Chapter 21: Seeing Red

July 4, 2002

Buffy walked into her backyard seeing Faith poking around the rear part of the yard with a stick. "Hey, Faith," she said.

"B," Faith said as she looked up shocked to see the blonde Slayer. "When did you get back."

"Just now," Buffy said. "What are you looking for?"

"Cameras," Faith said. "Been dealing with some nerds. They had cameras at the Magic Box, Tara's dorm room, Xander's construction site, and here. They had been watching us. They made me the good guy to their bad guys. I managed to stop their latest plan which was to steal money from an armored car. Two of them are in jail, the third escaped."

"You will find him," Buffy said. "And since Dawn, Harry and I are here for a few weeks before we have to return to England. I'll help."

"Buffy," Faith said using Buffy's name for the first time in years. "Thank you."

"For what?" Buffy asked.

"For letting me stay here," Faith said. "For thinking I can do this."

"Well Giles was more the one giving you the second chance," Buffy said. "He got the Watcher's Council to spring you. That said you are welcome. Even though we had our differences and you did go bad for a bit. I think you deserve the second chance."

"I thought I hit bottom, but..." Faith admitted. "But you trusting me means a lot, Buffy."

"I'm glad," Buffy said. "I want to show you something." She pulled out her wand and handed it to Faith.

Faith looked at the wand and gave it a wave as sparks flew from the end. "Does that mean?"

"I don't know, Faith," Buffy said. "The reason I wanted to show you my wand was because of its core. It has the hair of the First Slayer for the core."

"Wow," Faith said as he handed Buffy back the wand.

Buffy frowned as she saw Warren Mears enter the back yard, gun in hand, through the gate.

"Faith," Buffy yelled.

Faith spun around and saw Warren, his battered face twisted in rage and humiliation. "You think you can just do that to me? That I'd let you get away with it? Think again –"

Buffy raised her wand intending to cast, stupefy, when Warren opened fire. Faith shoved her to the ground hard. Buffy looked up and saw Warren running out of the yard, firing wildly.

"Where did he get," Buffy said.

"Buffy," Harry called out as he and Dawn ran out the back door their wands at the ready.

Buffy didn't answer as she saw Faith lying on the ground, a bullet wound in her chest and blood leaking out. "Dawn, call 911."

Dawn saw what Buffy did and turned and ran back into the house.

"Faith," Buffy said as she knelt down next to her sister Slayer. She pressed her hands against Faith's chest trying to stop the blood. "Harry, go wait out by the curb for the ambulance. Tell them where we're at."

Harry holstered his wand and ran out through the gate.

Faith stared blankly up at the clear blue sky, her skin pale. It was clear to Buffy that Faith was going into shock.

Upstairs in Willow's room, Tara stared at Willow, who's white shirt was covered in blood. "Your shirt..." Tara said trying to comprehend what was happening. She collapsed to the floor.

Willow raced to Tara seeing the bullet hole in the window and realizing that Tara had been shot through the back, the bullet ripping clean through her chest. "Tara?" she said as she knelt over Tara on the floor. "Tara? Come, on baby. Get up. Please. Tara..." She gently stroked Tara's hair as she sobbed. "No... no... no..."

Willow's tears of grief and loss rapidly became burning rivers of anger. She looked toward the ceiling, her face was twisted in a gut-wrenching swirl of pain and fury... and her eyes had gone completely black.

Out front of the Summers home, Harry waited at the curb as the ambulance sped down the street toward him. The ambulance pulled up next to him and the paramedics jump out.

"In the back yard," Harry said. "This way—"

"She was shot?" a paramedic asked.

"In the chest," Harry said. "I was inside I didn't see till after I heard. My sister was with her."

"Accidental?" asked the other paramedic.

"I have no idea," Harry answered as he led the paramedics through the gate and over to Buffy, Dawn and Faith.

In Willow's room, Tara lay dead in a pool of her own blood. Willow held her girlfriend in her arms as she tried to work a spell to bring Tara back from the dead. "Come back. Come back..." she said as magical energy crackled around Tara. But nothing happened as Tara lay there unmoving. "Oh God. no- Please, please... Come on, come on... Tara! Come back, baby..."

Tara lay limp as Willow's expression grew more intent on saving her girlfriend. She focused her powers and, suddenly, mystical energy crackled around them. The air in the room above them darkened and storm clouds gathered in the room. What was at first a plea had become a fierce command, an incantation. Willow raised her hands, drawing energy into Tara.

"By Osiris, I command you! Bring her back!"

In the backyard Dawn and Harry held Buffy as the paramedics worked on Faith who was fighting for every ounce of air, she could take in.

"What happened?" Harry whispered.

"I recognized him," Buffy said. "Two years ago, he created a robot girlfriend. I think he is someone that Faith had been fighting while we were at Hogwarts."

"Pulse is 100 and weak. Lung sounds are wet—" said the second paramedic.

In Willow's room, the clouds Willow manifested crackle with electricity. "Hear me! Keeper of darkness—" she chanted as the room was suddenly filled by the enormous head of an incredibly imposing demon.

"Witch! How dare you invoke Osiris in this task?"

Willow, desperate, appealed to the creature. "Please. Please... Bring her back—"

"You may not violate the laws of natural passing—"

"How? How is this natural?" Willow asked.

"It is a human death, by human means. She is taken by natural order. It is done."

"No. There's got to be a way—" Willow objected.

"It is done."

Willow, trembling, let out a horrible scream, full of rage and pain. "NO!"

The scream unleashed a terrible energy. Suddenly the demon was engulfed in a blaze of white light and heat, he cried out in horrible agony.

In the backyard the Paramedics had loaded Faith onto a stretcher and were heading out the gate toward the ambulance.

"Sunnydale Memorial, do you copy? We have a caucasian female, 21, GSW to the chest—" said a paramedic.

"Dawn, call Giles," Buffy said. "Tell him what has happened. Then called Xander and check on Willow."

"I think you might want to do that now," Harry said as he spotted Willow coming out the front door, blood still covering her white shirt.

Buffy nodded. "Go make the calls, Dawn," she said as Dawn raced past Willow and into the house. She walked toward her best friend. "Hey, Willow. Are you okay?"

"How did this happen?" Willow asked motioning toward Faith who was being loaded onto the ambulance.

"Remember Warren the guy that built that robot," Buffy said. "Faith said you guys had been dealing with him and his friends. He had a gun."

"Warren?" Willow said.

"It went down too fast," Buffy said. "I was prepared to cast stupefy but Faith shoved me out of the way when he started shooting." She frowned as Willow started to walk away from her and down the street. "Will?"

"Ma'am," called a paramedic. "We have to go! Are you riding with us or not?"

"Go on, Buffy," Harry said. "I'll wait with Dawn. There isn't going to be enough room for all of us. If your friends come by, we'll get a ride from them."

Buffy nodded as she sprinted for the ambulance. She climbed in as the paramedic closed the door and the ambulance drove off.

Harry walked into the house. "Dawn," he called out.

"In here," Dawn called back as Harry walked through the dining room and into the kitchen.

"Buffy went with Faith in the ambulance. And your friend Willow walked off down the street. She looked in shock," Harry explained.

"I didn't know…" Dawn started and then she realized something. "Where's Tara? I thought I heard her voice when we portaled in."

"I haven't seen anyone else," Harry admitted.

"Check upstairs," Dawn said. "I'm on hold while the overseas operator connects me to Giles."

Harry nodded as he walked back through the house and upstairs. He checked every room there was. In the last room he found Tara lying on the floor. He rushed over to her as he called out, "Dawn!"

Dawn came running up the stairs and into Willow's room her eyes going instantly wide. "Is she?"

"Yes," Harry said with a sigh.

Dawn rushed back downstairs and picked up the phone dialing. "Come on, Xander."

"Hello?"

"Xander, it's Dawn," Dawn said.

"Hey welcome home, Dawnie."

"Faith's been shot," Dawn said. "Buffy went with her to the hospital."

"What happened?" Xander said.

"That guy you guys have been dealing with while we were at Hogwarts," Dawn answered. "Buffy said he shot Faith."

"Alright I'm on my way there," Xander said. "Do you need a ride?"

"Harry and I are going to have to wait for the police I think," Dawn admitted. "Tara's dead. She was in Willow's room, looks like she got shot. And, Xander, Harry was saying Willow looked like she was in shock."

"I'll keep an eye out for Willow," Xander said. "I'll tell Buffy when I get to the hospital."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The doors of the Magic Box blew open as Willow strode in, clearly out for blood.

Anya, who was re-stocking shelves noticed Willow. "Willow—"

"Where do you keep the black arts books?" Willow interrupted.

"Listen. Something's happened. I know. But you don't have to—" Anya said.

Willow glared at Anya. "I need power."

"But not those books. I can't let you—" Anya said as her eyes flickered to the second level, the area just above the magazine racks. Willow followed her gaze as she realized there was what she needed. "Willow—"

"Stop," Willow said in commanding voice.

Suddenly, Anya couldn't move. She struggled, but it was no good she was completely bound.

Willow stopped in front of the library area of the store and looked to the second level where the most dangerous books were stored. She made a small gesture and the books went flying off the shelves to pile on the table near her. She moved over to the books and put her hands down on them as her fingers seem to merge with the books.

Suddenly, the writing from the books seemed to scroll up her arms. Through her body and under her clothes emerging on her chest and face. Finally, the inky writing moved into her HAIR, turning it black. She stiffened and her eyes roll back as she absorbed all the knowledge and power those books contained. She removed her hands from the now blank books. She looked back at Anya as death and energy crackled from her fingertips.

"That's better," Willow said.

At the Summers home Dawn stood in Willow's bedroom wand in hand. She knew it was no use that Tara was dead. But she had to try. "Rennervate." As she expected nothing happened, Tara was dead.

At the hospital in hallway outside the operating room, Buffy and Xander stood at the window watching the doctor working on Faith.

"Dawn said it was Warren," Xander said.

"The guy that built that robot girlfriend when I was still going to college, before mom died," Buffy said.

"That's him," Xander said. "I was planning a big welcome home party. But this, sorry, Buff."

"Thanks, Xander," Buffy said.

In the operating room the Doctor was trying to stop the bleeding. "We've got more bleeding," he said.

"Where?" asked a nurse.

"Over by her left ventricle."

"BP is down to 80/palp," said another nurse.

"We need to stop that bleeder!" the doctor said as the lights in the room start to flicker.

"BP - it's... I don't know what it's doing..." a nurse said as the monitors started going haywire.

"What's happening? It's-" said the other nurse.

"Leave."

Outside the operating room Buffy and Xander saw Willow in the operating room through the window, they noticed that the redhead's hair had gone completely black.

"Willow," Xander said as he and Buffy entered the operating room behind Willow.

Willow ignored her friend. "Now," she said as the doctor and nurses silently file out of the room.

"Will!" Buffy said. "What are you doing?! She's going to die!"

"No, she isn't," Willow said as she moved over to Faith. The glow of mystical energy gathered around her and Faith.

"The magic. It's not right. You said..." Xander said shocked that Willow was using magic after she had given it up.

Willow wasn't listening as she concentrated on Faith's chest. The bullet that nearly killed Faith slowly rose out of Faith's chest as the bullet hole magically healed.

"Buffy," Xander whispered shocked that Willow could do that.

"I don't know how," Buffy said. "That's like nothing I've learned."

Willow contemplated the bullet which hovered before her. "It's so small," she said as she covered the bullet the with her hand. When she opened her hand, the bullet was gone.

The mystical energy started to dissipate as Faith's eyes flutter open. Buffy and Xander ran to the table.

"Faith!" Buffy and Xander said at the same moment.

"What happened?" Faith asked.

Xander nearly cried with relief. "Oh my God... Are you okay?"

Faith sat up, confused. "Sure, Xan. How'd I get here?"

"You were shot," Buffy said. "Your basically tied to me on deaths."

Faith looked at Willow. "Red?"

Willow allowed herself the smallest moment of relief. "Faith, Hey."

"What's wrong?" Faith asked.

"I'll explain. But we've got to go," Willow started as she headed for the door. Faith, Buffy and Xander followed her.

"What? Why?" Faith asked confused.

"I think I know," Xander whispered to Buffy. "When Dawn called me, she said Tara was dead. That she and your brother had found her in Willow's room."

Buffy's eyes went wide.

Twenty minutes later Xander drove down a fairly deserted stretch of highway.

"Faster," Willow said focused on the road ahead.

"What's going on?" Faith whispered to Buffy.

"Xander said when Dawn called him that she and Harry had found Tara, dead," Buffy whispered back.

"Oh, Red," Faith said.

"Faster," Willow said again.

"I'm going as fast as I can," Xander replied.

"Faster," Willow commanded as the gas pedal suddenly hit the floor. He was no longer in control of the speed car was going.

"Would you cut that out, Will!? If you wanted to drive..." Xander said as he glanced worriedly in the rearview mirror at Buffy and Faith.

"Willow. We need to stop. I don't like this," Buffy said.

"We're close. I can feel him," Xander said.

"Red, we'll catch him," Faith said. "He'll go to jail. Believe me, I'm finding the whole getting shot very motivating. But you're using magic."

"If I wasn't, you'd be dead," Willow said as she glanced at Faith.

"Maybe," Buffy said. "Maybe not. But this isn't right. This isn't good for you, Will."

"You made the decision to stop for a reason," Xander said. "You promised Faith and I. And can I just ask - what's with the make-over of the damned? I mean, the hair."

Willow sat up suddenly alert. "Turn! Go right!"

Xander searched the highway, there was no exit. "Go - where?" he asked.

"Over there! Go the other way! Now!" Willow said.

Xander looked across a wide wash that divided the two highways, each going in a different direction. "Will."

"Turn," Willow commanded as the steering wheel magically turned itself and the car started off-roading over the wash.

Xander, exasperated, simply took his hands off the wheel. "Fine! Fine! Puppetmaster wants to drive? Go right ahead!"

The car skid to a stop on the edge of the highway as a bus approached them.

Willow got out of the car and moved to intercept the bus.

"Will!" Buffy called out as she, Xander and Faith got out. "Wait."

Willow stood in the middle of the highway right in the way of the bus that was barreling down her. She focused all her energy on the advancing vehicle. The bus came to a skidding halt in front of Willow.

"Stay back," Willow said without looking at Xander, Buffy or Faith. They suddenly found themselves unable to move any further.

"B," Faith said. "Can you do anything with that wand of yours?"

"If I could move maybe," Buffy said. "But whatever spell she cast has immobilized me too."

Willow moved around to the door. "Get out."

After a moment the bus door opened and Warren, confused and apprehensive, got. She grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground.

"Please. Please. I'll do anything," Warren begged as Willow began to squeeze.

"Willow - NO!" Buffy shouted as Willow continued to squeeze. Warren's face contorted and then suddenly an eye popped out of a socket and they can see in the empty socket wiring. Warren was a robot.

"It's a robot," Willow said disgusted as she cast it aside. "I could feel his essence. He tricked me..." She moved toward the car as Xander, Buffy and Faith found they can move again. "We'll find him another way."

"And then what?" Faith asked warily.

Behind Faith, Buffy pulled out her wand and held it up.

"No, Buffy," Willow said and with a flick of her wrist Buffy's wand went flying.

"I love Tara, too," Buffy said. "But we don't kill humans. This isn't the way."

"How can you say that? Tara is dead." Willow said.

"I know... And I... I can't believe... anything. Not what happened - not what you must be going through," Buffy said.

"Believe me when I say this," Faith said. "If you do this. Warren destroys you too. It took me years to come back from that and I'm still striving for redemption."

"You said it yourself - the magic is too strong, Will. There's no coming back from it," Willow added.

"I'm not coming back," Willow said as she waved her hand and Xander, Buffy and Faith flew backwards. She then Apparated.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy, Xander and Faith entered the Summers home. "Dawn? Harry?" Buffy called out.

"In here," came Harry's voice from the living room.

Buffy, Xander and Faith walked into the living room and saw Dawn and Harry sitting on the sofa. They saw tears streaming down Dawn's face.

"Has Willow been back?" Buffy asked.

"Your friend?" Harry asked as Buffy nodded. "No."

"Is it true about the magics?" Dawn asked. Buffy had called her and Harry on the way back into town.

"Yes," Buffy said with a sigh.

"We called the police," Harry said. "They've taken her body and will come back to do an investigation into her death."

"We need to find Red," Faith said.

"Yeah. She's seriously off the wagon. Warren's a dead man if she finds him," Xander said.

"Good," Dawn said.

Buffy and Harry realized that everything that had happened over the last year from Harry's name coming out of the Goblet to Buffy almost dying at the hands of Voldemort to Tara dying at the hands of Warren had finally pushed Dawn to the edge.

"Dawn," Buffy said. "You don't feel that way."

"I do," Dawn said. "He killed Tara - and he nearly killed Faith. He needs to pay."

"Out of the mouths of babes," Xander said quietly.

"Xan," Faith said.

"I'm just saying - he's as bad as any vampire you two have sent to dustville," Xander admitted.

"Being the Slayer doesn't give us a license to kill. Warren's human," Buffy said.

"You were prepared to that when the portkey took you to Voldemort," Harry said.

"That's different," Buffy said. "That would have been self-defense. Him or me. The human world has its own rules for dealing with people like him."

And we all know how well the rules work," Xander said.

"Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't," Buffy said. She had seen them work with Crouch after it had been revealed he had been behind her being sent to Voldemort. But she also seen them not work. After all Faith had killed but the Mayor of Sunnydale had ordered it. He officially had never been held accountable. "We can't control the universe. If we were supposed to, the magic wouldn't change Willow the way it does. And we'd be able to bring Tara back..."

"And our birth parents and mom," Dawn said as she looked at Harry.

"There are limits to what we can do," Buffy said. "Even with these." She held up her wand. "There should be. Willow doesn't want to believe it - and now she's messing with forces that want to hurt her. All of us."

"I just - I've had blood on my hands all day. Blood from people I love," Xander said.

"You love me?" Faith asked.

"I didn't last year when Giles released you from prison, Faith," Xander said. "I still hated you for what happened. But in the year since. You have become a goof friend."

"B," Faith said. "If we can stop Willow. Could you take her back with you to that school? Get her off the magics?"

"Possibly," Buffy said. "Or at least teach her."

"Then, that's what we have to do," Dawn said. "Before she destroys herself."

"So where do we go? She could be anywhere," Xander said.

"The Magic Box," Buffy said. "I didn't learn a tracking spell while at Hogwarts. Maybe there is one there." She looked at Dawn, Xander and Harry. "Faith and I can go alone."

"No. I'll go. It's okay," Xander said.

"I'll need you to watch Harry and Dawn for me," Buffy said.

"Buffy," Dawn said. "You would be the only witch there. What happens if she comes upon you unawares?"

"I know, Dawn," Buffy said. "But you have been through a lot in the last two years. I'm not asking you not to help. But you need rest. And the only reason I am not taking Harry is because I want him with you." She looked at her brother. "You make sure our sister gets some rest."

Harry looked at Buffy and could see in her eyes this was about protecting them. He had always hated when everyone tried protecting and not allowing him to help. "I can't, Buffy," he said.

"Why?" Buffy asked with a frown.

"I'm too much like you," Harry said. "Beside Dawn's right. You're going to need magical backup against another witch."

Buffy sighed.

"I'll make you a deal, Buffy," Dawn said. "I'll stay with Xander if you take Harry with you and Faith."

Buffy looked at her sister and then her brother. "Alright. But, Harry, you will follow my orders. If I tell you to run, you run."

"Okay, Buffy," Harry said.

Across town in Tara's dorm room Willow sat on the bed, holding the white shirt that was covered with Tara's blood in her hands. She laid it down and she began to utter a spell, "Blood of the slain - hear me. Guide me to Tara's killer."

Swirling magical energy started to gather around Willow and the shirt. The blood on the shirt began to shift and change as it formed a map of Sunnydale. Then suddenly one drop of blood began to glow and Willow knew she had found Warren.

Across town Buffy, Faith and Harry walked into the Magic Box to find Anya still frozen.

"Willow," Anya barely managed to say, "froze."

Harry held up his wand and pointed it at Anya hoping the counter charm worked. "Finite Incantatem."

Anya fell forward as she was released from the freezing charm's effects. "Thank you. Willow was here earlier. Put the whammy on me. Then she went straight to the dark arts books. Sucked them dry."

"Anya," Faith started.

Anya looked at Faith knowing what the brunette Slayer was about to say. "I know. Tara."

"You know?" Buffy asked.

"I can feel her," Anya admitted. "Her thirst for vengeance, it's overwhelming."

Faith sighed. "D'Hoffryn gave you back your powers, didn't he?" she asked as Harry and Buffy looked at her as if to ask what? "Xander left Anya at the altar."

"I'm sorry, Anya," Buffy said.

"Thanks, Buffy," Anya said. "And yes, I'm vengeance demon again."

"Are you okay? Did Willow?" Buffy asked.

"Got a power boost, then took off," Anya explained.

"Can you sense her?" Faith asked.

"I can," Anya said. "Normally I would have to go to her, but she doesn't want me."

"She wants to do it herself," Harry said.

"Yeah," Anya said.

"Anya. We don't have much time. Which side of this are you on?" Buffy asked. "If you know where she is - you can help us."

Anya looked at Buffy wondering since Buffy hadn't been there when Xander had left her at the altar if Buffy was still her friend. "I'll help. But I'm helping Willow. She's close to him. In the woods."

In the woods Willow clutched the bloody white shirt as she strode powerfully after Warren. Ahead of her Warren, freaked, scrambled through the woods, stumbling amidst the branches and rocks.

Willow came upon a small clearing and looked around. Warren had seemingly vanished. "Run all night, Warren. I'll still find—"

Suddenly Warren came out of the trees behind her and buried an axe in her back. He smiled as he watched Willow fall to the ground from the attack. He started to leave when he heard Willow stir behind him. He turned and saw her rise to her feet glowing with magical energy.

Willow reached around and pulled the axe from her back. She regarded the weapon almost curiously before tossing it aside. "Axe - not gonna cut it," she said as Warren took off running. She watched him go. She was enjoying the hunt as much as relishing what would come after.

Warren raced through the woods as fast as he could, while he pulled a mechanical box from his backpack. He pulled a pin front and tiny wings emerge from a small hole on each side of the box. They start beating rapidly, a muggle version of a Snitch. Except this Snitch was not meant to be used in Quidditch but packed an explosive surprise.

He released the box and flew away from straight at Willow and exploded. Suddenly Willow was frozen where she stood. But this was not a freezing charm like she had use on Anya, the device had locally stopped time around Willow.

Willow slowly, ever slowly lowered her hand. It was obvious to Warren that she had just completed a spell as the box had exploded. He watched as she walked out of the effect area unaffected by the time stop. Warren turned and raced away. He looked back to see if Willow was still following her. He didn't see her. When he looked back in front of him, he came to a skidding halt. Willow had Apparated in front of him.

"Cute. Cute trick," Warren said as Willow advanced on him. "It - it was an accident, you know." He surreptitiously reaching into his pocket.

"Oh. You mean, instead of killing one of friends you killed my girlfriend," Willow said.

"It wasn't personal, that's all," Warren said as Willow raised her arms in preparation for a spell.

"Well this is," Willow said as she let loose a blast of mystical energy that hit Warren knocking him to the ground har.

Despite the pain of the impact, Warren managed to throw a glowing glob of blue goo at Willow. "Capture!"

As the goo hit Willow it began to immediately encase her in a blue slimey cocoon. Willow tried to say a spell but the good prevented her from even speaking.

Warren turned and crashed through the trees as he made his escape.

Willow's eyes started to glow red as if she somehow had Superman's heat vision. She burned the goo away from her and she started after Warren again. "Irretite."

Suddenly, vines whipt out at Warren from all directions grabbing him and holding him in place. The vines pulled him into a standing, spread-eagle position.

"Cute tricks," Willow said as she walked toward Warren.

"You're really asking for it, you know that?" Warren said lashing out at Willow.

"I'm asking for it," Willow said incredously.

"I'm gonna walk away from this – and when I do, you're gonna beg to go join your little girlfriend," Warren said.

Willow realized that Tara's death was not the first for Warren. "She wasn't your first."

"First - who?" Warren asked.

"Tara. She wasn't the first girl you killed," Willow said.

"I don't know what you're-" Warren said.

"Reveal," Willow said.

"I should have strangled you in your sleep," said Katrina, Warren's first kill, as she came out of the shadows, deathly pale - a living corpse. "Back when we shared a bed. I should have done the world a favor."

Warren, freaked, tried to reason with himself. "It - it's a trick."

Katrina drew nearer to Warren. "Why, Warren? You could have let me go..."

"Make it shut up. Make it go away," Warren said urgently.

"It didn't have be like that," Katrina said.

"I'm not kidding!" Warren begged.

"How could you say you loved me, and do that to me?" Katrina asked.

"Because you deserved it, bitch!" Warren said snapping. Suddenly as Katrina appeared, she was gone.

"Because you liked it," Willow said as she moved closer to Warren.

"Shut up."

"You never felt like you had the power with her. Not until you killed her," Willow continued.

"God - women. You're just like the rest of them. Mind games," Warren said.

"Now you get off on it. That's why you had such a mad-on for Faith. She was the big O - wasn't she, Warren?" Willow said as the truth turned Warren cold and he eyed her bitterly.

"Right," Warren spitted. "You done yet? Or can we talk some more about our 'feelings?'"

In another part of the woods; Faith, Buffy and Harry followed Anya.

"What's happening? What do you feel?" Buffy asked.

"She's stronger now. Close," Anya admitted.

"What about Warren?" Faith asked. "Has she."

"He's still alive. She's not done," Anya said.

"Let's move," Harry said as Buffy looked at him and then nodded. They had to get to Willow before she killed Warren.

In the clearing Warren struggled against the vines. Willow watched, unmoved by his growing desperation.

"HELP! Somebody!" Warren shouted.

"What's the matter? I thought you wanted to talk," Willow said.

"No," Warren said.

"Okay," Willow said as she opened her palm to reveal the bullet she pulled from Faith's chest. "I'll talk." With a wave of her hand, Warren's shirt ripped open.

"What- what are you doing?" Warren asked.

"Shhhhhh," Willow said as she placed the bullet close to Warren's chest. As she let go it hovered in front of him.

"Hey, hey - I'm sorry, okay? I –" Warren said clearly freaking out.

"Want to know what a bullet feels like, Warren?" Willow said cutting Warren off. "A real one? It's not like in the comics."

"No, no," Warren said, he knew what was coming.

"I think you need to. Feel it," Willow said as the bullet slowly started to slowly bore into Warren's chest.

"Oh God... Stop it," Warren said at the pain from the slow-moving bullet.

"It's not going to make a neat little hole. First - it'll obliterate your internal organs. Your lung will collapse. Feels like drowning..." Willow said.

"Please! No," Warren begged.

Willow ignored his cries as the bullet disappeared into his chest. "When it finally hits your spine, it'll blow your central nervous system," she said.

"Stop!" Warren gasped from the pain. "God, please! I - I'll do anything."

Willow's eyes flashed angrily. She waved a hand and Warren's mouth was sealed shut with large crude stitches. "I'm talking," she said, deadly calm. "The pain will be unbearable, but you won't be able to move... Bullets usually travel faster than this, of course. But the dying? It's going to seem like it takes forever."

Willow stopped as she allows herself to feel her grief for but a moment. "Something, isn't it? One tiny piece of metal destroys everything. It ripped her insides out... It took her light away. From me. From the world... And the person who should be here is gone - and waste like you gets to live."

Warren cried out as his eyes dart around desperately.

"One tiny piece of metal," Willow said. "Can you feel it now?"

Warren writhed with pain.

"I said - can you feel it?" Willow said as she waved her hand and the stiches vanish.

Warren screamed and cried, half-crazed with the pain. "Please, God... I did wrong," he begged. "I see that now. I need jail. I need... But you - you don't want this. You're not a bad person. Not like me."

It was at that moment that Anya, Faith, Buffy and Harry burst into the clearing.

"Willow!" Buffy shouted.

Willow glanced at them for only a moment before she returned her attention to Warren.

"When you get caught - you'll lose them too. Your friends," Warren said. "You don't want that. I know... You're in pain but…"

"Bored now," Willow said and with a wave of her hand she sent a bolt of fiery energy at Warren. It hit him and Warren was flayed alive.

"Oh God," Harry said. In his four years at Hogwarts, battling Voldemort and saving Sirius from the dementors. He had never seen anything like that.

"Willow - no... What did you do?" Buffy asked shocked at what Willow had done.

Willow turned and faced Anya, Harry, Buffy and Faith. "One down," she said as she waved her hand at Warren's corpse which disappeared. Then she Apparated.

Author's Notes: This is still away off (Chosen takes place in Chapter 54). I have a throwaway line at the start of Half Blood Prince where Dumbledore during his start of the term announcement mentions if any girl feels stronger, better reflexes, all the things that Slayers have should talk to Buffy. My question for you all is should any of the female student population at Hogwarts be Chosen when Willow and Dawn casts the spell to make all Potentials into Slayers?