Black stood across the road from Amy’s home, almost glaring at the house
Willow and Laura had entered an hour previously. His eyes suddenly glowed
red, and he raised his hands to the sky, chanting a single sentence of
unintelligible language. A bolt of lightning flashed across the clear blue
sky and he lowered his hands.

Bowing his head, he chanted again. “The time of the Joining is upon us.”

From out of nowhere a woman in black approached him. “The Elders are unhappy
with your choice. They command that you abandon this girl.”

“I will not do so. The Elders are wrong.”

“Then what you do, you do with out us. You have chosen your path, brother
and it will lead you to your total destruction.”

“You and the Elders are fools. You know not what you are turn down. This
girl has powers beyond understanding, beyond comprehension.”

“This girl stands in the protection of the Warrior of the Oracles and the
Powers That Be. It is you who are the fool, I think.” She turned and started
to walk away, before stopping for a moment and looking back over her
shoulder. “I warn you, continue with this path of action and you will be
made outcast.”

“So be it.”

“Then it is so declared. You are now outcast. Do not call on us again.” With
that said, she turned and appeared to step into a sudden black cloud and
disappeared from view.

“Idiots! Uninformed fools!” He returned his gaze to Amy’s home. “You belong
to me Willow, you have done so from the moment I saw you. Not that vampire
you have chosen to give yourself to. That I can never allow.”

His last sentence was said with pure hatred and scorn.

A small grey grimy man literally seemed to slime up to him from out of the
pavement. “Boss, we’re here. What do you want us to do?”

“You’re late, but I expect no less from you. Inside that house is the party
I want to you to acquire for me. Make sure that it remains undamaged in
anyway what so ever, or your life will be made forfeit this time.” He turned
to glare at the little man. “As for the others, no… permanent damage shall
we say. I just want what is rightfully mine.”

“You got it, Boss.” The little man grinned nastily, actually his rubbing his
hands together in pure glee. “One cute little package is coming your way.”

“Then what are you still doing here. Stop wasting time, you bloody stupid
idiot.” He snapped, hitting him round the head. “Get those worms of yours,
Grey and get ruddy moving. I want my property at my house tonight.”

“Sure thing Boss. Already on our way Boss.” He literally grovelled as he
moved away, almost seeming to genuflect as he did so.” “Your wish is my
command as always.”

“I really need to do something about getting new flunkies.” He growled to
himself as he turned back to the house again. “Soon my beautiful Willow,
very soon, then you’ll be at my side where you belong… and for all eternity.
Just as it was foretold.”

He turned his face to the sky, eyes filling with pure obsession. “Just as I
have always planned from the moment I first saw you.”

A second flash of lightning crossed the clear late afternoon sky in
response.

Inside Amy’s home, Willow broke off her conversation with her former
boyfriend and moved to look out of the window. “That’s the second one and
the sky’s still clear. There’s not a cloud in sight.”

“It’s Hellmouth weird, that’s what it is, Wills.” Laura quipped as snatching
a cookie she joined the redhead at the window. “And that kind of confirms
it, because there’s Black over the road.”

“What on earth is he doing here?” Willow shuddered. “I’ll be glad when the
week is over and he’s well gone out of Sunnydale. Even better when he’s out
of the country.”

“You lot really have taken a dislike to him.” Amy chuckled.

“If you’d been around him as much as we have, you’d understand.” Willow
turned to glare at her friend, leaning against the piano. The blond girl
stuck out her tongue in response.

Laura had started to wander around but she stopped suddenly, a strange
expression on her face. Behind her, the three experienced Slayerettes shared
an uneasy glance. “Laura.”

“Something’s about to happen, I can feel it.” She swung round in full Slayer
mode. “Amy, how strong are your wards.”

“Strong enough to keep out almost anything supernatural, especially as I
renewed them just last night.” Amy rose to her feet. “They need invitations
but I doubt they’d stop anyone of human origin.”

“Then we may have a problem.” The Slayer literally growled. Because what I’m
sensing is no way completely human.”

Oz picked up the phone, then pressed down the receiver several times.
Replacing it, he turned a bleaker face to the three girls. “Dead.”

Both witches and teenager promptly tried their cell phones and received the
same response.

“We are so in trouble.” Laura pulled her hair back. “Willow, isn’t there
anything…”

“They may have thrown us out electronically, Laura but we’ve still got a few
surprises up our sleeves.” The redhead replied grimly. “Let’s try a little
magic of our own.”

But before she could begin, they heard the sound of windows breaking at the
back of the house. Almost simultaneously, several men broke down the heavy
front door.

“Action stations people.” Laura shot forward to take the first wave.

Oz drew Amy back as Willow moved away from the piano and into the centre of
the room. A wave of her hands had the furniture against the walls, allowing
her a clear fighting area. Seconds later, the air was full of flying bodies
as the four fought but the small group was quickly overrun by the sheer
numbers of their attackers.

Laura was taken down first, knocked out as she was thrown against the heavy
wooden staircase with an almost ominous crack from her head. It took at
least six of the strange little men to bring down the werewolf. So near to
the full moon, Oz was stronger than normal even in his human form. He
managed to severely injure several of them before being knocked out.

Amy was taken down next. She had managed to knock out several with spells
but a hard knock to her head had her falling to the ground. As she fell
against the piano, she caught sight of the men overwhelming Willow and
throwing a cloth over her face. The redhead went limp and as Amy’s eyes
closed, the last thing she saw was her friend being carried out of the house
obviously deeply unconscious.

‘Oh Goddess, they’ve got Willow. Angel is going to go berserk when he finds
out.’ Were her last thoughts as she slipped into unconsciousness.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Several hours later, a frowning Angel entered the main hall and checked his
watch against the antique grandfather clock. He scanned the area, searching
with all his senses then noticed someone moving around in the library.
“Giles, are you there?”

“Right here, Angel. Is there a problem?” The Watcher walked out, his glasses
in one hand open book in the other. Replacing his glasses, he looked at the
vampire with a hint of puzzled curiosity. “And have you seen Willow at all
this afternoon. She said she would do some research for me when she got back
and I haven’t seen her yet.”

“I was just about to ask you the same thing.” The dark haired vampire
replied, turning as Spike slid down the staircase. “Spike, have you seen
Will.”

“Not since last night which is unusual. Ain’t she back from the blonde
witch’s yet.” He jumped up onto a nearby table.”

“She doesn’t appear to be.” Giles turned round just as Joyce Summers joined
them from the kitchen’s direction. “Joyce, have you seen Willow?”

“No, and she isn’t the only one who seems to be missing. I left an after
school snack out for Laura and it’s still there.”

Spike ran his hand through his hair. “This ain’t good, Peaches. Laura
doesn’t miss a snack chance and Red never forgets to call if she’s going to
be held up.”

“Do you think I don’t know that!” Angel growled.

The sound of the phone ringing had them all jumping and Giles literally
snatched it up. “Willow…oh sorry Cordelia, I thought… Cordelia, slow down, I
don’t understand what you are trying to say.”

Angel took the phone from him with uncharacteristic rudeness on his part.
Cordelia, slowly. Give it to me short and simple.”

“Doyle… had vision… Amy’s place.” Cordelia’s horror filled voice was clear.
“Angel, its Willow. Someone has taken Willow.”

“Spike with me.”

Seconds later, the two vampires in game face were out of the house, leaving
the phone hanging in the air and the front door wide open.

“Oh God Willow.” Giles staggered slightly. “Not Willow!”

“Rupert, you don’t have time to fall apart.” Joyce said sharply even though
she was extremely pale as well. The little redhead was like a second
daughter to her. “You have to go after them. Try and keep them doing
anything foolhardy.”

“Like that’s going to be a possibility.” Giles responded grimly
unconsciously imitating the group of young people he spent his life with.
“Try and keep it from Buffy as long as you can.”

“I’ll do my best, now go.”

He arrived just in time to see the dark-haired vampire exit the house and
run towards town, still in game face. “Help Spike.” He shot over his
shoulder. “Willow’s not here.”

Giles immediately entered the house and found the younger vampire helping an
extremely groggy Laura to her feet. From the living room, he could hear
Cordelia and Doyle helping Oz and Amy.

The moment she saw him, the teenager pushed away from the vampire and
stumbled into his arms. “Giles, we were attacked.” Her voice was hoarse. “I
couldn’t stop the. Too many of them and Willow… Giles, where’s Willow? She
was right behind me!”

“Get the chit to your car, Watcher.” Spike’s human face fell back into
place. “I want to take a look around.”

“Spike, where’s Angel going?”

“Town to ‘talk’ to the snitch.” The vampire replied. “We caught Red’s
perfume mixed in with chloroform but it stopped at the front door.”

“I just hope he doesn’t kill him.” Giles lifted Laura into his arms and
carried her out to his car. From inside the house, the vampire could clearly
hear the teenager asking for Willow again and being reassured by the
Watcher. “It will be alright, Laura. Try and stay calm, Angel will look
after Willow.”

“But the devil help whoever dared to take Red.” Spike murmured to himself.
“Because Peaches is sure as heck out for blood.”

“Spike!” Cordelia called out from the living room. “I need help here.”

Entering, he found her struggling with a rope tied round the werewolf. With
a growl under his breath, he stalked over and pulled the both to their feet.
Behind them, the half-demon was drawing an unsteady Amy to one of the sofas.

Removing the cloth Cordelia had forgotten, Oz spoke. “How’s Laura?”

“Dizzy, what else do you expect with a crack to the head.” He snapped back.
“Watch it pet.”

Spike caught an unsteady Amy as she got up off the sofa and she clutched his
duster desperately. “Spike, before the attack, Will and Laura saw Black
across the road, watching the house. You don’t think…” She broke off,
holding a hand to her head.

“Bloody hell!” Doyle swore, face growing graver. “You can’t be saying what I
think you’re saying now are you.”

“And Peaches is already out for blood.” Spike growled, shifting back into
game face. “If Black is involved, there’ll be no chance of holding him
back.”

“Then you and Doyle better go after him.” Giles said with remarkable
calmness from the doorway. “Cordelia can help me with Oz and Amy. Bring
Angel back to the mansion so we can plan what to do next.”

“Princess, the keys.” Cordelia threw the keys to the half-demon who caught
them as he followed Spike out of the house.

“Doyle, tell Angel she was unhurt. The only blood that was spilt was
theirs.” Amy called after him as she leant heavily on Oz and Giles. “She was
just unconscious.”

“That’s no bloody comfort, pet.” Spike yelled back just before his head
appeared.

“Then tell him, it’s the people who have taken her that should be worried.”
Cordelia added suddenly. Even though her eyes were grim, she grinned. “She’s
likely to take their heads off when she wakes up.”

“She wouldn’t be our Red if she didn’t.”

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
“Willie, if you want to survive to see the morning, you’ll tell me what I
want to know.” Angel jumped over the bar and started to stalk the creepy
barman.

“I’m telling you, Angel man, I really don’t know.” Willie fell back against
the back of the bar. “I don’t know anyone who would be stupid enough to go
after the redhead witch… not with you around. Let alone the Slayer.”

“Not what I want to hear, Willie.”

The dark tone sent a shiver of pure fear down Willie’s back. “I’m telling
you Angel man…”

“No, he’s telling you.” Spike said suddenly as he burst into the bar
followed closely by Doyle. “Angelus.”

“Spike. The others alright?” Angel kept his gaze fastened on the barman.

“Sporting a right bunch of headaches.” Doyle replied as he jumped onto the
counter and picked up a bottle of whiskey. “Good brand. You must be doing
well. Boss, we’re wanted back at the ranch.”

“Willie.” Angel had caught the strange flicker that ran across his face and
grabbed hold of his shirt. “Tell me?”

“Earlier there was a group strange little men in the bar.” Willie screwed up
his face. “Talked about a job they’d just done for their Boss, some kind of
package, and oh man, were they sporting one heck of a set of bruises.”

“Sounds like the lot that went after Red and the others.” Spike commented
with a grin as he joined his sire on the other side of the bar. “Did you
hear anything useful, you little creep. Like a name of some sort.”

“No, I mean it, Spike. The man in charge shut them up.”

“Why don’t I believe you, Willie.” Angel lifted him into the air. “You’re
holding back something. You can either tell us and get to live or Spike here
will give you a physical demonstration of how he got his nickname.”

“With pleasure.” The younger vampire replied nastily. “I feel like a spot of
violence.”

Willie shuddered violently. “Alright there was something else. They kept
mentioning a colour like a name of some sort. Red, no white or was it…”

“Black.” Doyle suggested softly as he pocketed the bottle of whiskey. “Was
it Black?”

“Yeah, that’s it, Black. Hey, ain’t he one of the Watchers…ouch!” He was
dropped unceremoniously to the floor, yelping again as the younger vampire
managed to step on his hand. “Jeez, Spike, rub salt in.” He whined
incautiously.

Spike spun round, eyes flashing. “Just be glad we’ve somewhere else to be,
creep or I’d have your guts for that remark.”

“William.” His sire’s barely controlled voice had the younger vampire moving
away from the pale shaking barman with speed. They exited the bar, leaving
it’s inhuman occupants in total and terrified silence.

“We better get back to the farm.” Doyle unlocked the sports car and jumped
in. “Let them know what we’ve found out.” He glanced over at the two
vampires and caught the intense look on the elder vampire’s face. “What’s
wrong, Boss?”

“Black.” The name was enough to explain the strange look. “Why bring his
name up at all?”

“Amy said Red and the chit had seen him moments before the attack.” Spike
leant forward, resting his arms on the back of their seats. “She said to
tell you Red was unhurt and was most probably ready to take their heads
off.” At his sire’s dark look, he smiled grimly. “Yeah, I know, soft
comfort.”

“What exactly did you see, Doyle?” Angel asked as the half-demon seer
started to speed up. “And how did you know about Amy’s.”

“Red hair, grey little men, danger. An intense overwhelming feeling of
blackness and a name, Willow.” He changed gear. “I already knew Red was
going to be at Amy’s. She’d said so earlier.”

Angel fell into a deep, almost brooding silence and his childe promptly hit
him on the shoulder. “Snap out of it, Peaches. No bloody brooding is going
to help Red and she’ll be annoyed as hell already.”

Angel growled at him, then pulled out his cell phone. He dialled a number
from memory and was promptly answered. “Cordelia, we’re on our way. The men
who took her work for Black.”

“Oh God!” Cordelia’s voice broke for a second, then his secretary regained
control of her self. “What do you want us to do?”

“Search his room. See if there are clues as to where he might have taken
Willow. Have Giles do a search on creatures that vanish without trace. Oz
should be able to give you an accurate description.”

“He and Giles have already started.” Cordelia informed him quietly. “We’ve
put Laura straight to bed. The doctor’s with her now. Amy’s working on
Will’s books. She thinks there may be a way of contacting her using magic.”

“Tell her to be careful. She’s in no condition to be doing magic.”

“That’s why Giles is going to do it if she finds it.” Cordelia replied.

“And … Buffy?” The question hung in the air.

“She’s still in the dark. I think the doctor said she was having one of
those sleeping spells we should expect more of.” Cordelia’s tone grew even
more worried. “Angel, she’ll know there’s something wrong the moment she
wakes up. Especially as Wills hasn’t been in to see her at all today.”

“Then you’ll just have to bluff her, Cordelia.” Angel replied feeling
remarkably calm suddenly as a strange sensation swept through him. “Call me
if you get anything.”

He cut the call. “Stop the car.”

Doyle pulled into the kerb and shared a puzzled look with the other vampire.

“What’s up Peaches?” Spike asked as the dark haired vampire got out of the
car, turning round as if trying to track something.

“She’s near.” Angel stood still. “I can feel her, Spike.”

“Huh!” Doyle turned to the younger vampire again, looking for an
explanation. “What does he mean?”

The blond vampire was looking at his sire in pure disbelief, faint
understanding emerging his blue eyes as he realised just what he meant.

“It’s a rare thing.” Spike replied, watching his sire. “I’ve only ever heard
of it as a myth and Dalton brought it to my attention because of the big
poof over there. I never really believed it even though it did mention a
vampire with a soul.”

“Spike, you’ve just told me absolutely nothing at all.” The half-demon
growled. “Clear it up.”

“It would appear that Peaches there ain’t the first vampire to get his soul
given back to him after all. This legend speaks of another vampire that fell
for a powerful magic caster. Somehow, a spell was cast to restore his soul
and it connected them together because it is said that they could feel the
other’s presence. Even knew when the other was in trouble.”

“That still explains squat, Spike.” Doyle got out of the car. “I already
knew the restoration spell made a connection between caster and receiver,
but what we’ve got here...” He pointed to Angel. “It looks as if it goes
deeper than that.”

“Most probably because Red cast the restoration spell without a single
malicious thought in her beautiful head and did the anchoring spell.” Spike
looked at his sire thoughtfully. “It could also be because the pair of them
are real soul mates.”

“Why do I get the feeling you think it’s something else?” Doyle turned to
look at him. “Spike?”

“I think it’s because she’s mated to a master vampire and the demon loves
Red just as much as the soul does.”

“So what you’re saying is, Red balances both parts of Angel through their
mating bond and is connected to him by both the spells she has cast.
Therefore the slight connection between them is more powerful than anyone
realises.”

“Something like that. I think the fact that she’s immortal without him
having anything to do with it helps as well.” Spike jumped out of the car
just as Angel’s cell phone rang.

“Angel.”

“It’s Giles. We’ve got an address. Where are you?”

“Just off the Park on Fairfield.” Angel turned to look at Spike and Doyle.
“Where is it, Giles.”

“Across the park, there’s an old house. Older than the mansion on Crawford
Street.”

“I know it.” Spike said hearing the description clearly. “Dru took a fancy
to it.”

“Its either real or a lead to put us off but it appears Black has been
furnishing it... for Willow.” The Watcher continued. “Every invoice that
we’ve found refers to something she’s taken a liking to in the past year and
he’s paid in cash.”

“It’s real. I can feel her.” Angel growled. “The man is truly obsessed with
her.”

“Yes well, I’ll speak to you about that when I get there with Oz.” He broke
the connection leaving the vampire to turn to his two companions, an
incredulous look on his face.

“Giles and Oz are on their way. I think they’ve found something we’re not
going to like.”

“Why do I get the feeling that was probably the understatement of the year.”
Doyle murmured to no one in particular.

Spike chose however to answer it. “ Why don’t we go find out then.”
 
 

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