Chapter 50
"Where are we going?" Angel wanted to know.
"To Willow." Spike's response was coloured with exasperation.
"I know that. I mean, where is she?"
"Not sure."
"Well where the hell are we going?" Angel demanded. "Are we supposed to just wander the streets until we stumble across her?"
"I can find her," Spike assured him. He wasn't sure how it worked, Spike couldn't say where she was but he knew he could get to her. He felt her, in a way he hadn't done so far. It wasn't just her soul he could feel, but the darkness too and it frightened him.
All he knew was that he needed to find Willow. Only when he saw her would Spike feel something other than this all consuming dread.
They rounded a corner coming to a fork in the road. Spike paused, Angel, who hadn't expected him to stop kept going for a few paces before spinning back on his heel. He didn't say anything, he just watched Spike curiously as the other vampire stared down the dark suburban street before twisting the other way and frowning down the long, deserted road.
It was odd, Spike felt Willow's presence, her magic more than anything else and it was strong. Although not so strong that he felt she was still nearby; but she had been here and she had cast a spell. There was no way Spike could explain how he knew this. It was just something he felt deep inside of him like an instinct, and he trusted it. Spike had always trusted his instincts and they'd never led him astray in over a hundred years.
"Spike?"
"She was 'ere. Willow was 'ere."
"How long ago?" Angel was all business as he usually was when someone was in trouble. The time for emotions was past, he had a sort of friend, sort of love rival to save, and that was more important. Everything that had happened lately was not Willow's fault, including Spike falling in love with her. It was, as Cordelia had pointed out, Spike's fault; and Angel, no matter how he felt about Spike, would not allow the innocent to suffer and pay for Spike's misdeeds.
"Not long," Spike said, "But she's not close either. She's been doin' magic."
Angel didn't want to ask. He didn't want to associate Willow, the girl who had generously risked her life to give him back his soul, with anything other than light and goodness. "Dark magic?"
Spike frowned. "Not really. Just magic." The street name was fixed to the wall on a metal plaque; when he caught sight of it Spike knew what happened. He knew this street, he had intended to call here himself and rid the Slayer of a witch. Willow had been here before him. A feeling of unease washed down Spike's back.
Angel found he couldn't relax. If the darkness Spike felt was not Willow's own magic it could only mean the magic came from another source. Something dark and evil had Willow and that was just as terrifying. Angel could tell from the look on Spike's face and his flickering eyes that Spike had the same thought. "Well, off you go," Angel waved his arm, encompassing the surrounding area. "You're the blood hound."
Spike glared at him. "I'm not sniffin' her out, I'm… oh never mind. It's this way." He started off again at a run, Angel at his side.
"Exactly what are you doing?" Angel asked. "What sort of connection is it?" It would pain him to know the answer, but all information was relevant if Willow was to be saved.
Spike hopped up a curb and rounded a corner silently cursing himself for bolting from the house like that without bringing his sword with him. Something told Spike weapons would be needed. He flexed his fists and let his fangs come forth; guess his natural demonic weapons would have to do.
"Hard to say."
"Well is it…"
"Can't you just shut up for once an' just go with the flow?" Spike demanded. "You always gotta know the ins an' outs of a ducks arse."
Angel scowled, insulted. But he did as Spike requested and relapsed into silence. He wondered if he'd get the chance to call Buffy. She'd want to be there to help Willow and would never forgive him if he didn't let her know her best friend was in danger.
XxX
The library was a hub of nervous energy. Giles was pouring over a book the arm of his glasses clenched between his teeth and his shoulders tense.
Buffy was pacing back and forth behind him, rounding the table, crossing to the counter where Xander was on the phone and circling back again.
Xander's fingers tapped anxiously against the counter, his other hand clutching tightly to the phone. "She's not answering. She's still not answering." He hung up, turning worried eyes towards Buffy. "Are you sure she wasn't at home?"
Buffy sighed. "I told you, Amy wasn't there. The lights were all on but nobody was home. I figured she was on her way here. I mean, we didn't tell her I'd go to get her and walk her here."
"You don't think..." Xander trailed off uncomfortably, running a hand through his hair. "Spike?"
Buffy shook her head. "It can't be Spike. He doesn't even know she's here."
"Well something's not right," Xander insisted. "Something's very, very wrong."
"I'd love to argue with you, Xan, but my spidey senses are wigging out. I've been feeling off for days."
Giles looked up, his face pale. "I wish I could say you're being overly dramatic, but I'm afraid you're not, Buffy."
Buffy gave him a long look, a feeling of trepidation gripping her heart. "What do you mean? What do you know? What aren't you telling me?"
"Buffy the rapid fire Slayer," Xander said coming out from behind the counter.
Buffy smiled slightly and went with him to join Giles at the table. She sat with one leg curled beneath her, her eyes scanning Giles face, noticing for the first time the dark circles beneath his eyes and the harsh lines around his mouth. He wasn't just worried, he was close to freaking, as much as Giles would ever freak. It was bad and Buffy knew it. "What is it, Giles? You've got Dire Watcher Face going on."
"Last night Faith told me about something called the Ascension. Willow and Spike made her aware of it, something they, or at least Spike, discovered through the demon community; although nobody seemed to know what it meant."
"Ascension?" Xander tried out the new word, but saying it didn't help. There were no bells ringing, it meant nothing to him. "Why am I thinking this is not a good thing?"
"Its not a good thing," Giles said, eyes closing as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's the opening of the Hellmouth…"
"That's not fair!" Xander complained. "We've already dealt with that and we won. Twice."
"So the demons of Sunnydale are going to try and open the Hellmouth?" Buffy asked.
"Not exactly. The Ascension is very specific, so I'm given to understand. I couldn't find much about it so I called the Council to have their research department do a check on it too. Pool the resources so to speak. If the demons knew about it and we didn't, well, safe to say that it would not bode well for us or the town."
"So what do we know?" Xander leant on his elbows, fiddling absently with a discarded chocolate wrapper he found on the table.
"Giles?" Buffy said slowly. "There's something you don't want to tell me. What is it?" She swallowed, striving for Brave Slayer Face. Was it another prophecy? Was she to die again, only this time for good?
Giles closed his eyes, his forehead resting on his clenched fists and his shoulders sagging. He gave a little despairing moan. "It's…"
At that moment the door swung open and Willow entered. Buffy jumped to her feet an ecstatic look on her face. Willow was here. Her best friend was back. Buffy had never been so happy to see anyone; not even Angel.
And no Spike in tow; bonus points!
"Wills," Xander got up too blinking hard, his jaw popping open as he took in the tight fitting jeans his best friend was wearing. "You're legs, they're… new?"
"Same ones," Willow said brushing by him.
"Ah, Willow," Giles stood up, and just in the nick of time, with a wave of her hand Willow sent the table across the room where it crashed into the wall, splintering apart.
"Willow!" Buffy stared, her mouth agape. "What are you doing?"
"It is time," Willow said, glancing over her shoulder at Buffy. "You cannot stop it."
Buffy's brow furrowed, her stomach knotting as nausea tinged the back of her throat. "Stop it? Stop what? Wills, what's going on? What's the matter with you?"
Before Giles could issue a warning Buffy stepped towards her friend, intent on shaking some sense into her if she had to. Willow gave her a scornful look, as though she could read Buffy's mind, and sent her sailing backwards with the mere raising of her fingers. Buffy hit the door to the book cage, it swung back on its hinges and she tumbled into the cage, landing in a ball against the wall.
"Buff?" Xander hurried over to help her up. Buffy was usually so limber, if she got knocked down she was up again quicker than he could blink; but this time she sagged against him, her hand touching to her head as she groaned, unable to put her weight on her left leg.
He looked up at Willow, fear sweeping through him. Xander could feel the energy in the room, the magic Willow was giving off seemed to snap and spark in the air. He noticed she was standing where the Hellmouth opened, her arms out, palms facing down, a spiralling vortex of magic working its way from Willow's hands down through the floorboards like a small tornado.
"So this is what impending doom feels like," he muttered, hoisting Buffy more securely in his arms.
XxX
"That's it, Willow. Good girl."
Willow looked up, startled to see Jenny Calendar standing opposite her. Jessie had been with her when she had arrived at the library. She spared a quick glance about the room but she couldn't see him. Before she could question his disappearance Jenny spoke again.
"I know magic. I'm much better suited to help you." Jenny smiled. "You learnt magic from me, remember?"
Willow nodded. She'd had no idea magic existed until Miss Calendar had become one of their allies. She recalled that thrilling feeling the first time she had floated a pencil; it seemed rather ridiculous now. The power she felt now was so intense floating a pencil didn't even register. She was strong. She was powerful. She wasn't the weak pathetic sidekick any more.
"Do you feel the magic, Willow? The magic other than your own?"
Willow nodded, her forehead creasing. She could easily distinguish her magic from the alien force in her body.
"Concentrate on it, let it fuse with your own power. It's alright. It won't hurt you, Willow. It will only make you strong." Jenny's head titled slightly and she smiled brightly. "I wouldn't let anything hurt you, Willow. You're too important, I need you."
It was nice, Willow reflected, to be important for a change.
Magic surged from beneath her, Willow could feel it sweep her from toes to head and back again in a continuous circle, getting stronger each time it passed through her. It was darker than her own magic but Willow wasn't concerned; how could she be when the stronger the magic became the stronger she became; it was a heady feeling.
She was full of magic and power; completely oblivious to the voices of her friends calling to her. Figuring if he could just get to her, make her look at him, look him in the eyes and really see him perhaps he could make her snap out of it; Xander ran to her, colliding face first with an invisible barrier. He winced, cupping his sore nose, the warmth of spilled blood coating his fingers.
Eyes closed Willow's head fell back, her lips parting as magic combed through her hair and crackled at her fingertips.
Buffy turned as the doors opened again, coming face to face with Angel and Spike. In spite of everything that had happened Buffy still felt that everything's-going -to-be-okay feeling she always got when Angel was around.
Angel looked from Buffy to Willow and back again. "What's going on?"
Buffy shook her head "I have no idea."
"She just turned up and went all Wicked Witch of the West on us," Xander said. "Possession maybe?"
"Xander tried to stop her but we can't get near her. It's like there's a wall of magic between us," Buffy said, shooting a desperate look at Willow. She had never been so frightened, not even when she went to face The Master; at least then it was only she who was supposed to die. Buffy couldn't bear thinking about Willow dying; it was a million times worse than facing death herself.
Spike ignored them all. He walked straight pass them and picked up a sword from just inside the book cage. He passed through the wall of magic easily, a cold sensation washing over him as he did so. He could feel the darkness of the magic pour from his girl and he could feel the darkness coming off the gypsy look alike beside her. The fact that not one of her friends had mentioned Willow's companion spoke volumes. They hadn't been able to see her last time she'd tried to hijack Willow's magic. Except; Spike growled deep in his throat, it wasn't the gypsy, it was The First Evil, the same entity that had tried to kill Angel.
There was no way in hell he was letting something that evil use Willow for anything.
Willow felt Spike before she saw him. She began to turn towards him when Jenny spoke. "Concentrate, Willow. Feel the magic."
"You'd better back away from my girl if you know what's good for ya."
Jenny frowned at him. "You can't stop The Ascension, vampire."
"Ascension," Spike's eyes widened, he genuinely hadn't been expecting that. Nothing he had heard about the Ascension had pointed towards Willow. The First he noticed, was hovering between him and Willow, blocking his path to her. The power coming from The First told Spike he wouldn't be able to pass it and he remembered that he couldn't touch it either; it was non corporeal. He considered for a moment, he couldn't reach Willow and physically touch her, but maybe he could reach her another way. "Willow! Love! Look at me, listen to me."
Willow's head turned again, her eyes black as night stared back at him, little black veins rippling and pulsing around her eyes. "Spike."
"Yeah, it's me, love. Come over 'ere, hum? Come to Spike."
"Feel the power, Willow," Jenny urged. "Let it in." She shifted between Willow and Spike, blocking her once again from his sight. "You don't want to fight this, Spike. You want this. Once the Ascension is complete you're free of the soul."
"It's not worth riskin' her life for," Spike shot back.
Jenny smiled and shook her head. "She won't die, Spike. Far from it. Once the Ascension is complete she'll be free. You'll be free."
Spike remembered with stunning clarity exactly what would happened to Willow. "She'll be a demon!"
"She'll be exactly what you need her to be."
Spike blinked uncertainly. Wasn't it sort of the answer to their problem? For Willow to be a pure demon she would have to lose what remained of her soul. Split apart, the rest torn from her body with dark magic; there would be no putting her soul back no matter how much the Slayer tried.
Spike was aware that Willow was different now than she was before he came back and she had done the spell; he didn't have to know her personally to know that spitting her soul in two would cause a change. But for him, it was a good change; it allowed her to see past his demonic nature and love him in spite of all the things he did.
He had the capacity to love without his soul, but Angelus didn't.
Without her soul, would Willow still love him?
Even with all the hassle with the Slayer and the other witch, Willow had never expressed a desire to be rid of her entire soul. Could he allow it to happen?
This, Spike realised, was what love was all about. He would not sacrifice Willow's soul. He would fight for her with everything he had.
"You wanna complete the Ascension you gotta go through me, an' I don't go down so easy."
Jenny's smile was cold, her eyes gleaming darkly. "Then it all comes down to which one of us has the strongest hold over her, doesn't it."
XxX
"Okay, Giles, kinda wigged out here. Who's Spike talking to?" Xander was staring stupidly at the vampire who was, so far as Xander was concerned, talking to thin air.
It was Angel who answered. "The First Evil. He's talking to the First Evil."
Buffy's blood ran cold. "H... how do you know that?"
"Dark magic, Hellmouth opening, Spike talking to someone only he can see; it's The First. I know it," Angel said.
"Angel's right," Giles spoke up. "That's what I was about to tell you before Willow turned up. The Ascension will release the power of the Hellmouth through Willow..."
"What?!" Buffy shook her head. "No! No, Giles. We can't let that happen to her. We have to do something."
"Buffy. Buffy!" Giles made a grab for her arm as she spun away from him, but he missed.
Buffy pushed off on her toes and hurtled across the room. She wasn't sure how she was going to fight something she couldn't see or touch, but damn it she was going to have a good try. Focused and determined Buffy careened headlong into the magical barrier. She staggered back a shocked look on her face. Reaching out she pressed the air in front of her and saw the brief imprint of her fingers.
"Okay," she turned to Giles. "How come Spike gets to walk through it and I don't?"
"I don't know," Giles looked weary. "And I don't know how we can help her."
Xander scowled. "Those aren't words I like hearing, Giles."
"They aren't words I enjoy saying, Xander."
"Cross bow?" Buffy suggested leaping for the book cage. "Maybe we can shoot through it."
"Great idea, Buff," Xander said following her into the cage. "Just one question, what are you planning on shooting at?"
XxX
Jenny laughed, her shape shifting and changing until his mother stood before him. "You destroy those you love, William. You violated me and you killed me. What makes you think your love won't destroy her in the end too?"
Spike's fingers flexed over the handle of the sword.
"So pathetic," his mother changed and Cecily was there, as beautiful as the last time he had seen her. "So weak and desperate. You were nothing when you were human and you're nothing now." She paused, a curl of distain on her upper lip. "You're still not a man."
Spike's temper flared and he lashed out, his fist colliding with Cecily's nose. She staggered back a few paces. Spike's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Well now, what ave we got 'ere?"
Cecily shifted again and Drusilla was looking back at him. "Not one of us really loved you. She won't be any different, she'll leave you just as we left you."
Spike flinched when Drusilla's face melted away and he was looking at himself. It was a shock; he hadn't seen himself in over a hundred years. "Take a long look mate. You really think this," his mirror image spread his hands out, "is worth givin' up her life for? You think she'll walk away from everything she holds dear for you? Nobody else ever gave a bugger. Why should she?"
Spike's jaw clenched. "Ain't got a problem in killin' any of these faces to keep her safe. Even myself if it comes to it."
He swung the sword high, brought it down and jabbed, catching his mirror image in the side. The wound wasn't particularly deep and Spike knew it wouldn't be a fatal wound, but the black blood oozing from it gave him a sense of satisfaction. The First doubled over, hissing angrily. Spike felt the power around him waver; it gave him hope that he could still stop this before Willow became fully emerged in the Ascension.
Catching hold of Willow's shoulder's Spike spun her round and peered into her face. "Willow, listen to me, Willow. I need you to listen to me. I love you, baby. I need you. This isn't you. Come back to me. Fight. Don't let The First Evil control you. It needs you but you don't need it. You can stop this, love, you can stop The First. You're the good girl and you have to stop it. It's what you do."
The floor began to crumble, the magic and energy in the room intensifying in a wild whirlwind that upended the chairs and sent the books flying from the shelves.
Willow's eyes closed for a moment, magic washing through her, turning her hair as black as her eyes. Her fingers brushed along Spike's forehead, caressing the bumps and ridges. "Come to me my beautiful boy. I'll give you the world."
Spike smiled, cupping her face, stroking the soft skin beneath her eyes with the pad of his thumbs. "I've already got the world. You're my world." Just as he leant in to kiss her a blast of magic struck him, forcing him across the room. He tumbled down over a chair and crashed into the front of the counter.
Willow's lips parted, she let lose an unearthly scream at the sight of Spike lying unconscious on the floor.
The scream chilled Xander to the very marrow of his bones. He wasn't sure what it meant, if Willow was in pain or mad or what, but he didn't like it. And he hated how useless he felt forced to stand there and simply watch his best friend get swept up in darkness. Where was Amy when they really needed her? Perhaps her magic could at least take down the barrier between them and Willow. If they could only get to her as Spike had they might stand a chance of fighting for her.
He glanced across at Giles who was frantically searching through a book for a spell he could use to try and combat the magical wall. Xander hated to be a pessimist, but he really couldn't see Giles having any sort of power to fight the magic they were witnessing.
Still, he had to try. He had to try and get through to Willow and he did the only thing he could think of. Xander called for her. Trying desperately to get her attention, but she ignored him; she only had eyes for Spike.
Willow left her spot at the opening of the Hellmouth and hurried to Spike's side; her hands patting him, attempting to rouse him.
Jenny looked horrified. "What are you doing? Leave him. Finish what we started."
Willow looked up, her eyes hot with fury. "I'll never leave him!"
Spike came to with a small groan. Willow's scent overwhelming him, her warmth wrapped around him where she had lifted him into her arms and held him tightly. He shifted in her grasp, sitting up and grabbing hold of her shoulders. His eyes met hers. "You love me, I know you do. Your love for me is stronger than the power of the First. Fight it, baby. Fight it. You won't let it destroy the world an' kill your friends. I know you won't."
The power and magic wavered again, Spike could feel it. The black of Willow's eyes were now flecked with green and the little veins were disappearing. She was nearly back, Spike was sure of it. His girl was fighting and she was going to win. Closing the gap between them he kissed her.
Jenny screamed, full of rage. Her form shifted and changed, long dark tendrils of magic, like wispy smoke rose up to hover above them all to form a large, twisted, demonic face. The face hovered there a moment or two before being sucked backwards into the Hellmouth. The Hellmouth closed and the library was silent.
Still fused to Spike, Willow suddenly withdrew, sucking in a sharp, much needed breath. Even that seemed too much for her and she collapsed against him, completely drained of energy, of magic, of emotion.
Spike soothed her, his hand smoothing gently through her hair, now back to its delicious red and copper tones. "I've got you, baby, you're alright. I've got you. Never let anything happen to you."
Running footsteps made Spike look up. Xander and Buffy skidded to a hault in front of them. Both began wiggling and jostling each other and Spike in an effort to touch her, to hold her, to assure themselves that Willow was alright.
"Wills. Wills are you okay?" Xander managed to disengage her from Spike and haul her into his arms. Spike didn't much like it, but he let it go. They would need to be close to her too; he wasn't the only one who had nearly lost her.
"Yes," Willow's voice was shaky, but her arms were strong as she hugged Xander tightly. "I'm alright."
"God, Wills. You scared me to death." Buffy stroked Willow's hair for a moment before her arms wound around her friend, unable to wait until Xander was done with his hug before she had hers.
Sandwiched between her two best friends who weren't, Willow was pretty sure, going to let her up for air any time soon, with Spike's legs still tangled with hers and his hand resting on her thigh; Willow felt safe. The three people she loved most in the world were with her and she was safe.
"You can be pretty bad ass when you wanna be, Wills," Xander said, hugging her even tighter. "I'll never steal your Barbie again."
Willow's mood lightened and she laughed quietly, her fingers managing to find Buffy's in amongst the tangle and squeezing.
Resting her cheek on the softness of Willow's hair, Buffy's eyes lifted to Spike. He was sitting back against the counter, patiently tolerating the three of them sitting on his legs. She smiled, her lips moving silently, "Thank you."
