Buffy confronts Darla

Buffy turned around to see her old acquaintance Darla, a vampire who had been staked by Angel in order to save her life.

"Darla," she found herself saying, "what are you doing here?"

"The same thing you and Drusilla were doing," said Darla. "Okay, not quite the same thing. Evidently you and her have a very special relationship."

At this point, Buffy blushed.

"Er, that wasn't really me," she started to say but Darla was already waving her hand.

"Whatever, Buffy," Darla said. "I'm here to kill you, not to judge you. Though since I have to spend an eternity in this tacky Catholic schoolgirl uniform thanks to you and Angel, I'd just as soon do both."

"But you can't kill me," said Buffy. "I'm already dead."

"Yes, but I can have lots of fun trying," said Darla. "It's not like there's a whole lot else to do down here. And if I can't hurt you, well, let's say you have a long line of people down here who are just itching to fill your dance card. Beginning with, say, the Master. You haven't seen him yet but rest assured, he's just dying to meet you."

"And just like that, you had to go with the bad pun," said Buffy.

"Hey, you're the one who is standing around in her birthday suit," said Darla. "As far as I'm concerned, that doesn't give you much excuse to talk. At least I was smart enough to die with my clothes on."

"Hey, you were trying to kill me when Angel staked you," said Buffy. "Don't seriously expect me to start praising your brain smarts at this point of your er- life. Though come to think of it... Why are you here? I thought vampires don't have a soul. So shouldn't you be--"

"Oh, Buffy," said Darla. "You have so much to learn about the afterlife. Anyway, Drusilla was a vampire, too, and you had no trouble with her being down here."

"Well, that's different," said Buffy. "You see -- Okay, now I am confused."

"Good," said Darla. "So we'll fight."

"And make the Evil Watcher happy?" asked Buffy. "I'm surprised a respectable vampire like you would do that. Just imagine. A vampire... obeying a Watcher. Just think of all the fuss you'll get from all the other vampires."

"I don't care about the other vampires," said Darla. "I care about you."

"Oh, I am touched."

"I didn't mean it that way, Buffy," said Darla. "Now stop trying to play mind games and put up your dukes."

"Or you'll what?" asked Buffy. "Kill me? It's already been done."

"Good," said a voice from behind her. "Then you won't mind me doing this."

And just like that, Buffy was in a chokehold again, only this time it was Ms. Post who was holding her this time. Meanwhile, Darla had picked up the fallen stake and started walking toward Buffy. Buffy started to struggle but the minute she did, Ms. Post let go so suddenly that it caught Buffy by surprise. Then she felt something hit her hard on the back of her head and everything went black...