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Title: Tireseus Chapter: Three/Three Rating: PG-16 Pairing: Willow/Buffy Timeline: This is before Angel becomes Angelus and goes all grr. Beta Readers: Scotty Welles Shadow Mage Summary: A spell sends Willow's life spiraling out of control, and no matter what she does things only get more and more complicated. Disclaimer: So not mine <><><><><><><> He moaned from where he lay on the damp, wooded soil. A deep pain inside his head pounded away, sharp intense knives cutting through his mind. The pain kept intensifying until he was whimpering loudly. Bright dots of light flashed on the inside of his eyelids. Falling into a black pit of unconsciousness, he struggled until the pain was all consuming and burst. He screamed out as he felt something in his mind give way. "The block's removed." "Then it worked?" "Yes, sir." "Very well, begin the ceremony." He muttered in protest as once more he faded into darkness... <><><><><><><> "Damn," Jenny whispered. Giles still wasn't there, and the cult had just lifted the block that was keeping Willow's powers latent. If they didn't stop this now, they'd be too late. Chanting under her breath, she concentrated on Willow. 'Awaken, child. Before it's too late...' The young male stirred, slowly opened his eyes. He glanced around him, and took in the situation. The speed with which his mind regained consciousness and clarity might have surprised him, if he'd been safe at home in bed. He wasn't. "What the...? He's awake!" The taut muscles in his body responded with dynamic vigor as he leapt to he feet, shouldered by the two figures like a football player, and took off into a sprint towards Jenny's hiding place. The impulse in his mind guided him there even before he registered her presence. The two men chased after him, but Jenny held her hands out and chanted in the Ancient Tongue. A dark aura flashed out around them, leaving them both on the ground to weak to move. "What did you do?" he gasped, the sudden exertion catching up to him. Jenny led Willow towards her car. "I released the powers they'd stolen." "Yes," a chilling voice declared, "but you haven't taken mine." They stopped short of the elder wizard standing in front of them. His eyes spiraled red, glowing at them. They caught a glimpse of a thin forked tongue, and two small horns on his forehead. "Uh, Miss Calendar. Now would be a good time..." He smirked at them. "Your teacher's skills are limited, young one. Besides, I'm afraid that, while it's simple to release borrowed magic from students, a Master's powers are inherent. They cannot be stolen, especially when the master is a demon." Will stared down at his feet and frowned. "Oh, well I guess that idea is out of the question." Jenny smiled at him. "Maybe, but there's one thing you didn't count on." "Oh? And what's that?" "Me," said a new voice. The wizard had just begun to turn, when the sword drove straight through his back and out of his chest. "That...hurt..." he rasped, staring at the blade. The wizard gasped and fell face first into a mud puddle, dead. Buffy withdrew the blade quickly. "Serves you right for that clone you left to kill me." Willow squeaked in surprise as the blonde Slayer kissed her passionately. 'My hero...' His hands began to slide under her shirt subconsciously, before remembering that they weren't alone. The Slayer sighed into his mouth as they broke off, sensing the same thing. Giles appeared behind her, glanced at the dead wizard in satisfaction, then turned his attention to them. He swallowed at the way Giles and Jenny were looking at him. "Uh, we should probably go." "Mmm-hmm." Buffy hugged him tightly to her, burrowing her face into his neck. "I was so worried about you." "Come on, let's get out of here." Jenny grabbed his arm and whispered into his ear. "I think you should know, Giles and I conferred earlier. We're reversing the spell tonight." "Hey, are you coming?" the Slayer called. He smiled sadly at Giles. "Can we have a minute?" "Of course." The older couple drew a discreet distance ahead. Once alone with 'William,' Buffy jumped him again, kissing him deeply. "I knew you had a exhibitionist bone." Willow eased the young blonde woman off himself. "I'm leaving tonight," he said without preamble. Buffy stepped back as though she was slapped. "W-what?" "The Council is arranging for me to have a tutor to teach me how to control my powers." Just enough truth to excuse the deception. "Why can't you do that here?" "The Council wants to keep me in a controlled environment until I reach a certain level of control." "I don't want to lose you." "I know. And I...feel the same, but..." "But what?" She didn't understand, but then how could she? "It doesn't matter." He smiled sadly and kissed her lightly. "I will always love you." He walked past her, ignoring the tears running down her cheeks. In that moment, he knew just how true his statement had been. He also knew that he would never forgive himself for hurting her. <><><><><><><> Willow leaned against the living room window watching the stars twinkling. Hugging herself, she found the return to female form odd; she'd just become used to the male body, and now she had to relearn her own skin all over again. Giles and Jenny assured her it wouldn't take long to readjust, but it was more than just the physical aspect. She'd prayed that the memory of her love for Buffy would fade along with the male hormones, becoming a bittersweet memory at most. But it hadn't. She had complete recall of their lovemaking, and how it had felt, both physically and emotionally. The former might be impossible now, but every part of her yearned for the latter. "When are your parents coming home?" Willow snorted angrily at the reflective image of Jenny. "Sometime in June." "That's four months away." "They decided to make it a short trip." Jenny walked over to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "How would you feel about living with me?" She sighed. "I appreciate the invitation, but..." "I'm serious. You obviously don't have real parents, and it would make it easier on me tutoring you." That it would. Venturing a tiny smile, she nodded. "Thank you, Miss Calendar." "Jenny." Sympathetic arms encircled her shoulders, with the comfort of a mother's understanding. "Jenny." Willow leaned against the gypsy, lost in her thoughts. "Maybe you should tell her." "No. She can't ever know." "Why not?" "It...it wouldn't be right. I betrayed her trust by deceiving her. And anyway, I'm a girl again. She wouldn't want me this way." "Are you sure?" Willow snorted. "You think I don't know if my best friend is gay or straight?" "Perhaps. But I wonder if her attraction to you was merely physical, or...whether she recognized a familiar spirit, if only subconsciously?" The young woman shook her head. "I wish this had never happened." "Wish what you want, Willow, but you've received a rare gift." "Gift?!" Jenny crossed to her bookshelf and withdrew a volume on Greek mythology. "Something in here you might appreciate," she said, handing it to Willow. "Look up Tireseus, the advisor to Oedipus. Same thing happened to him." "What same thing?" "Zeus and Hera had a wager about who enjoyed sex more, the man or the woman. They changed Tireseus into a woman so he could settle it for them. After experiencing it both ways, he said Zeus was right, a woman had more fun." Willow took the book, intrigued. "Was he in love with his best friend, too?" "It doesn't say. But...you never know." Jenny turned to leave her alone with the book and her thoughts. The young witch settled into a chair, but then said, "So what happened to him after the bet was settled?" Jenny smiled ruefully. "Hera got angry and blinded him for taking Zeus' side. Talk about a sore loser." She left. Willow laughed for the first time in what felt like ages. She imagined some similar fate befalling her if Buffy ever found out who she'd really slept with. But then, as Jenny said, you never know... <><><><><><><> " I signed the release waiver, so feel free to put things in my slot anytime." - Charles Angels. Odo: Madam Ambassodor, I'm not like you. Every sixteen hours I revert to a liqiud. Lwaxana Troi: I can swim. - DS9: The Forsaken. Aeris Jade Orion list mommy: erslash@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx erslash-adult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx AIM: Aeris Jade ICQ: 51496263 AT&T/Pow-Wow: Jade Pow-Wow Community: Orion Web Site: http://members.fortunecity.com/aerissword/Index.html |