Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Disclaimers: All Buffy characters belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc. I’m just borrowing them for a while.
Spoilers: Everything from Hush till The Gift.
Distribution: All you have to do is ask.
Feedback: Yes please.
Pairings: W/T (but of course), X/A
Author’s Note: This is the sequel to Alexina. It’d be a good idea to read that first…
Chapter 1
“When did Alex say she was coming back?” Willow asked her lover as they lay comfortably snuggled within the king-sized bed that came with their brand spanking new apartment.
“She wasn’t sure,” Tara almost frowned, “that demon surge has spread from China to parts of North Korea and even Russia as well. I think since she left so many of her most experienced demons here, she’s had to handle most of the stuff that’s been happening there personally. I just wish she would call some of them there to help her out so she can come back faster.”
The blonde was now gently tracing idle patterns on Willow’s tummy, Alexina had been gone for almost a month and Tara found herself missing Alex greatly. She had so many questions she wanted to ask Alex or Jordanna as Tara had known her before. The very young Tara could never say that name right and took to calling her “JorJor” instead. Tara’s memories of JorJor were hazy at best, the most vivid being the trips she, her mother and JorJor made to the beach every Sunday. She remembered being hoisted high above, onto JorJor’s broad shoulders while they strolled along the arts and crafts stalls that were there.
“You’re remembering more now, aren’t you? About Alex?” the red-headed witch’s tone was gentle.
“Yeah… I remember how JorJor would always buy me anything I wanted, but mom always threw them away before we got home cause or else my fa-father would find out.”
“Why didn’t she just take you and your mom away?”
Tara shook her head, not quite understanding why either.
“You should ask her when she comes back.”
Tara nodded her head, “ If she comes back…” she whispered.
“Tara… we’ve gone through this before,” Willow was patient, “Alex promised you that she’ll be back… I’m sure she will.”
“She promised never to leave mom too… but then she was just gone one day… gone and then when he… he started beating me and mom up… and JorJor wasn’t there…”
“Shh… sweetheart… shh…” Willow’s arms circled round Tara’s heaving form gently, soothing her lover. She herself would have choice words to say to Alex when she returns if she doesn’t explain to Tara why she hadn’t taken Tara and her mom away from that man.
Half the world away, in a room inside a warehouse on the outskirts of Harbin, northeast of China
“Lord Alexina, we’ve tracked that cluster of 15 Yuan-ti’s down the Senghua River and towards the Amur River across the border to Russia. Should we terminate all of them or just teach them a lesson and drive them further into Russia?”
Alex sighed, the Yuan-ti’s had proved to be harder to stop then she honestly thought that they would be. They had no idea of her reputation or just plain didn’t care. The demons just went about terrorising the rural Chinese populace and she had already chased after them across the Gobi Desert and she was just about out of patience. She wanted to go back to Sunnydale and Tara. Tara and her never did get a chance to have a really good talk about Tara’s special lineage and about what happened to make her leave. The powers to be.
The dark immortal frowned, could the powers to be be in fact assisting the Yuan-ti’s on the side, keeping her occupied so that she would not be in Sunnydale? Alex wouldn’t put it past them as she narrowed her eyes and gave her orders.
“Terminate them, Temia. I want them all dead.”
If the demon named Temia had eyebrows, they would surely had been raised, “All the Yuan-ti’s, my Lord or just that cluster?” the demon wanted to clarify before carrying out its orders.
“All of them. I want them ALL dead. Where have the sightings of them been the greatest?” She moved closer to the table in the middle of the room.
“In the old cave formations near the border to North Korea and close to the Sea of Japan, right here.” Temia pointed at the spot on the massive map that was on the table.
Alex nodded her head, “That’s where I’ll be. I want this over and done with… I’ve spent enough time on them as it is.” She turned to leave the room but just before leaving, she turned back at Temia, “Are Tixon, Keldorn and Viconia still in Sunnydale?” Alex named her three top demon lieutenants.
“Yes, my Lord. All is well in Sunnydale… the couple killings in the park have trailed off, no new slaughter for almost three weeks now.”
“Right, make sure they stay vigilant. I’ll be heading straight back to Sunnydale after I’ve dealt with this major cluster of Yuan-ti’s you mentioned. You and the rest can mop up and wipe out the rest on your own. I don’t trust that the powers to be are not behind this demon surge to keep me away from Sunnydale.”
Temia bowed without saying a word. The demon had witnessed first hand the full fury that was Lord Alexina when she first heard that Lady Tara had been brainsucked by that wannabe hellgod. Temia had no wish to see that kind of fury unleashed again, especially now since Lord Alexina had actually acknowledged Lady Tara. Lord Alexina was by and large slow to temper, but once that temper blew… it was a sight to behold that had even the mighty powers to be trembling, literally, at the hands of Lord Alexina.
TBC
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Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Same disclaimers as before... though I think an extra cliffhanger warning is kinda needed for this chapter...
Chapter 2
“Keldorn?”
The shape-shifting demon warrior turned to face his Lord’s daughter, “Yes, Lady Tara?”
Tara coloured slightly, still unused to being called ‘Lady’, even though it had been a month already, “Um… why don’t you sit? The shop’s closed for the day and you’ve been standing in that corner the entire day.”
Keldorn bowed deeply as he obediently walked towards a chair across the table from where Tara was seated next to Willow. Buffy was busy in the training room, sparring with Xander while Anya and Giles were busy with the day’s takings for the Magic Box.
The currently human-looking demon sat stiffly and rigidly in his seat, eyes darting around the entrances frequently, seemingly never missing anything.
“What can you tell us about the Yuan-ti’s, Keldorn? All Giles knows is that they are a pretty old and secretive cult of snake demons.” Willow asked just to break the silence.
“Miss Willow, the Yuan-ti’s are indeed snake-like demons. Most of them are over seven feet tall while standing upright. But they also have arms that can carry weapons and do wear protective armour. Tough fighters but no match for Lord Alexina.” The demon said the last proudly.
“Then why isn’t she back yet?” Tara asked.
Keldorn frowned, “Numbers, Lady Tara. The Yuan-ti’s seem to have vastly increased in numbers, more than we had expected. It has been difficult tracking their clusters down and our forces also have had to take into account the innocents around and are frequently unable to engage the Yuan-ti’s properly. Lord Alexina have been trying not to kill all the Yuan-ti’s, instead she’s been getting our forces to chase the Yuan-ti’s to the more remote regions of China and Russia. But I dare say, Lord Alexina is running out of patience.”
“What does that mean?” Giles joined in the conversation.
“Lord Alexina has ordered the extermination of the Yuan-ti’s.” was the grim reply, “Lord Alexina thinks that someone or some external forces have been behind the Yuan-ti’s, backing them up and healing them. She fears it may be linked with what may arise here in Sunnydale which is why she has ordered us to step up our vigilance around all of you.”
“Extermination?” Tara gasped.
“You have done well to occupy Alexina for so long.”
The snake demon hissed in reply.
“We know of your sacrifices… have we not healed the injured amongst you and resurrected some of your dead?”
Another hiss. Angrier this time.
“That was part of our agreement… so, Alexina is stepping up her attacks and is in fact out there fighting herself?”
A nod and a hiss.
“Good… it is nearly time for what has to pass without interference. We just need you to delay Alexina a little more. This is what you will do…”
“How can she order the extermination of them?” Tara almost shouted, bringing Buffy and Xander running out from the training room, ready for any sign of danger. But all they saw was one angry witch.
Keldorn’s brow creased, “Those are evil demons, Lady Tara… demons who have killed and terrorised hundreds of innocent villagers in China. Demons who, despite the many opportunities, persist in their destructive path. Lady Tara, Lord Alexina has no other choice. I feel that Lord Alexina should have ordered their extermination long ago rather than just chasing them all through the desert and away from civilisation.”
Tara’s slightly horrified look did not diminish, “I want to talk to JorJor, I mean Lord Alexina. I want to talk to her.” She demanded.
“I’m not sure…”
“Keldorn, make it so. I want to talk to her.” Tara was determined.
“Tara, sweetie, I don’t think Keldorn can…” Willow stood next to her lover. She had never seen the normally sweet and even tempered blonde so agitated before. Neither had the rest of the Scoobies who were all watching in rapt attention at the scene.
“He can. I’m sure he can. You can, can’t you?”
Keldorn rose from his seat and sighed, “I cannot guarantee that Lord Alexina will respond…”
Tara nodded, understanding. She reached for Willow’s more than willing hand and clasped it tightly.
“Keldorn, what are you doing?” Tixon had materialised next to the other demon who had shape-shifted to his normal, more menacing self, in order to get in contact with Alex.
“Tixon, Lady Tara wishes to speak with Lord Alexina.”
Tixon raised his eyebrow before turning to face Tara, “Lady Tara… is there a problem? Maybe I can solve it without needing Keldorn to get in touch with Lord Alexina? She may be in the middle of a fight right now and it would not be wise to interrupt…”
Tara hesitated for the first time, “But, she can’t exterminate all the Yuan-ti’s. That’s just wrong…”
“Lady Tara, Lord Alexina does not order the extermination of any demon races easily. And she does not do it the easy way by using her immense powers either, right now, she is probably right in the thick of the fiercest fight there is and it… Lord Alexina! No!” Tixon’s eyes bulged out in shock, “I have to go…” and with that he shimmered out.
“NO!” Tara shouted, “What happened?” she looked round her but everyone else seemed as shocked as she was, except Keldorn who just shook his head.
“Keldorn,” the blonde witch ran up to him, “What happened? Please tell me what happened…”
The demon warrior finally said, “Only weapons of mystical origins can harm Lord Alexina in any way…”
“She’s hurt?” Tara backed up till she was back in Willow’s comforting arms, which drew her into a circle.
Keldorn nodded ominously, “I fear this means that the Yuan-ti’s truly do have some powerful force backing them up…”
“Willow…” Tara’s eyes filled with tears, as she turned round to hug her lover.
“Shh… Alex will be fine, baby.” Willow prayed that that was true as she gently ran her hands down Tara’s back.
“My mom’s hurt…”
Willow’s eyes opened wide at Tara’s first open admission of her lineage.
TBC
=============================================================
Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Just the first bit of Chapter 3. Sorry for not posting last night, but I got caught up playing a game
Will post the rest of chapter 3 later.Chapter 3 (first bit)
“Your… mom’s gonna be fine, baby.” Willow tried again to comfort the now sobbing Tara. She looked round her for extra help from the Scoobies. Buffy, naturally, acted first, moving towards the witches and placing her hand on Tara’s shoulders.
“Alex’s will be alright. I’m sure of it.”
“Yes… yes, Tara. She IS Alexina.” Giles added.
“Yeah… Defender of Mankind and all that…” Xander quipped in, looking at his fiancée for support which he got with a firm nod of the ex-demon’s head.
Keldorn spoke up, his face still looked pained, “Lady Tara, I did not mean to upset you… I’m sure that was not the intentions of Tixon as well… once he finds out more, I’m sure he’ll be back to update us. Now, Slayer… isn’t it time for your patrols?” he looked intently at Buffy who took his hint and nodded.
“Yup, c’mon guys, vamps wait for no one.” As she grabbed her jacket and headed for the main entrance to the shop, knowing that the rest would follow suit.
In northeast China
“Ouch.”
“Lord Alexina, are you alright?” Temia asked anxiously, looking at the immortal who was clutching her left side with a grimace and leaning heavily on her sword.
Alex lifted her hand gently from her wound and saw red. Literally and figuratively. “The blade… where’s the sword?”
“My Lord?”
“I’m bleeding, Temia, that means that the blade must have been lanced with some kind of poison.” Her tone was clipped, she could feel herself weakening further. Maybe she shouldn’t have sent that final energy blast that took down most of the Yuan-ti’s on the battleground after she had been run through by one of the snake demons and experienced the kind of pain that she hadn't felt in centuries.
Temia immediately ordered the demons around him to search for the sword and after several minutes of almost frantic searching, it was located. Temia gingerly held the sword up for Alex’s inspection.
“The Sword of Chaos… I should have known…” the dark immortal closed her eyes momentarily before smirking warily, “It would be a nice addition to my collection… send it to Ning, maybe she can find out what that poison is and what it does to me.”
Temia nodded, “Yes my Lord, at once.” He turned towards a Lenti demon who took the sword, bowed to Alex and shimmered out.
“Is there anything I can do while we wait, my Lord?” Imoen, Alex’s chief mage-type demon asked, appearing at the immortal’s side.
“No. You can’t seal my wound, in case that seals in the poison and the bleeding for all I know could be clearing the poison out of my body. No, there’s nothing to do but wait.”
“Perhaps at a place more comfortable, my Lord?”
“You’re right, Imoen. Temia, finish cleaning up this mess… I’m heading back.”
“Yes my Lord.”
TBC
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Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Same disclaimers as before, only now, I should also add that RPG fans out there will recognise (as Ed Wood did) that some of the names sound familiar. They probably are. Those that do come from the game that I'm currently playing right now called Baldur's Gate 2.
Chapter 3 (second bit)
“Giles, it’s too quiet tonight.” Buffy noted worriedly to her Watcher walking next to her.
Giles could only nod in agreement as he glanced around him anxiously.
Alex’s demons, headed by Keldorn, were in a rough and loose circle round the Scoobies, providing them with more than adequate cover for a normal night of patrol.
“Keldorn?”
The demon turned back to face his questioner, “Miss Willow?”
“Haven’t you heard back from Tixon yet?” Willow asked on behalf of her even quieter than usual lover.
“No Miss Willow. It does take him some time to teleport to China and back again.”
“Guys, heads up…” was the ominous warning from the Slayer, which made everyone glance towards where Buffy was.
Where there were more than two-dozen vampires standing and waiting for their approach.
“I would advise extra caution, Slayer.”
Said Slayer nodded, “Be ready for backup, Keldorn.”
Keldorn nodded back and relinquished his position near the front of the group to the Slayer and at the same time motioned for the rest of the demon forces to move in and form a closer and more protective circle round the Scoobies. After all, Lord Alexina had stressed that they were to assist the Slayer, but not take over her role completely.
“I see my source was right, Slayer… you’ve made some demon friends now, haven’t you?” the lead vampire smirked.
“And I see you’ve made some friends of your own…”
“You got your Lord… we got ours… get them!” and with that the vampires charged into battle.
For a vampire battle, it didn’t take Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies very long to dust most of the undead, even with the minimal help from Keldorn and the demons. As had happened in previous patrols/battles, Keldorn and the demons would only jump in if there was any chance of any of the Scoobies getting seriously hurt, and of course, if any vampire happened to get within a length of Tara.
But at this point, when all would seem lost for the vampires, even more appeared, this time from all directions, creating a larger circle surrounding the Scoobies and the demons.
Keldorn took it upon himself to position right next to Tara and Willow, while shouting orders to the other demons to pull out their stakes and spread themselves out to the other Scoobies. A Lenti demon wordlessly shimmered away to gather extra help.
The vampires had continued charging in and to the dismay of Keldorn, they seemed to be purposefully separating the Scoobies from one another and especially in isolating the Slayer.
“Lady Tara, Miss Willow… now would be a good time to try out your ball of sunshine spell that you’ve been working on with Viconia…”
The witches shared a determined look before taking a deep breath, their hands already clasped within one another’s and concentrating. They had been working with Viconia, who was one of Alex’s most senior mage-type demon. With her advice, they had managed to produce small balls of sunshine rather consistently. This though, would require a much larger ball and the lovers knew it. They trusted Keldorn to keep them safe while they worked on chanting the spell in their minds.
Poof!
Sunlight? Buffy thought to herself absently as she shielded her eyes from the sudden light source which caused the vamp that she had been fighting against to dust almost instantly. “Wow! Witch-fu! Great going, guys!” she cheered, turning back to face them, knowing instinctively that her best friend and her lover had been behind it.
“Yeah… that was great.” Xander sounded relieved as he had been trying desperately to fling a vampire away from Anya’s throat. The ex-demon could only nod as she tried to get feeling back to her throat.
“Very useful, most appropriate timing, I must say.” Giles took his dust-covered glasses off to clean them. He was very impressed at the size of the ball of sunshine, which had completely dusted all the vampires in the vicinity.
“Is everyone okay?” Willow asked, everyone looked okay but she wanted to be sure. The Scoobies nodded, too busy brushing dust off their clothing to answer. “What is it Tara?” The blonde witch had remained tensed.
“Someone’s here…” Tara peered into the silence and darkness beyond.
“Wha…” Willow started then stopped, was that clapping she heard?
A tall dark figure approached and Keldorn automatically drew Tara and Willow behind his massive bulk, “No… it can’t be…”
“But it can, Keldorn…” the figure answered even though no one, except for Willow and Tara, had heard what the demon warrior had said.
“Sarevok…”
The dark figure just laughed.
TBC
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Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Same disclaimers as before.
Chapter 4
“Tixon, I will be alright. Once Ning knows more about the poison, I’ll be as good as before.” Alex tried to shoo her hovering underling away impatiently while on her way back (via her private jet) to her castle in a very remote part of northern Scotland.
“My Lord, what should I tell Lady Tara?”
Alex frowned, “What does Tara got to do with this? She doesn’t have to know that I’ve been…” the immortal rolled her eyes, “she knows, doesn’t she?”
Tixon could only nod, rather timidly.
“I didn’t want to worry her…” she sighed, “Well, tell Pinn to fly us to Sunnydale instead then, while you go back first and tell her that I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”
“A scratch, my Lord? That wasn’t a scratch, that was…”
“It was a sword that ran clean straight through the left side of my body, but you don’t have to tell her that!” the immortal was exasperated. The injury was bothering her and there was still a small amount of blood coming out of the wound. And she knew her powers were in a weakened state. Not significantly but still…
“Very well, my Lord. I shall inform Lady Tara that you’re heading back to Sunnydale…”
“Sarevok…” Alex was suddenly alert.
“My Lord?” Tixon’s voice had a shred of dread. He was by Alex’s side when the dark immortal cast the even darker immortal to the other dimension. He remembered the effort it took and how Alex was left practically incapacitated for months after the confrontation. But then, that was almost three hundred years ago and Lord Alexina had gained even more powers since that time.
“He’s back and he’s in Sunnydale… you have to teleport me back with you.” Alex stood up, grimacing a little at her wound.
“But my Lord, my teleportation weakens you…”
“He’s knows about Tara. He’s going to harm her. I cannot let that happen, Tixon! Stop arguing and bring me back to Sunnydale now!”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Imoen will come with us as well. She and Viconia are more powerful together.” Alex decided and took a deep breath to brace herself for the ‘ride’. She hated teleportation but could really see no choice.
“Now, Keldorn… who are you hiding behind that massive body of yours? Could it be the daughter of Alexina, Defender of Mankind?” Sarevok’s tone was sarcastic and mocking, especially in the last bit, to say the least. “Where is she anyway? This Lord Alexina of yours?”
“You know where she is, beast. You are the one behind the Yuan-ti’s.” the demon warrior spat out, knowing that to delay Sarevok was his best option. Once Viconia came with reinforcements, they can then properly ensure that the humans will escape. He harboured no hope that he would be able to best Sarevok.
Sarevok just laughed, "I wish I had thought of that... but I assure you, I have nothing to do with the Yuan-ti's."
Keldorn stood his ground in front of the two witches bravely. But he could feel himself being moved by the force of Sarevok’s mind. He struggled to hold on as he watched the other demons around the Scoobies get flung away as Sarevok approached.
“You cannot possibly hope to best me, Keldorn.” Sarevok said simply before turning up his power by a notch and flinging Keldorn against a tree, leaving Willow and Tara to face him.
“Now… who do we have here? Two witches, very powerful witches indeed…” he tossed a hand up and the fast approaching from behind Slayer was similarly flung aside.
“Buffy!” both Willow and Tara exclaimed as they watched Buffy slowing pick herself up with Giles’ help.
“Who’s the daughter of Alexina? Hmm… no, don’t tell me, I like to guess.” Sarevok smirked evilly.
TBC
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Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Same disclaimers as before.
Chapter 5
“Who are you?” Tara was curious and more than a little scared at the well over seven-foot tall demon with a very human appearance, only difference being his eyes were red in colour.
“Ahh… I am Sarevok, some call me the Lord of Destruction, so as you can see, me and the ‘defender of mankind’ don’t quite get along…” he chuckled, “we were close once… we had the same sire, then of course she killed him and in retaliation I sent forth the plague that killed her soulmate, since then she and I have been immortal enemies. A pity really, we could have accomplished so much together.”
Sarevok placed his hand on his chin in a thoughtful pose, “In fact, so deep her hatred for me, I understand from my underlings that manufactured rumours of my ‘reappearance’ fifteen years ago were the reason why she left her latest reincarnated soulmate and their child. So-called sightings of me kept her busy for more than a decade… whoever pulled that off…” he laughed out loud, “has my complete admiration.”
Willow and Tara shared a quick look with each other.
He snapped his attentions back to the witches, especially when Viconia and reinforcements appeared and almost immediately the mage demon cast a protection shield over Willow and Tara. With an impatient gesture of his right hand, Sarevok sent an energy blast towards Viconia which was deflected by her own protection shield.
The immortal huffed and with a toss of his hands, sent duo continuous energy blasts towards Willow and Tara as well as towards Viconia who now struggled to hold both shields up in the face of this onslaught.
The lovers quickly made their way to Viconia and just by touching her, increased Viconia’s ability to enlarge the protection shield to surround all the Scoobies who had also smartly made their way towards them.
Sarevok’s eyes turned redder and seemed to bleed as he got angrier. Concentrating hard, he gave out a scream as he put even more power to his now single energy blast.
Tara had no problems adding her energy to Viconia’s but she could see her lover starting to strain under the pressure, Willow’s nose had started to bleed.
“Viconia, do we have a plan?” Tara whispered worriedly.
“Lord Alexina is on her way. We just need to hold him off for a while longer.” Viconia’s answer was clipped.
“Willow, honey, let go. Viconia and I can take it.” The blonde witch urged.
“No.”
“Willow, please, you’re gonna hurt yourself.”
“I… can…”
Keldorn picked himself up from the ground, unsheathing his sword, he started hacking away at Sarevok’s own protection shield. The rest of Alex’s demon forces took their cue and did the same. But before they could do more damage, Sarevok’s demon forces appeared and both forces engaged themselves.
As most of Alex’s demons had already been wounded by Sarevok, they were having difficulties in defeating Sarevok’s fresh evil forces. Buffy, Xander and Giles quickly moved out of the protection shield to help out.
The strain was getting to be too much, even Tara was feeling it, finally it buckled and Sarevok’s energy blast went straight through and onto Viconia who was flung back more than fifty metres. Willow was also flung back though she was not hit by the energy blast.
“Willow!” Tara scrambled to her feet and towards her unconscious lover. Anya ran with her.
“So, I guess I have my answer as to who the daughter of Alexina is.” Sarevok was smug, though he too had been weakened severely.
“Sarevok!” Alex finally arrived and this time, the evil demons were flung back from their opponents. Even Sarevok stumbled but with a grin he unsheathed his massive sword.
“Alexina… it’s good to see you again. This time you have a weakness that I fully intend to exploit.” He said as he charged.
Alex quickly unsheathed her own sword and took up a more defensive position. “Imoen, check on Viconia and Tixon get Willow out of here and to the hospital.” She ordered as she and Sarevok’s blades struck one another’s in a mighty clash.
“My weakness is my strength, Sarevok. I will destroy anything that harms her or those she love. Including you.”
TBC
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Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Same disclaimers as before.
Chapter 6
Tixon ran towards Tara who was holding the unconscious Willow with Anya standing, almost like on guard. The demon simply touched all three of them, thereby teleporting them all to “the hospital”.
“Where are we?” Anya asked the moment they all materialised only to be surrounded by doctors and nurses with a gurney waiting.
“At a secret wing within Markson” one of the nurses replied.
Anya’s eyebrows rose, Markson Clinic was one of the most exclusive and private hospitals in the whole country.
“Lord Alexina owns this hospital.” Tixon explained further all the while trying to coax Tara away from Willow so that the doctors could do their thing.
“Lady Tara, please, please let the doctors have a look at Miss Willow.” He pleaded.
“Yeah, Tara, c’mon, let’s wait at the side…” Anya urged, she was getting better at this comforting thing.
She needed to as Tara immediately turned towards her and embraced the ex-demon who was stunned for a moment before hesitantly placing her arms round the young witch.
Tara turned her head slightly as the gurney with the other half of her soul on was rolled into a separate room, “Willow…”
“Alex?” Buffy walked up to the slumped immortal gingerly. The battle had been ferocious but ultimately the injured Sarevok fled the scene with the remaining of his underlings, vowing to return. It was only then that Alex slumped to her knees and showed that she was hurt as well, her left hand clutching her side, her face contorted with pain that Buffy had never seen her show previously.
Giles and Xander stood nearby, not quite knowing what to do after pitching in to help in the battle.
“My Lord!” Imoen cried out and seemingly ‘flew’ towards the slumped figure, “You’ve aggravated your wound…”
Alex’s left hand was gently removed from her side, covered in blood.
“I didn’t know immortals bled…” Buffy said to no one in particular. Xander nodded his head in agreement to the statement, looking at Giles for any possible explanations since none seemed forthcoming from those who would probably know.
“That was probably from the injury in China… the one that may have been caused by mystical weapons as suggested by Keldorn? I didn’t see Sarevok getting a hit in…” Giles offered.
They watched open-mouthed as a Lenti demon touched Alex and they both shimmered away. Imoen stood up and faced the remaining Scoobies.
“Lord Alexina is on her way to the hospital, where I’m sure Miss Willow is being treated at this very moment. We do have several more Lenti demons on hand to teleport all of you there, if that is what you wish or we can go by more conventional methods.”
“Conventional methods?”
“By car, Slayer.” Imoen smirked a little before turning serious again. She motioned for three hovering Lenti demons at the side. Other Lenti demons were busy teleporting the more seriously wounded demons, including a barely conscious Keldorn, away. Viconia had long been teleported to the hospital.
“So, what would it be?”
The three Scoobies looked at each other, than at the Lenti demons, than at Imoen.
“How about you?” Xander asked.
“I need to cleanse this area before I can leave.”
“I’m up for it…” Buffy hoped she did not sound too unsure.
Imoen inclined her head and the Lenti demons approached and placed a hand, cold hand, Buffy thought to herself, on their respective arms and the Slayer immediately felt a sense of displacement.
“What’s going on?” Tara asked Tixon as several doctors and nurses burst out of the flipping doors with several more gurneys. Anya quickly jumped out of the way.
“Casualties, Lady Tara.” Tixon’s face was pained.
“Sarevok…” but before Tara could finish her question the first casualty shimmered into view.
Alex appeared almost exactly where Willow had just half an hour ago and Tara’s eyes opened wide at the bloody sight.
TBC
Author's Note: I didn't want to triple post, so I thought I would tack this on here. I've been reading about stuff, especially re beta readers and also on the willtara list about that new site. I didn't have good experiences with beta readers back when I was writing Xena fan fic, which is why I don't have any right now. I don't mind trying again cause I know I should really use one.
So, if anyone reading this is interested in becoming my beta reader, just LMK and I'll start sending chapters off to you first. It will probably be a chapter a day or two, especially when uni classes resume next week. Please don't offer your services if you're going to take 2 weeks to get the chapter back to me (like my first beta reader did) or if you're going to demand that I grammar-proof my stories according to Microsoft Word's 'suggestions' before sending them to you (like my second beta reader did).
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Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Same disclaimers as before. Sorry for taking so long to update. I've been sending my chapters off to my two new beta readers first. Hopefully the improvements would show by the next part
. So many thanks to tommo and Kieli!Chapter 7
“Mom!” Tara ran towards Alex, mindless of everyone else in the waiting room.
The immortal looked towards her, eyes slightly unfocused, and motioned the doctors and nurses away, “What did you call me?” Tears filled her eyes and it was not caused by pain.
“JorJor… mom?” Tara’s voice became more hesitant as she reached Alex’s side, unsure if she could or should hug her.
Alex put the issue beyond doubt when she opened her arms wide for Tara to fall into. It was a very cautious hug as Tara couldn’t see exactly where Alex was hurt and hurting her further was so not what Tara wanted.
“How’s Willow? I saw that she was flung back quite a bit.” Alex deepened their hug, heedless of the pain it caused her but mindful of getting her blood on Tara’s top.
“Doctor Stevens just came out and said that she’d be fine and that they’ll be moving her into a private room soon and I can see her in a bit.” Tara still sounded a little worried.
“Lord Alexina, you really should let the doctors examine you now…” Tixon hovered nearby, his hands tightly clenched together.
Tara pulled back in a hurry, “Tixon’s right, mo-mom. I’m so-sorry, I should’ve…”
“Tara, sweet bird, I’ll be fine. I could be out for a while though so let me hold you for a while longer, okay? I’ll be alright.” She stood up gingerly with Tara’s help, dismissing the gurney waiting for her. She issued her instructions, “Tixon, Drizzt is in charge while I’m out, has Ning…”
“No, my Lord. Ning has yet to call upon me with information on the poison. But she did say that she would have the information and the antidote ready in an hour and that I should go get it from her.”
Alex nodded, absently noting the appearance of several more of her demon forces and the rush to get them medical help, “That wound can’t be sealed until then. What were our casualties like?”
“Lord Alexina,” Tixon took a very human-like deep breath of exasperation, “I can debrief you once you’ve been treated.”
The immortal chuckled before looking back at Tara’s worry lines on that sweet face and relented, “Fine. Doctor Stevens… I’m yours to prod…” but before turning to leave, she kissed Tara tenderly on the blonde’s forehead, whispering, “Go to Willow… I’ll meet you there.”
Tara nodded as she watched the doctor and Tixon led Alex to a side room.
“Honey?”
The eyelids fluttered.
“Willow?” Tara gently tucked a stray lock of hair neatly behind one of Willow’s adorable ears.
Her eyelids fluttered for a bit before finally cracking open to see Tara this close and Buffy, Xander, Anya and Giles in the background.
“Hi.” Her voice was weak and raspy.
A nurse hovering on the other side of the hospital bed immediately handed Tara a glass of water with a straw. Tara mouthed her thanks before placing the straw in her lover’s mouth.
After taking a sip, Willow cleared her throat experimentally, “Hi.” She said again, her voice clearer than before.
“Hey Will.” Buffy’s voice was full of concern. Xander and Anya waved their hands at her while Giles added, “Glad you’re awake.”
“How long…”
“Just about an hour, sweetie.”
Before Willow could open her mouth to ask another question, a middle-aged man in a doctor’s white coat entered the room.
“Miss Willow, glad you’re awake, my name’s Timothy Stevens and I’m your doctor. Lana,” the nurse looked at him, “Would you please go and tell Lord Alexina that Miss Willow is awake.”
“Yes, Doctor Stevens. Miss Willow, Lady Tara.” The nurse bowed slightly before leaving the room, eliciting raised eyebrows from Buffy and Giles.
“JorJor… mom, owns this hospital…” Tara said rather sheepishly.
“Mom?”
“Yeah, Mr Giles. I really want to call her that and she didn’t seem to mind…”
Doctor Stevens chuckled as he continued to examine Willow.
“What is it?”
The doctor paused for a moment before looking at Tara, “Lord Alexina was all puffed up with pride while I was treating her because you’d called her ‘mom’, so, Lady Tara, I don’t think she would mind…”
Tara blushed but was spared from thinking of a response with the entrance of Alex together with Imoen, Tixon and another.
“Willow… glad to see you awake. Your human body just wasn’t built for being flung.” Alex deliberately kept her tone light.
“Speaking of that, how’s Viconia? She and Keldorn saved us.” Buffy asked.
“I know. They’re both having a well-deserved rest.”
“Viconia’s okay?”
“Yes, Tara. Unlike the human body, a demon body can withstand much more punishment. She’s fine. Anyway, let me do some introductions; you all already know Tixon. This is Imoen, my chief mage and Drizzt, my deputy. He’s like Keldorn, a shape-shifting demon warrior.”
Drizzt gave a slight bow with a wide smile.
“He will be in charge while I am… well, incapacitated.” Alex continued.
“Incapacitated?” Tara exclaimed, “Wh-what do you mean?” the blonde left Willow’s side for the first time in more than an hour and grabbed the immortal’s hands.
“I was stabbed with a sword in China. As an immortal, I don’t bleed but since I did from the wound, the sword, though mystical in origins, had to be laced with poison. I’ve just been told what that poison is and the antidote has just been prepared. But for the antidote to work best, it would require that I be… asleep for a week?” Alex turned towards Imoen for a moment.
“Yes, my Lord. Ning suggested a week for the antidote to fully flush the poison from your body.” The mage confirmed.
“Asleep?” Tara’s voice, as was her head, was low.
“Yes,” Alex whispered as well, “I will be fine. And after I am awake, we shall talk.”
Tara nodded.
“We have lots to talk about…” the immortal lifted Tara by her chin gently, “Like your powers for example. I’ve asked Imoen to test you… and Willow,” Alex added, her voice regaining her normal tone, “That ball of sunshine and that protection shield you helped Viconia in is very powerful. Especially a ball of sunshine that dusted more than two-dozen vamps. Very powerful.”
“From what Viconia has reported to me,” Imoen added, “Especially towards the end, Lady Tara, you were practically holding the shield together. Viconia was spent, Miss Willow was spent. It was all you.”
“But it still collapsed.” Tara noted, in a slightly bitter tone.
“That’s because you have no idea what you’re capable of. Even I don’t know how much power being my daughter means you have. That’s why I’ve asked Imoen to test you. And I thought Willow wouldn’t mind being tested as well… just so the two of you know what you are and are not capable of achieving.”
“I’d love that.” Willow piped up and Tara nodded.
“Once I return, I will teach you.” Alex tenderly placed a kiss on top of Tara’s head, “Tara…”
The blonde witch looked up adoringly, “Yes?”
“Would you…” Alex’s voice was hesitant, “Would you call… I mean, did you mean to…”
“Mom?” Tara’s eyes started filling with tears.
The immortal swallowed visibly, “Yes.” She took a deep breath, “Take good care of Willow. I don’t want to see you guys anywhere near this hospital the next time I see you.”
Tara nodded, unable to speak, her face buried within Alex’s chest.
“Drizzt, if Sarevok comes back…”
“I will call upon Elminster and together we will be able to hold him off. I swear upon my sword, Lord Alexina, that no harm will befall Lady Tara and those she cares about as long as I am still breathing.” The long-serving demon warrior was deadly serious.
Alex nodded simply and gently disentangled herself from Tara, she smiled, “I’ll be back.” She intoned with a smirk.
Xander, Buffy and even Willow snorted at Alex’s imitation. Tara too grinned which turned wider as Alex kissed her on her forehead before turning round and leaving without another glance. Tixon bowed respectfully before following behind.
Drizzt nodded a dismissal to Imoen as well before turning back to face the Scoobies. His wide smile was back as he rubbed his hands together, “So… who wants to hear some stories about Alex? And I do mean stories…” he chuckled, mock evilly.
TBC
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Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Same disclaimers as before.
Chapter 8
Laughter rang out after the Magic Box had closed for the day. Drizzt was the centre of attention as he regaled the Scoobies with many varied stories. Spending close to a thousand years with Alex had given him enough material for some very fascinating tales. Even Tara and Giles, normally the two more sedate Scoobies, burst out in laughter at some of the wild tales.
Willow had been discharged from Markson Clinic three days ago. Though Tara was still showing the same signs of over-protectiveness that the redhead displayed in abundance when Tara had just regained her senses. The two witches were sharing a very comfortable, velvety-feeling, two-seater sofa that Giles had just added when he noted that there were an increasing number of demons on top of the regular faces who were at his shop at any one time.
It was now a week since Alex had gone and Drizzt had been telling them stories every night after the shop had closed and the Scoobies had gathered before going on patrol. Keldorn and Viconia had not made a reappearance after the fight with Sarevok, in place were Drizzt and Imoen who were much less serious than their younger counterparts and had absolutely no qualms about telling the Scoobies all about Alex.
Like telling them that for the first hundred years or so, it drove Alex insane for Drizzt and Imoen to call her ‘Lord’. Elminster was the one who started calling Alex ‘Lord’ even though he was much older than Alex, no one knew exactly how ancient, but the wizard was very old. Elminster was the first to join forces with Alex and it was he who taught Alex how to control her ever-increasing powers, both in the mental realm as well as physical. In other words, Elminster was Alex’s mentor and teacher who found himself vastly surpassed by his ‘pupil’ one day and gave in to the inevitable and from then on addressed her as ‘Lord Alexina’.
Alex had only gotten more used to being addressed as ‘Lord’ in the past several hundred years, especially with the marked increase in her demon following.
Imoen cleared her throat and the laughter subsided, somewhat. “Lady Tara, Miss Willow… if you could indulge me in one final test before Lord Alexina returns?”
The two lovers glanced at one another before standing up and heading towards Imoen. Imoen, true to Alex’s word, had administered small tests on Willow and Tara’s powers. She made them do spells individually as well as together and the results caused her to raise her eyebrows dramatically numerous times though she said nothing. The mage demon had asked them to do increasingly more complex spells as the days passed and tonight was no different.
The other Scoobies, especially Giles, seated themselves comfortably nearby, ready for a show. The previous night Imoen had asked Willow and Tara to first individually control Drizzt’s broadsword in their minds. After that, the two of them had joined hands and forces to actually engage in a vigorous swordfight with the warrior. It was quite amazing.
“The ball of sunshine spell, I want both of you to try and do it on your own. Make it as big as you can.” Imoen instructed.
Willow nodded, her resolve face firmly on as she closed her eyes and concentrated. The redhead lifted her hands; palms upward while casting the spell. Slowly a ball of sunshine emerged. Not a very big one but well sufficient for dusting any nearby vamps.
Tara was sure her heart was beating just as fast as Willow’s. The ball of sunshine spell was by far the most complex she and Willow had ever attempted. Viconia had spent a lot of time training them to cast it without the use of any magical potions and without casting the spell out loud. She bit her lip as she watched beads of perspiration form on Willow’s temple.
After holding the ball for several more minutes and moving it higher all the while, the ball disappeared as Willow finally let go.
The watching Scoobies and Tara clapped. “That was amazing, Will.” Buffy was most enthusiastic.
“Yeah, go Willow!” Xander added, fist pumping in the air.
“Eight out of 10.” Anya scored causing Xander and Buffy to snort.
Giles remained quiet, more than a little surprised at the amount of natural power Willow seem to possess. Willow just smiled, a little tired from the effort.
Imoen smiled as well before nodding her approval and turning her attention to Tara. Everyone’s attentions were now fixed on the nervous blonde.
Tara took a deep breath before doing the same action as Willow, closing her eyes and concentrating, making the same movements with her hands that her lover had just did and her ball of sunshine emerged. Only bigger and much brighter than Willow’s had been. Giles’ jaw dropped, and so did pretty much everyone else’s. Even Imoen and Drizzt. Only Willow smiled widely, she knew Tara had a lot of power. She had always known.
“Put everything you have into it, Tara.” Alex had entered the shop quietly. Everyone had been so rapt with Tara’s display that no one noticed her appearance.
The watching Scoobies tore their attentions away from Tara for a moment to see Alex, seemingly all healthy, make her way towards Tara, stopping just at the step before the main area.
Tara crinkled her forehead in concentration, eyes still closed, as the ball grew even bigger and brighter.
“Now, open your eyes and try moving the ball towards me…” Alex coaxed gently.
“No,” Tara’s eyes snapped open in reflex, “I can’t…” the blue in her eyes showed her panic.
“Yes, you can, sweet bird. You can control it… don’t worry, if you lose control, I’ll make it okay.” Alex urged her.
The ball of sunshine slowly made its way towards Alex, moving by the force of Tara’s mind. Alex grinned widely and nodded, “Okay, Tara, let it go now.”
And the ball disappeared with an audible poof, leaving the audience stunned.
“I guess that’s a 10 out of 10.” Anya mused.
TBC
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Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Same disclaimers as before. Here's the next chapter. One more to go before the end of this part. Enjoy!
Chapter 9
“Wow.” was the only word that passed through the Slayer’s mouth after Tara’s display.
“Indeed.” Giles added, taking off his glasses and nervously wiping them. He knew that Tara was powerful from the first time Willow had introduced her to him. After all, she was the one who realised that Buffy was not quite Buffy but rather Faith in Buffy’s body. He would have taken some time to discover that fact and who knows where Faith would have taken Buffy’s body to by then?
Xander was speechless, his mouth opened wide. Anya walked towards him and gently shut his mouth with an audible ‘click’.
“Impressive.” Drizzt said simply, eyebrows raised like Imoen’s.
Alex had a bright smile on her face as she proudly pronounced, “My daughter.”
Tara blushed from the tip of her toes to the roots of her hair while Willow gently grasped her hands, bringing them up and kissing them lovingly. “That was great, baby.”
The blonde shrugged her shoulders shyly, “You were great too,” she pointed out.
“We’ll make a great team, won’t we?” Willow was ecstatic, she had always tried to convince Tara of her powers and now, there was confirmation.
“You two will make a most powerful team.” Drizzt agreed, “But first, my Lord, welcome back.” The demon warrior had on his widest smile.
Alex smirked, “Why, Drizzt, did you miss me?”
Drizzt’s eyes twinkled, “Why of course, my Lord,” he stressed upon Alex’s title overtly, “We all missed you so terribly.”
The immortal laughed out loud at Drizzt’s tone and soon everyone else in the shop followed. The laughter cut through any lingering sense of unease over Willow’s and Tara’s exhibition of their powers.
Tara let Willow go in order to give Alex a big hug, “Welcome back, mom. Are you really okay now?” Tara pulled away from the hug to examine Alex carefully and thoroughly from head to toe.
“It’s good to be back, sweet bird. And yes, I am fine now. Look,” Alex pulled her shirt up to show Tara the absence of any sort of scar on her side, “as good as new.”
“Are you going to be here for a while, Alex?” Willow asked.
The immortal nodded, “I should be here for a while. I’m still awaiting Temia’s latest report on the situation in China with the Yuan-ti’s.”
“No other hotspots?” Xander piped up.
“Nothing major that requires my attention… nothing more important then spending some quality time with Tara and her friends.” she assured the Scoobies.
“Would you teach me how to better fight with a sword? Drizzt said that you’re the best.” Buffy asked. She had seen first-hand Alex fighting sword-to-sword with Sarevok and had marvelled at the immortal’s movement and grace. When she had asked Drizzt for tips during the past week, the demon warrior had advised her to be patient and wait for Alex’s return for no one was better than Alex.
“Sure thing, though Drizzt is not too shabby himself.” Alex noted, a little surprised that Buffy would want to learn how to swordfight.
“But you’re still gonna teach us, right? I mean, Tara… you’re still gonna teach Tara, right?” Willow blurted out. The two lovers had, unconsciously, gone back to standing side-by-side, hands held firmly in each other’s grasp.
Alex smiled, “I’m teaching both of you. Like Drizzt said, the two of you would make a most powerful combination. And with Buffy’s future expertise in swordfighting, it’d be an integral part of the Scooby gang arsenal.”
Giles cleared his throat, “How powerful is Tara?” he voiced his quiet concern.
“I don’t have a definite answer to that, Giles. But I would guess, very powerful?” Alex shrugged, “The key would be to teach Tara and Willow how to better control and utilise their powers. And also, importantly, they need to learn about their limits. For now, Tara’s limits are by far greater than Willow’s but that could change.” She noticed Giles’ questioning look and tried to explain more clearly, “I mean, just how much of Tara’s powers are learned? How much from me? I don’t have a definitive answer to that. Willow’s powers are mostly learned and she has already showed clear signs of great power, which means, some of it must have been innate but how? All I can do is to teach them both control, the kind of control Elminster thought me when I came to my own powers.”
“Their potential is boundless.” Giles stated rather nervously. He could understand the presence of Tara’s powers but Willow’s? Was there an explanation for her growing powers?
“It could become very tricky. But luckily they have you for support…” Alex smiled and gestured to the rest of the Scoobies, “The Slayer, her Watcher, an ex-demon and just a normal but quite remarkable young man.”
Xander puffed up with pride and stood up even straighter.
“Who has the keys to my bike.” The immortal continued, “Dare I ask what shape my bike is now?”
Xander blushed slightly and chuckled as he pulled the keys out, “It’s great. Not even a tiny scratch.” He walked towards Alex.
“Really?” one of Alex’s eyebrow was raised.
“Yup.” He assured.
“Xander even spit polished the bike.” Anya added helpfully.
“All right then. I think I shall entrust my bike to you every time I’m out of town from now on.” Alex smirked as she accepted the keys back from Xander. “Do you or Willow have any plans for tomorrow?” she asked Tara.
The lover shared a look, “No.” Tara answered slowly.
“Barring monsters, we’re free.” Willow added.
“Great, I’ll pop by tomorrow with breakfast. I thought we could have a talk…” the immortal was a little hesitant as well but on seeing Tara’s firm nod, she smiled, “Great. There’s a lot we need to discuss.”
TBC
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Alexina: Beloved
by karenk
Same disclaimers as before.
Chapter 10
“It’s great how you two have added to this space…” Alex said as she wandered round the living room of the apartment she had given Tara and Willow. She stopped in front of one of the windows and peered out into the deceptively tranquil morning.
“Thanks, Alex.” Willow had her hand firmly taken by the nervously sweating Tara, “The Christmas lights were from Tara’s dorm… well, what was left of her dorm…” the redhead pointed out the pretty lights hanging across the room.
“I know.” The immortal replied simply as she turned back to face the witches, when she noticed the surprise on the faces of the witches, she added, “I’ve sneaked into Tara’s dorm before… just after ‘they’ came to try and take you away.”
“The man I always thought was my father, you mean.” Tara asked in a deceptively even tone.
Alex smiled sadly, she gestured to the leather sofa set, taking the chair when Willow coaxed the rather stiff Tara down to the couch.
“Keldorn told me that Sarevok sprouted some stuff about me being sent on a wild goose chase after him?” Alex unconsciously pulled her legs up to seat Indian-style on the big chair as she directed her question to both young women.
Willow glanced at Tara, who had also pulled her legs up to sit Indian-style next to her, expecting her to answer but when Tara didn’t for a long moment, Willow piped in, “Yes, he claimed that rumours of his ‘reappearance’ were the reason why you left Tara and Tara’s mom.”
“Yes… but I didn’t leave you as such… I was ordered to go hunt down Sarevok. I knew he wasn’t back but The Powers That Be insisted and I owed them. I had to go.” Alex explained, knowing that that was the easiest explanation she could give.
“You owed The Powers That Be, because of me, right?” Tara wanted to know, her tone determined.
Alex sighed deeply, “Yes. I owed them because of you. I thought that having you would perhaps change Caitlin’s mind about leaving that man.” Her blue eyes looked steadily into Tara’s equally blue ones, “For almost five years after you were born and five before that, I tried everything to make Caitlin leave but she never… she wouldn’t.” the dark immortal sounded slightly exasperated which changed to regret as she continued, “She wouldn’t leave your brother, her son. Nothing I said or did could change her mind. She had no feelings whatsoever for that man, but your brother…” she closed her eyes, face showing her regret.
“But didn’t you keep track of what that man was doing to Tara and Caitlin?” Willow demanded angrily, “If you cared so much, why didn’t you have Tixon or some other demon like him protect them?” the redhead pointed accusingly at the tall figure slumped in the chair.
“Willow,” Alex sounded weary, “I was sent to a different dimension, the one where Tixon and the rest of the Lenti demons came from originally, so all the Lenti demons under my command were with me. I left Keldorn to keep an eye out, but he could only observe from afar and he never knew about Tara’s relationship to me back then. He only knew about Caitlin.”
“He was always careful not to hit where it would be noticeable.” Tara said, rather blankly. Willow immediately placed a protective and loving arm round Tara’s shoulders.
“Yes. Keldorn never suspected anything, until one day he saw that man slapping you just outside the front door and from then on, he slowly worked his way into his confidence. Becoming one of his drinking buddies. He got closer to you and Caitlin and saw for the first time, evidence.” Alex took a deep breath as she dropped her first bomb, “By then, I had already been gone for three years.”
Willow gasped in astonishment, “Three years?”
“What I didn’t know and what I wasn’t told initially was that the dimension that I was in operated at a different time speed from this one.” Alex looked down at her hands, ashamed of her lack of knowledge, “When I first got Keldorn’s message, I was going to head back immediately but The Powers That Be convinced me to stay for another week, just to be sure that Sarevok really wasn’t there while they would personally make sure that Caitlin and Tara remained safe.” the dark immortal looked up at her captive audience as she continued her account in an increasingly bitter tone.
“Then after a week and still no sign of Sarevok, I packed up and left, but before I could get anywhere near you, The Powers That Be summoned me to another dimension where they said that Sarevok was wrecking havoc in.” she brushed her left hand nervously through her hair before continuing, “They even showed me images of you and Caitlin smiling and laughing, so I thought that what Keldorn saw was not the norm. And I went.”
Alex covered her face with her hands, “What I didn’t know was that one week in the Lenti dimension equalled one year in this. So I thought I was only gone for one month. Keldorn had never mentioned how long it had been since I had left in his messages and Tixon thought I knew about the difference in the speed of time, so he never said anything.”
Tara sat open-mouthed with Willow equally shocked, “That would have been four years...” the redhead managed to sputter out.
The dark immortal nodded curtly, “The Powers That Be lied to me, constantly sending me from one dimension to another. One wild goose chase after another. Showing me images of you and your mother being happy to placate me, until it was about what I thought was seven months away from Caitlin and you.”
Alex rose from the chair, too agitated to remain seated, her long form paced a small circle as she continued, “I had enough, I threatened to never work for The Powers That Be again and finally they relented or so I thought. When I got my bearings back, I sensed that something was wrong and when I picked up the newspapers…” Alex’s tone was the bitterest either young women had ever heard, “I realised that not seven months had past but rather thirteen years. The Powers That Be had knowingly sent me to dimensions that had the greatest difference in time.”
“Thirteen years?” Willow couldn’t believe it. Tara was stunned beyond belief.
“I know, I couldn’t believe it either.” the dark immortal collapsed back in the chair, “I went back and found out that Caitlin was dead and Tara had left for Sunnydale. So I came straight here. Tara,” Alex sat up straight and reached for Tara’s hand, “I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to walk up to you and… and I don’t know… talk or something. But I couldn’t… I was too ashamed. Me, the mighty ‘Defender of Mankind’ tricked by The Powers That Be for thirteen years.”
“But why? Why would The Powers That Be do that?” Tara wanted to know as her right hand grasped Alex’s, while her left hand was held tightly by Willow.
“My deal with The Powers That Be was that whenever I was with the reincarnation of Anastasia, they wouldn’t call upon me to work for them. That changed when Caitlin wanted you and in order for me to give Caitlin what she wanted, I agreed that I would once again be available to work for them, even if Caitlin was still alive.” the immortal explained.
“Those lying bastards!” Willow was indignant.
Alex laughed mirthlessly, “Thank you, Willow. But that was not all. Like I said, I was around when that man came with your brother and cousin to take you away. I watched at the side, I would have stepped in if he had forced you to go back. Just as I was about to step in anyway, Tixon told me that there was a demon uprising in northern Russia. So I left. And that was when the whole Glory thing came to bear. Unfortunately, I had left too many Lenti demons here, Lenti demons are not traditionally warriors. They don’t fight, they spy and they infiltrate.” Alex shook her head in disbelief at her own lack of foresight.
“So when Glory attacked you, they couldn’t stop her. One of them shimmered to me but I was right in the middle of a battle. I couldn’t leave at that point because those Bodhi demons were very strong, I wasn’t able to make it back in time.” Alex sighed, “I try not to do teleportation with a Lenti demon because it drains me and I knew that if I was weakened in anyway, I would not have been able to stop Glory. After all, she is a hellgod and I am just an immortal. A very powerful one, but still…”
“But you teleported here when Sarevok came.” Willow pointed out.
Alex smiled slightly, “Desperate times call for desperate measures, Willow. And besides, back then, I already knew I was too late. So instead, I went to The Powers That Be and confronted them. Just like I am now almost certain that they were behind the Yuan-ti’s, I knew that they were behind the Bodhi’s. They did not want me around to interfere in any way with what was to be.”
“Buffy’s death.” Tara stated while Willow had her hand over her mouth.
“Yes. Buffy’s death was destined to happen.” The immortal was grave.
“But how…” Tara started to ask the question she knew Willow wanted to know.
“I had never been angrier. Never. Not in the past 2,788 years of my life. I’m not exactly sure what happened next,” Alex was rueful, “bu