Willow sits up and looks around. She looks down at herself, surprised that she is completely healed. She looks around at what remains of the Magic Box, and then her eyes settle on Anya, who is lying on the floor a few feet away. She carefully gets to her feet and walks over to Anya. She drops to her knees and grabs Anya by the shoulders. Slowly, Willow turns Anya over, so she can see her face. Anya opens her eyes and blinks at Willow.

"You're still alive?" Willow asks as she looks at the extent of Anya's wounds.

"No, Willow, I am still undead. There's a difference."

"What happened?"

"I sired you," Anya explains. "It healed you." She coughs up some blood and spits it off to the side.

"So, after everything, you didn't kill me? Why not?"

"Because, you are vital to us. Your magic…"

"You sired me just so you could get at my magic?" demands Willow angrily.

"I had to. I was following orders."

"But, I told you to kill me! Why should I have to suffer when Tara is gone from the world?"

"Tara isn't gone," says Anya in a weak voice.

"Huh? What? But you said Tara was dead."

"Tara was sired by Xander, or maybe Riley," explains Anya. "They said she was needed, too."

"But, why?" asks Willow.

"Because," says Anya, in an even weaker voice.

"God, this is hopeless," says Willow as she drops Anya to the floor. She stands up and points at Anya.

"Conferva!" she calls. Anya is suddenly healed, and she sits up, looking down at herself.

"Wow," she says.


"Now, tell me what is going on."

"Xander has a plan. He wants to rule the world. But first, he wants to get rid of Buffy. But, he wants to play with her before he kills her. I tried to tell him that it was foolish plan, but he says that he will succeed where others have failed. He is convinced he can defeat her."

"No," smirks Willow. "He is convinced that we, as a group, can defeat her. I should have guessed." She thinks about it for a moment. "Who all is involved so far?"

"Xander sired Riley, and the two of them came here with Tara. Riley held Tara as Xander sired me. I don't know which one of them sired Tara. The three of them left me here to sire either you or Giles, whichever came in here first, or both of you if I could get to you one at a time. Buffy was to be left alone, and sent off on a wild goose chase, so that we would have time for all of the preparations."

"Preparations? What preparations?"

"I don't know. He told me only to stay here and sire you and or Giles. That is all I know."

"Hmm… Are you sure? Did they say anything about where they might be headed when they left? Do you know where they were going to set themselves up?"

"I don't think so. Let me think… Riley held the door open and Xander carried Tara out. He said… He said they were going to the hospital."


"The hospital?" asks Willow, wondering why they would be taking Tara to the hospital.

"Yeah," says Anya, making the connection. "My guess is that Joyce and Dawn have been sired as well, and are already with Xander, wherever he is now."

"Right," says Willow. "Wherever he is now. That is what we need to find out. By now, they would have left the hospital and set themselves up somewhere. We just have to figure out where."

"But, how are we supposed to do that? They could be just about anywhere! We don't have time to go searching for them!"

"We don't have to," says Willow. She closes her eyes and concentrates, and a small yellow ball of light appears before her. She opens her eyes and smiles. "Find Xander," she says. The ball of light slowly moves through the air, leading the way. Willow pulls Anya to her feet and the two of them follow the ball, which moves more quickly as they follow it, measuring its own pace by the speed at which Willow is moving.

***

"I hope we get there before anything bad happens," says Giles.

"We'd better," says Buffy. "I'll never be able to forgive myself if…"

"It isn't your fault, Buffy," says Giles.

"Isn't it?" cries Buffy as she stops and turns to face Giles. "I knew Xander was a vampire, and I kept that information from Willow. I had every reason to believe that Riley is also a vampire, and that he and Xander had kidnapped Tara. Then, because I wanted to talk to you about it, I sent Willow off on her own, possibly into a trap. A trap that might be fatal. How is that not my fault?"

"Buffy, I…" He stops, not knowing what he can say to make her feel better. She turns away from him, and takes a step towards town.

"What? There is nothing you can say, Giles. I wasn't thinking, and now, Willow is suffering for it."

"We don't know that," argues Giles. "We do not know what is happening at the Magic Box. Or what has happened there, for that matter. All we know for certain is that Willow might be in trouble. It is possible that she, Anya and Tara are at the shop right now, calling my apartment to tell us that Tara is safe."

"We're on the hellmouth, Giles. Nothing ever works that way on a hellmouth." She stops and holds her arm out in front of Giles, bringing him to a halt as well.

"What is it?" Giles whispers.

"I don't know," Buffy answers. "I thought I heard something." Suddenly, a group of Glory's minions come at them, waving weapons and screaming. Buffy looks at Giles and prepares to fight. As the group gets closer, they all stop. One of them steps forward and confronts Buffy.

"What have you done to the magnificent Glorificus?" he demands.

"The what?" asks Buffy. She looks at Giles, wondering if he has a clue as to what this creature in front of her is talking about. He shakes his head, indicating that he has no idea, either.

"Glorificus! What have you done to her?"

"Her? What are you talking about?" asks Buffy.

"The great and powerful Glorificus! We know you did something to her! Our bond has been severed, and we want to know why!"

"Look, I have no idea what you are talking about! I have someplace to be, so if you don't want to get severely beaten, you will get out of my way!"

"Are you on your way to the Key?" the minion asks.

"The Key? How… Oh, I get it. You're her minions. The demon-lady. You all work for her, don't you?"

"Of course! Now, what did you do to her?"


"I didn't do anything to her. Now, I have things to do, so get out of my way, or suffer the consequences!"

"We serve Glorificus! Attack!" screams the minion. The others come forward in a surge, and Buffy and Giles are suddenly surrounded by them. Buffy punches the one who was speaking, and as he falls backward, he takes three others with him. Buffy screams in the face of another, and he throws his sword, killing one of his comrades. Buffy grabs the creature and picks him up over her head. She throws him into the crowd, knocking several others over. Meanwhile, Giles is fighting four at a time. Buffy takes a step closer, in an effort to help him, when he kicks one of them, and the others scatter. He jumps out of the tangle, and lands a few feet ahead of where they stopped. Buffy jumps over a couple of the minions and lands beside him. They glance at each other before they start running.

"Geez," says Buffy, when they have gone a couple of blocks and stop to catch their breath. "No wonder she wants that Key so badly. With minions like those…"

"What a day for my car to break down," gasps Giles as he tries to catch his breath.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asks him. "You look really red."

"I'll be fine, as soon as I catch my breath."

"Can you walk? We still have to get to the Magic Box."

"You go on ahead," says Giles as he falls to the ground. "I'll catch up."

"No way," says Buffy. "Those guys, as incompetent as they are, may have followed us. And, we don't know what other dangers are out here. I already have to worry about Willow. I am not leaving you here."

"I can hobble," says Giles.

"Good enough. We have to keep moving."

Buffy grabs Giles's hand and pulls him back to his feet. She lets him use her for support as they again head toward the magic shop. As they make their way through town, Giles starts to feel better, and leans on Buffy less and less. After a few minutes, he is moving on his own. A moment later, he starts to walk faster. Buffy has no problem keeping up, but he can see that she wants to go faster.

"Go ahead. I will be right behind you," Giles tells her.

"No," she tells him as she shakes her head. "I already told you that I am not leaving you. We go together, or we don't go at all."

"But, you can get there faster. I am only slowing you down. Go."

"No! Right now, I know that you are safe. The moment I leave you, I have to start wondering if you are still safe. It's more than I can handle right now. We will stay together. Besides, we are almost there now, anyway."

Giles looked around and was surprised to see that Buffy was right. He wondered how he had gotten so turned around that he wasn't aware how close they really were. The two of them turn the corner and the shop is only a few feet away. Giles manages to pick up the pace once again, and soon they were standing in front of the shop. Buffy opens the door, and Giles walks in. Buffy bumps into him from behind, because he has come to a stop, frozen in surprise by the scene before him.

"Giles, move out of the way," says Buffy as she pushes him forward. He moves forward a step, and Buffy steps around him. She stops when she sees the condition of the place. Blood and broken merchandise cover almost every inch of the room. Buffy looks around, searching for any signs of life. Giles just remains where he is, devastated by the condition of his store. Finally, Buffy is certain that there is no one there, and she looks up at Giles.

"It's all my fault," she sobs. "I killed my best friend, because I couldn't tell her the truth. What kind of a person am I?"

"Buffy," says Giles.

"I should have just told her. Or, I could have at least warned her. Now, it's too late."

"Buffy!" Giles exclaims. She shuts her mouth and looks at him.

"What?"

"We have to go. Now."

"Why?"

"We have to get to the hospital."

"Oh, God!" screams Buffy as all the color drains from her face. Giles opens his mouth to say something, but Buffy rushes past him, heading toward the hospital.

***

"There you are," says Riley as he enters the library and finds Xander reading a large, leather-bound book.

"Quiet!" hisses Xander.

"You can't talk to me that way! Who do you think you are?" demands Riley. Xander slams the book closed and stands up. He leaps across the room and lands next to Riley. He punches Riley in the stomach, and, while Riley is bent forward, Xander brings both of his arms down on his back. Riley falls to the floor.

"You still haven't learned your place," says Xander as he kicks Riley in the side. "You exist only because I wish it to be so!" He kicks Riley again. "Never forget that!" He then bends down and grabs Riley by the hair, pulling him to his feet. Riley looks into Xander's eyes, challenging him. Xander raises his knee, smashing it into Riley's groin. He then grabs Riley's shoulders and throws him against the wall. He walks over and kneels by Riley, looking into his eyes. With one hand, Xander grabs Riley's arm and twists it so hard it comes out of its socket with a loud pop. Riley moans in pain.

"Have you learned your lesson, soldier?" Xander asks as he continues to stare into Riley's eyes. Riley's eyes never move. He just continues to glare up at Xander. Xander stands up and kicks Riley in the side again. He keeps kicking until he is certain that he has broken Riley's ribs. He then bends down and lifts Riley from the floor. He carries him out into the hall and body slams him on the stairs. Riley slides down a couple of stairs, and begins to spit up blood. Xander jumps on top of him, crushing his chest, and causing his broken ribs to tear at his insides.

Xander then steps onto the stair above Riley and looks down on him. Riley looks up at his sire. Xander smiles and sets one foot on the stair beside Riley's head. With all of his strength, Xander kicks Riley in the head, sending him up into the air, twisting in gruesome somersaults as blood sprays from his mouth. Riley lands with a sickening thud at the bottom of the stairs. He is only barely conscious, but is fully aware that less than a second passes before Xander is standing beside him again.

"Do you know your place now, soldier?" Xander asks. He kneels beside Riley and forcefully flips him onto his back. Riley stares up into Xander's eyes, and then looks away, admitting defeat.

"Good," says Xander as he picks Riley up from the floor. He carries him into the nearest room and places him gently on a couch. "You know, you aren't required to be around in order for my plan to work. Buffy will be more upset if she knows you are a vampire, but I am sure your death would hit her pretty hard, too. You would do well to remember that."

Xander then turns and leaves the room, heading back up to the library. He is halfway up the stairs when he stops and turns around. He goes back downstairs and enters the room where he left Riley. He walks over to the broken vampire and squats beside him. He reaches out and moves a bit of hair from Riley's face. Riley looks at him, as if asking him what he wants. Xander raises a fist, and Riley flinches. Xander smiles and pats Riley on the shoulder. He then stands up and heads to the door again. When he reaches the door, he turns back to Riley.

"The next time I see you, you should probably be wearing your new uniform. If you know what's good for you, anyway." He then turns and leaves the room. He walks back up to the library to continue his research.

***

Dawn looks up from the man she has just drained, and smiles when she sees the woman crouching in the corner. She looks around at the others. Joyce is still busy with the man whom she had attacked, and Tara was letting the woman she had attacked think that she was going to escape. As Tara grabs hold of the woman and bites into her, Dawn lunges at the woman who is cowering in the corner. The woman screams, and Dawn laughs. Dawn doesn't even bother to try to stop her from screaming. Instead, Dawn scratches her, making her scream even more. Joyce and Tara turn to watch as Dawn takes on her newest victim.

"Please, let me go," the woman cries.

"Let you go?" repeats Dawn, as if she has never heard the words before. She runs her fingers lightly over the woman's cheek. "But, I'm so hungry."

"I don't want to die!"

"Hmm… Well, the thing is," says Dawn as she runs her fingers through the woman's hair. She suddenly entangles her fingers in it and yanks. "You don't have to die."

"W-what do you mean?" asks the woman.

"Well, I could just take a little. I don't have to take it all. I could…" She looks over at Tara and Joyce. They are both watching her. She turns back to the woman and leans in close. She whispers in the woman's ear. "I could make you like me." The woman's eyes grow wide with fright, and Tara and Joyce smile broadly. Tara raises the woman she is still holding to her mouth and continues to drain her.

"It's not so bad," Dawn whispers. "You'll never get old. You never have to worry about disease. And, you get to kill people. It'll be fun. So, what do you say?"

"Please," the woman says again. "Just let me go. I won't tell anyone about you, I promise."

"Now, see, this just makes me angry," says Dawn as she stands up. She turns around and looks at Tara and Joyce. She points at the woman on the ground. "She doesn't care! I offer her eternal life, and she refuses! What is her problem?"

"Now, Sweetie," says Joyce. "Not everyone can appreciate what we offer."

"I can," says Tara as she watches Joyce.

"Tara, stop it," says Joyce. She turns her attention back to Dawn. "I suppose it is up to you to make the choice for her. That's really the best thing to do in a situation like this."

"Mother knows best," says Dawn as she turns and crouches beside the woman again. "You know what, lady? I was going to give you a great gift. However, when you declined my generous offer, I was greatly hurt. Just because I am undead doesn't mean that I have no feelings." She reached out and scratched the woman's face, causing blood to flow down her face. "You hurt my feelings, so I hurt you. Except, you know what? I don't think you hurt as much as I do." The woman looks at Dawn, fear evident in her eyes.

"What do you do for a living?" Dawn asks her. The woman looks at her, as if she doesn't understand. Dawn grabs the woman's wrist and twists it violently. The woman cries out. "Please don't make me ask it again," warns Dawn.

"I-I am unemployed. I am living with my cousin until I get a job and manage to save up enough to get a place of my own."

"I live in a castle," Dawn tells her. "Wouldn't you like to live in a castle? Isn't it every girl's dream to live in a castle, and be treated like a princess?"

"No one would treat you like a princess," says the woman. "You're a monster."

"Well, thank you oh so much for that!" screams Dawn. She twists the woman's wrist a little more, and then grabs her hand. Staring into her eyes, Dawn breaks the woman's little finger. "See? This is what happens to anyone who refuses to treat us like royalty!" She breaks the other fingers, one at a time. The woman's screams echo through the alley. Tara and Joyce continue to watch in admiration.

"I've made the decision for you," Dawn declares after the woman quits screaming and the echoes die. "I have decided that you are not worthy of the gift I offer, and, therefore, must die!" She then reaches out and breaks the woman's neck.

"Do one of you want her blood?" Dawn asks as she once again turns to face Tara and Joyce. "She sickens me."

Tara looks at the woman, and then shakes her head. Joyce frowns and turns away. Dawn shrugs and moves away from the body. The three of them leave the body behind, and continue their journey to the Magic Box. A small yellow ball of light comes around a corner, and the three of them stop. When Willow rounds the corner, the three of them tense up, not certain what they should do next. As Anya rounds the corner, Tara releases her breath. She gives Anya a look, and Anya nods.

"Will?" asks Tara.

"Yeah, Tara. It's me. We are all on the same side here. Let's go find Xander and get the details about this grand scheme of his. After we have the details, we will decide if we need him or not…"

"Willow, I am surprised at you," says Joyce. "I'd never have guessed that you could be so evil. I like it!"

"I knew," says Tara as she wraps her arms around Willow and kisses her.

"Mmm," says Willow. "You taste even better now."

"Thanks," says Tara.

"God!" says Dawn. "Make out later. We have work to do!"

"My, Dawnie," says Willow. "You are certainly in a mood. Is it your time of the month?" She turns to Anya. "Do vampires even have a time of the month?"

"No," says Anya. "Being dead, or rather, undead, our ovaries no longer work, so we never have to deal with that sort of thing again. Unless…"

"Unless what?" asks Joyce.

"Well, I don't know how it would work if it is your time of the month when you are sired. Supposedly, you remain as you are the moment you are sired. I don't know if that means you would forever be in your time of the month or not…"

The others all cringe at the thought of constantly having PMS. They look at each other, and then they all burst out laughing. The five of them then begin walking back to the castle, following Willow's conjured guide. Tara stays near the rear, all senses tuned to determine if they are being followed. Dawn notices that Tara, the one who led them from the castle to the place where they met up with Willow and Anya, was staying behind. She starts to lag behind the others, matching her pace to Tara's.

"What's up?" she asks Tara.

"Possibly nothing. But, we were told to make certain we weren't followed. I intend to make sure we weren't."

"You think Willow would…"

"No. She has embraced her evil side. She wouldn't dare do anything to lead Buffy to us now."


"Then, what?"

"Buffy isn't the only one out there, Dawn. We don't know where Giles is, and we don't know about the demon-lady…" Tara sighs. "And, I may be overreacting, so I don't know. I just know that I gave my word that I would make sure that we weren't followed, and I intend to keep it."

"You're a lot like her," Dawn tells her.

"Who? I am a lot like who?"

"Tara. Before you were sired, I mean."

"Hmm… I don't know what I think about that." They continue their walk, completely silent.

***

As Buffy and Giles near the hospital, they are immediately concerned by the multitude of police cars and flashing lights. There is yellow tape up all over the place. Buffy's heart sinks lower in her chest as she takes it all in. She walks numbly through the barricade, with Giles explaining to the police that Buffy's mother and sister are inside. She lets herself be led inside the building, fearing that she is already too late. They are stopped upon entry.

"What business do you have here?" asks a cop.

"This girl's mother and sister are here," Giles says as he indicates Buffy. The officer looks at Buffy, who nods.

"Name?"

"Summers," says Giles. The officer makes a face and holds up a hand, indicating that they should wait where they are. He walks over to a desk and picks up a clipboard, which he studies for a moment before returning.

"Joyce Summers is the only one listed. You said something about a mother and sister?"

"Joyce Summers was the patient. Her daughter, Dawn, was just visiting. May we go see them?" Giles asks.

"I am afraid not," says the cop. "You see… Joyce Summers is among the missing."

"Missing?" asks Buffy in a pained voice. She looks at Giles.

"What do you mean, among the missing?" Giles demands.

"Joyce Summers, patient, and an orderly… Ben. No last name listed yet," explains the officer.

"Ben? He's missing, too?" Buffy asks, not sure what the connection might be.

"You know him?" the officer asks.

"Yes. I mean, not really. He has helped us… When my mother first got sick…" Buffy says. Then, almost as an afterthought, she adds: "What about Dawn? Where is she?"

"No Dawn anywhere on our lists," says the officer. Buffy grabs Giles's arm and leans against him for support. The color drains from her face. "That just means," explains the officer, "that she is not confirmed dead. Nor has she been listed as missing. It is possible that she is still around, though we have no idea where."

"C-can we go to my mother's room?" Buffy asks.

"Let me check with the guy in charge. Please wait here."

"What do we do?" Buffy whispers to Giles as the officer makes his way to the desk to check on their request.

"I don't know, Buffy. I honestly don't. This is not something we had anticipated. I guess we should search the room, looking for details?" The uncertainty in his voice makes Buffy very uncomfortable. She is about to speak again when the officer returns.

"I was told that you can go anywhere that isn't blocked off by yellow tape," says the man as he turns and heads over to a small group of people who are just entering the hospital.

Buffy and Giles make their way to the room where Joyce had been. Buffy lets out a sigh of relief when she sees that there is no yellow tape on the door. She rushes in and looks around. Giles follows, more cautiously. He examines the bed and the machines while Buffy checks the wardrobe. When Buffy gasps, Giles looks up. As he walks up behind her, he sees her reach out with trembling fingers to grab an envelope off the shelf where Joyce's clothes had been. On the back of the envelope is Buffy's name. Buffy lifts the envelope and turns to face Giles.

"I can't open it," she says.

"Do you want me to?" asks Giles as he reaches up to take it from her. She nods, but then, at the last second, she pulls her hand back, preventing him from taking the envelope. She walks over to the bed and sits on the edge. Giles makes his way over and sits beside her.

"One of us really should read that," Giles says.

"I don't want to," says Buffy.

"Then, let me," Giles offers.

"No!" she screams as she jumps up from the bed and puts the envelope behind her back. Giles stands up and takes a step toward her. Her eyes go wide and she backs herself into a corner. Giles stops, afraid to move forward. A police officer appears in the doorway.

"Is everything okay in here?" the officer asks.

"No," says Buffy. "My mom was in here! She was connected to all of these machines earlier! They said… They said…" She starts sobbing. The officer looks at Giles. Giles crosses the room to Buffy and embraces her. She falls into his embrace and cries. The officer bows his head and leaves the room. After a couple of minutes, Buffy calms herself.

"It's my fault, Giles. All of this."


"No, Buffy. None of this is your fault."

"All of it is my fault. If I hadn't made that deal with Spike and Drusilla… If I had killed them when I had the chance, then she wouldn't have been around to sire Xander. If she never sired Xander, then none of this would have happened."


"But, there's no way you could have known."

"It doesn't matter. I am the Slayer, not the DealMaker. I was not Chosen to make deals with vampires! I was Chosen to Slay them!"

"Blaming yourself isn't helping. We need to find out what is in that envelope. It may not be to late to save you mother and Dawn."

"I… I can't open it," she chokes. Giles takes it from her, and she doesn't fight him. He opens the envelope and pulls out the paper inside. He reads it silently to himself, and then looks at Buffy. She stares up at him, waiting for him to tell her what the paper says. He turns away. She grabs the envelope and the paper that was inside it. She holds it up, in her shaking hands, and reads it. A cry of pain escapes her lips as she falls to the floor, dropping the letter.

***

Xander sets a black candle on one of the tables in the library and lights it. It burns with an eerie green flame. He smiles as he turns around to survey the rest of the room. There are four other candles, each burning with their own green flame. In the center of the room, there is a symbol drying on the floor. Xander walks over to a nearby table and looks at the book resting there. He scans the page, using his finger to keep track of his place. He turns the page and scans a couple more lines. Then, he begins to compare the items on the table with the list in the book. An evil grin crosses his face as he listens to the sounds of the others, making their way up the stairs. He grabs the table the book is resting on and moves it to the center of the room, covering the symbol.

The ball of yellow light enters the room first. Xander speaks the words carefully to himself before shutting the book and tossing it into a corner of the room. He arranges the items on the table and looks up as the others enter the room. The only one missing is Riley. Xander smiles to himself. He notices then, for the first time, that Willow is now leading the others.

"Willow," he says, nodding his hello.

"Xander," she says, returning the nod. "Nice set-up you have here."

"Yeah, well," says Xander with a shrug. "Dracula isn't using it anymore." He turns his attention to Tara. "You're back sooner than I had expected. I guess this means no trouble?"

"No trouble," confirms Tara. She looks around. "Where's Riley?"

"He'll be along shortly, I would expect. Joyce, Dawn, why don't the two of you go check on him? Willow, Tara and I have some," he pauses for a moment, as if searching for the proper word to use. "Negotiating to do."

"Okay," says Joyce, with a smile. Her eyes sparkle with mischief.

"I don't wanna go check on him," whines Dawn.

"Then, find something else to do," says Xander with a wave of his hand. Dawn smiles and turns to go. "But," adds Xander, "don't leave the castle. We still aren't ready for Buffy to find us."

"Fine. I am sure I can find something to keep myself entertained," mutters Dawn as she follows her mother out of the room.

"What about me," asks Anya.

"Do whatever you feel like, Anya. This is our new home. Explore," says Xander.

"Hmm… I always wanted to live in a castle," says Anya as she wanders out through the doors.

"What's going on?" asks Willow, after Anya has left.

"Please, sit. We need to talk," sys Xander as he crosses behind them to close the doors. Neither of the witches notices him bar the door. Tara sits immediately, unconcerned about the reasoning behind this meeting. Willow cautiously sits beside Tara as Xander makes his way to the other side of the table. He sits down across from Willow.

"What's going on?" Willow demands.

"Like I said, we need to negotiate."

"Be more specific," says Willow. Tara looks at her.

"What are you doing?" Tara asks Willow. Willow turns to face her.


"He's up to something. I want to know what."

"You know me too well, Will. However, you still don't know me well enough!" hisses Xander as he stands. He extends his arm across the table. He is holding a crystal formation, which begins to glow. "Contineo!" Xander says. The air crackles, but nothing seems to change. Willow tries to stand up, but is unable to move.

"What are you doing?" she hisses.

"Taking what is rightfully mine!" hisses Xander. "You think you are so superior to me, because you have magic." He spits at her. "Well, that is going to change!"

"Xander, why?" asks Tara.

"Why? Why? Because, I am tired of being the one with nothing!" he screams. "I have done so much to help, and it never gets appreciated! I stopped zombies from destroying the school, and no one even knew! I am tired of being a nobody!"

"I never thought you were a nobody," says Tara.

"Tara, shut up," says Willow. She turns to face Xander. "So, what's the plan? You going to kill us now, because you know we are more powerful than you are? Is that it?"

Xander laughs maniacally. There is pounding on the door, and muffled voices coming from outside. Xander sets the crystal on the table and looks into Willow's eyes. He smiles and turns away. He walks over to a shelf and retrieves two small cauldrons. He places them on the table in front of Willow. Tara looks on with interest, seemingly unconcerned by what is happening.

"Leave us!" Xander screams at the door. There is a muffled response, and the pounding stops. Xander returns his attention to the two vampires sitting at the table.

"Do you know the term veneficus furunculus?" he asks.

"No," admits Willow.

"I have heard of them," says Tara. Xander and Willow look at her.

"Please, Tara, enlighten your girlfriend for me," Xander says.

"I am not entirely certain what they were. My mother spoke of them a couple of times. They were used to gather more magic for the witches in certain covens. I don't have any details of how they did it, though."

"God, Tara. Is that all the information you have?" demands Xander. She nods, and he rolls his eyes. "Listen carefully, then. A veneficus furunculus is someone, or something, that steals the power of others. The most direct translation would be 'magic-thief.' There's a book here that told me all about them, and the spells they used to extract the power of other magic-users."

"You want our magic?" Tara asks, not believing what she has just heard.

"Damn you!" hisses Willow. "I knew this was a trick!"

"Yeah, you always were the smart one," says Xander. He places the items from the table into one of the cauldrons. He looks up at Willow again, smiling. "The thing is… I need some of your blood."

"Why didn't you just ask? I would have given it to you willingly," says Tara.


"I couldn't take that chance," says Xander. He reaches out with a knife and makes a small cut on Tara's hand. She smiles up at him. He takes the empty cauldron and allows some of her blood to flow into it.

"Why are you helping him," demands Willow. Tara looks at her, with pain in her eyes.

"He created us. Well, not directly, since Riley sired me and Anya sired you, but, since he sired both of them, he did, in effect, create us as well. We should be loyal to him."

"You're insane! We could have taken control of everything!" screams Willow.

"That's not the way it works," says Tara as she shakes her head. Xander laughs and holds up the cauldron.

"Your turn," he tells Willow. He sets the cauldron on the floor beside her and looks into her eyes. "I didn't figure you would be willing to give me your blood. I knew I would have to take it." He bends down and kisses her on her forehead. Then, without warning, he takes the knife and stabs her in her side, letting the blood spill out over his hand. He watches her eyes as the blood pours out of her. He takes a step back, leaving the knife in her side. He bends down and retrieves the cauldron from the floor, ignoring the continuing gush of blood. Setting the cauldron on the table, he looks at Willow again.

"You and Riley have a lot in common. He doesn't yet know his place, either." He then holds his arm over the cauldron and bites himself. The blood trickles slowly into the cauldron, and, with his other hand, Xander lifts the other cauldron from the table. He holds it above the first cauldron.

"Delego!" he says as he pours the contents of the suspended cauldron over his arm and into the resting one. There is a blinding flash of light and the doors of the library collapse inward.

***

"Help!" cries Giles as he picks Buffy up and sets her on the bed. A nurse appears in the doorway, followed by a police officer. The nurse rushes to Buffy's side. The officer notices the letter on the floor and picks it up.

"What happened?" demands the nurse.

"I… She…" says Giles. He takes a deep breath. "She fainted."

"I can see why," says the officer. "The poor girl." He holds out the letter, and Giles takes it. The nurse looks at him as he folds the letter, but says nothing. The officer leaves the room, and the nurse returns her attention to Buffy.

"She doesn't appear to be hurt. That is a good sign," says the nurse after she has examined Buffy. "I'll go get some smelling salts to revive her."


"Thank you," says Giles as the nurse turns to go. He looks down at Buffy, wondering if he had made a mistake, letting her see the letter. The letter, written by Joyce, had told Buffy that, if she was reading the letter, then Joyce must be dead. It contained the things that Joyce had not gotten the chance to tell Buffy. Giles shakes his head, blaming himself for Buffy lying in the bed, unconscious.

"This should wake her up," says the nurse as she walks back into the room, holding a small capsule. She steps up to the bed, breaks the capsule in her hands, and then waves it beneath Buffy's nose. Buffy scrunches her face and turns her head, but the nurse follows. Buffy snorts and opens her eyes. The nurse pulls the foul-smelling capsule away. Buffy sits up slowly, holding her head.

"What happened?" she asks.

"You fainted," says the nurse. "But, you should be okay now."


"Thank you," Giles tells the nurse. The nurse just smiles at him and leaves. He turns his attention back to Buffy. Buffy watches the nurse, making sure that the woman is out of the room. She looks back at Giles.

"I know where they are," she says as she throws her legs over the side of the bed and stands up.

"What? How?" asks Giles, clearly confused.

"Prophetic dreams, remember?" Buffy reminds him, as she points to her head.

"But, you were only out a couple of seconds," says Giles.

"Still got the information. They are in the same castle that Dracula used," explains Buffy. She grabs his arm and hangs her head. "Giles, we're the only ones left."

"What?"

"Xander did it. He eliminated every one of my friends. Riley. Willow and Tara. They are all vampires. Even Anya," Buffy explains as she leaves the room, heading for the exit. "But, that wasn't enough for him, Giles. He couldn't stop there."

"Buffy," begins Giles.

"No, Giles. There is nothing to say. Xander is playing a game. I know that now."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I'm changing the rules," says Buffy as she steps out of the hospital into the night. Giles hurries to catch up to her.

"Where are we going?"

"To my house. I need weapons. I'm going to kill him."

"Buffy," Giles begins again.

"No!" screams Buffy. She stops and turns to face him. "He has a group of vampires that used to be my family and friends! He, or one of the others, sired my mother! And Dawn! There is nothing that can stop me from destroying him, so save your lecture!"

"I was just going to ask what the plan was," says Giles. Buffy looks at him for a couple of seconds before she turns away and starts walking again.

"We go to my house and get weapons. We go to the castle, and I kill him."

"I don't think it is going to be that easy."

"It never is, Giles. But that doesn't change anything. I am tired of letting him call the shots. I am tired of losing the ones I love. It's time for him to discover that he can't win."

They continue to walk in silence. There doesn't seem to be anything else to say. Buffy stalks through the streets of Sunnydale until she gets to the street she lives on. She stops cold. Giles looks in the direction of her house, and gasps. There are fire trucks in the street in front of the burnt remains of the house. He turns to look at Buffy. Her mouth is hanging open, and she doesn't appear to be aware of him at all. He passes his hand in front of her face, but she doesn't seem to see it.

"Buffy?" he asks. He jumps as a fire truck rushes past, heading away from them. He turns back to the house, and sees that the firefighters are leaving. He turns back to Buffy and snaps his fingers in her face. She blinks and looks at him. She looks past him at the charred ruins that used to be her house.

"I can't believe this," she tells him.

"What do we do now," he asks in a somber tone.

"We go over there and see if there is anything we can salvage. The plan has only changed slightly. If I have to, I will break into every shop in this town until I get what I need to destroy him."

"What about the others?"

"What?"

"You say you are going to kill Xander. That you are going to destroy him and that nothing can stop you from doing it. But, you seem to be forgetting that he is not alone. There are six other vampires with him. One of them is an ex-vengeance demon. Two of them are powerful witches. One of them is your mother, and another is Dawn."

"I know that," says Buffy.

"Do you?" asks Giles as he grabs her arms and forces her to look up at him. "You hate Xander. I get that. You want to destroy him, and I am not going to try to stop you. However, I won't let you go into this battle unprepared. Are you prepared to stake your best friend? Your boyfriend? Your sister? How about your mother?"

"That's not who they are anymore," says Buffy as she pulls away form him and heads into the charred remains of her home. "My best friend is dead. So is my boyfriend. My sister no longer exists. Neither does my mother. And Xander is the one who took them from me. But, that wasn't enough for him. He had to destroy my home, too. He will pay for every life he took. For everything he has destroyed!"

"Fine. He is going to pay. He should pay. But, Buffy, storming in there is only going to get you killed!"

"No, it won't," says Buffy. Giles looks at her.

"What makes you think so?"

"Look around you Giles! All of this tells me that he doesn't want me dead! If he wanted me dead, then I would be dead already. I can use that to my advantage."

"And you think he won't be prepared for you?"

"No, I am pretty sure he is expecting me. In fact, I am counting on it!"

"Buffy, you aren't making sense! Please," Giles begs. "Let's find another way!"

"What other way? What other way is there, Giles? It's down to just you and me! There is no one else who can help us!"

"I can't let you do this," says Giles. Buffy stares at him.

"What?" she asks.

"I can't let you jeopardize yourself like this. You have to stop. I will not let you destroy yourself!" screams Giles. Buffy jumps over to him and punches him in the stomach. When he bends over, she shoves him to the ground. She bends down beside him.

"I am going to that castle, and I am going to slaughter anything that moves once I enter it. There is nothing you can do to stop me, so either help me, or stay the hell out of my way!" she hisses into his ear. She stands up and looks down at him.

"So," she says in a calm voice. "What is your decision?"

Giles coughs and spits out some ash. He uses his hands to push himself up out of the wet ashes. He looks up at her, no longer recognizing her. He manages to pull himself to his feet and he stands in front of her, looking for something familiar in her face. When he finds nothing there but burning hatred, he turns away. He coughs again and then turns back to face her.

"You already know the answer," he tells her.

"I thought you would see things my way," she says.

"Then, I was wrong," says Giles. Buffy stares up at him, not believing what she is hearing. "You don't know. You don't know anything!"

"I don't understand," says Buffy. "How can you be so callous? Why won't you help me?"

"I will not help you commit suicide, Buffy. I care too much for you to do that. If you really want to go to that castle right now, then you will have to go on your own. I am going back to my apartment to find out if there is another way. You can either come with me, and we can work together to find a solution that won't mean certain death for you, or you can go up to that castle and die. The choice is yours."

Giles then turns and starts heading to his apartment. As much as he would like to turn and see what she is doing, he keeps his head turned away from her. He concentrates on getting back to his apartment so that he can contact some friends in England. He hears a noise behind him and smiles.

"Glad you came to your—"

He stops when he sees that she is no longer around. He hangs his head and sighs. Then, with a deep breath, he starts walking after her. After a few steps, he stops again. He knows that if he goes after her now, then both of them will be killed. There is only one thing for him to do, and, although it breaks his heart, he turns and heads away, abandoning Buffy.

***

"What's going on in here?" demands Joyce. She is standing in the doorway, looking at Xander, who is slumped over the table. She gives Willow an accusatory look, and rushes to Xander's side. She pulls him up into her arms and looks at him. His eyes are closed. She gently sets him in a chair and turns her attention back to Willow and Tara.

"What did you do to him?" she demands.

"He did it to himself," says Willow.

"She's telling the truth," says Tara.

"I don't understand," says Joyce.

"He tried to steal out magic," says Willow. "Serves him right." She tries to get up, but is still held by the spell.

"It's true," confirms Tara. "Well, except for the part about it serving him right." She tries to move. Joyce notices that neither of them can move and looks around. She spots the crystal on the table. It is still glowing. She reaches out to grab it.

"Stop!" screeches a voice that no one recognizes. Joyce looks up at Willow and Tara. They have the same expression of shock on their faces. She turns around and gasps at the sight before her. Xander is standing in front of the chair she placed him in. She is mesmerized by his stare. His eyes no longer resemble human eyes. Instead, they are solid black, with green flames flickering in them. Joyce involuntarily takes a step backward and stumbles over the edge of the table. As she falls, she looks away from him. When she lands, she covers her face with her arms. She stands up again and looks around. She sees the candles with their eerie green flames, and sighs. She turns to look at Willow and Tara again.

"Just a reflection," she tells them.

"Huh?" Willow says.

"The flames in his eyes, they are just reflections of the candle flames," she says with a laugh. She walks over and blows out one of the candles. She can feel Xander watching her. It makes her uncomfortable, but she refuses to look at him. She continues around the room and extinguishes three more candles. The only one left burning is now behind him. She smiles and turns to face him again.

"Surprise," says Xander, as the flames continue to dance across the surface of his eyes. He turns his attention to Willow and Tara. "Vaco!" he says as he waves his arm at them. The crystal on the table shatters, and the two witches stand up quickly. Willow moves behind Tara and grabs Joyce. Tara just smiles and stares at Xander. Willow drags Joyce to the door.

"Where are you going?" demands Xander. Willow stops and turns to face Xander.

"I am getting her out of here!" Willow screams.

"No," says Xander. "She is free to go if she wishes, but… Willow, you still have a lesson to learn."

Tara turns and looks at Willow and Joyce. She turns back to Xander. When he nods, Tara smiles and nods back to him. She turns and grabs Joyce's arm. She silently leads her out of the room. As she passes Willow, Tara looks into her eyes and smiles, as if to reassure her. Then, with one last look at Xander, she leaves the room.

"You wanted to take over, didn't you?" hisses Xander.

"You already know the answer to that," says Willow, defiantly. He raises his hand, and she falls to her knees, howling in pain.

"I want to hear you say it!"

"Yes! Yes!" screams Willow. "I wanted to be the leader!"

"Why?"

"Because, I was powerful! I had never realized just how powerful I was until I was fighting Anya in the magic shop. Then, after she sired me, I could feel the power flowing through me. It was the power that made me want to be in charge."

"Well, this is certainly an interesting turn of events." He lowers his arm, releasing her from the grips of pain. "Do you still feel this way? Like you want to be the leader?"

"No. I told you, it was the magic."

"Call me master."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"I…"

"No more excuses. You said you no longer want to be the leader. Prove it. Call me master."

"But..."

"No!" screams Xander as he lifts his hand again. Willow is lifted from the floor, and she writhes in the air, howling with pain. Xander drops his hand again, and Willow falls to the floor. "Call me master!" Xander demands.

"Yes, M-master," says Willow.

"I think you have learned your lesson."

"Yes, Master," Willow says again.

"You may go now," he says. Willow struggles to get to her feet and stumbles to the doorway, leaning on the frame for support. "Oh, and Will?" Xander calls to her. She pushes her hair out of her face and looks at him. "If you ever try to defy me again, I will kill you. Never forget that, okay?"

She nods her head and turns away. She takes a couple of steps, and Xander makes a gesture with his arm. She falls on her back and slides out of the room. Xander laughs maniacally as she slams into the wall across from the entrance to the library. She turns to look in his direction, and sees the doors to the library rise from the floor and mend themselves. They move into the doorway and reaffix themselves to their hinges. Willow closes her eyes and remains where she is, not wanting to move.

***

Giles opens the door to his apartment and hurries inside. He turns on the light and grabs the phone. He takes a moment to calm himself and decide which call to make first. He nods and dials a number. There is no answer, so he hangs up. He immediately lifts the phone from its base again and dials another number. He curses as he slams the phone back into its cradle. He walks into the kitchen and gets a glass out of the cupboard. He opens the cabinet above the refrigerator and pulls down a bottle of whiskey. As soon as he has the bottle and the glass, he goes back into the other room and sits on his couch. He pours himself a drink and gulps it down. Then, he refills the glass. He grabs the phone and dials a number.

"Hello?" he says as someone answers the phone. The person on the other end of the phone doesn't even get the chance to speak before there is a wild pounding on the door. Without thinking, Giles hangs up the phone and walks over to the door. He reaches out and grabs the knob, convinced that Buffy is the one on the other side. He turns the knob and prepares to open the door when the pounding suddenly stops. Someone screams. He pulls the door open and sees Dawn being pulled away from the door by two of the minions that he and Buffy fought earlier.

"Help!" she screams. "Giles, please!"

Without thinking, Giles steps out of his apartment and reaches for Dawn's outstretched hands. As he manages to get a grip on her wrists, one of the minions throws a sword at his face. Giles drops to the ground, and Dawn cries out in pain. Giles lets go, not wanting to hurt her. He realizes then that she is now captive of the minions. He looks around and spots the sword. He scrambles to his feet and rushes to where the sword is embedded in the wall. Pulling with all his strength, he manages to pull the sword out of the wall. He turns and throws the sword as he steps back into his apartment. The sword hits the minion that is holding Dawn. Free, she rushes forward.

"Hurry up!" calls Giles. "Get in here!"

Dawn jumps and flies past Giles as she enters his apartment. He slams the door and locks it. He then grabs the sofa and moves it over in front of the door. After that, Giles bends down and pulls Dawn to her feet. She looks up at him, a frightened look on her face. He checks her for any wounds, and then, finding none, he lets her go. The minions start pounding on the door, trying to get in. Dawn gives Giles a panicked look. He motions to the kitchen.

"Quick! Get in there and hide! I'll see if I can find something to hold them off."

"I want to help!" screams Dawn. She looks around and grabs a lamp off a table. Giles looks at her, then shrugs. He looks around his apartment and wishes that he had more weapons. Finally, he rushes to the kitchen and grabs the largest knife he can find. When he returns to Dawn's side, she looks at the knife and smiles.

"What?" asks Giles.

"Nothing. I just thought… You know, with you being a watcher and all… I thought you would have some real weapons, is all."

"Yes, well… I am not used to being attacked in my apartment."

"Obviously," says Dawn as she rolls her eyes. A window breaks, and Dawn screams. She turns to face the window, raising the lamp she is holding above her head.

"We're not safe here," says Giles.

"No kidding!" Dawn says sarcastically. "How do you suggest we get out of here, though?"

"I… I don't know," admits Giles.

"Well, then I guess we will have to fight."

"Looks that way."

"Giles?"

"What?"

"It's been nice knowing you," says Dawn.

"Don't talk that way. We'll get out of here. We just have to come up with a plan."

"So… Come up with one already!"

"I am trying! If you think it is so easy, why don't you come up with one!"

"Okay," Dawn says calmly. "I got it. The perfect way for us to get out of here. We'll go through the front door!"

"Are you insane? We'll never get through there alive!"

"Precisely," says Dawn as she turns to Giles and pounces.

***

Buffy makes her way to the castle. She approaches silently, not wanting to attract attention to herself. She carefully makes her way up to the door and silently enters, unsure of what to expect. The place is eerily quiet. Cautiously, she moves though the entry hall and listens at a closed door. She hears nothing from inside, but has a strange feeling that she needs to see what is inside. She grips the handle and pulls the door open. She is shocked to see Riley, naked, sprawled on the floor of the room. She rushes to his side, falling to her knees beside him.

"Riley?" she asks as she turns him over and looks into his face. "Are you okay?" He moves a little, moaning in agony. She puts her hand under his head and lifts it gently from the floor. She bends down and kisses him gingerly on his forehead. He winces, and she pulls back, close to tears. She notices bruises all over his body. She looks around, and then gently helps him to a nearby chair.

"What happened?" she asks. Riley opens his mouth to speak, but, as he glances at the door, he gasps and closes his mouth. Buffy turns to face the door, and sees Xander standing there, staring at her with a look of hatred on his face. She is amazed, and more than a little frightened, by the way his eyes now look.

"Buffy," says Xander. "Welcome to my new home. I see you have let yourself inside."

"What have you done to him?" demands Buffy as she steps between Riley and Xander.

"You never cared about me or my actions before," hisses Xander. "Why start now? Because it involves your boy-toy?"

"Xander, what is going on?"

"Don't you get it, Buffy? This is all about you. You were never interested in me. You never gave me a chance. You were too busy with everyone else's wants and needs. So, I decided to get your attention. Have I succeeded?"

"You have always had my attention, as well as my friendship. I thought you understood that," says Buffy.

"It was never enough," explains Xander. "So, I decided to take from you everything that you hold dear."

"So, you made my friends and family into vampires? Is that what you think it will take to make me love you?"

"I no longer care to make you love me. I only want to make you suffer."

"Looks like you want everyone to suffer," says Buffy as she gestures toward Riley.

"The man needed to learn his place. So… I dominated him. In every possible way," smirks Xander. Buffy, wide-eyed, looks back at Riley. He looks up into her eyes and nods solemnly.

"What exactly does that mean?" Buffy asks.

"He raped me," whispers Riley.

"What?" Buffy demands.

"I had to prove I am superior to him in every way. I needed you to see him like this. Miserable. Pathetic. It serves you right. Both of you."

"You're not just evil, you're insane!" screams Buffy.

"Maybe," says Xander as he laughs maniacally. "But, at least I have now have the power to do whatever I choose, whenever I choose."

"So," asks Buffy, as she places her hands on her hips. "What is it you want?"

"To make you suffer!" hisses Xander. "To make you suffer as much as I have had to, waiting in the wings, hoping that you would notice me. Make you suffer for all the pain you have caused everyone who has ever entered your life!"

"I do suffer!" screams Buffy. "I suffer everyday! Do you think I like watching the people I love be in danger just because they know me? Do you think I like being the Slayer? It isn't as if I had a choice in the matter!"

"That is not enough," says Xander. "I want you to suffer like you have never suffered before!"

"I do!" cries Buffy as she drops her hands to her sides and looks at the floor, sobbing.

"That's a start," says Xander as he steps closer to her. She sucks in a sharp breath and, in one smooth movement, spins around and kicks Xander in the chest, sending him flying backwards, out of the room. He slams against the wall opposite the doorway and falls to the floor. Buffy takes a step closer to him, and then stops.

"End this," whispers Riley. Buffy turns to face him. "Please." Nodding, Buffy reaches out and grabs the arm of the chair that Riley is sitting in. She twists the arm of the chair and yanks it upward. She uses the splintering piece of wood to stab Riley in his chest.

"Thank you," he says as he turns to dust. Tears stream down Buffy's face as she watches him disappear.

She turns around to deal with Xander, but he is no longer in the hallway. She looks around, but can't see him. Cautiously, she walks to the doorway and peers out into the hall. There is no one around. She is about to take a step into the hall when the front door opens. She steps backward and pushes the door up, leaving it open just a little so that she can peek out. She gasps as she sees Dawn walk in, followed by Giles. Pushing the door closed, she looks around, seeking a way to escape. Finally, she spots an open window. She runs across the room and dives through the window.

***

Willow pulls herself to her feet and looks around. She can feel the power coursing through her veins again. She closes her eyes and concentrates for a couple of seconds. When she opens her eyes again, she is healed. Carefully, she makes her way to the top of the stairs. She sees Dawn and Giles enter the castle. She turns and enters the nearest room. She walks over to the window and jumps out, rolling as she lands in the grass below.

Getting quickly to her feet, she casts one short glance over her shoulder at the castle. She then turns and heads into Sunnydale. If Xander thought she was trouble before, he should just wait. When Willow comes back to this castle, it will be to end Xander's existence once and for all. She smiles and starts humming as she makes her way through the streets of Sunnydale.

***

"I'm bored!" whines Dawn as she stares out the window. "Why can't we go look for her?"

"Because I don't want you to," says Xander. Everyone in the room turns to look at him. "I want Buffy to suffer. But, I also want some time to set up for her death. I don't want you all killing her too soon. Or, as would more likely be the case, I don't want her killing you. I have big plans for all of you, and they will only work if you don't go out and get yourselves staked."

"Like Riley?" asks Dawn.

"Riley was a fool," hisses Xander. "He was a waste of my time. I should have just killed him to start with, and saved myself the trouble of fighting with him."

"But, you liked the fighting," purrs Joyce as she shifts position on the couch. "I could see it in your eyes."

"Yes," says Xander. "But, that doesn't mean I wanted to be fighting with him. I had plans for him, and he went and ruined them. Though, he did have quite an appetite for destruction."

"And, what about Willow?" asks Tara.

"If she has learned her place," says Xander with an evil smirk, "then she still has a role in my final plan. Otherwise, she will be the first one to die from my new powers."

"I see," says Tara.

"When do we get to play?" asks Giles. "I haven't even gotten to kill anyone yet!"

"In time. You will have a chance to do all the killing you want. Just, not at the moment. Right now, I need you to help me in the library. The rest of you… Amuse yourselves, but don't leave the castle. Understood?"

There is a murmur of response, but Xander pays it no mind. He turns and leaves the room, with Giles following him closely. Xander marvels at the thought of Giles being the underling. It is a twist of fate that Xander relishes. All of those years spent in the library, searching for something to help, wanting desperately to be able to contribute, and almost always being overlooked were over. Now, he is the one in charge, and everyone will do as he says, or they will die.

***

"What do I do now?" sobs Buffy as she wanders aimlessly through the streets of Sunnydale. She looks around, trying to come up with some place where she can turn. Everyone she knows and trusts is now a vampire, and she can't think of a single place to go. Then, she remembers that there is still one place she can turn, but she isn't sure that she wants to. It has been so long since she has seen Angel, and she doesn't want to stir up any of the old feelings that the two of them still have for each other. Besides, he is still in LA, and that is a long way for her to go on foot. Finally, she realizes what she has to do, and she starts to make her final plans.

***

As soon as Xander has left the room, the girls all exchange a glance. They each have the same idea, and their smiles prove it. Anya stands up and goes to the door. She watches Giles mindlessly following Xander. Her smile widens as she closes the door and turns back to her companions. Dawn is the first one out the window, followed by Tara, then Joyce, and finally, Anya. They start to giggle as they make their way toward Sunnydale.

"And, you're sure he won't notice our absence?" asks Dawn.


"Are you kidding?" says Tara. "First of all, he is so busy with his own plans that he won't even be bothered to check up on us. Second, he thinks we're powerless, since he drained magic from Willow and me. And, finally, I have some spells in place to make sure that our absence goes unnoticed."

"Cool," says Dawn.

"Besides," adds Anya. "I don't think that he will have much time to deal with us, once he learns that Willow has taken off. He'll be much more interested in finding her, since he sees her as the bad seed."

"Willow took off, too?" asks Tara, her face showing concern.


"You know, you haven't really changed that much," says Joyce. "From what you were like before you were sired."


"I told her the same thing earlier," says Dawn, chuckling.

"It's because of who she is," explains Anya. The others turn to her, waiting for her to explain. "See, when someone is sired, their innermost fears, secrets, and desires come to the front. For most people, that means that they turn truly evil, because they have fought their own fears, or secret desires, of doing just that: becoming evil. But, in Tara's case… All of her inner fears and secrets…"

"There is one thing…" confesses Tara.

"Really?" asks Dawn. "What?"

"I have always felt that I was going to become a demon. It… It was how my mother died."

"Really?" asks Dawn, again. "That is so cool!"

"Anyway," says Anya. "All of her desires… They were truly pure. The things that she kept secret have now been revealed, and so…"

"All that remains is who I was then," concludes Tara.

"Right," continues Anya. "There was no evil there, so when she was sired, only small differences took place, instead of a great change, like with Xander."

"But, her worst fear has come true!" exclaims Dawn. Everyone turns to look at her. She continues: "That is just… Awesome!"

"Okay, fine," says Tara. "But… I am worried about Willow."

"See what I mean," Anya says as she sighs deeply. "Some things never change." She turns to face Tara. "Listen… There is nothing that you can do now. Willow made her decision, and we have no way to track her. Let's just see what we can find to amuse ourselves, okay?"

"No!" hisses Tara. "I have to go find Willow!"

"Fine. Whatever," says Anya. "I am going to go have some fun." She casts a glance at Joyce and Dawn, who smile menacingly. "If anyone wishes to join me…"

"Count me in," says Joyce.

"Me, too!" says Dawn. The three of them continue to head into downtown Sunnydale, while Tara stands there trying to decide what to do next. Finally, Tara makes her decision, and sneaks back into the castle to get the supplies she needs to track down Willow.

***

Willow sits on the couch, trying to convince herself that she knows Buffy well enough to anticipate her moves. Willow is certain that Buffy will come to this place as the last resort. She had heard everything when Xander had his encounter with the Slayer, and she knew that Buffy had seen Giles enter the castle. There was nothing left for Buffy. No home, no friends, no lover. The Magic Box had been destroyed, and Buffy would only be able to think of one place to turn for answers. And that was why Willow was sitting on Giles's couch, holding the books that she was so certain Buffy would be looking for.

***

Buffy wishes she had not wandered so aimlessly while trying to make her decision. Now, she was on the opposite side of town from her destination, and wasn't sure she would be able to make it to Giles's apartment before she collapsed from pure exhaustion. As she turns a corner and heads through an alley, she hears a voice that chills her to the bone.

"That was fun!" Joyce says excitedly. "Too bad they all died so quickly."

"Yeah, that was a major letdown," says Dawn.

"Girls," coos Anya. "The night is still young! There are a lot of stupid people in this town who actually think it is safe to be out after dark! Let's just find someone else!"

"How about an old friend?" asks Buffy as she steps from the shadows to confront the three vampires. All three vampires gasp and turn to face her. She has already determined her course of action. She walks calmly along the side of the building, as if she has nothing to fear.

"Buffy," says Dawn with an evil grin. "How wonderful of you to show up. I was wondering if I would get the chance to see you again."

"Really?" Buffy asks, acting genuinely interested in what her sister has to say. "And… Why would that be?"

"Because," hisses Dawn as she morphs into her vampire guise and steps forward. "I'm not the poor defenseless little sister anymore, and… I think I can take you!"

"Try it," Buffy challenges as she spreads her arms. She waves her fingers at Dawn in a "come get me" gesture. Dawn pounces.

"No!" scream Joyce and Anya simultaneously as Dawn launches herself into the air and flies towards Buffy. Buffy stands there for a fraction of a second, and then, in a blur of motion, she steps out of the way, bends down, grabs a piece of wood and brings it up into the air. As the vampire that was once her sister lands on the ground where Buffy had stood a moment before, Buffy stabs her through the heart with the makeshift stake she got from the ground. Ash rains down to the ground, and Buffy twirls to face Anya and Joyce. They are gone.

"Dammit!" swears Buffy as she drops the wood and heads to Giles's house once more. She walks slowly, feeling slightly energized by the battle, but still cautious. Just because she could no longer see Joyce and Anya did not mean that they weren't around. There was no telling who or what she might encounter before she got to her destination, and she had to be prepared for anything.

***

Tara gathers the things she needs, and prepares to do her spell. She decides that the best place for her to start is in Willow's room, so she carefully walks past the library in order to get there. As she steps in front of the doors, she notices that one is slightly ajar. If it had been closed, then the voices from within would have been totally muffled, and she would not have been able to catch Xander asking Giles what he thought the next logical step should be. Tara stops and listens.

"Obviously, you have to secure Sunnydale first," explains Giles. "Killing Buffy will ensure that. Then, after you have control of Sunnydale…"

"Yes? Go ahead. Speak freely. I asked for your advice, and I want to know what you really feel should be done," says Xander.

"Well," begins Giles. "After you have control of Sunnydale, you should take out the next closest threat."

"Which would be?" asks Xander.

"Faith," says Giles. "And Angel. And anyone working for Angel, which I know includes Cordelia and Wes. Which, of course, brings up the next problem…"

"Next problem?" asks Xander, as if he can't believe what he is hearing.

"The Council. With Faith's death, a new Slayer will be called, and this will immediately alert the council. They will use their contacts to find out what is happening, and then, they will come after you, in one way or another."

"So… I need to get rid of the damned Watchers' Council, then?"

"Yes," says Giles. There is a pause. "You have a plan already?"

"Of course!" says Xander. "But first, we have to deal with Buffy."

Tara rolls her eyes and continues on her way to Willow's room. Once there, she sets down her supplies and prepares for her spell. It only takes her a couple of moments to set the spell up, and, as she finishes her incantation and the small light appears before her face, the door swings open, and Xander enters the room.

***

"Why did you drag me away like that?" demands Anya. "What about what Buffy did to Dawn?"

"What about it?" hisses Joyce. "Dawn was stupid. She went after a Slayer who had initiated an encounter. She was stupid to believe she even had a chance. Buffy obviously had a plan of some sort, and Dawn fell right into it!"

"But, Dawn…"

"Dawn should have kept her anger under control," Joyce says. "She is gone. I don't intend to join her." She turns and walks away. After a couple of seconds, Anya appears at her side again.

"What do we do now?" Anya asks.

"I don't know about you, but I am headed back to the castle. This whole trip was a mistake. We should have done as Xander told us."

"What?" demands Anya as she stops. She grabs Joyce's arm and causes her to turn around. "You can't seriously think he actually knows what is best for us!"

"And, why not?"

"Because!" screams Anya. "Because he's Xander for starters! And… And, he's… He's a man! No man has ever known what to do! That is why women are always needed! That is why vengeance demons are needed!"

"Anya," says Joyce, in her best motherly voice. "You have a lot of issues that you need to work through." She pulls her arm out of Anya's grip and turns around. "Now, I don't care what you do, but I am going back to the castle," she calls over her shoulder. She smiles a few seconds later as Anya sighs and follows.

***

"What the hell?" asks Buffy. She is standing in the doorway to Giles's apartment, staring, dumbfounded, at Willow.

"Buffy!" says Willow as she jumps to her feet and smiles. "I was hoping you would come here!"

"Yeah," says Buffy. For a second, she thinks she is being addressed by her old friend. It seems like the real Willow is standing there, smiling at her. Then, she realizes that Willow is gone, forever. She frowns and takes a step backwards.

"Aww," pouts Willow. "Now, don't be like that. If I had planned to attack you, I would have done it already. The way I see it, we need each other. More now than ever, actually."

"Um, right," says Buffy. "What with you being a vampire and all. Sure. I can see how I would need you."

"Hmm… I was afraid you might bring that up," Willow sighs. "Look, just because I am a vampire now doesn't mean we can't still be friends!"

"The hell it doesn't!" hisses Buffy.


"Look!" screams Willow. "Do you want my help or not? You know you can't defeat Xander by yourself! Even if you found the proper spells, you still wouldn't know how to perform them properly, and… To be honest, I am not even certain that there are any spells that will defeat him!"

"Why should I believe you? You're evil!"

"God!" swears Willow. "Can we just get past that already? So I am evil! That doesn't mean I can't want to help you!"

"Yes it can," says Buffy, with that air of irony that only the Slayer can muster.

"Alright," says Willow, defeated. "The truth is, I am not here to help you so much as harm him."

"Meaning?"


"Meaning that I want to kill him more than I want to kill you," Willow confesses. She shrugs. "Enemy of my enemy, and whatnot…"

"So… Supposing I let you help… What happens then? You kill me?"

"I thought about it. But then I remembered something…"

"What?"

"Spike and Drusilla. You made a deal with them back when Angel had lost his soul… In exchange for their help, you would let them leave town. I am asking for the same deal."

"I don't know," says Buffy. She wants so much to have an ally in this battle, but she also wants to avoid putting herself into more danger than necessary.

"Okay, then…" says Willow. "How about this… I will tell you my plan, and then you can decide. Fair enough?"

"Okay," agrees Buffy, reluctantly.

***

The ball of light hovers in the air, awaiting instructions. Tara stands where she is, uncertain what to do. Xander smiles, and chills race down Tara's spine as she feels those dark eyes glaring at her. She starts to tremble. Xander takes a step into the room and looks around. He nods, as if he has just confirmed something, and waves his arm. The ball of light disappears. Despite already having the pallor of the undead, Tara pales. She gulps, and prepares for what she believes must be coming next. To her surprise, Xander lets out a low, barely audible chuckle.

"You won't need that," he tells her. "I know exactly where Willow is."


"What? You mean you knew what I was trying to do?"

"Not exactly. However, I did know that if I pushed Willow to the breaking point, she would go to Buffy and bring her back here. Willow thinks it will be to defeat me, but… I have been preparing for this from the start. I needed Willow to get so angry with me that she would be willing to make a deal with Buffy. That is why I continued to attack her even after she had called me master. Now, she believes she is working against me, when, in reality, she is doing exactly as I planned."

"Oh," says Tara. She has no idea what else to do. "So… What do we do now?"

"We wait. Joyce and Anya will be returning shortly, and then, we will set up for the final confrontation."

"Joyce and Anya? What about Dawn?"

"Dawn is gone. Buffy staked her."

"What?" Tara asks, not believing what she just heard.

"It's her own fault, really. She shouldn't have lunged like that. She had to know Buffy was up to something. She was… Stupid. And, now she is dead." He turns to face the doorway and then smiles. "Ah… Joyce and Anya are back now. We can begin the final preparations."

***

"So…" begins Buffy, "just exactly what are you wanting to do?"

"I am going to curse him!" hisses Willow. "He seems to think that he has drained my magic… That was just my reserves, and I refuel quickly!" She looks up at Buffy, revealing that her eyes are completely black. Buffy shudders and takes a step backwards.

"Okay," she says. "So, how do I fit into your plan?"

"Well, to put it simply… You are my distraction. I need you to get in there and force him to use his magic against you. To drain him. Then, he will become vulnerable, as the magic leaves him. That is when I will make my move. He has not even begun to imagine the hell I can create for him!"

"So… Basically, I am expendable, then?" Buffy asks.

"Well," says Willow. "If you want to think of it in those terms, then… Yes. I suppose you are. However, you are also a vital part of the plan. See… Xander doesn't just want to kill you."

"Oh, well, that makes me feel so much better!" Buffy cries.

"I mean… He wants you to suffer… More than you already have. He won't be willing to just kill you outright. You can use that to your advantage, can't you?"

"I… I suppose. I still don't see why I should bother, though. I mean, I am not seeing the part of this that is good for me."

"You will give me time to set my spell in motion. Once I am done… He will be in eternal torment!" screeches Willow as she starts cackling. Buffy takes another step away from her.

"So, what exactly are you going to do to him?"

"That's the best part," says Willow as she looks up at Buffy. Buffy smiles at the excitement in that face. Her smile fades as she remembers that the creature in front of her is not her friend. Willow explains: "It's a simple curse, really… I took that spell that the gypsies used to give Angel his soul, and… I fixed it, Buffy! I made it so that it is permanent! There will be no way for him to get rid of the soul, and… I added a few other surprises for him, too! He's gonna wish he was never sired!"

As Willow laughs maniacally and goes back to concentrating on the spell books, Buffy walks over to the window and stares out into the night. The moon is hidden behind clouds, and there are no stars visible in the darkness above her. There are no sounds, either. She had thought that there would be crickets at least, but there is nothing. She has never felt so alone in all of her life. She turns back to Willow, who is lost in the books and spells.

"So," she says. "How soon will you be ready?"


"In a hurry?" asks Willow.

"Yes," sighs Buffy. "I want this whole nightmare to end as soon as possible."

"I will be ready about half an hour before dawn. That should give us time to get to the castle before the sun rises. Perhaps you should get some sleep. I don't want you to be sluggish when you are fighting Xander. That is one fight that can't end too soon, or else all will be lost."

"I'm not tired," Buffy assures her. "Besides, I don't think I could sleep if I wanted to."

"I can fix that," Willow says absently as she waves her hand in Buffy's direction. Buffy falls to the floor, asleep.

***

"So, you all know what you are to do, then?" asks Xander.

"Of course," says Tara as she looks at the others.

"Sure," says Joyce.

"I know," says Anya. "But… Where is Giles?"

"Giles is taking care of another problem. Unfortunately, we will never see him again, as he is on a kamikaze mission."


"What?" asks Anya.

"He is on his way to England, to have a special meeting with the Council of Watchers. He is going to destroy them all for me. And, himself in the process, unfortunately."

"How could you do that?" demands Anya.


"He volunteered," Xander tells her in dismissive voice. "Besides, he knows better than I do how to get to them. Okay! We are set. Now, we just wait for them to show up. I imagine it will be sometime before dawn, or else shortly after. I expect you all to do what is expected of you."

"We will," they say in one voice.

Xander stands up and walks out of the room. Joyce stands up and follows him, leaving Anya and Tara alone.

"He is using her," Tara says in a low voice.

"Joyce? Really? What does he see in her?" asks Anya.

"Not Joyce," says Tara. "Willow. He has this all planned out. He expected her to leave. He was just waiting for her to slip out. He knows what she is planning, and he is using her to get Buffy here."

"So what?"

"So… Oh, never mind. I am sure it is nothing. I… I just hope he hasn't underestimated her. Especially after humiliating her like he did."

"Well, if Willow and Xander get into a fight, I am staying out of it. I will support whoever wins," says Anya.

"We all do what we feel we must," says Tara as she stands up and leaves the room.

***

"Buffy!" says Willow.

"Huh?" says Buffy as she comes out of her sleep. She looks up at Willow, and smiles. "Willow! You won't believe the nightmare I had!" She uses Willow for support and sits up. She looks around and sighs. "It really happened," she says.

"It's time," Willow tells her, as if Buffy had not even spoken.

"Fine," Buffy sighs. "Let's end this."

"Yes. Let's," says Tara as she enters the apartment. Willow and Buffy turn to face her.

"Tara? But… Why?" asks Willow.

"Because, I thought you could use some help."

"But…" says Willow, as if she is uncertain what is happening. Then, she stiffens and looks around. "How do I know this isn't one of Xander's tricks?"

"Hell," says Tara. "Maybe it is. I mean, I think I came here on my own, but… He knew what you would do, and is ready for you to return to the castle, so I figure he probably knew what I would do when he told me… I just don't know anymore, Willow."

"What are you talking about?" demands Willow.

As Tara starts explaining, Buffy quickly scribbles a note, slips outside and heads for the castle.

***

"They will be here soon," says Xander.

"Does that mean we have to stop?" asks Joyce as she reaches to the floor and grabs her clothes.

"Not at all," says Xander as he grabs hold of the older woman and pulls her closer to him.

"Good," adds Anya as she presses her naked body against him. "Because, I am just getting warmed up." She bares her fangs and then buries them in Joyce's neck. Joyce does the same thing to Anya, and as the blood drips down their bodies, Xander licks it greedily. The three of them are experiencing a rush that no mortal could ever hope to understand. The combination of bloodlust and the physical nature of sex is more intoxicating to them than any drug could ever be to a human.

"Oh, my God!" says Buffy as she steps into the room. "That is the last thing I ever wanted to see!" She kicks a cabinet close to the door, and as it falls to pieces, she grabs a long piece of jagged wood and crosses the room. She sees Xander looking at her, and she stares into his eyes as she shoves the stake completely through Joyce's body and into Anya's. Both of them turn to look at Buffy, identical expressions of shock on their faces for an instant, before they turn to ash. As the ashes fall, Xander jumps to his feet and knocks Buffy across the room with a bolt of magic.

Buffy smashes against the wall and falls to the floor. She shakes her head to try to clear it, and then looks around. Xander is standing in the middle of the room, naked. He stares at her with those eerie eyes, and she smiles. He looks around the room, and then settles his gaze back on Buffy. She slowly climbs to her feet.

"Not what you were expecting, is it?" she asks.

"How…" mumbles Xander. Then, he knows. He was pre-occupied by Joyce and Anya. "It doesn't matter," he tells Buffy. "You will be just as dead when I am finished with you as you would have been had you not caught me… Off guard."

"Do you know how many times I have been threatened like that?" Buffy asks.

"It doesn't matter," Xander says again. He raises his hand, and releases a bolt of energy. Buffy jumps out of the room. Xander smiles and slowly walks after her. "You can't get away from me," he calls out to her as he enters the hall. "I am going to find you, and I am going to kill you when I do!" His voice echoes throughout the castle, but Buffy doesn't answer. He slowly walks from room to room, searching for her.

***

"Where is Buffy?" Willow asks, after she has listened to Tara's explanation. She looks around and notices the note that Buffy left. She picks it up and reads it. After studying it for a couple of minutes, she crumples it in her hand and faces Tara again. "Do you really mean to help?"

"Of course," says Tara.

"Good. We had better get started, then." Willow grabs Tara by the wrist and leads her to the center of the living room. Willow waves her hand, and the room is emptied. She hands Tara a container. "Draw a pentagram on the floor."

"Okay," says Tara as she examines the container. It takes her a moment to realize that it is a human heart. She smiles as she begins pouring the blood onto the floor, forming the required symbol. By the time she is finished, Willow has already placed and lit several black candles. "What are we doing?" Tara asks her.

"We're getting revenge," whispers Willow.

***

"I don't want to fight you," screams Buffy.

"Then, what would we do?" Xander asks.

"I…" says Buffy as she steps out of her hiding place and stares at Xander. "I give up. You have taken everything from me. Even if I had a chance of winning this battle, what would be the point? I have no reason to go on. There is nothing left for me." She hangs her head and takes a deep breath. She looks up at him, pulls her sleeve down over her shoulder, and cocks her head to the side. "Take me," she tells him.

Xander steps in front of her, and places his finger beneath her chin. He pulls his hand upward, forcing her to look at him. He quickly scans her face, and sees, with a bit of a shock, that she means what she has just said. He drops his hand and backs up. Suddenly, he slaps her, causing her to fall to the ground. She looks up at him, tears in her eyes.

"Do whatever you want to me, but…" she chokes, then clears her voice. "Just end it for me. I can't go on."

"No… That would be pure hell for you, wouldn't it?" he hisses as he reaches down and pulls her to her feet. "It's time to see if a Slayer can be sired," he says as he sinks his fangs into her neck. She stands there, in his embrace, and feels the life draining out of her. As she grows weaker, he wraps his arms around her, as if she is his lover, and holds her to him. Finally, sweet oblivion overtakes her, and she loses consciousness.

***

"Buffy?" comes a voice that Buffy doesn't recognize. She opens her eyes, and sees someone she has never met before. He smiles at her, then turns away. "Quentin," he calls. "She's awake." A moment later, Buffy is staring up into the face of Quentin Travers, the head of the Council.

"What?" asks Buffy. "How?"

"You had some help," says Quentin. "Although I don't approve of your methods, the final result is what matters. And, in this case, the final result was the destruction of one of the most powerful, and perhaps the most evil, creatures you have encountered."

"My… Methods?" Buffy asks.

"Making deals with vampires is not our policy," Quentin tells her. "Especially if those vampires are also witches." Buffy opens her mouth to say something, but Quentin holds up his hand. "It's fine," he tells her. "They really are on our side."

Buffy forces herself to sit up, and looks around. She is in a hospital bed, but the room is not part of any hospital she has ever seen before. It is lined with wood paneling, and carpeted. There are two large windows in the wall opposite the door, and other than that, the room is bare, except for the light fixture in the center of the ceiling. She returns her gaze to Quentin, who is the only other person in the room. Buffy doesn't remember the other guy leaving, but decides it doesn't matter. Quentin just looks at her.

"What is this place?" Buffy asks.

"It is one of the rooms in a mansion owned by the Council. You will stay here until you are ready to return to active duty. I am just thankful that you were not the active Slayer. I couldn't deal with a new Slayer right now," he tells her as he turns and heads to the door. He stops just inside the room and turns back to her. "Yes, you died. Again. Let's not make a habit of this, okay? Oh… And you have visitors." With that, he turns again and steps out of the room.

Buffy sits in her bed, wondering who the visitors could be. When Willow and Tara enter the room, Buffy about falls out of her bed. As they walk up to the bed, Buffy searches frantically for something that she can use as a weapon. There is nothing around! She throws her feet off the bed and attempts to stand up. Willow and Tara rush to her side and manage to catch her as she starts to collapse. They help her back into the bed.

"I… I don't understand," Buffy says.

"Yeah," says Willow. "I suppose I should explain. There was a last minute change of plans."

"I know," Buffy tells her. "When Tara showed up, I wrote that note, and went to the castle."

"That was the start of the changes in the plan," explains Tara. Buffy just stares at her.

"We did the spell, but we changed it a little," Willow says with a smile. "Instead of giving Xander a soul…"

"She gave us souls, instead," concludes Tara.

"And, they're permanent," adds Willow. "No clause about happiness!"


"Yes… That would have been most unfortunate," Tara says, as she blushes as smiles at Willow.

"Okay," Buffy tells them as she tries to process the information she has just received. "But… What about Xander?"

"When I read your note, I knew exactly what to do," explains Willow. "I knew that Xander would drink your blood, either in an attempt to sire you, or else to just kill you. I used a spell to poison your blood!"

"What?" shrieks Buffy as she sits up in the bed again.

"Oh… Only to vampires," Tara tells her. "That way, we got rid of Xander, and helped you in the process. Unfortunately, we didn't get to you in time, and…"

"You died," Willow says. "We called for an ambulance. We were with you when the Council members showed up to bring you here. Seems Giles killed himself, after all. He just… He didn't get any of the Council Members when he did it."

"What? Giles?"

"Oh… Yeah. Giles was sent here to take out the Council, but he messed up, and ended up killing himself. When the Council discovered what was going on, they rushed to Sunnydale, and brought you back here."

"So…" begins Buffy. "What happens now?"

"Now? Well, now we wait for you to get healed up, and we go back to Sunnydale, I suppose," says Tara.

"Yeah… You're getting a new Watcher, and we will be given a place to live, and… We are going to be the official guardians of the Hellmouth!" Willow says.

"No!" screams Buffy as she leaps form her bed. "I am done with it! I am no longer a Slayer! I quit!"

"You can't quit," Quentin tells her as he walks back into the room.

"Watch me," declares Buffy as she storms past him and out into the hall.

"Buffy!" calls Willow. "Wait!"

"No! I am done! I don't want to be a Slayer anymore! I don't want to go back to Sunnydale! There is nothing left for me there!"

"Okay," says Willow as she hurries to catch up. "But… You really should get dressed!" Buffy looks down at herself, and then quickly pulls the back of her gown together.

"Willow…" Buffy stares into the eyes of her friend. "What do I do now?" She reaches out to Willow for support, but misses, and falls to the floor. She looks around, and discovers that she is lying on the floor of the castle, back in Sunnydale. Slowly, she sits up. Xander, Willow, and Tara appear in doorway. As they move into the room, Buffy shrinks back. "What is happening?" she asks.

"You're one of us now," says Xander as he looks down at her. Buffy reaches up and feels her face. She is a vampire.

"No!" she screams.