Buffy moaned quietly, wincing as a bolt of pain shot through her body as she tried to sit up on the bed. She rubbed her neck, suddenly aware of the characteristic bite mark.

"Giles! She's awake!" a voice shrieked happily. Buffy blinked hard and looked around. Her stomach rumbled hungrily, as Buffy realised she was on a make-shift bed in the cage in the Sunnydale High Library, and was being looked at anxiously by Giles and the rest of the gang.

"Buffy? Are you�feeling okay? You had quite an experience out there�" mumbled Giles nervously, as he tried to move casually towards the cage door. It had to be shut before she realised�

Buffy narrowed her eyes, quickly assessing the situation. Her eyes flickered briefly towards the open cage door that Giles was so obviously aiming for. Buffy returned her attention to the curious eyes peering at her from the other side of the cage wall, and smiled wickedly as she felt a tremendous desire to�rip their throats open�

Buffy leapt off the bed with lightning speed, raced out the door before Giles could get to it, and grabbed a screaming Willow around the neck, and faced the shocked slayerettes, snarling. Giles shook his head, angry at himself for not shutting the door earlier. He wondered if his decision to not tell the gang that Buffy had been changed was so wise after all�

"Oh my God," muttered Xander, horrifed, as his fear-filled eyes met the cold, evil glare of a fully-vamped out Slayer.

Buffy laughed vindictively, taking pure delight in seeing how she excited such horror and alarm in her 'friends'. Willow's eyes were white with fear.

"Buffy! Don't!" Xander cried hopelessly, wide-eyed. Buffy laughed.

"Don't what? Kill her? Why not?! She's worth nothing to me. And she always was a bit of soft cookie - so annoyingly sweet!" Buffy shook her head in disgust, as tears continued to fall down Willow's cheeks. Buffy used her free hand to slap Willow across the face. "Oh, for goodness sake! Stop sobbing! You're such a baby�" She tightened her grip around Willow's neck, causing the frightened girl to choke on her sobs and gasp for air. "Just try it, Giles, and the computer nerd is gone," Buffy threatened, as she caught sight of Giles reaching for a large crucifix lying nearby. Giles hesitated instantly, looking up to stare into the eyes he used to know so well. But these eyes were different - dark, cold, full of hatred. He knew she would kill Willow given half an excuse. Sighing, Giles moved back away from the slaying equipment. His mind raced as he searched desperately for a means of helping Willow. All he could think about was that he had failed in his duty as Buffy's Watcher. I should've taken more care! With Angel gone, and Buffy so obviously affected�A shriek from Willow brought his attention back to the problem at hand. Buffy was playfully tormenting the poor girl by running a sharp nail down the side of her face, drawing blood out to the surface. Buffy chuckled, and glanced at Giles.

"You always were a sucker for the simple crucifix, weren't you, Giles?!" she retorted, smiling cruelly as Willow's blood slowly trickled down the side of her neck, "Well, either way, this 'net girl is gonna die, 'cause a vamps gotta feed when a vamp's gotta feed, ya know?!" she added, smiling coldly at the frozen slayerettes. And, while everyone watched, powerless to intervene, Buffy proceeded to sink her fangs into the neck of a shrieking Willow.

"Buffy! No!!"

Buffy stopped feeding and lifted her head to see the newcomer. She smiled. Everyone turned towards the owner of the voice. Loud gasps echoed throughout the library, and a loud thump spoke the dropping of Willow's weakened body onto the hard wooden floor.

Buffy stepped forward, still breathless with excitement, her eyes shining evilly as she whispered his name:

"Angel."