A/N: Just a warning that part of this chapter contains references to torture and sexual assault. I've tried my best to hold this off from being an 'M' rated chapter. Hope I've done just that.
Sunnydale High Library, 1900 hours.
Buffy was standing to one side, leaning against the counter, with Kendra by her side as they watched Althanea, who described herself as a friend of Sheila and Ira Rosenberg, who had recently hired her to guide Willow through some tough times and, unknown to them, was also a practicing witch. Buffy knew what Althanea told her wasn't true; the older woman was hiding something. But with Willow still mad at her, the blonde Slayer didn't want to push anything. Despite Kendra was telling Buffy the fact that Angelus' calling the blonde out was a trap, Buffy's mind was far away… she was thinking back to the night that she received the call from Giles.
Buffy was watching TV with Joyce when the call came in. The blonde Slayer remembered going to pick up the phone, and cheerfully answered it, since they were watching a comedy and they only just had laughed at a particular scene. However, the laughter and smile on Buffy's face vanished when Giles told her that Willow came to his house, after having seen Oz's dead body. The news made the stunned Buffy drop her phone before she held a hand to her mouth and collapsed onto the wall behind her. Joyce noticed her daughter gasp as she dropped back against the wall, and then looked at Buffy in concern before she got off the couch. Joyce picked up the phone, that was lying on the carpet, as Buffy slid down to the floor in stunned silence with Joyce talking to Giles about what had just happened.
Back in the library, Buffy shook her head before telling Kendra that she knew it was a trap, but she'd keep Angelus distracted for long enough while Althanea performed the ritual, which, the two Slayers were told, would take about thirty minutes. It was about that time that the library doors opened up and Willow walked in, Buffy and the redhead glanced at each other before Willow looked away and walked past her.
Kendra then looked at the sadness on the face of her sister Slayer and placed a hand on her shoulder, she had heard from Xander what happened to Oz and how upset Willow was; and that she hadn't talked to them ever since that day. Kendra whispered to Buffy, as they stood by in the library, that it would take some time. She told Buffy that in the end, she'd have her friend back.
As Willow stopped next to Cordelia and Xander, she talked to the both of them while trying to hide how troubled she was about certain details about her visions. Visions that had kept coming true so far. She remembered the details of the visions she had the day she cut her hair, and she had a feeling that something was about to happen tonight. But she didn't know what it was going to be; she remembered the vision of Angel growling in her dream and knew that it wasn't Angel she saw, it was Angelus. Then she remembered the orange colored vortex, and her skin crawled. As much as she hated to admit it, she guessed that Angelus had something to do with the vortex… and he needed to be ensouled again to prevent it. Willow then walked over to Giles, who had just come out of his office, before Buffy called them all to order.
"It's going to take me ten minutes to get to that cemetery," said Buffy as she looked at everyone, "I'll keep Angelus occupied while Althanea finishes the ritual…. Ummm… how do I know if it's worked?"
"You'll know," said Althanea as she looked at Buffy, who then looked at Willow, who was looking at Cordelia. Buffy then put her head down before turning to Kendra and Xander, asking them to look after the others.
"Giles," said Buffy as the older man walked towards her, "I know you already said this was going to be a trap… and I know you said Nighthawk contacted you with the reasons she couldn't fight with me for the past few nights, but… but have you been able to get her to come help you guys here?"
"She's out of contact, Buffy," said Giles gently while Kendra noticed Cordelia looking at Willow again, as did Althanea while the Redhead looked away and then sat down on the stairs, "but I can try calling for her again using a spell and ask her to help you and…"
"No," said Buffy shaking her head, "I can take care of Angelus, I just needed her here as back-up in case… in case I fail to stop Angelus. If he kills me, then he could come here and.. and I'd feel better having Nighthawk with you guys."
"I believe we will be able to handle it," said Kendra as she glanced at Willow, who was looking back at her before looking back at the floor. In the meantime, Kendra told Buffy that she should get going; reminding the Slayer that the ritual itself would take thirty minutes, and she had twenty minutes to get there, and then keep Angelus distracted for another ten minutes, "we will begin the ritual immediately ."
"But if you see nothing after thirty minutes," said Miss Calendar, "then…."
"I know what I need to do if it doesn't work," said Buffy as she looked at the I.T teacher, and then at Willow who was still looking away from her. Buffy still gave a small smile at her friend before she turned, reached down on the watch around her wrist, and activated the stopwatch function. Buffy then ran through the library doors knowing full well that no matter what happened that night, Angelus' reign of terror would be ending tonight.
Once Buffy left Kendra walked towards Willow, and then sat down next to her. The both of them sat in silence while Althanea got the ritual ready.
It was ten minutes later that everyone was holding a stake while surrounding Althanea who had begun the ritual. Willow was standing next to her mentor, while Cordelia was on the other side with Miss Calendar, and Xander, and Kendra near the counter. They were prepared for anything when the back windows suddenly crashed inwards. Willow turned and saw four vampires breaking in, while another four rushed in through the rear doors, and another four ran in through the front doors.
"Willow!" shouted Xander as she smirked at the vampire who had just jumped over the second floor railing to the main floor, "get them out of…"
Xander didn't finish what he wanted to say when he was knocked down to the ground, but before he fell; he saw Willow deftly avoid the vampire that was heading towards her before kicking at the side of its head. As he fell with his eyes wide open at the moves that Willow was making, martial arts moves that he had seen only Buffy make, Xander heard a growl before he looked up at the vampire who was soon kicked off him by Giles.
"Get up, Xander!" barked Giles as he fought the vampires while another vampire knocked Althanea off the table, and she fell onto the floor with a thud. Willow used her telekinesis to push another vampire into the vampire who was fighting with Xander, who looked on in surprise as Willow turned around and flipped one over her shoulder, before telekinetically knocking the one who was about to bite Cordelia out of the library doors.
Willow knew that they were outnumbered, that even with her telekinesis, and Kendra's abilities… there was only so much they could do.
"Cordelia!" shouted Willow as she threw her house key at the young woman , before putting all the materials for the ritual into a bag, including the Orb of Thesula. Willow then used her telekinesis to send the bag to Althanea while she was fighting another vampire, "take your car, and get Althanea, and Miss Calendar out of here."
"Wi.." said Cordelia who watched Willow fight, the redhead dusting the vampire before looking at the dark haired young woman..
"Go!" screamed Willow pointing at the rear door as a vampire pushed her down onto the floor before she used her telekinesis to slam him to the ceiling while mentally picking up her stake, and then shooting it into the vampire's chest. Willow got up to her feet just as the vampire and the stake turned to dust before she got up and then ran with Cordelia, Althanea, and Miss Calendar to the rear door, backed up by Xander, who was covering their retreat by keeping away the other vampires. It was just after the three of them left when Willow heard a snap behind her. She then turned around to see Xander screaming from a broken arm. She then noticed out of the corner of her eyes as two vampire pushed the book stacks towards her, the stacks falling one by ob on top of the other like domino's.
Willow saw the stack about to fall onto her and she just managed to put up a telekinetic shield while she heard the fight on the lower level still going on. Willow could hear Kendra and Giles continuing the fight while books from the angled stack that was threatening to fall onto her rained down around the redhead. She looked at the two vampires opening the door, that led to the hallway out of the school, and used her telekinesis, that was already being taxed, by holding up four extremely heavy stacks that were partly on top of each other, while she was pushed down to her knees.
Willow used what power she had to hold the two vampires still. They had just gotten through the threshold into the hallway when they stopped midway. The redhead could feel blood trickling down her nose as she screamed and pulled the two vampires towards her. They impacted Willow hard, and pushed her out of danger while the stacks fell onto the two vampires.
"Xander!" cried Willow as she hurriedly got off the floor and slid over to the young man. She then kneeled in front of her friend, who was groaning in pain, before she looked up and saw Giles and Kendra still fighting; or rather Kendra was surrounded while two vampires were holding onto both of Giles' arms, with another one punching him across the face, and then into the abdomen. Willow looked back down at Xander, who was looking back at her through narrowed eyes, and told him that she'll be back.
Xander reached out for Willow with his good hand, however the redhead was already jumping over that railing, and was right behind Giles. She then used her telekinesis to push away the one who was punching him. She then jumped onto the back of the one holding Giles' left arm, put her arm around his neck, and squeezed as hard as she could. That action let the vampire loose his own grip on Giles, who then punched the one holding onto his right hand. He then punched the vampire again before pushing him away. Giles then rushed to the table, where his stake fell down earlier, and picked up the weapon. He then turned around and dusted the vampire that had been holding him, before he turned and staked the vampire that had Willow on his back. Willow then fell onto the floor before standing up.
At the same time, Xander was slowly getting onto his knees, while cradling his broken arm. He looked down at the broken arm and winched from the pain before he looked up; all he could do was watch helplessly as Willow and Giles joined forces with Kendra in fighting the vampires that surrounded the Slayer.
Xander watched as Willow bopped and weaved before kicking out and punching the vampires; to him… it seemed like she had been doing that for her entire life. He saw Willow wave her hand as two vampires were pushed back by an unseen force, before noticing that she was grimacing and rubbing her head after every wave. His eyes opened wide when the remaining vampires pulled back just as Angelus and Drusilla walked into the room.
And Xander's heart fell like a stone.
'Buffy didn't make it,' thought Xander to himself as he glared at Angelus.
"Didn't I tell you it would work, Dru?" said Angel as he looked at Willow and Giles, and then at Kendra, and then at Giles again while laughing, "all I had to do is tell poor Buffy to meet me alone somewhere, and she'd go. So full of hope that she'd get her Angel back in time."
"I still have the taste of dog on my lips," whined Dru as she loked at Angelus, and then at Willow, whose jaw set as she glared at Dru with her hands forming into fists. "Now who will I have to get that taste off my tongue and lips?"
"Where is Buffy?" Kendra demanded to know, all the while ignoring Drusilla's whine.
"She'll be a bit late," laughed Angelus, when he suddenly stopped, turned his vampire face on and glared at them through yellow eyes, "of course, one of you will be my message to her… of how she failed. And of how Willow is a failure."
"Come, come!" cheered Drusilla clapping her hands as the vampires, which had retreated earlier, now rushed back at them.
"You killed him!" screamed Willow as she glared at Angel and Drusilla before she waved one hand after another, flinging Angelus to one side, and Drusilla to the other side. She was slammed onto the wall before she slipped to the floor, as was Angelus. Willow saw that Giles and Kendra were able to handle the vampires that were attacking them. They didn't notice Willow, panting in anger, walk towards Drusilla, who was getting up before she was slammed onto the ground by Willow waving her hand. Willow then looked over her shoulder, while blood was trickling down her nose, and slammed Angelus against the library ceiling, and then slammed him back onto the floor, before slamming him through the library doors to the hallway outside.
"You'll be mine later," Wilow whispered at the doors that were flapping wildly after Angelus was pushed through them, while she mentally pushed Drusilla against the wall. Willow then looked at Drusilla, the redhead's lips pressed together in a straight line, as she flicked her hand to the side and then placed Drusilla's arms against the wall, telekinetically holding them against the wall. Willow's face started getting red in anger when Drusilla said that she liked it when Oz begged her to spare his life, and that the only person's name to come out of his lips just before he died was Willow's.
Willow screamed in anguish as she rushed towards Drusilla and grabbed her neck while looking at the area around the table and then noticing a stake lying on the floor while the others were still fighting. Willow put up one hand and pulled the stake to her telekinetically as Xander was getting up to his feet. He saw the stake flying into Willow's hand, and then the redhead looking at Drusilla while pulling her hand back.. she was finally going to avenge Oz's death; first Drusilla, and then Angelus.
She didn't care about anything else anymore.
"Willow! Don't look into her eyes!" cried Giles before he punched a vampire, and then staked it. Kendra had dusted two vampires as well and heard Giles' cry, making her turn around to see Willow looking into Drusilla's eyes.
Willow had heard the shout too, but it was already too late. Her entire body went numb while she watched from the corner of her eyes that Xander was running towards her, only to be tackled by another vampire. However, Willow couldn't take her eyes off Drusilla, it was like she was mesmerized . She looked at Drusilla's eyes, her whispering lips, and then at her two fingers in front of the redhead's face. Willow could hear screams from a distance, followed by Giles calling out for her. The redhead felt her grip on the stake loosen before it fell to the floor. She heard the door behind her open, but everything felt faraway as Drusilla turned Willow's face to watch what was happening.
She saw Angelus pushing away the vampire that was punching Xander, who was lying in the floor. Willow heard Angelus' laughing before he kicked him in the abdomen. Willow heard Angelus, it seemed as if they were very far away, telling Xander, who was curled up as Angelus continued to kick him on the face, the chest, and then the abdomen again, that he was letting him live so that he would tell Buffy that she lost. That all their hope was lost. Willow teared up as she watched Angelus mercilessly beating Giles, who fell to the floor bleeding, as Kendra ran up to Angelus and started to attack. Willow saw Drusilla laughing maniacally while clapping at the fight between the Slayer and the vampire; Willow wanted to use her powers on Drusilla.. tear her head off instead of torturing her like she wanted to.
But she couldn't.
It seemed as if she couldn't remember how to use any of her powers.
All Willow could do was watch as Angelus scored a heavy hit on Kendra and knocked her down to the floor. Willow saw Angelus break her arms; the Slayer screaming in pain before Angelus grabbed her by the neck and then picked her up again. Angelus turned Kendra towards Willow, who could only look on helplessly, as Drusilla walked in front of the redhead from having stood right next to her. Drusilla then murmured to Willow in a gentle voice that reached into the redhead's mind… forcing Willow to obey her.. to remain in her thrall.
"You can do nothing," said Drusilla in a sing-song voice, "remember, you don't have power, and you cannot move. You will watch, princess."
And then Drusilla smiled before she turned around and walked towards Kendra while Angelus was standing behind the Slayer whose arms were just simply hanging lip by her sides. Willow saw Angelus looking at her while he sunk his teeth into the left side of Kendra's neck, followed by Drusilla sinking her teeth into the right side. Willow felt tears going down her face as she watched Kendra die. Drusilla stepped back once she was done, and then looked at Willow while wiping her lips with the back of her hand.
There was a sickening 'crack' that reverberated throughout the walls as Angelus broke Kendra's neck before letting her body fall to the floor.
"We have what we came for," said Angelus as he looked at Willow, and then at Giles, with a grin plastered on his face, "we just wanted Giles, but Willow's going to be one of our greatest coups. But first… I'll break her in; pay her a little back for hitting me."
"But your soul…" said Drusilla as she placed a hand on Angelus' chest. She suddenly grabbed her head, and said that she was getting messages from the stars themselves.
"What are the stars telling you, Dru," said Angelus as he brushed the back of his fingers against Willow's cheek before looking at the mad vampire.
"The others are protected," said Dru, "they intend to begin the ritual again."
"Well then," said Angel as he Drusilla, and the others surviving vampires took Willow and Giles back to his car, "let's bring hell to Earth before I get my soul back."
Sunnydale High Library, ten minutes later.
Once Buffy had killed the fifth of the six vampires who jumped her at the cemetery, she tackled the last one to the ground, turned him around, and then rained punches down on him until he was a bleeding mess. She then grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him up before demanding to know where Angelus was at that moment. As Buffy ran towards the school, she remembered the vampire's laugh before he told her that she was too concerned about getting Angel back that she lost her way. That she was doing what Angelus had planned… and she fell for the ruse.
Buffy had seen the police cars with blinking lights as she ran back to the school. She screamed at the police who tried to stop her that her friends were inside.
But they couldn't hold back a Slayer.
She dashed into the hallway with two policemen after her, and then she ran into the library where she collapsed onto her knees at the sight of Kendra lying dead on the floor.
"What the…" frowned Snyder who looked at the stunned Buffy and then he shouted at the police officers. "Get that troublemaker out of here, she's the one who probably…"
"I just came in here, you troll," exclaimed Buffy as she got up off her knees, incensed, and rushed towards Snyder who stepped back while the police officers held her back.
"See… see…" said Snyder, pointing at her, "see what kind of a delinquent she is and…"
"Sir," said female police officer, pointing at Snyder, and then turning and pointing a finger at Buffy, "Miss… calm down, or the both of you are going to be spending the night at the station….. got that? Good, now Miss….. where were you?"
"I was at home, on the way here, I was supposed to meet my friends, Xander, Kendra… the.. the one whose body your friends are covering, Giles, Cordelia and…. Oh God where are they?"
"As far as we can tell," said the officer, "this was a gang attack… listen, I need you to make a statement outside. And then you can visit Sunnydale Mercy… your friend Xander's been taken to hospital."
"Fine," said Buffy as she turned around, but not before taking one last look at Kendra, and then having her face twisted in despair as she thought about being the one and only Slayer once again. And now she had people she cared about missing, Xander was in the hospital, and the others should be either at one of their homes, or with Angelus.
And she didn't want to think about what Angelus would do to them.
Not wanting to waste any time, Buffy made her statement, and then a call.
The Rosenberg Residence, ten minutes since the end of the fight at the library.
With Willow's house defended against vampires, Althanea was beginning to recreate the symbols, used for the ritual on the dining table, from the supplies she had with her. While she was continuing, the phone in the living room started to ring, and the women looked at each other… all wondering the same thing; if this was Ira and Sheila Rosenberg calling for their daughter.
Shaking her head, it was Cordelia who rushed to the phone, and sighed in relief when she heard Buffy's voice. The young woman gasped when Buffy told her that Xander was in the hospital and that Kendra was dead. On the other line, at a payphone outside the school, Buffy asked who else was with Cordelia. And it didn't take too long to discover that Willow and Giles were the only ones missing. Buffy asked Cordelia to ask Althanea if she knew a spell to find Willow; she waited for a few minutes before Cordelia came back to the phone and gave her the location where Althanea's location spell claimed Willow to be.
"Damn," said Buffy before she thanked Cordelia, and nodded her head when teh cheerleader told Buffy that they were going to try the ritual one more time. "Do it, I'm gonna get Willow, Giles, and Angel back."
Buffy then ran as fast as she could back towards the school. She crept into the library where the police had already left after taking away Kendra's body. She jumped in through the window, looked around, and then ran to Giles' office before taking a sword.. a sword that was blessed by the same virtuous knight who had defeated Acathla all those years ago.
Once she had that sword in her hand, Buffy silently climbed out of the library window she came in through, and ran towards the Crawford Street Mansion.
Crawford Street Mansion, twenty minutes later, ten more minutes for ritual's end.
Spike was in his wheelchair as he looked at Willow who was chained to the wall, and was getting beaten by Angelus with glee. Spike had been surprised to find out that Willow still had the power that defeated him back on Halloween. He was especially surprised given the fact that she had let him bite her months ago. Now he knew that it was all a trick, one part of him relished the beating that Willow was receiving as she fell onto the floor bleeding. But another part of him feared the hell that was coming if Angelus should succeed with his plan. He had originally planned to steal himself out of the mansion and make contact with Buffy to help in stopping Angelus from opening the door to hell, and in returned for helping Buffy find where Giles and Willow were located... he was going to promise that he and Drusilla were going to leave Sunnydale.
That the Slayer wouldn't hear from him ever again.
But he couldn't make a move now, because if he did.. the others would know he was tricking them in terms of his paralysis, and he'd loose Drusilla forever. Spike was surprised at the ferocity of the beatings that Angelus had been giving Willow, it was as if Angelus knew he had limited time, and he wanted to cause as much damage as possible.
Spike watched Angelus pull Willow by her hair to her feet, and then he pushed her against a wall while holding his hand towards Spike.
"Hey, rollerboy," said Angelus as he squeezed Willow's throat while her arms were chained to the wall, "get me the poker I put in the fire."
Spike knew what Angelus was preparing to do, and the bleached vampire wanted to see Willow scream for humiliating him all those months ago. Spike heard Angelus mocking Willow as he picked up the white hot poker that they had placed in the fireplace immediately after Angelus and Drusilla returned with Willow and Giles. A piece of metal that Spike was holding on his hand before he wheeled over to Angelus, Willow looking at Spike; her eyes begging the bleached vampire for help.
With Willow's shirt already ripped from the beating that she received earlier, it was easy for Angelus to put the hot metal onto Willow's bare skin. And Spike enjoyed her screams.
"When I open the door to hell," said Angelus as Willow continued to scream from the hot piece of metal being placed on various parts of her body, "and when Angel's back in my body, will you ever forgive him?"
Willow's face was already twisted in pain, unable to answer because of the scream that escaped from her lips, when she looked at Angelus.
"Your parents will die," said Angelus as he used the sharp edge of the metal to cut along Willow's skin, "I'm always at the back of Angel's mind, I'll watch their body's be flayed bu demons. I'll watch you screaming for them... I watch Buffy screaming for her mother. And Angel will hate himself; he betrayed all of you."
Willow couldn't say anything as she felt blood dripping down her body from slices that Angelus made. He cut her abdomen, shoulders, chest; all the while saying that she was nothing... that her entire life amounted to nothing but being Buffy;s side-kick. That even with her powers, she was nothing since all she did was seek approval. The redhead sobbed from the pain that wracked her body, while Drusilla walked over to the room where Angelus was torturing Willow, before she cooed; grabbing both Spike and Angelus' attention.
"Daddy," said Drusilla as she stood in the doorway looking at Angelus with glee, "the bad man with the glasses doesn't want to talk."
"Really?" asked Angel before the sides of his mouth lifted into a grin as he turned back towards Willow, whose face was bruised and cut, and then he slammed her back onto the floor. It was there that she lay sobbing while bleeding from the cuts made on her body. Willow coughed and blood came out of her mouth while pulling her chained arms to cover herself because of her shirt that was torn from the beatings. Spike could hear Willow sobbing from the pain, and a part of him didn't care... he wanted to embrace that part as he wheeled himself back while Angelus smiled at Willow after he was done undoing her chains. He then asked Drusilla to place a table in front of Giles; he needed to be taught a lesson in obeying orders.
Spike followed Willow who was being dragged along the floor while she was screaming in pain; a trail of blood being left behind on her path. Once they reached the other room where Giles was tied to a chair, Spike saw the look of horror and shock on the Watcher's face.
"Dru's been trying to mentally break you," said Angelus as he picked up Willow by her hair, pushed her towards the table, and then bent her over the table face down, the top part of her body lying on the table top with Angelus' hand holding down the back of her neck, "but I think you need the direct approach, Giles. You tell me how to release Acathla, and I let Willow go.. I promise."
"Don't, Gi…," craocked Willow through her sobs, before she opened her mouth wide in pain as Angelus pressed down on the back of her neck. She then closed her eyes as she felt the skirt she was wearing getting hiked up, followed by Angelus touching her.
"Stop," replied Giles as his eyes opened wide at Willow, and then at Angelus, "stop… I.. I'll tell you. Just… just don't hurt her anymore."
Willow opened her eyes and shuddered since she still felt Angel's hand on her; she wanted to use her telekinesis and slam him against the door, and use everything she had to turn him to dust; Buffy's desire to get Angel back be damned.
But she couldn't access her powers.
She couldn't access her magic.
'Drusilla… she did something,' thought Willow to herself while Giles was telling Angelus that he needed to use his own blood to release Acathla; That was the only way to do it. Willow could hear Spike wheeling up until he was in her peripheral vision. She noticed him just looking at her; just looking at her as if he pitied her. She looked back at Spike, half pleading… and half wanting to kill him… and then kill Angelus, and then kill Drusilla. She wanted the pain to last the longest for the mad woman, Willow wanted to avenge Oz's murder.
And then she heard Giles telling Angel that things were over for her, that Willow had to be let go.
But Willow knew that there was no chance. She looked at Giles' terrified face, and then read his moving lips.
He was apologizing.
"A virtuous knight was able to seal the demon," said Angelus with a wide grin as he looked at Giles. "So a once virtuous knight, i.e, the ensouled me who's just a pussy cat, who became corrupt can unlock the demon. That it? I mean the basic theory?"
"Yes," said Giles as he stamped his feet and shook his body trying to loosen the bonds around him while repeating himself, "now let Willow go and…"
"Willow's the oh so virtuous knight," said Angel as he dropped his trousers while everyone, except Drusilla opened their eyes wide in shock, "she gets corrupted, and then I'll use her blood to open hell. You, Buffy, Willow, Angel… everyone will be destroyed, tortured for an eternity. And I'll be in Angel enjoying every bit of it."
"And I'll find a way to get my daddy back," said Drusilla as she looked at Angelus, and then at Spike, "our family will be together again."
While Angel was still holding down on the back of Willow's neck, he stepped behind her, and roughly pushed into the redhead. Giles screamed 'no' just as Willow started screaming and sobbing. Willow felt pain through her entire being as she closed her eyes shut and sobbed while Angelus was moving and grunting for the next few seconds. Through her cries of pain, Willow could hear two voices in the distance... Giles and Ariel; both trying to get to her, but the sounds of her screams and sobbing pushed them to the back of her mind. Spike, who had been watching what was happening with his face twisted in disgust, wasn't able to take it anymore. He got up off his wheelchair, and got a hold of the surprised Angelus, and slammed him against the wall.
"You've gone insane!" screamed Spike as he heard Willow's sobs while Giles, in a broken voice, was desperately trying to calm Willow down by repeatedly asking the traumatized girl to listen to his voice, all the while Angelus was laughing at Spike… mocking the platinum haired vampire before saying that he wondered how much longer he was going to wait until he would make a move. Spike just shook his head and told Angelus that he was talking about bringing Hell to Earth… that he was talking about there being no more humans to feed on, "you're talking about something insane and… and what you're… I never thought you'd actually do it and…"
"And you said that I've gone weak," scoffed Angelus who pushed Spike off him while Willow lay crying on the table, "remember how many villages and towns we raped and pillaged? If you wanted a feel of Willow, all you had to do was ask and…"
"She's the Slayer's best friend," yelled Spike while pointing at Willow, "we were supposed to kill her, not...,not this."
"Spike," cooed Drusilla from behind as she gently turned the vampire around. Once Spike was facing his sire, Drusilla punched him across the jaw, using her full strength causing him to be flung against the wall. He hit it hard and slipped to the floor, groaning in pain. Angelus smirked at Spike before he walked up to Willow. He put her skirt back down and grabbed her by the hair, yanking her up. Angelus then put his arm around her throat while making her face Drusilla, who looked into Willow's red, and puffy, eyes that had tears still streaming down her face. The touch from Angelus' hands making her entire body tremble.
"Come, my daughter," said Drusilla with a gentle smile, "you'll open Hell for us, and then… then you'll be one of us."
"Angelus," pleaded Giles trying to stall Angelus; he wanted to distract the vampire as much as possible so that the ritual to restore his soul could work before anything irreversible was done. He knew that no-one would ever forgive him for what he had done Willow, he knew that Willow would never be the same again with Angel. And all Giles could do was feel ashamed for not being able to do anything, "there has to be some morality in you that says this is wrong; doing what you did to Willow was wrong! Opening Hell is wrong! Damn it, Angel if you're in there then fight!"
"Ummm… no," said Angelus before he and Drusilla walked out of the room with a glassy eyed Willow who had tears still flowing down her cheeks. Giles couldn't believe how bad things had gotten; his torture was more mental.. he had to see the people he loved die over and over again… all the while unable to hear Willow's screams as Angel tortured the girl secretly known as 'Nighthawk'; and Giles felt ashamed.
Ashamed of not stopping Willow in exploring her powers, and thus becoming Nighthawk.
Ashamed of being a bad father figure.
Ashamed of not caring as much for Willow as he did for Buffy.
He could hear Willow, her voice breaking, recite the spell that would release Acathla, and he closed his eyes. Giles knew that Angel was feeding her the spell while under Drusilla's thrall. Giles was shaking his head, hoping that this was just a nightmare when he felt his bonds weakening. He looked back and saw Spike undoing the knots before he got up and rushed past Giles, and out of the door. Giles followed Spike out the door once he had his feet untied. He ran out and halted next to a stunned Spike. They just looked on at what was about to happen, unable yo prevent the unthinkable as Willow screamed while her hand was on the hilt of the sword that was dug into Acathla's chest.
They watched helplessly as Willow, the once virtuous knight now corrupted, pulled the sword out of Acathla as energy transferred from her to the statue. Once the sword was completely pulled out, Willow's eyes reverted to normal. She looked at the sword in her hand, and then at the statue before dropping the sword on the floor and grabbed the sides of her head while shaking her head in anguish. She then turned and looked at Angelus who was grinning at her.
"Congratulations, Willow," said Angelus before he slammed a backfist to the side of Willow's head, flinging her across the room before she hit the floor and just remained lying there crying while she grabbed her head with one hand and pulled her knees up to her chest until she was lying in a fetal position.
In the meantime, Spike ran towards Drusilla who had stepped back while clapping her hands at Angleus, "you opened Hell, daddy."
"That one's a ponce," said Spike as he knocked Drusilla out from behind while he looked at the grinning Angelus who picked up the sword that Willow pulled out from Acathla. Willow was in pain in more ways than one as she watched, through tear stained eyes, as Giles ran towards her. She flinched from his touch before he apologized and covered Willow's body with his jacket.
"Angel!" shouted a familiar voice as Giles and the others looked at the sword-wielding Buffy who was glaring at Angelus. She looked past him to Spike carrying an unconscious Drusilla, and then she saw Willow laying there on the floor bleeding and littered with bruises with Giles crouching by her side.
"Buffy," said Angelus as he lifted the sword up towards the Slayer, "here to save Nighthawk?"
"What?" asked Buffy as she eyed Angelus in confusion. She looked back at Willow, her eyes widened in horror. The heavily injured redhead was looking straight back at her, the redhead's eyes reflecting the trauma and torment she had just endured. Buffy then looked at Giles who looked away. He looked at Willow instead, who flinched as he gingerly reached for her.. causing him to hurriedly draw his hand back.
"I'm surprised that dog breath didn't… what is it you kids call it… hit that sweet thing," quipped Angelus with a smile as tears appeared in Buffy's, fearing what Angelus was about to say, "don't worry, Buffy. She didn't want it… but when I put…"
"Shut up!" shouted Buffy as she lunged at Angelus who swung the sword at her. Buffy ducked at the last moment and punched him, and then swung her sword which Angelus blocked. The fight between them raged on while Willow saw Spike about to leave with Drusilla in his arms.
And she couldn't have that, no matter how much she hurt.
Willow screamed in pain as she slowly pushed herself up, her eyes locked on Drusilla and Spike. She got up to her unsteady feet, the lower part of her body screaming out in pain as she stood up. Giles got up to his feet and looked into Willow's eyes, but all he saw there was rage, pain, betrayal; all those emotions mixed together. He was about to say something to Willow, but the redhead screamed in pain and anguish, punching Giles across the jaw. Willow winced in pain as a sting went from her shoulder to the bottom of her arm from Angelus' beatings after punching the watcher.
Giles fell to the floor before rubbing the side of his jaw as he watched Buffy going all out against Angelus, the sword, that he was holding earlier, now lay on the floor. He then looked back at Willow who just had jumped up high before spinning around in mid-air and then delivering a kick to the side of Spike's head. The vampire stumbled back while dropping Drusilla on the floor just as Giles rushed past Willow, who upon landing grabbed her side in pain before stumbling back onto the floor, grabbed the sword and swung it at Spike's head.
It was just then that everyone heard a groan.
A monstrous groan.
All of them turned to see the statue of Acathla open its mouth, before a small vortex started to form. The same vortex that was in Willow's vision. Willow looked at the vortex, and then she closed her eyes as she remembered the nightmare she had about the demon.
Everything was going to be like she had seen with her clairvoyance ability.
Willow looked at the vortex just as Angel stumbled back a few steps and then turned around towards Willow and dropped down on his knees. They saw him scream a little before his eyes glowed.
"Angel?" asked Buffy as she eased up, and let the sword fall to her side.
"Buffy?" asked Angel as he looked at everyone, "Giles? Willow? Where.. where am I?"
"Hey!" shouted Spike as Willow and the others looked at him while he held on to Giles before flinging him towards a wall; all the while Angel remained on his knees in a daze. He then pointed at Buffy who was standing next to Angel while Willow was slowly getting up, her legs screaming out in pain, her body telling her to give up, and the throbbing at the side of her head where Angelus had punched her earlier getting worse, telling her that she had worse things to worry about.
"I'm leaving with Dru," said Spike, "and…"
"No!" screamed Willow as she limping hurriedly towards Spike while Buffy moved towards him as well. He ducked Willow's punch, and then he was hit by Buffy's kick. Spike grabbed the heavily injured Willow, who howled in pain before she was thrown into Buffy. The two young women hit each other and toppled onto the floor, the redhead crawling out form over Buffy while tears formed in her eyes again while she was looking away from Buffy. It was just then that Angel remembered what he just did as Angelus. He grabbed the sides of his head and stared at Willow.
His eyes started to tear up as he remembered the beatings he had given her, and then he remembered what else had happened. And he mumbled an apology. He then heard a sound coming from behind him, making the newly ensouled vampire turn around and look at the widening vortex. Angel stepped back after he got to his steady feet while contemplating in dismay about what he had done. Angel then looked behind him and saw Giles getting up while Buffy and Willow were on their feet. He saw Buffy reached out for Willow, but the redhead moved a few steps back while her hands were wrapped around her own body. Angel then looked at Giles, and the vampire could feel the Watcher's hatred being directed towards him.
Giles moved closer to the unsteady Willow, and was about to make a move at Spike, but the vampire pointed at him saying that he and Drusilla were going to leave Sunnydale for good. And if any of the Scoobies came after them, then he was going to kill their family.
You lot have bigger things to deal with, yea?" said Spike as he lifted up Drusilla before stepping back, "you won't see us again."
"You..." said Buffy shaking her head.
"Red's out of the running to help you," said Spike, "I can take you and the librarian on, and Angel's just a pussycat now. So thing about this? You have a gateway to Hell opening up behind you, do you really think that you can afford having this fight? And I meant what I said, if Dru dies while we fight? If the librarian or Red kills her? Then all your family will die. Well?"
"Go." Buffy spoke with her hands rolled into fists as she glared at Spike, "you come back here? I'll kill you. You and your whore."
Willow couldn't do anything but watch Spike pick up Drusilla, who was unconscious, in his arms and then run out through a hallway. Willow's body was in pain, everything she was had been destroyed and violated. She watched Spike run away, and then she noticed Giles looking at her. So Willow just looked at the floor, and then she turned away from Buffy and towards Angel. She glared at the vampire, and then at the vortex behind him, and then back at Buffy who was walking towards her.
"Stay away from me," said Willow as she stepped back. The Slayer tearing up as she saw the bruises and cuts all over her body, "don't come near me."
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Buffy, "Will, why didn't you tell me?"
"Doesn't matter," mumbled the redhead as she looked at the floor, and then at Buffy, at Angel, and then at Giles. Willow's voice was breaking as she asked the librarian, "Giles, how do we close the vortex?"
"The… the vortex… Willow, once opened with blood, the vortex can only be closed with the blood flow stopping," said Giles as he looked at Willow with tears in his eyes, he knew what was about to happen, he had read about it, "it.. it'll take you and you… you'll be going to Hell."
"What?" asked Buffy as she looked at Giles stunned, and then at Willow who was looking at the floor as new tears streamed down her face. The two young women realized what Giles was saying, "what… what did you do? Willow, what did you do?!"
"It was me," mumbled Angel while he was standing a few steps away from Buffy and the others, "it was my… my fault."
"No!" exclaimed Buffy in disbelief as she stepped back while shaking her head, "no!"
She repeated 'no!' again and again as she looked at Giles, and then at Willow.
"No!" screamed Buffy at Willow.
"You had a chance to stop all this!" screamed Willow, her life crashing all around her as she realized that everything was ending. All that she is, and could be, was finished. She glared at Buffy while pointing at Angel and screamed at Buffy with her voice breaking, "you knew what he became. You let him go at the mall… everything since then led to this point. Everything you did… led to my vision coming true and… and... and I can't say goodbye to Xander, I can't say goodbye to my parents"
"You didn't tell me anything about your powers!" wailed Buffy with tears in her eyes as she realized that her best fiend would be leaving her life, her best friend was going to Hell, "you should have told me, Will. We're best friends and… and I could have said something to keep you away from this. I could have told you that I was safe, that I was all right. That I needed you... of God Willow... I need you here with me. I never needed you as Nighthawk, I needed you as my best friend, I..."
"Giles," rasped Willow shaking her head while Buffy was wiping her eyes before she turned to Giles, "stop my blood and the vortex closes?"
"Yes," whispered Giles, his voice breaking. Willow limped over to pick up the sword while Buffy looked on with eyes wide open, unable to move because of her shock at what was happening. She willed her legs to move, but they couldn't as she watched Willow walk back to Giles. The redhead's body was trembling, and Willow started to sob as she walked towards Giles.
But the shock of what was about to happen left Buffy in place. She couldn't move.
"I'm scared, Giles," whimpered Willow in a small voice. Her hands were trembling as she handed him the sword while Buffy, finally mentally pushing herself as the realization of what was about to happen finally settled in; rushed towards the both of them while screaming 'no!'.
Willow turned towards Buffy, the look that the redhead gave the Slayer forced her to stop. Willow then softly, with emotion in her voice, told Buffy that this was the only way to prevent the world from going to hell. Buffy looked on with tears in her eyes as Willow turned to Giles again. "Even to save the world, I can't stop my blood from flowing. I'm afraid I can't kill myself, Giles."
"Willow," whispered Giles, shaking his head.
"You know... know what... what needs to.. to be done, Giles," sobbed Willow as she hugged him and whispered in his ear between sobs. The Watcher holding on to her tightly, it was then that everything crashed onto Giles that this sixteen year old terrified girl was going to be the sacrifice to save the world. Giles felt her tears fall on his neck as he looked at Buffy through the tears in his eyes, and then he closed them while Willow whimpered in broken sentences, "I'm so scared, Giles. I know what... oh God, I know what I have to do, but I'm so scared."
"I'll do everything I can to bring you back, Willow," said Giles as he stifled a sob. He then heard another groan and he looked behind Buffy and Angel, who had also turned around to look at the widening orange maw in front of them. Willow was about to turn, but Giles held her tight, telling her that she didn't need to see. Willow nodded her head on the Watcher's shoulder as Angel stepped back from the vortex. Giles could see that some of the small knickknack were getting pulled in, and he himself could feel the pull as well. They were going to be pulled into the vortex at any moment.
"Willow," said Giles, "I'm sorry."
At that, Buffy turned around and looked at Giles, while Willow opened her mouth and released a sob on Giles' shoulder, her eyes closed tight as tears continuously fell down her cheeks like a faucet had broken.
Buffy saw Giles pull the sword back, she knew what was about to happen, and she was sure that there was another way to stop this; there had to be a way to stop the world going to Hell, and to save her best friend.
She needed to stop Giles.
"Giles! No!" screamed Buffy as she took a step towards Giles. Giles had a moment's hesitation as everything went into slow motion for him. The Watcher felt the young woman holding him tight. He could feel her raspy breath on his shoulder. He could smell the strawberry scent from her hair; but he knew that Willow had to die. She had to die or else the world would plunge into hell. He kissed Willow's cheek before he ran his hand through her hair. Looking into the redhead's green eyes, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and then gave him a small smiled at him while Buffy was just about to reach them and take the sword away. He knew that Buffy would never kill Willow, that she would rather have the world go to hell than to kill her best friend. He saw Willow close her eyes as Buffy almost had her hand on her shoulder, and the one thought going through his head was that Angelus had won today. Even when they close the vortex, it was Angelus who really had won. Giles then hugged Willow again one last time before he closed his eyes.
"I forgive you, Giles," sobbed Willow with Giles' eyes tearing up as he released a sob at the same time.
His arm, trembling, reached back and then thrusted forward, running the sword through Willow's chest, making the blood that was used to open the vortex stop flowing within Willow's body. Angel collapsed to his knees at witnessing what just happened, while Buffy pushed Giles away from Willow. He landed on the floor crying while Willow's body fell into the screaming and crying Buffy's arms as she kneeled down and cradled the redhead's body in her arms.
"No, no, no," cried Buffy as she looked at Willow's face; holding the body of her best friend tightly while rocking her body.
It was at that same time, that Althanea was already driving her car towards the mansion when she suddenly pulled over and stopped her car at the side of the road. She gasped, and grabbed her chest.
"What's wrong?" asked Cordelia, "Althanea, what's wrong?"
"Oh, goddess of Light," gasped Althanea as she leaned back on her seat and tears came into her eyes, "watch over Willow's soul."
"What?" asked Cordelia as Althanea looked at her, and then at Miss Calendar in the back seat.
"Oh God," said the I.T teacher as she put a hand over her mouth. She feared the worst, "is... is Willow…?"
"She's gone," whispered Althanea as Cordelia leaned back on her seat, dejected, while putting her arms around her abdomen and resting her head on the passenger side door window. She looked at her reflection, and could see the tears in her eyes before she closed them.
On the other side of the world, Ira and Sheila Rosenberg just had gotten off the plane in Rome when Sheila held onto Ira's shoulder and grabbed her chest. The worried Ira looked at his wife and sat her down on a chair at the gate and asked her if everything was alright.
"I don't know," said Sheila as she teared up, "I.. I don't know. Ira, I… I don't feel so good."
"Let's get you to a doctor and then... and then we'll give Willow a call," said Ira with a smile, "maybe you're getting anxiety about leaving her alone at home."
"She has friends, Ira," said Sheila as she wiped her eyes and rubbed her chest, "and she's an independent young woman, we raised her that way and…"
"You'll see, Sheila," said Ira, "speaking to her will make you feel better. But first, we see a doctor."
"All right," replied Sheila as Ira helped her back to her feet, and then held her hand tightly before walking away.
Back in the Crawford Street mansion, tendrils erupted from the vortex and slowly made their way to Willow's body. They wrapped themselves around the redhead's feet, arms, and chest and then pulled. But Buffy wasn't letting go, and the tendrils were pulling her to. It took both Giles and Angel get her hands off Willow's body. Buffy was screaming at them to let her go as she watched the redhead's body enter the vortex before it got smaller, and vanished. Leaving only Acathla's statue as Giles quickly got up and then reinserted the sword into the statues chest.
He then collapsed onto his knees crying in shame; Willow's voice ringing in his ears that she forgave him. He heard Buffy sobbing, while Angel continued to beg for forgiveness. It would be several minutes later before Althanea and the others ran into the large room and saw the three despondent people.
All they could do was look at Acathla's statue in horror.
Acathla's Hell, at the same time.
Willow snapped her eyes open and found herself in the same room as the one in the nightmare she had several weeks ago. She looked around the chains that hung her in mid-air with her arms spread and chained to the ceiling of the room, and her legs were spread as well and rendered immobile by the chains that were attached to them from the floor. Willow closed her eyes and tears fell down her cheeks. She knew it was hopeless to call for help, and she just hung in mid-air.
A little while later the demon from her nightmare came through the door, and it did the exact same things how she remembered from that vision. Willow scrunched her face as it took in her scent before licking her neck, and then stepping back.
"A soul," growled the demon and Willow's eyes opened wide, when she noticed the rows of four sharp teeth in his mouth. She felt the rough tongue again as the demon licked her neck one more time. The demon then looked into Willow's eyes and grinned, "I haven't had a soul here for a very long time. Don't worry, you'll be my play thing… there are others here who have never tasted a soul before. They'll want to taste you… carve your flesh, eat your heart."
"I…," was the only thing that Willow could say before it lunged forward and roared in her face before reaching into her mouth and grabbing her tongue
"You'll never die here," hissed the demon as it pulled on Willow's tongue; the redhead's eyes were wide open in fear, "for the next thousands of years, you are mine… and then you'll be the vampires plaything, and then every demon here will want you.. they'll want to eat your flesh, drink your blood. But you will never die… you will remain young and ensouled… a drug for all of us. But first, I want a taste; I am hungry."
The demon then let go off Willow and walked outside the door into a massive hallway where she could hear screams of agony from various other rooms. The demon then walked in with a cart of various implements, most of which were sharp, while the others were dull, some were even shaped like mallets and hammers. This wasn't in her nightmare and Willow started to get terrified as she pulled her arms and legs. The demon looked at her and roared in laughter as it picked up a large syringe with seemed to have a black liquid inside. The demon stepped forward and grabbed Willow naked waist, and then plunged the needle into Willow's bare chest. The redhead gritted her teeth before giving off a small scream.
"We've had ensouled humans here before," snickered the demon as it looked at the syringe, and then at Willow, "your souls are rare, and a vital commodity. We love flesh that have the taste of a soul in them, but the longer you remain here… the darker your soul becomes. The liquid will keep your soul fresh and bright, makes your meat taste good for us. You'll never die… well, after you die, you'll be brought back to life here; Hell will bring you back to life. I take out your heart, and you'll die for the length of a heart beat before you're returned to life. Believe me, you will feel the pain... the agony. You will feel everything. You will never age with this elixir; we like you ensouled humans young."
"I'll…. I'll es.. escape," said Willow as she panted and glared at the demon.
"Good luck," laughed the demon before it pressed down on the plunger, and Willow felt as if her body was being injected with burning hot lava that was going through her veins, and her nervous system... all the way to her soul. She tried to grit her teeth, but she couldn't handle it.
And she let out a bloodcurdling scream.
TBC.