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Chapter 23

Somewhere Else

And so the plan begins. It seems that there is some reverse "turning" to be done and the only "conduit" innately magical enough to contain whatever powerful magiks are needed to return all four souls to their original owners is Willow. She will learn the needed incantation and then she will be sent back into her earthly body with not only her own soul but also three others. The souls would then need to be returned to their true homes.

"OK, so what's the catch?" Soul Buffy asks. She may be pure undiluted soul but she is still Buffy, she knows how these things work.

Giles immediately makes a face and takes off his glasses. "Ah, yes, a catch. I guess you could say that."

"And?" Xander adds though much less sarcastically than usual.

"Each of the three must say 'yes' to accept the soul."

This news stirs even Angel. "So, she's going down there and asking three admittedly blood thirsty vampires to be resouled."

"Umm, yes, I'd say that's an accurate summary - albeit harsh."

Willow sits up on her knees from her perch on the sofa. "Woooaa Now Giles! I don't know if I'm up to this - can I um, un-volunteer? Pleeassse?"

"Unfortunately, no. And, there is one other thing. You only have 24 hours from the time you arrive or the souls will cease to be ahh - viable - you might say."

Taking a deep breath, Soul Willow says, "Well, no time like the present although I do kinda like the whole beige thing going on here. Don't suppose I can keep the sweater, huh?"

*********************

Vamp Willow has slammed the door behind her and Oz, leaving Cordelia to Xander. Oz is limping, holding his side tentatively where she kicked him earlier. She is turning a number of possibilities around in her head, each one infinitely amusing.

Oz is watching her wearily as he continues to clutch the sheet he has wrapped around his waist - a little too Animal House for his taste, but a guy's gotta do, what a guy's gotta do. He is trying to lay low and not provoke her. If she gets angry - well, no more chances---

She has touched something on the wall to reveal another door. She turns flirtatiously, "Here, Puppy - Follow Mommy". He worries about leaving Cordy but he just doesn't see any other way. He's done what he can for her - shared the little strength he's got.

A few turns and some other unknown movement and they are in a plush suite of rooms. She turns to him again and he braces for the next bout of humiliation. But before she can open her mouth, she looks confused and the air around her becomes thick and hazy. Her head rolls back and she suddenly gasps, taking in a deep, unneeded breath. With the breath, she draws in the silvery mist surrounding her. It's almost as if the mist is forcing itself into her and when it's finished, she collapses.

Oz sees his opportunity - whatever is going on. He seizes the chance to make a break for it. He quickly turns and starts searching the wall for the hidden switch operating the door.

"Oz?"

Hearing the familiar voice, he turns to her. She is still on the floor. She has pulled herself up into a sitting position and she is awkwardly trying to pull the opposing sides of her shirt over her exposed cleavage. She looks up to him with a bemused expression. "Oz, you're all nakedy!" She announces as she blushes furiously.

Oz's head is spinning. For one, he's never seen a vampire blush and for two, it's Willow - his Willow. He can't contain the grin seeping out onto his face. While the stoic thing his more his style, this is just too good. "Willow, it's you. How?"

He hastily comes forward to help her stand. It seems his Willow is much less adept at moving around in skintight leather and high heels than her counterpart. THANK GOD, he thinks.

"Long story - no time - just listen - I've got 24 hours - to - to get everybody's souls back - Giles says they have to -have to say yes - to get them back." Looking at him more closely, she sees his accumulating bruises. "Oh no, that was me, wasn't it? Oh no, I'm sorry." She starts the approach him to check out the bruises on his face and then jumps back. "No, not now. Gotta hurry, can you help?"

"Sure." He answers, the grin still plastered on his face. "It might help if I - umm - had some clothes, I guess."

"Done." Willow says and with a wave of her black nailed hand, he's dressed in his favorite tee shirt, jeans and tennis shoes.

"Man, you've learned some new tricks."

"Just a few," she says as she smiles shyly. "OK, fill me in. I mean, you were all nakedy. Were we? Well, you know?" She asks as the blush returns to her face.

If possible, the grin on his face grows even bigger. "I wish. Ahh, no. I had --- actually --- you had --- I changed and lost my clothes."

"Oh." She says awkwardly. It's obvious there's a lot more he's not telling her. She takes another deep breath which is hard in the corset thingie. Why couldn't she wear that sweater? Oh well! "Look Oz, I know that I'm going to be embarrassed over --- well, whatever. Giles filled us in on how we - how we turned out - all extra bad and everything but I need you to fill me in so I can figure out how to do this. OK?"

Taking a seat on the couch beside her, he sits down lays out what he knows of the last few days.

"You mean, Cordy's a werewolf. Oh no!"

Oz shrugs "Oh well, she's still got her soul. Those are the breaks."

Just then, Willow starts to feel wiggy. Innately, she realizes that she is hungry. Her senses are focusing in on Oz's heartbeat, the smell of his blood. She looks around the room for something, but doesn't see anything that looks like it would maybe hold some donated pints. Giles reminded her that she would still have her own demon to contend with - but hearing it and doing it are two totally different things.

"Ah, Oz. Can you, can you help me look for a fridge or something? I'm --- hungry, and I'm me but I'm all grrr still too."

"Hey, I'm cool with that, I have my grrr days myself." He says with a wink.

She stands and starts to explore with him. Announcing to the walls, "That's my boyfriend - through thick and thin."

"Well, blood is thicker than water". He quips.

"Ha, ha - not so funny".

"It was worth a try --- Here!" he gestures toward the fridge.

She hastily grabs two pints and vamps out before she can even realize it. Looking up, she sees that Oz has gentlemanly turned his back.

Oz feels a cold chill run down his back upon seeing Willow vamp out - the two sides of her - in such quick succession, are difficult to handle. Turning away, he tries to gather his wits about him as he reflects on what she has told him.

She coughs discreetly when she is finished as she desperately tries to clear her head. The outing of this other side now inside of her in disconcerting at best. Plus, she has no time to even try to deal with it.

Oz turns and asks, "So, I'm thinking you're - umm - going to try for Xander first? Get him away from Cordy?"

Much more uncomfortable with Oz now that the demon has reared its head, she answers quickly, "Ahhh, yeah. I'll --- yeah. I'll get him away, one way or another and then, you get Cordy and get out anyway you can."

***********************

The vampire in front of her is an aberration of the boy who she once made out with in broom closets. Her efforts to seek out that boy have been fruitless. She is running out of energy. She is running out of time. She can see that he is growing tired of baiting her and is ready to move on to move physical pursuits. She sends up one more silent prayer.

Willow and Oz have decided that he will wait huddled in the corner of the outside chamber as if dead or asleep while Willow goes into get Xander. Once she has his attention, he will move to get Cordelia and get out. When they reach the outside chamber, Willow assures him that Cordy is still alive. That she can hear her heart beating strongly still.

The door behind Alexander opens. He senses his mate immediately and turns to pull her into his embrace.

Willow is glad that her heart isn't beating so he can't sense her nervousness. She had thought that he would most likely get close to her but this --- his hands firmly cupping her bottom as he bites at her lips while in gameface. When he draws her blood, her own face shifts and his harsh attentions manage to carry her off on a wave of passion like she has never felt before. Sure, she and Oz have kissed, but this is something wholly different in every respect. He uses his body to push her back against the wall. The rough treatment only enflames her further and she runs her own hands over and down his back. He growls and she hears an answering sound out of her own throat as if she is answering her mate's call. Just the realization of that imaginary is staggering for her.

His mouth comes down to her throat and she finds that she is arching it to him like an offering. When he bites down and begins to draw strongly, her entire being throbs. She didn't anticipate this connection with this, this monster that looks like Xander. Some part of her deep inside is still managing to think, to plan. How she can even begin to think is beyond her. She guesses it must be the higher power helping her to swim through this sea of sensuality. She realizes that this might be her chance if Xander is half as distracted as she.

While he continues to drink, she sees Cordelia crawl slowly out of the open door, never looking back. Thank God, she is smart enough not to scream her head off. Seeing Cordelia get out alive, allows her to feel more comfortable in Vamp Xander's arms.

Oz ventures one final look in through the open door. What he sees shakes him more than anything before. Willow is pressed against the wall, her arms tightly around her mate, her face vamped, eyes closed in ecstasy as he feeds from her. The thought that this is actually his Willow - soul and all -destroys him. At that moment, he feels her slip away from him - soul and all.

TBC