Title : Bleeder
Author : Tariq ( formerly Aeris Jade Orion )
Rating : R
Pairing : WR/TM
Timeline : Season Six
Summary : What if the First Evil had made a
preemptive strike? What if the First had framed
Willow for certain magical crimes, turning the
scoobies against her?
Authors note: It's unbeta'd. At the moment I
have no beta reader for this genre. So drop me
a line if you're interested.
Second, due to health issues, and taking care
of my disabled mom, I haven't been able to
write much. But over the last several years
I've managed to slowly write on a number
of stories.
What I've decided to do is go ahead and
publish what I've managed to put together.
The stories are unfinished, and sometimes,
the last chapter I worked on is unfinished.
Plus, there maybe multiple chapters, each one a
different version. Just warning everyone.
So I apologize in advance.
Disclaimer : Not mine. All characters belong
to Joss Whedon.
00000
Prologue
00000
Ms. Harkness cradled Willow in her arms during
the teleport back to Devon, England. Never in
her life had she been so enraged. When the covens
most powerful seer had told her the slayer's group
had ripped the magic from the red head she had
immediately acted.
How could the group be so foolish? How could the
wiccan of the group help cast the spell knowing
the what it would do to her ex?
" Ms. Harkness, Rupert called. He wants to know
if Miss. Rosenberg is here, or if our seer's
could tell him where she went? " Anne gasped
out, manuevering around the healer's trying to
see to Willow.
" What did you tell him? " The coven leadered
asked absently. She handed the light college
student over to the head healer.
" Well, the thing is, Betheney actually got to
the phone first. " Anne sheepishly scratched
her eyebrow. " She banished him from all contact
with the coven, questioned the legitimacy of his
mother's marriage, his nationality, and his love
of bestiality. "
" Oh dear. " Ms. Harkness sighed with a small
smile. " Did she, at least, find out what
happened? "
" Yes, ma'am. " Anne scowled. " According to
Giles, the group was in the Magic Box when
Willow attacked the others. The spell she used
was extremely dark and powerful, badly damaging
the store and the others. "
" There were a number of broken bones. A
concusion or two, and Anya had a miscarriage.
Nobody knew she was pregnant. "
Ms. Harkness winced. No wonder everyone had
struck out the way they had. A miscarriage
would have tempers flaring's and emotions
running high.
" Here's the strange thing. The spell came
from Willow's direction, but no one saw her
cast it. "
" They killed me. " Willow whispered in a daze.
" I know, child. " Ms. Harkness sadly brushed
her hair from her sweaty face.
If the slayer's group had waited, or calmed
down first, they would have felt the lack of
dark magic in Willow's aura. For her to have
cast the spell she was accused of, her aura
would have had a temporary taint.
Ms. Harkness stood up, watching as the red
head was placed on a stretcher, and rolled to
the infirmary. It would take months of intense
work to put her back together.
" How is she still alive? " Anne asked softly.
" She managed to get hold of a rare potion.
Demon's venom. " She answered.
More like stolen from the Magic Box. She didn't
blame her one iota however. Willow's ex-friends
had all taken restraining order's out on her, and
the ex-demon had stolen Willow's most valuble
posession's to pay for the damage done to the
store.
" What blood did she use? "
This time Ms. Harkness felt a true smirk of
pure smugness stretch across her face. It was
really a thing of beauty. Willow's mind that is.
The potion, Demon's Venom, turned the user into
a demon. Any demon, just insert blood from your
chosen demon and viola, drink. But Willow, oh
what a tricky, calculating mind she had.
She had gotten hold of not one, not two, not
three, but four different types of blood. How the
potion worked with all four added to it, she had
no idea, but it had.
" Pockla Demon, Brachen Demon, the original Slayer,
and the Key before she was activated. " She
answered.
Silence fell on the gathered women. Oh yes, Willow
was very trickey indeed. If she survived the
coming month's, she would be quite the fighter.
She sobered as the seer's words came back to her.
Willow had to survive. When she did she would
have to be trained into the ground, and then
get right back up to do it all over again.
Even then it wouldn't be enough. It never would.
Time was ticking down, and when it ran out, the
world would end. All because a foolish little
group tore Willow Rosenberg apart.
' And all the King's horses, and all the King's
men can't put her back together again. '
11111
Chapter One
11111
Willow grumbled under her breath, pulling her
red sweater tighter around her. The black
leather jacket over it not helping much. She
was already at three layers of clothes and
chilling like it was subzero out.
The summer wind whipped around her again,
pulling a number of creative curses from her
mouth. Curses she never knew before D-day.
She tried to push back the phantom pains of
where her magic used to be. The dull ache
which never faded. The chill she could never
get rid of. The crawling and creeping which
would start under her skin until she'd begin
to scratch and slice into it trying to stop
it.
Or the major symptom's she dealt with on rare
occasions.
She shuddered again, this time not because of
her chill's. Frustration welled up in her, and
she pushed on, walking on.
" Stupid... " She couldn't remember the last
time she'd babbled, or slept more than an hour
or two.
Her time was all about training, finding a way
to do magic, training, research, training, and
more training.
And food. She hadn't been able to have a decent
meal in who know's when. It was almost impossible.
Alway's moving, alway's off to some other city,
or country to follow up on some new lead.
Then there were the demon's. Now that she was
half demon, or rather a fourth pockla demon,
and a fourth brachen demon, she'd discovered
there were actual underground demonic stuff.
Not really cities, but similar. Sometimes it
was just a group of builidings. Sometimes it
was gatherings, games or parties. Sometimes
auctions. It just depended.
Willow dodged around a group of boys racing
down the dirt streat's of India. Loud voice's
called out in foreign language all around her.
Some trying to sell merchandise to her, other's
enthusatically barginning with customer's.
Dirt puffed up onto her faded jeans, staining
them with the light brown color sand. She hefted
her Jansport Cathedrawl backpack higher on her
shoulders and ducked down a tiny alley.
She'd dreamed of traveling all her life. Going
across the world. Backpacking through Europe.
Seeing the Alps. Making it to Germany in time
for the Beer festival's.
When she'd meet Tara, they'd made plans to do
just that after they'd graduated college. Over
the summer they were going to go on a world
tour.
She felt a single tear fall, and clamped down
on her emotions. She wasn't going to give in to
them yet. Not yet. Not until she had pieced
everything together.
Something happened that day.
The spell was launched from right in front of
her. Right when everyone was positioned so they
couldn't see if she was casting or not. Just
where it was generally coming from.
It had hit were the most explosive ingridents
were. Causing the most injuries with no fatalites.
It had also hit were Anya was closet, guranteeing
a miscarriage.
Everything had been carefully calculated. Every
equation had been considered. Every person had
been included from where they were standing to
what their strengths and weakness's were.
It was the work of a true mastermind.
Minimium effort with maxium effect.
Willow saw her destination. A single doorway.
Dark brown wood, open to the public, and entered.
The inside had an entryway with a statue of Kali.
She conitinued on, pausing as she came to an
elderly man, bowing low to him.
" Ms. Harkness told me of your coming child. "
The man spoke softly. " I am Sorcar the librarian
of the Magi. "
" Thank you for letting me have access to your
resources. " She stood back up.
" If we survive the coming battle, that is all
the thanks I need. " The man grinned. " Now come,
I will show you our treasure of knowledge. Then
I will have Delia bring you some of our fine
foods. "
She beamed at the sweet man. Like all the other
magical's Ms. Harkness sent her to, he made her
feel welcome, and not like the freak she was.
' But how do I win a war with magic, if I can't
use magic? '
11111
' This is crazy. Even for me. ' Willow decided.
" So... " Jesse cocked his head curiously.
" Another universe, huh? "
" I thought it was a good idea at the time. So
did Ms. Harkness. " Willow nodded awkwardly to
her old friend, who also happened to be dead
in the her own universe. " We've sort of run
out of research material in my dimension, so..."
" Cool. " Jesse tapped his fingers on the table.
" I totally get it. World endage and all that. "
" Exactly. " Willow excitedly perked up. " See
my friends, well ex-friends, ripped my magic out
cause they thought I did something I didn't, and
according to the seer's I need my magic to do a
super duper powerful spell or the world will go
kabloom. "
" Whoa. Not good. " Jesse tugged at his goatee in
thought. " Well, we can try Gile's books. He left
everything to me when they died. Plus, you know,
with Angel dead I claimed all his books so they're
in there, too. "
" Thank's, Jesse. You're a life saver. " Willow
hugged her old friend tightly. Thankfull when he
returned the hug.
" No problem. We're best buds after all. " Jesse
patted her back. " I'll even risk Miss. Calendar's
temper, and call her in to help. "
" What... What happened to the others? "
She felt Jesse stiffen in her arms. Finally, he
tightened his hold.
" They didn't make it, Will. " He hoarsely
answered. " The council keeps sending in slayers,
and I have to watch them walk to the slaughter, one
after the other. They never last more than a few
months. "
She held him as he broke down. Just as broken as
herself. A war veteran in a neverending war for
peace. How did she make it right when she couldn't
even put herself back together?
' Goddess, help me, is it ever going to stop? '
11111
" If I didn't see it, I wouldn't believe it. "
Miss. Calendar eyed her closely.
Willow quickly hugged the gypsy and then pulled
away. The eccentric woman had been her mentor in
High school. In computers, magic, and life. She
was so free spirited, so knowledgeble, so strong.
" I missed you too, Willow. " Jenny smiled sadly.
" And from what Jesse says you've gotten yourself
into quite a situation. "
" Yeah. Something, or someone, went to a lot of
trouble to elimante me from the Scooby gang. But
they did it in a way that had Anya and Tara
perform the Ritual of Void on me. " She explained.
" Dear God. Are they crazy?! " Jenny exploded.
" You could have died? In fact, you should have,
if not from the Ritual, then by your own hand. "
" I, uh, borrowed a potion from the Magic Box.
Demons Venom, and added the original slayers,
Dawn's, Pockla's, and Brachen's blood to it. "
" Ohh, smart. " Jenny calmed somewhat. " I don't
think anyone's tried more than one blood type in
the potion before. Using two demon's, a slayer's,
and the key's... Very nice. "
" Ms. Harkness from the Devon Coven teleported
in and rescued me shortly after that. Their
seer's had a vision. If I don't have my magic
the world is going to end. In all dimensions. "
She went on.
" Yep, definte badness. " Jesse calmly decided.
Willow shot him an exasperated look. Different
dimension or not, he had not changed a bit.
" I take it you've researched the problem. "
Jenny started grabbing books off the shelves.
" Extensively. I've been all over the world in
my dimension. In the libraries of the most
exclusive covens in exsistence. India, Russia,
Germany, Canada, Hawaii, Africa, New Zealand. "
Willow frowned darkly. " Ms. Harkness finally
suggested I use my powers from the Key to start
crossing dimensions. The hope is one of the
dimensions might have material my home dimension
doesn't. "
" Of course. " Jenny agreed. " Well, let's get
started, and while you're combing threw
these, I'll get my online coven searching, too. "
Willow took a book, and started reading. Though
in truth, she'd lost hope long ago.
11111
Willow reluctantly opened her eyes. The throbbing
in her head was made worse by the quiet ruffling
of hurried movements, and soft voices of her
friends.
Green eyes dimly recognized the training room of
the Magic Box. Or rather what was left of it. To
tell the truth it was mostly untouched, other than
some damage to the roof, and about a dozen of the
bricks by the doorway leading into the store.
She tried to sit up, but the slightest movement
sent pain shooting throughout her body. Thick,
heavy, metal cuffs sliced into her wrists and
ankles. In fact her arms were pulled tight behind her
back.
" Wh-...? " She coughed rasply.
The others ignored her. Buffy standing nearby
with a sword held threatenly. Xander was also
armed, cradling a crossbow with a dark expression.
" Tara? " She quietly strained as the wiccan
finished drawing a ceremonial circle around
Willow.
A foot lashed out, kicking her across the face,
and the room spun. In the back of her mind, she
registered it was Anya who attacked her, and for
some reason no one helped her.
Magic swelled up around her. Nipping at her.
Moving like dogs, testing the air around them,
coming in close and darting back out. Finally,
it attacked. Scrambling into her skin. Sinking
claws into her magic, digging deeper with bloody
teeth, drool dripping from panting mouths, and
then ate it's meal.
It ripped her magic into bits and pieces. Slurping
it down in great, painful chomps. Chewing vicously
until she screamed in agony, begging for release.
Yet it continued.
It continued until there was no more magic for it
to eat. With it, she could feel the mystical claws
digging into her veins with each slow step. Filling
her body with tearing pain were there was magic.
Then it was gone.
Willow managed to crack her eyes open, staring
into the petrified blue eyes of her ex. " You
killed me. "
And abruptly woke up.
Willow wiped cold sweat from her brow. The chill
in her body making her shake despite the heating
blanket wrapped around her.
' I'm at Jenny's. ' She struggled with her breathing.
' I'm safe. '
A slow crawling sensation filled her hands and feet,
making it's way up her arms and calfs. Absently she
scratched at her skin, pressing short dull nails
into her pale skin.
' Not again. ' She prayed.
It wasn't enough. The feeling was spreading.
Getting worse. Burning and itching, feeling like
a million fire ants were just under her ants
eating her alive.
She threw off her covers and grabbed her backpack.
Willow dumped it upside down, spilling her worldly
possession's all over the floor.
" Come on... " She fell to her knees. Shifting
rapidly through them. Her right hand bumped into a
swiss army knife.
Willow flipped open the smallest knife. Then
without hesitation flicked it across her left
arm. She forced her eyes to stay on her arm
as the hissing filled the air soon after.
Red blood ran along her arm, bubbling with intense
heat, slowly changing to a sickly off white, and
then evaporating.
The minor relief it gave wasn't enough. She sliced
into her left arm several more times. Watching the
sickly evidence of just what was wrong with her.
Gripping the knife in her left hand, she gave it
three slits. The hissing even worse than the left.
The puss like build up angrily oozing out without
the lest bit of relief.
Taking a deep breath, she prepared to make a
stitch worthy wound. However, someone else had
other ideas.
A female hand took a tight hold on hers. The
familiar body of Jenny Calendar wrapping around
her from behind. Jenny's other hand immediately
came around and snatched Willow's right hand,
locking her in place.
" Jeez, Will. " Jesse froze in side the door,
his short spikey hair a mess.
" This isn't what it looks like. " She panicked.
" I can explain. "
" You don't have to. Gypsy, remember? " Jenny
gently chided, not releasing her hold.
" Then let go. I'm fine. " Willow pleaded,
struggling against her mentor. She could feel
it in her skin. She had to get it to stop.
" You're not fine. " Jesse sat beside them, and
pried the knife from her hand. " God Will,
Jenny said there were side effects but I had no
idea it was this bad. "
" Unfortunately, the Ritual of Void may destroy
a witch's magic, but the body continues to
produce the energy, it's just unable to convert
said energy. Resulting in it being released into
the bloodstream. " Jenny grimanced. " From what
I've heard uncoverted magical energy is very,
very unpleasant. To the point of being tortorous. "
" Dude, uncool. " Jesse become green in the face.
" But you can fix it right. "
" The coven did fix me. " Willow grumbled, while
considering the logistics of biting her skin.
" Don't even think about it. " Jenny tightened
her hold. " Willow's right. As bad as she is
now, she was far worse before. "
" Months of agonizing rituals. " Willow slumped
into her mentor. " All the covens magics and all
the covens witchs can't put Willow back together
again. "
" Will... " Jesse gently stroked her sweaty hair.
" I have to get the build up out. " Willow pleaded.
" It hurts. "
" I know, but there are better ways. " Jenny
refused to let go. " Ways which won't end up with
you slitting a wrist one day. "
" But... " She had to get it to stop. Her mind
was buzzing from the pain. She was going crazy.
If it didn't end soon, she was going to lose her
mind.
" Sleep. "
Magic spun around her, and without a word, she
felt her body drift off.
' No fair. '
22222
Chapter Two
22222
Willow reluctantly stretched out the last of her
muscles. She hated training, but she hated when
Ms. Harkness interuppted worse. It meant another
emergency had cropped up.
" Has something happened? " She dragged her feet
over to the middle aged woman.
" It's started. " The coven leader stated. " From
beneath them it will devour. "
She shivered from the warning, and the chill in
her body. What did Ms. Harkness expect her to do?
Go back to Sunnyhell and spy on the gang? Get
arressted for violating her restraining orders?
' Wait, I already hacked into the records and
removed those. '
Still, she didn't want Buffy going all slayer
on her ass. Or Anya trying to axe her. O-or
Xander trying to run her over with one of those
roller pin thingy's.
" B-but..."
" You have to go back. " Ms. Harkness gently
smiled. " You have an important role in the
coming battle. You will decide who win's. Not
the slayer. "
" And you won't be alone, Red, or did you
forget? "
She turned to Jesse, and smiled sadly at the tall
man. Because despite his age, he was a man now.
Jenny lazily swayed up after him. Wearing tight
jeans and a leather jacket.
The two had decided to return with her. They'd
had nothing left in their own dimension. It was
becoming a harsh reality for them. Watching the
Council throw slayer's away like everyday trash.
" Thanks guys. " She whispered in relief. " I
could defintely use the help. "
" Speak for yourself. " Jenny smirked evily.
" I'm going for one reason only. There's a
certain ex-watcher in need of a chewing out.
He may not have been there, but for him to
support their actions in using the Ritual of
Void. Oh yes, that man is going to learn a few
lesson's. "
" With whips and chains. " Jesse mumbled.
" What was that? " Jenny asked sweetly.
" Nothing. " Jesse quickly shook his head.
Willow smiled at the ribbing of the two. It
was their way of surviving the darkness. The
best way they had of escaping the insanity.
Just like the other Scoobies.
" Well, as long as my back get's watched
somewhere in there, lecture away. " She felt a
smirk try to grow. " But I'd be careful with
those whips and chains, he might actully enjoy
those. "
" Willow! " Jenny scolded in mock outrage.
Jesse burst into loud laughter. " Well, each man
must eventually fall to the fate of being whipped. "
" Kinky. " Willow choked.
Jenny rolled her eyes at the two.
" Careful, Jesse, she might really crack the
whip on us. " Willow managed to squeeze out. The
two friends fell into each other, howling in
laughter.
" Alright, you jokers, let's get packed. " Jenny
hauled them up, directing them toward the main
house. " Before you laugh yourselve's into a
coma. "
" Yes, Mistress. " Jesse saluted, sending the
two into more laughter.
Willow knew it wasn't really funny, but the
stress of everything was crushing them. Months,
almost a year, without some kind of release.
It was too much, and then Jenny had given them
the smallest little opening.
Jesse, bless him, had sensed it like a shark
in water. He'd attacked and she had been right
behind him. Ready and willing.
" Now go on. We have to teleport in and get set
up without being slayed. " Jenny smirked. " And
for the record, it's Madam, not Mistress. "
The three of them exploded into a welcome flood
of laughter. Each going to their rooms to pack.
Each glad the stress they'd been drowning under
was disappering. Allowing them to breath again.
Willow stopped at her door. Her hand simply
resting on the knob. She wasn't fixed. She wasn't
alright. She wasn't happy, or able to release the
well of emotions walled up inside her.
She had lost weight. Too much weight. So much it
had alarmed Jesse and Jenny. She barely slept. Her
dreams were nightmares. There were the chills. The
buildup in her blood.
Yet, she was doing better. She was sleeping a
little more. Sometimes camping out with Jesse.
Sometimes she would fall asleep with her head in
Jenny's lap.
She was eating more. Maybe not meals. Okay, not
meals. She was doing some snacking, though. A few
nuts here and there. A small box of raisins when
she could manage it. Maybe an orange, or banana.
Jesse made her carry his old black army ammo bag
around filled with stuff. Just so she'd have
things to snack on.
The chills were harder. She'd started wearing two
layers of thermals under her clothes. Deciding it
was the best thing, and perhaps, the only thing she
could do.
' No, I'm not alright. But I'm not dead. '
22222
" So the lesbian thing? When did this happen? "
Jesse asked casually.
Willow held her hand out to Jenny, never removing
the binocular's from her eye's. She closed her hand
around the brand new, crisp fifty, and stuffed it
in her cargo pants.
" Well, I had a massive crush on Jenny. Plus,
my Vampire self had a strange fascination with
licking my neck, and putting her hands in new
places. Then I meet Tara and it was like wow,
you know. " She studied Buffy's house closely.
" Huh. " Jesse considered. " I just want you to
know I totally support you and your choice. In
fact, as a card carrying, woman loving lesbian
myself, I am more than happy to volunteer my
services in any capacity you should need. Say
video taping any special events, or perhaps in
a threesome. "
She lowered her binoculars and shot her best
friend an exasperated look. She wasn't surprised,
or shocked. Hell, she wasn't even angry. She grew
up with the guy, afterall. In fact...
" Tell you what, as one lesbian to another, "
Willow grew a truly wicked smirk. " I happen to
know of a sex change spell. I'm sure Jenny would
be happy to cast it for you. "
" De-light-ed. " Jenny purred.
" Really? " Jesse tugged at his goatee calmly.
" Huh? Cool. I might take you up on your offer.
See I know this chick... "
" Never mind. " Willow huffed.
Jenny snorted beside her. " I will never understand
that boy. "
She went back to her survielence. " You didn't have
to grow up with him. "
" My condolences. "
" ...blonde hair. " Jesse drooled.
" You should have seen him with Buffy. " Willow
laughed. " Dude, new girl. "
" I can imagine. "
" So, what about you Jenny, ever thought about
crossing to the darkside? " Willow asked.
" Oh, I had a few flings in my younger days. "
Jenny admitted easily. " If you'd been my age,
and Tara free, I would have considered it again. "
" Despite ol' Ripper. " Willow teased.
" Hmm, now that's a tough one. " Jenny laughed.
" Damn, First incoming. " Willow whispered.
The three fell silent. The full moon falling
over Buffy's. Dawn was alone in the house.
The front window wide open. They could see
what was happening and it wasn't good.
She was alive, but the mind trip she was about
to get would last for months.
" I wish we could help. " Willow admitted.
" We're doing everything we can. " Jesse leaned
forward in frustration. " Waiting. "
33333
Chapter
33333
' What was the stupid girl thinking? ' Willow
angrily wondered.
She was racing after the slayer in training.
Her every instinct telling her much badness
would happen if she didn't get to the girl fast.
Dead badness.
She teleported fifty yards ahead still sprinting.
There was the idiot teen. Right in front of a
very nasty demon. Vampire like, except a little
Master like, just more ancient and very mutated.
' Jenny and Jesse are so going to kill me. '
Willow transformed into her brachen demon form.
Blurring forward the red head spin kicked the
demon from behind. It moved half a foot.
" So, you always chase young girls around,
or is this a new thing for you? "
The demon charged. Punching her across the
face twice rapidly, then in the stomach, and
kneeing her in the nose.
She hit the cement hard. Pain spreading in
rapid beats in time with her heart.
' Not good. Time to crank it up a notch. '
It gripped her by the throat and lifted her
up. Blood sprayed from her mouth, and nose,
down her face, chest and over his face.
She jabbed her fingers forward into his left
eye. Then punched him over and over in the
adams apple. Six times. Hard and fast.
He threw her into the nearby shipping trailer.
He remained on her, kicking her into the metal
until she was indented into it.
Willow fell to her feet, lashing out with brute
force. Filling the bones actually break in her
left hand from the strength of her punches.
The demon followed behind her. Exchanging punch
for punch, kick for kick. They moved further into
the construction site.
He lifted a huge block of cinder block, bringing
it down on her. She grunted in agony, but remained
on her feet. Ducking under his next attack, she
grabbed a chain hanging from the building, and
swung her body up and around him until the chain
was tight around his neck.
" Later, Vampboy. " She gasped out.
Willow used her strength to force the chain
through the neck. Decapitating the demon. The
cloud of dust was still in the air when she hit
the ground, blood soaked, human, and in agony.
' This day can't get any worse. '
A cheap, but fashionable black boot, kicked her
harshly in the stomach. Knocking her onto her
back hard enough she thought she was going to
vomit blood.
" Well, well, look what the demon dragged in. "
Buffy smirked darkly.
' I was wrong. '
33333
" Look what I found, Giles. "
Willow scowled at the Scoobies as Buffy shoved
her into the dining room chair. She was surrounded
on both sides by all her old friends, and her ex.
" Did you have to rough her up? " Giles polished
his glasses casually.
' For Goddess sake... ' Willow growled in disbelief.
The group hadn't bothered to investigate the incident.
They hadn't examined the Magic Box, or gone over the
signature of spell casting. Even taken the time to
question the local demons.
" It wasn't me. I found her fighting the Turok-Han. "
Buffy shrugged without a shred of care.
" She save my life. " The potential slayer spoke up.
" It was about to kill me when she attacked it. "
Not that it mattered.
The Scoobies were ignoring the girl. They didn't
seem to care one iota. Curious she glanced over at
Tara. The blonde wicca was reentering the room with
a large first aid kit.
Tara approached her, kneeling by Willow, and opening
the kit up. She was confused by blonde's actions.
The fear she'd seen in her eyes was present, in fact
it was on the verge of the petrification that had
been present during the Ritual of Void. But there was
warmth, and love.
" I won't bother beating around the bush. I want to
know what spell you used. " Giles demanded, tucking
his glasses in his pocket. Letting Ripper out to
play.
" I didn't do it, Giles. Innocent until proven
guilty, and all that jazz. " Willow lifted her chin
in defiance. " If the Moron Squad had done a simple
signature test they'd know I'm innocent. "
Anya punched her across the face.
" Was that supposed to hurt? " She asked. " I've
been hit harder by a slimer demon, and they have
no skeleton. "
" Very well. " Ripper moved to a seat next to
her.
She wearily eyed Ripper as the man pulled a bottle
of putrid green liquid and a nasty looking knife
from the leather oxford case on the table.
Her worry increased as the man she thought of as a
father tightly grabbed her broken left hand and
sliced the palm open. Without an ounce sympathy or
kindess, he held the bottle under the pouring blood,
filling the bottle almost to the top.
At last, he pulled the bottle away, replacing the
stopper and shaking it until the red blood and
green potion swirled together. The man set the
bottle on the table and watched as the two colors
flowed together, shifting and mixing turning into
a water like substance.
" Bloody hell. " Giles cursed in surprise.
" It's bad, isn't it? " Xander worriedly questioned.
" Some kind of really dark curse that will rot our
bodies, and turn us into flesh eating zombies. "
" Dear Lord. " Giles shakingly fell back into his
previous seat.
" How bad is it? " Xander demanded. His eyes
promising death for the lose of his child.
" She's telling the truth. " Giles softly said.
" She is innocent. "
" That's not possible. " Buffy protested. " We
saw her. She blew up the shop. "
" No, I'm afraid she didn't. The bottle contained
a potion to compare magical signitures, and as
you can see her signiture doesn't match the one
used in the explosion. " Giles furiously wiped
at his glasses.
" I wondered how long it would take you to figure
it out. " A figure identical to Miss. Calendar
appeared next to Giles. " I must say I was quite
disappointed that it took so long. "
" What do you know about this? " Giles stood to
confront the twin to his dead lover.
" Everything, after all I'm the one that arranged
it. "
" Why? " Tara shook in rage beside her. The guilt
in her eyes quite clear.
Willow shuddered at the grin of triumph that
covered the First Evils face.
" Oh, it's quite simple. While Buffy is leading
the war, the spell needed to win it can only be
performed by one person. "
" Willow. " Tara whispered.
" Exactly, and your group has made sure that it
will never happen. "
Willow dropped her head to her chest at the
information she'd been searching for. She now knew
who was behind the explosion, and the reason.
" Why am I the only one that can perform it? " She
softly inquired.
" Your the only remaining ancestor of the First
Slayer, and the First Watcher. " The ghost like
being shrugged, fading away until they were once
again alone.
" Will... " Xander started.
" Don't. " Willow shook her head. " I know, and I
can forgive almost everything. "
" Almost? " Xander questioned.
" I can't forgive you for taking my magic. "
" Why? I mean you were battling an addiction, you
should be glad that we stripped it. " Xander
stupidly frowned.
" Xander... " Anya flinched at his statement,
the small move telling Willow that Anya had
known the possible consequences when they'd
used the spell on Willow.
" What? I'm trying to understand. I know that if
the First is telling the truth that this is bad,
but... "
" I suggest you be quiet. " Giles snapped. " Your
use of the Ritual of Void can have a number of
far reaching consequences for the witch it's
used on. We're just lucky they didn't occur with
Willow. "
Willow meet Giles gaze, and pulled her left sleeve
up, turning the wrist for the watcher to see. The
mans face paled at the sight of the thick scars
where she'd slit her wrists.
" Dear lord, how...? "
" Ms. Harkness. She tried to correct all the damage
done to me, but not everything can be repaired. "
" Will..."
Willow glanced over at Tara, wanting to hold her
and push her away all at the same time.
" How bad is it? " Giles asked.
" I manage to control most problems. " She
vaguely brushed off.
" How bad? " Giles repeated.
" Eating problems, sleeping, chills, etc. "
Willow admitted.
" We may be able to reverse the spell. I- I still
have a few living contacts, they may have
information that... " Giles started.
" Don't bother. " She interrupted. " Even if you
found something, which you won't, it wouldn't
work. "
" May I ask why not? "
" I infected myself with Demon venom. " She d
ismissed.
" You stole it from me. Do you know how much
that stuff costs? " Anya ranted at her.
" Thats a laugh. Especially coming from the idiot
who stole my entire savings and laptop. Because of
you I've had to constantly risk my life to make
money. " She snarled back, pulling herself up on
unsteady feet.
" Surely you're exaggerating. I mean it can't be
that bad. " Xander nervously said, still in deep
denial.
" It's not like you're dealing with the demon
auctions, or anything. " Anya scoffed.
" Actually I do. It's one of the few ways I have
of making a profit. " Willow snapped with blazing
eyes.
" Look, I swear we'll pay you back. " Xander promised.
" In the meantime, you should probably move back
in here. " Buffy softly said. " The First has
already detroyed the Council, and is working on
the other potentials. "
Willow meet her ex-best friends eyes. Despite the
fact that she didn't hate them for most of what
happened, she couldn't bring herself to really
trust them again.
" Will, please. I don't want to end up burying
you. " Tara gently pleaded.
" Of course, I'll have the restraining orders
dropped immediately. " Giles input.
" Don't bother, I already took care of them. "
Willow smirked at the watcher.
" You stole the laptop. " Anya glared.
She met the glare head on, causing the ex-demon
to quickly back off. She turned to Tara and meet
the gorgous blue eyes that haunted her dreams.
As much as she wanted to hate the dirty blonde
for stripping her magic she couldn't. After
everything she'd done to Tara, plus the idea of
Willow turning the blonde into a slave must have
terrified Tara.
It was why, despite everything, she'd been unable
to hold a grudge against Tara.
" Fine. I'll move in, but I refuse to take orders
from anyone. "
" That seems fair. " Giles quickly agreed for
everyone.
" I'll be back later. "
She turned to leave but the watcher dropped a
hand on her shoulder.
" Perhaps you should take someone with you. You're
exhausted and badly injured. "
To Be Continued
