Chapter 7
Willow held her breath, her girlfriend stood motionless in her arms. 'Did she really just make that statement?' Tara was trying to wrap her head around it, then slowly turned in her lover's arms. "Really, you want to get our own place?" She watched as the redhead nodded with a grin. She flung her arms around the smaller witch's neck, "Yes, oh Goddess yes!" Willow hugged the blond back, nudging the blond back to the stove. "let's not burn the veggies hun." She laughs as Tara whips around and concentrates on the food.
A Large black SUV pulls up to the Hilton Hotel; the door man opens the door for Dracus, stepping out he looks around. "It's show time." He walks into the hotel, heading straight for the penthouse elevator; punching in the top floor he waits. The elevator dings at his level, stepping out he smiles seeing the luxurious penthouse. Walking to the window he looks over downtown Sunnydale, then his cell phone goes off; reaching into his pocket pulling it out. "Hello?" He smiled hearing the voice on the other end.
"Make sure you keep things straight till' I get back, I don't want any mess ups." He closed his phone, not wanting to listen to the ramblings of an office clerk. He was about to get settled when there was a knock on his door. Moving from the window, he opens the door "Come on in." A large man walks in, wearing red shades to hide his eyes; and a perfect three piece suit in black. He walked with authority but had a slight limp. "You wanted to see me before I went on the hunt?" The man sat down in a chair and looked at Dracus.
Dracus nodded, moving to a seat across from the man. "You are not quite what I expected…you are the C'nros Silinrul with hunter?" The made nodded, "I prefer to blend in when I can, but if you wish to see my true form…" He trailed off as he took his shades off, the iris' of his eyes were thin slits, while the rest of the eye was red. "No, no you don't have too, I'm sure you wuill get the job done." On the coffee table was a file, Dracus picked it up, handing it to the taller man, "These are the two witches' you just need to kill one. But if you wish to kill both there might be an added bonus in it for you."
The man saw a picture of a red head holding a blond around the waist, examining it further he noticed how they even in a picture looked perfectly in sync. "So either or both, they seem to be in their late teens to early twenties." He flipped seeing the statistics for each witch, however the name Willow Rosenberg popped out at him. "You are going after the slayer's best friend, and the most powerful witch in the world?"
All Dracus could do is grin and nod, "Yes, do what you wish with them but I want one dead at least." He growled the words; none of his plans would be messed up this time. The other man nodded and stood, "I want Rosenberg alive, I will kill the blond." Without another word he moved to the elevator and left. Dracus moved to the bar and poured a stiff drink, downing it in one gulp he moved back to the window. "Goodbye witches I hope you enjoy your final time together." He chuckled to himself watching over the day to day lives of those walking by.
Faith finally came into the house, sweat pouring off her; she didn't expect to spar so long with buffy. The blond slayer was close behind panting, moving to the fridge she tossed Faith a Gatorade. "Damn Faith, that was some workout." She chucked her Gatorade, plopping on a stool. Faith had drunk the whole bottle, throwing it in the trash. "Well I was pissed, and well you were not any better B." Both slayers looked at the witch's and started laughing.
Willow was startled when the two slayers came in, obviously the two warriors were too distracted to notice her, or Tara. "You two have a good workout?" The soft words came from Tara as she scooped the vegetables into two large bowls, handing them to Willow. "please put these on the table. Dinner will be ready soon." Willow nodded heading to the dining room. "And you two, go clean up you two reek." Tara scrunched her nose, both slayers laughed as they headed out of the kitchen.
The blond smiled, pulling the chicken out of the oven; the smell filled the kitchen. "Willow is right, I do spoil everyone with my cooking." She laughed at the statement. "You always spoil us." Tara turned to see Dawn holding the kitchen door open for her. "I do it seems, thanks Dawnie." She held the chicken steady as she walked through the door to the dining room, "Oh Dawn, get drinks will you?" Dawn nodded, coming into the dining room a few minutes later with a drink for everyone.
The table was set; everyone was slowly coming in taking up the seats they usually sat in. Faith smiled sitting next to Dawn, Buffy rolled her eyes watching her sister with her girlfriend. Willow chuckled sitting next to Tara, grabbing her hand on top of the table. The slayers dug in, grabbing two helpings of everything, then everyone else took what they wanted. They all chatted about the day, as well as what was planned for the wedding. Buffy agreed to talk to Spike about DJ'ing, "Just remember, vampire might want to pay him in blood or something." Everyone chuckled. The rest of the meal was small talk as they finished.
Everyone helped clean up, with Buffy fighting Faith for the last chicken thigh. Tara finally deciding she would cut it in half so they both get some. Dawn volunteered to do the dishes, so the rest moved into the living room. "Man I love when there are just relaxing days, well mostly relaxing." Faith sighed, sitting sideways in a recliner; leaning on one armrest while her legs hung over the other. "Today was pretty relaxing, the morning and afternoon was amazing though." Willow said winking at Tara. The blond giggled as she sat beside the redhead, drawing the smaller woman close to her side. "It sure was, I look forward to calling the caterer's and the hotel, will do that the next couple days."
Buffy sat on the opposite end of the couch, watching her friends; missing her boyfriend. She looks at her watch then to Faith, "We should go, get the patrol done. I just want to sleep tonight." Faith got up nodding, "Let me see D right quick, then we can head out." She walked into the kitchen to talk to her girl. Buffy got up and moved to the chest grabbing some stakes, "We will see you tomorrow." She walked to her best friend and gave her a hug, then hugging the blond.
"Be safe Buff, don't' get too hurt." The witch's giggles and snuggled on the couch. They saw Faith leave out the front door, shortly after Dawn walked into the living room and sat with her two best friends. "Tara dinner was amazing, man I am so glad you are living here." The witches looked at each other, Willow nodded to Tara. "Dawnie, we need to tell you something we decided earlier." The young woman looked at them waiting for what they wanted to say. "After the wedding we are moving out."
Dawn's eyes widened, "But food, you know how buffy cooks! She'll kill us!" The smaller girl was starting to freak out, "Please stay, we need you here. I swear Buffy will burn the house down." Her eyes pleaded with the two witches. Willow sat up and looked at the brunette, "Dawnie, we need a space of our own. We are getting married in three months, we want to get a place but we will be here too, just not as much." She hoped her voice was loving; she wasn't letting anyone take away them moving out. Tara wrapped her arms around Willow, looking at Dawnie.
Dawn was about to respond but Willow grabbed her chest groaning in pain. "Willow, baby whats wrong?" Tara's voice was filled with worry, looking to willow wondering. "Take me upstairs Tara please…chest is really hurting." The redhead starts to pant; Tara scoops her up running upstairs. Dawn was on their heels, opening the door for Tara. "Tara, what's going on?" The small brunette had panic in her voice.
Tara helped Willow to the bed, pulling down the blankets back. The redhead unsteadily laid down and curled up holding her chest. "Goddess it hurts, like my chest is on fire." She whimpers. Tara's heart was breaking seeing Willow like this. "Dawn call the council see if they identified the black stuff, tell them it's an emergency." The girl ran out of the room to do what was asked. "My Willow, everything it going to be ok," She slid in next to her lover. The redhead was shaking, scooting as close to the blond as she could; eyes shut tight.
Dawn was downstairs arguing with a lab assistant on the phone when the slayers came back, she held the phone to buffy as she explained what's happened. Buffy took the phone, "Listen up, this is Buffy the Slayer. I am really pissed off right now, so what the hell was that black stuff!" She creamed into eth phone. The assistant on the other end stuttered then starting speaking, after explaining Buffy hung up the phone. "Just great, some serious mojo is needed." She left Faith and Dawn confused, sprinting to the witch's room.
"Hey Tara that um stuff, it's not good news, they asked if it was all removed, if even a speck is left, a Witch hunting demon can inflict pain…" The slayer trailed off noticing Tara's eyes flare up. Tara stood tucking her girlfriend in, "Be right back baby." She kisses Willow's head then ushers Buffy out the door. "You're saying some of that is still inside her, and a demon can inflict pain whenever?" Buffy nods backing up, she knew how protective Tara got. "We have to find the demon and then we can fix it." Suddenly there was a scream from the bedroom, the two women run in just to see a large figure carrying Willow on his shoulder; jumping out of the window into the night.
"WILLOW!"
TBC