Chapter Eight: Secrets Revealed

Anya stared at Willow for a long time in silence before finally breaking it. "What?" she asked, a frown forming on her face.

"I may become-"

"I heard you the first time. I thought you were in control! You said that the coven taught you how to control the darkness. You've had over a century to practice that!" Anya snapped.

"It's not something you can control," Willow told her softly. "It's only something you can repress."

"And you've been repressing it for years," Anya realized, looking at her old friend. "I'm surprised you're still able to repress it."

"I'm not going to be able to much longer. I've already almost lost it once when I was with her. Now I'm having a hard time containing it," Willow explained.

"We just need to finish this. We need to get her to love you," Faith said, not looking at anyone.

"I know."

At Willow's words, Faith lifted her brown eyes to look into Willow's black ones. "Let's get this done," Faith muttered, then walked out of the house to find Tara with Anya right behind her.

Watching from the shadows, Willow couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips at the sight of Tara walking through the park with Faith and Anya. The blonde had a huge smile on her lips and was currently laughing at something Anya had said.

When Tara walked over to her tree, Anya and Faith gave her a quick hug and walked off, leaving the blonde alone at her tree. "I know you're here," Tara said, after Anya and Faith left.

I expect you do, Willow told her, using her mind to communicate once again.

"Why don't you ever talk? I only hear you in my mind," Tara asked, confused by the voice in her head.

I want to show myself, but I fear how you will react. I don't want you to run away from me.

"Why would I?" Tara wondered, looking around for the person hidden in the trees.

I look like a monster, but I'm not one. I've been cursed.

"Why should I believe you?" Tara asked, frowning.

You shouldn't. I use to be a monster. I can become one again if I'm not careful. I've been fighting the monster inside of me for a long time now.

"Why do you fight it? If you were once a monster?" Tara questioned.

I don't like the person I was at that time. I hurt my friends, my family. I killed a man who was more of a monster, but I regret what I did. I don't want to be a monster, Willow admitted, stepping to the edge of the shadows so Tara could see the outline of her body.

"So you killed someone?" Tara said, surprised.

Yes.

"Why?"

He killed the woman I loved, Willow told her, stepping forward another step so Tara could see part of her face.

"Take another step," Tara requested, moving closer to the hidden witch.

Will you promise not to panic when you see me?

"I refuse to promise anything," Tara told her, watching her.

Willow just nodded slightly, knowing Tara could see the movement, before stepping forward enough that Tara could see her face. Her green eyes shinning in the darkness that was her face.

"You," Tara whispered, stepping back.

"Yes, it's me. I won't hurt you though. I'm not a monster. I look like one, but I'm not," Willow informed her, not moving towards the retreating blonde.

"Y-you att-tacked my f-family. You tr-tried to k-kill my fa-fa-father," Tara accused, cursing her stutter.

"I was protecting you," Willow told her, not moving from her spot at the edge of the woods. "I felt your fear. I saw him holding you against a wall, saw you shivering from fear, and I got mad. I attacked."

"He's my father. You had no right trying to kill my father," Tara said, feeling confused and scared.

Willow, finally having enough of the blonde's fears and accusations, stepped forward, walking over to the young girl. "I had every right to try and kill him," she told her, stopping a few paces from her. "I am here to protect you."

"Protect me? Protect me from what?" Tara asked, taking a step back, afraid of the dark witch standing in front of her.

"From the monsters in this world. From the demons that want to take away your light," Willow whispered, frowning at the girl in front of her.

"Why do you want to protect me?" Tara wondered, staring at Willow.

"Because you remind me of someone I will always love," Willow admitted, looking into Tara's striking blue eyes.

A/N: Thank you Gimpy72 for betaing this chapter.