Title: Family Ties (Sequel to Sold)
Author: UniDagger
Email: sj10113@alltel.net
Feedback: Yes, please!
Distribution: Just let me know.
Spoilers: none
Pairing: W/T, B/S, X/A…you know, the usual *G*
Rating:
Disclaimers: Joss and Co. own all.
Summary: When grandma calls, Tara and Willow rush back to another dimension to rescue her, aided by the slayer. Is it just a rescue mission? Or is Destiny calling. And if it's Destiny calling, how did she get their number? Inquiring minds, want to know.
NOTE: No bunnies, and no strange men with cheese slices appearing for no reason.

Part Nine

Buffy and Tara made their way to the pier. Both girls had suddenly awakened, feeling an extremely evil force near them. Buffy looked around, then helped Tara up. "I don't think we can wait."

"But..Willow?"

"She'll find us. Or we'll catch up to her. Hurry."

The two girls walked briskly out of the alley and headed through the town. A few merchants called out greetings, offering their wares but the girls just smiled and moved on. "I don't see her." Tara said, as she moved to miss a woman carrying a large basket of fish.

Buffy lunged and grabbed Tara's wrist, pulling her towards her as the crowd of people threatened to separate them. "Stay close." Buffy warned, waited for a quick nod, then scanned for an opening, plowing through. "Must be a big sale." Tara piped up, as she was led by the blonde warrior. She grinned as she thought about what a good football player Buffy would make, dodging left and right.

The girls finally made it past the wave of shoppers, relieved that the nearer they got to the docks, the fewer people there were. As they walked down the pier looking at the few remaining boats, a man suddenly stepped in front of them. Buffy stopped abruptly, causing Tara to run into her.

"You must be Tara, but where is Willow? I was to understand we needed to leave quickly." He asked, frowning. Buffy pushed Tara further behind her, unable to understand the mans speech, but she had heard her friends names and was immediately suspicious. The frown didn't make her feel all warm and fuzzy either.

"Wait Buffy! Sir…who are you?" Tara asked as she placed a staying hand on her friends shoulder.

"Corwitthen." He answered looking confused.

"We've found you then. But if you saw Willow… Where is she?" Tara asked, the sinking feeling in her stomach returning full force.

"She went to get you two. I sent her with a bag of fruit for you to eat on your way even. How did you know to come here if she didn't return?"

Tara quickly related the mans words to Buffy then looked at Corwitthen, "She didn't show up and w-we got feeling…I mean, we both felt something….evil. So we came through town hoping to see her but…" Buffy squeezed her hand. "I'll go back and look, you stay here."

As Buffy turned to leave, Corwitthen hollered at her to stop. "Buffy, wait." Tara repeated then explained to the man, "She can't understand you."

"You should both get on the boat. I'll go and see if I can find her. It will be less suspicious that way and best if you two are out of sight."

Tara repeated his suggestion to Buffy who frowned, "I'm not going to just sit around if she's in trouble."

Sensing what the Slayer was probably saying, Corwitthen added, "Please. She is probably all right, but if we don't act soon then none of us will be. If she is in trouble, I'll return immediately." Grumbling, Buffy finally consented and followed Tara aboard, where they met Alvrin and were taken below and given some bread and dried meat.

Tara sat on the bench staring at her food, tears threatening to break through. "I'm sorry, Tara." Buffy sighed, rubbing her eyes. "It's not your fault, Buffy. Oh, Buffy..what if…" Buffy stood up and went around the table that held their untouched meal, and put her arms around the witch. "We'll find her." The slayer soothed. "We'll find her."

******

Corwitthen made his way through town, nodding to friends and responding to greetings. A lump formed in his throat as he made it to the last alley, and still had not seen the red headed young woman. Who knew they were here? He thought to himself. As he rounded the corner he saw the sack he had handed the girl, and a scrap from her dress. He bent slowly and picked it up, it was soaked with blood. Dropping it quickly, he looked around and made his way back to the boat. They were leaving, and leaving now. He swore under his breath. He should have known. He'd sensed an evil presencelast night. "Damn it I should have known."

Uncaring of the questioning looks his outburst had acquired, he made it to the pier and threw off the lines, jumping aboard. "Uncle!" When his uncle appeared he saw the look in Corwitthen's eyes and immediately got to work.

Part Ten

"No! We are not going to leave her here." Tara was screaming, her fists clenched angrily.

"She is not here."

"You don't know that. You can't know that." Tears streaked her face, as Buffy stood by her, only understanding her side of the conversation. "Tara?" She asked, looking from the man to her friend.

"I saw the signs. I know who has her, and there is no way he'd stay around. Once we get Amilia she can help us save your friend. With out her, we wouldn't stand a chance. I'm ….sorry. We are pressed for time, Tara. We have two days to reach Vankt and only that night to rush in and grab her or shes….." The sailor let the words trail off unfinished.

Tara sank onto the bench, her legs unable to hold her any longer. Everything was going down hill so fast. She was losing them…she was going to lose both of them and all she could do was….nothing. Tara covered her face with her hands, trying not to cry. Crying wouldn't help any of them.

"Tara." Buffy hugged her, looking up and glaring at Corwitthen. "When I figure out what you've said to her I'm going to rip you a new one." Corwitthen looked at her, then shrugged. He turned and went back outside, breathing deeply the sea air. He hated that he had upset them, but they just didn't understand what they were up against. With a sigh, he went to relieve his uncle. Alvrin was always better at explaining things, maybe he could help.

Relaying what had transpired, Corwitthen expressed his own concerns. "We're running out of time, Uncle. Amilia…." Alvrin placed a well aged, but still strong hand on his nephews shoulder. "The Goddess is with us, Cor. Things happen for a reason and quite often a reason that we cant comprehend. I'll talk to the girls. Maybe I can explain to them what creature we are facing."

*****

Willow moaned as she tried to claw her way to consciousness. Her side was burning where the creature had slashed her. Hands. She remembered hands shoving her roughly, pulling her up. She had been forced to drink something. When she had tried to spit it out, they had slapped her. Too weak and frightened, she had stopped resisting and half choked, half swallowed the nauseating thick liquid. It's taste still seemed to lurk in her mouth.

She tried to look around, but all she saw was darkness and it was hard to keep her heavy eyelids open. She shivered in the dampness as a tear wandered down her cheek. "Tara." She whispered. She tried to sit up but her arms wouldn't move. She took several slow breaths to try clear her mind. Something was on them…her wrists. "Tied up. Damn." She thought.

Suddenly he was there, standing over her. Those red eyes burning her with it's hatred. "P-please.." Her plea was caught in her thoat as the creature howled and dragged her up, heedless of the injury that caused her to cry out. "You…will…die…" It hissed into her face, then threw her against the her to cry out again, pain shooting through her. As she sank to the floor, darkness closed in on her and she accepted it with relief.

*******

Alvrins voice was kind and calm, he spoke slowly as he related the tale of Shaledan, a creature who had once been a man. Consumed by his evil, he had eventually transformed, shedding everything that resembled anything human. Even demons feared this dark creature, whom many described as a shadow given corporeal form. Though stories varied from person to person, all accounts, however had two things in common: razor sharp claws, and blazing red eyes that seemed to bore its hatred right through you.

"The Shaledan has existed for thousands of years. He loves nothing and serves only one master. It's a toss up as to which is worse to face. We have our fair share of evil beings here, but they all quell before the Shaledan and his master, Drawk."

Alvrin paused to light his pipe, allowing Tara to translate to Buffy. "So who is the Drawk..what is he?" Buffy asked. Tara started to ask, but Alvrin raised his hand. "I heard the name..I can guess. What is he, where'd come from…can be destroyed?" Tara smiled, "Something like that."

"Well, there are many who believe he was a god who was beaten down by the others. Others think maybe it was someone who stole a gods power. Thing is, no one really knows. Priests make their claims and then have you say your prayers for protection…but really, no one knows. One thing is for certain, he is evil incarnate. Many warriors and innocents alike have lost their lives…and souls…to those two."

"So…." Tara's lips began to tremble, she swallowed hard. "A-are you s-saying ….th-there's no…hope?"

The old man reached a hand out and touched Tara's. "No child. There is always hope. The two evils together…that's one thing. But if it's just Shaledon alone…Amilia has fought him before. Barely survived..but survive she did. Tara…there is always hope. Never give up on it."

Tara gave a half hearted smile and nodded. Thinking of her beloved, she tried to send thoughts of warmth and love to her. Where ever she was. That night as she lay in her bunk staring into the darkness, she prayed that Willow would be okay, and that they'd be reunited. "Vahna, if you can hear me. Please. Look after my Willow."

******

Miles away, a small form lay trembling in the corner of a cell. It made no sound other than a low moan and whispered words that fell from feverish lips. Red hair clung in damp ringlets to a burning forehead. Sometimes, its green eyes would open and stare unseeing, a whimper, then the eyes would close again. Over the next few hours, the fever worsened, and her breathing grew labored.

Shaledon howled at the moonlight. He was quite proud of himself. He had gotten one of them. He would get the other and kill the slayer. He had time. Dwark would be pleased, he would have to let him keep one. Shaledon snarled. He would keep one. He was stronger now. Time was getting nearer…soon he would be the master. With that pleasing thought, he began running, flitting from shadow to shadow.

******

An old woman in a tattered dress stood up weakly from a corner of the cell, and made her way to the young prisoner. She paused to procure a chipped cup and filled it with water. Kneeling down with a groan, she pulled the young girl closer. The red head whimpered as the woman held the cup to her lips. "Drink, Child." She managed to get a small amount down the girls throat, then dabbed some of the tepid liquid on Willow's forehead, using the end of her sleeve. The old woman held her, rocking when the whimpering and crying out worsened. Her hand stroked the fiery locks with a soothing hand, a tear falling from the old woman's eyes. "Shhh. Shhhh. There, now child. Rest."

TBC…