Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Frantic, Mortem, and that's about it.
Author's note: I know I said I'd update sooner, but here I am now, and with an actual semi-long (for me) chapter. Please r&r as it helps me survive the days, and it also keeps the story going. So, if you want to keep it going, please r&r!!
Chapter Fourteen - Possession
"Buffy. Buffy!! You have to wake up!! I'm not strong enough to carry you!!," Anya pleaded as she shook her friend.
"Your house is too far away . . . I have to get help. But I don't want to leave you now . . . Spike!"
Anya propped Buffy up against a tombstone and ran as fast as her legs would let her to Spike's crypt. 'Thank God we're in his cemetery,' she thought.
When she got to his crypt, she bent over for a moment to catch her breath and slow her thoughts, then she got up and raced into the crypt. "Spike! Spike! It's about Buffy. I need your help."
Spike got up from the chair he'd been sitting in and his face was now creased with worry. "What? What happened?"
"I don't know . . . She just- She said Halfrek was talking to her again, and then she fell over and starting yelling about things trying to find her and then she blacked out. I need to get her home."
Spike nodded and hurried to the door, and Anya followed. He paused at the doorway to let her pass. "Lead the way."
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
All around Buffy there was nothing but an endless sea of black. She didn't have a tangible form, bu she was there; staring into the abyss.
"Where am I?" she asked the silence. Instead of words, her question came out as waves that ended before they'd begun.
She started walking; or at least what should have been walking. But something wasn't right.
"Who's there?"
"Buffy?"
As soon as her name was spoken, she became aware that she wasn't alone. That there was an untouchable number of people all around her. She couldn't see them, but she could feel them. The one that had spoken through the waves was right next to her.
"Tara?"
"Buffy. We have to get you out of here?"
"I know. But where's here? And what are you doing here?"
Tara sighed. "They sent me to find you. It's not safe in this part. Follow me."
Buffy sensed Tara moving away from her, but she couldn't tell where. "Wait. Tara. I don't know where I am or where you're going. Tara!"
She sensed Tara coming back again.
"Let her see what is unseen."
With the last syllable, everything erupted in shades of brightness and color. Most things were blurs, but she could see herself and Tara.
Tara attempted a weak smile. "These are just avatars. Nothing has form or appearance here. Now follow me."
Buffy did as she was instructed, but she couldn't pull her sight away from Tara. She was surrounded by white and wore a simple, yet extremely elegant dress. Buffy looked down at herself and saw herself as she always had, but whit a pale blue all around her.
Tara paused and Buffy did the same. She waited while Tara held up her hand and spoke a few words in an ancient language Buffy had never heard before. A shimmer passed over the space in front of them and Tara went through. She emerged a few seconds later.
"Good. It's sage. We have to go in there or else we could be lost in the spirit streams forever."
Buffy nodded, still confused, but walked through the shimmer and Tara soon followed. It was exactly like the place they had just been, except Buffy could tell they were alone.
Buffy glanced awkwardly at Tara, "So. What are you doing here?"
"I'm the Tara from the other world; the original one. I still know what's going on, but there's not much I can do. This is one of the many netherworlds. It's not hell, but it's the passageway from dimensions and worlds and life and death. I'm here to help you out, and to tell you some things you need to know. Basically, I'm giving you a choice. Since you've come here, you can either fight through the barrier of the world you were just in, or go back to where you're supposed to be. But there's a catch."
Buffy sighed. "Isn't there always?"
"If you go back to the other world, where we both come from, you'll be leaving all of the dimensions vulnerable to Mortem. Once she's destroyed that world, there's nothing to stop her from destroying your's and all the rest."
'This is the Tara you knew. This is the Tara who was murdered. The Tara who died a quick, but excruciatingly painful death. This was your friend.' As the meaning of the words finally sank in, Buffy couldn't help but start crying.
"Tara . . . I'm so sorry. God, I'm so sorry."
Tara smiled weakly again. "I know. I miss all of you so much. But there's nothing we can do. But, you can do something about Mortem. You can stop her before she starts. You know how you blacked out? Well, that's because something possessed your body and forced your spirit into the netherworld. The ether."
"Mortem."
Tara nodded. "Yes. But, we can work to get her out. But we'll have to somehow channel Willow. The only thing is that I don't know how to do it; they didn't tell me."
"Who?"
"The Powers-that-be. We have to somehow get the message to Willow and tell her what to say."
The thought struck Buffy so fast that it was out of her mouth before she knew what she was saying. "Halfrek."
Tara perked up slightly. "I almost forgot about her."
Buffy looked thoughtful for a moment, pondering all the "what-if's". "Can we summon her? Is that allowed?"
"Yeah. You'll have to do it since you've been in contact with her recently. There's a better chance of her responding that way."
Buffy nodded. "Okay. Halfrek! Halfreak!! Get over here NOW!"
Buffy and Tara stared at each other until smoke filled the space they were in and Halfrek appeared. "Yes?"
Tara turned her gaze to Halfrek. "We need your help for something. We need you to channel our energies and messages to the Willow in Buffy's wish world."
Halfrek sighed. "All right. But it'll take complete concentration and there can be no disturbances or the connection will be broken."
Tara and Buffy glanced at each other, then spoke in unison. "We understand."
Halfrek nodded. "Then let's get started."
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
"Here she is," Anya said as she and Spike arrived where she'd left Buffy. "God, she's so pale."
Spike sighed and tried not to panic. "All right. We've got to get her home."
He bent down and picked Buffy up gently in his arms.
"It'll be all right, luv. It'll be all right," Spike murmured to Buffy as they hurried to get her home.
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
The avatars of Buffy, Tara, and Halfrek were now sitting in a small circle, with their hands clapsed.
Halfrek glanced at the two women surrounding her. "So, you're ready? You know what you have to do?"
Tara nodded.
Buffy hesitated. "Wait. How is time moving in my original world? Have they noticed I'm gone?"
Halfrek sighed. "Well . . . it's complicated. I'm not entirely sure. Time has either stopped, it's moving very, very slowly compared to your second world, or it's going on normally and you've slipped into a coma-like state of being and it's almost like you're dreaming this all."
"Okay . . . Then I guess we should get started."
Tara started speaking in another ancient language Buffy couldn't understand, but found fascinatingly beautiful. Halfrek had explained to them that it was basically asking the dimensions for permission to communicate with Willow. The only catch was that once they started communicating, the messages would be delayed anywhere from five to twenty seconds to and from each other.
Tara stopped speaking and there was a long pause. Then her head shot back and a turquoise light shot through her.
"Thank you," Tara said. "You'll have to speak through me since I'm the only one who can handle the power, since I can't be destroyed." Tara noticed the quick look of confusion on Buffy's face. "It's because I'm already dead. It's complicated."
"So I've heard," Buffy remarked. "We'll just have to hope Mortem hasn't woken up yet."
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Anya hurried up the steps and rang the doorbell of the Summers' home. 'It's actually locked for once. Great timing they have to start caring about their house being attacked,' she thought.
The moment before someone opened the door seemed like an eternity, but Anya sighed with relief when Willow stood before her.
As soon as her eyes landed on Buffy, she moved aside to let the three come inside. "Oh, God. What happened?"
Anya sighed, now feeling completely exhausted. "I'm not sure. She started shouting ludicrous things and then she blacked out." She watched as Spike placed Buffy on the living room couch.
Willow sat down on an oversized recliner across from the couch. "It could be a spell, but the energies don't seem right. Everything's a lot more detailed and confusing. We'll just have to wait for her to wake up."
As if on cue, Buffy's eyes shot open and she stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, orienting herself with her surroundings. She then sat up and gazed around the room.
Willow was the first to notice something was seriously wrong. "Buffy? What's wrong with your eyes?"
Instead of their normal blueish color, her eyes were now a deep shade of brown.
Buffy responded with a grin. "The same thing that happens every time I possess someone."
Willow, Anya, and Spike glanced at each other, but Spike was the one who spoke. "Mortem."
Buffy's grin widened. "Gee. How did you ever figure it out?"
Willow's eyes narrowed in anger. "What do you want?"
Mortem stood up off the couch and the three other people in the room took a step back. "Good. So you know your place. You know what will happen if you even think about attacking me. I just came here to tell you to give up before you've started trying. Don't interfere with my life, I won't interfere with yours . . . Much. So, think of this as a warning. Just remember: Three strikes and you're out. But I won't let this visit be a total waste."
With that, Mortem turned towards Spike and flashed a grin of pure insanity and lust.
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
"Okay. We've got a connection. Let's start. Buffy, tell her what's happening," Tara said.
"Willow! It's Buffy. Mortem's possessing my body. We're going to send you the words to speak to reject her spirit back to her body."
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Anya took another step back. "What do you mean?"
"Whatever you want it to mean," Mortem said, taking two more steps toward Spike.
Willow flinched, then turned around looking very dazed and confused. "Um . . . Okay. She's kind of attacking us right now, so hurry!"
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Ten seconds later, Willow's message was received.
Tara cleared her throat and began to speak in the same language as before.
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Six seconds later, Willow turned around and look at Mortem. Her head tilted back and Tara's message came from her mouth. Once it was over, Mortem started writhing in pain, then fell to her knees, but soon she could no longer support her weight and she fell over unconscious.
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Buffy smiled sadly at Tara. "Thank you."
"Anytime. But, when you get back to our world, tell Willow I miss her, and I love her, and I always will, but I want her to be happy."
"I will; I promise."
With the last word, Buffy left any state of consciousness and traveled back to the world she needed to save.
Author's note: I know I said I'd update sooner, but here I am now, and with an actual semi-long (for me) chapter. Please r&r as it helps me survive the days, and it also keeps the story going. So, if you want to keep it going, please r&r!!
Chapter Fourteen - Possession
"Buffy. Buffy!! You have to wake up!! I'm not strong enough to carry you!!," Anya pleaded as she shook her friend.
"Your house is too far away . . . I have to get help. But I don't want to leave you now . . . Spike!"
Anya propped Buffy up against a tombstone and ran as fast as her legs would let her to Spike's crypt. 'Thank God we're in his cemetery,' she thought.
When she got to his crypt, she bent over for a moment to catch her breath and slow her thoughts, then she got up and raced into the crypt. "Spike! Spike! It's about Buffy. I need your help."
Spike got up from the chair he'd been sitting in and his face was now creased with worry. "What? What happened?"
"I don't know . . . She just- She said Halfrek was talking to her again, and then she fell over and starting yelling about things trying to find her and then she blacked out. I need to get her home."
Spike nodded and hurried to the door, and Anya followed. He paused at the doorway to let her pass. "Lead the way."
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
All around Buffy there was nothing but an endless sea of black. She didn't have a tangible form, bu she was there; staring into the abyss.
"Where am I?" she asked the silence. Instead of words, her question came out as waves that ended before they'd begun.
She started walking; or at least what should have been walking. But something wasn't right.
"Who's there?"
"Buffy?"
As soon as her name was spoken, she became aware that she wasn't alone. That there was an untouchable number of people all around her. She couldn't see them, but she could feel them. The one that had spoken through the waves was right next to her.
"Tara?"
"Buffy. We have to get you out of here?"
"I know. But where's here? And what are you doing here?"
Tara sighed. "They sent me to find you. It's not safe in this part. Follow me."
Buffy sensed Tara moving away from her, but she couldn't tell where. "Wait. Tara. I don't know where I am or where you're going. Tara!"
She sensed Tara coming back again.
"Let her see what is unseen."
With the last syllable, everything erupted in shades of brightness and color. Most things were blurs, but she could see herself and Tara.
Tara attempted a weak smile. "These are just avatars. Nothing has form or appearance here. Now follow me."
Buffy did as she was instructed, but she couldn't pull her sight away from Tara. She was surrounded by white and wore a simple, yet extremely elegant dress. Buffy looked down at herself and saw herself as she always had, but whit a pale blue all around her.
Tara paused and Buffy did the same. She waited while Tara held up her hand and spoke a few words in an ancient language Buffy had never heard before. A shimmer passed over the space in front of them and Tara went through. She emerged a few seconds later.
"Good. It's sage. We have to go in there or else we could be lost in the spirit streams forever."
Buffy nodded, still confused, but walked through the shimmer and Tara soon followed. It was exactly like the place they had just been, except Buffy could tell they were alone.
Buffy glanced awkwardly at Tara, "So. What are you doing here?"
"I'm the Tara from the other world; the original one. I still know what's going on, but there's not much I can do. This is one of the many netherworlds. It's not hell, but it's the passageway from dimensions and worlds and life and death. I'm here to help you out, and to tell you some things you need to know. Basically, I'm giving you a choice. Since you've come here, you can either fight through the barrier of the world you were just in, or go back to where you're supposed to be. But there's a catch."
Buffy sighed. "Isn't there always?"
"If you go back to the other world, where we both come from, you'll be leaving all of the dimensions vulnerable to Mortem. Once she's destroyed that world, there's nothing to stop her from destroying your's and all the rest."
'This is the Tara you knew. This is the Tara who was murdered. The Tara who died a quick, but excruciatingly painful death. This was your friend.' As the meaning of the words finally sank in, Buffy couldn't help but start crying.
"Tara . . . I'm so sorry. God, I'm so sorry."
Tara smiled weakly again. "I know. I miss all of you so much. But there's nothing we can do. But, you can do something about Mortem. You can stop her before she starts. You know how you blacked out? Well, that's because something possessed your body and forced your spirit into the netherworld. The ether."
"Mortem."
Tara nodded. "Yes. But, we can work to get her out. But we'll have to somehow channel Willow. The only thing is that I don't know how to do it; they didn't tell me."
"Who?"
"The Powers-that-be. We have to somehow get the message to Willow and tell her what to say."
The thought struck Buffy so fast that it was out of her mouth before she knew what she was saying. "Halfrek."
Tara perked up slightly. "I almost forgot about her."
Buffy looked thoughtful for a moment, pondering all the "what-if's". "Can we summon her? Is that allowed?"
"Yeah. You'll have to do it since you've been in contact with her recently. There's a better chance of her responding that way."
Buffy nodded. "Okay. Halfrek! Halfreak!! Get over here NOW!"
Buffy and Tara stared at each other until smoke filled the space they were in and Halfrek appeared. "Yes?"
Tara turned her gaze to Halfrek. "We need your help for something. We need you to channel our energies and messages to the Willow in Buffy's wish world."
Halfrek sighed. "All right. But it'll take complete concentration and there can be no disturbances or the connection will be broken."
Tara and Buffy glanced at each other, then spoke in unison. "We understand."
Halfrek nodded. "Then let's get started."
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
"Here she is," Anya said as she and Spike arrived where she'd left Buffy. "God, she's so pale."
Spike sighed and tried not to panic. "All right. We've got to get her home."
He bent down and picked Buffy up gently in his arms.
"It'll be all right, luv. It'll be all right," Spike murmured to Buffy as they hurried to get her home.
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
The avatars of Buffy, Tara, and Halfrek were now sitting in a small circle, with their hands clapsed.
Halfrek glanced at the two women surrounding her. "So, you're ready? You know what you have to do?"
Tara nodded.
Buffy hesitated. "Wait. How is time moving in my original world? Have they noticed I'm gone?"
Halfrek sighed. "Well . . . it's complicated. I'm not entirely sure. Time has either stopped, it's moving very, very slowly compared to your second world, or it's going on normally and you've slipped into a coma-like state of being and it's almost like you're dreaming this all."
"Okay . . . Then I guess we should get started."
Tara started speaking in another ancient language Buffy couldn't understand, but found fascinatingly beautiful. Halfrek had explained to them that it was basically asking the dimensions for permission to communicate with Willow. The only catch was that once they started communicating, the messages would be delayed anywhere from five to twenty seconds to and from each other.
Tara stopped speaking and there was a long pause. Then her head shot back and a turquoise light shot through her.
"Thank you," Tara said. "You'll have to speak through me since I'm the only one who can handle the power, since I can't be destroyed." Tara noticed the quick look of confusion on Buffy's face. "It's because I'm already dead. It's complicated."
"So I've heard," Buffy remarked. "We'll just have to hope Mortem hasn't woken up yet."
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Anya hurried up the steps and rang the doorbell of the Summers' home. 'It's actually locked for once. Great timing they have to start caring about their house being attacked,' she thought.
The moment before someone opened the door seemed like an eternity, but Anya sighed with relief when Willow stood before her.
As soon as her eyes landed on Buffy, she moved aside to let the three come inside. "Oh, God. What happened?"
Anya sighed, now feeling completely exhausted. "I'm not sure. She started shouting ludicrous things and then she blacked out." She watched as Spike placed Buffy on the living room couch.
Willow sat down on an oversized recliner across from the couch. "It could be a spell, but the energies don't seem right. Everything's a lot more detailed and confusing. We'll just have to wait for her to wake up."
As if on cue, Buffy's eyes shot open and she stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, orienting herself with her surroundings. She then sat up and gazed around the room.
Willow was the first to notice something was seriously wrong. "Buffy? What's wrong with your eyes?"
Instead of their normal blueish color, her eyes were now a deep shade of brown.
Buffy responded with a grin. "The same thing that happens every time I possess someone."
Willow, Anya, and Spike glanced at each other, but Spike was the one who spoke. "Mortem."
Buffy's grin widened. "Gee. How did you ever figure it out?"
Willow's eyes narrowed in anger. "What do you want?"
Mortem stood up off the couch and the three other people in the room took a step back. "Good. So you know your place. You know what will happen if you even think about attacking me. I just came here to tell you to give up before you've started trying. Don't interfere with my life, I won't interfere with yours . . . Much. So, think of this as a warning. Just remember: Three strikes and you're out. But I won't let this visit be a total waste."
With that, Mortem turned towards Spike and flashed a grin of pure insanity and lust.
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
"Okay. We've got a connection. Let's start. Buffy, tell her what's happening," Tara said.
"Willow! It's Buffy. Mortem's possessing my body. We're going to send you the words to speak to reject her spirit back to her body."
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Anya took another step back. "What do you mean?"
"Whatever you want it to mean," Mortem said, taking two more steps toward Spike.
Willow flinched, then turned around looking very dazed and confused. "Um . . . Okay. She's kind of attacking us right now, so hurry!"
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Ten seconds later, Willow's message was received.
Tara cleared her throat and began to speak in the same language as before.
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Six seconds later, Willow turned around and look at Mortem. Her head tilted back and Tara's message came from her mouth. Once it was over, Mortem started writhing in pain, then fell to her knees, but soon she could no longer support her weight and she fell over unconscious.
**************************************************************************** ************************************************************************
Buffy smiled sadly at Tara. "Thank you."
"Anytime. But, when you get back to our world, tell Willow I miss her, and I love her, and I always will, but I want her to be happy."
"I will; I promise."
With the last word, Buffy left any state of consciousness and traveled back to the world she needed to save.