Chapter two
After arriving at the bar they were surprised to fins it dark and closed.
Not that that did much to hinder them from entering.
Lindsey looked innocently back at them after he had picked the lock within seconds and asked, "What? I wasn't always a lawyer, you know."
Shaking his head Angel smiled at the blue eyed man, "You really possess many talents, Lindsey!" Smirking he entered and left Lin sputtering in outrage.
"Oh, you'll pay for that one, Angel!" Lorne quickly calmed Lindsey down and they followed Angel inside.
The air was hot and smelled slightly of sulphur when they reached the counter. Readying their weapons Cordy's yelp of pain took them by surprise when a vision hit her.
Darkness
Sorrow
Loneliness
Abondonment
Love lost
Hurt all around and inside
A mirror
Blue eyes looking out of a pale and innocent looking face
Screaming for help
And receiving none as the end drew near
Cordy gasped for breath. This vision had been different than any other she had ever received. It left her shaking from the feelings she had felt from the man, the pain and hopelessness…
Suddenly the air shimmered in front of them and the air seemed to become incredible hot.
"Who are you? And are you doing here?" A voice boomed from the shadow.
Stepping forward Angel answered truthful, "We are here to stop the apocalypse!"
The shadow swirled around, "What apocalypse? The time is not right for the end of the world as you know it! Where did you get the idea?"
"Angel, what if the powers were wrong?" Wesley whispered to the vampire, remembering a few visions that had led them astray, just to be tested.
The swirling stopped just as Angel was about to reply, "'Angel?' Are you by any chance the vampire formerly known as Angelus, or the human Liam?"
Taking a step forward Angel replied, "Yes, but I go by Angel."
A light flared from the shadow and slowly it took the shape of a man, "It's good to see you again, Angel."
Baffled Angel looked the man up and down. The grey hair, the prominent nose…he did not recognizing him for who he was until their eyes met. The flames flickering in those red eyes alerted him to the fact that the Devil himself stood in front of them.
Reflex made him bow deep, "My Lord, please excuse my not recognizing you…"
Smirking the Devil looked at Angel, "Don't worry about it. It's been some time since we met."
"Angel, who is that?" Wesley asked confused.
If he could blush Angel would have, but he was glad about that fact. He had really forgotten the presence of the others. "Sorry, Wes. My Lord, please let me introduce to you my colleagues Wesley Wyndham-Price, Cordelia Chase, Lindsey McDonald and Lorne. Wes, Cordy, Lindsey, Lorne, this is the Lord of Hell, the Devil himself."
Silence reigned over them until Lindsey rushed forward with a battle cry, "Die, Satan!"
Not moving a muscle the Devil stood still until Lindsey came within arms reach. Then he simply raised his hand and watched Lindsey crumbling to the ground.
"Lin!" Lorne rushed forward but was stopped by Angel's hands. "Angel? He hurt Lin!"
Shaking his head Angel replied, "No, he didn't. Lindsey is just sleeping."
The Devil leaned down and scooped up the prone body, "You have suffered much little one." Putting his hand to the man's forehead he viewed his whole life, 'you suffered too much…' Setting Lindsey into Angel's waiting arms the Devil stepped back. "I relieved some of his inner pain. He should be able to let go of some guilt and pain soon and go back to living instead of just being alive."
Surprised Angel looked from the Devil to Lindsey, not able to say anything. Lorne looked at the Devil suspiciously, "Did you do something to him? If you messed with him…"
Laughing the Devil shook his head, "I think you have the wrong idea of what I do, Lorne." He vanished just to appear right in front of him again, "If I sing for you will you believe me?" Without waiting for a reply he started singing a song he had heard Sam sing from time to time.
The emotions rolling off of the Devil caught Lorne unaware. Pain, suffering and love. A love so deep that it could literally move the whole world, a pain so deep due to the absence of his mate and a suffering so great that all demons had been send to find his mate, consequences be damned.
When the Devil stopped Lorne sagged in relief. "You feel deep for him, my Lord. What happened?"
Lips pressed tightly together the Devil answered, "Tell me what you have seen first!"
"I saw your love for your mate, the pain and suffering it caused you when he vanished. The things you would do to get him back."
Swallowing hard the Devil asked, "Nothing else? No future, no clue to what will come from this?"
Lorne blinked back tears at the sorrow showing on the Hell-lord's face, "Nothing. I'm sorry, my Lord."
Taking a deep breath the Devil suddenly smirked, "This isn't the right place for this talk." Snipping his fingers he took them back to the first place that came to Angel's mind.
Blinking the others were startled to find themselves back at Giles' flat. Giles, Tara, Willow, Buffy, Riley and Xander who had been sitting on his couch with tons of books around them jumped up in surprise, "What the…Angel? What are you doing here?"
Angel stepped forward and sat Lindsey down on the now vacated couch before turning to Giles, "I don't really know…"
"Hello, Rupert." The Devil stepped forward and sat down in the armchair.
Eyes widening in surprise Giles looked on as the Lord of Hell sat in his armchair, "My Lord, what are you doing here?"
"I was told you were researching another prophecy about another apocalypse…"
Nodding Giles replied, "Yes, there is another. Something about hordes of demons invading…"
"Yes, yes, Rupert. It's always the same."
Suddenly suspicious Giles said, "Something is different, isn't it?"
Smirking the Devil replied, "Bright boy! These aren't any demons from other Plaines, they are from hell itself."
"WHAT?" Wesley exploded. "Why would you do that? Not listening to what the church or others say, we know that you are supposed to protect the balance…"
Standing up the Devil walked over to Wesley, "Yes, that was my job. But when something is taken from me I will do everything within my powers to get it back."
Lorne jumped to the right conclusion, "Your mate…"
The Devil continued, "Was taken from me while he roamed earth. They dampened our bond. Right now I know that he is alive but I can't find or feel him."
Angel asked gently, "They took your mate? Who?"
"I don't know. But I know that when I find them they will pay for their transgression. And if he should be harmed, everything will cease to exist as there is no point for me to live without him."
Swallowing hard Giles concluded, "So this is really the apocalypse should your mate be hurt and lost."
Nodding the Devil sat back down, "Yes."
"GILES! You can't really believe him, do you? He is the Devil! Who could ever be such a dumb bitch as to fall for his lies?" Buffy who had restrained herself until now jumped forward, not liking the Devil standing next to her Angel.
Xander looked surprised at her and took a step back, "Buffy, don't you think everyone deserves love?"
Snorting in disbelieve the blonde replied, "Typically for you, Xander. He is evil, ergo he can't love."
Willow, who was standing next to her, agreed heartily, "Yes, Xander. Buffy is right, nothing evil could ever love like humans do!"
Looking on in shock Xander asked, "And what about demon? If they are evil too, this means they can't love…"
Snickering Buffy petted his head, "Wow, you are quick to catch on today, Xan!"
"Buffy, you forget that Angel is a vampire, a demon. If you say things like that, you say that Angel can't love."
"That's not true! Angel loves me, and only me! He is different, he has a soul!" Buffy raged and made move to hit Xander.
Angel moved quickly between the enraged Slayer and the young man, "But that's exactly what you implied, Buffy. And just for the record, I don't love you anymore. I have moved on as have you," he glanced over at Riley who stood next to Spike. "But to me it seems as if your new love has moved on as well!" Angel laughed at the irony of Riley falling in love with Spike of all people.
Tears trailing down her face Buffy asked, "What do you mean, you don't love me? That can't be! You came back from hell because of me!" Turning around she fixed Riley with a harsh glare, "And you, Riley, I will punish later!"
Spike decided now was the time to intervene, "You will not touch him, stupid bint! You know how often he comes to me because you managed to injure him somehow? How much I hate patchin' him up and sending him back to you?" Unbeknown to Spike his face changed to his vampire face and he growled, "I waited long enough apparently because he decided he would rather be with me than you, Bitchy!"
Willow pressed her lips together, 'Nothing is going to plan anymore! I promised Buffy she would get Angel and once I finished with Tara I would get Spike!'
The Devil meanwhile looked on with interest. He heard the witch's thoughts and knew he had to look deeper to release the people from her spells. "Rupert, you seem to have a witch problem."
Understanding immediately what he was told Giles erected a barrier around Willow, before she could cast a spell. "No, Willow. You will stop that now!"
Pouting and trying to look as innocent as possible Willow whined, "I don't know what you are talking about, Giles! He did something to you, turned you all against Buffy and me!" The hard glint in her quickly blackening eyes revealed her words as lies.
Tara looked shocked at Giles, "Mr. Giles?"
Turning to the shy witch Giles replied, "There seem to be a few spells on us, Tara. Could you please take them off?" Knowing he could trust her with everything since the very beginning helped him trust her now. Even with her girlfriend acting like an addict. She would be able to release them from any spells Willow may have cast on them.
Nodding Tara concentrated. When her magic surrounded her and flowed through her very veins she opened her senses and finally her eyes. Looking at the people present she saw that almost all off them had been touched by Willow's magic, compelled to do things they maybe would have never done on their own.
Giles felt Ripper's voice calm down within him. The former part of himself integrated itself in his very soul. No longer divided but united and forming a whole person.
Xander felt the hyena and soldier spirits uniting with his own mind, soul and heart. Finally belonging to a pack and finally having found his unit the hyena and the soldier settled down and vanished within Xander, leaving knowledge and abilities behind. His eyes flashed green and an insane laugh later he felt himself grow within his mind.
Riley felt the need to be with Buffy and make her happy vanish, as if it had never been. Shamed that he had let the women do those things to him he tried to turn away, but found himself caught within the strong arms of Spike. Their friendship had come a long way. But after Riley had given Spike blood on many occasions when the vampire had been hurt during patrol and after Spike patching Riley up after Buffy or demons had been done with him they found themselves being fast friends.
Spike held onto Riley before the boy could run from them, from him. He just wished that he could protect Riley against everything, demon, witches, humans… A voice in his mind startled him, *Don't worry, Spike. I can help you!* A sharp pain shot through his brain before he looked up and locked eyes with Tara…Tara, who held the cursed chip in her hand. But before he could panic about his new freedom she continued, *I managed to blend your demon and soul together, don't worry about hurting him!* A blood tear trailed down Spike's face before he looked back at Riley and for the first time in two years took what he wanted, a kiss. When Riles didn't struggle and demand to be let go Spike deepened the kiss, tasting Riley for the first time and imprinting his scent, taste and feel in his very being.
Cordy felt something snap within her mind. The distaste for her hometown vanished and left a large hole where it had been. She remembered leaving Sunnydale after a meeting with Buffy and Willow, without reason and without plan she had ran from something. Now she knew that she had been practically coerced to do it by Willow.
Wesley felt himself become stronger. He hadn't felt this strong since first arriving in Sunnydale. Magic he had thought lost came rushing back into him and left him light headed.
Tara slumped down in exhaustion just to find herself caught in Giles' arms.
"You did well, Tara. Now let me do the same thing for you, alright?" Giles asked her gently. He knew it couldn't have been easy to work and release all those spells Willow had cast over the years, but he had always known that she was stronger and more talented than the read headed witch.
When he finally found the thread of Willow's magic within Tara he almost snarled in rage. The red headed bitch had been stealing magic from her and compelled her to sleep with her whenever she had wanted it.
Destroying the thread Giles felt the rush of magic returning to her as the air hummed and sizzled with the power returning to the rightful owner, the immense power now hers to wield.
Tara looked at Willow and felt pain and rage fill her very being. Until a few minutes ago she had thought that she loved her, but now…now Tara knew why Willow had been with her, had kept her in the background and away from the others. Her girlfriend had not only stolen her magic, no, she had coerced her into having sex whenever she felt like it! Not listening to Tara when she was too tired or too worked up from doing spells.
Then she remembered that Willow had taken magic from Giles and Wesley too. She had forced Riley into staying with an abusive bitch, made sure that no one could take Spike's chip out and practically run Cordelia out of town years ago.
The Devil felt the witches power rise and just to be sure erected an invisible forcefield around himself. She seemed to be more powerful then the strongest sorcerer that he had ever met.
Instead of fearing her powers the others felt welcomed by them. Tara was the exact opposite of Willow when she lost control, not that she was losing it at the moment. She just let her feelings guide her, secure in the knowledge that she would never willingly hurt another living being. Where Willow's eyes darkened to black, hers were bright as the sun, rather than dark streaks in the hair her golden hair turned silver…Where cold was everything Willow emitted when out of control, Tara was the warmth that heated their souls.
With a scream of denial Willow let her magic loose and attacked Tara.
The warnings were unneeded as Tara simply raised her hand and Willow's power vanished as if it had never been. Looking at her now former lover Tara reached within the dark mind and bound not only all magical powers and knowledge, but other special skills as well. From now on Willow Rosenberg would live as a simple human, without her magic, her knowledge of computers and without the quick comprehension she had always possessed.
When the punishment was complete Willow sank unconscious to the floor. Buffy ran to her and tried to wake her, to no avail, "Tara! What have you done to your own girlfriend?"
"Buffy, I would be quiet if I were you!" Giles hissed. "You are just as guilty as Willow… you two planned all of this! And the worst is you raped Riley, just as Tara has been raped by Willow!"
Snapping her mouth shut in surprise Buffy leaned over Willow and helped her to the couch. Preparing to push the guy lying on it to the floor she felt herself be restraint and pinned to the wall.
"Don't even think about harming him, Buffy!" Giles' eyes glinted hard as he stared at her, his arm raised. Looking at the man on his couch Rupert couldn't help trace the figure with his eyes. 'I really like what I see so far. Hopefully I'll be able to see more of him in the future.'
A sound a pain and shame interrupted his thoughts.
Tbc
