CHAPTER FOUR

RECKONING

"How much longer?" Dawn asked. It seemed like they had been trudging through the cave forever. As worried as she was about Willow, the younger Summers was not used to being such a part of Buffy's adventures, and her body was already complaining.

"Shouldn't be too much further," Buffy answered. "I hope." The tiny ball of emerald light they were still following flashed.

"I think it's agreeing with you," Dawn said, grinning.

"Let's hear it for the floating light show," Buffy quipped. They rounded a sharp corner, and found themselves at some sort of junction, with passageways spreading out in all directions.

"Which way now?" Buffy asked aloud. She turned to see which way the floating light would show them to go, only to discover it had vanished without a trace.

"Hey!" Dawn shouted. "What did it go?"

"I was only joking!" Buffy called out, hoping the flickering light would reappear. "I think you're an awesome speck of light!" Unfortunately, her pleas seemed to have no affect.

"Now what do we do?" Dawn asked.

"I don't know," Buffy replied, frowning. "I don't like this."

"So what, we just guess which way to go now?"

"Doesn't look like we have much choice," Buffy said. "Will's counting on us. We'll just have to pick a direction, and hope it leads where we want to go." Dawn swallowed.

"You pick," she said quickly. Buffy glared at her.

"Thanks," she muttered. Taking a moment to look around her, Buffy hesitantly chose the left hand passage and started walking again. Then, after a moment's though, Buffy paused to make a mark on the ground with the tip of her sword.

"What's that for?" Dawn asked.

"Just in case," Buffy replied. The two sisters walked on down the passage for some time, alert and ready for anything else that might decide to jump out of the shadows at them. Their journey was mercifully uneventful, however. After walking for what seemed just a short while, they arrived at another four-way junction.

"Not again!" Dawn whined.

"How big is this place?" Buffy growled. "Okay, so maybe turning left wasn't such a good idea."

"Should we turn back?" Dawn asked. Buffy thought about it for a moment.

"No," she said at last. "Let's just keep going. Just in case though…" Lifting her sword, Buffy made ready to leave another mark on the ground to guide them. To her astonishment, however, she discovered her mark was already there!

"What the…?"

"Isn't that the mark you made before?"

"I think so."

"Then we just walked in a big circle?"

"Looks like it," Buffy replied grimly. "Okay, let's try this again." Gripping her sword, Buffy began walking down the right hand passageway. Dawn hurried after her. After walking for a few more minutes, they again arrived at a four-way junction.

"This is seriously not cool," Buffy growled. Looking down, she was once again greeted by the sight of the very same mark she had made before.

"Okay, this is more than just going around in circles," she announced. "We keep arriving at the very same place we left. Something is seriously wrong here." She turned to look at her sister.

"Stay here," Buffy said. "I want to try something."

"What if something big and hungry comes after me?" Dawn asked timidly.

"Just scream; I'll come running." With that, Buffy strode off down the northernmost passageway. Dawn watched her disappear into the shadows, and swallowed back her fear.

I can do this, she thought fiercely to herself. Hey, I took down half a dozen zombies all by myself – and managed to ignore their god-awful smell. Just standing here, alone, in the dark should be easy! As long as something big and hungry doesn't come along and decide I look tasty…

Nervous, Dawn started to whistle softly to herself. Just in case, she drew her sword and held it defiantly in front of her.

I can do this… no problem! I'm the sister of the Slayer, right? I can do this! She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand suddenly tug on her shoulder.

"Aahhhhhh!" Dawn whirled around, swinging her sword in a panic.

"Take it easy!" Buffy shouted, grabbing the blade of the sword in her hand. "It's me."

"Buffy! Jeez, don't DO that! I almost peed my pants!" Dawn swore.

"Thanks for the visual," Buffy joked. "Sorry Dawnie, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Just give me a little warning next time!" Dawn replied, struggling to catch her breath. "So… what did you find out?"

"Just what I was afraid of," Buffy said darkly. "I've tried every passageway, and they all lead back here somehow. I think someone doesn't want us to find our way out of here."

"You mean… we're stuck here?"

"Not if I can help it," Buffy replied. "There's a way out of here, and I'm going to find it. Will needs us."

"If only Willow's light was still here to guide us," Dawn said wistfully. Buffy's eyes widened.

"That's it," she breathed.

"What? What is it?"

"You remember I told you how Willow and I have a sort of… connection? That it feels like a part of her is always with me?"

"Yes," Dawn said hesitantly.

"She was able to use that connection to lend me some of her power before; I think I might be able to use it now to find her."

"How?" Dawn asked.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do! It's just…"

"Then trust me now, Dawnie. Please… I don't know if I can explain it. I just need to try." Taking a deep breath, Buffy closed her eyes and reached out with her senses.

I know you're out there, Will… just give me some kind of sign! Tell me where you are! Buffy called out with her mind. As if in answer, Buffy felt something suddenly rush through her, and she sucked in a breath. Then it was as though she was drifting away from her body, from Dawn, and the cavern itself. All at once, she felt herself being enveloped by feelings of love, peace and contentment, wrapped around her like a warm blanket. To the Slayer, it was like she had come home. Somehow, someway, she knew she was with Willow.

"Willow?" she called out.

Buffy! I knew you'd find me!

"What is this? What's happening to us?"

Our minds are joined, Buffy… you reached out, and I answered.

"You mean… all these things I'm feeling now…?"

We're sharing our thoughts and feelings

"Oh wow…" Buffy breathed.

Buffy… please… the pain!!

"What's happening, Will? What's he doing to you?!"

He's stealing… all my magic. Draining away my essence…

"My god… hang on Will, I'm coming!"

Let my mind guide you… but hurry! I won't last… much longer…!

Buffy found herself suddenly back in her own body, and her eyes snapped open. Her knees buckled, and she sagged to the ground. Dawn's arms were around her a moment later.

"Did it work?" she asked in a worried tone.

"Yeah," Buffy replied breathlessly. "That was… intense."

"What happened?"

"I'll explain later. Come on, we have to hurry!"

Dawn held Buffy's hand tightly as they hurtled down the passageway together, wondering again just what her sister had experienced with Willow. Buffy refused to talk about it, but Dawn could tell it had deeply affected her. Whatever had happened, she only hoped it would lead them to Willow in time.

Without warning, Buffy turned and began racing toward a solid rock wall.

"Uh… Buffy?!"

"Just close your eyes!" Buffy shouted back. Before she could do so, Dawn found herself running right into the rock wall. She grimaced, expecting searing pain… only to suddenly realize she was passing right through the wall! Just as suddenly, they were through and running along a completely new passageway.

"What the heck was that?" Dawn gasped.

"An illusion," Buffy replied distantly. "We were being made to see the same thing over and over, so we'd think we weren't getting anywhere."

"How did you know that?"

"Willow," Buffy said simply, smiling. "She showed me where the real passageway was."

"Where is she?" Dawn asked worriedly.

"Just up ahead… but we have to hurry. Her voice is getting weaker."

"What? You mean you can hear her? How come I can't?"

"I can hear her in my head, Dawnie," Buffy responded, still running. "Don't ask me to explain it, okay? I just know she's there."

"You're seriously freaking me out here," Dawn muttered. The two sisters rounded a sharp corner, and skidded to a stop.

Just ahead, a large open chamber greeted them, and at its far end Buffy could see her best friend mystically chained to a fearsome-looking stone altar. An ominous figure cloaked in black stood on one side of her, his back to Buffy. Although she couldn't see exactly what he was doing, Buffy could hear Willow's shouts, and that told her all she needed to know: he best friend was in danger.

"Willow!" Buffy shouted.

"You are persistent, Slayer," Zaragos hissed, not bothering to turn around. "You defy all my attempts to plan an amusing death for you… but my plans are nearly complete now, and I have no more time to waste on you. Begone!" He half-turned and waved a skeletal hand in Buffy's direction. Twisting geysers of flame erupted across the entrance to the chamber, arching from floor to ceiling, forcing Buffy and Dawn back.

"Buffy!" Dawn cried out, shielding her face from the heat and flames.

"Get back!" Buffy called out to her. Then, impossibly, the magical flames began to twist and transform. As Buffy watched in horror, they took on the form of a massive humanoid. The thing bellowed in rage and swung a huge, fiery claw at Buffy. She ducked out of the way, and its searing talons burned deeply into the wall behind her.

"Skeletons, zombies, illusions and now a giant flame demon… don't you ever get tired?!" Buffy complained. As if in response, the demon roared and reached for her again. Buffy somersaulted backwards to avoid its grasp, but then it unleashed a sudden, searing blast of fire from its chest. Buffy grabbed Dawn and threw them both to the ground just in time, feeling the flames singe the back of her hair.

"How am I supposed to fight something I can't touch?!"

Let me help you…

"Willow?"

I can give you the power to defeat it…

"No, Will! You're too weak!"

This will take… all the power I have left…but I can't let him hurt you…

"Will, please…" Buffy felt tears filling her eyes. "Please don't do this!"

I love you, Buffy…

"Willow, no!" Buffy cried out in anguish. She knew it was already too late, though. She could already feel the power inside her again, and her hands began to glow a pale blue. Realizing what Willow had given her, Buffy struggled to stand, tears staining her cheeks. The flame demon lumbered towards her.

"Take this, you walking tiki torch!" Buffy screamed, and she flung her hands towards the monstrous creature. Bolts of bluish-white light crackled from her outstretched hands and enveloped the creature. It gave an agonized roar and staggered back, then retaliated by with jets of flame from its own hands. Fire and ice collided in mid-air with an explosive roar. Buffy grimaced and fought back with everything she had.

"Not bad," she managed, "but you've… never met… my best friend!!" The power surged through Buffy anew, and the demon was overwhelmed. It vanished in a hissing cloud of steam, its dying roar echoing through the cavern. When Buffy could see again, the demon was gone; only a few small chunks of melting ice remained where it had once stood. With the danger past, Buffy felt the power leave her again. A terrible emptiness took its place.

"No!" Buffy screamed. She charged into the open chamber, not even bothering to check on Dawn, and rushed towards Willow's too-still form, still lying on the altar. She never made it. Something grabbed her by the throat and pulled her off the ground. Zaragos turned to face her, a monstrous grin on his skull face.

"You are too late, Slayer… the Sorceress' power is mine! Now this world will suffer!!" The invisible force that held Buffy hurled her across the room, smashing her into the far wall with bone-shattering force. Zaragos laughed harshly. Then, incredibly, he began to grow. Dark magic swirled about the ancient lich, his eyes blazing a fierce, fiery red. His gaunt, skeletal body began to swell into something massive and muscular, his flowing robes becoming gleaming black armor. Spikes grew from his shoulders, his arms, his hands. A mane of searing flame erupted from his bald skull, cascading down his armored back. A huge, flaming mace appeared in one of his gauntleted hands. Buffy struggled to get to her feet.

"I will not waste my newfound power on the likes of you," Zaragos thundered, "but your friends above will not be so fortunate!!" Flames enveloped his body, and he was gone, his maniacal laughter remaining long after. Buffy swallowed. She knew she needed to go after him, had to stop him… but something far more important seized her thoughts. Limping slightly, Buffy rushed to Willow's side. Her eyes were closed, and her head sagged to one side, red hair falling across her pale face.

"Will!" Buffy sobbed. The magical manacles that had held her on the altar were now gone, and Buffy was able to pull the red-headed witch into a fierce hug.

"Come on…" she begged her best friend. "I know you're still in there. Please wake up…" Her voice began to break. Buffy gently brushed the hair away from Willow's face and stroked a thumb over her cheek. She shivered when she felt how cold her friend's skin felt. Tears began to drip down her cheeks.

"No… please God, no…" she whimpered. "You can't leave me like this, Will… please…!" Oblivious to anything else, Buffy didn't notice her sister Dawn now standing at the entrance to the chamber, choking back her own tears.

"Please come back to me… please… you can't leave me here alone…" Buffy moaned. Resting her own cheek against Willow's, Buffy shook as her body was wracked with sobs. The thought of losing Willow was simply too much to bear. She had never had a friend like Willow before, and she knew she would never meet anyone like her ever again. There were no words to describe just how much the redhead had come to mean to her… she only knew she loved her, with every fiber of her being. Leaning back slightly, Buffy stared into the still face of the woman she loved more than her own life and gently kissed her on the forehead.

"I love you, Willow Rosenberg…" Buffy whimpered, tears spilling from her eyes again. A single, silvery tear rolled down her cheek and dripped onto Willow's face, as Buffy screamed out her anguish and pulled Willow's limp body back into her fierce embrace once more.

"Love you… too…" Willow answered weakly. Buffy nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Wha… Willow?!" Willow's eyes fluttered open, and she managed a slight smile.

"Present…" she whispered.

"Oh god…" Buffy squeezed her even harder. "Don't ever do that to me again… I thought I'd lost you, Will!!"

"You almost did," Willow replied softly. She smiled and blinked back tears of her own. "You brought me back."

"W-what?" Buffy stammered.

"I could still hear your voice, calling out to me. I felt the strength of your love… and I knew I had to come back." Looking up into Buffy's eyes, Willow impulsively leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips. Then she melted into Buffy's embrace.

"As long as you need me… I'll be here with you," she whispered. Completely at a loss for words, Buffy did the only thing she could think of: she hugged Willow back, fiercely. Dawn rushed into the chamber and joined their embrace a few moments later, tears of love and relief spilling down her cheeks.