Throwing the remaining dishes in the dirty bus pan, Buffy winced. This is what her life had become, serving greasy food to unappreciative lowlifes in a roach infested diner.

“Are we still on for tomorrow?” Sylvia asked breaking Buffy from her thoughts.

“I don’t know Sylvia, I don’t exactly have any party clothes, especially for a masquerade ball.” Buffy sighed.

“I told you my sister has the key to U.C.L.A.’s Drama Department, where they keep all the costumes. She is an assistant to the stage crew manager. Just come by my place tomorrow and we can head over and pick something out.”

Buffy bit her lip trying desperately to think of an excuse not to go to the party. Sylvia sensing her friends doubts pleaded. “Come on…it’s Valentine’s Day! I can’t go alone!”

“Fine I will go, but only if you promise if we get there and I hate it we can leave!” Buffy huffed.

Sylvia jumped up and down squealing “I promise…thank you sooo much.”




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After cleaning the last of her tables Buffy started the short walk home. In the months since she had left Sunnydale, she had encountered her share of vampires, but unless attacked she simply let them be. Buffy knew this was wrong, it went against everything she had once held dear, but she wasn’t that girl anymore. After killing the man she loved to save the world she was merely a shell of her former self. Gone was the bright eyed optimistic girl who had defeated The Master, in her place was a woman that was barely recognizable. Hard, cold, with an impenetrable wall vigilantly guarding her shattered heart.

As she walked down the abandoned alley contemplating her life and the path it had taken, her slayer sense alerted her to trouble. Unfortunately she was so lost in her thoughts, she felt the vamps only seconds before a large boot slammed against the back of her head. Buffy flew face first hard into the pavement. Slightly dazed she quickly jumped to her feet whirling around to face her attackers.

There were three vampires circling her. Two of them were smaller fledglings too eager and stupid to be any real threat, but the third one was bigger and obviously older than the others. No problem Buffy smiled to herself reaching for the stake she always kept in her waistband, only to come up empty.

“Looking for something… Slayer?” The beefy vampire spat, picking up her fallen stake from the ground.

Oh Shit Buffy cursed as one of the smaller vamps charged her from behind. Easily evading his attack, the blonde grabbed the impatient vamp by the head and smashed his face into her knee. Buffy managed to summersault over the fallen vamp, just as the second struck, sending him flailing into his fallen comrade. Buffy scanned the alley for anything she could use as a weapon, noticing a crow bar near a dumpster. She took off running nearly reaching the dumpster, when big, meaty arms enveloped her, tackling her to the ground.

Before she could counter the attack, a series of powerful blows repeatedly covered her head and face. After a moment, Buffy stopped struggling allowing the assault to continue. She realized then and there that she could no longer fight, she had no more left in her. As she began to lose consciousness, she embraced the freedom to finally let go of all her pain. When the vampire finally stopped hitting her, Buffy laid battered and bloody on the hard pavement of the dirty alley, waiting for the bite. It never came. Instead, she felt herself being gently lifted off the ground as her world turned black.



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As Buffy slowly awoke, she felt weak, dazed and naked? Yanking the sheet up to cover her body, she quickly scanned the room. She was alone. Trying to piece together the events of the previous evening her hand went immediately to her neck. There was no bite mark. Her wounds from the fight had been treated and bandaged. How? she wondered. Buffy was so sure last night was the end, but instead she woke up alone and naked in a strange hotel room.

After pondering her situation for a moment Buffy finally shrugged. Finding her discarded clothes, she quickly dressed and slipped out of the hotel room. The bright sun made the pounding in her head almost unbearably, she contemplated retreating back into the cool darkness of the dank room, but decided it would be safer to make her way home.

As she limped into her small apartment she realized it was already early afternoon. Buffy had just crawled into her bed when she heard a knock at her door. Sylvia.

“Anne I know you are in there and I am not going away until you open up” Sylvia hollered.

Knowing the girl would make good on her threats she opened the door. Sylvia smiled her big brown eyes shining. She wasn’t an overly attractive girl, but her enthusiasm was contagious.

“All right Anne, why didn’t you show up at my house?” Sylvia questioned.

Buffy still couldn’t used to people calling her that. Even months later every time she heard someone call her Anne, she turned around to see who they were talking to. But now it was undeniable Buffy Summers The Chosen One was dead. All that remained was Anne Slinger of Slop.

“I’m sorry I guess I overslept” Buffy lied knowing the girl would never believe the night she had.

“Well hop in the shower and lets get going! The party starts at nine!” Sylvia commanded.

The trip to the college had been an emotional one for Buffy. The costumes were beautiful. Sylvia had suggested she try on an elegant emerald Victorian style gown. The dress was a perfect fit, but when Buffy looked in the mirror she was instantly flooded with memories of Halloween, when she had tried to impress Angel with a similar gown. She could not get the gown off fast enough. After what felt like hours she finally settled for a red sequined flapper type mini dress.

Sylvia’s sister Renee’ had insisted on doing their hair and make up, so by the time they left the college it was already ten o’clock. As the cab pulled up to the large mansion Buffy gasped. “Oh my God! Are you sure we are invited?”

Sylvia suddenly didn’t look so confident. “Yeah, Renee got us the tickets. There supposed to be celebrities here and everything!”

The pair were met with frowns and whispers as they stepped from the dingy cab. Making there way up the large stone steps, they were greeted by a big beefy man in a tux. Buffy let out a sigh of relief when he accepted their invitation and opened the large doors allowing them to step inside.

Once inside the girls were awe-struck, as they were lead through the foyer into the ballroom. The size of the room reminded Buffy of her high school gymnasium, without the smell of sweaty socks. The room was lined a huge wall of windows covered with elegant draperies. Large columns decorated with fresh flowers and walls draped with ivy gave the room a Garden of Eden type theme. On the far wall there was a large stage with a band playing. Servants with shiny silver trays full of Champaign and hors d’oeuvres scampered around the hall.

“Let’s split up and mingle.” Sylvia whispered.

Buffy’s eyes widened “Split up? Why?”

Sylvia smiled “The hotties will more likely approach a woman if she is alone. We can meet by the bar in thirty minutes.”

As her friend walked away, Buffy huffed “How can you even tell who is a hottie? Everyone has a mask on.”

Deciding a drink would calm her nerves Buffy made her way to the bar. She had just ordered a rum and diet coke when she felt familiar tingles on the back of her neck. Vampire she thought as turned to scan the room. There was no way to tell who was a vampire in this crowd and by the strength of the tingles there was more than one.

Gulping down her first drink, Buffy ordered another and turned back to the bar. She closed her eyes silently reminded herself it’s no longer my problem. Finished with her second drink, Buffy waited hoping the effects of the alcohol would dull her shame. Unfortunately it didn’t seem to be working.

She was about to order another rum and diet coke when she felt a cool hand on her arm. Buffy felt a hard body pressed firmly against her. As soft lips brushed against her ear the stranger spoke “Hello, luv.”