Chapter 7
"Okay," Willow breathed. "Angel, you sit on the bed. Buffy. you probably ought to stand over here, next to me, for now."
Buffy and Angel shared a tender kiss before moving to their designated positions, serious gazes filling the spaces between each other.
Willow sprinkled white rose petals and pink confetti around Buffy's feet in a heart shape, to signify that she was Angel's true love, before pointing her open palm at Angel.
"iLet this ravaged creature be
Part of love and gravity
Let him rage and drink with joy
To his true love's darling boy;
Let him out and let him mock,
Let the soul be now her rocki"
A darting golden sparkle trailed like mist form Angel's mouth as his eyes glowed orange and he groaned in agony. The glittering aura wound its way around the room, finding Willow and almost flitting up her nose. But still, it couldn't seem to find what it was searching for.
The starlit constellation whizzed around the room, flickering under the electric light. Eventually, it slowed, hovering near Buffy. It seemed to extend and grow, never thinning; merely encompassing Buffy's figure in a protective phosphorescence.
"Wow," breathed Willow. Buffy looked so calm, even in the face of Angelus; bathed in a radiating shimmer, the Slayer appeared at peace for the first time since her 17th birthday, nearly a year and a half ago.
"Does my lover even know I'm here?" It was quieter than Willow had expected, but then took on a more menacing tone that reminded Willow of the spell's intent. "Perhaps I should say 'hello'."
"Maybe you should," came a strong voice form the shadowed corner. Buffy herself was surprised by how peaceful she felt. She was very aware of - and deeply comforted by - the protectiveness of Angel's golden soul as it expanded and enveloped her in its aura.
Buffy stepped out of the shadows, taking Angel's soul with her as she tight- rope-walked towards Angelus.
As she moved into range, the vampire leaped, grasping her head like a ball. Buffy could feel Angel's sheer terror that Angelus would simply rip her head off there and then, but forced herself to stay where she was.
Willow's eyes were wide with shock at Buffy's calmness, and fear at Angelus' actions. What if the spell didn't have a chance to work? What if Angelus didn't drink Buffy's blood, but chose another way to murder her? What if he decided to torture her for months, until he made her as insane as Drusilla? All the flaws in the spell suddenly assaulted her thoughts in a vicious incursion, forcing her many fears to convulse between each other.
What if she'd just killed her best friend?
"Okay," Willow breathed. "Angel, you sit on the bed. Buffy. you probably ought to stand over here, next to me, for now."
Buffy and Angel shared a tender kiss before moving to their designated positions, serious gazes filling the spaces between each other.
Willow sprinkled white rose petals and pink confetti around Buffy's feet in a heart shape, to signify that she was Angel's true love, before pointing her open palm at Angel.
"iLet this ravaged creature be
Part of love and gravity
Let him rage and drink with joy
To his true love's darling boy;
Let him out and let him mock,
Let the soul be now her rocki"
A darting golden sparkle trailed like mist form Angel's mouth as his eyes glowed orange and he groaned in agony. The glittering aura wound its way around the room, finding Willow and almost flitting up her nose. But still, it couldn't seem to find what it was searching for.
The starlit constellation whizzed around the room, flickering under the electric light. Eventually, it slowed, hovering near Buffy. It seemed to extend and grow, never thinning; merely encompassing Buffy's figure in a protective phosphorescence.
"Wow," breathed Willow. Buffy looked so calm, even in the face of Angelus; bathed in a radiating shimmer, the Slayer appeared at peace for the first time since her 17th birthday, nearly a year and a half ago.
"Does my lover even know I'm here?" It was quieter than Willow had expected, but then took on a more menacing tone that reminded Willow of the spell's intent. "Perhaps I should say 'hello'."
"Maybe you should," came a strong voice form the shadowed corner. Buffy herself was surprised by how peaceful she felt. She was very aware of - and deeply comforted by - the protectiveness of Angel's golden soul as it expanded and enveloped her in its aura.
Buffy stepped out of the shadows, taking Angel's soul with her as she tight- rope-walked towards Angelus.
As she moved into range, the vampire leaped, grasping her head like a ball. Buffy could feel Angel's sheer terror that Angelus would simply rip her head off there and then, but forced herself to stay where she was.
Willow's eyes were wide with shock at Buffy's calmness, and fear at Angelus' actions. What if the spell didn't have a chance to work? What if Angelus didn't drink Buffy's blood, but chose another way to murder her? What if he decided to torture her for months, until he made her as insane as Drusilla? All the flaws in the spell suddenly assaulted her thoughts in a vicious incursion, forcing her many fears to convulse between each other.
What if she'd just killed her best friend?