Chapter 7: The Dead Rose

******Where We Left off*****

They all looked on in disbelief at Sara Lance, who they'd buried months ago. Malcolm Merlyn was a step behind her.

"That can't be Sara! I saw her body. I was at her funeral!" Felicity exclaimed, her shock apparent.

"I assure you, this is Sara Lance," Malcolm said.

"What magic did you use?" Willow asked, stepping protectively in front of Felicity. "Or is she a vampire, too?"

"Ra's al Ghul agreed to allow his daughter's beloved to be resurrected through his Lazarus Pit," Malcolm explained. "Her death has freed her from her life debt to the League."

"How did you get her body out of Starling?" Felicity asked.

"I have my ways, as you well know," Malcolm said. "I contacted Nyssa, who agreed not to kill me. She didn't want to do it, but I persuaded her. The chance to see her beloved once again wasn't something she could resist."

"I would've been here sooner, but it took me a while to get my sanity back," Sara said sourly, glaring at Malcolm. "I can't believe what's happened to our town."

"It's been rough," Felicity said. She hugged her. "I can't believe you're back, but I'm so happy." There'd been so many bad things. Seeing Sara alive and whole was welcome news. She just wished Oliver could be here to know that she was with them again.

Sara smiled at her. "It's good to see you, Felicity. Who's the new faces?" she asked.

"This is my sister, Willow and her best friend Xander. Willow is a witch. They're helping us contain the supernatural element in the city," Felicity explained.

"Where's Oliver?" Sara asked, looking around.

Felicity looked pained as she replied, "Oliver is dead. He died a few months ago at Ra's al Ghul's hand. I'm surprised no one told you."

"What?" Sara asked in disbelief.

"It's true," Roy added. He gave Malcolm a distasteful look and pointed at him. "It's his fault."

"You killed Oliver?" Sara asked him, clenching her fists.

"No, I didn't. Ra's did. It was a trial by combat," Malcolm said. "Nyssa didn't think you were stable enough to hear it while you were there with the League. Ra's was willing to let you go. She didn't want anything to jeopardize that."

"I guess Merlyn's left out some important facts," Felicity said sourly. "I'm sure he probably didn't tell you how you died to begin with. It's what led to Oliver's death."

"Tell me," Sara demanded.

"Merlyn gave Thea, his own daughter, some type of drug that rendered her a mindless drone. Then he ordered her to kill you. It was Thea that shot the arrow that killed you," Felicity said. "She has no memory, though, of her actions."

Sara's mind raced as she took in Felicity's words. "I remember," she mumbled. Images flashed through her head. The feeling of betrayal when Thea shot her came back to her.

Felicity continued, "Oliver told Ra's and Nyssa that he did it. He confessed to killing you to protect Thea from Ra's. Malcolm set the whole thing up by convincing Oliver that the only way to save Thea was to challenge Ra's to a duel to the death. Oliver lost."

Without saying a word, Sara pulled a blade from her waist and stabbed Malcolm in the stomach.

"Stop!" Willow ordered, using her powers to pull Sara away from Malcolm by an invisible hand. The blade was still in Sara's hand. "There's been enough bloodshed."

"Most of it caused by him!" Diggle added angrily.

Bent over and gasping in pain, Malcolm said, "I was only trying to get free from Ra's." He pressed his hand against the blood oozing out.

"It takes a true sociopath to turn his daughter into a killer to save himself and then get her brother killed," Felicity said in disgust.

Xander stepped forward and laid a hand on Felicity's shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. "There will be a day of reckoning. I promise. But Thea should have a say in what happens to her father. She's the one he wronged the most. Now is not the time to deal with him," Xander said. He glanced meaningfully at Laurel, who was still bound.

Willow moved to Malcolm and ripped away his shirt, exposing his wound. She put her hand over him and healed him. "There," she said.

Malcolm looked at her in awe and admiration. "That is an incredible gift you have," he said.

"When you serve Mother Earth, she rewards you. You serve only yourself," Willow said flatly.

"Thank you anyway," Malcolm said sincerely. The pain was gone, his wound closed.

"You're welcome," Willow replied. She stepped way from him.

Sara looked at her with interest and speculation. Then she looked at Laurel, who'd been watching everything with interest. "What are you going to do with my sister?" she asked.

"That's not your sister," Xander said. "She's a soulless vampire."

"Sara, help me! I can't believe you're alive! Felicity's been brainwashed by these people! You've got to help!" Laurel begged, fighting against the magical bonds that held her. "I went to a dark place after you died again. But now we're together again! Make them release me!"

"She killed your father, Sara," Felicity said softly.

Sara looked ill. "What?" she asked in disbelief.

"It's true," Dig said. "You can't believe a word she says. She killed your father when he wrongfully thought that he could save her. Don't make his mistake. That thing isn't your sister!"

Laurel started crying and begging.

Sara looked devastated. "Oliver is gone. My dad is gone, and now you're telling me my sister is gone and that person you're holding is a vampire that looks like my sister? I just can't believe this," she said.

"It's true. I'll show you," Willow said. She released Laurel, who predictably revealed her vampire face and attacked Sara.

Sara jumped back to avoid her sister's hit. When Laurel lunged again, Sara knocked her back, mostly by instinct.

"A wooden stake to the heart will kill a vampire," Xander informed her. He held up one for her to see.

A heartbroken Sara looked at them. "Is there no hope?" she asked. She has lost her father, Oliver, and even Nyssa, who couldn't accept the changes in Sara. She can't lose Laurel. Her sister was all that she had left.

"She's already gone," Willow said, giving her a look of regret. She bound Laurel once again to keep her from attacking or escaping.

Felicity reached out and took Sara's hand. "Where's Nyssa?" she asked.

"I can't ever return to the League, and she won't ever leave it. One life given to Ra's is enough," Sara said flatly. "She wasn't very pleased with the changes the Pit brought in me."

"I'm sorry," Felicity said. She hugged her again.

"What's going to happen to her?" Sara asked, gesturing to her sister. "Is she really lost to a demon? There's no way to help her?"

"There's no cure for vampirism," Xander said.

"Well…that's not exactly true," Willow replied.

Sara gave her a look of hope and waited for her to explain.

*****To Be Continued*****