EMAIL ADDRESS: annaleise21@yahoo.com
DISTRIBUTION: Want it, just ask.
PAIRING: W/A
RATING: R (Just to be on the safe side)
SUMMARY: Willow returns and the Scooby gang learns she isn’t the Willow they knew. Willow’s POV.
< > Indicates Willow’s thoughts.
DISCLAIMER: Characters of Angel and/or Buffy are not mine. I have no money so please don’t sue.
FEEDBACK: It’s my first fic. Please don’t hurt me too much, but any and all feedback is wanted.
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~Part: 1~
In my life I have seen more than my 21 years should ever have. Death. Destruction. Despair. I guess I couldn’t take it anymore. So I left. At first it was okay. I got a job. An apartment. A Life. Granted not a really normal one. I don’t know what a normal life is anymore. But I survived. Day to Day. Hour to Hour. Until one night I almost didn’t. It was a Tuesday night and I was doing my final sweep of the park when this horrid smelling demon came out of the bushes. Now I have seen some ugly beast but he took the prize. He told me I was the One. The One what? I haven’t the slightest. Then the thing looked around and suddenly took off. Was it something I said?
When I went home, I started to research though my books. I wasn’t really scared but I was curious. I checked with my contacts about it and they couldn’t help me. So I went to bed I figured that I would try tomorrow. I remember the dream like I actually lived it. I was chained up, beaten and bruised, and I was surround by these creatures with greenish brown skin. They had their mouths open and some kind of aura glowing thing out of me. I woke up in a cold sweat. Now I have never had a dream like this and it scared me. This time the dreams where about me. I had to make a decision, a decision that I dreaded. I had to go back to Sunnydale. Back to Hell. My Hell.
I didn’t tell anyone I was going back. I figured that I could talk to Giles and then go back home. I was wrong.
I was patrolling the cemetery one night because I couldn’t get to sleep. I was trying to keep and eye out for Buffy but I guess I wasn’t paying attention around me because I was grabbed from behind. I pulled him over my shoulder and did a leg sweep he was dust before he even could stand. I felt someone watching me.
"Who’s there"? I asked
Angel walked out of the shadows. "It’s me".
<Damn. He just had to show up. >
"Hello Angel". I turned to walk away.
"Wait" Angel said.
"Sorry Angel I gotta run. No one knows I am in town. Please keep it that way". I said over my shoulder trying to make it to my car.
"Willow, will you just hold up a minute. You’re back. I mean..how.. why. Where have you been"?
"I am just here to talk to Giles, then I go home". I said turning towards him for the first time. I didn’t want to look him in the eyes. If I did then I know I would be in trouble.
"Why. Why won’t you come home? To stay." He asked
"Look I have to talk Giles about a demon. That’s all, then I go home. To my home." I turned to walk to my car again and I got hit with something. I could feel something coming and I knew it was trouble.
"Where are you staying"? Angel asked walking towards me as I began to walk faster.
"Angel we really have to get out of here." My voice left no room for argument.
Angel looked around us and he felt it too.
"Let’s go back to my place. It’s close." He said holding his hand out to me.
<I didn’t want to take his hand. But the danger was getting closer and I had no choice. I took his hand. That was a mistake. The sparks shot down to my toes. I looked up at him and knew he had felt it too. >
"Come on, let’s go."
We took off towards his house. Three vampires jumped in our path, I grabbed a stake’s from my back pocket and threw it at the vamp on the right. He exploded in a cloud of dust. Angel looked at me stunned. What, so I had gotten good over the years.
The vamp in the middle, which was dressed in very tacky clothes, looked at me. Then he turned to the other vamp.
"Is she the one"?
<Shit. There goes that "one" crap again. >
"That’s what the master said, she doesn’t look like that much to me." The other one said.
"Hello. Do you mind I am standing right here you know." <They were just talking like I wasn’t even there. Rude much? >
"Not at all." The tacky one said starting towards me.
Angel growled and stepped in front of me. The vamp growled back and charged at Angel. He quickly staked him and looked towards the other one.
"Are you going to stand or are you actually going to do something"? He asked.
The vamp realized that he stood no chance and began to back away.
"That’s okay, we’ll get her soon. Master will have her." He said and he took off running.
"Well that was fun. I gotta go now." I said.
"What the hell was all that about. Why does their Master want you"? He asked
"I don’t know. That’s what I am here for." I started towards my car again. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop.
"Where do you think you are going"?
<Duh. What does it look like? >
"To my car then to the hotel".
"I don’t think so. You’re going to stay at my place where I can protect you."
"Angel I can look after my self."
"Maybe. But I am not going to risk it."
"Fine. Have it your way. But no one is to know that I am here. Got it."
"Whatever you say."
We walked to my car and Angel drove to his house. I got my bag out of the car and we went into the house.
"Which room is mine"? I asked, hoping just to get some sleep.
"The one down the hall on the left. Look Willow, can we talk"?
"Um. Can it wait till tomorrow"?
"No"
Well, hell that blew up my chances of just going to sleep.
"Sure let me put this in the room and I will be back."
"Okay."
I went to the room and put my bag on the bed. I changed into more comfy clothes.
Oh god that bed looked so inviting. With great resistance I walk back out to the living room and sat down on the couch.
"Go ahead. Ask way." I said tiredly.
"Where have you been"?
"Around. I traveled all over the place."
"Why did you leave." He asked quietly.
I stood and walked over to the fireplace. I stood there starring at it for a bit.
"It’s complicated Angel."
"I’ll listen. Tell me. Make me understand."
I turned around and looked at him.
"Why do you need to. It’s not your problem Angel. It’s mine. I am dealing, why can’t you"?
"Because the Willow I know would never run. She would have never left her friends behind." He said angrily.
"The Willow you knew is dead. Deal with it." I shouted and ran towards my room.
I slammed the door behind me and began to pack my things. I had to get out of here. I had to get to the hotel. I was putting the bag over my shoulder when I caught a glimpse of myself. Shit, my eyes had turned red. Great just what I need. I hoped that Angel hadn’t seen them. Either way I couldn’t take the chance. I grabbed my bag and things and jumped out the window. If I stayed Angel would just ask more questions. Questions that I didn’t have the answers to.
I got to my car and started to open the door when a hand grabbed me. I turned and, true to form, Angel was there.
"Damnit Angel, let me go."
"No. Where do you think you are going?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because I’m your friend and I want to help you."
"Angel, I really appreciate you trying to help. But I am not some innocent little girl you have to save. I have been taking care of myself way before you came along. I can take care of this."
"Willow, what happen to you?"
"I grew up. I learned things. I learned who I am and what I need to do to stay alive."
Angel just stared at me for a moment. He grabbed my hand and my bag and pulled me towards his house once more.
~Part: 2~
Angel dragged me into his house and sat me down on the couch. I was beginning to feel like an unruly child. His eyes were searching mine.
"Willow, please tell me what’s going on".
"I know you are trying to help. It’s what you do. But the reason I am here is something I have to deal with on my own. I can’t risk anyone of you getting hurt or killed because of me. I will find out what is going on and I will deal with it."
"We are your friends, we want to help you".
"I can’t risk it Angel. I will not put the people I care about in danger." And with that said I headed to the bedroom to get some sleep. Angel didn’t try to stop me. I was glad of that.
The Next Day
When I woke up it took me a moment to realize where I was. Sunnydale. I took a shower and got ready to see Giles. I made a few phone calls before I left. I walked up to the door and took a deep breath. I finally got the nerve to knock. The door opened and there stood Giles.
"Willow".
"Hi Giles". I said with a little wave. All of the sudden I was crushed into a hug.
"Uh. Giles I still have to breathe".
"Oh, I am sorry. I am so glad to see you". Giles said all flustered.
"Me too. Uh, can I come in."
"Oh, yes. Yes of course." Giles ushered me in.
"Now what can I do for you"?
"Giles, I need some information on something". I explained the dream to him. I told him what I felt and what the demon I encountered said. About a half and hour later I was done.
"Well, I am glad that you came to me." Giles said
"Can you help me Giles? I have asked my contacts and they couldn’t tell me anything." I asked
"Of course. I will start calling around and of course research here." Giles said pushing his glasses up on his nose.
Giles got on the phone and I took a couple of books off of the bookshelf and started looking through them. After a couple of hours researching I couldn’t find any mention of the creatures. I was starting to get agitated. I dropped the book that was in my hands onto the coffee table. I wasn’t having any luck with these books. I looked over towards Giles; he was still on the phone with someone. I stood up and went into the kitchen looking for something to eat when I heard the door open and voices coming in. Just great, now I had nowhere to go. I peaked through the kitchen to look at them.
"Hey Giles". Buffy said. I heard Giles shush her and he continued talking on the phone.
"Giles, what’s with the books. Is there a new demon in town?" Xander asked
"No, not researching again." Buffy wined. Giles said goodbye to the person and hung up. He turned towards them.
"Yes, there is something new in town I am just researching it". He said carefully. I knew he didn’t know what to tell them. Suddenly Buffy sat up and I could tell that her slayer senses were picking up on me. It wouldn’t take long to find me out.
"Giles, what’s going on. I feel something in here." Buffy said looking around the living room. I figured I should go in and save Giles an explanation.
"That would be me Buffy." I said walking out of the kitchen. Buffy and Xander turned towards me. They had a look of disbelieve. Xander ran towards me pulling me into a hug. Buffy just stood there. I don’t think that she trusted me yet. Not with her feeling.
"Willow, god where have you been. I have missed you so much." Xander rambled. I kept my eyes on Buffy. Finally Xander released me and looked between the two of us.
"Buffy look its Willow. What’s wrong?" He asked.
"Don’t worry Buffy. I am still good. Just different." I said finally. Her eyes were still questioning.
"Willow, what’s going on. Different how." Giles asked all the while watching the interaction between Buffy and me.
"Buffy, I am the good guy. I have been here with Giles all day. If I was really bad do you think he would still be alive?" I asked. Angel took the opportunity to come out from the shadows.
"She is telling the truth Buffy." He said.
"What are you? You are not fully human. I can feel that." She asked. Well I guess it was time to tell them. I thought I had more time to prepare. Everyone was looking at me waiting for an answer.
"I am a Dranuk." I finally said. From the blank looks on everyone’s face I guessed that no one had heard of them.
"What’s a Dranuk?" Xander asked. This was going to be a long night.
"It’s kinda hard to explain. I don’t know much about it. I’m a very powerful witch. I don’t age like a normal person. My strength is almost at a slayers level. I have dreams or visions if you want to call them that. They lead me to people who need help. And I help them. Evidently it’s my duty now, or so I have been told."
Buffy was satisfied with my explanation I guess because she suddenly came to me and drew me into a powerful hug.
"Oh, God I am so sorry Wills." Buffy said. I return her hug.
"It’s okay. I understand." I told her. When we broke apart everyone sat down in the living room. I didn’t want to involve all of them but it was too late now.
"Is something wrong, is that why you are back?" Buffy asked.
"No, nothing is wrong. I just needed some information on something. So I came here to talk to Giles." I looked towards Giles telling him with my eyes that I didn’t want them involved. Thankfully he went along with it. A couple of hours went by we just talked and caught up on things. Finally he told Buffy and Xander to go patrol. They left with promises of meeting tomorrow. When the door closed behind them Giles looked towards me. Him, Angel and me were the only ones left.
"Why didn’t you tell them?" He asked
"They didn’t need to know. They would only be in danger."
" They could help you. You should have told them." Giles commented angrily
"They would get killed." I shouted
"Buffy is the slayer she can take care of herself. As for Xander he has become a good fighter."
"Not against this. Not against magic. I won’t have anyone else die because of me." I shouted.
"What do you mean anyone else?" Angel asked.
"Nothing. Forget it. I gotta go. I have to see someone." I said walking towards the door.
"Willow, please be careful. I will keep on looking." Giles said just before I reached the door. I turned towards him.
"Thanks." And I headed out the door.
~Part: 3~
I was already an hour late. I knew Angel was following me. I could feel him, but I kept pretending that I didn’t know. Hell, let him have some fun. Daniel was one of my contacts that I had met in LA on a trip. I knocked on the door.
"Hey. Come on in." Daniel ushered me into the living room.
"Sorry I’m late. I got caught up in some things."
"No problem."
"So what do you have for me?" I asked. Daniel called me and told me he had found something that I would be interested in. He pulled out a book and handed it to me.
" Dina sent me this a couple of days ago. She said her friend Gillian gave it to her when she was searching for information for you. I thought you might want to look at it." He said handing the book to me.
I looked at the cover. It was written in Latin.
"Animus Pro Numen." I read.
"Souls for divine power. Are you saying that the thing that is after me wants my soul." I asked Daniel
"I don’t know. But its what I was told that would help you."
"Thanks Danny, I will look over it and see if I can find anything." I got up and headed to the door with Daniel following me.
"Wills, you know I hate when you call me Danny." He said while smiling down at me.
"I know, I know. But I like Danny, it gives you that certain boyish look." I told him giving him a kiss on the cheek as I turned to go he grabbed my arm.
"Willow, just be safe ok." He told me and gave me a hug and kiss on the forehead.
"Don’t worry, I always am you know that. I will let you know something soon okay."
"Bye."
I headed towards Angel’s house and I could still feel him. I wondered if he was out there the whole time that I was at Daniel’s. When I got to Angel’s I knew he was going to ask questions.
~~~*~~~
I opened the door to my room and Angel was sitting on my bed.
"Hello. Did you have a nice walk while following me tonight?" I asked him sarcastically
"Yes, thank you for asking."
"Well I am glad. Goodnight."
"Who was he?" He asked me.
"He’s a friend."
"Why did you go see him?"
"Why does it matter to you?" I was getting pissed of. Who did Angel think he was?
"Just answer the question." Angel snarled
"What the hell is your problem? He had some information for me. Okay. Are you satisfied?" I yelled
"How do you know him?"
"I don’t have to tell you everything. Now please leave so I can get dress for bed. Then I am going to sleep." I said heading towards my suitcase to get my clothes. Angel grabbed me from behind and pulled me to him. He bent his head down towards my ear. Man, did his body feel good.
"How do you know he isn’t one of the bad guys?" His voice ran in my ear
"He isn’t. I met him in LA through contacts. He is good." My voice trembled. I don’t know if it was due to being angry or because he was so close to me.
Angel spun me around.
"I just don’t want you to get hurt." He said softly
"I can take care of myself. Don’t worry." I tried to pull away to put some distance between us. Next thing I knew Angel and I were kissing. Every cell in my body came alive. Angel’s hand went around my back to pull me closer. When we broke apart I gulped in air.
"Has he ever kissed you like that? Has he made you feel like that?"
"Huh?" My brain was really working at that moment.
"The man that you went and saw tonight." Then it hit me. He kissed me because of Daniel. I pushed him away from me.
"You kissed me because of him?"
"That’s not what.." Angel stuttered
"Get out. Just get out." I said angrily
"Willow, wait."
"No. Just go. I can’t be around you right now." I could feel tears starting to form.
Angel just back out the door. I just sat on my bed for awhile. I have never been kissed like that and Angel just did that because of some male one-up-man ship. Tears started falling. I haven’t cried in awhile, not since Collin died. I grabbed my things and went out to my car. I couldn’t stay there tonight. So I went to Daniel’s house.
The Next Day
When I woke up I got ready to head to Giles to show him the book. When I got there I heard voices.
"No she isn’t here Angel. What do you mean she’s gone? What happen last night?" Giles asked. I opened the door and walked in.
"She just came in. Okay. Bye." Giles hung up the phone.
"Willow, Angel said that you disappeared last night. He had been calling everyone." Giles told me
"I decided to stay at a friends house." That is all I told him.
"Everyone is on their way. Willow they know."
"What do you mean they know. I told you not to tell them."
"It couldn’t be helped. When Angel found out you were gone he called everyone. And you know them, they asked questions." As Giles finished everyone came through the door. Even Angel came through the back tunnel.
"Willow god we were worried when Angel called." Xander said coming over to me.
"I just stayed at a friends house last night. No need to worry." I told everyone
"Friend? You stayed with him last night didn’t you?" Angel growled
"Him. Him who?" Cordy asked. Angel and his big mouth.
"A friend of mine. And yes Angel I stayed there last night." I dared him to say anything else. Angel just looked at me.
"Willow, why didn’t you tell us you needed help?" Buffy asked me
"Because I didn’t want to involve you in this."
"To late we are involved now. Do we know who is it or what it wants?" Buffy asked already going into slayer mode.
"Well, we really haven’t found anything.." Giles started
"Actually I have." I said interrupting him
" I don’t know who it is but I know what it wants."
"What does it want?" Xander asked
"My soul."
~Part: 4~
"He wants my soul."
"Your soul." Giles said
"Why does he want it?" Buffy asked
"It’s all in this book." I told them pulling the book from my bag and handing it to Giles. Angel went behind him to look at it.
"Souls for divine power." Angel read from the cover. Giles started reading the book and I went to sit down.
"The passage in there refers to a soul that once returned a soul."
"Yeah I know. The "Master" guy found out that I gave Angel his soul back so he that my soul has a divine power link. It gives him all the power he needs." I said to them
"We still haven’t figured out who the "Master" is yet?" Xander asked
"No not yet. But we will." Giles told him
"He has to kill me to get my soul."
"Not if he intends to make you a vampire. That way he has your soul but still has you to do magic." Angel said
"No he can’t." I said standing up and facing them.
"What do you mean?" Giles asked
"I mean, even if he vamps me I still have my soul. I was attacked a couple of years ago. The vampire tried to kill me but I killed him instead. When I got home I did a binding spell. If I was ever turned my soul would stay."
"So even vamped there is no way to lose your soul?" Buffy asked me
"No, the spell is solid. He will have to kill me. There is no other way."
"Well, you aren’t going to die so we just have to find the baddie and kill him before he gets to you." Xander said
"No."
"No, what?" Angel asked
"No, there is no WE." I said taking the book from Giles and putting it in my bag.
"Willow, you can’t do this on your own." Giles said
"This is my fight. It is me he wants and no one is going to get hurt trying to protect me."
"You can’t defeat him on your own." Angel yelled
"I have to." I yelled back
"Why are you so hell-bent on not letting us help you." Angel shouted
"Because the last time someone tried to help me they got killed." I yelled back
Everyone was silent.
"It won’t happen again." I grabbed my bag and left before anyone could stop me.
I drove around for a little while before I headed to Daniel’s to research some things. I had to found out where the "Master" was hiding out. I was reading the book when Daniel came by my side.
"Want me to take over for awhile?"
"Could you read a little for me and see if I am missing anything." I got up and went into the kitchen to get me something to drink.
"Hey, Willow did you see this page?" Daniel yelled to me.
"What page?"
"This one here." He pointed to a page that I didn’t recognize.
"I don’t remember this." I sat down to read the page. At first it didn’t make since. Then it hit me. Emery. He was the Master. I jumped up and gathered my things.
"Willow, where are you going?"
"I am going to end this. Promise me you will stay in tonight." I told him
"Just tell me what’s going on." Daniel demanded
"Promise me." I yelled
"Okay. I promise. Just tell me where are you going?"
"I know who the master is." I told him
"Who?"
" Emery."
"Emery. The guy that you fought a while back. That Emery." Daniel asked
"Yeah. That Emery. Danny, what ever happens I just want to know that you are a good friend. I love you. And when my friends come here looking for me tell them that I love them too." I kissed him on the cheek and headed to the door.
"Wait." I heard him call out before I shut the door behind me. However this ended, it ended tonight. I would make sure of that. When I got to my car and I started out the driveway I saw Daniel running after me.
I went to the factor beside the city limits. Knowing Emery he would have his minions all around the place. This wasn’t just about my soul. It was about Collin, Emery had killed him. I thought Emery was dead, I mean I did set his lair on fire and caved in all the exits. He is the only one I knew of that would have the capability of doing this. And the reason. I had killed his lover.
I got out of my car and checked to see how many vamps were around. I could feel at least 2 dozen. Emery always did have a lot of vamps to protect him.
I mumbled a spell to kill all the vamps outside of the factory. I could hear the screams as they went up in flames.
I walked into the factor saying a silent prayer to the Goddess for help.
As two minions grabbed me from behind Emery stepped in front of me.
"How nice of you to join us. You know for a Dranuk I thought that you would be smarter." Emery said
"Well you know me. I just hate waiting." I told him
"That is quite alright. It just means I don’t have to go and look for you."
"Tie her up boys." He snarled
~Part: 5~
"Tie her up boys."
They dragged me into the room and shoved me into a chair. The clasped shackles to my ankles and cuffed my arms behind me.
"You know by finding me you have mad e this so much easier for me."
"After 7 months of trying to find me and not being able to I figured I would find you. After all we do have some unfinished business." I told him as I thought of a spell to get me released from the metal cuffs.
"First, I will torture you then I will take your soul. Afterwards I will kill you." He ended his statement with a backhand to my jaw.
"Tell me one thing, why do you need my soul?" I asked him looking into his eyes
"It is really simple. With your powers added to mine I will be linked to all Dranuks. Of course giving me more power than you can imagine with the added bonus of killing all of your kind." He snarled
"Do you really think I am just going to let you win without a fight?" I asked saying a silent spell.
The chains fell from my wrist and ankles as I stood up. I heard him yelling at his minions. They started towards me.
"Ignis". All of the minions around burst into flames. "Oops. Did you need them?" I asked
"Not really. I can deal with you myself." Emery said then threw a fireball towards me.
I easily deflected it.
"You are going to have to do better than that. I'm not as nearly easy to hurt as last time."
I threw two energy balls towards him. He jumped out of the way of one but the other one hit him in the leg. He jumped up and ran towards me. I jumped over a chair to grab a sword that was lying on a table in the corner.
"You think that is going to kill me. A little sword?" Emery asked with a snarl
"Maybe not. But it sure will hurt like hell." I said flipping over a table and landing in front of him. Somehow a sword appeared in his hands. We began to fight. All I could hear or feel were the clashing of the swords. When I made a move he would counter it. It seemed li ke it lasted forever but finally I knocked the sword out of his hand. I pushed the sword into his stomach.
"That was for Collin." I said as the pain crossed his face.
Emery kicked me and I flew across the room. He pulled the sword free and tossed it to the ground.
"Let's stop with the child's play." He said, then a fireball appeared in his hand. I didn't have time to reflect it and tried to jump out of the way. The fireball hit me and I landed in a heap behind some boxes. I heard him approaching and I pretended to be knocked out. I felt the blood pouring out of me. I knew I'd have to hurry before I got to weak.
"Weakling. I should kill you just like you friend Collin." He snarled looking down at me.
All the anger and pain that I had been keeping inside started to bubble up. This was going to end tonight. Either he was going to die or I was.
"Really, did you thi nk it would be that easy?" I asked kicking his legs out from under him. "I'm a lot harder to kill."
He pulled himself up and started towards me again.
"Consisto." I yelled. He stood still. I walked towards him as he started to chant.
"No. Not this time." I chanted a spell to block his.
"Now it's my turn. Ensis." The sword appeared in my hand as I began to circle him.
"What was that about killing my kind?" I asked allowing him to speak again.
"Do you know, he begged for his life. When I killed him, I did it with a smile." He sneered blood coming out of his mouth.
I heard faint voices behind me and knew that Angel and everyone had found me. But I didn't even look their way. I was about to loose my control. I never wanted for them to see me like this but I couldn't help now. There was no way to stop.
"Really, when I killed Arie, she didn't beg ged at all. She just screamed, a long painful scream." I whispered in his ear. I saw his eyes turn red and knew what he was doing. I screamed at everyone to run.
"NO!" I yelled as I drove the sword into his heart. The blast of power combined with my weak state sent me flying into the brick wall. I felt my head hit and a burst of pain split through my head.
Emery started to scream as I said a spell to bind his powers and send him to hell. Where he belongs and will stay for eternity. As soon as I knew he was gone I let myself fall into unconsciousness.
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