

“We’ve discussed this before, you and I. You tried to convince me I didn’t belong. I told you that I did. I deserve to be in this world.”

“No, you don’t,” he sighed. The moment the world left his mouth, he knew he’d misspoken.

“I don’t?” she asked shocked.

“I said that wrong. I meant-“

“I know what you meant. Goodnight, Mr. Wolf.” She turned and began to walk into the woods towards the castle.

The Wolf flexed his claws by his side, his jaw clenched, and he gritted his teeth in an attempt to get his rage under control as she left him standing there.

~*~

“Don’t look at me! ” the old witch cried, “Get the cape!”

The frightened baker looked between the old crone and the young girl with the red cape. It was the second night and so far all he and his wife had found was the milky white cow. He’d only just stepped into the glen when he saw the young girl. He was trying to decide what to do when the old witch appeared beside him.

“How have you survived this long?” she asked, her voice dripping with disgust. “Get the CAPE!” She gave him one hard shove towards the young girl.

“Old crone,” he mumbled.

“I heard that!”

“Hello! Little girl! What are you doing here in the wood?” he asked as he neared her.

“Oh…hello,” she smiled, “I’m on my way to Granny’s.”

“I thought you were making your way there yesterday.”

“Well I was…I was distracted. You see there was this wolf-“

“Wolf?” the baker asked, shocked. “You should be careful.”

“Oh I know...I know that now,” she sighed. Her eyes began to glaze over, and a peaceful smile graced her face.

“Um…right. Well, maybe I should walk with you to your Granny’s. Make sure you get there this time.”

“Hmm?” She turned to him as if coming out of a trance. “Oh, no, I should be fine, thank you.”

“I insist.” He took her arm and led her down the path.

“Idiot,” the Witch sighed.

~*~

In another part of the woods, Cinderella’s dark prince continued his search. He couldn’t believe she’d run from him. No woman had ever shunned his dark allure before. So focused on his mission was he, that he didn’t notice his brother walking down the path towards him.

“Ah, there you are, good brother. Father and I had wondered where you had gone.”

He was slightly younger than his brother, but the family resemblance was unmistakable. Tall, broad shoulders, strong facial features… but whereas his brother had black hair, his was light brown. And while his brother’s eyes were filled with a dark passion, his seemed…dull. He had the air of someone who was sweet, kind, and gentle. But other than that, he seemed so bland.

”I have been looking all night for her.”

“Her?”

“The beautiful one I danced the evening with.”

“Where did she go?” the younger prince asked.

“Disappeared, like the fine morning mist.”

“She was lovely.”

“The loveliest.”

“I am not certain of that! I must confess,” the younger prince smiled, “I, too, have found a lovely maiden. She lives here in the woods.”

“The woods?”

“Yes. In the top of a tall tower that has no door or stairs.”

“Where?” Cinderella’s prince asked.

“Two leagues from here, due east just beyond the mossy knoll,” his brother replied.

“And how do you manage a visit?” he asked, his dark eyes sparkling with mirth.

“I stand beneath her tower and say ‘Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair to me.’ And she lowers the longest, most beautiful head of hair - yellow as corn - which I use to climb to her.”

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel!” Cinderella’s Prince laughed, “What kind of name is that? You jest! I have never heard of such a thing.”

“I speak the truth,” he said defensively. “She is as true as your maiden. A maiden running from a prince? None would run from us.”

“Yet one has.” His dark eyes focused on some point in the distance. “Did I abuse her or show her disdain? Why does she run from me? If I should lose her, how shall I regain the heart she has won from me? Agony! Beyond power of speech. When the one thing you want, is the only thing out of your reach.”

“High in her tower she sits by the hour maintaining her hair,” the younger prince smiled, “Blithe and becoming, and frequently humming a light hearted air, ‘ah-ah0ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah’. Agony! Far more painful than yours,” he turned to his brother, “when you know she would go with you, if there only were doors.”

Cinderella’s prince walked over and put his arm around his brother’s shoulders.

“Agony , they sang together, “Oh, the torture they teach!”

“What’s as intriguing,” Rapunzel’s prince pondered.

“Or half so fatiguing,” he sighed.

“As what’s out of reach,” they both sang, their arms reaching out into the distance.

“Am I not sensitive, clever, well mannered, considerate, passionate, charming as kind as I’m handsome, and heir to a throne?” the older prince questioned.

“You are everything maidens could wish for.”

“Then why no...”

“Do I know?”

“The girl must be mad.”

“You know nothing of madness,” the younger prince scoffed, “’til you’re climbing her hair and you see her up there and you’re nearing her, all the while hearing her, ‘ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah’.”

“Agony!” they cried.

“Misery.”

“Woe.”

“Though it’s different for each,” they bowed to each other.

“Always ten steps behind.”

“Always ten steps below.”

“And she’s just out of reach,” they reached once more into the distance. “Agony! That can cut like a knife,” they sighed, “I must have her to wife.”

“Well, godspeed, my brother,” the younger prince held out his arm which his brother grasped.

“And you.”

They separated and headed down different parts of the path.

The baker’s wife, who had remained hidden and unnoticed by the two princes, came out from her hiding place. She heard the younger prince mention a girl with hair as yellow as corn and knew she had to find it for the spell.

“Two princes! Each more handsome than the other.” She started down the path after the darker of the two. She stopped after only a few steps and sighed. “No…get the hair.”

~*~

After retrieving the hair, the baker’s wife continued her search for the other ingredients. She felt terrible for losing the cow the night before. It had run off after she had met the young maiden. The same maiden, in fact, who just took a spill in front of her.

“You do take plenty of spills, don’t you?” the baker’s wife asked, looking down at the young maiden. One of her golden slippers had fallen off and was now lying within reach. She bent down to pick up the fallen slipper.

“Hello. It's these slippers. They're not suited for these surroundings. Actually they're not much suited for dancing either.”

“I'd say those slippers were as pure as gold,” she held the slipper out so that the moonlight shone off it.

“Yes,” she said as she stood up, “they’re all you could wish for in beauty.” She reached out and took the slipper back.

“What I wouldn’t give for just one,” she stared longingly at the slipper.

“One isn’t likely to do you much good.” She put the slipper back on and walked over to a larger boulder and sat down. Noticing a leaf caught in her long blonde hair she began checking for any other stray forest foliage.

“Was the ball as wonderful as last evening’s?” the baker’s wife asked, gesturing to Cinderella’s gown.

“It’s still a nice ball.”

“Yes? And?”

“And…They have far too much food.”

“No, the Prince.”

“Oh, the Prince.”

“Yes, the Prince.”

“If he knew who I really was…”

“Oh? Who?” she asked excited.

“I’m afraid I was rude.”

“Oh? How?” she seemed even more excited.

“Now I’m being pursued.”

“Yes? And?”

“And I’m not in the mood.”

“He must really have taken a liking to you.”

“I have no experience with princes, castles, and gowns,” she sighed.

“Nonsense, every girl dreams-”

“SIR! LOOK!” a man’s voice called out from behind them.

Cinderella and the baker’s wife turned to look and saw the Prince’s steward followed quickly by the Prince himself. Cinderella gasped in fear. She stood quickly and looked around her for a place to run.

“Yes! There she is! Move! Move! MOVE!” the Prince commanded.

“I have to run,” Cinderella said to no one in particular.

The baker’s wife lunged out for Cinderella’s foot and grabbed her slipper.

“I must have your shoe!” she cried.

“Stop that!”

“I need to have a baby!”

“I need to get out of here!”

There was a loud crash as someone burst through the trees next to them. Cinderella took her eyes off the woman writhing on the ground, struggling to remove her shoe, to see The Wolf standing near her. Before she could ask for his help, he reached down and slapped the woman’s hand away from her feet. He looked over to where the sounds of the Prince and his men steadily grew louder. Glancing back at Cinderella, he searched her eyes for something. Anything that might tell him what she wanted him to do, what he hoped she wanted him to do.

She looked frightened, distressed, lost. That was all he needed. Faster than her eyes could follow, he picked her up, grabbing a fist full of her dress so that it wouldn’t drag or trip him as he ran. And run he did, his long leather coat sweeping behind him like a dark cloud. He ran fast, carrying her away from the oncoming men.

 

TBC

ating: R? well it will be eventually.

Spoilers: BTVS season 4 and Steven Sondhiem play Into the Woods.

Summary: I was told to write a fic involving the gang and the Steven Sondhiem play Into the Woods . So here you go.

Author’s note: It’s all lies, I own everything…the rest of the world just doesn’t know it yet…okay well I don’t, but I can dream.

I know, I know…it’s been ages since I update. I beg your forgiveness. Feel free to spank me. No, no, please do ;-) I want to thank everyone for the lovely feedback. Thanks for taking the time. And to everyone who sent an e-mail asking after me, well you hold a special place in my heart now.

I had thought of giving up writing this because of some reviews I’d gotten. I just had too much going on in my life to deal with that kind of drama. But then I remembered this is my damn fic and I’ll do what ever I please with it *insert evil grin here*. This Bloodshedbaby wanted me to keep writing this for her, so that’s what I’m doing. I dedicate this update to all my sisters over at House of Bloodshed .

As I’ve done with every update, here is the cast of characters. Oh and to clear up some misunderstandings 1. Anya is not in the play. As stated earlier in the fic she did not go with them to the theater. 2. Tara is not in the fic at all. It’s not that I don’t love her to bits; I just didn’t write her in.

The Wolf: Spike

Cinderella: Buffy

Cinderella’s Prince: Angel

Baker: Xander

Baker’s Wife: Cordy

Witch: Willow

Narrator: Giles

Rupunzel’s Prince: Reily

Feedback sends me to the happy place

 

 

 

Chapter 8

Cinderella clung to The Wolf as he ran through the dark woods, dodging around trees and jumping over fallen logs. He ran too close to an outstretched limb and as they passed the limb grazed Cinderella’s arm. He stopped running when he heard her sharp yelp of pain.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“My arm,” she said looking down at the small wound. “A branch cut me, I think.”

“Let me see,” he said as he set her down on her feet.

The cut, perhaps two inches long, ran along her arm. The dress she wore was indeed beautiful, but having no sleeves her arms had been left unprotected. The Wolf made a low rumble of anger at both the impracticality of the dress and also at himself for allowing her to be hurt.

He raised her arm up to his face and inhaled the rich scent of her blood. Images in his mind flashed too quickly for him to really perceive or understand them. He shook his head to dispel them and lowered his mouth to the wound. Cinderella jerked her arm away and stared at The Wolf.

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“I need to clean the wound or it will get infected. Do you want that to happen?” he growled.

“No, but-“

“Then quit arguing for one bloody minute and come here. Not everything is as it seems, you know.”

“I know, it’s just-“

The Wolf growled in frustration and threw his arms up in the air.

“I’m just trying to help you!”

“Well maybe I don’t need your kind of help,” she said defensively.

The Wolf turned sharply to look at her. She took a step back from him at the look she saw on his face. It was a mixture of anger, confusion, but most of all, hurt.

“My kind of help?” he asked quietly. “My kind of help? That’s not what you were saying a few minutes ago, princess.” He spat out the last word as if it were something vile on his tongue.

“Yes I know, but-“

“Maybe I should have just left you there. Why were you running away at all? It’s what you always wanted isn’t it?” The Wolf snarled. “You wanted the light and the ball. Couldn’t stand to be in the dark with me, had to have your prince-“

“It’s not what I wanted!” she yelled.

The Wolf looked at her stunned at her sudden out burst.

“What?” he asked.

“Wanting a ball is not wanting a prince,” she said.

“But you said-“

“I know what I said.”

“What happened back there?” he asked taking a few steps closer to her.

“He’s a very nice Prince. He’s a prince who prepares. Knowing this time I’d run from him, he spread pitch on the stairs.”

“Pitch?” The Wolf laughed.

“I was caught unawares,” she explained. “And I thought, ‘Well he cares. This is more than just malice. Better stop and take stock while you’re standing here stuck on the steps of the palace.’”

Cinderella slapped The Wolf lightly on the arm when he began to laugh.

“You think, ‘What do you want?’ You think, ‘Make a decision.’ Why not stay and be caught? You think, ‘Well, it’s a thought.’ What would be his response? But then what if he knew who you were when you know that you’re not what he thinks he wants?”

The Wolf tried to follow her train of thought because she looked so upset now. He couldn’t imagine anyone not being able to see who she truly was. All one had to do was look into her eyes to her soul.

“And then what if you are what a prince would envision?” she continued. "Although how can you know who you are till you know what you want, which you don’t.” Tears began to falls softly from her eyes.

The Wolf reached out to her but she turned away before he could reach her. She motioned to the woods around her.

“So then which do you pick: When you’re safe, out of sight, but where everything’s wrong? Or: Where everything’s right,” she gestured towards the direction of the castle, “but you know that you’ll never belong.” The last words came out as little more than a whisper. “And whichever you pick, do it quick, ‘cause you’re starting to stick to the steps of the palace.” She tried to joke, but failed when she was force to swallow a sob.

The Wolf wanted nothing more than to go to her, but he knew this was something she needed to get out on her own. She continued on, her back still to him.

“It’s your first big decision, the choice isn’t easy to make. To arrive at a ball is exciting and all, once you’re there though it’s scary. And it’s fun to deceive when you know you can leave, but you better be wary. There’s a lot that’s at stake, but you’ve stalled long enough ‘cause you’re still standing stuck in the stuff on the steps...” It was obvious that it was becoming harder for her to speak through her tears. The Wolf made his way slowly to where Cinderella stood. “Better run along home and avoid the collision. Even though they don’t care-“

Cinderella finally broke under the weight of her tears and would have fallen to the ground had it not been for The Wolf. He wrapped his strong arms around her and guided them both carefully to the ground. He held her against him, rocking her slowly as she cried. He lulled her with soft, nonsense words and the gentle rhythm of his hand stroking her back. Cinderella’s tears began to slow and then finally stopped.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“For what, pet?”

“For yelling at you, not trusting you.”

“Hush now, it’s alright. Big Bad remember? Wouldn’t think as highly of you if you went off trusting every evil thing that comes along.”

“You’re not evil.”

He turned her around so that he could see her face.

“Take that back. I’m right evil, I am.”

She smiled and leaned forward to kiss his cheek.

“Of course you are,” she mocked. The Wolf scowled as she smiled. “Help me up?”

“Should leave you sitting on the ground,” he grumbled as he helped her stand.

She began to brush the dirt and leaves off of her dress but the movement aggravated her wound and she winced.

“See that? Gone and hurt yourself more. Give us your arm then,” he said, taking hold of her.

She didn’t fight him this time, merely allowed him to raise the wound to his mouth.

“Gone and clotted already,” he scowled, “I’ll need to open it back up so it can be cleaned.”

Before she could ask what he meant The Wolf ran his tongue along the wound. The feeling sent a shiver through her body The Wolf couldn’t help but notice.

“Not gonna bite you, love,” he said without looking up.

He latched his mouth around the wound and began to suck at the wound. The fresh clot broke free and he began to lick the wound in slow, long swaths. Cinderella gasped at the sensation of The Wolf’s mouth against her skin, the soft feel of his tongue.

The moment the rich blood touched his tongue, The Wolf was once again assailed with images he couldn’t understand. Images of people he didn’t know; images of the baker and his wife only they were different. The old witch that roamed the woods…young and beautiful though strangely shy. He saw himself fighting with the princes, though they too were different. The prince that had been following Cinderella seemed to be a wolf like himself. Cinderella…he saw her. Full of fire and grace. He saw himself fighting alongside her, as well as against her. He watched as she drove stakes into the hearts of other wolves.

“You could,” she whispered.

The Wolf drew away from her arm and looked into her eyes. The vision of her kept changing from the girl standing in front of him to the one he saw fighting in his mind.

“What?” he asked.

“Bite me,” she whispered. She reached her free hand out and her fingers lightly along his sharp cheek bones and they raised ridges of his forehead.


Before he could realize what he was doing he had her body pressed flush against his. He’d fisted his hand in her hand and pulled her head to the side so that her neck was fully exposed. He licked a long wet line up her delicate throat and she shivered against him, pressing her body closer to his. The heady mixture of her arousal mixed with the scent of her blood was an intoxicating mixture. He trailed his sharp canines along her pale throat.

“Buffy,” he whispered.

“Stop!!” a voice cried out from the distance.

Cinderella turned sharply to see who had called and in the process grazed her neck against The Wolf’s fangs.

The Wolf licked the blood and then all the images in his mind finally clicked into place.

“Buffy?” Spike whispered.

TBC

 

Rating: R? well it will be eventually.
Spoilers: BTVS season 4 and Steven Sondhiem play Into the Woods.
Summary: I was told to write a fic involving the gang and the Steven
Sondhiem play Into the Woods. So here you go.
Author's note: It's all lies, I own everything…the rest of the world
just doesn't know it yet…okay well I don't, but I can dream.
I know, I know…it's I'm so bad about updating. Blame it all on RL,
it's a bitch. I want to thank everyone for the lovely feedback. Thanks
for taking the time. And to everyone who sent an e-mail asking after
me, well you hold a special place in my heart now.
This chapter is dedicated to my lovely Bloodshedbaby. She is my joy
and my heart. I'll be wrapping this fic up soon and it's really thanks
to her. Credit also goes to the beautiful Spikeskat, without her I
would surely be lost.
As I've done with every update, here is the cast of characters.
The Wolf: Spike
Cinderella: Buffy
Cinderella's Prince: Angel
Baker: Xander
Baker's Wife: Cordy
Witch: Willow
Narrator: Giles
Rupunzel's Prince: Riley
Feedback sends me to the happy place



"Buffy, what's going on?" Spike looked around at his surroundings.

"Woods. We're in the woods. Why are we in the woods?"

"What?" Cinderella turned back to The Wolf. "I came for the ball, remember?"

"Ball? What Ball? Buffy, what are you talking about?" Spike looked
down at the slayer he held in his arms. "And what the bloody hell are
you wearing?"

"It's the Prince and his men! Quick you have to run!"

"Run? Why? Buffy what's going on?"

"They must have seen us," she reached her hand up to her neck. "They
thought you were hurting me."

"You're bleeding." Spike forgot about everything else and focused on
the small wound at Buffy's neck. It was barely more than a scratch,
but it still worried him.

"Yes, I know. I grazed myself on your fangs."

"My what!" Spike finally noticed the taste in his mouth, blood. More
to the point, Slayer blood. Buffy's blood.

"Please you must hurry! Run!" Cinderella pleaded with him. She pressed
her hands against his chest and tried to push him away.

Spike looked down at her hands against his bare chest and suddenly his
thoughts were of things having nothing to do with finding out what the
hell was going on. But still a question perplexed him.

"Buffy, where's my shirt?"

"Halt!" a voice called from the woods.

Spike looked up to see who was running towards them.

"Angel?"

"Oh no! They've found us! Please you must run!" Cinderella begged.

"Buffy, I don't know what the hell is going on, but I'll be damned if
I'll run off anywhere without you!"

Leaving nothing more to be said, Spike picked her up and ran as fast
as he could through the trees.

~*~

"Don't hear them anymore," Spike said. "Must have lost them."
Cinderella laughed as The Wolf set her down.

"What?" he asked.

"It's nothing. It's just that that's the second time you've done that tonight."

"Done what?"

"Carried me off." Cinderella couldn't help but blush as she looked at The Wolf.

"What are you on about?" Spike stared at her in utter confusion.

"You really were amazing. The prince and his men must be leagues
behind us," Cinderella smiled, seemingly unaware of her savior's
confusion.

"The Prince? Who Peaches? Since when is the great poof a prince? Ponce
yes, prince no."

"What has gotten into you, Mr. Wolf?"

"Wolf? Buffy what are..." Spike's voice trailed off as things started
to become clear.

She had called him "Mr. Wolf". She though Angel was a prince. He let
his eyes roam over her body, taking in everything. She blushed under
his scrutiny, but he didn't acknowledge it. Finally, the ball gown she
was wearing made sense. She said she'd gone to the ball.

"Cinderella?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr. Wolf?"

"Balls," he cursed.

Spike took in a deep breath as he took in his surroundings. He
remembered going to the theater with the Slayer and her little band of
misfits. They were standing on the stage when a spotlight had flicked
on. Captain Cardboard had run off to see who had turned it on while
he, Spike, had gone backstage. That was all he could remember.

A strange scent assailed his senses and he took another deep breath.
There, hidden under the smell of pine trees, moss, and soil was a
familiar smell; the smell of a theater. Hard to describe to anyone who
wasn't familiar with the stage. It was a mixture of polished wood,
greasepaint, mothballs and something else; something that couldn't be
put into words.

"Now, that's interesting," Spike mumbled.

"What is?" Cinderella asked.

Spike shook his head. How was he going to explain this to her? Somehow
they'd become trapped in the play, and he seemed to be the only one
who knew it. He was trapped in the woods with a Slayer in a ball gown.

He wasn't sure how things could get any worse.

Too wrapped up in his own thoughts of how to explain things, like the
smell of the theater, Spike didn't notice as Buffy came to stand next
to him. Placing a hand on his arm for balance, she leaned up and
placed a soft kiss on his cheek. Startled, Spike looked down at her
smiling face.

"I never thanked you for what you did," she said.

"What I did?"

"Yes," she nodded, "Carrying me away like that; rescuing me without
asking me to explain." She reached up and placed her hand on the side
of his face, her thumb caressing his broad cheekbones.

"For holding me while I cried. You understood why I had to go to the
ball, though I know you didn't like it."

Spike was lost in her words and actions and couldn't think of anything
else. He realized when she touched him that he was still in game face,
but he couldn't have cared less.

"You said I belonged out here with you, but you let me go. You didn't
pressure me or demand anything of me. Not like everyone else." She
took a step back from him and let her hand fall to her side. "Everyone
thought they were so sure of my place, and they did everything they
could to keep me there.

"I've spent so many years taking care of others," she turned and
looked in the direction they'd just come from, "I wanted something
more."

Spike was amazed by what she was saying. It was no wonder that she'd
become Cinderella under this spell. But it begged the question, why
had he become the Wolf? And knowing the play as he did, he wondered
what had happened to bring the two of them together since the two
characters never met. Something must have drawn them together, and as
he listened, watched her move, this woman he cared so deeply for, he
knew what it was.

They'd changed the story to match their own. It would seem that no
matter what world they were in, deep down, they would be the same
people.

"You told me I wasn't one of them, never would be," she said.

"You're better than them," he said as he stepped toward her.

"I don't know about that," she smiled weakly.

"But I do." Spike put his hand gently on her shoulder. When she faced
him he cupped her chin with his free hand. "Sla-Cinderella. You
protect the people you care for as well as those you don't. That makes
you better than them. There's nothing wrong with wishing." He smiled
as he remembered their conversation in the alleyway. He'd asked her
then if she wished for a different life.

"You have to be careful what you wish for is all."

"I wished for a ball, not a prince."

"I know," Spike smiled.

"I told you that I wasn't sure what I really wanted."

Spike nodded even though he couldn't really remember that
conversation. A cloud was beginning to lift from his mind, and he was
starting to remember what had happened while he'd been under the
spell.

"The point isn't always knowing what you want, kitten. Make the best
of what you've got. You have people that love you and would do
anything for you."

"Who?" she asked quietly.

"Me," he whispered, only realizing the full meaning of his confession
when he looked into her eyes.

"Mr. Wolf. I-" she began.

He forgot for a moment that he wasn't talking to his Slayer, and the
realization of his feelings had made Spike slip. He kissed her hard
and fast pulling her to him. He couldn't bear to hear her call him
something other than his name. Slowly, he softened the kiss as he
realized that this might be the only time he would be allowed to kiss
her. After Willow's spell he never thought he'd be able to touch the
Slayer's soft lips again. He found Heaven in the feel of her body
against his, the taste of her lips and the heady scent that was
unmistakably his slayer.

A soft growl of disappointment escaped his lips as he felt her pull
away from him. The soft smile and somewhat glossy look to her eyes
made him want her even more. But she wasn't his Slayer, and he wanted
her back.

"Come on. We need to find a way out of here. I can smell the theater,
so we must still be here," Spike said.

"You're bleeding," she whispered.

"What?"

She reached out and took his hand. There was a small cut along the
back of his hand. It looked as though it had clotted once, and Spike
figured it had reopened it when he'd pulled her against him.

"It's nothing. Scratch is all."

"We should clean it," she said softly.

"Buffy-" Spike was cut short when she raised his hand to her mouth and
ran her soft, pink tongue along the cut.

Spike's mind stopped functioning properly, while other parts started
to work overtime and reacted with extreme eagerness. He tried to take
his hand out of hers, but she closed her eyes and pressed her lips
tightly around the small wound. She flattened her tongue against the
cut now and pressed down hard causing Spike's blood to flow faster
from the wound.

Spike growled with lust and pulled her body sharply against him once
more. Suddenly, she lifted her face releasing his mouth. She looked
into Spike's eyes with a look Spike recognized fully, for it hadn't
been that long ago that he'd had it. It was an expression of awareness
and confusion.

"Buffy?" Spike whispered.

She opened her mouth to say something but Spike screamed in agony as
something pierced his right shoulder. He fell to his knees, letting go
of Buffy.

"Got him, sir!" a voice called from behind them.

Spike heard the whistle of air being cut by another arrow and he tried
to move out of its path. That was when he heard her cry out, the voice
of his Slayer.

"Spike! No!"

Hampered only slightly by the ball gown, Buffy managed to leap forward
and grab the oncoming arrow before it could strike the kneeling
vampire. Without thinking, Buffy spun and sent the arrow flying back
at the archer. She then watched in horror as the arrow embedded itself
in Angel's thigh.

There was a surge of energy, and wind blasted through the trees. Buffy
shielded her eyes against the gale and fell to her knees beside Spike.
There was a sharp deafening whistle, then nothing. No wind or sound;
nothing but their own labored breathing.

Buffy opened her eyes and looked out into the empty theater house. She
looked down to find the ball gown gone and her original clothes in
place.


~*~

TBC

The Final Act…

Buffy pulled her jacket tightly around her as she walked through the cemetery. There were many reasons why she’d snuck out of Giles’ apartment. He and Willow were busy going over the books trying to figure out what had happened. After the spell was broken, they’d searched the theater but found no demon. They did, however find all the missing patrons. Apparently, they’d all been caught in the same spell and forced to act out the play.

Xander and Cordelia were arguing as usual, but this time about being married under the spell. Both were complaining about how they felt they’d been “cast” wrong.
 

“How come Riley and Dead Boy got to be princes?” Xander had whined.
 

Riley was being oddly quiet throughout the whole thing, though Buffy was sure she’d seen him smile a few times as he watched Cordy yell at Xander. But the main reason she’d snuck out was Angel. He’d barely said a word since they’d left the theater. She’d run to him afterwards and helped him pull the arrow out. She rambled on about how sorry she was. He’d smiled and forgiven her. Said it wasn’t her fault, it was the spell. She didn’t bother to tell him that she hadn’t been under the spell when she threw the arrow. Now he sat on Giles’ couch with a bandage around his leg, casting glances in her direction. She had to leave.
Spike hadn’t been at the apartment. In fact, he hadn’t been in the theater after Buffy finished helping Angel. She didn’t know where he disappeared to and it bothered her that she cared. What bothered her more, though, was what she remembered from the spell. She remembered everything she’d said, and she remembered what he’d said.
 

He loved her. True he hadn’t actually said, “Buffy, I love you,” but he said people loved her and would do anything for her. He said he was one. But he couldn’t love her, he didn’t have a soul…he was evil. But he’d said it, and he said it when she was Cinderella so she couldn’t say he’d done it to score points. Furious with it all, Buffy kicked over a nearby headstone.
 

“Tisk, tisk,” a voice said. “You should learn to control that anger; channel it.”
 

Buffy looked slightly to her right and saw Spike sitting on a small tomb.
 

“Thanks, Yoda,” she grumbled.
 

“Beware you, must be, of the dark side.”
 

Buffy walked over to where he sat and hopped up on the tomb next to him.
 

“How’s the shoulder?” she asked.
 

“Better than the jacket. Look at this.” He held his precious duster out for her to see.
 

There was a small hole, about the size of a dime in the right shoulder where the arrow had entered.
 

“That?” Buffy laughed. “That’s barely anything. You should see some of my shirts after patrolling. Besides, you can get it fixed.”
 

“That’s not the point. This coat has great sentimental value.”
 

“Yeah, okay.”
 

They sat in silence for a long time. Buffy let her feet swing back and forth slightly, her heels hitting the tomb. After a while, she started clicking her stake on the cold stone. Spike smiled at the picture she made.
 

“Something on your mind, Slayer?”
 

“What?”
 

“You’re fidgeting.”
 

Buffy scowled and stopped moving. Spike sighed and shook his head.
 

“Well as fun as this isn’t,” Spike said as he hoped off the tomb, “I’ve got things need tending to.”
 

He turned and started away when se called out after him.
 

“Spike!”
 

“Yeah?”
 

“Why did you go?”
 

“What?” he asked turning around.
 

“You left the theater after the spell. Why did you go?”
 

“Had my fill of the place, is all.”
 

“You had an arrow in your shoulder,” she said lamely.
 

“I’ve had worse. ‘Sides you were busy with a bigger, more brooding, block of wood to help with my little splinter.”
 

“Spike,” she scowled.
 

“I left, alright? Couldn’t stand seeing you get all candy striper over Peaches.”
 

Buffy hung her head and placed her hands in her lap.
 

A sudden thought came over Spike and he made his way back to where Buffy sat.
 

“Speaking of the great poof, how is it that you’re here and he’s not?” Spike asked.
 

“He’s still back at Giles’ apartment, I guess. They’re trying to figure out what happened.”
 

“Snuck out, did ya?”
 

Buffy shrugged. “Wanting a ball isn’t wanting a prince,” she said softly.
 

“Yeah, I’m surprised you-wait…what?” Spike looked down at her confused.
 

When she didn’t answer Spike gently took her chin and lifter her face. A few tears had fallen and left trails down her cheeks.
 

“How much do you remember?” he asked softly.
 

“Everything,” she whispered.
 

“Buffy, I-“
 

“Not now,” she said, cutting him off. “Please, just not now.”
 

“Alright,” he nodded and wiped away one of her tears. “What should we talk about then? Weather? Sports? How the music of today has gone terribly wrong and you should just let me eat certain music execs?”
 

Buffy laughed and shook her head. Then she remembered something her mother asked once.
 

“What’s your last name?”
 

“What?” Spike arched his eyebrow in confusion.
 

“Mom asked once. It was after you’d come back for that love spell. I’d said something about you and called you ‘William the Bloody’. She liked the name William and wondered what your last name was.”
 

“What did you tell her?” Spike asked. He was trying not to smile over the fact that Buffy and her mother had this conversation.
 

“Nothing, I was still getting over the fact that she seemed to like you more than she ever did Angel.”
 

Spike couldn’t help but laugh at that.
 

“It’s not funny,” Buffy scowled.
 

“The bloody hell it isn’t!” he laughed. “Your mum has amazing taste is all.”
 

“Spike-“
 

“Pryce,” he said cutting her off.
 

“What?”
 

“My family name,” he smiled. “It was Pryce.”
 

“Oh, okay. I’ll tell her when…wait. What?!”

~*~

A woman shrouded in a dark cloak stood on the roof of a nearby building. A large beast of a dog sat at her feet. She stood watching the blonde pair in the graveyard.
 

“I swear,” the woman said irritated. “Those two are going to drive me to drink.”
 

The large animal next to her let out a loud woof of air.
 

“Well, drink more, at least. Come on, Gabriel,” she said in a deep, rich voice as she scratched the dog’s head, “Let’s get out of here and get phase two started.”
 

She cast one more annoyed glare down at the pair, shook her head and walked away from the ledge.
 

“She’s stupid, Gabriel. The girl is just plain stupid. I swear I don’t know why I bother.”
 

The woman continued grumbling as she and the great hound slowly faded into the darkness.

the end…maybe…
Author’s note:

Thanks again to everyone who read this and gave such lovely reviews. You’ve all won special places in my heart. So when I conquer the world, you’ll all hold high places…I mean uh…hey look, something shiny….

I need to thank Bloodshedbaby, Spikeskat, and of course my beautiful Vampkiss. Without them this never would have been finished. I love you girls.

I’ve thoughts of continuing this story. Guess we’ll see if the afore mentioned girls grab their whips and come after me. Until then, thanks again. It’s been a great pleasure.