Chapter 6
Comfort : Familiarity : Home
by Cynthia Taz
Author note: Thanks MsTree. Yeah, Buffy's definitely not a happy ruler of Hell. To Buffy, she was supposed to be strong and all ruler-y, yet she had to ask someone she didn't even know, someone who worked for Lucifer (who Buffy totally hate) for help. Not to mention Willow's attitude... definitely rub Buffy in a wrong way. There're 2 reasons why I use 'Deviance' by Slayer: (1) Slayer (the band) rules! (2) I think the lyric kinda match the scene I wanna create... though what u said about piano piece when eviscerating hell demons kinda wicked too... (very 'silence of the lamb'... wished I have thought about that before... hehe) Thanks again.
Willow stood in front of the Hellegat, her eyes slowly tracing the curve of the screaming souls engraved on the huge stone door.
After almost a life time, she took a step forward, and placed her hand on one of the twisted faces. But as soon as she touched it, her hand retreated, and she looked down.
A small drop of blood.
She cocked her head, her green orbs staring at the foreign red that was now on her skin. Then, her hand reached her mouth, and she licked the blood away.
Willow closed her eyes, as if savoring that taste. Then slowly, she opened her eyes, and without a second of hesitation, she pushed the gate to hell wide open.
And she took a step forward... into hell.
Willow stood at the center of blood pool and dead demons, her breathing was hard and fast; body covered by demon blood, her once beautiful gray wings now soaked with red. Her green orbs scanned around the place, until they reached the soul that was lying aside moaning, covered by mad fire ants that had not stopped biting his flesh since his time in hell.
Slowly, Willow moved towards the poor soul; kneeing down, her hand slowly covered the man's eyes. A bright light suddenly covered the soul, and when it dimmed down, all the ants were gone, and the moans disappeared as the unbearable pain finally stopped. She stood up again, her eyes focusing on the soul who was enjoying the short-lived peace.
"You do know that other demon lords would not appreciate it, nor would Father?"
Willow turned towards the voice, and found herself looking at a tall blond angel with golden eyes. "So?" She shrugged, the back of her hand wiping away the blood on her lips again and again, as if trying to wipe away the fool taste of blood in her mouth. "I don't like pain. Not on me. Not on anyone."
"Pain is redemption of a sinner, or so they believe." He said. "Not even a saint can change their option."
"But what is saint? What is sinner?"
The angel said nothing. Instead, he smiled. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions, my little lady."
Willow shrugged again. "But I have long passed the road." Paused. "We all have."
"So true."
Willow stood at the corridor of the Tower of Rule and watched quietly as two demon lords left.
"They are not happy with your decision."
Willow did not even flinch at the voice that suddenly appeared behind her. "I highly doubted that, Lord Lucifer." She turned and faced the blond angel with golden eyes. "To receive the 'Lord' title officially means nothing but only a... title. With or without it, they will still call me 'Lord Willow'. Why bother?"
"Because you're their 'Princess of East'." Lucifer's eyes burnt into Willow's green. "Their anti-Christ. Your wings give them hope that they will one day be allowed to live where they don't belong."
"We all know it is nothing but a wild dream." Willow shook her head. "Besides, they fear and hate me as much as they fear and love you."
It was Lucifer's turn to shake his head. "They fear what I can do, love what I represent and hate what I have accomplished, my little lady." He slowly moved towards the balcony, watching from afar as the two demon lords stepped into their coaches and left. "They want me for who I am, for what I've done; but they want you for what you are, and what you represent in their future. To them, you're..."
"Family."
Willow stopped by the small river which was just outside the forest that surrounded the Tower of Rule, spreading the cool, semi-red water towards her face, wasting the stain of mortality away from herself. The taste of blood lingered on her lips, giving her an odd sense of comfort... familiarity... home.
Standing up, she looked around, her eyes stopped as she spotted a group of Bud'rona demons at the edge of the deep forest. She slowly made her towards one of the elephant-size monster, her hand pressing on its pig-like nose, not minding the sharp, conspicuous pangs slightly cutting into her palm. "Hello." She whispered softly. "Wanna going on a trip with me?" The Bud'rona purred softly, its claw picking on the end of Willow's leader pants. Willow smiled. "Thank you."
Willow took out a bridle from her rucksack, and carefully put it around the Bud'rona. "Comfy?" The Bud'rona purred again, enjoying Willow's hand smoothing its green fur. Suddenly, it turned towards the other direction, and growled. Willow didn't follow its sight; instead, she continued smoothing the demon.
After sometime, Willow finally stopped, and turned towards the same direction the demon was staring. "C'mon out. I know you're there."
"Hi Wills." A human formed girl stepped out from behind a huge tree. "Long time no see."
"How's everything Amy?" Willow asked casually, picking up her rucksack and slid it back on her shoulder. "Still with Rack?"
"You know that." Amy said, her blue eyes flashed black for a second.
"Not harm asking." Willow shrugged, and jumped onto the Bud'rona's back, turning her back towards Amy.
"He wishes to speak to you." Amy took a step closer. "May be a homecoming party." She smirked, her eyes flashed black again.
Willow didn't turn. "Tell him I do not wish to speak to him." She then pulled slighting at the bridle, instructing the Bud'rona to move deeper into the forest, ignoring Amy who was still standing there, staring.
"Welcome home, Lord Willow."
Buffy cocked her head when she saw two of Lord Giles' servants working on his coach. "Servants."
The servants turned around, and immediately dropped onto their knees when they saw the pair of wings on Buffy's back. "My Lord."
"How long have you been working for Lord Giles?"
"Almost nine hundred years now, my Lord." "Eight hundred years, my Lord."
"So... you were here before Lord Willow left?"
"Yes, my Lord." "Yes."
"Tell me all about her." The two servants looked at each other before turning back towards the blond angel. "And leave nothing."
