Part 22

With Malcolm taking the bait, the plan had been set in motion. The next step was put in place when Albert and Hannah helped Willow rent a small town house. They had argued with her about this but with her Resolve Face firmly in place she had won the argument. She hadn't wanted anything to happen to them in case Ripper had found out where she was staying. She knew nothing would happen to her. She would be alive in 2004 to come back to 1888 London. But in no way would she ever take the chance that something bad would happen to Hannah or Albert. Not only because that meant something would happen to HER Giles but she cared deeply about Hannah and Albert for themselves. Besides she had told them, she wouldn't be alone. Spike and Angel would be with her.

She turned from the window and saw Spike standing in the doorway just looking at her.

"What?"

Spike smiled, "Just thinking about how much my life has changed since that night I tried to bite you."

Willow grew serious. He had no idea how much his life changed since that night. She sat down shakily on the bed, her eyes unseeing. God, how much have I messed up my reality? Or should I say everyone's reality. Now that Spike brought it up she was dreading going back. She remembered some science fiction story about a man that traveled back in time to see dinosaurs and accidentally stepped on some bug. When he got back, Nazis were in power and people were illiterate. She had done way more than step on a bug.

Spike grew concerned when Willow didn't smile or answer him. Instead she sat on the bed and Spike heard her heartbeat begin to race. "Here now, that was a compliment."

Spike's words brought her out of her musings. She tried to smile, "Just thinking about what my reality will be like when I go back to my time."

Spike didn't like to think about her going back. He knew she would go back so that she could come back here. This time travel was very confusing. The only thing that was keeping him from saying Sod all and keeping her was that she said they were family in her time. He knew that would never change. They would always be involved in each other's lives. It just felt too right to not be true no matter the timeline.

Spike went to the bed and lay down next to Willow. He pulled her into his arms trying to comfort her and himself.

~~~~

Angel smiled as he made his way through the pub that catered to demons. Someone had approached him earlier to tell him the latest rumor on the powerful witch that was in London. He loved it when a plan came together. A couple of days ago Willow made the rounds in the demon community with Spike showcasing her magick.

Angel and Spike had decided that they were going to spread the rumor that Willow came to town and formed a Triumvirate with them. Angel thought this would also cover his torture of Ethan if news of that got back to Malcolm.

The rumor that was in the pub tonight was that Willow had forced Darla and Drusilla out and that they went to the Master because no one else would have them. No one wanted to anger the powerful witch by letting them into their clan. Angel couldn't wait to get back to the town house to tell William and Willow that one.

A short, stout dark haired vampire slowly made his way towards Angel. "I hear you are in a Triumvirate with the witch."

Angel smiled inwardly but turned toward the voice with no expression.

"I've formed an alliance with her."

"What of the other part of your alliance? He's a little young to have in such a powerful union."

Angel just quirked an eyebrow and gave a half smile. "William? You're right he is young but Willow seems captivated with him." He shrugged and leaned in with a conspiratory whisper, "Time is irrelevant to a vampire. She'll tire of him soon enough and then I'll have her to myself."

Malcolm inwardly seethed. Neither one of the vampires were good enough for his witch. He would enjoy taking the witch out from under their noses.

"I understand you were the one that tortured my pet."

"He was yours? It didn't take much to make him scream, it wasn't really worth the effort to torture. But, Willow enjoyed listening to his yells from the other room. And I like the rewards that come with making Willow happy." Angel winked at Malcolm.

"Why did she want you to torture my pet? He has some magick but not enough to be a threat to her. He's got some manipulative abilities but nothing on the scale of either you or me."

"Your pet never told you?" Angel tsked, "He was jealous of Willow. He saw her the first night you killed in Bucks Row and knew that you would dump him for her once you saw her power. He spread rumors among the humans in Whitechapel hoping to get her burned as a witch for helping Jack the Ripper. There was even talk that George Lusk thought Spike, Willow and I killed Annie Chapman. Ethan was taking away one of your kills and giving the credit to us. Being the gentleman that I am I denied all involvement in your honest kill. I happily volunteered to hunt him, kidnap him and torture him for Willow. She has a kind of obsession where he's concerned. I let him go thinking I would catch him again but so far he's eluded me. I can't imagine how happy Willow would be to have Ethan to torture for herself."

Angel watched the emotions flit over Malcolm's face. He knew that he had taken this bait and would probably hunt Ethan down to present to Willow. This part had been Spike's idea and Angel was impressed. Spike had pointed out that Ethan wouldn't come anywhere near Willow if Angel were there and Angel had no intention of leaving Willow. So, this plan had been the compromise. Sort of kill two birds with one stone, Malcolm hunting and bringing his pet to the trap that would catch them both.

"If I could get my pet for Willow where would I deposit him for her?"

"You would do that for Willow? Turn your pet over for more torture?"

Malcolm just smiled and thought offering her something that you can't deliver would show her how much I have to offer. "He means nothing to me and if Willow wants him she is welcome to him."

Angel looked at him like he was testing the truthfulness but he just wanted Malcolm to sweat. "We are staying in a town house near the theater district just bring him there."

"I can bring him tomorrow night if that isn't too soon."

"You have him?"

"I know where I can get him."

~~~~

Malcolm entered his lair and with an unneeded sigh, "Why must you always disappoint me?"

Ethan looked up through the slit in his eye as Malcolm approached.

"I have to find out from a stranger that you knew a powerful witch. That you had in fact knew about her since Bucks Row. I am relieved now that I gave in to the whim to keep you alive." Malcolm squatted down next to where he kept his pet chained. He wanted to see his eyes or what he could see of his eyes through the swollen mass that used to be Ethan's face. "It seems she formed a triumvirate with the one that tortured you. It should have been me that she formed her union with." He paused, "Oh it soon will be me, as soon as I deliver you to her tomorrow night she'll see what I have to offer."

Ethan shivered at Malcolm's words. Ethan had let his guard down after going to Malcolm's lair and not finding the heart. He thought for sure that Malcolm would obsess over Willow and forget all about him. What he hadn't counted on was that Malcolm viewed his abandonment as a slap in the face. No one would fear Malcolm if he couldn't even handle his own pet. Ethan's torture and imprisonment was a lesson to others that Malcolm would not be trifled with.

Malcolm left Ethan to go to his special hiding place. "I feel so good about tomorrow night that I think I'm going to celebrate with the last of my favorite delicacy."

He came back to the table that was in front of Ethan carrying a box. He reached in and pulled out what was left of the heart.

Ethan watched in horror his one chance at immortality disappearing as Malcolm devoured the last of Mary Kelly's heart.