The Rosenberg residence, a month later, 0200 hours.
Willow was in her room standing over her bed, in what was now her house, as she looked at the pieces of clothing lying on her bed. She had moved back to her family home, despite Althanea offering to help sell the place if she wanted so that she could move to a single bedroom apartment. Althanea and the others even offered their own homes to the white-haired young woman so that she could stay with them. However, Willow refused the offers, saying that she was going to be fine.
It was the day she moved back into her home a few days ago when she found herself looking up at the ceiling. She lay on the bed with her head lying on her left arm which was itself lying on a soft pillow. She could sometimes, ever since moving back to her house, hear her mother and father's voice… and she didn't want to forget those voices ever again. It was a few days after the reading of the will that Willow went to the bank to retrieve her parents safe deposit boxes after signing the paperwork that transferred everything they owned to her name. At the bank, Willow opened one of the three boxes in a private room. She looked inside the box after opening the top and a hand covered her mouth while a gasp leaked out. Tears fell down her face as she sat down while reaching into the pile of pictures. As she kept down the sob that threatened to escape while taking out a picture of her mother and father, Willow finally found out why there weren't a lot of family pictures in the house.
In fact Willow had asked Sheila about it when she was younger., but all the older redhead said was that pictures weren't necessary for Willow's emotional growth. Willow always thought that Sheila and Ira threw away those pictures, and Willow simply accepted it as a family quirk despite her disappointment.
'I thought she just wanted me to keep those moments in my mind,' thought Willow as she looked at another picture with a sniffle. It was a picture of Ira holding her up when she was ten years old, and Willow remembered the time it was taken - Ira and Sheila had to go for a lecture series in Atlanta, and Willow had brought the camera to her mother just before they left.
Willow remembered the smile that appeared on Sheila's lips for a little while before it vanished and Sheila went down on one knee. She told her daughter that pictures didn't matter as much as the memory of it being taken.
"A picture means that you would always want to look at it," Sheila had told Willow who was pouting at her mother while holding the camera in her arms. Ira walked in behind her and agreed with Sheila before hugging Willow. Sheila continued to say that pictures would hold Willow back from developing her independence, but she still agreed to take it. At the time Willow didn't understand, all she remembered was Ira wrapped his arms around her while laying his head on her shoulders. Willow started to laugh just as Sheila took the picture, and then she took away the camera from her daughter.
It would be a few minutes after the picture was taken that they left for Atlanta.
Back in the bank, Willow wiped her eyes and then sifted through all of the other pictures; pictures that she thought were never developed. Instead, all of them remained in Ira and Sheila's safe-deposit box. Another box contained Willow's grandmothers' jewellery, while another box contained more valuables that belonged to her mother and father, as well as their passports. The former redhead sniffled before returning the boxes to where they were kept, just taking a few pictures with her.
Since that day at the bank, Willow, with the help of Althanea and the others, spent time putting up the pictures she had brought over from the safe deposit box. In between trying to make a new life for herself, Willow spent time talking with Tara about her time in Hell, and her hurt feelings about Buffy's role in what happened. She also talked about Oz, and all the things that she was never able to tell the young man. In addition, Willow also talked to Althanea and Giles about what she had done in Hell as Acathla's Jailer with Tara sitting next to her. It would be during these sessions that Willow would fall sobbing in Althanea's arms while Tara and Giles just looked on in concern for the young woman.
In addition to lending her ear, Tara helped to slowly heal the wound on Willow's shoulder wound while, a few weeks ago, Giles and Althanea advised Willow that it was time she started a routine once again. Willow nodded her head and applied for her GED in a few months. She half-jokingly said that she didn't want to return to Sunnydale High since she would be the only one who was at least a thousand years old.
"You look good for a thousand-year-old," smiled Buffy as she helped her rearrange the furniture, "but then again, you still haven't beaten Anya in the age department."
Willow smiled at the blonde Slayer; the former redhead was slowly coming to terms with Buffy being partly at fault for what happened at the mansion. But Willow was also coming to the realization that Buffy regretted everything that happened, and that she had to move on and forgive. It was something that Tara, Faith, Althanea and the others agreed with as well.
Back in the present day, Willow turned away from the clothing on her bed and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Standing still while simply in her underwear with the rest of her clothes piled on the floor, Willow stared at every scar on her body; the most prominent being the brand on her chest. She brushed her fingers on the raised skin while looking at the scars… scars that would never heal thanks to being cut and stabbed with instruments that were dipped in Hell fire. She brushed her fingers along the scars as they travelled down her arms and to her wrists. There were some on the top of her hands and palms that could be easily explained away… but the others would be difficult.
And that was what led to her new wardrobe – curtesy of a mall trip with Cordelia days after she returned following the Borzan situation. She apologized to Willow for running away, and was surprised when Willow said that she understood. Even after leaving for Los Angeles again, Willow and Cordelia remained in contact with each other. It was the soap opera actress who helped picked out the clothes on the bed… she told Willow that she needed a new look.
Willow sighed at her memories of Cordelia while she looked at the scars on her abdomen, chest, sides, upper arms, shoulders, legs, and feet. Willow knew that she would never be able to wear anything revealing since she didn't want others questioning her on how she got her injuries. Willow then turned around and headed back to her bed. She picked up the matte black form fitting catsuit, unzipped the front and then put it on one leg after the other. All the while, Willow looked at herself in the mirror and then walked towards her table. She opened the drawer while the top of her suit was hanging off her waist and reached down for her Ranger badge. She had the badge in her hand when she remembered that it was out of power.
'I need to find a spell that could create small amounts of Alpha Radiation,' Willow thought to herself as she closed the drawer and walked back to the mirror while bringing the top of her suit up. She put the healed arm into one of the sleeves, followed by the other arm before bringing the zipper up from her naval, past her chest, and to her neck. Her entire body was covered in the form-fitting matte black catsuit as she put on the same steel-toed boots she used as Nighthawk, followed by the gloves, and the belt with the batons and pepper-spray. There was also the addition of two combat knives which she attached to her thighs, one on each side along with their sheathes. She then reached down and picked up her balaclava and put it over her head before putting on her goggles.
She looked at her reflection on the mirror before turning off her room lights, and then opening the window. She looked out at the darkened neighbours' homes, and then smiled under her covered lips. Willow stepped onto the roof, and then closed the window before her before flying up high into the skies above her house.
It was thirty minutes earlier that she performed an advanced location to search for her first target, Spike. Willow used techniques she learnt from the Coven and Ariel to pinpoint his exact location, and she was heading there as she flew using her telekinesis towards a cemetery. Once she reached the cemetery, Willow used her magic to hover over the large area of graves while scanning he surface with her eyes.
Spike's Crypt, a few minutes later.
It was then a smile crept on her face as she flew to the same crypt that her location spell indicated was being used by Spike. Willow landed softly on the grass outside the entrance while reaching to either side of her hips and grabbing her batons. She flicked her wrist, extending the batons, and was instantly met with a flash of a man screaming on her torture rack as she pummelled him with batons in Hell. Pushing that thought to one side as the screaming man was replaced by the image of a screaming Spike, Willow slowly opened the door with her telekinesis while holding out her batons as she crept into the crypt.
It was dark inside as she took one cautious step after another. She looked around and then noticed a bit of light shining through a gap in the floor. She slowly walked over and then crouched down to reach for what looked to be a handle. Willow grabbed it, and then pulled it up to reveal a staircase that travelled down to a lower floor.
Just as her location spell indicated.
Willow floated down to the lower floor so that she could avoid the wooden stairs. Once she landed on the floor, Willow walked down a hallway towards some grunting sounds. She heard a woman moan and then a male grunt… the sounds repeated themselves until Willow walked in on Spike and a blonde woman on the bed. Willow tilted her head while the woman was riding Spike, and smiled… happy to do what she was about to do.
"You're doing it wrong," Willow said as she woman gasped before turning around and getting off Spike. She vamped out, much to Willow's surprise while Spike rolled off the bed and vamped out while trying to cover himself.
"Who're…" Spike was about to ask who was standing in front of him when he sniffed the air, and narrowed his eyes at the figure, "Red?"
"Red?" said a confused Harmony while Willow glanced at the female vampire, and shook her head before speaking in a muffled voice.
"Harmony, Harmony, Harmony," teased Willow as she looked at the girl who used to bully her all through middle school and High School, "look at you. Other people go up in the world, and you… well, went down."
"Who are you?" asked Harmony as Willow looked at Spike while waving her hand at Harmony who found herself smashed against a wall. She fell onto the floor as Spike was hurriedly putting on a pair of jeans before he lunged at Willow. The former redhead mentally held Spike in mid-air, much to the vampire's chagrin when a sting went through his body from the chip in his head.
"Buffy said you had some chip that made you a good doggy," said Willow as she slammed him into the wall over his bed. Willow mumbled a spell and restraints made from the stone surrounding them wrapped themselves around Spike's arms, legs, and feet. Spike was struggling to get out while Willow turned to the groaning Harmony, and mentally slammed her against the wall again. Willow reached for her goggles and pulled them off while at the same time taking off the balaclava and stared at Harmony who was slowly getting to her feet.
"Willow?" she said confused, "you… you died. I heard you died, and…"
"Yeah, and then I came back. Guess you don't keep up on current events, huh?" Willow said as she slammed Harmony into the wall again while Spike continued to struggle against the thick stone restraints. Willow took a step forward and smiled at Harmony who was getting up before swiftly lunging at her. Harmony roared in anger before Willow grabbed her mentally in mid-air and then slammed her into Spike. Harmony hit his chest, and then fell onto the bed groaning in pain.
"I heard you came back," said Spike as Willow looked back up at Spike, "heard you got a new hair colour too, and… look, Red. There are something that happened. You know about the chip, so you know I can't hurt you, and…"
"Shhh, no begging," said Willow as she slammed one of the batons in her hands into the side of Harmony's head. The vampire rolled onto the bed and then fell onto the floor as Willow rushed to her and mercilessly beat her while Spike watched. Willow mentally restrained Harmony's arms while she screamed for Spike. Willow then stopped slamming the batons into her, and stepped back while panting hard. She glared at the bleeding Harmony and told her that she would be merciful and send her on the way to hell.
Spike watched as Harmony started to writhe on the floor while screaming in pain. He could only watch Willow looking back at her, and then back at him before the newly turned vampire's body turned to ash after her heart was mentally torn out of her body. Spike looked at the dead heart which floated over the pile of ash for a second before it turned to ash as well.
"Do you remember what it was you told me before you took Drusilla away?" asked Willow as she took off her gloves, and placed them on the bed. Spike watched as she silently, while looking straight into his eyes, took off her boots, socks, and then her belt. She smiled at Spike while she crouched down and took out the pepper spray that was attached to the belt and laid it on the bed along with her bloody batons, and the sheathed knives.
"I remember," said Spike as Willow unzipped her top slowly, "you wanna give me a show? You…"
"I know where she is," said Willow as Spike stopped mid-sentence before narrowing his eyes at Willow. He started to struggle while Willow slipped out of her catsuit, and threw it to one side before standing nude in front of the struggling Spike. While struggling Spike saw the scars on her body, and struggled more as she tilted her head at him. She told Spike that he restraint can't be broken. She explained that it was that exact same spell which was used on Angel a month ago, "and he couldn't break out of it. And he's supposed to be stronger than you."
"You touch Dru… and…"
"You'll kill my family?" mocked Willow as she grabbed the batons and then jumped onto Spike's bed. She jumped on it for a few times before telling Spike, with an impressed look on her face, that the bed seemed really comfortable, "they are already dead. Anyway, other than your bed. You really have bad taste."
"If you touch Dru…" Spike wasn't able to finish what he wanted to say since a baton was slammed into the side of his head. He cursed Willow before turning back to look at her with a bruise developing on the side of his head, "I'll kill you."
"You saw me and smiled while I was being tortured by Angelus," said Willow as she started to beat him one again with the batons, "I'll show you what I learned in hell. Enjoy the view while you can… I just got the new uniform, and don't want your blood stains on it."
The man opened his mouth to speak during a break in the beatings, but Willow mentally pulled out his tongue until it was impaled into one of his fangs. Spike tried to scream but Willow kept his mouth open mentally as sweat gathered on her forehead while a smile appeared on her face. She dropped the batons on the floor before mentally grabbed the pepper-spray on the bed, and then sprayed the contents into his eyes and mouth. Stepping back while throwing the empty can to one side and listening to the screams of pain from Spike, Willow mentally grabbed her knives. Once they were in her hands, Willow mentally unsheathed them and dropped them to the sides of the bed where her batons were located.
Smiling, Willow looked up at Spike and said, "before I show you what I learnt. Do you know that there are so many ways to inflict pain on a body without much blood loss?"
"Take off these restraints," growled Spikes as he vamped out, "then we'll see about me sending you to meet your parents."
"I was restrained and helpless back the, just like you now," said Willow calmly as she held out her knives by her side, "you get to experience what you saw me go through when Angelus beat and burned me. I will make you hurt before I put you out of your misery. But just before I do? I'll tell you exactly what I'll do to your precious Dru. Don't worry about her. I already have a plan; but for now? Let's you and me have a little fun, huh?"
It would be three hours later that Willow would be wiping Spike's blood off her body with the man's own clothes. Once the blood was wiped off, Willow put her uniform back on while glaring at the pile of dust that used to be Spike. Once she had everything on, Willow then rushed out of the crypt to and flew into the sky. She headed for home and landed in the backyard. She was thankful that the neighbours were late sleepers as she slipped back into her home through the backdoor. It was all a matter of using her telekinesis to twist the doorknob on the inside, and then walking in once the door was unlocked.
Once inside the dark house, Willow took off her uniform and placed the catsuit into the washer in the basement. She then rushed up the stairs with the rest of her gear, placed them on her floor, and then hopped into the shower. She felt the warm water flow down her skin as she remembered flashes of Spike screaming in pain.
"One down," said Willow as she lay both her hands on the wall in front of her, and leaned forward. She shivered at the feeling of the water going down her back as she closed her eyes. Willow wondered if Drusilla had a vision of Spike's death; the former redhead told herself that she had to perform another location spell to find out if she was on the move.
Sunnydale High School Library, the next day, 1000 hours.
Willow performed a location spell that very night after her shower to ensure that Drusilla was in the same general area in Paris. Willow was already was mentally prepared for what she wanted to do, but she wanted to brush up on her human anatomy before reading up online on the proper way to bless items. And then she'd be off to Paris in two days, at least that was the place.
Willow knew that she couldn't hide her feelings on what she was about to do to Drusilla; feelings of anger and anxiousness. So Althanea, who could sense that anger from Willow, asked her why she was really leaving for a trip to Paris.
"It's supposed to be our anniversary," said Willow softly as she sat on a seat at the Sunnydale High library where Giles was still working, with Althanea facing her from the other side of the table. The other Scoobies were in their classes when Willow made the surprise announcement. Upon hearing about this sudden trip and Willows feelings of anger, a suspicious Althanea leaned forward while asking Willow the real truth about why she wanted to go to Paris.
"Oz and I wanted to go to Paris.. you know… just the two of us," said Willow as she looked down at the table while thinking about Oz, "before our senior year started. And… well, I spent months recovering after coming back from Hell, and then I continued my recovery after Borzan was finally defeated. And now, I guess I just want to spend at least my first anniversary of the two of us being together. Even if it means going by myself."
"Are you certain you can go on your own, Willow?" asked Giles while Althanea continued to stare at Willow, who was staring and nodding her head at Giles.
"Yes," was the reply from the former red-head.
"Buffy and the others finish their semester in two months," said Althanea with a frown, "can't you wait until then?"
"Our anniversary's in a few days, Althanea," said Willow who was trying to control her emotions while thinking to herself that there was no way to tell where Drusilla would be in two months. Willow was certain that Althanea would know that something was wrong if she changed the location of the anniversary to another city. No, Willow had to leave for Paris as soon as possible. There was a part of her that felt lighter after Spike was dusted, and now all that remained was Drusilla.
And Willow wanted to end the mad vampire to gain some measure of closure in her mind.
"Willow," said Althanea gently, "let us go with you. Look, you have your GED in three months, and once you've taken the exam, all of us can take a trip to Paris."
"But…"
"I know it's your anniversary," said Althanea reaching forward and gently holding onto Willow's hand, "and it's not that we don't think you're unable to leave on your own and…"
"It sounds like it," whispered Willow as she looked away from Althanea.
"Please?" asked Althanea as she sensed unease from Willow, however she couldn't tell if it was from being asked to postpose her anniversary, or if there was something else. All the witch knew was that there was something that Willow wasn't telling her. Althanea tried to convince Willow that it was better to make the trip together for a week in three months. She and Giles told Willow that she could spend a day with just herself and her memories of Oz; and the rest of the week they would have fun with Buffy, Faith, Tara, and the others.
"What do you say, Willow?" asked Giles as Althanea felt her breath being stuck in her throat as they waited for the former redhead's response, "we go together?"
"Fine," said Willow as she closed her eyes before pursing her lips together. Althanea released the breath she was holding in while gently squeezing Willow's hand. She then told Willow that she was glad they'd be able to go together. Willow nodded her head as she thought of a back-up plan, and then realized something that she should have thought about earlier.
If she had, then she would never have had to ask to leave for Paris.
Willow got up off her seat, telling Giles and Althanea that while she would have rather gone to Paris by herself, she thought it would actually be nice to have everyone together. After leaving the library with an agreement to visit Paris in three months, Althanea and Giles looked at each other in concern.
In the meantime, Willow headed back to her bicycle and rode back home. Once at home, she rushed up the stairs, turned on the computer and typed in a few words on the keyboard.
And once she got the answers she needed on a website, Willow smiled and printed out the page. She then took the page, went back out the door and got on the bicycle before heading to the magic shop as fast as she could. There were a few ingredient's she needed to get before she headed to a gas station where she bought a container and then filled it half way with gas. She told the attendant sweetly that her car ran out of fuel, and so she had to cycle all the way to buy some gas. Hurrying along, Willow paid and then filled the canister under the watchful eye of the attendant, and then placed the heavy container on the left side handlebar of her bicycle. Willow told the young male attendant that she would be alright, and then rode… while carefully balancing herself, out of the station and onto the street.
Spike's Crypt, 1100 hours.
It would be thirty minutes later that she rode to the cemetery that contained Spike's crypt. Willow stopped the bike outside the crypt, and then took the canister in her hands, as well as the bag of magical items that was hanging from the other handlebar. She then walked into the crypt, and down to Spike's former bedroom. She put down the bag from the magic shop and the canister of fuel while hoping that the person whose help she needed wouldn't tattle on her.
Willow then turned and held her hand out towards the canister while getting on her knees. She whispered a spell as her eyes closed slowly while the canister started to hum and glow an eerie blue colour. Opening her eyes after a few minutes, Willow looked into the canister and smiled… one part of her plan was complete.
She then started her next phase.
Willow lit a candle from the bag, and then spoke the words that would summon the demon who would help satiate her vengeance; Anya.
"Anyanka," Willow whispered as she looked at the flickering flame while a slight breeze started to brush against her, "I beseech thee, in the name of all women scorned – come before me."
The breeze suddenly vanished just as a form appeared to Willow's left.
"Willow?" asked Anya as the young woman blew out the candle and turned towards the vengeance demon who had on her human face. She started at Willow in disbelief, and then at the room she found herself in, and then back at Willow with her eyes narrowed, "why.. why did you call me? Willow, what are you doing and…"
"You give out vengeance on behalf of women who have been hurt," said Willow as she took a step towards the still surprised Anya, "we don't know each other that well, but I need your help."
"Willow, why did you call me? Do you know what Xander will say if he find out that you called me, and that I…"
"I want vengeance on behalf of someone who hurt me," said Willow staring at Anya who was shaking her head, and asking Willow to think about what she was about to do. Willow told Anya she knew exactly what she was doing, "my love was taken away from me, Anya."
"Willow," interrupted Anya as she walked forward and gently held onto her shoulders, "you…"
"How would you feel if a monster killed Xander?" said Willow as she looked into Anya's eyes, "you'd kill him. Don't lie. Drusilla killed Oz... she took away the one person I loved. And I demand vengeance."
"But…"
"All I want for you to do is bring her here," said Willow as she pointed to a corner of the room, "and that is all the vengeance I need. And then I can finish the job. Anya, I want to have some peace and move on."
Anya knew that Willow was right, she would kill anyone who hurt Xander. She would kill them without any remorse. Anya looked into Willow's eyes and knew in her heart that none of this was a joke. She then glanced at the bed and noticed the grey coloured dust, and then she looked back at Willow and asked where she summoned her.
"Spike's place," said Willow while Anya just looked at the young woman. Anya stood still and breathed in while Willow asked for her help, "please, help me.."
It would be a few seconds later that Anya's face transformed to its demonic visage before saying, "wish granted." Willow looked to her right and saw Dru, her eyes wide open with a maniacal smile on her face. The vampire told Willow that she had seen what was about to happen in a vision; a vision that came to her of the two facing each other. However, Dru added that the vision had the battle between the two of them in Paris. And the vampire lost.
"But now the future has shifted," said Dru before saying that the outcome would also change before she vamped out.
"You killed my prince," snarled Drusilla as her smile vanished, only to be replaced by a look of rage, "don't think I haven't seen that either."
Willow waved her hand and mentally knocked Drusilla to one side just before the vampire leapt at her. The former redhead remembered what happened the last time they faced in the library so, as Drusilla started to get back to her feet, Willow used her powers to tear Drusilla's eyes out of their sockets and let them flop to the floor while the vampire screamed in pain. Anya mumbled that she performed that same vengeance on a man who betrayed his wife several years ago while Willow then mentally crushed Drusilla's larynx. The vampire held her neck with her hands while moving her mouth silently; she was unable to scream, talk, or see. Willow then mentally knocked down the vampire to the floor with a thud.
"You should go, Anya," said Willow softly as Drusilla thrashed on the floor while blood poured out of the holes where her eyes used to be, "just don't tell Buffy or the others?"
"I won't," whispered Anya as she looked at Willow while Drusilla's screams turned to hysterical laughter while she continued to thrash her arms and legs on the ground, "we haven't gone out much and… well, if you're all vengeanced out after this, then how about a trip to the mall. Or something?"
"Yea," answered Willow nodding her head before Anya teleported out.
Willow looked back at the still, but laughing, body of Drusilla and mentally lifted her up into the air, and then slammed her into the wall. Willow mumbled two spells, the first used the stone on the walls to restrain Drusilla. And the other spell created a soundproof barrier on the lower floor – no one from the top floor, or outside could hear what was about to happen. Willow smiled at the hysterical vampire whose face was now covered in blood before she turned around and walked to the canister that was filled with a black, viscous liquid. Willow picked the canister up with her hand, and then approached the cackling Drusilla. Willow used magic to float up while carrying the heavy canister, and then poured the contents over Drusilla's head.
Once it was empty, Willow flung the canister to the entrance, and then floated back down to the floor and took a few steps back. She watched, with her head tilted, as the liquid crept down Drusilla's body. A smile appeared on Willow's face before she turned around and headed to the entrance to the room. Once at the entrance, Willow picked up the canister and turned around while lifting her hand up to Drusilla's direction.
"Centuries ago, there was a tribe of monks who used to gain information from demons using a form of slow torture," said Willow as Drusilla 'stared' at her while continuing to laugh hysterically, "they called it Angel Fire. They would bless a flammable liquid, and then combine it with a spell to make a thick liquid. They would pour it on their enemies, usually demons, before lighting it on fire. And the amazing thing? The fire slowly kill the demon… the demon endured untold pain until the monks got their information. The story goes that once they get their information, the monks would accelerate the process using a spell. The spell kills the demon much, much faster. Oh, and one more thing, there is no way to put out the fire. Nothing in this world or the next can put it out until the thing it's burning turns to ash. Basically once the fires are lit, you die very, very slowly."
"My Prince! I'm coming my Prince!" yelled Drusilla before she laughed more hysterically.
"I set the match," said Willow as she looked at the palm of her hand while continuing to talk to Drusilla, "it's so easy to telekinetically vibrate the molecules in the air, Drusilla. And you know what happens then? Huh? Well? Dru? Oh, you don't?"
Willow mocked the screaming Dru who was now screaming for Angelus; telling the evil vampire that their princess had grown up.
"I am what you and Angelus made me," whispered Willow, slightly cringing at being called their princess. A warm ball of light, caused by the molecules in the air vibrating slowly formed while Willow stared at Drusilla, "this is for what you and Angelus put me through, this is for sending me to Hell and losing years of my life, this is for what you did to my relationship with my friends, and this is for what you did to Oz."
"He cried like a baby… all he could say was he loved you," screamed Drusilla before she laughed hysterically again.
"And I love him," mumbled Willow, "you will burn for years until you turn to dust. I will imagine you scream and beg me to end your life, but I'll never come back.. I'll never show you that mercy."
"Our Princess! Angelus! Our dark Princess has been born!"
"Goodbye, Drusilla," said Willow as she mentally pushed the ball of light towards Drusilla's body. The light touched the liquid, and Drusilla started to howl in pain as fire took over her body which hadn't dusted. At least not yet. Willow put her hand down and watched the screaming, burning woman before mumbling, "and may God have mercy on the both of us."
Turning around and walking out the entrance to Spike's room, Willow walked down the hallway with Drusilla's screams still in her ears. She was doing to do the same plan in Paris if she had gone alone, but Willow now understood that postponing the trip for another time was probably the best thing that could have happened. Willow walked up the stairs to the top floor, and the magic took over in silencing the sounds of screaming. Facing the relative quiet of the crypt, Willow closed the hatch to the lower level, put her hands in her pockets, and then whistled while walking out the door of the crypt to her bicycle. She put the canister and the bag of items from the magic shop on the handle bars while feeling a heavy weight lift off her shoulders.
With everything quiet around her, Willow smiled before pedalling off to her house to store the canister and the materials from the magic shop. And then, she was going to take her time to prepare for the trip to Paris with Buffy, Faith, and the others.
For Willow, after having so many lows, she knew that this was the time that everything would be looking up for her.
TBC.