Chapter 28: Villains
Angel was in the kitchen of the Summers house feeding a bottle to Connor. He looked out of the backdoor window and saw Buffy in the garden checking for anymore hidden cameras. Angel smiled at the thought that right now, it seemed like he and Buffy were a typical normal family. He was feeding their infant son, she was out gardening, and it was a beautiful sunny day. He smiled and went back to feeding Connor.
Liam walked into the kitchen. He still had a cast on his arm and wore a black short sleeve shirt and dark blue jeans. "Hey dad. You seen mom?" Liam asked.
"Yeah. She's out back in the garden." Angel answered.
Liam looked out back with a quizzical expression. "Never pegged her as a gardener." Liam went out the back door to talk to his mother. Angel looked out after him as he went over to Buffy and they started to talk. Angel smiled again. Both of his sons were alright and he had the love of his life with him. The doorbell rang and Angel put Connor's bottle down and answered it. Angel opened the front door to reveal Xander standing there.
"Angel. Connor." Xander greeted.
"Xander." Angel greeted back. "Would you like to come in?"
"Thanks." Xander said and entered the Summers house. Angel was not Xander's favorite person in the world. He still had a certain grudge towards him because he turned into Angelus and tortured Buffy for months. But ever since Liam came back from the future and told the gang everything, Xander had softened up towards Angel. At least enough to accept him as an ally. Of course he gave the same threat that if he ever hurt Buffy again, he'd stake him. Angel's response to it was that if he ever intentionally hurt Buffy again with his soul in place, he'd kneel before Xander and open his shirt so that Xander had a clean blow. Since then, they had been ok friends or more like acquaintances.
"So what brings you here?" Angel asked as they headed into the kitchen.
"Just feel like being with some friends at the moment." Xander replied sitting at the island.
"Things still tense between you and Anya?" Angel asked taking Connors near finished bottle and putting it in the sink.
"Yeah. I'm just trying to find a way to talk to her and work things out. I mean, Liam says that we get married in the future so it should be enough for her to forgive me and work it out."
"Well, you did leave her at the altar. Something hurtful like that just doesn't go away."
"This coming from the guy who had the balls to go through with it."
"Well I was ready. I wanted to marry Buffy."
"And I get that. I'm clearly not ready, but why can't Anya just accept that." Just then Delia entered the kitchen. "Ah, good. Delia. Maybe you can help." Xander said to her as he got off his chair.
"Ok. Shoot." Delia responded.
"You're a girl, right?" Xander asked. Angel shook his head at the stupidness of the question.
Delia stared back at Xander with a raised eyebrow. "Well, if I'm not, then I've been buying the wrong underwear." Delia responded.
Xander realized how stupid of a question he asked. "Right. So anyway, I'm trying to get back together with Anya. I mean, I love her and everything and I feel sorry for what I did. I just wanna know why she can't just sit down and talk to me. Work it out."
"Because you left her at the altar. It's not something you can fix with some flowers and a box of chocolates. You hurt her on what she thought to be the best day of her life. It'll be a while before she even thinks about talking to you again." Xander didn't look too thrilled about the answer. "Hey, don't worry. If I know anything about love, it's that it doesn't matter what happens between two lovers. It will always work out." Xander smiled at her response. Then they heard gunshots and everyone hit the floor. Angel held Connor tight and hid him from sight of anything.
"What was that?" Xander asked.
"Sounded like gunshots." Delia said.
"Buffy?" Angel said.
"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP! PLEASE!" they heard from the backyard. Delia and Xander got up and rushed out of the house. Angel made to follow but he couldn't go out because of the sunlight. Xander and Delia rushed over to Liam who was crouched over Buffy who was lying on the ground. She had a bullet wound and Liam had his good hand on her wound, trying to stop the bleeding, but unsuccessfully.
"What happened?" Delia asked crouching by Buffy and putting her hands on the wound.
"Warren came with a fucking gun and shot at us. He got mom." Liam told them frantically.
"ANGEL, CALL AN AMBULANCE!" Xander called back to Angel. Angel nodded and dialed 911.
"Come on, mom. Don't leave me now. It's not your time." Liam said with tears in his eyes. Buffy just stared straight up at the blue sky. The pain was unbearable to her. She didn't want to die, but it didn't seem she had a choice in the matter.
"The ambulance is on its way." Xander said as he came and knelt next to Buffy. "Hey Buffy. You're gonna be ok." Xander's voice cracked.
"Xander, go up front and get those paramedics back here." Delia ordered. Xander nodded and went out to the front. Delia put pressure on Buffy's wound. Liam removed his hand and stroked Buffy's hair and cheek. Some blood was left from Liam's hand but he didn't care.
"It's gonna be ok, mom." Liam sniffled. "It's gonna be ok." A tear fell down his face. A small tear fell from Buffy's as well. In the house. Tears came down Angel's face as he held Connor. He felt so useless. He couldn't go out in the sun and help his wife from dying. All he could do was stay in the shadows and not do a damn thing.
"Come on, back here!" Xander said as he came to the backyard followed by a couple of paramedics.
"She was shot?" one of the paramedics asked.
"Yeah, in the chest."
"Accidental?"
"No no, it was a ... He was trying to kill her."
They rushed over to Buffy. "Sir, Ma'am, you're going to have to move. Let us take over here." Liam and Delia got up and moved as the paramedics began to work. "How long has she been like this?" the paramedic asked.
"A few minutes." Liam answered.
"What's her name?"
"Buffy, Buffy Summers."
"Are you her boyfriend?"
"No, brother-in-law."
"Ok. Can you tell me what happened here?"
"Warren, he…he came to the backyard from the gate over there and shot at us. She pushed me out of the way and she was shot."
"Pulse is 100 and weak. Lung sounds are wet. Buffy, can you hear me? Blink if you can hear me." The guy said to Buffy. She blinked. "My name is Dan. We're going to put you on a stretcher now." They lifted Buffy and put her gently on the stretcher and then as fast as they could, rushed her to the waiting ambulance.
…
Up on the second floor of the Summers house, in Willow and Tara's bedroom, Tara was lying in Willow's lap. Willow was crying and breathing heavily. She had blood on her arms and her shirt.
She gently shook Tara. "Oh god, oh no. Please, please, come on..." Willow said crying. She put her hands on Tara's face. "Come on, Tara! Please, come on, baby..." Suddenly the lighting in the room went dark and blue. Willow looked up, her eyes totally black. Dark blue clouds swirled around the ceiling. Lightning flashed. "By Osiris, I command you, bring her back!" More lightning. The blue clouds continued to swirl. "Hear me! Keeper of darkness!" Suddenly some of the clouds formed into a huge face. Lightning flashes around it.
"Witch! How dare you invoke Osiris in this task!" It spoke in a deep raspy voice.
"Please. Please, bring her back."
"You may not violate the laws of natural passing."
"How? How is this natural?"
"It is a human death, by human means."
"But I…"
"You raised one killed by mystical forces. This is not the same. She is taken by natural order. It is done."
"No. There has to be a way."
"It is done."
"NOOOO!" Willow screamed. As she screamed, a shimmery column of energy shot out of her mouth and at the demon. The demon screamed and disappeared in a final flash of lightning.
…
Angel opened the door as Delia and Liam came into the house. Liam brushed right passed Angel.
"What's going on?" Angel asked frantically.
"They're taking her to the hospital." Delia informed Angel. She looked pretty bad but I think she'll be fine."
"I have to go with her."
"You can't go out in the day light." Liam said not turning to him.
"Then I'll take the sewers." Angel gave Connor to Delia. "Take care of him. I'll be at the hospital as fast as I can. What are you guys gonna do?"
"What I do best." Liam turned to him. He had an expression of anger on. "I'm gonna hunt down Warren, and kill him."
Angel was about to retort but Delia cut him off. "Liam, you can't leave your mother. We'll follow her and make sure she's ok."
Liam didn't look happy about it but understood. "Fine. We make sure she's ok. Dad takes the sewers. Delia and I will follow in my car." They all nodded. They heard the front door open and then close.
…
"Sunnydale memorial, do you copy? We have a Caucasian female, 21, GSW to the chest" a paramedic said into a walkie-talkie. Buffy was on a gurney being wheeled toward the ambulance.
"Come on, Buff, hang on. We're going to get you to the hospital." Xander said. He spotted Willow coming out the front door, looking blankly at Buffy. Willow still had blood all over her shirts. "Willow, god, are you okay?"
"How did this happen?" Willow asked quietly.
"Warren. He had a gun."
"Warren." Willow aid with venom.
"It went down too fast." Xander said but Willow wasn't listening any more. She started walking away, fast. Xander stopped at the edge of the walk. "Hey." Willow just kept walking down the sidewalk. Xander stared after her, confused and shaken. "Will!"
"Sir, we have to go, are you coming with us or not?" the paramedic asked. Xander dithered for a moment, then ran over to the ambulance and climbed in the back. The paramedic closed the doors and headed toward the driver's seat. They drove off as Liam and Delia came out of the house and ran to Liam's Charger that was parked out front. Delia held Connor in her arms. Liam slid across the hood of his car and got in on the other side. Delia got in on her side and Liam sped off, following the ambulance.
…
The door slammed open to the magic shop and Willow appeared in the doorway. She marched inside. Lamps and light fixtures exploded as she walked past them. Anya was behind the counter and she stared at Willow.
"Willow." Anya said.
"Where do you keep the black arts books?" Willow demanded.
"Something terrible has happened, I know. But you don't have to do…"
"I need power." Willow said staring up at the loft bookshelves.
"Not with those books. I can't let you. Willow!" Anya said coming around from behind the counter. Willow put up a hand. Magic purple bolts of light shot over to Anya and suddenly she couldn't move. Willow gestured with her head. All the books on the loft shelves began to fly off the shelves, landing in a heap all over the table. The last book landed opened to a middle page.
Anya stared in alarm. Willow walked over to the table and looked down. Willow lifted her hands and put them on the open pages. Her hands sunk into the book as if melding with it. The words of the book start to move off the pages and up her arms, curling and scrolling up under her sleeves. The words came up her chest, and moved up her shoulders to her face. She lifted her head and her eyes were black again. The words moved to the top of her head and into her hair, turning her hair black. Willow lifted her hands off the book. The pages are now blank.
"That's better." Willow said.
…
Xander, Liam, and Delia who was holding Connor, stood in the hallway looking through a window into the operating room where Buffy was being treated. They all looked anxious. Especially Liam. He wasn't so anxious that if Buffy died, he wouldn't be born. He was more anxious that his mother would die period. He watched his mother die once from gunshot wounds. He couldn't see it happen again. Not when it wasn't supposed to be her time anyway.
Angel came from around the corner and approached them. Xander and Delia both noticed him, but Liam kept his eyes glued to Buffy's form, not even blinking. "How is she?" Angel asked.
Xander was about to talk but Liam cut him off. "They're trying to stop the bleeding. Blood pressure isn't good." Liam said blankly. Angel took a spot next to his son.
"How can you…"
"If I concentrate, I can block out all noise except that of which I am trying to listen to. I'm hearing the doctors."
"What are they saying?" Xander asked.
"There's more bleeding." Liam said. Angel was about to say something when they heard crashes from the operating room. Everyone looked up and saw that the doctors were staring at a black haired girl dressed all in black. The doctors looked frightened.
Delia stared at the girl. "Is that."
"Willow!" Xander said.
"What happened to her?" Angel asked.
"Oh my god." Liam said sounding horrified. They all ran into the operating room where the beeping on the heart monitor began to speed up and then became a steady whine.
"Leave. Now." Willow ordered the doctors. The doctors ran out of the room quickly.
"Willow, what are you doing?! She's going to die." Xander said.
"No she isn't." Willow moved over to Buffy, stood beside her and stared down at her. The beep/whine continued. Everyone stared. Suddenly the bullet lifted up out of Buffy's chest and floated up into the air, hovering at Willow's eye-level. Willow looked at it. The beeping stopped. "It's so small." She put out her hand and plucked the bullet out of the air, bringing her hand back toward her. When she opened her hand, the bullet was gone.
Xander and Angel both took a few steps closer, staring in awe. Liam and Delia stared where they were. Delia stared in awe too. Liam kept looking at Willow, horrified. He knew why Willow would be all dark. He tried to prevent it, but he obviously couldn't. Buffy slowly came to. She opened her eyes and lifted her head. The lights come back on. Angel rushed over to her and hugged her, kissing her hair.
"What happened?" Buffy asked.
"We almost…never mind. It doesn't matter now." Angel said.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" Xander asked.
"Sure. How'd I get here?" Buffy asked confused. Xander didn't answer. He hugged her. Willow just watched. Buffy looked over at Willow. "Willow?"
"Buffy. Hey." Willow greeted with a very small smile.
"What's wrong?"
"I'll explain. But we've gotta go." She started to move towards the door. Xander, Buffy, and Angel watch her, confused.
"Why?"
"It's time to find Warren." Willow said not turning to her. She stopped and looked at Liam who still stared at her with a horrified look. Liam gulped. "You knew."
"I tried to stop it." Liam said.
"How?" Willow asked angrily.
"Well I told you for starters. And I tried to get that bastard last night but his invulnerability stopped me obviously." Liam waved his cast in the air. Willow looked at it then at him again.
"Give me your hand." Willow ordered. Instantly, Liam's injured hand shot up straight out. Willow hovered a hand over it and the cast disappeared. Liam moved his hand and clenched and unclenched his fist to feel it. His hand was fully healed. Liam looked back at Willow. "Now you can have your revenge."
Liam scrunched up his face in anger and pulled out his pistol and cocked it. "Let's kill that sick fuck!"
"Follow me." Willow turned and left the operating room. Liam looked after her and then turned to everyone else who were all staring at him.
"Dad, take Connor and go back to the house and wait for us there. Everyone else is going to come with me and Willow. We have business to take care of."
"What kind of business?" Buffy asked.
"And what's with the whole dark look?" Xander said.
"Tell you later. But right now we gotta find Warren. Now…MOVE!"
…
In the desert in the daylight, Liam's charger sped along the highway. Liam was driving, Buffy was in the passenger seat and Willow, Delia, and Xander were in back. Willow's eyes were back to normal but her hair was still black.
"Faster." Willow said.
"I'm going as fast as I…" Liam said but was cut off.
"Faster!" The gas petal shot down under Liam's foot and the charger went faster.
"Would you cut that out? If you wanted to drive."
"We need to stop. I don't like this." Buffy said.
"We're close. I can feel him." Willow said.
"And we'll catch him, and he'll go to jail. Look, I'm finding the whole getting shot very motivating. But you're using magic."
"If I wasn't, you'd be dead."
"That's a good argument, mom." Liam said.
"Maybe. But this isn't right. Okay, this isn't how I want it." Buffy said.
"Sometimes you don't have a choice." Willow said.
"I think Buffy gets the tie-breaker on this one. She was the one on the ouchy end of the bullet." Xander said.
"Will, you do have a choice. This isn't good for you."
"You made the decision to stop for a reason. You promised us. And can I just ask, what's with the make-over of the damned? I mean, the hair...!"
"Xander, if I were you, I'd shut up." Delia gave the friendly warning. She had never seen Willow go dark before, but she almost saw it happen a number of times to a dear friend of hers and Liam's. She knew what trouble could come of it.
Willow suddenly shot up. "Turn. Go right!"
"Go where?" Liam asked.
"Over there. Go the other way. Now!"
"Willow."
"Turn!"
The wheel turned and Liam let go of it. "Fine! Fine! Puppet master wants to drive? Go right ahead!" The car continued to bounce along on the uneven surface. Finally it came to a stop, right before another stretch of paved highway. Liam got out of the car and Willow came out behind him. Buffy, Delia, and Xander came out after them.
"Will! Wait!" Buffy called. Willow stood out in the middle of the oncoming traffic road. There was a bus headed straight for her. Willow focused her energy on the bus. Buffy, Xander, and Delia got out to try to pull her out of the way, but without looking at them, Willow threw a bolt of energy at them and they were all stopped in their tracks.
"Stay back." She said. Liam didn't even try to help them. He stood still and pulled out his pistol, ready. The bus sped toward Willow, who stood there calmly. The bus started to slow down. The bus slammed to a stop just a foot or so in front of Willow. Willow walked around to the side with Liam coming behind her. The bus door opened on its own. "Get out." Willow said. All the bus passengers were craning their necks, trying to see what's going on. Warren got up, walked down the aisle and down the steps out of the bus. Willow grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Her eyes were black again.
"Please, please, I'll do anything!" Warren cried as Willow started to squeeze.
"Willow don't." Liam said trying to reason. Willow squeezed harder. Suddenly one of Warren's eyes popped out, revealing metal and wiring and sparks. Willow let go and Warren fell over motionless on the ground. Buffy, Xander, and Delia come running over. They stopped and stared.
"It's a robot." Willow said sounding surprised. Everyone looked at her. "I, I could feel his essence." Buffy looked sympathetic. But then Willow turned angry again. "He tricked me." She started to walk. "We'll find him another way."
"And then what?" Buffy asked.
"And then we'll kill him."
Buffy grabbed Willow's arm and stopped her, turning her around. "Okay, you need to calm down."
"Calm down?"
"Look, you're angry. I, I am too. There's no excuse for what Warren did, but that…"
"He shot Tara." Buffy, Xander, and Delia stared at her, speechless. Liam didn't change his expression. "When he shot you, he hit her too. Upstairs in my room."
"Oh my god."
"Guess the last shot was the charm."
"She's dead?" Delia asked.
"She's dead. Now he's dead too."
Buffy started to cry. "No. Oh God, Tara."
"Christ, Will, how come you didn't say anything?" Xander said.
"I'm busy." Willow said and started toward the car again. Buffy again grabbed her and stopped her.
"W-Willow, please, just stop." Buffy begged. Willow stared at her coldly. "We love you. And Tara. But we don't kill humans. It's not the way."
"How can you say that? Tara is dead."
"We know Willow." Liam said stepping forward. "Buffy may not understand it but I do. Warren needs to die." Buffy and Xander both looked at Liam stunned. "But don't let it be you. Willow, if you do this, you let Warren destroy you too."
"You said it yourself, Will ... the magic's too strong, there's no coming back from it." Xander said.
"I'm not coming back." Willow said. Yet again she started to walk off and Buffy grabbed her, stopping her.
"Will, please. Please, we'll get through this together." Buffy said.
"We won't! Not your way." Willow said.
"Please, just…"
"No! No more talking. It's done!" She turned away again, this time gesturing behind her. Another bolt of purple magic flies backward, knocking everyone off their feet. They fell to the ground in a heap. Willow continued walking.
"Really? I'm on your side." Liam said sitting up. Everyone sat up and brushed themselves off. They looked up toward the car, but Willow was nowhere in sight. "At least she left the car."
…
Angel came out of the basement in the Summers home and into the kitchen. He held a sleeping Connor in his arms. It was about sunset.
"Alright buddy, let's get you and Dawn somewhere safe and then deal with Dark Willow." Angel said to him. "Dawn? Tara?" Angel called out. Angel moved to the foyer. "Anybody home?" There was no response. "She should have been back by now." Angel walked up stairs. He smelled Dawns scent as he ascended. Then he stopped as he sniffed blood too. "Dawn." Angel hurried up the stairs and walked into Willow and Tara's bedroom where he stopped dead, staring at the motionless body of Tara still lying there in a pool of blood. "Oh, god."
"I didn't ... want to leave her alone." Angel heard and turned to find Dawn huddled in a little ball, in a corner formed by the wall and a side-table, crying.
"Dawn." Angel knelt beside Dawn "Come on. We need to get out of here, okay?" He stroked Dawn's hair. "Dawn, sweetheart. Be strong, okay? We need to go downstairs."
"I don't understand." Dawn said crying. Angel pulled Dawn close and hugged her while holding Connor. Dawn continued to cry.
"I don't understand either."
…
Liam was driving his charger through the dark streets of Sunnydale. Buffy sat in the passenger's seat. Xander and Delia were riding in back. No one had really said a word since Willow had vanished. Everyone was still mourning over Tara's death and Willows apparent dark approach on life now. Liam was contemplating everything that had happened. He tried to save Tara. He knew she would die. He tried saving her and she still ended up dead. Liam thought did he try his hardest to save Tara. Did he do everything he possibly could, like he did with Connor and Delia? He really tried to kill Warren the previous night, but his stupid invulnerability and strength prevented him from doing so. But there was still something he could do. He could stop Willow from trying to destroy herself and committing murder. Liam had enough blood on his soul to feel guilty about. But Willow shouldn't have it. She didn't deserve to feel the guilt that comes from killing humans.
Liam turned a corner and came upon the Summers house. Everyone sat up and looked when they saw flashing lights and an ambulance parked outside the house. "Oh my god. Dawn!" Buffy said. They saw a body being brought out in a body bag and on a gurney.
"I think its Tara." Delia said. Liam parked the car outside the house. They all got out and met up with Angel at the front door. Buffy and Angel hugged each other instantly.
"Tara's dead." Angel said.
"We know." Xander said.
"How?"
"Willow. She was with Tara when it happened. And now she's bent on revenge." Delia said.
"Dawn?" Buffy asked Angel.
"She's in the living room." Angel told her. Buffy pulled away and went over to Dawn on the couch holding Connor and hugged her. "She found Tara."
"Oh god." Xander said.
"She was pretty shook up."
"That's expected." Delia said. Xander walked into the living room and sat on the coffee table.
All of them sat in silence for a minute. "We need to find Willow." Buffy said.
"Yeah. She's seriously off the wagon. Warren's a dead man if she finds him." Xander said.
Dawn looked up. "Good."
"Dawn, don't say that." Buffy said.
"Why not? I'd do it myself if I could."
"Because you don't feel that way."
"I do. And you all should too. He killed Tara, and he nearly killed you. He needs to pay."
"Out of the mouths of babes." Xander said quietly.
"Xander." Buffy said.
"I'm just saying, he's about as bad as any vamp you've sent to dustville."
"Being the slayer doesn't give me a license to kill. Warren's human."
"So?" Dawn asked.
"So the human world has its own rules for dealing with people like him." Angel said.
"And it's because they were made by human that they don't work out all the time." Liam said blankly. Everyone looked to him. "Look, I'm all for sending this guy to jail and him getting what he deserves. But this guy has gotten away with too much for too long."
"We can't control the universe. If we were supposed to, the magic wouldn't change Willow the way it does. And we'd be able to bring Tara back." Buffy said.
"And mom." Dawn said.
"And save the future." Delia added.
"There are limits to what we can do. There should be. Willow doesn't want to believe it and now she's messing with forces that want to hurt her." Angel said.
"All of us." Buffy added.
"Well then I suggest we stop it before it gets any worse." Liam said.
"How?"
"Willow lost someone she loved. By someone who she hates. She is hell bent on revenge. I know what she's going through, I've been there. If Willow succeeds in killing Warren, then she will be worse than she can be if she doesn't."
"You knew." Xander surmised. Buffy, Angel, and Dawn all stared at Liam. "I didn't think of it at the time, but you knew Tara would die didn't you? Willow did too. That's what you guys were talking about at the hospital."
After a beat. "Yes."
"And you didn't tell us?" Dawn asked sounding angry.
"I told Willow and she told Tara."
"Did you even know who killed her?" Xander asked.
"Of course I did. I tried to kill the bastard last night but I couldn't. I wanted to find him and kill him before he had the chance to kill Tara."
"And look how that turned out."
"Look, I'm sorry ok. I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys about Tara dying and Willow going dark. I tried to stop it myself and I failed. I'm sorry. But blaming me isn't going to stop Willow. If she kills Warren, she will tear apart her soul and she will never be the same. She felt guilty in the future for killing Warren and the things she did when she was dark. I want to spare her that pain."
"How?" Buffy asked.
"Easy. We kill Warren before Willow does, she won't go off the deep end."
"I can't believe that you're my son." Liam looked at his mother. Buffy got up off the couch. "You are actually willing to kill a human being?"
"It's not like I haven't done it before."
"This isn't about protecting Dawn and Connor and saving Delia. Warren isn't trying to kill anyone now. Willow is."
"Are you suggesting that I kill Willow?"
"No. I don't want you to kill anyone."
"Mom, it's this kinda attitude that provoked Kathy to start our team."
"What team?"
"The White Hats. A group that started out just like you did with the Scoobies. Kathy, Willows daughter, Xander's son. They started the White Hats and were the best at saving the world. Even more than a slayer."
"What do you mean?" Angel asked. Liam looked to Delia and then to everyone else. He walked further into the living room and sat in one of the armchairs.
"In the future, technology got stronger. So did you guys. But you kept to the same point of view of the world. And even though it's noble and we adopted it, sometimes….you're wrong. The thing about man's laws is that it's flawed, because men our flawed. And powerful men, who rise up above others by stepping on people's throats use everything they can to do what they want and get away with it. They hide behind the law and can't be touched by the law. Kathy and her team, recruited me after I got over my anger. At first, I was like you. I didn't want to kill humans unless I had to. But I looked at the world that it was, and saw that I had to. This world needs people like us. People who are willing to do…..what others cannot."
"Kill humans." Xander said.
"If they can, they can cheat the system. And get back out there to do more damage. You can't contain the disease. You have to eradicate it at the source. Which means if a powerful man, who everyone knows is guilty of serious crimes, can get by the law, you have to do what you gotta do so that he can't hurt anyone anymore."
"I am not going to kill a human." Buffy said.
"Fine." Liam pulled out his pistol. "Then I will. This is no different than what I've done in the future to save lives. I'm not a slayer. So I don't abide by your rules to the letter."
"But I do." Delia said coming forward. "Liam, I know I can't change your mind about this. But it doesn't mean I have to follow it. I'm a slayer and still abide by the rules."
"And that's fine." Liam got up. "But we need to stop Warren and stop Willow from killing him. It will destroy her if she does. Kill Warren, kill the temptation for revenge. It helped me in the future, it helped me several days ago, and it'll help Willow. If we're lucky, she will revert back to her original self if Warren dies before she can get to him."
"Then we have to find him first." Buffy said. "Warren's going to get what he deserves. I promise you. But I will NOT let Willow destroy herself."
"So where do we go? She could be anywhere." Delia said.
"Maybe the magic shop. There could be some kind of locating spell." Buffy said to Angel, then she looked at Xander. "Angel and I can go if you…"
"No, I'll go. It's ok." Xander said.
"Dawn and Connor can't stay here by themselves."
"Let me come with you." Dawn said.
"No, honey, it's too dangerous."
"But ... it's Willow. She needs us."
"She does. And you'll help her. Lots. Okay, but first we have to get her home in one piece.
"But…"
"Dawn. I'm serious. You've been through enough for more than one ... ever. You should be someplace where you feel safe."
"Fine. I want to go to Spike's and Faith's."
"Probably the best course of action." Liam said.
"Alright." Buffy said.
…
Buffy opened the door to Faith and Spike's apartment. "Spike? Faith?" Liam, Dawn, Delia, and Angel holding Connor and a bag followed in.
Clem jumped up and threw the potato chips everywhere in the process. "Suffering cats! Where did you come from!?"
"Sorry, we didn't mean to startle you."
"Woooo, it's, it's ok. You all just snuck up on me, that's all."
"I spilled your snacks." Buffy smiled apologetically.
"Don't worry about it. Not like I need any more of this." Clem pointed to some of his loose skin. "Hi."
"Hi." Dawn said.
"Can I get you guys something? I was just going to mix up some Country Time."
"We were looking for Faith and Spike actually." Buffy said.
"They didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"They left town."
"Oh." Buffy said with a sadden expression. Liam looked away from Clem and rubbed the back of his neck.
"They just took off?" Dawn asked.
"That's why I'm staying here for him. Sweet pad like this goes empty a few days; you'll lose it for sure. Plus I don't have a TV." Clem looked at them all. "I'm surprised they didn't tell you. They were kind of in a hurry. I guess. You sure I can't get you something? I have Bugles and Liverwurst and..."
"We're fine, thanks, but you could do us a favor? You think Dawn and Connor could hang out here with you for a while? I have some stuff to do and I don't want them to be alone."
"I still don't see why I can't." Dawn started.
"Dawn, I told you why." Buffy said. She turned to Clem. "What do you think?"
"No problem. I'd love the company." He looked at Dawn. "You like Parcheesi?"
"Sure." Dawn said.
"Or we could rent videos. I've been dying to watch 'The Wedding Planner.'"
"Either way, I'm good." Dawn said.
"Here, you can take the comfy chair."
Angel handed Connor to Buffy and put the bag of baby stuff on a table. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise." Buffy said to Dawn and handed Connor to her. "Take good care of him."
"Of course." Dawn said.
"Thank you." Buffy said to Clem. She turned to go, but turned back. "Did they say why they'd left and when they'd be coming back?"
"Spike and Faith? No, only that they could be gone a while. They had a huge fight and Faith left. Spike went to find her, but she had left town. He got so mad that he just left."
"Oh." Buffy said.
…
At the magic shop, Xander was trying to lead Anya toward the table. Anya was still partly frozen from Willow's spell.
"You feeling any change? Can you talk?" Xander asked.
Anya pulled away, not looking at him. "It's wearing off." Anya said. She sat down on the bench. "Willow was here earlier. She put the whammy on me and went straight to the dark arts books. Sucked them dry."
"Look, Anya, something terrible happened."
"I know. Tara."
"Willow's out for blood, big time. We need to find her before she finds Warren. Is there something you can do, a, a locator spell?"
"I don't need a spell. I can feel her."
"You can...?"
"Feel her. Her thirst for vengeance, it's overwhelming."
"Is that like, left over from your vengeance demon days? You just sense her?"
"No. Not left over." Anya gave Xander a meaningful look. The clue hits.
"Oh." Xander said getting it.
"Yeah."
"When?"
"When do you think?" Anya said sourly. The Summers family came in through the front door.
"Is everyone okay? Did Willow…" Buffy began.
"Got her power boost and took off."
"Anya's ... Anya was saying she knows where Willow is." Xander said.
"A spell?" Angel asked.
"Not exactly. Seems Anya got her vengeance on again."
"Oh." Angel and Buffy said together.
"What does he mean by that?" Delia asked Liam.
"Anya used to be a vengeance demon. Now apparently she's one again." Liam explained.
"How was she able to…" Delia looked from Xander to Anya. "Oh." She said the exact same way as Buffy and Angel.
"So, Willow's all wrathy ... why don't you go to her? Isn't that your gig?" Xander asked Anya.
"Normally, I'd have to ... but she doesn't want me." Anya said.
"She wants to do it herself." Liam said.
"Yeah."
"Look, Anya, we don't have much time. Which side of this are you on?" Buffy asked. Anya hesitated.
"If you know where she is, you can help us."
Anya stood up and sighed. "I'll help. But I'm helping Willow. She's close to him. He's in the woods."
Everyone exchanged looks.
…
Willow was walking along through the woods at night, holding the bloody shirt she wore when Tara was shot. The bushes bent back out of her way as she passed. She walked slowly and calmly.
Willow came to a small clearing. She looked around and smiled a little. "Run all night, Warren. I'll still find…" Suddenly something hit her. She fell down face-first. Warren was standing behind her. A long-handled axe was buried in Willow's back. Warren stared down at her, looking nervous. He started to smile a little. Suddenly Willow rose upward and onto her feet, lifted by magic. She turned to face Warren, reaching her arm behind her to pull the axe out of her back. Warren stared at her fearfully. "Axe, not gonna cut it." She tossed the axe to the ground. Warren ran off as Willow followed.
Warren ran through the forest, panting, reaching behind him to pull something out of his backpack. It was a small metal box. Warren stopped running and pulled a pin on the side of the box. Little metal wings appeared from holes on two sides of the box. The wings began to flap. Warren smiled as the box lifted off his hand and up into the air. It zoomed away with quick flitting movements like a bat. Willow walked calmly through the woods. The winged box flew up to her. She looked at it in surprise. Suddenly the box exploded. But the explosion, instead of moving continuously outward, only expanded to a diameter of about ten feet. It surrounded Willow in a shimmering ball of energy like solidified air and fire, holding her motionless. But then she stepped forward, and the ball shattered into large pieces like glass. Willow resumed walking.
Warren was running desperately through the woods, looking back over his shoulder. He turned to face front again and found Willow directly in front of him. Warren stopped short, gasping. He laughed nervously. "Cute. That's a cute trick." He said. Willow was silent and just walked toward him. He backed away, very nervously. "It was an accident, you know."
"Oh. You mean, instead of killing my best friend, you killed my girlfriend." Willow said.
"It ... it wasn't personal, that's all."
"Well, this is." Warren turned to run away. Willow held out both her hands and sent a huge blast of magical energy at Warren, knocking him down. He quickly pulled his arms out of his backpack straps.
"Capture!" Warren said. He threw what looked like a small ball of blue goo at Willow. It hit her in the stomach and began to expand, first around her body pinning her arms to her sides, then up and down until her whole body and head were surrounded by shimmery transparent blue. Her mouth opened as if trying to speak, but she couldn't.
Warren jumped up and ran off again, leaving his backpack behind. Willow's eyes behind the goo began to glow fiery orange. The goo in front of her eyes melted, and then the entire cocoon melted and slid down off her body. "Irretite." Willow said. Vines from several nearby trees suddenly whipped out and wrapped around Warren's legs, then his wrists. He was trapped, spread-eagled between two trees. He looked around, panting. Willow walked around a tree and approached him. "Cute tricks."
"You're really asking for it, you know that?" Warren said.
"I'm asking for it?" Willow said incredulously.
"I'm gonna walk away from this. And when I do, you're gonna beg to go join your little girlfriend."
Willow frowned as if realizing something. "She wasn't your first."
"Uh, first who?" Warren asked nervously.
"Tara. She wasn't the first girl you killed."
"I don't know what you're talk…"
"Reveal!" Willow interrupted.
Warren then heard a familiar voice that he never expected to her again. "I should have strangled you in your sleep." Warren's ex-girlfriend Katrina, whom he killed and tried to pin the murder on Faith, walked around the same tree that Willow just came from. She was deathly pale. "Back when we shared a bed. I should have done the world a favor."
Warren laughed nervously. "It's a trick."
"Why, Warren? You could have just let me go." Katrina said. Warren was pretty freaked and couldn't look at Katrina. He just looked at Willow and the surroundings. Willow watched him calmly.
"Make it shut up. Make it go away." Warren told Willow. Willow didn't answer.
"It didn't have be like that." Katrina said.
"I'm not kidding!" Warren told Willow, ignoring Katrina.
"How could you say you loved me, and do that to me?"
"Because you deserved it, bitch!" Warren finally looked at Katrina but she wasn't there anymore.
"Because you liked it." Willow said.
"Oh, shut up!"
"You never felt you had the power with her. Not until you killed her."
Warren gave a nasty laugh. "Women. You know, you're just like the rest of them. Mind games."
"You get off on it. That's why you had a mad-on for the Slayer. She was your big O, wasn't she, Warren?"
"Are you done yet? Or can we talk some more about our feelings?" Warren may be talking smack to Willow, but he was trebling with fear. Willow sensed this on him. Warren wasn't going anywhere.
…
In another part of the forest, Anya was walking along, with Buffy, Angel, Xander, Liam, and Delia following.
"What's happening? What do you feel?" Buffy asked Anya.
"She's stronger now. Close." Anya said.
"What about Warren? Has she…" Xander asked.
"He's still alive. She's not done."
"If she's got him, then we gotta move…NOW!" Liam said and they all started running.
…
"Help!" Warren yelled out. He was getting pretty desperate at this point. "Let me go." He said to Willow in his normal voice. "Somebody! Help!"
"What's the matter? Thought you wanted to talk." Willow said.
"No."
"Okay." Willow opened her hand, revealing the bullet that she took from Buffy's chest earlier. "I'll talk." She waved her other hand, and Warren's shirt ripped open.
"What, what are you doing?"
"Shhh."
"Hey, hey, I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry."
Willow held the bullet about an inch from Warren's chest, right over his heart. She let it go, but the bullet continued to hover in place. "Wanna know what a bullet feels like, Warren? A real one?" Warren looked nervously down at the bullet, then up at her. "It's not like in the comics."
"No. No." Warren said getting rally freaked out at this point.
"I think you need to. Feel it." The bullet slowly started to push its way into Warren's chest.
"Oh god! Stop it!"
"It's not going to make a neat little hole. First, it'll obliterate your internal organs. Your lung will collapse. Feels like drowning."
"Please! No." Warren was clearly in a lot of pain as the bullet continued penetrating his body.
"When it finally hits your spine, it'll blow your central nervous system."
"Oh please, stop, god! Please…"
"I'm talking!" Willow said angrily. She lifted a hand and suddenly Warren's lips were sewn shut with large stitches of thread. He could only groan and whimper. "The pain will be unbearable, but you won't be able to move. Bullet usually travels faster than this, of course. But the dying? It'll seem like it takes forever." She paused, as if affected by her own words, looking at the little wound on Warren's chest. Warren just grunted and squeezed his eyes shut in pain. "Something, isn't it? One tiny piece of metal destroys everything. It ripped her insides out ... took her light away. From me. From the world." Now she looked at Warren in the eye again, re-focusing. He continued to tremble, groaning in pain and fear. "Now the one person who should be here is gone ... and a waste like you gets to live." Warren continued whimpering in pain. "Tiny piece of metal. Can you feel it now?"
…
The rest of the gang was running towards where Willow and Warren was. Liam took the lead with Anya.
"Anya." Liam said.
"Over there." Anya said. She lead them off to the left. Liam pulled out his pistol.
…
Warren continued grunting through his sewn-shut mouth.
"I said, can you feel it?" Willow asked. She waved her hand and the stitches disappeared.
"Please! God! I did wrong, I see that now. I need, I need jail! I need ... But you, you don't want this. You're, you're not a bad person. Not like me." Warren begged. Willow stared at him.
"Willow!" Buffy yelled out. Willow looked over. To the source of the voice. The others were visible a few hundred feet away, rushing towards her.
"Willow don't!" Liam yelled.
"Oh, and when you get caught, you'll lose them too. Your friends." Warren panted. "You don't want that. I know you're in pain, but…
"Bored now." Willow said, using her vampire alter ego's catchphrase.
Liam heard what Willow said. "NO!" he yelled. He stopped short, raised his pistol, aimed, and fired. The shot echoed throughout the woods. The bullet whistled passed everyone and headed straight for Warren. Willow raised her hand the bullet Liam shot stopped several inches from Warren's right eye. Warren stared at it in horror. The bullet dropped to the ground and Warren looked down at it then looked to Willow.
"Not mine." Willow made a casual gesture with one hand. A bolt of magic ripped through Warren and teared the skin off his body in a single piece.
Everyone arrives just in time to see this. "Oh my god." Xander said. Liam came up behind them and stared in shock at the sight. He wasn't able to stop Willow from going dark. He wasn't able to stop her from committing murder. He wasn't able to save some one he loved.
Warren's skinless body sagged against the vines that still held him. Willow stood looking at it. "What did you do?" Buffy asked shocked. Willow continued looking at the lifeless body. "Willow, what did you do?"
Willow looked over at her friends, then back at the body. Suddenly it burst into flames and burned to nothing in an instant. "One down." Willow said calmly. Smoke began to curl up around Willow's body as red fire flashed in her eyes again. Lightning flashed as her whole body dissipated into smoke and was gone. The others stood there staring in horror.
Two more chapters left in this story. Comment and review.
