• Title - Scarlet Black
• Author name – sapphoselene
• Email Address -
• Rating - R to NC-17 (rating is for violence, language, and sexual content)
• Disclaimer - All BtVS characters belong to their developers (like Joss Whedon and Fox, etc.), I just want to play with them for a little bit. I promise to give them back right away.
• Feedback- Most welcome... please, anything that would help me to improve my writing skills is needed and accepted with open arms.
• Summary- I will be starting the story after the accident in Wrecked, and spinning it into a world of my own imagining.
• Notes- This will be an AU story. There may be some spoilers from the show, but I don't know yet. I don't have a beta for this story so any advice or help would receive my gratitude. Thank you for letting me try to entertain you, my fellow kittens.
(Chapter 1)
It was just past 7:00am when Buffy finally arrived home after spending the night in the E.R. getting Dawn x-rayed and put in a cast. She called the school to let them know why Dawn wouldn't be there. When she went to get a bottle of water so Dawn could take the prescriptions that the doctor had given them, Buffy found an envelope with her name printed on it. Recognizing Willow's handwriting she decided to ignore it for now. Once Dawn was settled in Buffy went to Willow's room to vent some of her anger over the redhead's behavior. She opened the door to find the room not just empty, but stripped of all Willow's belongings. Buffy felt herself grow more angry. She stormed back down to the kitchen, and snatched up the envelope Willow had left for her.
"Buffy,
There are no words to express how sorry I am for putting Dawn in danger, and getting her hurt. I know I am the last person on earth that you, or Dawn will want to see for a long time (if ever). I understand if you can never forgive me for what I have done. I don't deserve to be forgiven, and I shouldn't be forgiven. I deposited money into your account to hopefully cover the cost of Dawn's medical bills. If it isn't enough let me know, and I will make sure to get you more. I will never forget how monumentally I screwed up. I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up in any way I am able for the pain and grief that my actions have cost all of the people who befriended me. If you ever need anything researched, or any computer work done please let me know what you need. From this day on I will not touch magick, or anything associated with magick. I know that it is too late for it to do any good, but I thought you should know that I have finally learned my lesson. If Amy comes to look for me please tell her I left, and I want nothing to do with her, Rack, or magick anymore. I realize it is my responsibility to do this, but I just don't want her or Rack to be bothering you. I have enclosed your house key in the envelope. If you need anything from me I have gone back to my parent's house until I can figure something else out.
I know that I have no right to ask anything of you, but if you would, try to get Tara to move back in with you and Dawn. She needs family around her especially after how badly I hurt her. I would be forever grateful if you would let her know that I finally understand why what I did to her was wrong, and I know why she can never trust or love me again. She was right to leave me, and I don't blame her one bit. What I did to her is unforgivable, and the most despicable thing a person can do to another. Please, please be there for her. She needs people she can trust, and who can love her the way she deserves to be loved. I am hoping that she will be able to heal from the damage that I caused her.
I have included a new e-mail address, and shut down all my other accounts. Give it to anyone in the group you wish to. I did this so I could sever all ties to the people who could tempt me to return to magick. I will never be able to make up for all the things I screwed up. If you don't want to have anything to do with me anymore I will understand that. I don't want you to worry about me trying to take the easy way out. Even if I live to be 100 I will not be able to make amends for what I have done to the people that called me their friend. I will try every day to be better, and help in any way I am allowed. If you ever need help with computer research, or anything like that, please let me know. I will never be able to pay the debt I owe any of you. If you are ever willing to let me try I would be grateful for the chance.
Willow."
Buffy sat heavily in one of the chairs as her anger drained away. She was left with feeling sad, and empty without one of her best friends to talk to for now. It would take time to deal with all the hurting. The door opened, and Xander walked in.
"Hey Buff, how is Dawn doing?"
"She has a small fracture from the accident. I just gave her the meds we got for her, and she is resting now."
He looked towards the stairs. "Have you talked to Willow yet?"
Wordlessly she handed him the letter she had just finished reading. After he read it over his shoulders slumped a little, and he ran a hand across his face. "Damn. How did things get so screwed up?"
"I don't know Xan. Could you stay here for a while and look out for Dawn? I want to go and talk to Tara. I think Will had a good idea about getting her to move back in. I think Dawn and I need her as much as she needs us."
"Sure Buff. I hope you can get her to come back."
"Me too, Xan. Me too."
Buffy made it across town to the dorm Tara had moved to in record time. She knocked on the door and waited for an answer. A few moments later Tara opened the door wrapped in her robe, and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Buffy? What's wrong?" Tara stepped back so Buffy could enter her room.
Buffy walked in and sat down at Tara's desk. "Willow went on a magick high last night, and Dawn got hurt. Dawn and I were at the E.R. all night. After I got Dawn home and put to bed I went to have it out with Willow, but she was gone. She took all her things with her, and left this letter for me." Buffy handed the note to Tara.
Shocked at what she heard Tara slowly sat on the edge of her bed as she read the note. "Oh Goddess, Willow." She raised her eyes to see the slayer trembling slightly. It looked like the smaller blond was barely keeping it together. "What do you want from me Buffy?"
Buffy glanced up at Tara with tears in her eyes. "For now would you please come back home to be with me and Dawn? I could really use the help with her being hurt. I know that she would absolutely love to have you back home where you belong. We have both missed you so much. Please Tara, please say you will come back."
Taking a deep breath, and letting it out slowly Tara nods her head. "Alright Buffy, I'll move back with you and Dawn." Tara finds herself suddenly engulfed in a huge bear hug from a grateful slayer.
"Thank you Tara. Thank you so much. I'll call Xander, and get him to help we should have you moved back by the end of the day. That is if it's alright with you?"
Laughing at the slayer's enthusiasm. "That would be great Buffy."
Across town Willow sat in her childhood bedroom. She knew that to avoid Amy she needed to find somewhere to live that Amy didn't know about. After looking on the internet for available apartments to rent she finally found one. It was a studio in one of the most rundown areas of Sunnydale. Positive that no one she knew would ever look for her there she packed her computer supplies, and all the weapons, holy water, and crosses she had. She called a cab, and within 2 hours she had signed the lease. She then went to a nearby thrift store to purchase a few household supplies, and some dark sweats and hoodies to wear. She got a deal on a donated mattress and bedspring set. Arranging for them to be delivered she stopped by a grocery store, and bought some canned goods, crackers, and easy to fix foods.
For the next several weeks Willow suffered from painful withdrawals. She barely ate or slept. Her body shook badly. She had hot and cold flashes. For a few days she had slept on the bathroom floor, because she couldn't stop throwing up. She spiraled down into a strong depression. Her promise to Buffy was the only thing that kept her from ending her life. Eventually she began to recover. She was a ghost of the vibrant person she had been before. Her hair hung limp and dull. She had dark circles under her eyes. She moved much slower, and seemed to have no spirit left in her.
She had dropped out of UC Sunnydale. Willow avoided any place that she used to hang out at. Once she was over the withdrawals she was able to get a job working in the back at a computer repair shop.
One night as she was walking home she was caught by three young boys. They were looking for money. The boys were enraged when they found she didn't have any, and they took their anger out on her. A couple hours after they left her Willow dragged herself into her apartment. She grabbed some cloths on her way to the bathroom. Pulling out the first aid kit from under the sink she began to clean up the cuts, and abrasions she had been given. The worst one was a jagged cut running across her forehead over her left eye. She would end up with a permanent scar from it.
One night she came home and found an E-Mail from Buffy. It seemed that Buffy needed help to find the Trio of nerds that have been eluding her. Willow sent back a reply that she would meet the gang at the Magic Box the next evening.
The next night Willow found herself shaking as she walked to the Magic Box. It would be the first time since Dawn got hurt that she saw any of the gang. Stopping on the sidewalk in front of the shop she took several deep breaths. When she realized she was as calm as she could become Willow put her hand on the doorknob, and went inside.
Anya was standing next to the register while everyone else was around the table. Willow hesitantly walked over to the counter. Barely glancing up Willow quietly asked Anya where she could hook up her laptop. The gang was shocked at Willow's appearance and demeanor. They shot worried looks to each other.
Anya told Willow to set up on one side of the large round table. Within moments Willow was up and running. She asked for any information that they already had on the Trio, read it over, and got to work. Willow's focus was unbreakable. She tapped into the power grid to see if there were any residences that were drawing excess power. She wrote down the addresses for the gang to check. She was ready to start checking to see if there were any odd purchases of high tech equipment when the chime above the door rang, and Amy strolled in.
"Willow, you are one hard girl to track down. It's been a while since we hung out, and I was hoping we could go get a mocha or something."
Shocked at hearing Amy's voice Willow froze. She slowly looked up. She knew that it had been a risk to come here, and hoped she was ready to deal with this confrontation. Willow put both hands on the table, and pushed herself to her feet. She walked over and stood ramrod straight a few feet from Amy. "Amy, I will tell you this one time only. I want nothing to do with you, Rack, or magick ever again. I will not go anywhere with you. I will not hang out with you. I will not do magick with you. You should leave now. Don't bother speaking to me… just go." Having said what she wanted Willow turned around ready to ignore Amy until the girl got the message.
The rest of the Scoobies were shocked, and pleased with how Willow was handling the situation. Willow kept her eyes down as her face flushed red with shame. In her mind she saw again all the mistakes she made, and the pain she had caused. She didn't see the proud and happy looks that her friends were giving her. The chime above the door sounded again. A flash of magick filled the shop. Everyone except Amy found themselves frozen in place, and unable to speak.
"Well Strawberry, it's been a while. I was beginning to think you didn't like me. You realize how hurt I would be if I thought you were avoiding me on purpose." Rack strolled up behind Willow. Her eyes were wide with fear. "You don't want me to have hurt feelings now do you Strawberry?" He gestured at her, releasing her ability to speak.
"Rack." She gasped. Closing her eyes Willow took a deep breath, and spoke in as strong a voice as she could. "Like I just got done telling Amy, I want nothing to do with magick. I haven't done any, or been near anything to do with magick for over two months. I will not have anything to do with magick ever again. I have destroyed too much. I've hurt too many people. I won't do that ever again. Leave me alone Rack. Just go away."
Rack got an evil sneer on his face. His voice rasped out harsh and cold. "Do you really think it will be that easy? You will come back to me, and you will give me anything I want." He picked her magick bound body, spun her to face him, and slammed her backwards onto the top of the table. "No one leaves me. Ever." He grabbed the neck of her hoodie, and ripped it apart. He leered at her bra covered chest with an evil grin.
"Rack, don't do this! Let me go! Leave me alone!" Willow screamed at him frantically. Her face a mask of terror, and tears poured from her eyes as she lay helpless.
"You don't tell me what to do little girl." Rack roared as he began hitting her across the face, and punched her in the stomach. "I'll teach you your place. I'll have you on your knees begging me for the magick before I'm finished with you." His eyes became black as he grabbed her chest with both hands forcing his black magick into her.
"NOOO! Oh Goddess, no! Please, I don't want it! NOOO! Stop, please! NOOOOOOO!" Willow pleaded with him to no avail. He kept pouring more and more into her. Her eyes turned black with the magick that he pounded into her body. She began to scream in pain. It seemed like every nerve ending in her body was on fire.
"Now Strawberry, you know it won't hurt if you stop fighting it. Just accept it and it will feel good. You know I'm surprised at you Strawberry. You keep saying that you don't want what I give you, but you know that you have enough power to force me to stop. Since you won't use it that makes me believe that you do want it after all. I wonder what you little friends will think of you now. Knowing you could stop me, but you won't?" He laughs at her as he finally stops his assault.
Gasping for air. Willow rasps. "You won't trick me, or force me into using magick. I will not cast."
Rack started to run his hands over her body feeling the hum of the magick now coursing through the battered redhead. "You have two choices at this point Strawberry. You can cast to bleed off the excess magick, or …" He leaned over covering her chest with his, and growled loudly. "With the dose I just gave you, if you refuse to cast you will be dead in a couple of weeks. Your choice Strawberry." He laughed at the tortured look on her face. Roughly shoving away from Willow he motioned for Amy to join him, and they left. A few minutes after they were gone the binding released everyone.
Before anyone can react Willow pulled the sides of her torn shirt together, and fled from the store. Tara was the first to recover from the shock of what they just witnessed. "Buffy, she doesn't have anything to protect herself with. Please follow her to make sure she is safe." With a quick nod Buffy ran out after the redhead.