Chapter 5

To Sleep, perchance to dream

Willow was at a loss, normally when Buffy was in the grip of one of her nightmares, Willow would take care of it. If research and/or spells didn't work than all she had to do is use their spiritual link to go into the Slayer's mind and find whatever personal demon was tormenting Buffy, then the two of them would face it together and the nightmare would soon be gone for a while, usually. Sure some of them would return but with her Wills to protect her Buffy never worried about them for long.

This time was different, research didn't help, there were no spells to study, and when Willow tried to enter Buffy's dream all she saw was a vague vision of the Slayer fleeing some evil mass that was threatening to engulf her. When Willow tried to delve further into these visions Buffy's mind would close and force her out and when Willow attempted to talk to her best friend about them, Buffy would go into a deep depression and cry hysterically. All these clues led Willow to believe that some unknown force was attacking the Slayer through her dreams.

She'd tried to find an answer in the Book of Souls, but every time she went near the tome any more she found herself drawn to one of the sections that she and Giles had been unable to decipher. Willow had thought they had beaten it when she'd broken the symbol code it was originally written, using a translation she'd found elsewhere in the book but even having the letters didn't help because the language couldn't be translated. No matter where they looked they were unable an example of any language even remotely like it, ancient or modern. Still every time she was anywhere near she'd find herself starring at that section, like she realized she was doing right now, tracing each beautifully handwritten letter teaching herself to

pronounce each syllable phonetically memorising it over and over until it was etched indelibly on her mind and soul.

She was beginning to think she was loosing her mind then as if that wasn't bad enough these new powers and skills began appearing with out warning. Some of her new found talents she acquired from the Book of Souls, once she'd learned how to do something it wasn't long before she could it almost without thinking, then with a little practice each power became quickly stronger. For example levitation, once she performed the feat the first time by picking up a small book within a week she was able to pick up Buffy, Giles, even Giles car. It was almost frightening. What bothered her even more was the ones that just appeared, it was like a voice in her head would tell her how and suddenly she could see the aura of magic, but last night had been really scary.

Willow didn't know what caused her to wake up but as soon as her eyes were open she knew she was alone again. Normally when she and Buffy were asleep they held each other or

at the very least they were touching but since the girl had died and Buffy's nightmares had begun again it wasn't unusual for Willow to wake up in the middle of the night to find herself alone. The first time was the night she'd found her best friend and lover in the downstairs

bathroom cutting herself with Faith's knife. The memory of the sight of Buffy sitting on the edge of the tub cutting herself, blood splattered everywhere, and the horrified look on her face when she realized what she'd done sprung unbidden into Willow's mind's eye. With it she felt

the panic rising in her but before she could jump out of bed to search for her missing lover, that voice in her mind had stopped her.

<Be calm witch and you will find the one you seek, > the voice told her

"But I've got to find her." Willow said to the empty room

<Relax, all will be well. >

Willow froze for a moment confused by the sudden intrusion.

<I am not an intrusion, > the voice informed her <I am a part of you. >

It was then that she realised the voice had spoken to her before and every time she listened something good happened.

"Okay self," Willow said t empty room "Tell me, how do I find my Buffy."

                    <>Relax<>

the voice instructed <>Let your mind become blank.<>

                    Willow sat

back on the bed, she closed her eyes and began to take deep calming

breaths.

                  <>Concentrate on

your beloved<> it continued <>Feel how much you love her, how much you

need her.<>

            Willow filled her mind with images

of her blonde Slayer, she recalled how the sunlight reflected off her

hair and the way she'd smile at her and the look in her lover's eyes

whenever she approached. With in minutes Willow could feel her senses

and emotions begin to reach out, it was as if her all consuming love and

need for Buffy came to life and within seconds had reached out to every

room in the house. In a flash of insight she knew Buffy was downstairs

in the spare room and she could feel that Buffy was hurt.

                Willow jumped out of bed

and after grabbing the first aid bag and was hurrying to her friend's

side to help in any way she could. Willow found Buffy kneeling on the

floor of the spare bedroom, her body covered with bleeding wets and

scratches as if she'd been attacked by a cat.

            "Buffy?" Willow called softly her

voice trembling with fear for her love "Buffy honey, come on back to

bed."

            It was spooky, Buffy just knelt

there saying nothing in fact not making a sound as Willow treated her

wounds. Tears flowed from her eyes but she made no sound not a gasp not

a sob nothing.

          Willow finished tending to the superficial

wounds then she sat cross legged n the floor facing her entranced

friend. Closing her eyes the young witch began reaching out with her

mind to her lover. Once again all she got were vague images she felt her

stomach turn as she came into contact with the reddish-yellow fog that

surrounded Buffy's dream the evil of that force sickened Willow,

swallowing her revulsion Willow pushed her way through the fog she could

taste and smell the hatred and insanity the permeated the force, Just as

she was about break and see the nature and source of the power plaguing

her friend there was a sudden surge of power that expelled Willow from

Buffy's mind and before the witch could counter attack the evil was

gone.

              Buffy's dull glazed over eyes

came back into focus then closed as she fell into heap on the floor.

Although she was sleeping naturally Buffy was still crying

uncontrollably. Willow moved to her love's side and taking the sobbing

girl into her arms Willow began gently rocking her whispering and

humming softly trying to comfort and reassure Buffy that everything was

going to be alright, she knew it wasn't but she knew she was lying. ***

              With that 'failure' weighing

heavily on her mind Willow once again returned to research. She

searched, read, and discarded the rest of that day until her head was

pounding and it was impossible for her to keep her eyes open. Willow

pushed herself away from the desk, she yawned and stretched her aching

muscles stiffened by long hours at the computer. Then too exhausted to

go home Willow staggered across the room ad collapsed on to Giles couch

next to Buffy's already sleeping form.

                That night after an

another uneventful patrol (four vamps down, goddess knows how many more

to go) the two girls spent nearly two hours trying to get from the

jacuzzi to their bed then they both fell into a deep exhausted sleep.

                      <>WAKE

UP<>

              Willow woke up with that voice

again this time screaming for her to rise.

                <>Wake up or your

beloved is lost<>

              That cleared the sleep induced

fog right out of her brain. She first noticed the clock, it was four a m

and Buffy was gone. Using her new found power Willow searched the house

but found her Buffy was nowhere to be found. Slipping into her robe and

slippers Willow ran out of their room and downstairs. As she searched

Widow felt warm breeze coming from the kitchen.

                  "Oh goddess please

no!" Willow

moaned as she went to investigate.

                Entering the kitchen

Willows worse fears were realized, the back door was standing wide open.

Willow ran outside in a panicked frenzy her mind full of images of what

could happen to her friend, out there unaware of her surroundings,

dressed in only a tank top and boxers,

                  "She didn't even

put on her shoes." Willow said to herself

              Willow couldn't figure out

which direction to begin looking finally as a last resort she closed her

eyes and tried to concentrate.

                    "Okay Willow

Rosenberg" she said under her breath "lets see just how good you are."

            Willow began to take slow deep

breaths and cleared her mind of everything except her overwhelming need

for her soulmate as the feeling rose to the surface it almost became a

living thing with the single minded urge to find the Slayer and reunite

her with her one true love. When it reached it's peak Willow released it

and with i seconds it was leading Willow at a dead run in the direction

of the Slayer. She came upon Buffy four blocks from home, she was

walking barefoot down the street leaving bloody foot prints with every

step. Willow got around i front of her to try to stop her but Buffy just

kept walking in some kind of trance unknowing, unfeeling, her normally

lively flashing blue eyes dull and lifeless reflecting no emotion.

                    Willow tried

yelling at her shaking her even slapping her but Buffy just kept on

walking. Going against her reluctance to use magic on her helpless

lover, Willow found she had no choice.

                    "STOP"

Willow commanded, then looking deep into Buffy's dull eyes she softly

said "Return to me my life, my love, my reason for being."

                    Buffy's

eyelids fluttered, her eyes focused.

                  "What..where...Wills?"

Buffy stammered as she became aware of her surroundings "Oh gods, not

again."

                With moan of complete

despair Buffy's rilled up, and she collapsed her mind shutting from the

sensory overload.

              Willow knelt down next to

Buffy and examined her for any other injuries besides her feet. Finding

nothing else Willow reached down and gently lovingly caressed her

soulmate's cheek then gently brushed a wayward strand of hair from

Buffy's forehead.

                "Sleep my love." Willow

said softly the love she felt for Buffy shining in her dark green eyes

"Your Wills is here she'll take care of you."

                Willow stood up and

brushed herself off then looked loving down at her sleeping lover. She

quietly chanting a levitation sell, a soft green glow formed around

Buffy and she slowly rose from the ground till she was level with

Willow's waist. Then with a prayer of thanks to the Goddess and hoping

nobody would see the, Willow took her unconscious lover home.

                    Once there

Willow laid Buffy carefully on their oversized couch and gently but

throughly cleaned Buffy's badly cut feet.

                  "My poor baby,"

Willow whispered

sympathy "look what's been done to your poor feet."

                  Tears fell

unnoticed from the young witch's eyes as she removed the shards of glass

and other debris that were lodged in Buffy's feet. Once finished with

that she carefully bandaged the Slayers feet, knowing that they'd be

healed by afternoon then she examined the rest of her love to make sure

there were no other physical injuries.

                    Satisfied

that she'd done all she could for now and not wanting to wake Buffy up

Willow carefully laid down beside the sleeping girl then wrapping her

arms around her troubled soulmate and pulled her close and very gently

reached out with her mind and lightly touched Buffy's sleeping mind.

Finding her love to be sleeping naturally Willow mentally soothed

Buffy's restless subconscious while she physically snuggled as close as

she could.

                  "Tomorrow Giles

WILL give us the night off." Willow whispered in Buffy's ear knowing

that her lover could on one level or another "Maybe if we can get away

from al this for a day we'll be able to get a handle on all this and put

a stop to it."

          As Willow drifted off to sleep both girls

were smiling slightly as the eerie green glow surrounded them keeping

them safe.

For now

Chapter 6

The Cost of a Girl's Night Out

Giles was already deep into his research of the Book

of Souls, still trying to find some kind of clue that might help him to

come up with a translation for those elusive sections that as yet had

defied his attempts at translating their mysteries into something he or

Willow could understand.

      A smile cross his face when he thought of the young

highly talented witch.

              <>At least Willow was able to

break the symbol codes.<> he admonished himself <>That's a hell of a lot

more than you could old boy. If it wasn't for her you'd still be

wallowing around in some dusty library lost.<>

            Giles felt this way every time he

thought about the petite red head and her incredible talents both in

research and in the mystic arts.

              <>Pretty soon neither of them

will need you at all.<> Giles speculated <>Then what will you do with

yourself. Really Rupert, you are such an idiot at times. Neither of them

will ever let you leave so what the hell are you worried about.<>

              His thoughts were interrupted

when he heard his two wayward charges calling his name.

              "Hey Giles where are you?"

Buffy called out as both girls collapsed onto his couch "Come on out

here we gotta talk."

            "What is it Buffy?" he asked

entering the room from his study, he looked at the two obviously

exhausted girls "Good lord you two loo positively awful. Was last

night's patrol that bad?"

        "Gee thanks, I hope your better at talkin' to

mom than you are to us." Buffy scolded him "You never tell a woman she

looks awful, even if she does."

            "Ah..yes..well..ah Sorry about

that." Giles stammered more than a little embarrassed at his tactless

remark and the mention of Joyce Summers,even by her daughter "I suppose

I could have said it better, but that still doesn't answer my question.

Was last night's patrol that bad?"

              "That's just the point Giles."

Willow spoke out before Buffy could start to babble again. "We haven't

had any significant contact since we were ambushed last week and well

Giles quite frankly the pressure is starting to get to both of us."

                  For the first

Giles took a really close look at both girls, both of them were looking

pale and drawn and Buffy was beginning to develop dark circles under her

eyes. He also noticed that both girls were getting a little jittery.

          "Come on Giles, we're not askin' for that

much." Buffy said putting on her best little girl pouty face (she knew

he could never say no to that face.) "All we want is one night off

before the wedding and that's only two days away."

            "Just one night to go out and act

like two normal people in love." Willow added "All we want is a date,

you know, dinner, maybe a movie, maybe a little dancing. A little quiet

time to spend with my bestest girl."

                "Yeah, pleeeeese?" they

said in unison putting their heads together making even the normally

reserved Englishman chuckle at their antics.

          Giles removed his glasses and rubbed the

bridge of his nose. He knew he had lost already and so did the girls, he

was just stalling long enough to salvage some small shred of his dignity

before he surrendered. Finally he replaced his glasses and let out a

deep sigh of resignation.

        "All right ladies, I suppose you have more than

earned some time to yourselves." Giles said officially surrendering "If

you promise to spend the remainder of the day resting than I see no

reason you can not have a girls night out so to speak."

              "We promise." Buffy sad

putting her hand over her heart.

                "Swear it, honest."

Willow joined in.

              The girls jumped and hugged

the stoic Englishman, who sputtered and cleared his throat, blushing

bright red embarrassed by their open display of affection.

              Both girls left soon after the

hugs chatting endlessly about their plans for their night out. Giles

smiled slightly pleased with himself feeling he'd made the right

decision. He heard the door slam shut and returned to his research.

          Buffy and Willow were making the best of

their night off. Deciding to go casual Buffy wore a silk blouse tucked

into her best designer jeans and a pair of heels to, as she put it,

class the outfit up a little, Willow wore black pants with a matching

vest with an emerald green cotton shirt and a pair of comfortable flats.

              Their first destination was

their favorite restaurant for a leisurely candle light dinner.

        From there they went to see a movie that Willow had wanted to

see, but they spent so much time kissing and groping each other in the

dark theater that they missed most of the movie so Buffy promised to

rent it when it came out on video.

             They left the movie and walked the streets of downtown

Sunnydale hand in hand enjoying the night air and the pleasant company.

            "I wish we could be like this

forever." Willow said with a wistful sigh.

          "Yeah" Buffy agreed "no vamps no demons,

no Slayer, no destiny, just you and me together. Yeah I'd really like

that.

            Willow let go of Buffy's hand and

slipped her arm around the blonde girl's waist and lay her head on the

Slayer's shoulder.

        "This is nice." Willow whispered happily

        "Uh huh." Buffy answered kissing her lover's

head.

        "Do we have to go home yet?" Willow inquired "I

really don't want tonight to end yet."

            "Me either" Buffy said stopping "but

where should we go?:

        "Some place fun." Willow said stepping back and

seeing the mischievous smile on her lovers beautiful lips.

                "Some place with decent

music." Buffy said to give her little witch another hint as to what she

had in mind. "Where we can dance."

              "Some where some of our

friends might be." Willow laughed her eyes lighting up at the prospect

of returning to their old haunt.

              "The Bronze!" They both said

at the same time.

                Buffy took Willow's hand

and began pulling her anxiously toward their destination. They were both

eager to see their favorite old hang out, neither one of them had been

there since they'd become a couple in fact this would be the first

they'd been anywhere that they had hung out at before.

              "Hurry up pokey." Buffy called

out playfully as she tugged at Willow's sleeve.

      Willow laughed and allowed her soulmate to drag her

through the streets of Sunnydale until they came to the old warehouse

that had been converted into the most popular dance club in the area. As

they approached they could feel the vibrations of the heavy bass

emanating from the club.

                  "Come on Buffy

slow down please."Willow pleaded breathlessly "Let me catch my breath.

What's the big hurry?"

                Buffy stopped and pulled

the red head to her, pressing her body tightly against her lovers, Buffy

gazed longingly into the dark green eyes of her universe.

                  "I can't wait to

get you on that dance floor." Buffy growled and ground her pelvis into

Willow's "Those kids haven't seen hot till I get you out there."

          Willow looked into Buffy's heavy lidded

lust filled eyes and gulped, her heart was pounding hard against her

chest.

          "We could go home now." Willow whispered

huskily.

            "Oh no you don't." Buffy stated

firmly "Dance first, home later."

              She turned and pulled Willow

to the front door of the Bronze. The door man recognised them and let

them in immediately.

            As they entered the crowded club,

Buffy surveyed the room, and spotted Xander sitting with Cordilia

holding hands across a table and gazing into each others eyes. With

Willow in tow Buffy pushed her way through the crowd to their friend's

table.

              "Hey guys!" Buffy yelled to be

heard above the music and smiling when the couple jumped in surprise

"What cha doin?"

          She had on her innocent 'who me' face as

they sat down at the couples table. When the waitress arrived Buffy and

Willow ordered cokes then Buffy grabbed Willow's hand.

            "Lets dance babe." Buffy shouted and

pulled Willow onto the dance floor.

                  She pulled her red

haired lover close, the two girls looked into each other's eyes and

began moving to the heavy throbbing beat of the music it was as if

everyone else ceased to exist and the stars and planets revolved around

only them.

         The lovers only stopped dancing long enough to get a drink of

their sodas then got right back on the dance floor.               Willow

hadn't danced this much in her entire life nor had she ever wanted to

until there was Buffy.

         Finally after a particularly long slow dance the two lovers

came out of their trance enough to notice they were the center of

attention, even the employees were watching them. It was then they

realized how heavy and rapid their breathing had become, they made their

way back to the table where Xander was starring at them slack jawed and

Cordilia suggested they 'get a room'.

    "Lets go home." Willow whispered huskily into Buffy's ear

the bit it lightly to get her point across.

        Buffy nodded, the girls finished off their

drinks, said their good byes, and headed for the nearest exit.

        Laughing and enjoying the cool night air after the steamy stuffy

atmosphere of the club they held hands and headed out in the direction

of their home.

       Neither of the carefree and happy girls noticed the figure that

disengaged itself from the shadows and stealthily followed them into the

night.

            The route home took them by a poorly

lit heavily wooded park that adjoined the oldest of the town's many

cemeteries.

         As they past the park, both girls stopped dead in their tracks

when they both heard two distinct terrified screams. They turned and

looked at each other their disappointment showing clearly in their eyes.

                  "No rest for the

Chosen One, I guess." Buffy said sadly and shrugged

                  "Or for her

faithful soulmate." Willow added trying to lighten the mood then putting

on her resolve face she said "I'M ready when you are."

              "Couldn't do it without you."

Buffy said caressing her friends cheek, only to be interrupted by

another scream.

              "Lets go." Buffy turned and

kicked a slat out of a near by park bench and picked up the make shift

stake, then took off running across the park toward the screams.

        The battle wore on and Buffy was nearing the

limit of her reserves, she could feel herself slowing down, she stumbled

slightly and found herself being slowly being beaten back by the

seemingly endless onslaught of vampires.

          Just when Buff was beginning to fear that

she and Willow would dead very soon, she knew none of the vamps had the

guts to turn the Slayer or her witch lover.

            Suddenly Buffy felt strength flowing back into her

energizing her body renewing her will to fight.

                She looked back over her

shoulder and Willow gave her a weak smile.

        Buffy knew Willow was using their spiritual bond to give a

portion of her energy to the Slayer.

         Buffy stepped up her attack knowing that Willow had drained

most of her reserves to support her and it wouldn't be long before

Willow would be unable to function at any but the most basic levels.

          Finally only four vampires remained and

the Eastern horizon was beginning to lighten with the promise of the

coming dawn.

            Buffy's heart was pounding like a jackhammer, and her breath

was coming in ragged gasps.

            She knew her clothes were ruined from the blood sweat and

tears, she had several deep cuts that were still bleeding freely.

           She fell back a step hoping to lure one of her opponents out,

          Buffy caught a movement out of the corner of her eye, spinning

to face it she saw Willow collapse to the ground.

                    "WILLS!"

Buffy cried out fearing the worst, she took up a stance over her mate

determined to defend her love to the death if necessary.

          Seeing one of their opponents go down and

the other fall back to a defensive position the vampires took the

opportunity to attack.

                  Countess Hela, who

had followed The Slayer and the little witch-kit from the Bronze, had

been staying hidden in the shadows observing the ambush.

             It was against everything she believed in to allow one of

Kresis' minions to defeat the Slayer. She struck out from the shelter of

her hiding place.

                Buffy was surprised to

see a bolt of reddish yellow energy flash across the area and engulf two

of the remaining vampires reducing the almost instantly to two piles of

smoking ash.

           The last two seeing their comrades destroyed, turned and ran

off into the shadows.

                      Not

seeing any other threat Buffy knelt down and pulled Willow's limp body

into her arms.

                    "Wills baby

talk to me." Buffy said quietly panic and concern making her voice

quiver "Come on sweetheart I can feel your heart beating I know you're

in there, please Wills don't leave me like this, I need you. Wills

please speak to me, I love you Wills."

Buffy was crying in fear that somehow her lover had been injured.

"I love you too." Willow whispered weakly "I'm okay honey don't cry, I just need to

shut down for a while and recharge right now so I can't move on my own right now so I guess I stay here and you get to watch, aren't you the lucky one."

"No probs Wills, I am the lucky one I have you." Buffy said softly, caressing the red head's cheek." Better yet why don't I carry you home?"

She looked down for an answer but found that Willow was already unconscious, she smiled down at her lover her heart aching with the love she had for this petite little shy red head that had become the very core of her being.

"You rest sweetheart." Buffy whispered lovingly "I'll get you home safe if not sound."

Seeing that Buffy had everything taken care of Countess Hela slipped out of her hiding place unseen and headed for her temporary home humming a happy demented little tune. Her

carefully laid plans were progressing nicely. She'd very nearly had the Slayer last night but the little witch-kit had interfered, but it wouldn't be long now, with Willow draining her powers to the point of collapse she wouldn't be able to interfere next time.

On her way home in the newly risen sunlight carrying her beloved in her arms, Buffy decided it was time to get Giles involved in whatever was going on, with him on the case, their enemy, whatever or whoever was after them he'd know how to stop them.  

Somebody had to.

Chapter 7

Kresis was enraged so enraged in fact he’d lost control, something he rarely did. As soon as Hela’s emissary had arrived at his door he knew he’d been played for a fool by his ex once again.

Once the black skinned demon had suffered enough, he finally confessed to his part in her conspiracy, the Count had become nearly insane with rage. Kresis was so enraged he’d torn the already terrified demon into small pieces, all of which were scattered all around the throne room. Several of his servants were attempting to clean up the torn bits of flesh and the thick green goo that had passed for the demon’s blood from the floors, walls, and furniture.

“I see my lords temperament hasn’t improved since we were last together,” said a confident voice from across the room

Kresis looked up and saw a tall muscular figure leaning against the door frame casually. He knew only one being in this realm that dare address him in such an insolent manner.

“Caladin, is that truly you my old friend?” the Count shouted as what passed for a smile spread

across his face. “Thank the Darkness you are here.”

The only one there that didn’t cringe when the Count flashed his razor sharp teeth with fangs was the tall heavily muscled warrior, he pushed himself off the door jam and approached his sworn liege lord and long time comrade.

Caladin strode straight up to the Count and took the offered hand, Kresis threw his other arm around the big man’s shoulders and took them in a friendly embrace.

Caladin stepped back surprised at his old comrade and commander would show such familiarity in a public place. He studied his face for a few moments and saw the weariness and frustration clearly written on the normally emotionless face.

“You seem to be troubled my lord.” Caladin said quietly so that only Kresis could hear him. “Is there anything I can do? My men and I are at your service as always.”

“As always my old friend you have read the situation perfectly” Kresis said placing a taloned hand on the battle scarred warrior’s shoulder. “It is time I took control of this entire fiasco and now that you are here I may even get out of this alive. Let us adjourn to a more private place, we have some serious strategy to discuss.” The Count led his battle scarred friend from the room

down a narrow hallway to a small room that had a heavy wooden table and six chairs.

On the wall was a large highly detailed map of Sunnydale and the surrounding area that contained far more detail than any normal map. The detail and the fact that the map was printed on cured human skin led Caladin to think that no ordinary human map maker was involved in it’s creation.

Caladin went to a small bar in a corner of the room and found the ingredients for the Count’s favorite drink and a large bottle of his favorite Irish whiskey (Bushmills), as Caladin made each of them a drink Kresis briefed his best strategist and warlord on the entire situation leaving nothing out including how he’d been fooled into coming here by his ex, an adversary Caladin knew well.

“Well Caladin what do you think?” Kresis asked as he accepted the drink the battle wise veteran brought him. “After all, besides me, you are the only one I know of that has gone up against Hela and lived.”

“Not by much, as you will recall.” Caladin said tapping the empty socket where his left eye had once been, “and that was a minor skirmish. The bitch means to destroy you this time my lord.”

“Yes, well be that as it may,” Kresis said doing his best to smile and shrug. “If I don’t receive word from Tarsus by tomorrow then I’ll be forced to join her in tomorrow nights ambush and going by our past record, I will not fare well.”

“Then it would be safe to assume that you have a contingency plan.” The cunning old warrior said smiling slyly, “and that plan will make use of my men and I.”

“Exactly my mercenary friend.” Kresis said returning the smile, “Only I know of the existence of you and your mercenaries and I have cooked up a little for our dear sweet Hela. If it works out I’ll have vindicated myself with the Darklord and the Council, and our little lady friend will pay the price for betraying me."

Caladin closed the door, it didn't open again for over six hours. Then the two comrades shook

hands and went their separate ways smiling at the thought of getting revenge on their mutual long time enemy.

Same day early morning…

Giles was in his kitchen making his breakfast when he heard his front door slam open. Grabbing a revolver with specially made ammunition from a drawer, he cautiously entered the hallway and with the handgun at the low ready position he approached the front entry-way.

“Stay where you are,” he ordered as he leapt into the small entrance hall and found himself

pointing the gun at Buffy's face.

Buffy was standing there holding Willow in her arms. She looked exhausted and while Willow was unconscious Giles couldn't see any obvious injuries.

“Damn Giles, who are you tryin’ to be?” Buffy exclaimed surprised to be facing her Watcher with a gun, “England's answer to Dirty Harry!?”

Giles lowered the gun and stood speechless staring at the girls.

“Come on Giles, either shoot me or get out of the way.” Buffy growled “Even a Slayer gets tired and my little sweetheart here is getting heavy.”

Once he stepped aside Buffy carried her precious burden into the living room and laid her gently down on the oversized couch. She sat down next to Willow and scooted over so her red

haired love’s head rested on her lap.

“What happened?” Giles asked worried about the two girls' welfare. “Is Willow alright?”               

“She’s just exhausted.”

Buffy explained wearily, “We ran into another ambush, I don’t know how many. I kept killing and killing and they just kept coming. Willow was doing her best but she keeps coming up against some kind of higher dark magic that takes nearly everything she’s got just to hold it off.

Between that and supporting me through our bond she’s drained almost completely. She collapsed just at sunrise and I thought...I wasn’t...Oh Giles I was afraid she was hurt again, I thought I’d failed her again but she woke enough to tell me she’s just tired and had to shut down to recharge then she passed out so I carried her here. Giles you have to help us, this is just too much, I can't do it any more.”

The compassionate man sat on the coffee table facing Buffy and took her hand then looked directly into the young Slayer’s blue-green eyes.

“Fill me in Buffy,” he began softly “this is what, the fourth or fifth ambush in the last six

weeks and I would say that was unusually high at any time but even more so considering this is summer and activities normally decrease during this season not increase.”

“Further I have come to the conclusion that this has something to do with your upcoming nuptials. For some reason the dark side seems determined to stop them, which would

appear to be all the encouragement we need to see that they go off without a hitch.”

Buffy smiled at Giles ability to belabor the obvious, and his left handed way of saying he approved of her and Willow’s making public their commitment to each other.

“Okay, okay give me a minute will ya?” she began resigning herself to spending the next

few hours bringing Giles up to date on what was going on. Buffy felt a twinge of guilt for not

keeping Giles better informed then showing up on his doorstep expecting instant results.

It wasn’t fair to Giles especially when she knew he would now spend his every waking moment trying to find a suitable solution for their problems.

Knowing what Giles needed to know Buffy began back at the very first ambush in June right after Litha. She described each ambush in as much detail as she could recall, how each ambush was worse than the last, and was harder to fend off.

She told him how Willow was being forced not only to face various demons and vampires but she also had to fight an unknown assailant that used very powerful dark magic was coordinating his

attacks with that of the others and judging by the strength of his magic this unknown force was more than likely the leader.

Buffy also told him of the latest twist in demon strategy, how they would use human hostages to lure them into the trap then while they watched unable to help the demons would butcher the innocent victims.

It had started with the teenage girl they had taken from the Bronze and it happened again last night to some poor couple whose only mistake was picking the wrong tree to make out under.

The slime demons had ripped their living bodies to shreds right in front of the two girls.

Buffy laid her head back and closed her eyes, she could still hear the young couples screams ringing in her ears, tearing at her soul.

“Please Giles you've gotta help us.” Buffy pleaded her voice cracking as she wept quietly, “We’re in way over our heads here. Willow’s been wonderful but look at her Giles, this is killing her, she wasn’t meant for this, I will not allow her to be hurt any more because of this destiny thing.

I’d die before I'd permit anything happen to her. It’s gotta stop Giles people innocent people are dying."

Giles leaned forward and placed his hand on the Slayer’s shoulder giving it a light, reassuring squeeze. He looked deep into her red rimmed eyes, he could see the stress and horror of the last several weeks clearly written in her pain filled eyes.

Giles felt the tightness in his chest, wishing he could take her burdens on for her but he knew the only way he could help Buffy was to help her to cope with the dark realities of her life and support both her and Willow in any way he could. Giles was determined to perform that task to the best of his abilities.

“Okay Buffy,” the ex-Watcher said in that soft reassuring tone he reserved just for his Slayer and

her Witch. “You and Willow stay here and relax, if you get hungry call for some delivery, the numbers are by the telephone just have them charge it to my account. If you want a shower, you already know where everything is and I’m sure the two of you have at least one change around here somewhere. I want you to stay here so if I find something I be able to find you.”

“Alright I didn't want to wake Wills up anyway." Buffy knowing he just wanted them to stay so he could watch over them, “I think we’ll stay right here for now, Wills looks comfortable and I’m not leavin’ her right now for any reason.”

“That’s fine Buffy” he said releasing her shoulder, “Is there anything else I should know before I get started?”

“Ah...no nothing I can think of right now.” Buffy said not wanting to tell him about the dreams, the sleep walking, and the self-mutilation.

<He has enough to worry about. > she told herself rationalizing her not being completely honest with Giles.

“Okay then I will get to work.” Giles said frowning, he had known Buffy long enough to know when she was holding back something.

<She will tell me when she is ready > he reassured himself.

Giles got up and headed for his study. leaving the girls to rest on the couch. He would need all his resources to find the cause of this latest attack on the Slayer and her chosen mate. .............

Later in his study Giles heard Buffy crying out, he bolted from his chair and into the living room. For the first time he saw the eerie glow that surrounded the girls as they slept recuperating from a hard night.

Buffy was tossing her head from side to side and begging someone to forgive her for something.

As she begged, the glow around her began to change from neon green to a sickly reddish yellow. The stain spread across the Slayer’s half of the protective glow very nearly covering her completely.

Giles was unable to move as he watched the evil looking glow spreading and Buffy becoming

more and more agitated, he knew he should do something but for some reason he couldn’t move or speak.

Just as the sickly looking glow was about to engulf Buffy completely, Giles heard Willow

mumbling something in her sleep.

“A’nal Na’thrak U’thas Bethard Dannal Vheindah.”

Giles had no idea what it meant but Willow began chanting it over and over again.

“A’nal Na’thrak U’thas Bethard Dannal Vhiendah.”

He saw the glow on Willow's side of the glow growing brighter each time she uttered the phrase. Her voice got louder and stronger each time she repeated the words until it reached it’s peak.

“A’NAL NA’'THRAK U’'THAS BETHARD DANNAL VIENDAH!!”

There was a sudden bright flash of light from Willow's side of the surrounding glow, the stain was gone and Buffy was once more sleeping peacefully. Giles realized he had just witnessed a mystical attack on them while they slept. It was then he realized the seriousness of the mystic threat they faced.

He knew now that they faced a far greater evil than they’d faced before because there two of them. One was coming at them head on meeting them in battle supporting the dark forces that were attacking them.

However the one he'd just seen was sly and cunning more subtle and quite possibility far more dangerous. Giles knew he should hurry and get on the phone to call reinforcements but for a few moments all he could do was stare at the small red-haired witch snuggled up against her lover.

He shook his head in wonder at how someone so sweet and innocent could wield such great power.

<She really has no idea how powerful she truly is, > he thought chuckling. <She has just

used an ancient spell from the book that neither one of them has been able to translate yet and she just used it to protect Buffy in her sleep, fascinating. >

Breaking out of his thoughts Giles got into his Rolidex and began making calls, they were going to need all the help they could get.

***************

Countess Hela had finally reached the Slayer’s sleeping subconscious and was beginning to

manipulate the human's dreams.

“This is almost too easy” she cackled to herself, “Kresis wears them down and distracts the little witch-kit while I sneak in the back door and take control of the Slayer then through her the little witch-kit.”

Watching her intended victim in the glowing blue sphere that hovered in front of her. Hela could feel her magic fingers reaching deep into the hidden recesses of her prey’s mind prying out her deepest secrets and her darkest fears bringing them to the surface forcing them into her dreams to torture and torment the Slayer weakening her defenses until Hela could bend the Slayer’s will to her own.

Suddenly just as Hela was about to once again take control of the Slayer’s subconscious another force struck out at her. She wasn’t sure where this other power came from but it was stronger than any Hela had encountered before in this world. It smashed into her own probing magic power and blew back at her, causing her viewing sphere to explode in a blinding flash of

greenish white light. The power released by the backlash lifted the demoness off her feet and threw her across the room into a wall.

Hela slid down the wall stunned by the force that had just hit her. The power released by the blast shook the entire house. For the first time in her life Hela knew true fear, she was facing an unknown factor that was so powerful it had swatted her back like she was an insignificant insect. From her brief contact with this power she knew it's wielder was female and she was not of the Darkness, oh no this powerful mage was most decidedly on the side of Light, automatically making an enemy to be reckoned with and Hela had just lost her first battle with it.

Her screams of rage echoed throughout the house, many of the beings staying there did not live through the day.

Chapter 8

Giles had just finished patrolling.  When the sun had gone down and the girls hadn’t woken up he decided to let them sleep while he made a quick sweep.

After the thwarted attack on Buffy that morning he spent the rest of the day watching over them and thinking about a plan.

<I only hope they are willing to go along with it. > Giles thought, <This is the first time I’ve called in outside help without their consent, but I have no choice. > He kept up the mental dialogue all the way home.

<Anyone that can worm their way through Willow’s defenses and so thoroughly attack Buffy was a formidable foe. The type of the attack also spoke volumes to kind of Magician that was behind it. >

By the time he walked into the door he was certain that his plan was the only way to save the girls-from what he still wasn’t sure-but he was sure of the danger they were in.

“Buffy, Willow?”  He called, when he didn’t find them on the couch. He felt a brief surge of panic at their absence and decided to call them at their apartment next door. But, as he entered the hallway Giles heard the raised voices of a heated argument.

“Willow you can’t! You promised!” Buffy’s voice easily carried thorough the closed door of his spare bedroom. “He’ll tell mom...t-they’ll h-hate m-me! Or he will think I'm ready to be put away!”

The sound of her sobbing plea tore at the ex-Watcher’s heart, and made him wonder what could possibly be so bad that Joyce might hate her for it. Then he realized, nothing, Buffy wasn’t thinking clearly.

“Buffy, honey, don’t cry,” he heard Willow say as he reached up to knock on the door. “We have to tell him so he can help us, Giles could never hate you.”

Giles could hear the near hysteria in Willow’s voice. Hoping that what he had to say would allay their fears; Giles knocked lightly on the door. Instantly, Buffy's crying stopped.

“Yeah,” Willow called out, “is that you Giles?”

“Yes, are you clothed?”  He asked. “I believe we need to talk.”

“I bet,” he heard Buffy say sarcastically, “he’s probably been snooping around out there spying on us.”

“Buffy please!” Willow hissed, embarrassed by her companion’s rude remark. Then she called out “Come on in Giles.”

He cautiously stepped through the door, looking around he saw Buffy sitting on the floor facing a corner hugging her knees, her body was shaking as she tried to hide her sobbing from him.

Willow was sitting on the edge of the bed; her entire body ridged with tension and her eyes were red and puffy and locked on Buffy. Giles could see the trials left by the young witch’s tears. He surmised the argument had been going on for some time before he arrived.

“I’m sorry if we disturbed you, Giles.” Willow said softly her voice trembling with emotion, her eyes never leaving her lover. “There seems to be a minor break down in communications.”

“I see.” Giles paused as he turned back to Buffy. He had never seen his Slayer this distraught. <I just hope we aren't too late. > He thought as he watched the Slayer try to pull even farther into herself.

“Well is there anything I can do?” he asked, sympathetically. Looking back at Willow and seeing the signs of pressures the redhead was under.

“No, Giles,” Willow sighed.

<She looks like she’s about to face a firing squad! Well, I guess she’s resigned to having to hurt the person she loves most in the world, either that or letting her get killed. > Giles’ estimation of Willow’s strength rose higher.

“All you can do for us is listen,” Willow continued sadly. “There is something I have to tell you.”

“No, Wills, please...” Buffy cried out in a tiny wounded voice. “Please don’t do this to me.”

Willow went to her hysterical lover, knelt beside her, and pulled her to her chest. She began rocking Buffy gently stroking her soft golden hair trying to comfort the hysterical girl.

Giles’ watched as every time Buffy sobbed Willow would flinch as if she were being beaten. But, the young Witch had on her resolve face so even though Giles could tell Willow was in as much pain as his Slayer-they were going to talk to him. All he had to do was wait them out.

“I’m not doing this to you baby, I’m doing this for us.” Willow explained softly into Buffy’s ear as if comforting a frightened child. “This is Giles, love, he takes care of us and he protects us. He’d never ever hurt us, but most of all sweetheart he’s like a father to you, he loves you like you were his own daughter. He has to know everything that’s happening so he can keep my sweet, sweet Slayer alive for me. I would die if anything happened to you because I didn’t tell him something.”

Giles choked on his tears at Willow’s revelations; he was totally speechless listening to her opinion of him. He felt a little embarrassed at witnessing this highly personal exchange between lovers, and more than a little happy that they thought of him as their father.

“Please baby let me tell him.” Willow whispered into Buffy’s ear nipping lightly at the lobe. “I believe in Giles and deep down you do too. I’m begging you honey let me do this for you.”

Giles was about to speak when Buffy nodded her head slowly.

“Go ahead and tell him,” Buffy whispered softly. “If you think it’s that important and it will make you happy Wills, I never could deny you anything.”

Willow's face lit up and she began kissing Buffy’s face and neck.

“Thank you, (kiss) thank you (kiss) thank you,” Willow said joyfully. “I know he will help us I just know he will.”

Willow was doing her best to smother Buffy with kisses so Giles cleared his throat to remind them he was there before things got out of hand.

“Oh Giles...I...ha...you...” Willow stammered embarrassed.

Buffy giggled at her lover’s condition, a sudden mood change after the decision that further cemented Giles’ belief of a mental attack.

“Oh you're gonna so get yours young lady!” Willow told her with a sexually charged growl.

“Any time you're ready Willow?” Giles said calmly, inwardly amused and relieved that the girls’ good-natured banter had returned. It would make what he was about to tell them easier.

“I am here for however long you need me,” he added with an easy smile. It was hard not to smile around his girls.

Giles went over and sat on the edge of the bed and while Willow continued to hold and comfort her lover she told Giles everything she knew about Buffy’s night terrors.

When she finished Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them (a nervous habit he had whenever he faced a problem).

“The first thing I think we should clear up is from what you have told me and what I have already seen, these are not dreams per say,” Giles said as he replaced his glasses. “My best guess would be that they are some form of metaphysical attack.”

He kept silent as he watched the girls digest this information. At first neither of them said anything they just starred at the librarian slack jawed and wide eyed--then a beatific smile spread over Buffy’s face.

“That means I'm not insane? Right?” Buffy asked relief evident in her voice.

“Insane? Good lord Buffy, of course not!” Giles answered. “What ever gave you that idea.”

“Well... you know...I mean first the dreams wouldn’t go away,” Buffy answered subdued.  The Englishman noticed Willow starting to stoke her hair again to calm her. “Then I started waking up in different parts of the house-with these strange marks and scratches--not knowing how I got them or got there.”

She hid her face behind Willow's shoulder, “I kinda figured if you found out you’d have me locked up in some home for whacked out Slayers or something’ like that.”

“No one would ever take you away from me! Not ever!” Willow growled protectively, “I don’t care who they are, they will never get you away from me!”

“It is all right Willow,” Giles said to calm the Witch, before she could upset Buffy again. “There will be no taking anyone anywhere and that I promise you.”

The suddenly intense look on Willow’s face made even Giles a little nervous, in a way he could almost feel sorry for anyone that tried to come between them.

“All right then if we have successfully cleared up the sanity matter I think it is time we got around to what to do about the attacks and the ambushes.”

Giles paused to see if his two charges had any more to say, when they said nothing, he continued. “I believe I have come up with a viable plan of action that will deflect any interference from any outside forces. In order to do that however it will be necessary to use some methods that we have never used before.”

Once he had the girls undivided attention Giles outlined his plan and although they strenuously objected to some of the methods he wanted to use they both saw his point finally and reluctantly agreed to the over all plan.

After several interruptions for urgent last minute wedding preparations everything was settled all they were waiting on was some of the special “plans” to arrive.

The wait seemed an eternity

*********

The screaming had stopped, cut off with frightening finality.

Within seconds of the last gurgling scream the door to Countess Hela’s private chambers flew open slamming into the wall and the tall exotically erotic female strolled out of the dimly lit room.

Her frustration showed clearly in her every move and look. Most of the servants, both human and non-human cringed back into the shadows trying to avoid her notice. When the Countess was frustrated, things could get messy if she noticed you.

Her glowing red eyes fell on the one human not trying to hide from her; a terrifying smile crossed her lips.

The man was a huge heavily muscled Latino. Hela had found him hiding in an alley, living like an animal filthy and hungry, and his insanity openly written on his face and in his behavior.

As soon as the demoness saw him in that alley she knew who and what he was, and knew he would be a perfect servant and pet.

His name was Max that was all; no last name, no nick names, just Max.

It seems that Max had been hiding in that alley because the authorities had found him out in his native country. The police had been plagued by a particularly vicious serial killer whose MO was to torture his victims for several days before dissecting their still living bodies. Still living

bodies of mostly redheaded women: but a blonde would do in a crunch.

Once in the service of his beloved Countess he became her most loyal and devoted servant. He refused any reward for his service, he only asked to do her bidding and be allowed to remain in her presence.

When he saw her eyes on him Max felt a shiver of joy run through his body since the death of Hela’s favorite demon, Max had taken his place as the head of her household and her personal playmate.

“Come to me Max,” Hela purred smiling at him. “I have need of you my pet.”

Adoration shone in his eyes as he approached her reverently like a zealot approaching their god.

“Yes your grace,” Max’s voice trembled with emotion. “How may I serve you?”

She looked down into his adoring eyes and smiled her razor sharp teeth and fangs flashing in the flickering light. Hela reached out with a long taloned finger and traced his jaw, then seeing him shiver in ecstasy at her touch she let the finger continue down his neck and across the well-defined muscles of his chest.

“Take some of these useless louts and have them clean my chambers.” Hela ordered him never raising her voice above a whisper, “Dispose of the remains in the usual way, I imagine the dogs are hungry.”

“As you wish your grace,” he said never taking his eyes off his goddess. He was in awe of her voracious appetites and wanted desperately to please her. “Are they ready?”

“Two of them are,” she replied off handedly. “The last one is broken but she still breathes, these human females are pretty and fun but they have no stamina. I certainly hope the Slayer is a little more entertaining than the others of her kind. I can’t wait to begin her final training.”

The man nodded his agreement then turned and began ordering some of the lower demons and human servants to join him in the Countess’ chambers.

All of them jumped at his commands; they feared him almost as much as they feared the Countess herself. The Demoness laughed as a thought entered her mind; she visualized Max training the witch-kit while the Slayer was forced to watch. Her raucous maniacal laughter filled the room bringing shivers of fear to those remaining.

“Oh, and Max,” she purred.

“Yes your grace?” he returned instantly.

“Do a good job my pet and I'll find you a new toy,” she promised her psychopathic servant.

With a twisted insane grin on his face Max turned and hurried to do his mistress’ bidding.

Having finished that portion of her morning business and knowing without reservation that Max would follow her instructions to the letter, Hela continued on to her next order of business.

Events of the last few days had placed an unusual drain on her power and Hela was in serious need of a recharge.

She went across the room to stone alter that was set up in a shadowed corner of her ‘throne’ room. Dipping a finger into a bowl of blood she'd harvested from her playthings the night before, Hela began carefully drawing symbols on the alter while chanting ancient formulas that were old when man first walked on the earth.

Once she finished drawing the necessary symbols and continuing her eerie chant she ran a razor sharp talon down the inside of her arm opening a vein.

Allowing her blood to flow over the alter Hela chanted as a sickly looking red and yellow flame rose from the stone surface it spread out until it engulfed the Countess. To her the flames held no heat, they were in fact frigid.

The intense cold entered her body filling it with its energy. The fire on the altar surface slowly died leaving behind a clean unmarked surface, but Hela's entire body was flames. The fiery figure stretched and writhed then she screamed, but not in pain.

From the sounds it was as if she was sexually aroused and the scream signaled her orgasm.

Slowly the flames faded leaving behind smooth soft flawless skin and long shining black hair, all signs of fatigue and battle were gone leaving Hela completely rested and restored.

Holding her arms straight out at shoulder level Hela threw her head back and let out an earth shaking howling roar challenging the gods of light in the name of her own dark deities.

Hela spun around with a flourish and faced the minions that had stayed to see the ritual and fixed them with her brightly glowing red eyes then she slowly allowed a menacing feral smile to cross her lips.

“Now back to our little Slayer and her precious witch-kit.” Hela growled evilly, “I will have them and I will be rid of that bastard Kresis.”

No one doubted her for a minute.

More to Come

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