Hardly able to breathe Willow gasped for air, her insides being squeezed as if in a vice. She could feel the tears welling in her eyes. Dropping his hand she fell to the floor in a crumpled heap pulling in a deep lungs full of air.

"Oh Strawberry," Rack leered at her. "We're gonna have some fun."

Trying to talk around the crushing pain in her chest.

"Whatever you want from me, take from me, leave her alone." She was trying to figure out where his power was coming from. He wasn't as strong as she had become. Hoping his power would break down eventually and she would be able to stop him then. As long as she could free Tara in the meantime, she could take the magical beating. Tara was still straining, trying to break her magical bond, which hadn't gone unnoticed by her captor.

"Keep trying, little Wiccan," he laughed at her. "Those aren't going anywhere."

An hour later Willow slumped down after being flung back against the wall for what felt like the hundredth time. Blood leaked from the hole in her lip, her right eye bruised and nearly swollen shut. She licked her lip and laughed crazily to herself, tasting the blood. Unable to believe she was still alive, but he was going for the hurt not the kill. And oh how it hurt. There wasn't a single part of her body that was free from pain. She still had no idea how he was being magically charged, but there seemed to be no end of it. She looked over at Tara who was crying silently at watching her lover being beaten so violently. It was her Willow had come after, and there was nothing she could do to help.

Lifting her chin to meet his bi-colored gaze she spat in his face. Wiping the wetness from his cheeks he laughed at her. Reaching down he dragged her to her feet, holding her off the ground by her throat. Clutching at his hands, she tried desperately to free herself but, it was no use he was just too strong. Nearing unconsciousness he dropped her to the floor. Helplessness saturated her entire body, never in her life had she been beaten so badly.

"Well ladies," Rack turned away. "This has been a thrill but, I think we're done here. Time to say good-bye lovers."

Tara looked fearfully at Willow, struggling to breath on the floor.

"Willow," she cried. "Oh God, Willow I'm so sorry."

"Its not your fault," Willow managed.

"Well now," Rack interrupted glaring at them hatefully. "I wouldn't say that. You two are pathetic and stupid. As strong as you're supposed to be?" He laughed. "When your coven reached her they did me a favor. They created the link that allowed me to bleed you dry, Strawberry. Your girlfriend here, she's the talisman."

Willow looked at Tara mortified, she shook her head wanting it to be a lie knowing it wasn't. It made sense, Tara was the reason why Rack was so strong and the reason why Willow couldn't fight back. She should have known he was using Tara, saw the trap, but hadn't been thinking clearly. She had been sucking Willow of her power from the moment she entered the room. Unknowingly feeding it to Rack and leaving them defenseless. This was the end. There was no way she could destroy Tara, no way she would. She looked over at her lover and best friend. She wanted to tell her how much she loved her and had missed her. How her life hadn't been right after she was gone, but that wasn't going to happen. She knew that Rack was about to finish them off.