Chapter 4: Lost Daughters

Stepping into the dusty interior of the Bronze, all Buffy could think was that there were fewer things in this world sadder than a nightclub in daytime. She was wearing a fresh navy blue suit and matching blue lensed sunglasses. Her hair in it's now customary business-lady bun as Faith liked to call it. Eyeing up the interior again she pulled of her sunglasses and sighed, this was a bad idea.

Doing this on a rash promise to Faith while she slept to make things better wasn't looking as noble by the light of day as it had in the vanning hours of the night. But the blond Slayer steeled herself and reminded herself that all change had to start somewhere.

She could feel her heels sticking to the floor as she walked and she immediately wished she'd just worn her sneakers. Carrying the manila envelope in one hand with the signet ring on her right hand's ring-finger she noticed somebody working behind the bar. She could hear a man cursing and grunting. As she leaned over the bar and saw a bald man using a wrench to tighten some pipes underneath the bar.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat causing the man to stand up too fast and bang his head on the underside of the bar.

"Son of a bitch!" the man, whom she could now see was wearing a blue boiler suit, cursed as he stood up rubbing the back of his head. "Now what did you do that for..." he started chewing her out, but then stopped when he saw her standing there with a hand on one hip and looking at him questioningly. "Wow," he said in a stunned voice to which she tried her best not to roll her eyes at. "Can I help you miss?" he asked smoothing down the front of his jumpsuit.

"I'm looking for the owner or manager is he around?" Buffy asked counting to ten slowly in her head while fighting the urge to scream. She hadn't rested as much as she would have liked before coming here and the Amber Nectar although it sustained her wasn't the real thing, thus it made being out in the daytime a bit of a painful experience. At least the guy wasn't undressing her with his eyes, but that lone bright spot didn't make this day suck any less.

"That would be Rory," Boiler-suit as she was now going to call him answered and started to absentmindedly wiping down the bar.

"And where can I find Rory?" she asking hoping to be getting somewhere and her skin had thankfully stopped tingling.

"Rory is gone miss, hasn't been seen for at least a week or so," Boiler-suit shrugged and started busying himself with one of the beer pumps. The high mortality rate in Sunnydale had led many residents to take up a very nonchalant attitude whenever somebody just vanished.

"So who is runs this place now?" Buffy asked slipping onto the cleanest barstool she could spot and placing the envelope on the bar.

"That would be the unlucky stiff whoever owns the place sends over next I guess. I just fix the pipes miss and sort out broken furniture," the handy man said seemingly more interested in the beer pumps then her. Which was both worrying her while at the same time being oddly refreshing, she was so used to being ogled that ignoring it had become like second nature.

"Well guess I'm your new boss then," Buffy grinned and pulled out the paper-work from the envelope as the handy man sprang back up.

"Oh really, well you're sight better than poor Rory was," he joked and pulled out a pair of glasses from his jumpsuit and put them on as he started to read over the documents.

"Do you have a name or should I just call you Boiler-suit?" Buffy asked with a smile on her face as her bald employee read over the files with great interest.

"Boiler-suit works fine for me miss, but the name is Larry," he said sticking out his hand which Buffy very carefully shook. "This seems to be order, want me to give you the tour?" he asked and Buffy nodded her head.

She was already rather familiar with the place at nighttime, so not much of it surprised her until they made their way up a narrow stair behind the stage. The grand tour had consisted of the 'green' room where the bands could hang out before going on stage, the DJ booth and the beer barrel storage in the basement. She watched as Boiler-suit fished out a pair of keys and opened an office located above the club's main floor.

"And this is where Rory did his business," he said in an apologetic voice as Buffy looked clearly disgusted by the state of the office, she'd been in cleaner crypts.

Walking up to the large panoramic window that overlooked the club, she put her hands behind he back as surveyed what was now hers. This place was one final gift from Alfie and she wasn't sure how to feel about that. She could see the dance floor and the stage, whoever originally built the Bronze had wanted a good overview of what was going on that was for sure.

"Will there be anything else miss?" Boiler-suit asked from behind looking a bit uncomfortable in her presence as she clinically studied her new domain.

"No Larry, just order in a cleaning service for this place please and I'll want to meet the staff before we open tonight," Buffy said without turning around, but her reflection could be seen in the glass, her eyes were narrowed and she was deep in thought.

Once Larry had left she took a look around the office, she found an empty minibar under the desk and pair of panties in one of the drawers. It was clear that Rory had been taking full advantage of his position that was for sure.

Checking the time she got out her cellphone and flipped it open, running her thumb over the button keyed to Willow speed-dial almost if she was making up her mind, but then the phone rang causing her to yelp and drop it on the floor. She dove after while the vibrating phone jumped around until she finally grabbed in and found herself firmly under the desk.

"Hello?" she asked bringing the phone to her ear and then smiling when she heard the voice on the other end. "Wills I was just about to call you," she said.

"That's so sweet," Willow answered and it sounded like she was on a rooftop or a windy hill. "Love you," she giggled and Buffy could feel her mood lifting a bit.

"Love you too, so what's up?" Buffy asked knowing well that these calls cost a fortune and Willow had been always quite careful about them, using magic rather than cellphone to contact her. That could only mean one of two things; Willow was either conserving her energies or had already spent them.

"I'm that transparent eh?" Willow joked and then sighed. "One of the Coven girls vanished last night Buffy, I think she's been taken by some of your people," she explained.

"No, no that's not possible, Daniel proclaimed the Coven off limits after the mess last summer," Buffy quickly jumped up to defend her kind and her Prince. "Why you think it was Undying?" she then asked.

"We found one of those rings, you know like the one you used to wear," Willow explained and Buffy looked at the ring she was now wearing and sighed.

"What does it look like?" she asked having spent a great deal of time last year researching the various factions of Undying in her efforts to build and alliance against Victor Largo before she ended up just beheading him.

"It's got three red stones arranged in a triangle," the witch explained and in the background Buffy could head the rustling of leaves.

"Three red stones," the blond Slayer muttered and her eyes started darting about as if she was accessing the information in her head. "Oh not good," she said.

"Why not good?" Willow asked her voice rising slightly. "Buffy why isn't it good, it's my job to keep these girls safe while I'm here, if one of those bastards has taken then I'll…" she stopped and took a deep breath, her rather strong dislike for the Undying was showing again Buffy realized. The Slayer wasn't blind or stupid, she knew Willow secretly loathed the Undying for what they'd done to her, and it was one of the stickier points in their relationship.

"Right so why is that not good?" Willow asked breaking Buffy's train of thought regarding the red-head's dislike for what she'd reluctantly accepted as her kind.

"Well they're a small clan and Alfie's files listed them as an unsavory," Buffy explained while climbing onto the chair once sitting under the desk started becoming uncomfortable. The chair creaked as she leaned back.

"Well then let us say I have one of them tied up here and a bit toasted how much trouble would I be in?" Willow asked innocently and Buffy's eyed went wide as she realized her girlfriend wasn't joking, pinching the bridge of her nose Buffy could only sigh and silently think how was she could be in Rome.

"If they acted without knowledge of their Prince and are trying to embrace her without permission you're in the right," she stated. "But and this is the big but, if the girl is there willingly then you're just opening up a huge can of worms," she explained, there was a long silence aside from Willow's captive groaning.

"I've got to do this, my responsibility," Willow stated after a while, a hint of sadness in her voice now, the witch that loved a Slayer wasn't stupid either. They both knew this would end violence before the night was over for Willow.

"I know, wouldn't be you if you didn't do this," Buffy said softly trying to make Willow realize how proud she was off while fighting against the shaking pang of worry that threatened to creep into her voice. "Do what you got to do, try not to kill them though and if there are any issues call me and I'll get Danny to bail you out," she said and gave a smile even though her girlfriend couldn't see it.

"You're the best Buffy, don't worry I'll get the girl and get out," the red-head said and made a kissy noise over the phone.

"Just be safe okay, love you," Buffy replied and tried her best not to sound too sad. Even though they were together and had been for over a year, it was time like these that she realized how far they'd come and how things couldn't never really be like they once were. Something she both loved and hated.

"Don't worry I'll be gentle," Willow assured and then she heard the telltale sound of somebody being kicked in the head. "Got to go love you," the witch shouted and the line went dead.

"Love you too," Buffy said even though the line was gone dead. Putting the phone down on the desk and tapping her fingers together under her nose looking at it. Thinking that this was very out of character for her kindred, after she had made an example out of Largo the other rulers had started putting the foot down. Leaning back and looking up at the ceiling she went over the situation in her head.

The Coven that Willow ran off to join during her confusion about herself and growing power, had turned out to be a lot more than just a group of witches in a brownstone townhouse. It was a world spanning operation, loosely tied together, but very far reaching. The digital age had done wonders for the magical world it would seem. But as the Coven was growing in influence it was stepping on toes of the various Undying factions around the globe. Could the disappearance of the girl be an act of aggression or was it just a misunderstood romantic liaison between Undying and Witch or even worse just some of her twisted kindred out looking for a good time.

Groaning and putting her hands behind her head Buffy could only think of simpler times. She knew Willow would be safe, but that knowledge didn't make her any less worried. She put her feet up on the desk in front of her as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to dream for a little bit.

She wasn't aware of how long she'd been like that, but a soft clearing of a throat brought her back to reality. She slowly opened her eyes so not to appear panicked she saw Abigail the woman from the diner standing in front of her desk wearing a yellow sundress and a smile while her hands were behind her back.

"Yes can I help you Abigail?" she asked keeping her feet on the table and her hands behind her back.

"I heard you'd… set up shop sort to speak," the woman stammered a bit pulling a muffin basket out from behind her back and putting it on the desk.

"I've been here less than a day Abigail so please be honest with me," she said in a polite tone of voice while trying not to eye up the muffins. She let her body language speak for her that she wasn't too happy with being spied on. Usually she'd try to maintain a sunny disposition, but if she didn't like being watched.

"Well you see it's about my… what I meant to say I mean no disrespect or to… can I sit?" the woman tried several times to speak before finally pointing to the couch by the wall and Buffy nodded her head. Sitting down and crossing her legs and seeming rather uncomfortable under the intense gaze the Slayer was fixing her with while waiting for an answer.

"We've set up sort of a Neighborhood Watch in the last few years, ever since things started going to hell on a regular basis with you arrival, no offense. It helps so we can alert each other when to go to ground," she explained. "When one of us, saw you coming in here well it wasn't hard to put two and two together," she said with a smile as Buffy relaxed a bit, almost like a snake uncoiling.

"You guys assume too much," she said standing up and walking over to the couch. Sitting down next to Abigail she looked at her. "Are things really that bad here, I mean for us?" she asked and the woman nodded her head.

"We're not loved by the others, they're jealous of our ability to walk in the sun," she explained and looked down at her hands. "We just want a safe place to live and call home," she stated and Buffy put her hand on her shoulder.

"So do I," she told the woman squeezing her shoulder while thinking of her promise to Faith as she slept. Abigail gave her a weak smile looking like she wanted to belief her. "So what brings you here, I mean a welcome to the job visit and muffins is nice and all, but I'm guessing there is another reason?" she asked.

"It's my daughter, I think she's in trouble," Abigail admitted. "She's stays in one of those crypts in the cemetery during daytime and I think she might be associating with… our undead cousins," she said struggling for the polite word to use. "I know it's a silly request to make of you, but," she went on but Buffy stopped her by squeezing her hand.

"I'll talk some sense into her for you Abigail, I promise," she said earnestly and then Undying woman smiled at her, this time clearly believing her. Talking sense into a younger Undying how hard could that be, it was enough to make Buffy believe that maybe this job wouldn't be so hard after all.

Closing her phone and putting it away Willow turned around allowing her eyes to blaze green as she pulled her slender sword out of its sheath and brought it to the Undying's neck. He was a handsome man, well groomed dark hair wearing a bloodied white shirt and black tight fitted leather pants, or as Willow called them the 'Stereotypicals'. His eyes weren't quite focused though and a glowing green rope was wrapped around him.

They were on top of hill looking down at a mansion nestled in the center of a large vineyard. She'd found the man in one of the clubs that catered to the creatures of the night. Once she'd seen his ring matching up with the one she'd been given she'd promptly magically slammed him against the bar and then against the wall scaring the rest of the patrons shitless. A quick integration later and forcing him to drive her while he was still puking up blood that now stained his shirt they were at the location of the girl.

"You sure she is here?" she asked him and pushed the tip of her sword against his neck until it broke skin. She'd learned after suffering a cardiac arrest due to overusing her powers that everything was best in moderation and when somebody was shit scared of you they didn't really notice that you weren't that good with a sword.

Already beaten and bloodied the man just stared at her wide-eyed and nodded his head, in a heavily accented voice he spoke, slurring his word. "Yes, yes she's here please no more," he begged as Willow snorted moving the sword away from his throat and pulling herself up to her full height.

"If I find her dead or embraced, I'm coming for you, there won't be a place on Earth you can hide you understand me?" she asked sweeping the sword casually around in front of her the man again franticly nodded. Cutting his bonds away with her blade flashing briefly she pointed him back to the city. "Go back and tell everybody and I mean everybody that the Coven doesn't take kindly to their members being taken. Tell them Lady Willow said that the witches are off-limits as off now," she said and the Undying went scurrying away, first on his hands and knees and then pulling himself up and sprinting away from the angry witch, his car forgotten at the bottom of the hill as he ran like a scared animal.

Sheathing her sword before closing her eyes and extending her senses Willow grunted as she tried to see through earth and brickwork. She wasn't a fan of astral projection it left her with a bit of a headache. But she needed to know what she was running into, finding the place had been step one and now she needed to find the wayward witch and get her out.

Everything was clouded by a green haze, but she found the girl on a bed in a room on the second floor in just her bra and panties. The girl sported more than one set of bite marks on her neck and her hands tied. Let out an angry growl she opened her eyes. The girl was alive, but that didn't excuse anything.

Closing her eyes and taking a few deep calming breaths she started drawing in energy from the stars above her and the ground underneath her. She'd learned her lesson with unprepared teleporting so now she focused her mind and made sure she wasn't drawing on her own reserves. There was a brief flash of green on the hill and then she was gone.

The world faded back into view around her and she was standing on a balcony on the second floor right outside the room where the girl was laying. The brief flash had seemingly stirred the girl who was looking at her with empty eyes and weakly trying to reach out her hand.

Bringing her finger to the lips she motioned for the girl to be quiet as she slowly opened the balcony doors. Slowly stepping into the room she made her way to the bed. The girl had golden blond hair and was very pale, her blue eyes were puffy and red and Willow felt that old familiar anger brewing in the pit of her stomach. The girl was almost a spitting image of Buffy from a few years ago, a stark reminder as to all she had lost out on because of her own fears and insecurities.

"Don't worry Alexandra I'm here to save you," she whispered and the girl could barely nod her head as Willow set about inspecting her wounds. With one finger glowing green in what Xander called her E.T. Trick she started to heal the small puncture marks on the girl's slender neck.

"Did you drink their blood Alexandra?" she asked and the girl shook her head weakly as Willow started to check her over just to be sure, finding a several more bite-marks on the girl's arms and thighs her eyes started to pulse uncontrollably with green fire.

"Lady… Willow?" the girl managed to croak out seeing how the red-haired witch´s hair with its silver streaks was starting to rise up and thin green veins seemed to be radiating out around her eyes.

"You'll be fine, just stay here," Willow stated with her voice carrying an odd echo to it and the girl only nodded her head. Standing up and pulling out her sword, a more of a ceremonial thing then having any use for it Willow cracked the door open and found the hallway outside empty.

Closing the door behind her and putting a quick ward on it. It would keep the girl safe while she did what had to be done.

Striding with her eyes still pulsing green and her coattails flapping behind her, one hand clutching the slender blade Buffy had tried to train her in have to use while the other glowed with green ethereal might. She could hear a group of them laughing in what she guessed was a downstairs lounge. The arrogant bastards don't even have guards posted she thought as she came to heavy double doors.

"They will all pay," she stated pressing her glowing hand against the door, it pulsed once, then twice and then on the third pulse the entire door blew inwards to the surprised shouts of the Undying inside the room.

Stepping into the room, her hair almost standing on ends as the energy that filled her crackled and popped around her. Her eyes were two green orbs of fire without hint of any humanity in them. The splitters covered the Undying who in their various state of undress started to scramble to their feet, hissing and snarling the usual insults at her but she didn't hear them.

"Never again!" she shouted and pointing her sword at them with her hand clenched in a fist alight with green flame. "Never again will you take what isn't yours," she stated and when one of them tried to rush her she blasted him with green fire, but she didn't set him alight or slam him against the wall, she simply burned him to ashes.

"Never again, will you be allowed to harm people," she stated in her eerie and echoing voice as she caught one of them trying to use his speed to outflank her. All the nude Undying woman got for her effort was Willow's sword through her throat. Snapping her head to the side and fixing the woman with her gaze, causing her to let out a gurgled scream as Willow narrowed her eyes blood started leaking out of the woman's eyes, ears and nose.

"Burn with me," the enraged witch declared pulling her sword out of the woman's neck causing blood to spray on her face. "Burn for all those you've hurt!" she giggled madly and started to rise up into the air, green fire swirling around her and pushing outwards, catching the Undying in the room as they tried to flee, instantly setting them alight as it touched them.

The whirlwind of fire filled the room and on the outside of the mansion green light streamed out the windows. The Undying screamed and Willow kept giggling as she unleashed her fury on them. When the screams tied down she gently floated down to the floor, touching down like a ballerina and sheathing her sword. There was no sign of the Undying in the room safe for humanoid shaped black marks where they'd died.

Looking around and smiling like she'd just done good, she nodded her head before casually dusting of her shoulder. She then strode back out of the room a charred bookcases falling to the floor in the room behind her and kicking up the ashes.

Returning to the room where she'd left Alexandra she found the girl huddling in the corner holding a sheet to her body. The girl's face was a mask of fear and it didn't change when Willow stalked in with her eyes still blazing and blood all over her face.

"Please don't hurt me!" the girl shouted out snapping Willow back to reality, the glow fading from her eyes and all of a sudden she felt keenly aware of the aches and pains in her body. There was a cut across her left thigh where one of the Undying had gotten to her.

"It's alright, they're all gone," she stated and started to take stock of herself, there was blood running down her thigh and she turned around causing the girl to gasp. There were two claw-like slashes across the pale witches back and both were bleeding heavily.

"There was so much screaming and oh my got you are hurt," the girl exclaimed and Willow only grunted. She tried to look at the state of her back in the mirror, what little she could see it wasn't good and she had to make a choice. Heal up her cuts or use the last bit of her magic to teleport them away.

"Can you walk?" she asked her voice becoming pained. The girl nodded and slowly got to her feet. Her legs where wobbly and she had to lean against the wall. "Come here," Willow stated and picked up the girl like she weighted next to nothing, she winced in pain as the cuts across her back hurt like hell. She stepped out onto the balcony and looked at the hill where she'd teleported from. Then after taking a deep breath the world turned green.

A moment later in a green flash she was on the hill, cradling the sobbing girl in her arms. Looking down at the child, because to her eyes which had seen so much that's what she was. The red-haired witch narrowed her eyes again her face now caked with dried blood and in the distance a green explosion rocked the mansion and then another one, emerald fires quickly turned to a blood red blaze.

Turning around she started marching towards the car that thankfully was still at the bottom of the hill, blood running down her leg and back she could feel darkness creeping into the edged of her vision, but she willed it away. Her duty to keep the girl safe, her duty was to get her home and she wasn't going to start failing at her duties now.