AN: Thank you to the few of you lovely readers who have left reveiws. They are greatly appreciated and quite motivating. :) Please enjoy this somewhat horrific chapter.
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The Scoobies approached the invisible doorway to Rack's place. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" Tara asked Willow, concerned about the redhead seeing her former magic dealer. The redhead was still in her hospital gown and Tara's black leather jacket.
Willow exhaled abruptly in return. "I don't think I have much of a choice now," she replied, "I do feel I need to do this".
The group walked into the bland waiting area. They saw a couple of junkie demons there. At the sight of the Slayer they swiftly left. Buffy was about to knock on the door of the other room. Willow prevented her from doing so, "I wouldn't interrupt," the witch warned. Buffy sighed impatiently.
They waited a few moments. A client of Rack's finally left the other room in somewhat of a trance. He exited into the alley. Shortly afterward the warlock entered the waiting area and asked "Who's next?" He glanced at each of the deadpan faces. "Ah, Strawberry." he addressed Willow striding toward her so that his body was only inches from hers. "Rehab not going so well?" He eyed her up and down with his intense gaze, "Looks like you just got out," he said, seeing her hospital gown beneath the jacket. He shrugged, "That's the way it goes sometimes."
Willow felt squirmy and recoiled from her former dealer. Tara reached for her fingers briefly, wanting to provide comfort, but then decided it would be better to avoid showing such affection in this situation. "I'm not here for your magic," Willow stated coolly, immediately regretting showing any vulnerability. "We are here for information".
"I know you're hiding him," Buffy said aggressively.
"Ooh, a Slayer," he cooed, impressed. "I can sense your power". Rack took a long inhale as though able to smell Buffy's slayer qualities. "Shame though..." He added casually, "this means I'll have to move again. So soon...". He lowered his head in mock disappointment.
Buffy was disgusted. "You're not touching my power," she spat. "Tell us what we want to know." she demanded.
"And what would that be?" The warlock inquired jeeringly.
"Warren," Xander chimed in.
Rack raised his eyebrows knowingly. "Warren? Hmm. I'm sorry, I don't know anybody by that name," he taunted.
"Lies. I know he's been here," Willow stated with some gruffness in her voice, "I saw it".
He admired her quietly for a moment, "Strawberry, you know my prices. Warren was willing to pay." He said smoothly, "Perhaps you would like to top his payment? Then my services would be yours."
"Money?" Xander asked, hoping it would be that easy, "How much do you want?" he eagerly reached for his wallet.
"Not money, you useless fool," the warlock addressed him cruelly. "Power, essence, that's what I trade," he explained as though thirsting for it. Xander went to step forward, but Buffy gave a low gesture with her hand which told him to wait.
"We are not bartering with you," Willow replied sternly.
"Oh?" he asked. "Perhaps the quiet one is more willing." He turned toward Tara and took a stride toward her.
Tara felt sickened. She already disliked the man for his part in Willow's addiction, but more generally she believed he was creepy. She was very uncomfortable with his form of magic. She could sense that the entire place was dowsed in it. She could not wait to be far from him and his essence. When he spoke to her she felt twitchy. She tried to stay steady, wanting to show strength. She was anxious that her feelings of helplessness and discomfort would be horribly evident to the warlock.
"Oh, yes," Rack observed the blond witch more closely, "This one has recently practiced a little bit of white magic." He smiled seductively as he considered her. He closed his eyes and inhaled as though breathing her in, "I would love to get a taste of that". He reached toward Tara's cheek. Tara retreated from him.
Willow stepped between them. "You are not touching her," she declared in a deep sinister voice. She breathed heavily trying to control her anger.
"Hmm," He regarded Willow more closely. "I see now...you... love her," he crooned. His eyes brightened with amusement.
Willow was admittedly frustrated that he had caught on to her feelings for Tara.
Buffy retrieved a weapon from her bag. "Alright, that's enough," she interrupted. The Slayer raised a sword to Rack's chin, "Tell us about Warren before you piss me off even more," she threatened.
The warlock laughed. He raised a hand and pushed it forward. He didn't even touch her, but Buffy somehow ended up on the other side of the room slumped against the wall. The sword was several yards away. She recovered quickly, stood up and glared angrily at Rack. "You can't hurt me," he told Buffy. "And you won't kill me, I'm human." He added with confidence. He grinned, crinkling his scarred face further. He raised his voice, "I do what I want, I get what I want from those who come to me." He faced Willow again, then easily shoved the petite redhead out of his way.
Buffy swiftly ran toward him, fists in front of her face ready to fight. He casually flicked his hand again, this time violently knocking Buffy into Xander. They both ended up on the floor cringing in pain. He then placed his hands on Tara's shoulders, pushed her against the wall and held her there. Tara struggled against him. "I want a taste of the white witch. If you want Warren, I get some of her!" The warlock demanded, clearly enticed by the opportunity. He locked his eyes on hers. Finding that he was perfectly capable of holding Tara there with one arm he placed the other on her solar plexus chakra, right below the center of her ribs. She screamed as she instantly felt burning hot spokes of dark energy permeating her. It hurt more than any magic she had ever previously experienced at the hands of a human. It had only been a second, but it seemed like incredibly longer.
At the sight of Rack attacking Tara, Willow could no longer hold in her anger. Her eyes flashed red before completely darkening. "Hell no." she said in an unnaturally deep and threatening tone. She threw the warlock off her lover and onto the ground. Tara crumpled to the floor herself, putting her own hand over her solar plexus. She felt sore and sick.
"Whoa... Strawberry," The warlock uttered, hoping to sooth the witch. He could sense the overwhelming power and wrath emanating from her. He managed to stand up. He shot some red lightning toward Willow, but she was able to counter it with her own purple lightning. The light of their energy grew brighter as their wills battled. After a momentary struggle the witch's forceful energy hit the warlock, paralyzing his body. Still standing he watched in fear as a black-eyed Willow glided toward him. "What do you want?" He inquired. "Warren? I'll give you Warren," he offered.
"Too late," Willow remarked. "No one messes with my girl," the vengeful witch responded in her low tone. She hit him in the gut. Strangely her hand stayed there, somehow ethereally inside of him. She could feel his energy, his essence. Even though it disgusted her it also felt familiar. She could feel his adding to hers, making her more powerful. She wanted all of it. She wanted to suck him dry.
"No! Willow!" Tara called as she struggled to stand.
This briefly distracted Willow. She turned to face her beloved. She saw the frightened look in Tara's wide blue eyes and recognized that Tara was afraid of her. She knew Tara would not want for this. She faced the weakened warlock in her grasp. She backhanded him with her free hand sending him to the ground again. He lay there unconscious, but not dead. Willow knelt by his body "Leave Sunnydale," she whispered to him. "If I sense you here again I will ensure that Buffy slays all of your demon clientele," she threatened.
Buffy, Xander, and Tara gaped at Willow expressing their fear, awe, and revolt. They stood silently, waiting for a cue from Willow that she was somehow okay again. Willow couldn't face them. She calmed herself, allowing her eyes to return to their normal green color. "Let's go," she said, "I know where he is".
Allowing the redhead to take the lead, Buffy walked to Tara's side. "Are you okay?" she asked. The Slayer was admittedly concerned for the blond wiccan's emotional and physical state following the ordeal with Rack, in addition to witnessing Willow's scary use of dark magic. Tara turned her head toward Buffy showing the wetness in her eyes. She shook her head knowing that words would fail her. Buffy understood; Tara was not okay, and neither was Willow. She patted Tara's back in an attempt to demonstrate consolation. The three of them followed Willow back into the alleyway.