New Fic - Worst Nightmare

[Washi]

I've been reading too, and all I can say is that you made me bawl. And that means something.

It's great, I can't get enough.

-------------------



"See? I've mastered this tact crap." Anya in Tears Of The Goddess by Lisa



The course of love doesn’t always run smooth, especially for the neurotic and accident-prone. ~ LadyB



.:Dark-bliss.net :. .:Blink.Flash.Sparkle.:. .:My blog:. .:Blood and Ink:. .:Washi's 70s Site:.

[KiwiAlcyone]

Yay for the feedback, you guys rock and it's awesome to hear how much you're enjoying this little tale.



I guess at this point the question is whether Willow can redeem herself after all she's done. Maybe she can but I'm not going to let her off lightly. And yeah, Rack is a character in both my fic and on the show without any redeemable qualities whatsoever...gotta love to hate him



Chapter Nine



“When you call my name, it’s like a little prayer

I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you there,

In the midnight hour I can feel your power

Just like a prayer, you know I’ll take you…mmmmph…”



“Will…Willow!” Tara finally wrestled her hand over Willow’s mouth, effectively silencing her, “You really are sweet…but I didn’t mean to literally burst into song. It was metaphorical. At least, unless a certain dancing demon has made a reappearance. I didn’t think Madonna was a part of his repertoire though.”



Tara laughed and glanced around a little nervously. Willow’s impromptu song recital had occurred while the two witches were standing in the middle of the mall during a weekend shopping excursion. A few people were smiling, most weren’t paying any attention at all. The redhead was grinning mischievously from ear to ear as though she wouldn’t hesitate to burst into song again at the slightest provocation.



Willow laughed and slipped her arms around Tara’s waist, “You sure? Cos there’s still a whole ‘nother verse? Oh well, singing’s not really my thing anyway…this however, is my thing…”



Smoothly, Willow pulled Tara close and began kissing her thoroughly without a care as to who might be watching. Any sounds of protest from Tara this time round were completely stifled beneath the soft feel of her girlfriend’s lips. Tara’s face was flushed in a good way as Willow drew back slightly, pressing her nose against Tara’s. She nuzzled playfully.



“One of your things…” Tara replied, more than a little out of breath.



Willow’s cheeks flushed just as red as Tara’s when she realised just how much she wanted to continue on to those other ‘things.’ Tara instantly knew what she was thinking and gave her a chiding look. Ordinarily they were a very private couple, seldom known to give into public displays of affection. Willow often suspected that this was much to Xander’s disappointment. She sighed dramatically to show her disappointment before Tara quickly shut her up with a loving ‘be patient’ look.



“Right!” Willow announced with determination, “Shopping, I’m so down with the shopping thing…but we can go look at sexy lingerie…can’t we…pleeeease?”



“Sweetie, no funny business,” Tara said it as much for herself as Willow, she knew full well that mere browsing of cute lingerie caused her to blush when she imagined it on Willow.



Knowing smiles were fixed on both Willow and Tara’s faces as they joined hands and went back to shopping. Tara didn’t say a word as Willow steered her straight towards the lingerie shop.



Willow was still singing to her…Tara no longer wanted her to be quiet but the sweet sound faded anyway. Tara tried to open her mouth to protest, to tell Willow to keep singing but no sound came out. She tasted blood as she licked her parched tongue over her lips. She swallowed, her throat burned. Her body was cold, chilled really and she felt as though it was one giant bruise. Tara knew she should open her eyes and get her bearings but she was terrified of what she would find.



Finally she managed to open them. At first there was nothing but darkness until gradually her eyes became accustomed to the lack of light. She found herself in a dark room, the floor was covered in water so she guessed she was underground. Why did evil creatures always choose the dark, dank places for their lairs? Her wrists were shackled to the wall, the heavy cuffs digging into the skin of her wrist. She tried a simple incantation to unlock them but it only made her head throb. Of course they would have inhibited her powers somehow, the room was probably charmed against magic use. The room itself was devoid of absolutely anything else save her own battered body huddled in one corner. At least this was what she thought until she heard the sound of a shifting body in the shadows.



“W-who is it?” Tara croaked, any thoughts of issuing a brave challenge died when she found she could barely speak, “Show y-yourself.”



She was answered with a mocking laugh and it was all she needed to know exactly who it was. Tara felt revulsion fill her to the very core. She pressed her back more firmly against the stone wall behind her, fervently wishing she could sink through it entirely. He stepped from the shadows, the warlock who had used his foul wiles to entice Willow to use the Black magicks. The warlock who was probably still very pissed after Tara knocked him out the last time they met. He came to squat directly in front of her, much, much too close for Tara’s liking.



“Hello Tara my dear. I don’t believe was given the chance to introduce myself properly last time we met…Rack, at your service.”



It was the first time he had used her name and Tara wished he would go back to calling her ‘blondie.’ She hated the way it rolled off his tongue, like a greasy, offensive caress. Tara squared her chin defiantly but felt a deep sense of dread. She had been face to face with evil all too often before…but her best chances of success were normally when she turned and ran. There was no escape route this time.



“What do you want?” Tara asked the most natural question under the circumstances, besides payback, she really had no idea why she should be worth anything to the warlock.



“I didn’t have the opportunity to tell you how much I admire you last time we met, before you went all witch-fu on me of course,” he laughed, “You have strength, not magically of course because face it blondie, I could swat you like a little bug. No, you have that inner strength…the type that often gets people killed for their foolish ideals. Why do I want you? Well…not only do I owe you payback for embarrassing me…I needed a little leverage to convince a certain redhead to part with a little information.”



“W-what information?” Tara tried to keep her voice as level as possible, “There’s nothing she knows that you’d be interested in.”



“Oh, I think the location of the Horn of Janus is something I’d very much be interested in,” Rack laughed, “She didn’t mean to tell me of course…I stumbled across it while she was…how shall we put this…out of her mind?”



Tara couldn’t help but gape as her spirits sank. It was like experiencing your worst nightmare and having it multiply tenfold. How could they have been so stupid? Willow…how could Willow have been entrusted with such information when Rack had a free run of her mind? Had this guardian Willow spoke of known about her addiction? Rack was enjoying this immensely as he taunted her.



“I also found out a great deal about you blondie…the things you and Strawberry get up to in the privacy of your room…well, you know it’s not so private anymore.”



Rack ran his fingers down her throat, she winced, trying to pull away but his hand shot out and grabbed her around the neck.



“I thought you liked that?” his hand tightened, “Or is it when it comes from a man it isn’t as good?”



“Nothing is as good when it comes from a sick, twisted pig like yourself,” Tara finally found the courage she had been searching for, “I know what else you saw in Willow’s mind…the love that we share is strong enough to overcome anything, even Black Magic. You’re just trying to get back at me because you’ll never have her the way I have her and you cant stand that. You’re nothing to her!”



Rack squeezed and Tara saw stars, if she could just get him to squeeze a little harder…Suddenly he pulled back and stood to his feet.



“You know everything don’t you blondie, just too damn smart for you own good. You know I have you because Willow would die rather than give away the location. Yes, I saw the bond you two share and you know what it means? It means I win! Strawberry will never let anyone kill you if she can do anything about it. So you thought you’d try and work me up a little…get me to kill you in a fit of rage so Strawberry would have no reason to tell me the Horn’s location. Very brave…although your unswerving devotion to her seems more than a little masochistic…even to someone like me.”



He slapped her across the face, making her head snap back and hit the wall behind her, “Now since you know I won’t be goaded into killing you, what are you gonna do, hold your breath and kill yourself?”



“I’ve been hit before you bastard!” Tara was seeing stars and yet she still managed to face Rack, “I tell you now, you can break my bones, you can taunt me with your cheap talk all you want but believe me, beyond that there’s nothing you can really do to me.”



“Hmm, I don’t think that’s quite right is it?” as he said it, Tara knew full well it wasn’t either, “How about I make your little girlfriend’s insides into her outsides…right in front of you?”



“That would scare me if I didn’t know that Willow could kick your ass in an instant, you’d never get close enough!” the words tumbled out of her mouth in an anger which barely concealed her fear.



“Now, now blondie, that’s a sore point isn’t it? Do you really want your little redhead playing with the fire again? Even to save your life? Especially because it would probably mean the end of her own…as far gone as she was last time.”



Tara had no argument to counter Rack’s words because there was none. Willow would die if she got any more of the Black Magicks in her system. Yet how else was Willow going to beat Rack? The warlock drew a knife casually from his belt. It glinted in the dim light to reveal a wicked blade. Tara flinched as he drew it across her throat…just a little more pressure and it would slice through her pale skin. He made a slicing motion but all he cut were several inches from the end of her hair. He smiled sadistically as he grabbed her palm, holding it firmly he sliced across it. Tara bit her lip to keep from crying out at the sudden pain, thick blood gushed out. He pressed the hair into her palm and held her hand shut around it until the lock was soaked. Rack was looking into her eyes as he withdrew the hair from her palm before trailing it across her face.



“The time has come for a little love letter to Strawberry I think.”



*****



Willow was still whimpering when she opened her eyes for real. She immediately reached across and flicked on the bedside lamp to flood the room with light. Breathing a sigh of relief to discover she was in her own room, Willow sought comfort by burrowing back into her bedcovers. As she lay curled in a ball, she gloomily mulled over the fact that every moment she had managed to sleep during the last few days had been plagued by nightmares. Willow grimaced as she remembered dreaming herself back in the mud at the bottom of the open grave. It hadn’t felt like a dream at all. Someone had been filling the grave with shovelfuls of mud, the terror had been so real. She had struggled to get out but had been unable to get any ort of grip in the slick mud, it had just slid right through her fingers. Looking up at the night sky above her, she saw the outline of a shadowy form wielding the shovel. Willow wiped mud from her eyes just as a lightning flash had revealed it to be Tara.



*****



Buffy Summers was a night gal through and through. This particular night however troubled her for some reason and for once the trouble wasn’t caused by the fact that Spike was walking a few meters to her right. Everything about the vampire’s movements were meant to show he was alert, on the lookout for any hostile activity. Buffy knew that wasn’t quite everything. He was also revelling in the chance to spend more time with her. She would rather have had Xander along on patrol but he and Anya were watching Dawn and Willow tonight so she was stuck with Big not-so-Bad himself. Most of their patrol had been in an almost comfortable silence and yet Spike seemed to think he needed to talk, there was no surprise there.



“How’s Willow?” it was an honest question, though it came from someone who had tried to kill the redheaded witch on a number of occasions.



“Doing fine,” Buffy sounded unsure even to herself, to tell the truth she had no idea what ‘doing fine’ in the aftermath of magic addiction actually entailed.



“Well, that she’s alive is good,” Spike was doing his best at reassurance, “Anyone I’ve ever known that has gotten too much of the Black mojo in their system has pretty much gone poof, y’know, nothing left…well, maybe a few bits of charred flesh…”



Spike promptly shut up beneath a glare from the Slayer and resumed his scanning of their environs. It was a grand total of two minutes before he risked conversation again.



“Red’s bird?”



“Understandably upset but coping remarkably well…” Buffy stopped and spun to face the peroxided vampire with a frown, “Spike, what are you trying to do? Since when have you cared so much about my friends? I hope you’re not trying to ingratiate yourself...because you’re trying too hard and it’s disturbing!”



“That’s right Slayer, just doing the polite thing,” he replied a little too quickly, “You never know, it might work one day.”



“Yeah, would that also be the day that pigs start flying cos…” Buffy began but stopped when she saw shadows moving in unnatural ways over Spike’s shoulder, “Speaking of pigs…”



Spike saw the look in the Slayer’s eyes and instinctively spun around, rolling to the ground just as an arm went flying past him. The arm belonged to a large vamp who had formerly been a prize fighter by the looks of him. With a grin Spike put on his game face and lunged at his attacker. As they grappled, Spike found out first hand that the burly vampire didn’t just look like a prize fighter…he fought like one. A few good punches had him reeling while strong arms grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and launched him headfirst into a tombstone. Growling he turned to leap back up,



“Wait!” a second vampire stepped from the shadows, holding up his hand in supplication, “We have to talk with the Slayer.”



“Well, bugger me,” Spike whistled through his teeth, “Vamps that want to talk? What will they be doing next…scheduling their fights?”



“We have a message, one that you should take notice of,” he drew an envelope from inside his jacket and held it out to Buffy.



Before Buffy could accept the note, Spike seized the opportunity to catch the messenger-vampires off guard. He snatched the note from the outstretched hand, tossing it to Buffy at the same time he shoved a stake in the heart of its carrier. Stepping through the dust, he rounded on the prize fighter. With a throaty growl he threw himself forward to regain a little dignity from his earlier unscheduled flight. While the vampire may have been caught off guard at first he quickly regained composure. Raising his fists in a fighter’s stance he faced off against Spike, who did the same. They danced around another, eying warily before trading exploratory blows. Spike shook his head, dazed, as one caught him on the chin. Burly vamp grinned and followed it up with a soaring uppercut, knocking Spike completely off his feet. For the second time in mere minutes, Spike went flying through the air. He jumped back to his feet, mightily pissed off. Rather than risk looking anymore foolish, Spike grasped his stake firmly and flung it at the vamp. The wooden missile plunged into the heart, turning the prize fighter into dust mid-lunge. Spike tucked the stake back into his coat in a satisfied manner. He casually lit a cigarette.



“Don’t you know the old saying about not shooting the messenger?” Buffy said, annoyed she had missed out on all the staking.



“Shoot,” Spike emphasised that particular word, “Never heard anything bout not staking the messenger. Now what’s that say?”



Buffy opened the envelope and drew out the slip of paper that was inside. However, as she opened the note, she found a grizzlier discovery. The paper had been folded around a lock of hair that made her stomach lurch…the hair was coated in blood. Oh god, it can’t be…. She tucked the hair into her palm and read the note,



Restfield Cemetery, tomorrow night



“What is it Slayer?” Spike saw the anguished looked on Buffy’s face and felt like reaching up to place his hand on her shoulder.



Buffy showed him the note and the lock of bloody hair which had been folded within it.



“Yeah, well, could be anyone’s,” Spike was trying to be unconcerned, he handed it back.



Buffy had already noted the hue of the hair, “I have a fairly good idea who’s it is…but how do they know….”



“Know what?” Spike still had no idea that Willow held the Location of the Horn of Janus.



“Nothing,” Buffy mumbled, “I’m done for the night, I’m heading home.”



“I’m sure this is just the vamps trying to get you rattled…it’s nothing. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather head back to my crypt?” even as he said it, Spike wondered what the Slayer was keeping from him.



Buffy didn’t want to admit that was exactly what she felt she needed. Something to take her mind off all of this, to avoid what she knew she had to do.



“No Spike. I’m very sure.”



She didn’t even have the heart to give the vampire a scathing rebuke before starting back in the direction of her home. All the while she was wondering how she could have let something like this happen…and how she was going to give the news to Willow.



*****



Even the simple things took forever Willow realised as she tried to dress herself. It had taken the better part of half an hour just to pull on jeans and a t-shirt. Still, she was sick of being bed-ridden…she was going downstairs, determined to be fully dressed instead of skulking around in her pyjamas. Willow awkwardly tugged on a sweater over her head. She was more than a little dismayed to find that she barely had the strength to do such a simple task. With the sweater half way over her head she realised that she was stuck. Thankfully she heard her bedroom door open.



“Tara? As you can probably see, I’m stuck,” she said quietly, voice further muffled by the sweater, “Can you…”



“Will…it’s me,” it was Buffy, but there was something strange about her voice.



Willow felt Buffy’s hands on her sweater, she tugged it down over Willow’s head.



“Hey, I can see,” Willow managed a small smile that quickly disappeared when she saw the look on Buffy’s face.



She knew by the look the aching in her heart that whatever Buffy’s news actually was, it had something to do with Tara. When the Slayer pressed the blood-matted lock of hair gently into her palm all she could do was stare at it blankly. It was so familiar. She knew that hair all too well. She had spent countless hours running her hands through it, burying her face in it while their bodies were pressed together. Usually it was accompanied by the scent of Tara’s favourite shampoo. Now when Willow pressed it against her lips she smelt the blood…Tara’s blood. It might as well have been Willow’s own blood and in truth she wished it was.



“How?” Buffy asked although she feared she already knew the answer, “How did they find out you held the Location? You only told us, no one would ever part with that information. So how on earth did they get it?”



Willow looked up at Buffy, meeting her eyes as she slowly shook her head…she had told no one. It was the one thing in her life that she was so sure she had protected. She had kept it locked tight, watched it closely, never for a moment letting go of how important it was for all their sake’s. She had been in control….Willow’s mouth hung open. Realisation dawned…she had been far from in control at Rack’s place…the opposite really. He had been in control…



Willow hit her head with the palm of her hand, “Rack…he saw everything up here, including the Location. He knows full well only I can find it, that’s why he needs Tara…for motivation. He knows there’s no way I’d let her die.”



Willow stumbled to the bed and weakly collapsed onto it, clutching her head in her hands. This wasn’t supposed to be happening, how could Amelia have given her the information against her will? Willow wished fervently that she had never known the Location of the Horn…then Tara would never have been in such danger. Willow had failed to protect the most important part of her life…



“This was never supposed to get my friends hurt! I alone hold the location of the Horn, it was mine to protect…my burden to suffer alone!”



“Will, you know full well you never suffer anything alone…whatever you feel, whatever you go through…Tara feels it too…as though you two are part of a whole. You know that…she accepted that.”



“Acceptance be damned! That doesn’t mean she deserves to die because of something I did…I won’t let her! I’ll do anything to help her,” Willow knew she couldn’t hold true to that statement and sighed in pain, “We can’t give it to him…our world…”



“You won’t be able to save her alone Will.”



“I know Buffy, I know,” Willow’s voice was small, “It would be like suicide.”



She remembered Buffy’s words of caution before she had rushed off to face Glory, the Slayer had been right then…



“No…well, I mean yes, it would be suicide for you…but that’s not why I’d have to stop you trying to go after her alone. Will, if they get hold of this thing it would be an and to our reality, for everyone….in Sunnydale, possibly even the world.”



Willow nodded and felt hot tears splash onto her cheeks. The thought of the gentle blonde in the hands of evil made her sicker than any amount of dark magic in her blood. The woman she loved beyond measure…had hurt beyond measure. Willow would gladly die a million times over to see Tara safe.



“He needs me to take him to it Buffy,” of that Willow was sure, “I don’t exactly understand the way it works but he can’t find it alone.”



“As long as we have something he needs will still have the upper hand…we’re gonna use that to our advantage. Which means that you might have to get into a bad situation Will…I’m not happy about it but…”



“I’ll do anything,” Willow replied quickly, “I just can’t do nothing and let them kill her Buffy…I can’t. Even if things are never going to be right between us again, she’s still my everything.”



“I know Will,” Buffy cradled the young Wiccan against her chest gently, “And believe me we will…note the ‘we’, as in all of us. We all love Tara and we’re all going to get her back to us safely I promise.”



Buffy couldn’t help but feel worried. The note had not specified a single person, yet it had been clearly intended for Willow. Whoever had sent it knew…they knew that the Scoobies wouldn’t send one of their own into such a situation alone. They would be prepared to face all of them, including the Slayer. Buffy couldn’t let Willow see the emotions that were etched on her face. When the friends pulled apart, Buffy’s expression was set in stone…it was her business face.



“That’s an awfully big promise to make Buff,” Willow took the expression as a sign of resolve and crushed the lock of hair against her chest, “But you’re the Slayer and my best friend, so if anyone can keep it – you can. I’m gonna hold you to it.”



TBC

Edited by: KiwiAlcyone at: 1/19/04 3:38 am

[sam darls]

Wow..what an update..that was so amazing. Love sammi xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)

[Vizier Mountian]

Awwww, poor , poor . I hope Tara can be rescued soon.

[4WiccanLuv]

Alcy, great update. Tara is one gutsy woman to say those things to Rack. I'm glad he showed retraint and didn't hurt her too badly. He is definintely not stupid. He makes my skin crawl, can't imagine how poor Tara feels. It's also great to see Buffy get her Slayer on and reassure Willow that they will get Tara back! Go Buffy! Rack is so gonna get his ass kicked!



And although I hate to see Willow suffer, I'm also glad you're not going to let Willow off the hook so easily. What she did to Tara and to herself is *almost* unforgivable, I can't wait to see how this ends! *runs and grabs popcorn and front row seat and excitedly awaits next update*

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others." - Groucho Marx

[KiwiAlcyone]

Here's another update



Sammi - glad you enjoyed the update, hopefully this one is as good.

Vizier Mountain - yeah, it's pretty much poor everyone in this fic at the moment, and it's kinda gonna stay that way for a while

4WiccanLuv - Tara is soooo gutsy. Willwo may have the magic mojo but Tara has so got it where it counts. I'm glad you're looking forward to see how this ends...still a ways to go yet though.





Chapter Ten – “It’s all in the look”





The Magic Box’s atmosphere later that night could at best be described as very tense…at worst, downright ominous. Each and every one of the Scoobies possessed the bleary eyes of the sleep deprived and yet the manner in which they approached Tara’s kidnapping was nothing short of full commitment. Willow sat slightly further away from the table than her friends. Her feet drawn up onto the chair, arms hugging her legs close to her body. She was chilled despite a heavy coat, and she felt as weak as a day old kitten. Still, she felt a small amount of comfort in the knowledge that, when things were at their worst, her friends pulled together in ways few groups could.



Each and everyone of them would die to get Tara back…even Anya. And you know why? Because they all love her…and don’t want to see her hurt. Rosenberg, you who claim to love her more than anything…you’ve already hurt her the most. Listen to me…poor Willow, poor, poor Willow…I mean, self-pity much?



Willow quickly glanced around the table but no one had seen the look of annoyance that played across her features. They were all in the awkward holding pattern just before the planning started. The fidgeting, the increased hand-holding between Xander and Anya, Buffy’s pacing…it all indicated ‘holding pattern.’ The absence of ‘plan’ was clearing bugging everyone, not just Willow.



Xander glanced at his watch, “Less than twenty hours till D-day and we don’t have a plan or the slightest frilly clue as to what is going on. It would be better if we had a plan. Plan’s are good.”



“Which we will start working on as soon as you stop bitching about not having one,” Buffy’s voice was curt, putting Xander in his place instantly before she softened both her face and her tone apologetically, “The details we have are sketchy but vital. Willow is the only one who knows the Location of the Horn, whoever wants the Horn has since found this out from Rack and has taken Tara hostage…”



“Can’t we just assume that it’s Rack behind all of this, that he has Tara? I mean this Horn thing has got to be something he wants to get his hands on, I mean, if I were still a demon, heck, I’d want it,” Anya supplied helpfully.



Buffy shook her head, “I disagree, we had vamps and demons looking for the Horn long before Rack knew anything about it’s Location. I’m betting it’s not just him we have to deal with tomorrow night. I get the feeling he’s not even the big kahuna behind all this. I mean, the guy is scum, evil through and through but I don’t think he’s the evil mastermind-type. To put it bluntly…we don’t know exactly who we’re dealing with.”



“Commander-in-chief Buffy, Norad moves to Def-con four,” Xander slapped the table in an effort to appear enthusiastic to hunt powerful and unknown evil rather than admit it was scarily unnerving.



“That’s pretty much everything we know. There’s no way we can avoid meeting them tomorrow but there’s also no way we can just hand it over. What we need is a way to destroy this thing and I’m guessing a mystic, powerful Horn isn’t going to be able to be destroyed with a hammer.”



“Amelia,” Willow found her voice, weak and distant as it was.



Buffy, Xander and Anya all turned to face the previously silent redhead, questioning looks all around. Destroy…Willow shifted back through her memories, blood throbbing more than a little painfully through her brain. She remembered something Amelia had said…“We, I mean…I was never strong enough to destroy it, but you just might…but you have to remember…the two must be made one…forever…” Willow didn’t understand what the last part was about…well, she had hardly understood most of what Amelia had said but…destroy. So it could be done…Willow let out a small sigh of relief which was immediately cut short when she realised her revelation was merely a teaser. She wished fervently that Amelia had given her the slightest clue exactly how to destroy the Horn.



“I thought you said she poofed?” Xander asked with a frown when it was apparent that Willow had lapsed into her own little reverie.



Willow blinked, realising they were all waiting for her to share, “Not Amelia herself…I mean, yes, she did poof but her house is still there. She was the previous guardian of the Horn and she did mention something about destroying it so I’m guessing that’s our best shot at the moment. Go to her house, have a poke around, see what we can find out that might help us.”



Buffy studied Willow’s face for a moment, the Slayer nodded as she found what she was searching for…Willow. Despite all that had happened to her over the past few days, her fear and self-loathing, she was still Willow.



“Right,” Buffy nodded succinctly, they had a plan and now they had to run with it. They were the Scoobies and that was what they did, “That’s our best bet then. Fingers crossed we find something.”



Willow looked at Buffy and knew she and the Slayer were thinking exactly the same thing, …or else we have nothing…



“We’re going now, in the dark?” Xander squeaked.



“No, you and Anya are going to relieve Spike on Dawn watch, tell him we need him at this address asap,” Buffy handed Xander a piece of paper with Amelia’s address on it, “Willow and I will wait for him there.”



*****



Buffy and Willow climbed out of the car as Spike pulled up on his hog. He revved the engine a couple of times as Buffy came towards him but a glare from the Slayer made him cut the engine very quickly. He also felt bad in case he had given some little old lady a fright this late at night…



“So, we ripping apart the old broad’s house to try and find something to kick ass with?” he lit a cigarette.



“Not quite the way I would have put it…but yeah,’ Buffy lead the way through the gate and up the walk to the front door.



“So how come we’re looking here…and what exactly are we looking for?” Spike asked as they paused in front of the door, Buffy realised no one had told him what was happening and for all her wishing they didn’t have to inform him, she really thought he ought to know.



“The Horn…Willow knows where it is, someone found out Willow knows and they grabbed Tara. Tomorrow night we have to meet them to hand over the Horn if we want to save Tara,” Buffy was succinct and to the point, no use mincing words, “This is the house of the Horn’s previous guardian…so…hopefully we can find something, anything to help us.”



“I wish people would keep me in the bloody loop,” Spike piped up, disgruntled, “I’m the one who gives you the lowdown in the first place and you don’t even tell me that Red here knows where it is! C’mon, I’m a valuable part of this team…”



“Yes you are,” Buffy really didn’t have the time for one of his little tantrums, “Which is why you haven’t got a stake through your non-beating heart right now…but if you keep yacking you might find yourself with all new-improved air conditioning in your torso…so shut up and let me do the talking.”



As they stood in front of the door, Willow caught Spike looking at her in a strange way. She smiled a tight-lipped smile, shifting on her feet uncomfortably. Buffy was eying the door to see if she could possibly spot any hidden trap mechanisms or absolutely anything else that looked suspicious to Slayer eyes. The only person who managed to look as though this really was just business as usual was Spike, puffing away on his cigarette. Buffy tried to ignore him. Willow peered worriedly over her shoulder. She spun back around when there was an loud crashing sound, Spike had kicked the door down.



“Was that really necessary?” Buffy demanded.



Spike shrugged and grinned rakishly.



“What are we looking for?” Spike asked as he stepped over the threshold and the remnants of the door he had just kicked down.



Willow followed Spike and Buffy into the house, “Anything at all that might help us destroy the Horn…Amelia said it could be done so there has to be a way. Somehow I don’t think it would just be sitting around staring right at us though…it never is.”



Willow paused once she was inside, everything felt…odd in a way, she couldn’t describe it any better. She had left so fast last time she had been here, it seemed as though nothing had changed. Amelia should be stepping out from the kitchen with a plate of steaming muffins. Yet Willow had seen her go poof in her arms. The one person she knew who could have possibly made this go away.



“Do you really think it was a good idea to bring Red along? I reckon a strong wind could blow her over,” Spike nodded in Willow’s direction.



Willow looked up from her reverie and glared at Spike, “I’m not deaf you know…or incompetent.”



“Right,” Spike muttered under his breath and started off to search the house.



“Spike,” Buffy called after him, “Search nicely…no breaking anything, putting anything out of place, smashing any walls down.”



“Taking all the fun out of life Slayer,” Spike disappeared through the door into the kitchen.



Buffy looked as though she agreed with what Spike had said about her being blown over, “Will, you can just stay here if you want…search the living room…”



Willow nodded glumly and Buffy backed away from her for a few steps as though Willow were something she shouldn’t turn her back on. When Buffy had disappeared down the hallway Willow set to searching the living room. There was hardly anything to look at and nothing at all that appeared to be of any magical significance. Just a lot of cross-stitch…



Maybe I was wrong and there is nothing here after all…Tara… Willow felt like slumping into the sofa and crying. Somehow, the combined mission of saving Tara and preventing evil from getting hold of the Horn seemed impossible.

Amelia, why on earth did you do this to me? You must have known about me…what I am. I was a ruined shell of what I was supposed to be when I came to see you…and now, without Tara…I’m nothing at all.



Willow leapt out of her skin when there was a small crash originating from behind her. She spun around, heart thumping to find that Ernie’s picture had fallen off the mantelpiece and was lying in a small pool of glass. Crossing to it, Willow lent down, carefully picking up the frame from amongst the broken glass. As soon as her fingers came into contact with the frame Willow gasped. It was as though something had grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and pulled her forward. The house around her was no longer, but rather she was standing in the middle of an unfamiliar forest. Despite being day, very little light filtered through the dense canopy of trees. It was dark, cold…Willow felt the spongy ground shift as she moved her feet, a strong breeze whipped her hair against her face. The feeling she got was not one of welcoming. Willow turned around slowly, feeling more than a little queasy with her sudden trip. There was nothing but trees and shadows in every direction.



“Great…” Willow whispered, afraid to raise her voice, “Mystic portal to the middle of nowhere.”



She walked a few paces in one direction before realising she had no idea how to get back. If she wandered too far would she be lost in this forest…she’d never be able to find Tara…Willow felt a painful constriction in her throat…as she turned once, twice…



“Shit!” Willow almost fell backwards in fright.



In the middle of a clearing where she swore there had been nothing but…well, clearing, before stood a man. Even from a slight distance, Willow recognised him almost straight away…Ernie. It was unmistakably Amelia’s husband, he looked exactly like his photograph in real life…if this could even be called real. He was holding an object aloft in his hands which made Willow cringe, it was the Horn. She couldn’t see much of it, just that it was shaped like it was from the pages of legend, large and tapered. From his lips came an incantation, the exact words lost on the wind. Willow started towards him but suddenly found that her feet could not be budged from the spot in which she stood. She was forced to watch from afar.



“Ernie!” it was a woman’s voice, desperate, pleading.



The voice came from a woman running through the trees. A much younger version of Amelia, her actions frantic. Willow wanted to call to her, get her to explain everything that was happening except that now her mouth would not even work. She clenched her fists in frustration at being a mere spectator.



“Amelia get back!” Ernie’s voice was strained, tired.



Suddenly there was a low rumble, originating in the distance, rapidly coming closer. Willow felt the ground tremble beneath her feet a split second before the earth heaved and threw her through the air. She landed with a dull thud a few meters away, the wind temporarily knocked out of her. Blinking away stars, Willow scrambled back to her feet in time to see Ernie surrounded by an intense golden light. The light was so bright it seemed as though it should have burned him to a cinder. A haunting noise filled the air and Willow knew instinctively that it was the Horn. The tone was crisp, clear and sad, yet it chilled Willow to the bone. It felt as though nothing good could ever come from that sound…she hated it. The light kept Amelia at bay…she could not approach her husband and it was clear this distressed her greatly. Then it happened…



Ernie was still holding the Horn aloft but a strange look passed across his face. There came the sound of flesh ripping nauseatingly, Willow saw and heard it as though he were standing right in front of her. Ernie’s face was frozen in a mask of surprise before the light vanished instantly and he collapsed. Willow felt like vomiting…just like that…his…Amelia ran forward to take her dead husband in her arms, her shoulders heaving. The Horn lay in the dirt, momentarily unforgotten. Willow took a drunken-like step forward…and found herself back in Amelia’s living room, her fingers clasped around the frame.



“There’s nothing bloody here,” Spike muttered as he entered the room, bringing her fully back to this reality, “We’ve searched every inch of the joint.”



Buffy joined them back in the living room, Willow had picked up the picture and she was standing, staring at it with a pained expression. She didn’t notice it but her fingers were shaking as she gripped the frame. What she had just seen further convinced her that there was a destruction spell, there was no question that was what Ernie had been trying to do. He’d failed…and died…



Ernie was never supposed to perform the spell…he wasn’t the Horn’s guardian, Amelia should have been the one… Willow had the awful thought that perhaps the spell killed it’s weaver regardless. She had the unconscious thought that was why Ernie had given his life rather than let Amelia sacrifice herself. Oh god…is that what’s going to happen to whoever tries to destroy it?



Buffy and Spike were both staring at Willow as though she were about to fall over at any moment. With Slayer speed, Buffy moved to her side…ready to catch her if need be.



“Will…is everything okay?” Buffy placed an arm around Willow’s waist, “You spaced out there for a moment.”



Willow managed a tight-lipped smile in the Slayer’s direction before glancing back to the frame, “Maybe there is something here.”



Her fingers traced the pattern on the wooden frame, each indent and surface sliding beneath her fingers. It was a strange pattern for a frame, intricate, as though it were more than just a pattern. It was…



“The frame, it’s on Ernie’s frame,” Willow said quietly, resolutely.



Buffy looked at the face of the photo, “Errr, nice picture, good looking guy.”



“Not the picture Buffy, the frame, the wood, it’s some sort of writing…I-I can’t read it…but I think it’s what we need to know?”



“Will, you know I’m not big with the strange languages and I wish I could jump on the let’s-get-excited bandwagon…but, not knocking your intuition or anything, it could just be a pretty pattern…”



“No,” Willow shook her head slightly, “Someone…showed me, someone who knows…this is it.”



Willow still felt sick, whether it was from the weird vision she had taken or what she had seen, she wasn’t entirely sure…she suspected that it was the latter however. The image of what happened to Ernie at the moment he died was burned behind her eyes, the horrible sound accompanying it. She kept seeing the look of surprise frozen on his face.



*****



“I’m pretty sure it’s some sort of ancienty…text,” Willow tilted the frame this way and that, trying to match it up with something in one of the dozen books that was sitting open around her, “The syntax is similar to Sumerian, and yet it’s not…the glyphs are constructed almost like Babylonian….but…”



“It’s not,” Xander finished neatly, “The text appears to be ‘not’ a lot of things.”



“And it’s not any demon script that I can recognise,” Anya supplied, “And believe me, I know the demon scripts.”



The Scoobies had gathered together every single book on translation in the Magic Box.



“Oh bloody hell! Why don’t you just zap it with the scanny thingee on the computer and send it off however you do to nancy guy over in Blighty. Isn’t he supposed to be the big text genius?” Spike glanced around at the weird looks everyone was giving him, “What? I may be centuries old but I’m down with the technology and I seem to be the only one with any decent ideas as opposed to you morons.”



“Thank you for that Spike,” Buffy glared at the peroxided vampire but a touch of gratitude was mixed in with it.



“Giles!” Xander exclaimed, “Why didn’t we think of that?”



While the rest of the gang was still lamenting the obviousness of Spike’s revelation, Willow was already several steps ahead of them. She had the scanner already connected to her laptop. In moments she had the frame scanned and was typing up an e mail to Giles. Buffy had the phone and was calling the ex-Watcher, regardless of whatever time it was in England.



“What should I tell him?” Buffy hissed at Willow, cupping her hand over the receiver.



“Ummm, we haven’t exactly filled him in on much have we? I think you should gloss over a few of the more…worrisome events from the past week. Pretty much everything, the whole addiction thing, Tara’s kidnapping and the imminent end of reality as we know it. Just tell him it’s a life and death situation…that should keep him from worrying about us too much.”



“Good idea,” Buffy nodded, pleased that they weren’t going to have to bother Giles with too many of their little problems.



A few moments later it was sent, Giles hadn’t asked too many questions and had promised to expend every effort in the translation of the writings. There was nothing left for the Scooby gang except to sharpen weapons in preparation for the following evening. Willow glanced at the clock on her laptop and saw it was approaching four am. She yawned…moments later she was asleep with her head nestled in the pile of books on the table.



*****



The shrill ringing of the phone caused several of the Scoobies to look up with fright from where they had fallen asleep. Willow, her cheek covered in ink from where she had been leaning on her notes. Xander had been drooling on his sleeve while Anya had curled up on a pile of cushions, snoring contentedly. Like the denizen of the night that he was, Spike had retreated away from the sunlight now streaming in the store windows. Buffy had not left her post by the phone and was there to pick it up as soon as it rung. Blinking against the onslaught of light filtering into the store, Willow sat up and quickly went to her inbox. Sure enough, there was a message from Giles.



“Oh thank god,” Buffy said over the phone, indicating that the news was positive, “Willow, check your…”



“Already there Buff,” Willow opened the e mail and breathed an audible sigh of relief mixed with apprehension when she saw it’s contents, “It’s alright, he’s done it…and it’s…what a weird incantation.”



Willow read it over in her head a few times and it still didn’t make any sense. Yet Giles was adamant in his accompanying explanation that it was correct however weird it seemed, it was exactly what was written on the frame. Xander and Anya peered over her shoulder at the laptop screen with matching confused expressions. Feeling more than a little sore from sitting in the chair all night, Willow slid back her chair and stood up. She was still seeing Ernie’s face…



“An incantation,” Anya announced as though it wasn’t already perfectly obvious, “How hard can it be to say an incantation…I mean, even Xander could do it…no offence cookie-face.”



“None-taken. Not big with the magic powers here anyway. So…any of us do it?” Xander asked Buffy who was scanning the transcribed incantation intently.



“Hmmm…I don’t think so…look here,” Buffy took over the mouse for a moment and highlighted a key passage, “Unless I’m mistaken, it appears to be that only someone with witchy powers can do it.”



Four faces turned to regard Willow with less than confident looks and she shrank beneath their combined gazes, staring at her feet. She had a great, dirty scuff mark on her favourite shoes… Willow knelt down and scrubbed at the offending spot with her finger as though getting the stain out were the most important thing in the world.



“Face it guys, unless one of you has been keeping an awfully big secret, this junkie is the only witch in the gang. We’re out of time, I have to work the mojo to destroy the Horn...”



TBC



*****



Spike: "Yeah, back off Betty."

Buffy: "It's Buffy!...You big, bleached...stupid guy."

'Superstar'

[4WiccanLuv]

Alcy, another great chapter...I can't wait to find out what the weirdness of the incantation is. About Amelia's words that "two be made into one forever"...well here's hoping that the two will be &

Quote:

---

I'm glad you're looking forward to see how this ends...still a ways to go yet though.

---

I'm pleased to hear there is still a ways to go.

And if it were up to me, we'd still be getting updates from you in the year 2020. I love this story!

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others." - Groucho Marx

[sam darls]

Ooh..I loved this part too..it's so interesting, and so emotional. I love it! Love sammi xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)

[barnabasvamp]

*runs in and sits next to 4WL*



I can't believe I missed this last update! Interesting that Ernie tried to do the incantation to save his wife. And of course we knew Willow would be the one to do the spell.



Gets comfy to wait for more!

It's the passion in a kiss that gives to it its sweetness; it is the affection in a kiss that sanctifies it.

[bla bla bla]

hey, i thought i'd let you know i think this fic is brilliant. i don't normally follow them but yours has really got me hooked

"I'M DEATH" said Death.

[KiwiAlcyone]

4WiccanLuv – You’re really going to have to wait and see exactly what the weirdness is, trust me, it’ll be…errr….nope, not giving anything away. And I don’t know about updates until 2020…but here’s hoping!

sammi – the emotion level following this chapter is going to be set on max from now on I think. I’m really glad it’s interesting, I hope I’m keeping you guessing!

barnabasvamp – Yeah, it was kinda given that it was Willow’s spell to do but I had to have a little angst over it of course. And here’s some more as requested. Just a short bit though…a lead it to some real fireworks.

bla bla bla – Thanks so much for your coment. I’m glad you’re hooked on this fic.





Chapter Eleven – “Evil things have plans.”



Willow stared blankly at the printed page in front of her. The incantation wasn’t lengthy, she had memorised it quite sometime ago but remembering it wasn’t the problem. She hadn’t exactly been bathed in glowing support. She wasn’t even sure whether the rest of the gang was convinced that she could do this…they kept giving her little looks as though she might suddenly start shooting fireballs everywhere. Willow had gone to great lengths to convince them that she could do it. If they had noted the note of desperation in her voice, no one had said anything. This was her task and she wasn’t about to let any of her friends go through what she had seen in her vision.



Buffy had repeated their plan of attack twice…and once more again for good measure. Everyone else suspected it was more to give her something to do than out of concern that the rest of the Scooby gang couldn’t remember the plan. The sun had sunk low on the horizon, Willow sat in shadow as she stared out the window watching it disappear. What is someone supposed to be thinking when this is the last time they might ever see the sun…? Willow decided it would not have scared her so much if Tara had been there with her. I could face anything with her…the end of the world…been there, done that. She snuggled further into the cushions and didn’t notice Spike coming to stand behind her, his arms folded across his chest.



He leaned in close to her ear before saying, “Nervous Red?”



His voice made Willow jump in shock and she put her hand over her heart as she breathed deeply, “Don’t creep, you’re not supposed to creep!”



“Sorry, I’m evil, I can’t really get around any other way,” Spike shrugged apologetically.



“No harm done…it’s alright, it’s just…I’m a bit jumpy that’s all,” Willow admitted, “Can’t help it.”



“Big night tonight…” Spike began and then quickly stopped himself, “Of course it’s a big night tonight…bloody stupid thing to say. So you think you’ve got everything sorted, that spell and all…what’s it do anyway. I mean, I know it’s supposed to destroy the Horn but how exactly?”



Willow shrugged, there was no way she was going to tell anyone what she had seen when Ernie had performed the incantation. It was bad enough that she was terrified but to worry the rest of the gang? Being the party-pooper that he was, Spike would tell Buffy in a heartbeat and there would be no way the gang would let her carry it out. Tara…



“Hopefully the Horn will just go poof…no more Horn,” Willow wished it were that simple.



“Well, nothing to worry about. I spent years trying…and failing miserably to foil the Slayer’s plans and I’m like evil personified. Tonight’s no different…it’ll go off without a hitch. Come morning…the sun will rise again…bloody hell! Did I really just say that?”



Despite everything, Willow found a small grin on her face, “Yeah you did…but don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”



“Thanks…ummm….so the Horn will bugger off into oblivion and Tara will be safe,” Spike nodded, making it seem so simple.



“Tara will be safe…” Willow whispered.



“Y’know, despite being evil and all…I like seeing the two of you together,” Willow raised her eyebrows and gave him a ‘look’ as Spike quickly dug himself deeper into his hole, “Hey! Not in any kinky way…well, of course it’s kinky but I don’t look at you like that…I don’t! Dammit…I just meant you two belong together...gives a fella reason to hope it does.”



“I’m glad,” Willow could have sworn Spike made a quick glance in Buffy’s direction when he said the last words.



“I may be dead and all, but you two birds have got something special…something like that, after all you’ve been though…it lasts,” Spike shuffled his feet, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his coat, “It’s gonna be alright Red, she’s gonna be alright.”



“Spike!” Buffy yelled from the other end of the store, “Don’t you dare light that up in the store!”



Spike looked at the lighter in his hand, poised to light his cigarette and scowled at the Slayer. He tucked the lighter back in his pocket and went to walk away,



“Thanks Spike,” Willow whispered.



“No problem.”



The vampire went to find somewhere more conducive to his smoking habit, leaving Willow feeling incredibly tired. Her eyelids felt heavy and she shook her head, now was not a good time to fall asleep…



*****



She was sitting on a park bench, wearing a gorgeous blue dress that brought out her eyes and accentuated her figure. It was cut low, the neck revealing a hint of the delicious curves of her breasts. A broad smile spread across her face when she saw Willow and Willow managed one of her own in reply.



“Tara?” Willow approached her slowly, taking up a spot on the bench beside Tara.



“Hey Will…how have you been?” Tara’s voice was bright, but there was something slightly stand-offish in her manner.



Willow frowned and looked around her, something was not right, everything was different. She turned back to Tara and studied her face. Tara looked at her as though there were nothing wrong, her face was open, trusting and yet…blank? She should be majorly pissed at me, angry at least…oh god, please tell me I haven’t wiped her memory again…I thought I got rid of all the Lethe’s bram



“I’ve been sick…you know I have,” Willow stated simply, waiting for a reaction.



“I know…but you’re all better now…so there’s nothing to worry about. Will, you’ve got to stop worrying that you’ll turn back to the Black Magicks at the first opportunity,” Tara’s enthusiasm was infectious, “Hear that sweetie, nothing to worry about.”



“Not with you around there’s not,” Willow grinned.



The sun had been shining so brightly when Willow first sat down but now it was growing dark. Gloomy clouds drifted in front of the sun and Willow looked up with a frown.



“Do you think it’s going to rain?” she asked Tara.



Tara looked up as well, “Maybe…let’s get indoors. I can think of quite a few fun indoor activities for us…how about a game of Scrabble?”



“Strip-Scrabble?” Willow asked hopefully.



“Is there any other kind?” Tara stood and held out her had to Willow.



Willow gingerly reached out, stopping a little short of taking the hand. Tara had to take the final step, she gently took Willow’s hand in hers, closing her fingers over the pale skin. She pulled Willow to her feet and closer to her body. It was like electricity, just the mere close proximity. They stood for a few moments, holding hands a little awkwardly. Willow looked into her lover’s eyes and saw nothing of the anxiety and suspicion that had previously plagued their relationship. Tara’s eyes were such a pure shade of blue, shining despite the gloomy weather…a little too intensely. Something moved within, a blue light that danced and flashed eerily. The air between them was hot…a little too hot…



Willow reached up and cupped the side of Tara’s head gently, her thumb brushed the soft skin beneath her eye tenderly, “Tara…are you okay?”



“Will…” Tara’s voice was strained.



It wasn’t just her eyes…Willow looked at Tara’s skin. Each and every vein stood out sharply on the blonde’s skin. She could see the blood pulsing beneath it. Tara was staring at her hand in horror as red blood became blue. Willow could see the veins bursting beneath Tara’s skin.



“Willow, what have you done?” Tara whispered.



Hands gripped her shoulders roughly, shaking as Willow fought to push them away…[/i]



“Will…Will…it’s time,” Buffy was shaking her awake.



*****



She was curled in Willow’s arms, using her girlfriend’s breasts for the most comfortable pillow in the world. Miss Kitty Fantastico was swiping at her fingers as she teased the playful cat. A small smile crossed Tara’s face at being in the comforting presence of the person and the cat who loved her more than anything….unless Miss Kitty had a secret lover…Moonlight crept between the curtains…and she was warm…



“It’s time blondie.”



Tara was woken when Rack kicked her awake with his toe. She winced when she sat up from where her neck had been resting at an uncomfortable angle on the cold stone wall. Her whole body felt chilled and it was small wonder, the room was damp, her clothes damp. However, catching pneumonia was the least of her worries at that point in time. She didn’t want to look up at the warlock, his sneering face was fixed in her mind permanently. Despite her best efforts to concentrate on the face of her lover, he kept coming back. The trouble was that every time she thought of Willow she was besieged by conflicting emotions…with Rack there was just pure, unadulterated hate.

He grabbed her wrist, finally unlocking the manacles from around her wrists. The skin was rubbed painfully raw, Rack closed his fingers around her wrist all the same and jerked her to her feet. Tara bit her lip to keep from crying out with the rough contact on her raw skin.



“Sleep well I trust?” his tone was friendly, “Sorry we couldn’t find you somewhere with a view but vampires and sunlight and all…they like the darker haunts. I hate sunlight too, far too bright…too cheery for evil.”



“It figures,” Tara whispered, “You’d do better off in somewhere dark, scorching…like Hell, preferably as soon as possible.”



“Touchy….well, I have to admit that the Slayer is a formidable foe…and she does have the horribly annoying habit of foiling evil schemes…but the Slayer alone isn’t enough to stop us. Don’t even think of bringing your little friends up…Strawberry? The boy and the ex-demon? They’ll be cut to ribbons.”



“I have faith in them,’ Tara replied quietly.



“You still have faith in Strawberry? After what she did to you…and I always thought you were smarter than that,” he laughed but Tara met his gaze evenly, never once averting her eyes.



“Ah blondie, you’ve got far too much balls for your own good. Nothing is going to ruin my mood tonight however. Lover-girl is going to take us to the Horn…and you’ll get to go back to her, not that the reunion will be pleasant for long…this world is going bye-bye!” he sounded as though that pleased him greatly.



“It’s your world too,” Tara snapped back at him.



“Yes, but see…I’ve been promised a very special place in the new world order. You also have to admit, this world is a bit of a letdown with people like you interfering with my fun…and the Slayer. I’m very happy to see it all change,” Rack grinned, stroking her cheek.



“E-evil things never keep their p-promises,” Tara shrank back against the wall, at that moment its coldness was chilling her far less than Rack.



“This ‘evil thing’ does,” someone, or something else had joined them…a hulking shadow standing in the doorway of the cell.



Tara looked to the doorway and barely suppressed a gasp of horror. Standing behind Rack was a vampire unlike nothing she had ever seen before. Unlike the garden-variety vampires she had become so accustomed to, this one was different. It was as though he had never been human, his features were so twisted and distorted they gave her the creeps. Most of his body was concealed beneath a long coat of something that looked like scales but it was awkwardly shaped, almost as though it were deformed. Tara remembered Willow telling her of ancient vampires like the Master and Kakistos…whoever this guy was, it would be her luck that he was just as old and powerful. Except unlike the other two…he wasn’t dead…



*****



Spike: “Yeah, back off Betty.”

Buffy: “It’s Buffy! You big, bleached…stupid guy.”

‘Superstar’

Edited by: KiwiAlcyone at: 1/22/04 2:36 pm

[KiwiAlcyone]

Meh, editing problems

Anyway, being the un-technologically minded person that I am I'll just tell you that the bit that finishes 'Lethe's bram...' is of course supposed to be 'Lethe's bramble' but for some reason the end keeps getting chopped off. Anyway, hope you can follow it



- Alcy

[barnabasvamp]

Hmm Now that is an interesting twist! An all powerful vampire that's not dead?



I liked the way you portrayed Spike here. Still trying to come off as the big bad, but being very sensitive towards Willow.



So the computer was acting a bit wonky, you still got the update posted, right?



BV

It's the passion in a kiss that gives to it its sweetness; it is the affection in a kiss that sanctifies it.

[4WiccanLuv]

Oooh a powerful evil old vamp. : --> Man, the suspense is killing me...in a good way of course.



And can't say Rack wasn't warned...Tara's right, evil demony dudes never keep their end of the bargain. Ha!



I too enjoyed the scene with Willow and Spike. I hate what those darned writers did with him in the latter seasons. IMO, no one gave him much credit for helping Buffy bring Angelus down. Not to mention all the times he saved the Scoobies lives at one time or another. The irony was that he did all of those things without having a soul. That makes him very cool in my book. Yup, liking your Spike very much!



Willow's dream gave me the heebie jeebies!



Keep up the good work!

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others." - Groucho Marx

[sam darls]

Oooh, great update..I loved it I can't wait for more..Love sammi xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)

[TaraBaby77]

WOOHOO!!! GREAT UPDATES!!! I am sorry for not keeping up to date lately but, after reading the last few updates, I so can't wait to see what happens. Talk about the stiff upper lippy Tara, I love it!!! Standing up to Rack, priceless. Definitely am enjoying this fic, hope to see more soon. =)

Aaron

'TaraBaby77'

[KiwiAlcyone]

Yay for feedback...thanks everyone for reading



barnabasvamp – yeah, gotta have that all-powerful vamp to spice things up a bit. And Spike is my favourite character, after Willow and Tara of course, and I really like writing for him…he’s always a bit of a challenge.

4WiccanLuv – I’m glad you’re liking Spike as well…he’s very cool in any book I would think. And suspense is cool too…get used to it cos I’m having fun

sammi – Thanks for continuing to love my little fic

Aaron – No problem with the not keeping up with updates, I usually update pretty fast anyway. I promise to try to keep you on the edge of your seat with the following updates working hard on it anways!



The following chapters depart massively from what happened on the show at the end of season six. I will be carrying over some basic ideas and themes to resolve the addiction plot but mostly this is my ending to season six.

[KiwiAlcyone]

Chapter Twelve – “Burn baby burn”



Willow Rosenberg gazed up at the sky with more than a little apprehension. Instead of seeing stars twinkling bravely amid scattered clouds, she saw the night that had consumed the day. An ill-omen mirrored within her mind by the fear threatened to consume any remaining scraps of courage. It didn’t take a genius to know that tonight she was going to need all the courage she could muster. She couldn’t help the fact that tiny, nagging doubts kept eating away inside. Okay, c’mon, this isn’t like a ‘being late for an exam nightmare’ Rosenberg, Tara’s life is in your…our hands, and if anyone deserves to live…she does…oh, and it’s possibly the end of the world as we know it… It went without saying that, no matter how many times it was imminent, one could never be blasé about the end of the world. Snakes…hell dimensions, it never became any easier to face…and Willow felt every bit of it.



A palpable uneasiness lurking over the rest of the group didn’t exactly work wonders for Willow’s confidence either. Despite weapons all round, Xander, Anya and even Buffy, all appeared to be barely concealing their terror. Spike’s tension showed as he flicked aside the butt of what must have been his tenth cigarette in just the walk from the Magic Box. Xander, however, could always be relied upon to lighten even the darkest of hours,



“Why is it that bad things always happen at midnight…isn’t it supposed to be a time for snacks…and late night smoochie sessions?” Xander hefted his axe over his shoulder.



“I have a theory on that. That’s because guardian angels go off duty at midnight. Time to hang up their wings and watch re-runs of the Simpsons,” Buffy jumped on the cheery bandwagon even though her face was anything but.



“The Simpsons?” Xander frowned.



“Of course, all of life’s problems can be answered by watching the Simpsons. Educational as well as funny. Ugly, evil, black-magic worshipping warlocks can eat my shorts”



“That’s stupid…well, not the Simpsons part…but there’s no such thing as guardian angels, do you really think that’d we'd have gotten into so much trouble if there were?” Anya nodded resolutely, as an ex-demon, if anyone would know…she would.



For once, Willow agreed wholeheartedly with Anya. She had wished many times that divine intervention would swoop in to put an end to the foul evil that lurked around the Hellmouth. It had never worked…she was old enough and wise enough to know that such things didn’t exist.



Almost as if he knew what Willow was thinking, Xander placed an arm around her shoulders, “Don’t worry Will, I’m sure your guardian angel doesn’t go off duty.”



“You guys are my guardian angels,” Willow whispered, giving Xander a quick squeeze.



“Damn straight we are…and Mr Pointy,” Buffy twirled her stake confidently.



Willow glanced around at each of her friends in turn, even Spike who had scowled through their entire conversation, and wondered where she would be without them. Probably still trapped in her geek infested roots and wearing fluffy pink cardigans…maybe that was worth being oblivious to what really went on in Sunnydale? However, Willow knew that no matter what she did, she was no longer that girl. She had chosen to stay in Sunnydale rather than head off to Oxford to become a ‘Giles.’ Saving people…protecting them, that was what this what she had chosen. If there was ever a time that made her realise her choice had been the right one…it was the moment she and Tara held hands and looked into each other’s eyes for the first time. That moment had given her a lifetime’s worth of courage. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. Still, like all particularly bothersome clouds, the fear refused to go away. Xander was right, bad things did always happen at midnight. It was an ungodly hour, an hour at which evil most liked to play.



*****



As they entered the cemetery Willow had a feeling that the rising orchestral music that never failed its cue in the movies, was noticeably absent. Everything else was present, the eerie light casting broad shadows across the grounds of the cemetery, a breeze swirling amongst the tombstones…and the vampires. There were almost two dozen of them…Willow had to fight the urge to let her mouth gape in fright. Xander had already well and truly failed and his mouth was working like a goldfish. The six of them spread themselves out but remained close. Buffy stepped forward and made sure everyone, humans and vampires alike, could all see how calm and controlled she was. Her hands folded across her chest, chin thrust forward stubbornly. The throng of vampires parted, and Willow could no longer hold back her gape. Her first thought was that it was the Master…back from the dead. Whatever Buffy thought, her face betrayed nothing.



“The Slayer I presume,” the vampire cocked his head to one side, obviously what passed for a smile was fixed on his face.



“Well, you’re not going to be winning any beauty contests buddy,” Buffy quipped, tapping her stake on her sleeve, “Who are you?”



“Direct and to the point…” he was the only one chuckling at his pun, “I like that. Where are my manners, I’m Darianus…but you can call me Darian, Slayer.”



“I’d rather call you ‘dusted’ personally. Enough of the polite chit-chat, where’s Tara?” Buffy demanded.



While Buffy was all business, Willow had anxiously been scanning their surrounds for any sign of Tara. She tried her best to keep her features stiff and resolute but suspected that she was probably failing miserably. She saw Rack before she saw her lover, he grinned at her with way too much familiarity. Willow tore her eyes away but the horrible thought wouldn’t leave. If anyone knew her intimately…it made her sick to admit that Rack did.



She was there…Willow could sense her before she actually saw her. Surrounded by vampires, gripped securely by the two on either side of her…was Tara. Her hair was wet and clung to her face, her wrists scraped raw and red. Willow felt a sharp pang of pain and wanted to run to her straight away regardless of who stood between them. It was Spike who reached out and grabbed her by the elbow in a vice-like grip.



“You can help her most by staying in one piece,” he hissed through his teeth.



Willow nodded glumly even though she had never really heard him. It was only his grip that kept her from running. Despite their surrounds, the dozens of vampires, the blackness of night broken only by a weak moon light, Willow and Tara were both only interested in one thing…each other. Willow desperately wanted to jump up and down and wave her arms as though they were merely lost in a crowded fair. Tara found her…blue eyes met green. Willow had a mental image of crushing Tara to her breast in a fierce hug yet they were separated by both distance and foes.



“The Horn?” Darian interrupted Willow and Tara’s moment, Willow wanted to chide him for his rudeness until she remembered he was the ancient vampire…while she was merely an ex-junkie.



Willow refused to surrender to her fear. She moved to stand beside Buffy. Facing Darian with her most resolute expression, she held out her hand, palm facing upwards.



Buffy watched her best friend from the corner of her eye and marvelled at her composure. The Slayer had been expecting they would have to travel somewhere, or at least open a portal…but from the look on Willow’s face that was not how it was done.



At that point in time it became apparent that Willow was more than just the guardian of the Horn…she was the doorway. For the Horn had been hidden somewhere that no amount of walking would take you. You could search to all four corners of the earth and never find it. The guardian really was the only way to the Horn. As Willow called it forth she had no idea where it really came from but that was besides the point. She did not need to know. She called, and it came.



Her fingers closed around the object in her hand. It was merely a foot long, plain, unadorned animal horn. The moonlight glinted off it’s pale white surface to reveal no blemishes or markings of any sort. Willow stared down at it and wondered that such an unremarkable instrument possessed such tremendous power. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped it, wishing for all the world she could crush it with her bare hands.



“What? That’s it?” Xander remarked, a little unimpressed, “No lights…smoke…no cool special effects of any kind? Kinda lame.”



Darian appeared unconcerned that the Horn’s appearance was not going to win any awards for style. He held out his hand for Willow to surrender the Horn to him.



“Your side of the bargain first…Tara,” Willow’s voice was insistent as she stepped back, drawing the Horn close to her body.



Darian smirked and beckoned one of his lackey’s to bring Tara to him. Willow watched their every move like a hawk. She was ready to tear into them with her bare hands if they even looked like hurting her lover further.



“I don’t know why you want this one so much witch…is she really worth it? My business partner tells me you have considerable power. You could have a place in my world if you wanted…all the pets you desire will be mine to give you,”



“There is no world in which I would ever be tempted by such an offer,” Willow hissed in reply, the look in her eyes said it all.



Darian shrugged nonchalantly and reached to a small sheath at his belt, “Have it your way then girl. If you don’t want everything…you can have nothing!”



Willow saw the knife slide out and her heart stopped…Tara…knife…she couldn’t focus. It was a good thing someone was much quicker off the mark…



“Now!” Buffy yelled.



Willow hardly saw the Slayer move she was that fast. Her hand closed over the one the gripped the knife, wrenching it upwards and away from Tara. Tara tore her arm from Darian’s grasp as he fell backwards beneath Buffy’s weight. The Horn still clutched in one hand, Willow reached out the other to Tara. As her fingers folded over the blonde’s skin she had never felt anything so wonderful in all her life. Willow wanted to say something but nothing would come out besides a strangled gasp. Then Spike was there, taking Tara protectively by the shoulders and looking intently at Willow. Willow realised that now was not a good time for words and certainly not for apologies…it was time for chaos.



“You got a job to do Red,” Spike reminded her, “The big bad won’t let anything happen to her.”



Willow nodded as Xander and Anya took up places around her as well, forming a defensive wall of sorts. Tara frowned at Willow for a few moments before realising what was happening, she nodded resolutely. In that single gesture was all the courage Willow needed to pull this off. Then she was gone, her attention focused on protecting Willow as much as the rest of the gang. Willow watched long enough to see Tara throw a fireball at a nearby vampire, incinerating him immediately.



The pieces were set for the final move. Willow drew a small bag from inside her coat, unlacing it she quickly and efficiently poured out its contents to form a circle around her. The finely ground greenstone would act as both a protective circle and a conduit for the destruction magicks.



“Ignatia,” Willow whispered, bringing her hands upwards in a rising gesture.



Bright green tongues of flame seemed to burst forth from the ground. Shooting upwards, they seemed to ascend to the heavens before settling into an all-encasing cocoon around Willow. Enshrouded in the green light, Willow’s body trembled with the feel of the magicks in her system once more. Her heart raced even faster as her senses screamed for more…god how she wanted more!



Tara felt sweat beading her brow from such heavy magic use. As she threw yet another fireball she wondered how much longer she could keep this up. She risked a glance back at Willow and saw her lover encased in a greenstone cocoon. Willow was in pain, her white-knuckled fingers clenched around the Horn in her hands. Her eyes completely black as they stared, as though seeing nothing that was actually in front of her.



Willow…baby…I have faith in you…you’re stronger than this.



As Tara fought, neither green light nor black eyes could keep Willow from seeing her as she truly was…a goddess of strength and beauty. Although she hated seeing Tara in any sort of harm, she was also reminded that it was where she belonged. Her girlfriend was a fighter…and Willow knew she would never stop fighting for what she believed in and those she loved. Unfortunately, the pain…the hurt…all went hand in hand with the lives they had both chosen to live. Willow still felt sick to think that Tara would see the same sight Amelia saw when Ernie performed the spell. It was the last thing she wanted to put Tara through and yet she could not see any other way to end it all. It’s the only way In shaking hands Willow raised the Horn above her head, an offering to the sky. Her eyes closed shut and everything in front of her was no longer there. She only felt the smooth surface of the wretched instrument she wanted gone from this world. When she found her voice, it sounded strong and clear…the incantation was begun,



“Two-faced Janus, keeper of doors,

The guardian stands before you,

Out of space, time divided,

So the guardian possesses the power, the magicks,

The guardian speaks, let Satanus listen,

As the Horn sounds true for the last time,

The gates of Hell be summoned forth,

Let Hell consume the Horn, it’s sound forever silent,

The guardian’s will is set, the offering given,

As blood flows, life-giving,

Let the blood run, life-taking!”



Her eyes squeezed shut, Willow waited for everything to end. In that single moment, the whole of existence seemed to compress into small snapshots of feeling and senses. The earth beneath her feet. Her friends fighting to keep the vamps from reaching her while she performed the destruction spell. The remaining vampires surging around them. Tara, her aura glowing brighter than anything Willow had ever seen as she fought to protect her friends. I love you so much baby Overriding everything, however, was the distinctly unpleasant feel of the Horn still in her hands.



The shield surrounding her wavered and then slowly but surely it shrank, down over hear head, past her waist and knees before disappearing into nothing at her feet. Willow was left defenceless, holding the Horn. While she was pre-occupied with staring at the offending object in her grasp, a vampire leapt from the top of the crypt behind her. Willow saw the ground rush up to meet her and both the wind was knocked from her lungs and the Horn from her hands.



“Dammit, no!” Willow yelled through clenched teeth, she was not going to fail at this!



She scrambled after him but found her path already blocked by two vampires advancing on her. Willow was exhausted, she could barely stand let alone conjure a fireball or any other spell. She backed away and felt herself slam into another body. Whirling around she saw it was Tara. The blonde was exhausted, sweat soaking her face and clothes and yet she planted herself as a shield in front of Willow. Before she could summon another fireball, she realised it was futile. There was no time for anything as all six of them were back up against the crypt. Despite all the vampires they had dusted, a good dozen and more still remained to keep the Scoobies in their place with their backs up against the wall. Each looking all the more worse for wear…Xander was cradling a broken arm while Spike looked disdainfully at a rip in his duster. Buffy planted herself in front of all of them, blood was running down the side of her face but Mr Pointy was still clutched in her fist. They all faced Darian with scowls fixed on exhausted faces.



“I knew you were going to try something…being the Slayer and all…not about to give over an object of such immense power to someone like me. The spell however, that was most unexpected, could have really ruined my day…pity for you though the little witch didn’t come through for you…so I guess that means I win,” Darian smiled as a vamp lackey handed him the Horn.



“In your dreams asswipe,” Buffy hissed through her teeth, Mr Pointy clearly itching to bury himself in that chest.



“Dreams, funny you should talk about dreams Slayer…you might get to know mine pretty well, if you’re still alive that is. See, this Horn constructs a new reality out of the old one but after that…it’s kind of a mystery, I mean, where will you and your little friends be in my world? I can think of a few places I would like you of course,” he ran a finger over the Horn’s surface before cocking his head to one side as though thinking carefully, “Yes, I know what you’re all thinking…why would the perfect world of a vampire even have you disgusting humans in it at all…I tell you why…because you’re so much damn fun! Life without hunting and killing is bound to be so dreadfully boring. Okay…now who is up for a little tune?”



Willow felt her hand unconsciously seek out Tara’s, finding it she gripped it tightly in a grip that said she wasn’t letting go no matter what.



“Ah, Buff…plans…counter-attacks?” Xander whispered in a squeaky voice, “Ideas?”



“Fresh out of ‘em,” Buffy replied in a pained voice.



“In my hands the power in this world and the next to alter reality!” Darian’s voice seemed to soar on the breeze, a booming resonance that chilled to the bone, “Let the template be mine to give, Bend the world to my will unyielding, I hold the Horn, I have spoken…”



While he was speaking Willow felt a chill run through her body that was not a result of the words coming from the ancient vampire’s mouth. The Slayer may have been fresh out of ideas but there was something she could do…she couldn’t explain it, she felt it.



Errrr, help…I know you’re out there…could sure use you right now! Do I think it?



“…or do I say it?” Willow whispered out loud, everyone too pre-occupied to notice except Tara who turned to regard her quizzically.



“Will?” she was terrified and yet her concern still showed through.



Willow squeezed her hand ever so slightly in reassurance as her mouth continued to move in a silent summoning. She didn’t understand exactly who she was calling and yet she felt them intimately. Their goal was the same as hers…to protect the Horn. Willow smiled as she received the answer she was hoping for. All of a sudden, the six of them were surrounded in a glowing golden sphere.



“Okay, what the heck?” Buffy pressed a hand against the sphere and found it rock solid.



“I have no idea really…but if I were to hazard a guess, I’d say it has something to do with your guardian angels Buffy,” Willow’s voice was oddly calm.



“And the freaky meter moves off the scale!” Xander yelped, “Okay, not panicking, not panicking…”



In the meantime, Darian was still sounding out the incantation but via the increasing urgency in his voice…it was nearly complete. The Scoobies watched from behind the wall of gold.



“As the Horn sounds, let this world be undone!

As the Horn sounds, realities blur!

As the Horn sounds, my world be made!”



As if to punctuate his words a thunderous peel resonated across the heavens. Willow desperately tried to move any part of her body. The noise was deafening. She wanted to put her hands over her ears. If Willow had ever wanted to imagine what it would feel like to have the world ripped out from beneath her, this was what it would feel like. Everything was literally ripped from the earth…trees…buildings…everything. Their tiny protective sphere was the only thing not moving. Willow was aware of everything and at the same time she felt nothing. Not even Tara’s hand in hers. She’s beside me…whatever happens, she’s beside me. Chaos reined as the old world was torn apart to create the new one. Willow was acutely aware of her entire world being destroyed before her very eyes…everything she knew was no more. She tried to hang on to what scattered memories were flashing randomly across her mind.



“You’re the Slayer…and we’re like the Slayerettes!”



“I’m nothing special.”

“No, you are.”



“Willow, you are using too much magic!”



Everything was so painful…Willow wanted to scream but the sound never came…



“But I’m so evil and skanky…and I think I’m kinda gay.”



“My dance?”



“You have to be with the one you l-love.”

“I am….”



…what was left of the world went black and Willow’s world along with it as she fell into unconsciousness.



*****



Willow still couldn’t feel anything…but then her head began throbbing.Head still attached…check. Gradually she became aware of each of her limbs…clearly still attached due to the bruises she felt. Friggin heck! Limbs…ouch…check. A familiar weight shifted on her chest. At first only darkness greeted her when she opened her eyes. However, shapes began forming beneath the light of a full moon. Light fell across strands of hair fanned out across her chest…It was warm and comforting which was strange because she remembered that she ought to be terrified for some reason. Willow shifted her hand, bringing it up to gently shake the shoulder nestled against hers. Seconds later, the touch was answered by a groan. Willow lifted her head from the ground in time to see Tara raise her head from it’s pillow. In that single moment, there was a tiny little world where only two people existed. For a few precious minutes, everything was perfect again.



“You’re alright,” Willow whispered.



“So are you,” Tara choked slightly.



“Ah, Will…Tara,” Buffy slowly inched her way over to stand nearer the two witches, “You might wanna save the ‘glad we’re alive’ sex for a more appropriate time…cos now sure ain’t it.”



Tara stood slowly to her feet, reaching out a hand to pull Willow up after her. Willow was grateful Tara didn’t let go even when she was on her feet. As she gazed around, she desperately wished she had not bothered to get to her feet. At least as long as she had been cradling Tara in her arms she could pretend everything was alright. Now…well, now everything was not alright…



“Bloody hell,” Spike muttered, breaking what had been an awed silence.



The vampire pulled his pack of cigarettes from his coat, cradling them like a tiny comfy blankie.



“Where the friggin heck are we?” Xander held Anya protectively with his unbroken arm.



“Not in Kansas,” Tara whispered.



TBC



*****



Spike: “Yeah, back off Betty.”

Buffy: “It’s Buffy! You big, bleached…stupid guy.”

‘Superstar’

Edited by: KiwiAlcyone at: 1/25/04 5:32 am

[tinnakaren]

Wow, this update was...I'm having one of those speechless moments...but "holy jemoly" comes to mind, and also one of my favorite words..."fantabulous"

--------------------------

Tinna Karen

-tölvunörd í fyrsta ættlið

[sam darls]

That was amazing..I loved it. But where are they..hmmm? Love sammi xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)

[tinnakaren]

Is it okay of me to request you post in the update threat whenever you've added to this incredible story?

--------------------------

Tinna Karen

-tölvunörd í fyrsta ættlið

[barnabasvamp]

Quite a ride you've taken us on, and now we have to guess where the gang is!!



Hopefully they're alright, and the big bad is a gonner!



BV

It's the passion in a kiss that gives to it its sweetness; it is the affection in a kiss that sanctifies it.

[KiwiAlcyone]

They're alright?...hmmm, you'll have to wait and see I guess...but you'll only have to hold your breath until tonight, next two chapters are nearly done and will be up after work I promise.



And I can definitely post in the updates thread whenever I add a chapter...no problem



-Alcy

[4WiccanLuv]

Oh noooooo...where the frilly heck are they? At least they're all together and Willow didn't go "poof" during the spell! Loved the action scenes!



And WOW...two updates? You're awesome!! Heh...I hooked a friend on your story and she emails me every fifteen minutes at work asking for updates!



Quality stuff here! Keep it up!

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others." - Groucho Marx

[KiwiAlcyone]

tinnakaren - Speechless in a good way I hope...I'm really glad you're enjoying it!

sammi - hopefully this at least partially answers your question as to where they are...but I still have a few surprises yet...

barnabasvamp - Well, the big bad's on hiatus for this chapter...the ride still has a ways to go yet...

4WiccanLuv - I'm glad you liked the action scenes, I can never be sure if they come out right. Yay for your friend being hooked on this fic too



Okay, oh, and chapter fourteen might have to be rated 'R' as opposed to PG-13 for strong sexual content...

[KiwiAlcyone]

Chapter Thirteen – “Careful what you wish for.”



It’s as if Sunnydale had never existed…the town…the citizens…any of it, Willow was thinking as she disentangled herself from Tara’s arms. The mood had grown awkward between them again and she felt distancing herself a little was the best course of action. Her senses protested when they felt the reassuring comfort of the blonde’s embrace disappear but they quickly got over it in surveying the new surrounds.



There was indeed no trace of the cemetery they had been standing in…or anything at all that they recognised as belonging to their Sunnydale. It was completely and absolutely gone. In it’s place was something out of a Tim Burton film…although clearly, Johnny Depp was nowhere to be seen.



It was the type of landscape that caused people to shiver uncontrollably and want to leave as soon as possible. Dark was the simple adjective that best suited it, although in mood not hue…depressingly dark. They were standing in what appeared to be a forest, it was alien…the foliage strange, twisted. The air was dense, still…as though it had been trapped between the earth and the trees for a millennia. It smelt as though it had too, musty but ripe with the pungent aroma of the forest. Beneath their feet was spongy forest growth that almost felt like walking on a trampoline. Thrusting up from the earth were thick tree trunks, anchored by twisted, gnarled root systems. The roots criss-crossed the ground and looked as though they would make walking in any direction something of a challenge. Above their heads, the trees soared upwards to massive heights that made them dizzy to stare up for too long. They rose up to branch out into impossibly dense canopies of leaves. The moonlight struggled to penetrate the foliage but every so often there would be a thin beam of light falling from the sky to illuminate a small patch of ground. The scattered light made it all the more eerie and disturbing.



Even more disturbing was that there was no sign of life to be seen anywhere. Not even the tiniest moth or bird frolicking in the air.



In every direction, that was all there was to see. Trees and shadows…shadows that could easily be hiding any number of nameless and dreadful evils.



“The words ‘completely screwed’ come to mind,” Xander piped up, “I mean, are we stuck in the crazy assed world that vamp guy created? Cos if we are…I really don’t wanna be here.”



Tara couldn’t have agreed with Xander more. Just being there gave her a sense of dread worse than she had felt in Rack’s captivity. It was as though there was nothing good in this place and anything good that came into contact with it would be destroyed.



Tara glanced across at Willow. She could tell the redhead was awed by their surroundings and yet something else distracted her…something internal. Tara knew exactly what it was and in many ways it was akin to this world they were in. Black magic destroyed anything it came into contact with, even as good a soul as Willow’s. Willow’s pain was her pain…she could feel it as though it were her own. It many ways it was.



Willow did indeed still feel the magicks left over as residue from her failed spell. They were coursing through her veins, almost as if taunting her to draw upon them again. It was requiring so much effort not to that sweat beaded on her brow. Her legs gave out from beneath her and she collapsed to the ground. The destruction spell was powerful magic, even though it failed, it had taken a lot out of her. In her weakened state, Willow’s energy reserves were all but spent. She sat heavily on the ground, annoyed at herself for her weakness. They needed each other to be strong right now. More than ever. Willow tried to stand but nothing seemed to want to co-operate, limbs, muscles…it had all turned to custard. She felt tears prick mercilessly at her eyes. It was her fault they were stuck here…she must have done something to cause the spell to fail…



…and then Tara was there. The blonde put both arms securely around Willow, beneath her armpits and drew her to her feet. Willow’s legs still felt like custard but Tara supported most of her weight despite her own obvious exhaustion.



“We should get moving,” she suggested quietly.



Buffy nodded, grateful to Tara for speaking up and snapping them all out of their stupor, “Right, we need to find some shelter…a place to rest and do what we can with our wounds.



The rag tag little group set off slowly into the unknown. Every shadow making them wary, each noise causing their heart rates to leap. As they walked, Willow felt extremely guilty that, in the midst of one of the tightest spots the Scoobies had ever been in, she was revelling in being so close to Tara again. She tried not to breath in Tara’s scent, even sweat smelt good when it was Tara’s. Rosenberg stop it…she’s helping you…that’s what she does, she helps people regardless of who they are. Dammit, stop acting like this is a romantic holiday cos it’s not! You’re in deep shit…stop thinking about Tara’s breasts pressing against you!



“Am I moving too fast for you?” Tara asked Willow quietly, shifting her arm to better support her.



“No, it’s fine,” You’re not moving fast enough… Willow thought, Stop it Rosenberg!…maybe I should get Spike to carry me.



A shrill cry rent the air, it was quite a ways in the distance and most of them jumped. Xander also let out a distinctly girly squeal. He looked a little ashamed and Anya patted him on the shoulder.



“I can’t help it!” he protested, “Another fright like that and I’m going to wet my pants.”



“We’re buggered aren’t we?” Spike muttered to the night…it ignored him.



*****



They had found a deep rock overhang which they could shelter beneath, not comfortably but at least it made them feel a little more secure. The path leading up to the overhang was sloped, offering a good view in case anyone or anything should try and approach. Their little fort was the best they could do in the situation. Buffy complained about not having any crossbows with which to cover the approach.



They did the best they could with their wounds. Buffy had set Xander’s broken arm and no one begrudged the muffled scream he let out. Her own cut had been rinsed and cleaned, thankfully it wasn’t so deep as to require stitches.



“My kingdom for a band-aid,” she said quietly, settling into guard duty at the entrance next to Spike.



The vampire was decidedly fidgety. His unease might have something to do with where they were but it was more than that. On more than one occasion he would start to put an arm on Buffy’s shoulder and then quickly draw it away when someone else glanced towards him.



Willow was confused as she huddled back in the damp darkness of the overhang. No one knew what to do, it was clear. Buffy was frustrated…not knowing what to do always made her like that. But if you didn’t know where you were…how could you know what to do? She glanced across at Tara and knew instinctively they were both thinking the same thing.



Tara drew her knees up to her chest. It was bad enough to be stuck goodness knows where but to be stuck with the one person who had the power to turn her legs to custard with a glance. The one person she wanted to hate and yet couldn’t even hold a grudge against. She didn’t want to have to be so close to Willow at that moment for fear of what she would do…what she was feeling. Her inner self couldn’t care less that they were trapped in an alien world, she just wanted to push Willow to the ground and make love to her in an effort to forget all of this. Tara wasn’t even sure which feelings were really hers, maybe they all were…she just couldn’t decide which one she wanted to act on.



They sat apart, it was stupid really. They needed each other more than ever and yet both felt the need to hold on to reality as they had known it. Willow had betrayed Tara, coming to this world didn’t change that. Both witches curled up on opposite sides of the overhang, neither wanting to be the first to make the move in going to comfort the other. They spent the night alone, sleep ridden with nightmares.



*****



Tara blinked, and sat up startled to see the first rays of dawn rising over the tree line. The sun was coming up? It seemed to make sense…how could you make a world where the sun never came out…whatever this world was, it seemed it was still constructed within the laws of nature and science. The sun would go on shining, it gave her a small sense of hope.



“The frogs, the frogs are on the loose…beady eyes watching us…we have to run,” Willow was mumbling in her sleep, fist curled beneath her chin like a small child.



Tara shifted slightly, almost giving in to the urge to crawl the short distance to Willow’s side. She pressed herself back against the spongy moss behind her but stayed facing the cutely sleeping redhead so she could watch. It was easy like this, when she slept she was an innocent…as though she would never hurt anyone.



“Bite me baby, you know you want to,” there was a small grin on Willow’s face and Tara sat up a little abruptly, her eyes wide.



Okay, now she really had to wake Willow up before she went into anymore detail as to exactly where she was being bitten and by whom…although there was really no doubt on that count…



“Love you baby,” she was whispering again, “All I ever wanted was to love you…”



Tara bit her lip and looked away from the redhead, back out the opening. Buffy was sitting guard, watching Tara with a sad, sympathetic expression on her face. When she saw Tara looking at her she quickly turned her head and went back to surveying their surrounds for any sign of trouble. Spike came to stand beside her and watched the rising sun with a little disappointment. He wasn’t looking forward to a whole day dodging the sun, hiding under his coat.



“Dawn…we should move out. My guess is that you and yours will still get fried by the sun in this place…so I think we might be safe for the meantime, we’ll stick to the trees…the sunlight hardly filters through it’s so dense,” Buffy said to Spike before turning back to the others in the cave, “C’mon guys, we’re moving out…we’ve got to find some answers.”



Xander and Anya disentangled themselves from each other and sat up. Willow grumbled something about breakfast before waking up fully. She sat, rubbing her eyes like a cute child. Tara looked away quickly.



Somehow the sun shining had made this world seem much more bearable and not at all intimidating. They moved a little faster, with more confidence. There were answers to be found…and they would find them…that’s what they were good at.



*****



They had been walking beneath the dense canopy of trees for the better part an hour. The castle seemed to be getting not a lot closer and yet it still filled the horizon with it’s darkness. Suddenly, a dark shape threw itself from the trees and sent Spike crashing to the ground. The vampire cursed and rolled away from it’s grasp. Bouncing to his feet, Spike came face to face with a humanoid shape, its face shrouded beneath the cowl of a cloak.



“It’s a demon!” Xander grabbed a stick in his good arm, “It’s a demon!”



Spike lunged and grabbed the man but as he swung his arm to hit him he howled in pain, clutching at his head as the chip kicked in. The others stepped back in surprise…



“That’s no demon,” Buffy said quietly.



“Yeah, I bloody well found that out didn’t I!” Spike scrambled back to his feet.



Whoever had attacked them was now crouching warily, poised to attack and yet in a holding stance. None of the Scoobies moved a muscle for fear of aggravating a potential source of answers. Finally, when it was clear no one was about to launch into anything nasty, hands moved up and peeled back the hood. It was indeed an ordinary man. Buffy scanned his face intently for bumps, horns, fangs…anything, but he was just an ordinary man. He regarded them all through piercing brown eyes, his hair cropped close to his head. His face was young and yet aged…but not by the ravages of time. He was strangely grabbed in an odd, homemade-looking assortment of leather clothing. He carried several weapons about his person. He retrieved his crossbow from where it had fallen when he had pounced. A howl sounded in the distance and he looked around anxiously for a few moments before turning his attention back to the strangers.



“Who are you?” he whispered in an insistent voice, his accent odd, old fashioned in a way.



“We’re lost,” Buffy stepped forward, “In fact, we don’t even know…”



Another howl…this one closer…blood-curdling…it sounded like it was far from friendly.



The man was getting more anxious, “What on earth are you people doing here? And in daylight! Are you all insane!”



“No, just lost,” Buffy repeated and then added a barrage of questions, “Who are you? And what’s so wrong with daylight? What the heck is making that horrible howling noise?”



“You don’t want to know…we have to get moving, you can’t stay in one place for this long…everyone’s going to think I’m crazy, you people could be spies, if you are even human…you could be demons, wanting to eat me alive right now.”



“I assure you,” Tara replied with a sick look on her face, “…we don’t want to eat you.”



“Strange, strange people,” he muttered as he scanned their surrounds again for what must have been the tenth time, “What kind of clothes are you wearing?”



Buffy glanced down at what usually passed for fashionable attire until it had accumulated a layer of grime and dirt. She shrugged in reply. If it was as dangerous as he said to be out here, then now wasn’t the best time for an explanation.



“I’m madder than a Tyrellian Horned demon…on heat…,” he looked indecisive for a few seconds before setting off at a brisk trot, beckoning for them to follow him, “Come on, follow me…and for Herne’s sake keep up!”



Chapter Fourteen – “The moth and the star.”



Darian had been right when he said humans were fun to hunt. It seemed as if everything had been reversed and they were now the ones condemned to hide in the shadows, the world’s underbelly…skulking in caves. Their guide had lead them to a tiny opening behind a wall of vines and once inside had lit a torch to light their way. Deep into the bowels of the earth, through dark and damp tunnels into a seemingly inescapable warren of turns and passageways. They trusted that their guide knew where he was going otherwise they would never had found their way back out again.



“We’re indebted to you for your help,” Buffy kept in stride with their guide, “Thanks…errr, what’s your name?”



“Micah,” he replied quickly, continuing to look over his shoulder every few minutes as though he thought they were being following. Either that or he thought one of these strangers was going to stab him in the back.



The leather-clad young man seemed to relax a little once they were deeper underground, “I’m taking you to our home...we can all get our questions answered there.”



“Our?” Buffy asked curiously, “How many?”



“All too few,” Micah replied, more than a hint of angst and suffering in his tone.



Finally they seemed to have arrived somewhere when a shape stepped out of the shadows. Buffy made to leap at it aggressively but not before Micah stopped her with a hand on the shoulder. Another human, clad much the same as Micah and also carrying a crossbow. He appeared to be a sentry. Passing him they then emerged in a much wider cavern than any the had passed so far. Still, it was not large…it was claustrophobic. Torches burning in brackets on the walls cast warm rather than eerie shadows. Slowly but surely, more people came out to regard them with strange expressions…even a few children. Besides the young man they met in the forest, there were hardly more than a dozen of them.



The cavern lead off to several other openings…people’s homes most probably. This was where they lived. It appeared that this was a place of safety…their only haven in what was otherwise an unfriendly world.



The newcomers had drawn much attention, fear and suspicion at first before a grudging acceptance and a little curiosity settled in. A small child even ventured close enough to touch Spike’s duster before running away again.



“I don’t understand anything of how you got here,” Micah shook his head after Buffy had given a bare account of their story, he now looked at each of them in turn, “But what we have is yours…it’s not much…mostly we just have each other.”



Willow looked across to Tara at the same time Tara turned her head to find her Willow. They both shared a small look…if anyone took Micah’s words to heart, it was the two witches.



*****



Willow shifted her spoon through whatever it was that the bowl contained. She still felt a little sick to her stomach as a result of being in magic withdrawal, yet somehow what had happened to them over the past few days was more effective than any medication.



Eating was still not foremost on her mind. How could she think about eating when she had to deal with an alternate hell reality created by a master vampire, huge, unseen howling…things, a spell that didn’t work and, to top it all off, a girlfriend who was avoiding her. It was a difficult choice deciding which was worse. She gave up trying and came to the conclusion that life right at that moment was a great big stinking cesspit.



Buffy, Xander and Anya were engaged in a discussion with Micah and a few others. Willow knew Buffy all too well, the Slayer was finding out the lay of the land…getting to know her enemies. Hopefully they could be provided with information that would help them put the world back to the way it was supposed to be. Spike was crouched off to one side, surveying the scene as only he could. Coolly aloof and yet oddly alert to everything. The whole atmosphere was intense even though they were supposedly safe here.



There was only person who seemed to be untouched by the hell around them…Tara. She was settled off to one side with a handful of children. One youngster was perched on her lap while the rest stared up at her with frightened but awed expressions as she told a story. Willow felt the first tiny glimmer of a genuine happy feeling since Tara had rescued her from Rack’s a lifetime ago. She was so wonderful with children. Despite their circumstances her face showed no fear, only animation as she told the story. Willow knew exactly how the young children felt with their enraptured expressions. There was nothing but fear all around them yet, at that time, while Tara told her story…they were safe.



*****



After experiencing the adoration of the children all evening Tara felt a small pang when they were sent to bed. It meant she had to face the adult word again…and Willow. Tara sighed, most of the Scoobies were still talking…Buffy in full ‘war chief’ mode with Xander and Anya doing their best to be useful. Tara doubted she could add anything to their planning although she wanted to feel useful. She stepped towards them but then spied Willow from the corner of her eye. She was curled on a pile of furs, an untouched dinner lying beside her. Tara sighed heavily. They were stuck in a hell reality and they were avoiding each other…she decided to put a stop to it. This is ridiculous…she needs me, I need her…we can go back to being avoidy if we ever get out of here…goddess she’s cute when she’s all tucked up like that…



“Will…” just that one syllable coming from her mouth was enough to cause the redhead to bolt into a sitting position.



Willow smoothed her palms on her grimy jeans, staring up at her girlfriend in surprise. She shifted across to make room for Tara on the furs but the blonde made no move to sit down. Willow ducked her head in a Tara-like manner and bit her lip. When she finally looked back up there were unshed tears glistening in her eyes.



“I-I’m sorry…” she began.



“Don’t you dare start with the apologising Willow Rosenberg…” Tara tried to cut in but Willow wouldn’t hear of it.



“But I have to! I’m soooo sorry, all of this is my fault. Rack took you because of me, he should never have known about the Horn in the first place but I-I let him into my mind…and then we found the spell that should have destroyed the Horn b-but it poofed because I screwed it up. All this…hell dimension thingee we’re trapped in, it’s my fault,” the words tumbled out one after the other, “It’s all my fault.”



Tara chose that moment to sit on the furs beside her, gently she placed her hand on the side of Willow’s head and drew it down to rest on her shoulder, “A lot of things are your fault Willow…but all of this isn’t.”



Willow breathed in Tara’s scent as her head nestled on her shoulder and went as far to risk placing an arm around her back. When Tara didn’t shrug it off, she squeezed a little tighter.



“Y-you alright…and stuff, after Rack, I mean after he grabbed you…” Willow pulled away with a start and turned her head to look Tara in the eye, “Oh god, he didn’t hurt you baby? I mean, besides your wrists…and bruises…he didn’t…”



“N-no, he didn’t…” Tara could feel Willow’s concern for her radiating strongly from within her, she felt it and it warmed her.



Willow ever so gently took Tara by the arm and held it up so she could inspect the blonde’s wrists. She checked them over carefully as though she were a doctor, her touch tender, her teeth clamped down on her lip to keep herself from sobbing at the thought of her Tara being in chains.



“W-we need to dress these better,” Willow whispered a little unsteadily.



“Will, no, I’m fine,” Tara replied softly, drawing her arm back close to her body, “But out of the frying pan and into the fire huh?”



“Great big hell fire,” Willow muttered.



Tara watched Willow and could see the little redhead wanted to snuggle back into her arms again. However, whenever she made a move she quickly drew herself back…keeping her distance despite the fact they were almost touching anyway.



“C’mere you,” at the invitation Willow wasted no time in nestling back into Tara’s arms comfortably, she even risked a slight nuzzle with her nose. Tara jumped slightly…Willow’s nose was cold.



The two of them sat like that for some time. It was as thought they knew that words in that situation were inappropriate, superfluous. Touch was what mattered and through that they could speak volumes.



“Is this an example of unhealthy, speedy reconciliation in danger situations?” Willow finally ventured quietly, surprised to hear herself say it. She blamed her presumptuousness on Tara, her embrace alone was enough to give Willow the courage to say anything, “Because if you want I’m sure we can find some place, y’know…private…for hot gay love, with no strings attached?”



“Will, I want to be clear that we are not in anyway reconciled,” Tara replied firmly.



Willow sighed and bit her lip again, she was sure it should be bleeding by now after having been trapped between her teeth so often in just the last day. You stupid ninny! That was out of line Willow…much, much past your line…you’ll be lucky if she doesn’t…



“But…” Tara interrupted Willow’s internal self-flagellation, “…I’m open to the suggestion of hot gay love with no strings attached.”



Willow’s mouth worked soundlessly in her best goldfish…or rather, washed-up goldfish impression as she was even doing the gasping for air part rather well.



“Is this because we’re all trapped in hell-on-earth and are most probably going to die soon?”



“Will, we’re not going to die, “Tara replied firmly but quickly lost her confidence, “…but maybe…y-yes. Does it make me into a bad person for w-wanting you now?”



Willow was still speechless and a million and one thoughts were running through he noisy head,



Oh my god, she wants to have sex with me…and we are all going to die…but she wants to have sex with me! Tara’s not a bad person, how could she think that? Well…maybe she is bad after suggesting this…but bad in a bad kinky way, not a bad, evil kinda way. Oh yes she is evil for doing this to me! Goddess I want her but I can’t…I can’t do this with her after all I’ve done…but okay, horny now…no, I can’t be horny now…Rosenberg look where you are for pity’s sake!



“Willow…Will,” Tara was trying to get her attention, “I was saying…d-does that put you off? I-I mean because I…shouldn’t…”



Willow pushed any last vestiges of resistance to a deep recess of her mind and cupped Tara’s face in shaking hands, “Do moths get put off by the fact the flame burns them?”



Tara’s blue eyes were wet and bright as she shook her head. Willow just stared at her…their lips poised to kiss but nothing happened. All of their combined good sense, everything inside either of them was screaming at them to stop but in the end it was futile. This was just the calm before the storm. Even so, it took an eternity before either of them could move…



Afterwards, neither of them would be able to remember finding their way to the small room with merely a scrap of leather hung across the opening as a door. It was a storage room of sorts, lined with shelves and barrels but that was besides the point. In one corner was a waiting pile of furs onto which the two witches tumbled, sending up clouds of dust around them. In any other situation, Willow and Tara would have been a little unnerved by the raw, animal reactions they exhibited in their need for each other…but inhibitions were flung aside.



Willow found herself pinned firmly beneath Tara, feeling anyone else’s weight pressing down on her like that would have been uncomfortable…but not Tara’s. Tara cupped her face as she laid tiny but fierce kisses all over…her face, her neck…reaching up a hand to smooth her hair back.



Ignoring the fact that they had forgotten to hang a ‘do not disturb’ sign outside, Tara tugged Willow’s jumper and t-shirt together over her head. She ran her hands over the newly exposed pale skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps wherever she touched. Willow lifted slightly so Tara could unhook her bra…



It didn’t take long before every last scrap of clothing either of them had been wearing was tossed around various points of the room. Tara pinned Willow’s hands up behind her head as she ravaged her breasts with an insistent mouth. She had to fight to reign in her urges as she was struck by the frightening realisation that all she really wanted was to do this as fast and as violently as possible. A small cry from Willow brought her crashing back to earth from whatever crazy, fucked-up planet she had been on.



“Willow, should I stop?” Tara feel the redhead trembling violently, she hoped desperately it wasn’t because Willow had felt pain.



Willow couldn’t find a voice to say the words with…it was as though she didn’t have control over any part of herself any longer. Tears leaked unbidden from the corners of her eyes. Tara’s thigh pressed firmly against her sex made her all too aware of the pleasure she could be experiencing…what she wanted to be feeling.



“Will?” Tara repeated, stroking Willow’s forehead, her voice hoarse with emotion.



“Please don’t stop,” it was a half-strangled cry torn from the back of Willow’s throat.



Tara didn’t need…or want any further permission as she let everything that had been holding her back go. The world was in chaos and they were having sex…there was no point in thinking this through or stopping to question their actions any further. In the midst intense passion of their lovemaking, their rhythm was as familiar a feeling as either of them would ever feel…and yet it in a way it was so alien. A feeling poised just beyond consciousness, a strange one they both felt but didn’t want to try and explain.



*****



The two naked bodies lay locked together atop the furs, both breathing unnaturally fast and exhaustedly in the aftermath. They clung together as though the other person were the only thing that kept them afloat in a sea of chaos. It was a futile gesture, there nothing could keep them afloat when the sea was inside of them.



After the last waves of pleasure had finally subsided, Willow tilted her head backwards so she could stare up at the ceiling, sweat-soaked strands of hair were in her eyes but she made no effort to brush them aside. She just needed to concentrate on something solid, unmoving so she could refocused her scattered thoughts. Tara’s leg was still between her thighs, warm and slippery with sweat among other things. The blonde’s head was now nestled against her breast, although it had been thrown back in ecstasy mere moments ago. The musty room now smelt…well, musty…but also sweet in a way…



“What just happened?” Willow whispered, her voice sounding like a small child experiencing something frightening but unexpectedly good for the first time, “I mean…are we…”



“Will, we’re not reconciled,” Tara replied with a slight choking sound, as if she were trying to hold back tears.



“So what we just did…I dreamt that?”



“Yes, it was just a dream,” although Tara knew full well the wetness between her thighs betrayed her as a liar.



“It wasn’t a dream,” Willow replied quietly, clinging to Tara all the more, “Because I know what my dreams feel like…and this isn’t real enough to be one of mine.”



TBC



*****



Spike: “Yeah, back off Betty.”

Buffy: “It’s Buffy! You big, bleached…stupid guy.”

‘Superstar’

[tinnakaren]

Quote:

---

“It wasn’t a dream,” Willow replied quietly, clinging to Tara all the more, “Because I know what my dreams feel like…and this isn’t real enough to be one of mine.”

---

Cripes, this story is so nerve-wracking...



Anyway, I saw in your profile you're from New Zealand...do you know the singer Hera? Icelandic but lives in New Zealand? Her song "Suits Me" has the naughtiest lyrics...



And also, you like soccer uh? You play or just like to watch?

--------------------------

Tinna Karen

-tölvunörd í fyrsta ættlið

[4WiccanLuv]

Alcy, an outstanding update! Seems as though the Scoobies were transported not only to an alternate hell dimension, but perhaps back in time, judging by Micah's attire! And very creepy that days are more dangerous than night for humans to be out and about, that's a nice twist! I'm eager to learn more about Micah and his people and how they've managed to survive the demons for so long and why there are so few of them!



The conflicting emotions between & were bittersweet. I must admit, I was a bit surprised at Tara for wanting "hot gay" love with no strings. On the other hand, can't really blame her the poor girl, impending death looming and all. I don't imagine there'll be snuggles afterwards, huh?? Awkward much? Yipes!



Patiently waiting for more!

"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others." - Groucho Marx

[barnabasvamp]

My lord woman!! Can the emotional roller coaster between our girls get any steeper?? Well, knowing how you love the angst, I'm betting it can!



Hmm...Nights safer than days?? Looking forward to finding out just why, but then again, I may not want to know!



BV

It's the passion in a kiss that gives to it its sweetness; it is the affection in a kiss that sanctifies it.

[sam darls]

This was absolutely so amazing..and really so emotional. I loved it. . Love sammi xx

"Sometimes things happen between people that you don't really expect. And sometimes the things that are important are the ones that seem the weirdest or the most wrong. And those are the ones that change your life." - Jessie Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)