Part 11

Giles watched as Willow confidently used her magick alongside Dru, Angel and Darla as they fought wizards from Ethan's army. Willow's self-confidence had grown with each advancement in her lessons. She had yet to try an illusion in the heat of battle where only her intended could see it though.

She did well in a controlled atmosphere but she was still hesitant to use it in the field of battle. She was afraid her concentration would lapse and the wrong person would be frightened or distracted by her illusion.

Rupert had no doubt that Ethan would come to "inspect" the troops again and he was doubly sure that Gwendolyn would pose some kind of threat.

William and Xander had heard in their rounds that Gwendolyn had viewed Willow's teleportation as a defeat. It was something that someone of her advanced power and training should have avoided.

Word in the demon community was that Ethan had viewed it the same way and had punished his second-in-command. If his second was viewed as weak then he would be viewed as weak.

They were all waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Rupert smiled as a wanna be tried to sneak up on him. He turned and did a small glamour spell that caused his eyes to glow and his voice to boom in the other's mind, "You really think that you're a match for me?"

The wizard had had his back to him and the wanna be saw that the wizard had been distracted by the battle in front of him. Thinking to take advantage of his distraction he had quietly advanced. He almost swallowed his tongue when the wizard turned and his eyes glowed red and his voice thundered in his mind. That was when he realized that RUPERT was standing in front of him.

The wannabe couldn't retreat fast enough.

Willow smiled as she walked up to Rupert after dispatching the last wizard, "Nice trick."

Rupert smiled sheepishly, "Yes, well sometimes the smallest spell is the most effective."

Darla slipped her hand through Dru and Angel's arms and whispered, "Young love, isn't it precious?"

"Those two have been dancing around each other for weeks. Xander's even got a pool going on which day they'll finally do something and which will be the first to make a move."

"I'd keep an eye on Xander. I wouldn't put it passed him, Faith or Jesse to do something so they win the bets. I keep seeing them huddling and whispering while looking over at Willow and Rupert."

Angel's eyes twinkled at Dru, "Oh they're definitely planning something.

Rupert stopped as he saw Faith and Tara running in their direction.

"Giles! You gotta hurry. Wesley caught Robert. Xander and Jesse are guarding him."

Dru's eyes had turned amber and a harsh growl escaped her lips. It took both Angel and Darla to hold her in place.

Willow turned in surprise at the noise. "Okay. I'm guessing Robert is not one of the good guys."

"He's Ethan's emissary here in Sunnydale. Wes and the others have been hunting him for three years but he's been very elusive." Rupert's pace began to pick up as he followed Tara and Faith. "I don't like that now he decides to appear."

Angel and Darla kept their hands on Dru holding her between them as they followed.

"Where's Wes and William if Jesse and Xander are guarding Robert?" Darla asked Faith.

Faith glanced back over her shoulder and cringed when she saw Dru in vamp face. "Wes is trying to keep William from killing Robert."

Willow turned worried eyes to Rupert, "Okay. What am I missing?"

It was Angel that answered, "Robert was the one that held Buffy and Willow down with magick while Ethan killed them."

~~~~

For the first time since coming to this reality Willow saw Spike in this William's mannerisms. She saw the cold soulless killer that had threatened to shove a bottle into her brain.

His eyes were an icy blue and a muscle ticked in his jaw as he and Dru argued with Wes.

It wasn't that Wes wasn't all for killing the wizard, he actually wanted to slowly drain his life as he watched him struggle but they needed information out of him.

They needed to know when Ethan or Gwen was going to strike next and what their plans were.

Robert sat bound to a chair, both physically and mystically. He smugly watched as the vampires, wizards and witches decided his fate. His fate had already been decided by Ethan and he had gladly accepted it

Ethan had known Ripper would bind Robert's magick so he wouldn't be able to use it against them. He knew the others would debate what to do with him. Ethan was a very proficient student to human and demon behavior. It was one of the reasons he had gotten as far as he had. He learned his opponents and used their weaknesses against them.

Willow noticed Xander and Jesse seemed very quiet. Her Xander would be arguing right along with William and Druscilla all for killing the wizard.

Willow quietly made her way over to them and softly placed a hand on his shoulder. "You okay?"

Xander nodded his head, "It just doesn't feel right. We've been hunting this guy for three years. Wes, William and Dru actively, Jesse and me through contacts in LA yet here he is. I mean it's not like he turned himself in or had a huge neon sign over his head that said, 'killer here come and get me'." Xander just shook his head. "It just doesn't feel right."

Jesse continued, "I think it might be a trap. How? I have no idea and it's not like it's anything new. Ethan uses his people like bait and canon fodder all the time. Just not anyone this high ranking. I don't know what he's planning but it's something. He looks too confident for the position he's in."

Willow looked back over at Robert and then at Rupert. His face gave nothing away. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. Just a small muscle ticking in his jaw was the only indication that he was upset. This was Ripper.

Willow jumped when Rupert suddenly backhanded Robert. It wasn't the action that startled her it was the suddenness of the attack. Like a viper striking without warning.

"When's Gwendolyn going to attack?"

Rupert calmly looked at Robert who was licking the trickle of blood from the side of his mouth.

The room got silent and all eyes were on them. William started around Wesley and toward Rupert. "This one's mine, mate."

Robert began to chuckle, "You may as well let him have a go." He glanced at the clock over Rupert's shoulder. "Not much time left."

Rupert's eyes narrowed. Surely he didn't think either Gwendolyn or Ethan would rescue him. They would never sacrifice themselves or others in an attempt at rescue. No, in Ethan's army you knew if captured you were on your own. Literally. Ethan wouldn't take you back into his army either. If you were bad enough to get captured you weren't good enough to be in his army.

Rupert's eyes widened at his dawning awareness. OH...MY...GOD!

"Everyone get out! NOW!"

William growled and refused to move. Rupert physically pushed him back. "Get out, NOW! It's a suicide attack. If we kill him, it still goes off . . . only quicker. It goes off no matter what."

Shouts mingled with Robert's laughter. Rupert grabbed Willow's hand and pulled her along behind him.

William would not let his chance at revenge go. He leaned down and whispered in Robert's ear and watched in satisfaction as the smugness left and all color drained from his face.

Dru slipped her arms around William and whispered in his ear, "What'd you say, luv."

William just smiled over his shoulder at Dru and then turned in her embrace to walk away with his arm around Dru's shoulder, "Just reminded him that his family was still alive . . .just for how long though was up for debate."

The explosion caused windows to crash in the surrounding area of the Magic Box and fire lit the night sky causing an eerie glow. Sirens could be heard in the distance as firemen made their way to the disaster.