Chapter 3

Few moments later they were seated in her living room. Angel and Spike were on the uncomfortable couch and she leaned against the window on the opposite side of the room. She had replaced her towel with a black torture device, called yoga pants that accentuated every curve from her hips to her bum. Dressed in a hurry she had no bra on but had put on a black tank top, which to Spike was even more sexy then her towel. It hung in all the right places not leaving much to the imagination.

While she was dressing he had a chance to look around the tiny flat. The living room they now sat in led into a small hallway. The first left of the hallway led to a small closet called a kitchen, kitchen felt even more tiny with a full size fridge and stove that were crammed together on the far wall. A tiny sink and microwave. took all the space on the small counter. He had a look see inside the fridge, and help himself to a beer. Not that he had a lot of choice in what he took, all the big fridge contained was beer, half a loaf of bread, and jar of pickles.

The bedroom could be found at the end of the hallway to the right. Again matching the rest of the small flat, not much there, Queen size bed, comforter looked new but very cheap looking. Was black with light blue wallflowers scribbled into a pattern. Two white pillows were neatly placed together at the head of the bed.A night stand with a small white lamp, despite its size it did give enough light to the small depressing room,

"We both smelt blood." Angel's voice brought Spikes mind back to the present.

"So since you smelt blood you decided to take a peak at my living quarters while I showered. Bit inappropriate." She crossed her arms.

Spike cocked his head when she used the term 'living quarters'. The average Joe did not describe their homes as living quarters. Typical people would have said home, house, apartment, or even cript. To describe where they lived as quarters was something people just did not say. Unless they were in the military, or even incarcerated. Spike scanned her body again, doing his best not to stare at the sexy bits. She handled herself as though she was in prison, trying to look tough, or even intimidating. She stood with her arms crossed evaluating her opponents, occasionally looking at the exits for a exit strategy. She also stood at attention, back straight, feet placed shoulder width apart, she stood ready to salute a commanding officer.  But it just didn't seem to fit, there was much more to this girl.

Angel was rambling something boring about how he came across the scent of blood. Saw a figure in the dark and pursed said mystery figure. Spike wasn't interested. He was more interested in the deadly looking beauty before him. Her face was stern, muscles in her jaw line intense. Her eye gave no information but showed now and again intimidating moon light flash, just like the color of her weapons. He turned his head to see the sword still laying on the small table. That weapon and the girl in front of them looked one in the same. They both looked deadly, but elegant, and they both flashed the same moon light hue.

She unfolded her arms that where across her chest. Thats when Spike saw something new. A tattoo on her wrist, looked like cursive writing. "Interesting," Spike thought shooting his left eyebrow up. He stood and crossed over to where she was standing. He had to get a better view.

He was fully aware that she watched every movement. Her almost glowing light blue eyes seemed to capture all the movement in the room. Like a cat, who is unfamiliar to its surroundings. When he drew closer to her, he took in her scent, Jasmine. The scent was intoxicating, it wasn't a powerful overwhelming scent. But he couldn't get enough of it, her scent seem to invade every fibre of his being, from his bleach blond hair to his toes radiated everytime he took in the holy scent.

She moved her hands and tucked them behind her body. Damn! He thought, he was so preoccupied by her aroma he didn't get a good look. He narrowed his eyes in frustration. She suddenly spoke awakening him from his dilemma.

"I was out for a run, and came across two demons that were pursuing a women in an alley." She shifted her feet, "So I did what I had to. Even if that action was to blow my own cover."

"Three odd things about what you just said. First who goes for a run on rooftop? Sidewalk is more convenient. Second the blood I smell from that rag you use to clean your weapons doesn't smell like demon blood. And third blow your own cover? Who are you hiding from?" Angel interrogated.

"Vamps," she sighed. "Only going by scent, did you even bother looking at the bodies?"

"I don't see how that would made a difference." Angel stood.

"Well if you did you would have noticed they were not human." She said in a flat even tone.

"But the smell..."

"The blood was thicker, and darker than any humans, mate." Spike interrupted.

"Exactly" she said shifting her weight again to look at Spike. She flashed him a look, that Spike couldn't read. Those eyes again, piercing, penetrating, their stare seemed to expose everything about himself. He felt like he was naked in front of her, naked and laying in the dark.

"If they are demon, we need to find out why they smell and look human," He spoke slowly, "i'll take the bodies to Wolfram and Hart. See what Illyria in the lab says." He stood then examined the mystery girl.

"You still haven't told us who you are and what you are." He rubbed the stubble on his chin.

"I am a warrior on the side of truth, that is all you need to know right now. You have more pressing matters to attend to, if demons are disguising themselves as human you could have major issues." She paused, "it will be a lot harder to tell friend from foe. It wasn't a fancy glamour, they stayed in human form even after they died. If your Fred can find more differences they have to humans it would make them easier to spot, and maybe know a way to stop more from gaining this form."

Angel glanced at Spike. He knew what the glance meant. It meant we need to talk, then i'm going to rush off and be the hero. Spike sighed, but followed Angel to the door.

"I'm going to get the bodies to Fred. You stay here and watch this girl. I don't trust her, see if you can find out more about her. A human knowing about our world, and carrying those types of weapons can be very dangerous. She can't be running around till we know more."

"She isn't human for one thing." Spike spoke in a hush. Angel looked at him confused.

"The door..." He gestured to the entrance, "we walked through it without an invitation. Which means whatever she is, it isn't human." Spike pursed his lips together in thought and glanced at the girl, who just held his gaze.

"Dammit! Even more reason to watch her Spike." Angel drew closer to Spike, "don't leave her side. And keep your cell on." He said the latter with a lot of frustration, Spike had to smile. He loved playing phone tag with Angel.

Angel then turned to the girl nodded, and left through the heavy door.

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Armaita was left alone with Spike. She didn't like this, this wasn't how it was suppose to be. She was to reveal herself on her time, so she could control the situation and environment. Meeting him in her quarters, in a towel is not at all she wanted. Now she was alone with him.

"So love, what do you do here for fun?" He scanned the room, "I don't see a telly, so watching passions is out the window." He settled his eyes back on her.

She crossed her arms, feeling very uncomfortable and exposed. He wasn't shy to look at her body, he wasn't shy about anything. So she did the same, she let her eyes wander the body of the vampire she had studied for over a century. She studied the scar above his eye, that scar was a living memory of the beginning reign of William the Bloody. Xin Rong was a warrior, one of the best Slayers. Her devotion to her destiny and to her family made her one of the greatest. That is till the demon that stood before her killed her, he was a killer. His signature smirk crept along his face. She now knew letting her eyes wander was a bad decision. Best to gain the upper hand in this situation.

"Just because your boss left, don't think anything funny is going to happen." She smiled inside as the world boss had the desired effect. His grin was nowhere to be found.

"Boss! Ah Bloody hell women! He is NOT my boss." He turned in frustration, but having a thought popped into his head he whirled back around, "infact pet I am, his boss!"

His breathing came in huffs. "Boss! Angel my boss! Ya in his dreams."

Armaita crossed the room to where she left the blades unattended. She felt the vampires eyes on her. She enjoyed his study of her, she could feel his questions radiate and burn. She enjoyed playing the mystery. As she relished she inspected the blades. The silver blue metal glistened in the light of her small apartment. They looked like average steel but a closer look would reveal their supernatural nature.

"Fine blade, pet." Spike had moved extremely close to her back. "What kind of metal is that? It's unnatural."

"These blades were forged from my people, excellent craftsmanship, don't you agree?" She turned into him, offering him a closer look.

"Ya, nice." He didn't even look at the weapon but locked his eyes on hers. Her breath remained steady despite her heart beating against her breast. She cursed her body for betraying her. She remained eyes locked on the killer.

He slowly raised his hand, brushed the back of her hand with his in a tender embrace. She didn't like not being in control, but there was something about him that made her skin flame. She continued to look deeply into his blue eyes. She then saw what she was searching for, a glitter, and flash of gold protruded near his iris. "There! There is his soul." She smiled at her discovery.

As if knowing her thoughts he cleared his throat to interrupt her. "May I?"

She looked down at her hands, she was still holding her knife. His hands were under hers , not in an embrace as she had thought, but they were waiting for her to relinquish her weapon for his inspection.

"Ah yes," she dropped the weapon in his hands.

He examined the blade closely. "I only know of one slayer who was very skillful with a sword." He cocked his eyebrow up and looked at her intently.

She crossed her arms,"You and I both know I am neither Slayer, nor human."