Parts: 11-15
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 11~
Willow nervously adjusted the lace collar on the top she was wearing. Tonight they would be going to fight Balein. Well Angel would be fighting Balein and the rest of them would be making sure no one got hurt and no one left. She wanted to talk to Jake's uncle Charles. She understood the pain of losing a loved one, though knock wood, she hadn't experienced it personally. But to call on Balein to return his wife from the dead was very odd for Charles. He hadn't believed in anything mystical. She wondered how he even knew about Isis and Balein.
She watched as Angel paced the lobby floor. This was hard on him, too. He knew it was the beginning and there was no stopping the final battle. Willow walked up to Angel and with a small half smile she reached for his hand.
"Everything will be fine, you'll see."
"We have faced danger countless times, you'd think I'd be used to seeing my friends go off to fight this week's big evil." Angel said ironically.
"I'd be worried about you if you were used to it. I still get butterflies in my stomach each time you or the others go out. I even get nervous for Buffy and Xander. It was extremely hard my first year at Oxford. I think I emailed or called back every other day just to make sure they were all okay."
Cordelia, Gunn, Fred and Wesley joined Angel and Willow.
"Ready?"
They had decided to bring only weapons that could be concealed and not be too noticeable under their clothes. Willow did a spell that the weapons would not be noticed by any detection that was natural or supernatural.
~~~~
They arrived outside of Isis' residence and Willow rolled her eyes when she saw the house.
"I take it she doesn't believe in subtlety?"
The house looked Mediterranean with Egyptian décor on the outside. It was complete with two sleek cat statues on either side of the door.
"I'm surprised she doesn't have a pyramid and statue of the Sphinx out here."
Wesley smiled, "They're probably out back."
As they approached the door a man stepped out to block their path.
"May I help you?"
Cordelia smiled and gloried in the return of Queen C, "Sure, you can show us where the ritual thing is. Daddy gave me his money and the ritual had better work or I won't hear the end of his whining."
They had decided that Cordelia would be the one that had the money and the request of Osiris. In case they were recognized by anyone they wanted to keep as close to the truth as possible. So, Cordy had been volunteered to be so desperate as to seek out Isis so she could become famous.
The man looked them all over carefully and Willow hoped her weapon spell was working. The front guard must have thought they were legitimate for he stepped back and pushed the door wider.
"Please come in, Derek will show to where the others are."
A man dressed in Egyptian robes came to escort them through the house. Willow noticed that the Egyptian theme flowed to the inside of the house as well.
Willow mumbled to Wesley, "If she comes out dressed like Cleopatra I'm not sure I can keep from laughing."
Willow looked the crowd over and couldn't see Charles. She wasn't sure if he hadn't arrived yet or if he was somewhere else. She hoped for the former but was dreading the latter. If he was somewhere else that meant the ritual to bring Balein out was somewhere else.
The lights dimmed and the area filled with light smoke. "Oh please" both she and Cordelia mumbled.
Seeming to appear out of nowhere a woman dressed in flowing robes appeared in front of the crowd. Wesley mumbled to Willow, "at least she's not dressed as Cleopatra."
Gunn leaned over and said, "If I had wanted to see a hokey magician show I would have gone to Vegas."
"Welcome, everybody. The ritual of Osiris will begin shortly. In the mean time please help yourselves to the food and the ministers of Osiris will be by shortly to take your donations and request."
Fred whispered, "Ooh dinner and a show."
That surprised a laugh out of Willow who covered it up by coughing. Willow looked over at Fred and saw the twinkle in her eyes and she smiled back.
Before the ritual began Willow and Angel circulated the crowd in search of Charles. Angel noticed a group of people standing outside in deep discussion. His vampiric hearing picked up bits and pieces of conversation and he thought he heard the word sacrifice.
"I think he might be part of the group outside." He told Willow pointing to the group of people. "Go get the others and I'll meet you out back."
"Okay, but be careful."
Willow caught Fred's eye and motioned for her to gather the others and follow her. When the others arrived she said, "Angel went outside. He thinks Charles might be among those gathered outside."
Silently they slipped out and made their way through the shadows toward Angel. Just as they slipped outside Willow felt a magick ripple and saw a flash of light.
SHIT! They were too late. She took off on a dead run in the direction that she felt the magick and the pull of the bond with Angel.
They others ran to keep up with her. They all skidded to an abrupt stop as they came around the corner. The sight that greeted them held them in shock.
"That's Balein?"
"What the hell, he looks like something out of 'Planet of the Apes'."
"I thought demons were you know demony, not monkey like."
Wesley turned to Cordelia, "Some cultures believe that monkeys are sacred so why wouldn't some demons look like that?"
In the circle of robed onlookers stood a being that looked like a snow monkey had grown to six feet and had taken on human characteristics.
Balein approached one of the men and Willow saw it was Charles. With dread she watched as Balein grabbed him by the throat and tossed him aside.
Angel made a noise behind the demon to take his attention off of the remaining worshippers.
Balein smiled, "Ah Angelus. Our time is finally here."
Oh that can't be good, Willow thought. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Charles was sitting up.
Willow quickly approached Charles, "Are you all right?"
"Willow? What are you doing here? Last time I saw you, you were with my nephew Jake in England."
"I'm helping my friend Cordelia. She was hoping Isis would help her. What are you doing here? Last time we talked you didn't believe in anything mystical."
"After my wife died I became very depressed and an associate of mine told me about her."
Just then Willow heard a shout and turned to see Angel draw his sword on Balein.
"Naughty Angel, you don't fight fair."
Balein leaped over Angel and kicked him from behind.
Balein landed close to Fred but he wasn't paying any attention to her. Which was his first mistake. Fred grabbed the knife that she had hidden up her sleeve and threw it towards the demon.
Willow watched it spin end over end until it hit its target. It landed between his shoulders. With a howl he turned toward Fred and swiped his arm. Fred flew back from the impact.
Balein stalked toward Fred, "Ohh, think to help Angel do you? Nothing can help him or you. While you have been fighting me the others have left to do Doc's bidding in this realm."
Reaching behind him Balein grabbed the knife and prepared to throw it back at Fred. Before he could complete this action though Angel used his sword and decapitated him.
Gunn ran to Fred's side, "you okay, baby?"
With a smile she answered, "Yeah, did you see his face when the knife hit him?"
"That's my girl."
Angel knelt beside Willow. Charles was mumbling, "What have I done?"
Just then dramatic music began to play and a holographic image of planets orbiting and stars falling could be seen inside the house.
With a wry twist of lips Willow asked Charles, "How could you have fallen for such cheap theatrics as that?"
"Oh that? It wasn't Isis that I came to see. Lilah told me about the Balein sacrifice but I would have to get invited to Isis' party first."
Angel's eyes bored into Charles, "Lilah wouldn't happen to work for Wolfram and Hart would she?"
"Yeah, you know her? She's my associate. We serve on the Board of a charitable organization together and the one that told me about these people."
"How long have you known her?" Angel didn't like where he thought this was leading.
"A couple of months. She's new to the Board."
~Part: 12~
Angel shook his head in disgust. Was it a coincidence that an uncle of someone Willow used to date was the target or was he giving Wolfram and Hart more credit than they deserved?
Willow asked Charles, "How did Lilah tell you about Isis and Balein?"
"Oh one day the subject came up. You know, I can't really remember how we got started on the subject. But, when I mentioned how desperate I've become lately she recommended Balein and how my worries would soon be over."
"She never mentioned anything about Willow or Angel did she?"
"She didn't mention Angel at all but I do remember bringing up Willow in the conversation. I told her how my nephew used to date someone who was into mystical things."
Angel looked very intently into Charles' eyes, "This is important. Did you mention Willow's name?"
Charles closed his eyes in concentration and thought back over the conversations he held with Lilah. "Not at first but I think I may have in our later conversations." He turned to Willow and took her hands, "Oh my dear, I hope I haven't caused you any trouble."
Willow smiled reassuringly and gave his hands a squeeze, "You didn't."
"I think this has cured me of all things mystical." He said with a half smile.
"Can we give you a ride home or will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine, Willow. Thanks for everything you've done."
As Charles said his goodbye, Angel took Willow's hand and she followed him and the others back to his car.
~~~~
Sitting in the lobby, the Fang Gang went over the night's activities.
"That can't be a good thing that Lilah knew about Red beforehand, right?" Gunn asked.
"I don't think Lilah knows about Willow's connection to us since she hasn't really kept in contact with any of us except occasionally. You didn't tell Jake that you were coming to see me did you?"
Willow smiled at Angel, "No, actually I only ran into him as I was leaving my apartment. I told him a friend was in trouble and I was taking a leave of absence from school. I didn't even tell him where in the States I was going."
"Okay, I hate to be the one that brings this up but . . .we came, we saw, we kicked some demon ass so now what. The monkeyman said that while we were fighting him, others came here to do Doc's bidding. So, now what? Wes, what do the scrolls say about that witch that is next on the agenda?"
"Not much I'm afraid, Cordelia. Just that she has the capability of making Myth become Reality. It doesn't even say where she'll strike or what she looks like."
"Does it say how to defeat her? Do we throw a bucket of water on her and take her broom to the wizard?"
Cordelia smirked at Gunn. "Well, we did have Hansel and Gretel visit us in high school. Maybe we can try to put the witch in a big oven." As soon as the words left Cordy's mouth she wished that she could take them back.
She quickly turned to Willow, "Oh god, Willow. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
Willow half smiled, "I know you didn't. I haven't had a nightmare in a couple of years so I AM getting better."
Willow saw that Angel and the others were looking at her curiously. She figured that Angel had been so wrapped up in Buffy in those days he probably didn't even remember she was also tied to a stake.
"What Cordy is referring to is that a demon took the form of Hansel and Gretel. The demon stirred up the parents in Sunnydale and they went on a witch hunt. Literally. Buffy, Amy and I were tied to the stake while Joyce and my mom both lit the fire. Of course we were rescued but for a long time after I had nightmares of burning to death."
Angel closed his eyes in sorrow. How could he have forgotten that Willow had been there as well? God, what else of her high school years had he forgotten or not known about in his Buffy obsessed haze?
Seeing that Angel was falling into a full blown brood, Willow walked up to him and slipped her arms around his waist. Giving him a slight squeeze she said, "On that happy note, how about we take a pie break. Anyone else want a slice?"
Opening cupboards in the kitchen in search of plates Willow didn't hear Angel come up behind her. She jumped when she felt cool arms slip around her waist. She smiled and leaned back into his arms, "hey you."
"What else don't I remember about you in high school?"
Hoping to get him out of his broodiness Willow teased, "Well, let's see. I earned extra money by stripping at night."
"WHAT!?!"
She turned in his arms and returned his embrace. "KIDDING! Angel, I knew then and I know now that during the Sunnydale years you were mostly concentrating on Buffy and your relationship. Just think of this as a great opportunity to learn all sorts of new things about me."
Angel softly kissed the top of her head. "I'm looking forward to spending eternity learning all your secrets."
"Well maybe not all."
Angel leaned down for a kiss and just before their lips met said, "You wouldn't want to give me a demonstration of the routine you might have performed would you?"
With a laugh Willow returned Angel's kiss.
~~~
Doc heard a sound behind him and a small smile crept across his lips as he turned. "I wondered when you were arriving."
"I had to wait until the Keeper of the Mirror got careless. As luck would have it he strayed too close to my mirror and I was able to kill him and escape."
"Have you decided who you are going after first? Who is the weakest link in the group?"
"Right after I escaped from the mirror I killed a quail and read its entrails. The signs pointed for me to go after the Seer first. I think I will use the Cinderella story on her. She is still in search of her Prince and soon it will control her life."
Doc smiled. "Excellent. Get the pawn of the PTB out of the way first. Have you decided on the Fairy tales that you will use on the others?"
"For the one that came from the different reality I will use Sleeping Beauty. She has been gone from this reality for a while so I thought it fitting. That one will take two out of the fight. The former watcher gets Red Riding Hood. I like the idea of a wolf dressed as grandma for the Watcher. Someone he least expects will turn deadly on him."
Astrote entered the room and saw the witch. "Gwenelda, you always did use the right tale with the right victim. That just leaves the witch and the vampire for me."
Gwen smiled, "It's always a pleasure working along side of you, Astrote." She turned to Doc, "How long do I have before another Keeper is called and I'm sent back to the mirror?"
"Don't worry about that, my dear. You'll have plenty of time to employ your plans before a new Keeper is called."
~Part: 13~
Cordelia surveyed her surroundings. There were clothes scattered all around her room and shoes were spread from her closet to the door where Willow was standing.
"If I didn't know any better I would say a demon ravaged your room."
"Ha, ha very funny. Do you know how long it's been since I've been on a real date? I mean not a date where I end up being pregnant from a demon or anything hellmouthy, but a real date?"
Willow's eyes widened at Cordy's babbling. "You were pregnant from a demon?!"
Cordelia ignored her as she tried on another outfit.
"Cordy you'll look beautiful in anything you wear. By the way, the reason I really came up here was this just arrived for you." Willow held out a box.
Cordelia eagerly grabbed the box and ripped it open. "They're from Steven." She held a sapphire blue dress and a pair of delicate high heels.
"He sent you a dress?"
With a dreamy smile she read the card, 'Cordelia, please accept this gift as my way of saying thanks for accompanying me to my parents charity function.' Isn't he just classy?"
Willow rolled her eyes. She remembered when Cordelia had her crush on Wesley and kept saying how classy he was, too. "I have a pair of earrings and necklace that should be the same blue."
Leaving Cordy mooning over the outfit and wondering what made some people tick Willow went in search of the jewelry. She smiled as she entered her room and saw Angel lying on their bed. Cordy's jewelry can wait she thought.
She knew that Angel was pretending to sleep even though he was watching her every movement. She kicked her heels off and walked further into the room.
Turning her back to the bed but facing the mirror she thought to give him a double view of her as she slowly unbuttoned her top revealing nothing underneath. Even though he didn't cast a reflection in the mirror she could still feel his eyes on her.
After slowly lowering her shirt down her back and letting it fall carelessly from her fingertips she raised her leg to the stool and lift the edge of her skirt until the top of her thigh highs were revealed.
Slowly drawing first one and then the other down her leg Willow smiled as she heard a soft growl emanating from the bed behind her. Without turning, she lowered the zipper of her skirt and instead of just letting it fall she quirked her lips and bent at the waist as she lowered both skirt and underwear over her hips.
With a louder growl Angel jumped out of bed and reached Willow in two strides. She laughed as she felt his cool hands at her waist as he picked her up and tossed her on the bed. "I'm sorry, Angel. Did I wake you?"
"You should know better than to tease a vampire."
"I thought it was only teasing if I didn't follow through."
"Ya plan ta follow through, did ya?"
Willow loved it when Angel let his accent slip out. Sometimes he did it on purpose but other times, like now when he was teasing her, he wasn't even aware that he was doing it.
With a smile she flipped them over so she was lying on top of Angel. "I thought about it."
With a smirk, Angel crossed his arms under his head and just watched her. "So, what are ya waitin for?"
"Inspiration."
He just quirked an eyebrow at her and waited.
Willow lowered her head and began nipping at his ear. Moving lower to his neck she gently bit where his pulse point should have been. Surprised, Angel wrapped his fingers into her hair and arched his neck in pleasure and rocked his hips. "Harder."
Willow smiled against his throat. She wasn't research girl for nothing. The forbidden Watcher's Diaries that Giles thought he hid from her and Buffy had been VERY informative.
Biting just hard enough to leave a bruise Willow murmured, "Mine."
Amber eyes looked back at Willow and she softly caressed the ridges. "Mine" she repeated.
Angel looked into Willow's eyes, "You sure?"
Willow tipped her head just enough to give him access to her throat, "Very".
With his fingers still wrapped in her hair, he kissed her just above her pulse point. He slipped his fangs as gently as he could into her soft skin and began to suckle.
Willow closed her eyes and just felt. Buffy never said how erotic the pleasure/pain of his bite was. God, if it was always like this why did Buffy only let him bite her a few times? This could become addicting.
Reluctantly letting go Angel lapped at the wound until there was only a trickle of blood. "Mine."
His fingers caressed her throat and then moved lower. Willow moaned and arched into his touch. God, he could become obsessed with listening to the sounds that she made every time he hit one of her spots.
Looking down at Angel through hooded eyes Willow smiled inwardly when she noticed he was still in grr face. Then all thought left her when Angel growled "Now."
~~~~
Cordelia stood in front of the mirror inspecting the dress that Steven had sent her. She thought back over how she had met him and couldn't believe her luck. She had just sat down in her favorite coffee shop when a strikingly handsome man asked to share her table since all others were full.
>From the moment Cordelia looked into his eyes she felt like she had known him forever. After a couple hours of talking and laughing he had shyly asked her if she would do him a HUGE favor and be his date to his parent's boring charity event that he was obligated to attend.
A noise behind her brought her out of her thoughts and she turned to see Willow and Angel standing in the doorway.
"You look beautiful, Delia."
Cordy smiled her thanks at Angel and took the earrings that Willow held out to her. "What took you so long? Have a hard time finding them?"
A satisfied smile crossed Willow's lips, "Kinda got distracted."
Cordelia rolled her eyes, "When don't you guys get distracted?"
Willow stuck her tongue at her, "turn around".
When she had turned around Willow slipped the necklace around Cordelia's throat.
"They're beautiful, Willow. Where did you get them? Boyfriend?"
"Nope. They were a present from my parents when I was chosen for the Rhodes scholarship."
"When is Steven picking you up?"
"He's not. He's sending a car and I'm meeting him there. He had to do some boring brown nosing with his parents and told me to meet him there later."
"Makes sense. I remember when I first started dating Jake and he had all those charity and political functions that he had to go to. I would meet him there later so I could bypass the boring brown nosing parts."
"Well we'll let you finish getting ready."
Angel and Willow turned to leave and missed Cordelia slipping on the shoes. As soon as the shoes were on her feet they began to glow and her eye's glazed over.
As Cordelia entered the lobby Fred and Gunn looked up.
"Wow, you look beautiful Cordelia."
"Yeah, I have to agree with Fred you're looking pretty good."
Without even acknowledging them Cordelia opened the front door and walked out into the night.
"Well . . . I see the Princess has returned."
Fred elbowed Gunn in the side, "Be nice. She's probably very nervous and excited and didn't even hear us."
~~~~
Doc silently laughed as he watched Astrote adjust the tie on his tuxedo.
"Tell me again, Gwenelda why you couldn't have conjured up the other Prince?"
"I thought you the perfect one to lure the Seer to the pumpkin. Remember get her into the coach by midnight so she is trapped within the pumpkin when it turns."
~Part: 14~
Gwenelda smiled as she watched Astrote getting ready to meet his 'Cinderella'. Very few people realized that the original Grimm fairy tales were not all sweetness and light. Some could be quite dark. She loved to twist the tales to her purpose and it had been a long time since she had been able to escape the mirror, she wasn't going to waste any more time.
"Have you begun the 'Sleeping Beauty' idea with the one that was lost in the other dimension?"
Gwenelda smiled, "That one is easy. Her curiosity will get the best of her. I have planned something special for her and her warrior. Remember once the Seer is trapped she will be sent to the other realm. You must make sure she is in the carriage by midnight."
"I will, don't worry so much. Once that is accomplished and the 'Sleeping Beauty' is in motion that leaves only the Watcher for you. What are your plans for him?"
"That one is simple. I'll conjure up the wolf from Red Riding Hood. Once he's finished with the Watcher he can shapeshift into him and no one will know that he is missing. He can also begin his assault on Angel which should make your fight with the witch even easier."
~~~~
Fred had gone upstairs after she and Gunn has seen Cordy leave for her big date. She hadn't wanted to say anything to Gunn but she had been worried that Cordy hadn't said anything to them as she left. Even if she had been nervous about her date she would have at least acknowledged them.
She was going to ask Willow or Angel if they had noticed anything different about her but standing outside their door she heard laughter. Not wanting to interrupt them she continued on up to her and Gunn's room.
Fred suddenly stopped in the hallway and listened. She thought she heard a noise but she hadn't been sure. Cocking her head to the side and listening intently she waited.
It sounded like it came from the unused third floor. Curious as to what could have made that sound she slowly made her way up the stairs.
Following the sound to the end of the hallway she opened the door and peered inside. The room was full of cobwebs, dust and furniture with moldy upholstery. Just as she was getting ready to close the door and leave she heard the sound again.
Cautiously going into the room she noticed that the sound was coming from what she thought was the closet. Grabbing a piece of wood she saw lying nearby she took a deep breath and opened the door with a flourish.
Laughing at herself when she saw there was nothing in the old walk-in closet except for old trunks and some pieces of furniture. Wondering what was in the trunks she knelt down by the nearest one. Pulling hard on the lid that had been sealed shut through time she finally got it open.
With a gasp she saw beautiful homespun yarn. Thinking back to the time her grandmother had showed her how to spin on their old tabletop spinning wheel, Fred lovingly caressed the yarn.
She stood and began to look through the closet more thoroughly. If there were homespun yarn still kept here maybe there would be a tabletop spinning wheel. The thought of spinning again made her smile; it would be a small connection to her life in Texas before her journey to Pylea.
Moving a piece of furniture out of her way she gave a gasp of delight, there was a spinning wheel. It needed repair but she thought it looked like it would work once some pieces were fixed.
Running her hand gently over the wheel and other parts she gave a yelp when she pricked her finger on the still sharp needle. Sucking on the offended digit she bent down to lift up the wheel when a wave of dizziness overcame her. Dropping the wheel she crumpled to the floor and the last thing she heard was a soft voice in her ear whisper, "sleep".
~~~~~
Gunn had just returned from killing a demon downtown. He was filthy and tired and all he could think about was a nice hot shower and seeing Fred.
Wearily Gunn returned the axe to the weapon's case and looked around the lobby wondering where everyone was. Normally, if Fred didn't go with him on a case she was anxiously waiting his return.
"Fred?" "Angel?" "Red?"
The lobby and hotel were oddly quiet. Seeing a light on in Angel's office he went to investigate. Smiling softly he saw Wes with his head down on the desk and the scrolls scattered all over. Softly clicking off the light and closing the door he left Wesley to his sleep.
Hearing the lobby door open, Gunn turned to see Angel and Willow come through laughing and arm in arm.
"Hey, Gunn. You get that Gorok demon killed?"
"Yeah." Looking down and pointing to the goo that still clung to his clothes. "Just on my way upstairs to wash Gorok goo off. Have you seen Fred?"
Willow frowned in concentration, "Not since you left and that was a couple of hours ago."
"Maybe she was tired and went upstairs to wait." Gunn said as he made his way toward the stairs. "See you guys later."
~~~~
Gunn hadn't seen Fred as he went to take his shower but figured maybe she was in one of the rooms going over one of her many Quantum theories. He smiled as he thought of all the ways he could distract her from her thoughts.
Quickly slipping into some sweats he made his way down to the room she normally holed up in. Quietly opening the door as to not disturb her, he frowned as he noticed she wasn't there.
Now, he was getting concerned. It wasn't like Fred to just leave without telling anyone or at least leaving a note. Turning around he went back towards the lobby.
Before he could get a few feet he thought he heard a noise. He stopped and waited to see if he'd hear it again. Very faintly he thought he heard it again and it seemed to be coming from the third floor.
Making his way up the stairs he softly called out, "Fred?"
Not getting a response he yelled louder. Following the creaking noise he opened the door to the room it seemed to be coming out of.
He started in surprise at what he saw. A vine with large thorns seemed to have covered much of the room. As he stepped inside he heard the door slam behind him. Turning to see what caused it, he saw the vine had now completely covered the door.
With grim determination Gunn yanked on the doorknob. It wouldn't move, he was well and truly stuck in the room. "Great, just great", he mumbled.
Turning back to try to make his way to a window he noticed a door slightly ajar to his left. Just as he started walking that way the vine's growth pushed him back and the door further open.
"FRED!"
Lying on the floor of the walk-in closet was Fred. The vine that had completely surrounded her was larger and had more dangerous thorns than the vine in the room.
Before Gunn could try to tear his way through the vine he felt a tug on his legs. Looking down in horror he saw that the vine was entwining around his legs and pulling him toward the nearby wall.
Struggling even harder now, Gunn desperately tried to break free. Unfortunately, the harder he struggled it seemed the tighter the vine wrapped around him until he found himself completely wrapped and trapped against the wall.
Just as he was opening his mouth to yell for Angel the vine sent a tendril across his mouth effectively shutting him off mid-shout.
~~~
Wesley awoke with a start and looked around the office. With a mental shake to clear the cobwebs he slowly stood. He had dreamt he had been in the woods with a wolf chasing him. Must be my subconscious trying to tell me that I'm working too hard he thought.
Nevertheless he quickly scanned the office looking for anything out of the ordinary. Not seeing anything, he gathered his scrolls and prepared to retire for the evening.
Just as he picked up the last one he thought he heard a growl behind him. "Angel?" he asked as he slowly turned.
Shock made him stand perfectly still, next to the chair he had just vacated was a wolf. Wesley watched helplessly as the wolf gave a leap straight towards him. Lifting his arms in protection, the last thing he saw was the wolf with his mouth open wide.
Falling to the floor the wolf gave a shudder and slowly rose. Turning toward the mirror he watched as his wolfish features morphed into the English Watcher's. Smirking, he gathered the scrolls and continued into the lobby.
~Part: 15~
Wolf Wesley cautiously made his way up the stairs and towards where he thought the Watcher's room was. Using his enhanced sense of smell the wolf was able to locate Wesley's room when he reached the second floor. It wouldn't have looked too good to be seen wondering the halls in search of "his" room.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw a journal on the nightstand. "The better to know you my dear" he thought with a smirk. That had been his mistake at the last job for the witch in the mirror, he hadn't known his victim very well and he was spotted as a shape shifter before he could complete the job.
Settling down on the bed he began to read.
~~~~~
Willow smiled as she felt cool arms encircle her waist and a soft kiss on her shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
"I was just thinking that we haven't seen Fred or Gunn in a couple of hours."
"I'm sure everything is alright. Wes might have seen them, I think I heard him come up the stairs just now. Want me to go see if he's seen them?"
She turned in Angel's embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. "No that's okay. You're right. I'm sure everything is okay."
Angel leaned down to place a soft kiss on Willow's lips when he heard a noise. Pausing just inches from her lips he stopped and listened. He heard the creaking noise again.
Angel gave Willow a quick kiss and then pulled back, "Did you hear that?"
Willow frowned in concentration and tried to hear something. "Nope, must be your vampire's ears. What was it?"
"I don't know but it was coming from upstairs and there isn't anything up there."
Angel started going toward the hallway when Willow slipped her hand in his. "Let's go see."
They had only gotten halfway down the hallway when Angel stopped quickly causing Willow to bump into him. "What is it?"
Angel turned toward Wes' room. "Something is off in there. Can you sense anything?"
Willow quietly concentrated on the magical senses she felt in the Hyperion. Normally she put a block on it because she felt all the energy that was in the hotel and it got too distracting day to day. She lowered her shields and just felt.
Briefly leaning against Angel she tried to sort out the sensations. Tuning out what she called 'white noise' she tried to concentrate on just Wesley's room.
There was a darkness there and also something out of balance on the third floor. She was just getting ready to tell Angel that when the door opened and Wes came out.
"Oh.Angel, Willow I didn't hear you out here. Everything alright?"
Angel growled and lunged toward Wolf Wes.
"Angel, wait!"
"It's not Wesley, Willow. I can smell a difference."
Willow just rolled her eyes, "Hold". The wolf was held immobile by Willow's magic.
"I know it's not Wesley I can feel a darkness here. I'm not stopping you from killing, just try to get the information first."
"Wait! If you hurt me you hurt your precious Wesley."
Angel reluctantly let go of the Wolf's neck. "Where's Wes and what have you done with Gunn and Fred?"
"Like I'm going to tell you. I know you can't hurt me without hurting your friend."
Angel growled softly, "Actually, Wes is pretty resilient. I've seen him heal pretty quickly. Besides I know some techniques that won't leave too many scars."
The wolf began to sweat.
"Who sent you after Wes?"
"The witch in the mirror." 'It would be better to shift their anger' he thought.
"Who?"
He just rolled his eyes, "You know . . .mirror, mirror on the wall?"
"You've got to be kidding me."
Willow got a thoughtful look on her face. She knew that Hansel and Gretel were real and if the witch in the mirror was real that meant other fairy tales were probably real as well.
Angel was fascinated by Willow as he watched her. He thought he could literally see the wheels turning in her brain as she puzzled out what the Wolf had said.
Willow processed the fairy tales that she was familiar with. She really hadn't been into fairy tales as a kid. Mythology and tales of the supernatural were more what she liked.
The Wolf Wes watched the witch as she thought about what he had said. He knew she would come up with it soon. Reds seemed to be his downfall, from a red riding hood to a witch with red hair. He made a decision that this was the absolute last time he helped that stupid witch. She stayed in the background while the rest of them did the dirty work.
Willow's eyes opened and then narrowed as the tale of little red riding hood came back to her.
"Angel, slit his stomach."
Both Angel and the Wolf responded, "What?!"
"It's the story of red riding hood where the wolf took the place of the grandmother and the woodsman slit his stomach and out popped the grandmother."
Angel got a sadistic gleam in his eye and turned to go downstairs to the weapon chest and grab a very wicked looking axe.
When Angel returned he heard the Wolf try to strike a bargain with Willow. He would release Wesley if they didn't cut him open. It wouldn't kill him anyway he would just return to the realm in which fairy tales lived.
Willow seemed to consider for just a bare moment and then shook her head no. "You're probably tied to the disappearance of Gunn and Fred so sending you back might release them wherever they are."
"Wrong, Red. You have to send the witch back to the mirror for that to happen and only the keeper of the mirror can hold her." The Wolf continued sarcastically, "Oops, he's dead."
"I bet if I go to your realm I can find someone to help me. Angel, kill him."
Before the Wolf could reply Angel swung and sliced his stomach. Willow steeled herself against the look of pain on Wes' face and watched as the Wolf shuddered and then collapsed.
On the floor lay Wes. Angel and Willow both ran to his side. "Are you alright?"
Willow ran her hands over Wes' stomach and didn't see a wound at all.
"Yyyes, I'm fine. How did I get up here? Last thing I remember is a very strange dream where a wolf swallowed me and then took control of my body." Wes shook his head trying to clear it.
"It wasn't a dream, Wes. The Wolf really did morph into you. It seems fairy tales have some truth to them."
"I should have become a vicar like my mother wanted me to." Wes mumbled.
Angel helped Wesley to his feet and over to the bed.
"Angel, you should go look for Gunn and Fred. I'm sure they can't be that far away. Wes, do you have Cordy's cell number? Give her a call and make sure she's all right. She probably left before this witch started her attack."
"Willow, you're not going to that other realm alone. You don't even know how to get there or what you'll find once your there. It might be a trap."
Willow smiled and laid a hand on Angel's cheek, "I'll be fine. You're needed here and I'm better equipped to fight her magic. You can feel me through the bond, if I get into trouble you'll know."
"I may know but I won't know how to reach you."
"Just have Wes open a portal. With our bond and his ability to open portals you'll find me." She reached up and gave him a quick kiss. "Love you."
Angel laid his forehead against hers and whispered, "A year and a day, Ionúin. Then eternity."