Part Twelve
Ian found himself once again pacing his room. This was one of the things that he hated doing most in the world. Pacing equaled the lose of one’s cool and a man of his stature could not show any type of weakness. Russell was his best assassin and had never failed on any job, but this wasn’t just any job. Tara had been able to deal with anything and everything that he had every sent at her, and he couldn’t afford to have another failure. It was eighteen hours until the council meeting and then everything that he had ever dreamed of would be his. The only person who could prevent his rise to godhood was Tara and that was not an option.
Three hours ago Russell kidnapped his sister little redhead and thirty minutes after that Tara had gone after them. If everything had gone as planned then Tara should have been dead an hour ago. Ian knew that Russell would play with Tara for a while and release all that rage festering inside of him over the years. He understood his friend’s obsession but this was taking too long.
The door opened and Russell stumbled into the room and fell to the ground. His clothing was scorched and to looked like his left arm was burned. “Help,” Russell whispered.
“What the hell happened?” Ian demanded. This was not a good sign.
Russell looked up at him; his eyes were the look of pure agony. “Tara…showed up and…so angry…barely made it out alive.” Russell panted slowly inching up so that he was sitting on his knees.
Ian looked around the room. There had to be a way around this. Tara might know that he was behind all of this but she had no way to prove it and that was all that really mattered. She could attack him verbally in the counsel but his status still made more reliable and the fact that she had turned her back on them was an added bonus.
Now the question was Russell. He knew that Russell would never turn against him but he could still be a problem. Ian wouldn’t kill him because the assassin was too good at getting out of sticky situations and then there would just be one more person that he would have to go up against which was not an option. He would graciously give his injured friend a vacation to nurse his wounds.
“Ok, you need to get out of the house as soon as possible. We don’t need Tara running and finishing what she started. I never knew she had this in her, but I guess her new friend brings out the wild cat out of her in more then one way,” Ian said as he helped his friend up. “Now I am going to give you access to my jet and in ten hours you will be sitting on a nice beach in the warm sun. Don’t worry I’ll take care of you.”
“Thank you, I knew that I could count on you.” Russell said, as he was lead out of the room through the secret tunnels that Ian installed a few years ago. What Ian didn’t notice was the fact that Russell was watching the way they were going the whole time, memorizing every twist and turn.
Tara sat on her bed next to Willow just enjoying the feel of the redhead in her arms. She had felt her heart die the whole way to the barn unsure if Willow had already been killed or not. She didn’t know how she would have survived. Willow meant so much to her.
They had spent the last hour talking to General Heley formulating the plan for tomorrow and how they were going to take down the shit that was her brother. Heley was overjoyed at the thought that Ian’s reign would soon be at an end. All they had to do was play it cool and let Ian put himself into his own little cage.
“So tomorrow is the big day?” Willow’s soft voice said as she enjoyed the feel of Tara’s finger’s playing with her hair.
Tara kissed Willow’s forehead and gave a little smile. “Yes tomorrow my brother will be unable to hurt anyone ever again. And then the counsel will be able to go back to the way it has always been.”
“Oh…” Willow whispered.
Tara didn’t like the sound of this. She knew when her lover was trying to be strong and keep her worries to herself. “Baby, what’s wrong?” Tara said as she moved so that she could look Willow in the eye.
Willow tried to turn away but Tara placed her hand on her cheek so that the redhead had to look her in the eye. “Its just that… if your brother is no longer going to be the leader of the council then won’t you have to be?”
Tara had never thought about that before. It was her family duty to do just that, but then she would have to leave the woman that she loves and that was just not an option. “No matter what ever happens we will always be together, I promise.”
Both ignored the fact that Tara hadn’t truly answered the answer that was placed before her. The rest of the night they laid in each other’s arms just reveling in the love that they had for one another.
The next morning Willow and Tara dressed quickly even though Willow wasn’t all that comfortable in the long flowing robes that were required for such an occasion. Tara gave her a half smile and implied that they might not be too high on the fashion scale but they add a bonus when it came to the amount of time it took to take them off. She accented the point by giving Willow a passionate kiss which ended with both of them on the bed almost gibing them proof to Tara’s words, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Both girls groaned and parted as they finished getting ready for the events of the day.
The Meeting Hall was an hour from the house but it seemed to take longer. Keth was sitting up with the driver not in the best of moods. Ever since her had returned from home he had been in guard mode non-stop. The idea that both of his charges lives were in danger and just barely survived solidified his determination. In the back seat Tara and Willow sat in silence. Both were lost in thought about what was going to happen today and if their plan would work. Unconsciously Willow reached for Tara’s hand and started to play with her fingers, it was a nervous habit that seemed to comfort both of the girls.
“Are you sure that everything is ready?” Willow asked for the hundredth time.
Tara smiled at her. “Yes, Caleb told me that Ian was going to use a backup group of assassins if I start to make to much of a problem. Don’t worry I know who they are and am ready. I have everything under control.”
Willow was soothed by Tara words and also by her confidence. Willow was use to being the vocal one among the Scoobies but it was nice to see this side of her lover. “You better, or you will have a very upset girlfriend. I like having my girl in one nice Tara shaped piece.”
“Your wish is my command.” Tara said with a small smile and just to make her point she gave the redhead a small kiss.
Finally the reached the Meeting Hall and were escorted in. Willow had never seen anything like it. The large room was filled with every kind of demon that she could ever think about and some creatures that she would never imagine existed. Though some looked a little too familiar to the point that she turned to her lover, “Baby, did you ever let Jim Henson visit one of these meetings?”
Tara smiled, “Sweetie, Jim Henson grew up working for my father. How did you think that he got all his ideas for the creatures in his movies?”
Willow couldn’t say anything as they were ushered through the main hall towards The Comsario sitting area. Tara was a little shocked to see her father already sitting in one of the chairs. No one thought that he would show up now that Ian had taken over. This might cause a major bump in their plan.
“Tara I was hoping that you would be coming today.” Tara’s father said as he stood up to great them. The blond witch hugged her father and as they parted he turned to look at Willow. “And I have a feeling that this is the amazing woman that has stolen my young girl’s heart. It is nice to meet you.”
“It is nice to met you too sir. I guess you are the one I should thank for giving me Tara.” Willow answered. She meant what she said but she had the added bonus of seeing Tara blush at her words.
And boy did Tara blush. She was use to Willow saying things like that but it still brought out the shy side of herself. Even in the Meeting Hall where she had always been able to put on a show, Willows effect on her overpowered everything else. “I think it is about time that we take a seat.” Tara said trying to change the subject. “I didn’t see Ian. I thought he would be her by now.”
“He is talking with some of the other council members. Though I am a little surprised. Ian is staying as far away from General Heley as possible and usually that is the first person that your brother tries to talk to.” Zahn said looking at the two women. He noticed that neither looked happy when he mentioned Ian’s name, but there was something else as well. Tara looked right at General Heley and made a slight nod and he did the same. Something was going on and he didn’t like it. When he looked at Willow’s face all he saw was concern, which made him feel even worse.
A loud gong was sounded and everyone started to move to their seats. Ian walked over toward his father but then changed directions going to the center of the room. Now was his time to shine and he was going to make it count. Everyone looked confused by his actions and quickly moved so that they could hear what their new leader had to say.
Once the room was quiet he began. “I know that this is a little unorthodox, but as this is my first meeting I thought I would start with something a little new. With the passing of power by my father, the great Zahn Comsario, we are going to start a new age. For millions of years the demon populations ruled over the world and there was order and control, but then it was decided that we should move into the shadows and let man rule over all. Since then they have polluted everything that they have touch and have pushed us farther and farther to the outskirts of this planet, I think that the time for man to control is over,” he stopped to let the idea sink in. He had already made strong allies that would fight vocally today on his side but he still had to keep a good show.
As planned Heley jumped up, “Are you crazy? You want us to make are presence know to the human population. That would cause mass hysteria and eventually lead to war. And I fear that war will be one that neither side has the ability to win. I will not support anything of this nature.”
Ian only smiled since he had this planned. Zahn just looked at what was unfolding in front of him. How could his son ever come up with this kind of plan, it was madness pure and simple. He was about to stand and say something even in his weakened condition, but Tara place her hand on his arm shaking her head no. Now the looks between Heley and his daughter were starting to make sense. They had known about Ian’s proposal and had a plan.
“General Heley, I understand you concern but this is not about the loss of life. This is about the dwindling essence of our kind. For thousands of years we have been reduced to nothing more then horror stories told to children. Honor is at stake don’t you understand this. I think that we should at least discuss this and put it to a vote.” Ian said in his best diplomatic voice.
“I don’t think that we need to do that. I challenge you to prove you honor since this is such an important issues for you.” Heley said with a smile.
Ian didn’t expect this. He thought that this would end in a debate and then he could use his men to easily win the battle. “You have no right to challenge my honor General Heley. Your motion is overruled and I am ashamed that you would use violence to win an issue. I thought that you were one of our great leaders not some heavy handed dictator?”
“He might not be able to challenge you but I can.” Tara said as she slowly stood up.
TBC…
Ok I am hoping to have the last part of this story up by Sunday or Monday so please forgive me for once again being such a shit for taking so long.