Storm Warnings, Bk 2
Chapter 3:
Visions of Madness and Despair
Los Angeles
Hotel Hyperion
The front door swung open as Angel, Gunn, Fred and Wesley walked into the main lobby of the hotel. "Ickk! Slime demons, who'd have thought they actually lived up to their name!" Fred said as she wiped the slime that dripped onto her glasses for the umpteenth time.
"Well I gotta say; been there done that, don't wanna see one again!" Gunn replied as he shook his arms and slime flew around the room.
"So I take it then that if there is a next time you'll listen to my suggestion about taking a flame thrower then?" Wesley asked as he took off his slime-soaked jacket and dropped it on the ground away from him.
"Hello people! This is a lobby, not the bathroom. Take the slime and yourselves out of here please!" Cordelia huffed. "Do I look like the maid or something?"
"Well there was that French maid outfit you wore..." Angel started to say when he saw the dark look from Cordelia. Lifting his hands defensively in front of him, "or not..."
Cordelia cried out and grabbed her head as a Vision slammed into her mind. Two slimy pairs of hands grabbed her before she could fall and laid her down on the couch in Angel's office. Several minutes later the pain had lessened and Cordelia was able to speak. "It's Buffy!" Cordelia gasped out, her head pounding again.
"What about her Cordy?" Angel asked, his entire body tense.
Cordelia's hand shot to her forehead, "I'm not..." Shaking her head to clear it. "It happened in an alley, there was a blonde girl lying on the ground and Buffy was standing over two other bodies and looking at the girl one second and then suddenly Xander was there yelling "Monster!" He just attacked Buffy from behind, stabbing her with a stake and the girl was screaming 'Noooo!' and then nothing..."
"But she wasn't a vampire?" Wesley pressed.
"No. I don't think. I mean I know what vamps look like and she was as normal as you can get for being Buffy!" Cordelia sighed.
"So what are we going to do, stop this Xander or help him?" Gunn asked.
A hard look crossed Angel's face before disappearing behind his brooding facade, "We stop him and then we find out what's going on." Turning Angel headed back to the front door and his car.
"And if she's a vampire Angel?" Wesley pressed.
Angel stopped in his tracks never turning around, "I'll stake her myself and put her soul to rest." Angel replied in a low voice. In a blur of motion he was gone, already out the front door.
"Well what are you doing just standing there, go with him already!" Cordy yelled angrily.
"Willow," Tara called out as Willow was walking out the door.
Looking back, "Yeah Tara?" said Willow as she looked at her lover.
"Just be careful tonight, okay?"
Slightly confused, "Sure. I'll see you in a little while though." Willow replied.
"Bye." Tara said as the door closed. Why couldn't Will tell me what she was really up to? "Well I feel like taking a walk outside anyway and Will's not going to be back soon, maybe I can find something to show her the error of her ways..." Tara trailed off mischievously. Grabbing her brown suede jacket and purse out of the closet Tara locked the door behind her and headed downtown.
Walking out of the store with a large bag in hand, Tara saw the sun had set. Hmmm, that took a little longer than I planned. At least the vampire population has dropped off with Adam gone, so getting home shouldn't be a problem...
After walking several minutes Tara felt herself shoved hard into the alley wall from behind, stunning her as her head hit the stone. Dropping her packages Tara raised her hands defensively in front of her when another blow hit her, this time on her right jaw and Tara saw stars in front of her as she fell to her knees.
A pair of hands picked her up and pushed her against the wall before Tara felt her shirt being torn open.
The rapist shoved the girl against the wall and grabbed at one of her bra-covered breasts when he heard a low growl behind him. Freezing, he turned to see what was making that sound and saw a pair of red eyes in the darkness...
It was the last thing he'd see…ever.
Buffy grabbed the man attacking Tara by his neck and threw him head first into the wall across the alleyway with a loud CRACK! as the rapist hit the wall. Buffy felt a hard blow to her back and looked down to see a stiletto sticking in her right side. Her shredded self-control slipped and Buffy felt herself shift; her claws growing on her hands and the blood lust she had been trying to hold back slip free.
Awareness hit Buffy as she swallowed the last mouthful of blood and dropped the human at her feet. Looking down Buffy saw it was one of the ones that had attacked Tara, quickly Buffy looked around for Tara and saw her 5' feet away pressed against the wall, trying to remain inconspicuous.
Shaking Buffy looked down at her hands and saw the blood covering them and the two bodies by her feet. "Oh my god! I killed them." Buffy whispered to herself as she looked back towards Tara. Taking several steps in Tara's direction, "Tara, it's okay. I'm not going..." Buffy trailed off as she saw the fear and horror on Tara's face.
"Stay away from me." Tara said as she grabbed at her purse to pull the wooden cross she had inside it out, and held it up towards Buffy.
Buffy stopped walking, numbed by Tara's words. "You think I'm a monster." Buffy said out loud, "Maybe I am...I don't know anymore," tears fell down Buffy's face unchecked. "What have I done?" came Buffy's anguished whisper.
Tara had seen Buffy walk up behind and grab her attacker throwing him across the alley. And just as she was about to say, "Thank the Goddess," Tara had seen Buffy change; her skin became bone-white, her eyes were red and she had claws on her hands. In barely 20 seconds Buffy or vamp-Buffy had snapped the neck of one of the rapists and drained the other two, dry. As quickly and quietly as she could Tara moved away, trying to get as must distance between her and the vampire.
But it was when she looked at Buffy that Tara Saw her friend's Aura clearly. And Tara shook her head to clear it, confused by what she Saw. That's not possible, how can her Aura be almost the same as before. If she's a vamp she shouldn't have one or it'd be all black and red. But Buffy's is still sapphire, but now it has red streaks in it on the edges.
"Buffy? Is that really you?" Tara asked. Walking forward slowly Tara stopped just in front of Buffy who was crying. Her soul, whatever else has happened to her, is hers! Tara watched as Buffy looked up at her, the pain in her eyes clear. Before she could say anything Tara felt her foot slip on something as she fell to the ground. "Ouch and damn!" Tara cursed. Looking up Tara saw Buffy offer her her hand to get back up, but then she saw Xander come charging out of the darkness towards Buffy. "Monster! Don't you touch her!" Xander yelled as he stabbed down with a stake towards Buffy's back.
Tara saw that Buffy had started to turn when the stake sank into her back. A backhanded fist lashed out into Xander's jaw throwing him backwards into the wall. In the blink of an eye Tara saw Buffy had shifted into her demon form again and grabbed Xander by his jacket, lifting him up off his feet, slamming him against the wall several times.
Tara ran towards Buffy and Xander, yelling. "Buffy! Nooo!" Tara never knew if it was her voice that distracted the now-berserk Buffy. But at the last moment Buffy's clawed hand struck the wall next to Xander's face. Cement chips flew everywhere and several pieces hit Xander, cutting his cheek open.
At the same time Tara saw 3 men run into the alley, one of them was dressed all in black, "Buffy!" he yelled but only received an angry snarl in response.
Sensing Buffy's fragile state, "Get out of here!" Tara yelled at the three men. Tara saw Buffy look at her and for a moment Tara saw Buffy, not the creature, looking back at her before Buffy disappeared suddenly into the night
Xander stood up and from where Vamp-Buffy had dropped him and looked for Tara. "Tara, thank god you're okay! I'm just glad I was able to get here in time before she could hurt you!" Xander said with a sense of relief for saving Tara from that monster.
Before Tara could reply Xander saw Angel walk over. "You okay Xander?" Angel asked dryly.
"Yeah, are you here about Buffy? Because I'm worried who else she'll try to attack now that she missed Tara."
"Did you see Buffy attack Tara Xander?" Angel asked as he motioned for Wesley and Gunn to leave.
Xander turned to look at Angel, "No. But I'm..."
"You're what? You stupid, ham-handed, arrogant, moron!" Tara exploded. "Do you have any idea what you've done!"
Angrily Xander turned around, "Yeah, I saved your butt from Vamp-Buffy back there, that's what!" Xander yelled back.
"No Xander, what you did was to attack someone who just saved me. A someone who's supposed to be your best friend!" Tara said angrily.
"As far as I'm concerned, that thing isn't Buffy. It's just like deadboy here," Xander jerked his thumb towards Angel, "a walking corpse and I'll rest when it's dust-buster chow!"
Tara fumed at Xander, "No she's not! And if you hadn't of just charged in trying to kill her, you'd know that. But not Xander, Mr. Xander 'I think with my lower parts' Harris! She'd just stopped those men from raping me! Is that the act of someone who's out to kill me?" Tara asked incredulously.
"Are you blind Tara?" Xander said angrily. "She probably was saving you so she could have your blood for herself, that's all!"
"I can see fine Xander, you're the one wearing blinders, not me. What I saw was Buffy, not a vampire out for my blood! You're so blinded by your hatred of vampires and demons you can't see anything past that! Even after what you saw in your dream you don't listen!"
"What are you talking about Tara?" Xander said stubbornly trying to ignore the cold feeling growing in his stomach.
"Look here Tara…" Xander said as he reached for Tara's arm.
A cold look came over Tara's face, "Don't touch me Xander." Tara said in a low voice. "I'm going to go find Buffy and see if I can help her. But you have no idea what you've done tonight!"
Tara turned and started to walk away when she felt a hand grab her arm roughly and spinning her around.
Xander saw a flash of light that blinded him and he stumbled backwards. When his vision cleared enough to let him see only a few spots in his vision, Xander saw Tara standing a few feet away. Blinking several times to clear his eyes, Xander looked at Tara. Tara's eyes had turned black with silver flecks in them and her skin now had a soft silver colour to it, her ears were pointed and she was taller by several inches.
For the first time Xander tonight Xander felt afraid, afraid of what Tara had changed into. With a gesture from Tara, Xander found himself lifted up and flung against the wall, pinning him unable to move or speak.
"You have been shown what can and may be and still you ignore those warnings and allow your prejudices to blind you! Then understand this, you have hurt a fragile soul this night, perhaps beyond mending... Your rash actions in the past have hurt yourself for the most part, but no more. Tonight your unthinking attitude has hurt another and if such is the case then restitution will be called for and you will pay in full for what was done to her."
Xander watched as Tara turned and walked away, her silver glow was finally swallowed up by the darkness. Xander felt whatever had been holding him let go suddenly and he fell to the street. "Oooof!" Xander uttered as he hit awkwardly and sprawled in the wet alleyway.
"Well Xander I see that Tara has you quite in hand. I'd suggest you think about what she was talking about to you." Came Angels' voice from the shadows.
Getting up Xander brushed the dirt and garbage off of himself, "Yeah right!" Xander snorted. "Just what Sunnyhell needed, another demon and the mouthy deadboy back to visit his 'sweety'."
Shaking his head, Angel pulled back into the shadows and moved out of the alley, leaving Xander to his actions.
Grumbling to himself Xander started to leave the alley and stopped at the street corner. What would Tara know about my dream or anything else for that matter? Shaking his head of any uncomfortable thoughts. Angrily, Xander started off towards home.
It wasn't until much later that night that Xander, unable to get the image of a little girl with soft downy fur out of his mind, he began to wonder if he had made a mistake.
Old Route 306
2 miles outside of Sunnydale
"So Faith, tell me again where are we going to tonight that you need magick backup for?"
"It was something Willie told me, he was kinda vague about what kinda demon it was, other than it was very powerful." Faith answered. "Since Willie's notorious for skimping on details to save his own ass, I figured I'd need someone to give me a hand in the magick department if this demon is all that and a bag of chips if this goes south."
"Are you sure you're feeling okay Faith? No fever or anything?" Willow asked as she reached for Faith's forehead and got her hand gently swatted away.
"Ha! Ha! Red! Just because I like to take things on straightforward doesn't mean I can't ask for help on occasion."
"I still think it's a sign of the coming apocalypse." Willow teased back.
Her only reply was Faith sticking her tongue out at her.
Faith returned her attention to the back road they were walking on, any sense of humour gone as quickly as it had come. I'm really not liking this, something feels really off about this place.
"We're almost there Willow. The place is supposed to be in an old abandoned monastery..."
Faith saw the monastery as they came over the top of the hill. That ain't no monastery I ever seen. Faith thought as the building came into view. There was a low wall surrounding the building and a gate at the entrance. As they headed closer Faith saw several poles lining either side of the road, it wasn't until they were closer Faith saw that they weren't poles, they were crosses...
And on each cross was a demon that had been tortured, crucified and left to rot. The odor of rotting flesh filled the air and made both women gag from the smell.
Willow looked doubtfully at Faith, "And you want us to go in there?"
"What are we gonna do if that demon knows something about Buffy or where she is and we didn't try Red? I don't know about you, but I couldn't live with myself if that was the case."
"I know. There's just something about this place that makes my teeth hurt..." Willow trailed off unsure how to explain what she was feeling from the area.
"Well the sooner we go in, the sooner we're out of here Red."
"I guess." Willow replied dubiously.
Faith started walking toward the gate and Willow followed a few moments later. Both women stepped through the gate into a small, empty courtyard. Straight ahead Faith and Willow saw a small, 2-story building in the center and headed towards it.
At the door to the building Willow felt the power was more strongly focused here in this building. Willow reached over and touched Faith's arm, "Well whatever is inside, this is its' lair. But Faith, be very careful please. Whatever is inside is insanely powerful!"
Faith looked at Willow with a "trust me" smile, "Trust me! I know what I'm doing!" Faith said with a wink and headed into the building.
Faith and Willow walked into the building and both women saw 2 completely different things inside.
Faith saw the room was well lit by torches of different sizes about the room. On all the walls were different types of swords, axes, spears, maces and several other weapons she didn't recognize, as well as several weapon racks that held even more weapons. The floor was made of a black stone and there was a long red carpet that led to a large throne on the far side of the room.
Sitting on the throne, Faith saw a large, muscular man wearing tight black leather pants and a leather vest. He was wearing black and silver bracers on his wrists, leaning on one side of the throne was a two-handed sword and leaning on the other side Faith saw a double-bladed battle axe.
Simultaneously…Willow saw the room had bookcases that were overflowing with books lining the walls of the room. Scattered throughout the room were more piles of books, scrolls and papers. An elderly, bearded man sat at a large wooden desk on the opposite side of the room.
At the same time Faith and Willow both spoke; "He's over there!"
"You've arrived, good!" Said the figure on the dais as he stood up and walked down the carpet towards Faith. "You look hungry." Clapping his hands together there was a blinding flash and Faith saw a banquet-sized table covered with trays of food suddenly appear. "Have a seat and eat something. I'm sure we can discuss what it is you need from me as you eat."
Well according to Red pissing this guy or demon or whatever he is, isn't a good idea. Shrugging Faith sat down, turning she saw Willow standing still where Faith had left her.
"Red?" Faith called out. "You okay?"
"Don't worry about the redhead, you're here to talk to me." The man said smugly.
Putting his hand up to forestall the predictable response, "She's fine. She's just not aware of our private conversation,"
Frowning as she turned back to the man, "Fine. So who are you? You're not like any demon I've ever run into."
A grin came across the man's face, "No. I'd think you've never run into someone like me," he replied cryptically.
"So how can you help me then?"
"I can tell you where your other Slayer is!" The man said with a smug smile on his face.
Faith's face dropped in surprise, "What!"
"I can also tell you who to defeat and of course the information won't be free and I'll need a favour or 2 from you in return as well."
Faith took a step toward the man, "Who the hell are you and how do you know where Buffy is?"
Smiling broadly at her, "Who I am isn't as important as how you can find Buffy." Faith watched the man walk around her nodding and looking her over from head to toe. She expected any minute for him to check her teeth next.
"Good, very good...Yes, definite potential here!" Coming to a stop in front of her. "You'd do well as a Chosen." He said with a 'cat that ate the canary' grin. "I'll tell you where you can find this Buffy of yours. But I'll want something in return. An exchange of favours as it were."
"Fine. Where can I find her?" Faith said impatiently forgetting what Willow told her.
"Hahahahaha! Good!" With a bright flash of light a silver cup appeared in his hand. "The Slayer is outside of town about 10 miles to the South-East, in a small vineyard. Or rather she will be there later. Right now she's elsewhere." Faith heard him say. The man seemed amused by something he'd said.
Frowning angrily, "What's so damn funny Mr. Clown?"
"Why the fact that her friend Xander just tried to kill her, of course he did just also drive her over the edge as well. So it's not like he truly failed now, is it?" He said with a smile.
Confused, "What are you talking about? Xander tried to kill Buffy? That's crazy!"
"Is it or should I say her? But of course you'd know best about this Xander and what he's truly capable of, now wouldn't you?"
Furious Faith turned around, "This is bull! I don't believe a word you're saying!" Faith started to walk out when she was suddenly frozen in place.
Faith saw a white flash and the demon was standing in front of her now. "Why don't you ask the blonde Witch then, she was there and saw everything. Of course, she may not want to tell you at all! You know, not wanting to tell you to protect your feelings," the voice was suddenly behind her whispering softly in her ear. "Or is it something else she's trying to hide from you?"
Struggling Faith couldn't move an inch, "Bull! I don't know what game you're trying to play, but it ain't gonna fly with me!"
"Am I really lying to you or is it that you're afraid to believe I'm telling you the truth!" The voice whispered in her mind now. "Which is worse? Lying to yourself or to others?"
"I. WILL. NOT. BE. HELD!" Faith yelled at the top of her lungs and suddenly she was free, thrown forward by her sudden freedom.
Running as fast as possible Faith ran out of the building.
Meanwhile….
"So my young Witch, you've come to visit an old man have you?"
"What are you really? This isn't real, none of it is. I can sense the power for the illusion all around me."
Smiling kindly, "I'm no one important really." Getting up the old man walked towards her and stopped suddenly. "You see it's not what I am, but rather what I know that's important."
"So what is it that you know is so all important then?" Willow asked.
The old man smiled and for a second Willow had the feeling of looking into a lion's mouth right before he swallowed her. "Your friend you came with here will kill another that you know and then she will die as well. But what is it worth to you to know more...What would you give me to know what I know?"
"Faith wouldn't kill anyone! She's not like that, she's one of the good guys!" Willow replied hotly.
An eyebrow rose on the mans face, "Really?" He said in an amused voice. Pulling a fist-sized crystal out of his robes, "Look into this and see what will be..."
Looking into the crystal Willow saw a scene take shape before her eyes…
"You son of a bitch Xander! I'll kill you for what you did to Buffy!" Faith yelled as she tossed Xander into a wall. As soon as he hit the wall and started to fall down Faith was by his side, a slightly curved dagger pulled out and next to his throat. "Why damn you? She wasn't a vampire!" Faith trailed off as tears fell from her eyes.
Spitting the blood out of his mouth, "She was a demon, isn't that enough?" Xander yelled back just in time to see Faith raise the dagger and it plunge downwards...the image wavered and disappeared and Willow found herself back where she was. Standing at the doorway to the building.
Faith ran out the door moment's later, holding her arm that was bleeding from a long cut on it.
Grabbing Willow, Faith pulled them both out of the courtyard and didn't stop until the monastery was gone from their sight.
Gabrielle walked into the house and saw Xena in the kitchen, "Xe, have you seen Buffy this morning?"
Shaking her head as she finished making her sandwich, "No. Not since yesterday actually. Didn't she come home last night?" Xena asked, her appetite suddenly leaving her.
"No." Gabrielle replied flatly.
Closing her eyes Xena opened the bond between the two of them and felt a rush of turmoil and pain slam into her as she touched Buffy's mind. Staggering back under the onslaught Xena closed the link just as she felt Gabrielle grab her.
"Xe, are you okay?" Gabrielle asked concerned for her lover.
Shaking it off, Xena pushed herself upright. "Yes. But Buffy's not. Something's very wrong, she's hurt, but it's more than that. We have to find her fast!"
Stevenson Hall"...are you sure about that Faith?" Willow asked as she held the front door for Stevenson Hall open for Faith. "The guy or demon was really old and the room definitely didn't have any weapons in it. It was wall to wall books."
"Red, I'm telling you. The room was a blinkin' armoury! I don't know if I've ever seen so many weapons all over the place! And the guy wasn't old at all, we'll not that old at least. He looked like he was in his 30's or so. But definitely in his prime though."
Willow unlocked the door to their apartment in the dorm. "We need to finder Xander though and see if what he showed you was real."
"No, what Xander needs to do is start praying if I find out it was real!" Faith replied angrily. Faith walked into Willow who had stopped suddenly. "Red, what the...?" Faith started to say when she saw Tara lying on the couch. Her shirt had been ripped or torn open, as the buttons were missing and she had been crying from the dried tear tracks on her face.
Willow ran to her lover and pulled her close. "Tara baby, you okay? What happened?" Willow's voice cracked as she tried to force the fear of what happened down.
Tara held onto Willow close, "I'm okay Will." Tara said in-between sniffles.
"Don't lie to me Tara! You're definitely not okay!" Willow said letting a trace of her anger surface, but in a softer voice she asked, "What happened?"
"I went out just after you did. I wanted to get something special and I guess I forgot the time, because it was after sundown when I started home..."
"And..." Faith prompted.
"And on the way back I was attacked by three men. They started to..." Looking down at her ruined shirt, "They ripped my shirt and grabbed me..."
Willow gently ran her hand down the side of Tara's face, "You don't have to say anything more if you can't...But we'll need to call the cops," Willow said as she started to stand up when a hand grabbed her hand stopping her.
"Willow, no. It's okay, I'm okay."
"No it's not okay. We have to get you checked by a doctor," Willow's mind ran furiously.
"No. They didn't do anything other than tearing my shirt Will... Buffy saved me!" Tara said the last softly.
Both Willow and Faith yelled in unison surprised, "WHAT?"
Willow looked concerned at Tara, "Are you sure it was Buffy?" She asked.
"Yeah I am. It's kinda hard to forget her, kinda short, blonde hair, green eyes, cute," Tara giggled softly at the last. "But she tore into them, they won't be hurting anyone else!"
Faith interrupted unable to contain herself anymore, "Was Xander there?" Faith asked as her eyes narrowed and a cold look came over her face.
"Yes, why?" Tara hedged as she noticed the change in Faith.
"Leave it alone Faith." Willow said sharply as she helped Tara to her feet. "Come on Tar, let's get you out of these and into a nice hot bubble bath." Willow said tenderly.
Faith walked around in front of Willow and Tara, "No I'm not Red." Looking at Tara, "Was Xander there and did he hurt Buffy?" Faith asked again.
"Yes to both." Tara replied.
There was a shattering sound as Faith crushed the unbreakable plastic mug in her hand. "I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch!" Faith murmured and ran towards the front door.
"Strigare!" Willow said out-loud, freezing the Slayer in mid-stride.
"Consipire!" Tara said as she gestured towards Faith. The air around Faith twinkled and suddenly the Slayer collapsed to the ground unconscious. "Willow, what's the heck is going on here? I know why I think Xander needs his head checked. But Faith knew something had happened though!"
Sighing, "Let's get you out of those clothes and into a bath. I'll explain it to you while you have your bath. By the way, how long will Faith be out?" Willow asked.
Smiling, "Till I wake her up." With that Tara started to walk slowly towards the bedroom.
"Xe, can you sense her?"
"Barely, something's blocking the link between us. But she's somewhere east of here, outside of town."
Gabrielle frowned at Xena's words, "Then we need to get to her first..."
A dark figure sat back on this throne and waved his hand over the image in front of him. "Hahahahaha, not this time you won't..."
End Chapter 3