Chapter Two

          As usual, Willow slept only a few hours before rolling out of bed and trudging to the CSOD Library, a revamped 16th century chateau located over a mile from HQ – and in truth, Willow did very little 'trudging' and a lot more driving. Still dressed in her flannel pajama bottoms and Manchester United sweatshirt, her feet still adorned in socks and fuzzy slippers. Yawning, Willow handed her authorization card to the guard at the entrance gate, who smiled at the redhead and pushed the button which allowed the thick, iron gate to swing open.

          Entering the lavish building through a side-entrance Willow climbed a spiraling staircase set in one of the chateau's round towers, exiting the dim tower onto the third-floor. Adjusting the stack of books and notebooks she was carrying Willow moved soundlessly down a long corridor lit by soft, yellow lighting and dotted with glazed windows. Swiping her authorization card and punching the code into the padlock Willow pushed open the door, which read Authorized Personnel Only, and shut it behind her. Moving through the covered courtyard Willow exited through yet another locked door and, finally, entered the chateau's main house and the heart of the CSOD Library.

          High-ceilinged and spacious the room was decorated with beautiful stained glass and statues of marble. Bookcases that reached the ceiling sat in perfect rows encircling large, oak tables with plush chairs which atop beautifully woven rugs of deep colors. Looking around the Library Willow wasn't surprised to find it empty – it was, after all, barely past four in the morning. Dropping her things Willow immediately set to work in organizing the books and papers she had brought with her before settling down into one of the chairs and beginning her research.

          "Here you go, red."

          Finishing the sentence she was writing Willow looked up at the man who had set a mug of coffee beside her. "Thanks Heath," she smiled. "What time is it?"

          Heath, a young Watcher of early twenties with raven-black hair and ebony eyes, returned the smile. "Just after eight."

          "Is it really?"

          "What time did you come in this morning?"

          Gently closing the book before her Willow set her pen down and turned in her chair, tucking her leg beneath her, and rested her cheek against her palm. "About four."

          Heath laughed. "That late, huh?"

          Willow rolled her eyes. "Shut up."

          "What does Bruckheim have you doing this time?"

          "There've been report's about Alliance movement in south California," Willow said sipping her coffee. "Apparently they've enlisted the service of a rather powerful shaman. Intel's picked up a couple of Alliance communications and from what I've been told this shaman is clocking some serious time on the practice field."

          "How so?"

          "In the past three weeks," Willow drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees, "fifteen civilians have gone missing from the same vicinity and so far twelve have been recovered but their minds were completely gone and a few died only hours after being admitted to the local psych ward. The weird part, though, is that those still alive are all demonstrating the same bizarre symptoms." Shifting through all the papers in front of her Willow pulled out a report and read, ticking off each symptom on her fingers. "Primitive behavior, i.e. growling, crawling, extreme ferocity. Animalistic vocals, that is howling, screeching, even barking. Every so often they seem to slip into a kind of hypnotic state where they become brutally homicidal. There are others," Willow said setting the paper back down, "but I think you get the idea."

          Heath nodded. "Do we have any idea as to why the Alliance has enlisted this bloke?"

          "Not yet," Willow sighed.

          "There you are."

          Lifting her head Willow smiled. "Where else would I be?"

          Spike bent down and place a kiss on Willow's lips. "You should be in bed with me."

          "Choose you over books?" Willow mimicked shock, placing her hand over her heart. "I have never heard anything so absurd in my life."

          Both Spike and Heath rolled their eyes, exchanging a knowing look, while Willow simply smiled.