Chapter Twelve: Struggling Against The Dark

Previously in Echoes in the Wind...

"Halfrek," Anya begged, unaware of her friend's death.

Preparing for another kick from Mr. Maclay, Anya tensed up slightly, only to be surprised when nothing happened. Trying to look around, Anya caught sight of the man dangling helplessly a few feet in the air, kicking his feet as he tried to get an unseen force to release him.

Feeling her body start to lose consciousness, Anya slowly allowed the darkness to take her, relaxing as she heard a familiar voice in the distance speak to the struggling man.

"Do you really think its smart to hurt my friends?" Willow asked, her voice so full of anger and hatred. "I thought I already taught you what happens when you piss me off?"

Dangling helplessly on the floor, Mr. Maclay stared at Willow with fear in his eyes as he tried to find a way to get down.

"There's no use in struggling. The only way you're getting down is if I let you down," Willow informed him before kneeling next to Anya's unconscious form. "Anya?" Willow said softly, checking her friend for a pulse. "You're lucky," she told him, turning back to Mr. Maclay. "You are so lucky she's alive."

Continuing to struggle, Mr. Maclay muttered something that caught Willow's attention. "What was that?" she asked, dropping her hold on him so that he hit the ground.

Gasping for air, Mr. Maclay waited a few moments to regain some strength before lifting his head to look at the dark witch. "I said I'm going to kill you," Mr. Maclay told her as he pulled himself to the feet.

"You're going to kill me?" Willow asked, laughter in her voice as she stared at the man in disbelief. "I seem to recall that every time we fight, you end up having to be saved by someone else. First Laura, then Faith. No one here to stop me this time, Donald," Willow said as she closed the distance between them and wrapped her small hand around his neck.

Gasping against Willow's hold, Donald Maclay struggled against her, trying to free himself from her grip. Unsuccessful, he felt his body screaming at him for oxygen as his vision started to fade.

Rushing through the halls, Faith felt a sense of dread. She knew something wasn't right, whether it was Anya or Willow she wasn't sure, but she needed to find both of her friends. Picking up her speed, Faith no longer paid any mind to Tara who was running to keep up with her, instead she made her way towards the direction her gut was telling her to go. What she found at the end of the hall, surprised her more than she would ever know.

"Hello, Anyanka," a familiar voice said, causing Anya to lift her head and look in the direction.

"D'Hoffryn," Anya whispered, staring at her employer. "What happened?"

"You are in the balance between life and death, dear girl. Lucky for you, you are a vengeance demon and not easily killed. Your body is slowly healing and you will soon regain consciousness."

"The man, the human that did this to me. Did you stop him?" Anya asked, confused.

"No, the witch stopped him. She always had such potential. I always hope that she'll join us, but she never has. Maybe this time she'll see the greatness she could do as a demon of vengeance."

"Willow? Willow stopped him?" After a nod of conformation from D'Hoffryn, Anya forced herself to her feet. "I have to go back. I have to keep her from losing control."

"She's already lost control, Anyanka. The man you who harmed you is currently dying at the witch's hand. The only way she'll be stopped is if the slayer can get through to her," D'Hoffryn told her, smiling at the thought of Willow killing a man for vengeance. "She really would make an excellent vengeance demon."

"Willow, stop!" Faith called out, rushing over to her friend and wrapping her arm around Willow's hand, forcefully removing it from the man's neck.

"Why? He nearly killed Anya. He's a monster, just like Warren," Willow said, anger clear in her voice.

"This isn't you, Red. We both know that. Anya's fine. She's breathing and her heart is beating. I can hear it, and I know you've checked. Calm down, Red," Faith whispered, trying to console her friend.

Watching the two, Tara quickly made her way to Anya and knelt before the vengeance demon to ensure she was okay. After feeling a pulse, she slowly relaxed as she looked at her father's form slumped against the wall. She could see his chest moving up and down with each breath he took, and part of her was angry that he was still allowed to breath.

"I'm calm," Willow promised, looking away from Faith's brown eyes to look at Anya, surprised to see Tara kneeling next to the unconscious blonde.

"Are you sure?" Faith asked, looking worriedly at Willow. She knew the witch's temper came and went, and didn't want to chance releasing her to finish what she started.

"Yeah, I'm good." As soon as Faith released her hold on Willow, Willow turned and walked over to kneel next to Anya, ignoring Tara's flinch at the closeness.

"Is she going to be okay?" Tara wondered, looking at Faith.

"She'll be alright. She's healing already, benefits of being a vengeance demon," Willow muttered, not acknowledging Tara's discomfort.

"A what?"

Willow frowned as she looked up into familiar blue eyes, forgetting that this wasn't the same person who loved her so long ago. "Nevermind," Willow said, looking away from her and back down to her friend.

"No. What do you mean by vengeance demon? Anya's not a demon," Tara told her, sure of that.

"Faith, do you want to explain while I try to use whatever magic I can to heal some of her wounds?"

"Yeah, Red. I'll explain. Come on, T," Faith said, holding out a hand to help Tara to her feet.

Looking down at her friend, Willow shook her head. "What would I do without you two?" Willow asked Anya, before she started healing her.

A/N: Thank you Gimpy72 for always helping with my stories.