Chapter One

Willow Rosenburg sat at the desk in her bedroom busily typing up her chemistry essay; she could hear her mother moving around in her own bedroom as she prepared for bed, and the sound of her father on the phone discussing work. Without taking her eyes off the screen she picked up a can of coke and took a deep swig. Next to her, her own phone began to ring and she quickly picked it up letting out a small huff of irritation as her concentration was broken.

"Hello?"

"Will!"

"Xander!" She blushed at the high-pitched tone of her voice and shook her head, thankful that her dark-haired friend couldn't see her. "W – What's up?"

"Jesse and I are going to the Bronze, want to come?" She bit her lower lip and looked at her half-written essay. "C'mon Will," Xander pleaded, "you can be my wingman – woman." He quickly corrected and Willow felt a pang in her chest, was that all he would see her as? "I'll buy you a coke."

"Two cokes and you have a deal." She smiled and set the phone down; hurriedly she changed from her nightdress into a white blouse and tights under a pale tartan-style dress. As she stepped outside into the cool night air she found Xander already waiting for her, she fell into step beside him. "Is Jesse meeting us there?"

"Yep, he's hoping to get there early and buy Cordelia a drink." Willow's nose wrinkled in annoyance, was she being dragged out while the two competed for her affections? She knew Xander pretended to hate Cordelia, but deep down she knew he was like every other red-blooded male in Sunnydale. As they approached the Bronze her eyes caught sight of a young woman in a short, her outfit looked similar to that of a Catholic schoolgirl Tartan print, white blouse and a dark V-neck jumper. She had blonde hair and as Willow and Xander walked past she smiled at them, her eyes seeming to drink in the sight of both teenagers. Willow looked up at Xander to see if he noticed, quickly looking down as she realised he did. Why can't he look at me like that? She thought enviously almost pausing in her steps to look at the woman behind them. Their eyes met and the woman nodded to Willow, smiling warmly at her and gesturing her over with her eyes.

"I – I'll meet you inside," Willow said nervously to Xander but he had already gone in. Nervously she stepped closer to the woman; there was something conflicting about her. She appeared friendly and warm, just a little bit older than Willow herself and there was none of the mocking laughter or scorn in her eyes that so many others looked at her with. Yet Willow's legs screamed at her to go inside, to stay close to Xander or even to just go home.

"He'll never look at you like you want." Her voice was gentle, there was nothing taunting about what she said. "I can help you."

"H – Help?" Willow asked weakly, "I – I –"

"I used to be just like you. Full of doubt, insecure." She's not that much older than me yet she talks as if she's been around a while. Willow took an uneasy step back but the woman reached out and slipped an arm around her shoulder. "Have you told him how you feel?"

"N – No! God no!" Willow cried, shaking her head, "w – we're just friends!"

"I can tell you like him," the woman smiled warmly, "let me talk to him for you."

"Oh, please…I…" Willow's cheeks were incredibly warm and she looked around desperately. "T – Thank y – you, but…we're just friends. I –"

"Willow!" She turned around in relief as Xander came jogging over, "we were…hi…" His eyes rested on the blonde woman and Willow wished that the ground would just open and swallow her. If Xander were a cartoon dog his chin would have hit the ground as his eyes practically bulged from his head. "Hi, I'm Xander," he held out his hand almost bowing to the woman beside Willow, she smiled at Willow and winked playfully before turning to Xander.

"Darla," she shook his hand and smiled warmly at him. "I'm sorry for taking your friend; I thought I recognised her from somewhere. My mistake."

"N – No I'm sure you couldn't make mistakes." Willow rolled her eyes and smiled despite herself, but a sudden thought made the smile drop from her face. Was this what she was like around him? No, she tried to reassure herself. She might be a babbling wreck but that was just who she was. "Maybe you'd like to join us? We were just meeting another friend for a few drinks, you and Willow could talk a bit more…maybe you do know each other." Willow shot Xander a look of disbelief, was he really trying to pick this woman up?

"I'd like that, thank you." She smiled and slipped her arm through Willow's practically pulling her into the Bronze. A group of men were clustered near the door and Willow inched past them nervously, her arm still entwined with Darla's. The band was a loud one that night and Willow resisted the urge to clap her hand over her ears; instead she ducked her head and shook her waist length auburn hair trying to use it as a muffler against the noise.

"I – I really should go home." She said trying to pull her arm from Darla's, "I have homework –"

"But you just got here!" Darla protested tightening her grip ever-so-slightly. Both women looked up at Xander but he seemed completely entranced by Darla and didn't seem to notice Willow protesting.

"N – No r – really I should…should go home." She was relieved when Darla released her arm and nodded, but her eyes didn't seem to be focusing on Willow.

"I'll talk to him for you," she whispered conspiratorially but Willow shook her head still smiling nervously, what was it about this woman?

"No really…we…w – we are just friends. I – It was nice to meet you."

"And you...Willow," how does she know my name? But a split second after the thought she remembered that Xander had called her. "Such a lovely name."

"Erm t – thank you," Willow smiled nervously and managed to take a step backwards. Seeing that Xander was fully occupied and Jesse was nowhere to be seen she slipped outside onto the street and began to head home. Well this was a wasted evening, she thought feeling tears prick her eyes. What would it take for Xander to notice her? She paused to stare down at her outfit and cringed, it just screamed innocent, boring and dowdy. She was a few blocks from the Bronze when she heard footsteps behind her, nervously she began to pick up the pace and felt panic welling up as she heard the footsteps pick up pace. Against her better judgement she glanced behind her and almost screamed, three men were clearly following her. Two were an average build, but the third was built like an ox with a broad chest, thick arms and strong looking shoulders. But all had the faces of monsters, their teeth looked too big for their mouths and they had fangs. Their eyes, Willow caught a yellow glint and broke into a sprint. Whoever the men were, they were fast, and soon they had caught up with Willow. She cried out in pain as one of them grabbed her by her hair and pulled her backwards, the force of their pull sent her falling onto the ground and she was dragged back towards the man's legs. "Let me go!" She cried reaching up to scratch at him with her hands. Her heart was beating frantically in her chest, her body breaking out in a cold sweat as she was pulled to her feet. The ox-man stood in front of her and reached down so he could pick her up, she tried to pull away but his grip was like a vice.

"Do you think Darla is sure this one will do?" A nasally voice asked and Willow whimpered as the ox looked her up and down, a predatory glint in his yellow eyes.

"Yes, she knows The Master well…this lamb will make a perfect offering." Willow screamed as the ox reached up to grab her neck, squeezing it until she fell into a sickening darkness.