*I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die. I'm gonna die,* Willow changed to herself. Every muscle in her body screamed out in pain. It had been four hours since Tara had tricked her into coming to the docks. *I knew I should have let Graham do it. Graham! Oh, Goddess, the transmitter. Oh, please, Giles, be your usual over cautious self and call Graham,* she prayed.
When Graham and Riley went on a scavenger hunt through the Initiative compound, before the government finished their clean up, they brought back the transmitters as well as various weapons. Willow had thought it was silly and a little too science fiction to carry the pager-like device around everywhere she went. But Buffy and Giles thought it was a good idea and insisted they carry one at all times. Now the stupid little plastic box clipped onto the back of her jeans just might save her life.
"They won't find you, you know," Aponix said. He entered her holding cell carrying a leather case.
Her green eyes followed his slow deliberate moved as he set the case on the floor. When he opened it, she could see a variety of knives strapped to the inside lid. He unsnapped one of the blades and walked over to her. Holding it in front of her face, he turned it back and forth so she could see it clearly. Willow stared at her reelection in the polished metal.
"Do your arms hurt yet?" he asked. "I'll bet I can find some way for you to forget that pain." He pulled at the neck of her tee shirt. Slipping the blade under her chin, Aponix sliced the shirt down the middle. He continued to cut at the cotton material until it fell to the floor in tatters. He did the same to her bra. When she was naked from the waist up, he dragged his hand over her smooth unblemished skin.
Willow shuttered in revulsion as his hand moved over her breasts. He knelt at her feet and cut the legs of her jeans up to the crotch. She wanted to kick him, but the tight shackles around her ankles kept her firmly locked in place. Finally, when her clothes were in rags around her feet and she stood naked, he replaced the knife in its case. He gathered her clothes and left her cell. Pausing at the door, he turned back to her. "Sweet dreams, my pet," he said as he closed the door.
Once she was alone, Willow released the shuttered sobs she'd been holding in. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as her cries echoed within her confined space. It hadn't yet occurred to her that the transmitter was still clipped onto the back of her jeans.
****
Buffy paced the length of the Watcher's living room. She chewed nervously on her thumbnail. She wanted to go out and find her best friend, but both Giles and Riley insisted on waiting for Graham.
"Buffy, would you please sit down?" her boyfriend asked as he watched her wear a trench in the floor.
The Slayer stopped her mindless pacing. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about Willow. You know I hate just waiting. I should be out there searching."
Riley wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. "I know you do, but it's better if we wait for Graham. Otherwise, we could be wandering around in circles," he said against her hair.
The front door burst open as Graham entered followed by Xander and Anya.
Buffy pulled away from Riley. "Well?"
"I traced her transmitter as far as the waterfront before it disappeared," Graham said.
"What do you mean disappeared?" Giles asked.
"It disappeared from the screen. Whoever has her either found it or the batteries died," he explained.
"What about you guys?" Riley asked Xander and Anya. "Where's Tara?"
"We took her back to the dorm and we stayed with her for a couple of hours," Xander said.
"She said she had to go to the bathroom. After a couple of minutes I followed her, but she was gone," Anya added.
"We spotted her on the outskirts of campus and followed her down to the docks where we ran into Graham."
"Lost sight of her among the warehouses," the ex-commando said.
"So we go down there and search until we find her," Buffy said as she opened Giles' weapons chest. She pulled out a cross bow and some bolts. Riley took the taser gun she handed him.
Graham handed out radio mikes to everyone. Once everyone was armed and in communication they left the apartment and headed towards the waterfront.
****
Tara slipped into the warehouse quietly. She knew now that she was under suspicion and had to warn Aponix. She only hoped he wouldn't kill her because gaining Willow's powers was out of the question. She found him sitting in a dark corner of the building. "Master."
He glanced at the blonde witch and knew by her expression that she had failed in her duties. *Well, what does one expect from a human,* he thought. Rising to his feet, he held out a hand to her.
Tara stared at the hand through her lashes. Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his. She cringed slightly as his long fingers curled around her clammy skin.
"Come," he said. Aponix lead her down a narrow hallway towards Willow's cell. Unlocking the door he motioned Tara to precede him.
Willow stopped her struggles against her shackles when she heard the lock click open. She didn't notice the warm trickles of blood that ran from her abraded wrists down her arms. Her eyes and heart filled with hatred as Tara entered the small room.
Aponix was pleased to see the fire in those green eyes. His new toy definitely had more spirit than the last one. This one wouldn't break quiet so easily. He stood beside the red head and dragged a finger up her arm. Once it was coated with blood, he licked the sweet substance off. He closed his eyes and released a shuttered groan. Her power could be tasted in every cell. Shaking off the ecstasy, he returned his focus to Tara. "It seems, my pet, that my faithful servant has failed me," he said.
"Why should I be the only one?" Willow muttered.
Part 10
As Aponix took a step towards her, Tara tried to step back. A shimmering haze surrounded her and she couldn't move. Her blue eyes widened as she felt a burning sensation in her belly. A gasp escaped her lips as the burning began to grow. "Please, Master, please," she begged through the growing pain. "I tried to keep them away. I don't think they followed me." Her breath came in panicked gasps as the heat moved to her chest. *Oh, Goddess, he's going to kill me,* she thought. She'd seen him do this once before and it wasn't pretty.
"Oh, but they did, my dear. You lead them right too me. And the Slayer is with them. I do not except failure," he said calmly as he intensified his spell on her.
Tara felt as if molten lava coursed through her veins instead of blood. "It wasn't my fault," she screamed. Blood flowed steadily from her nose and her skin started to blister. "Wait! Please, Master. She had a transmitter. I forgot about it. That led them here. Not me!"
"And you should have gotten rid of it before you brought her here. Still your fault."
"I'm sorry," Tara sobbed. The blistering skin started to char as the heat intensified. Tara released a blood-curdling scream just before her heart exploded inside her chest.
Willow watched as the girl burned from the inside out, but couldn't move passed her hanger and hurt to shed a tear for the blonde witch she had loved only hours ago. Her eyes followed the charred corpse as it fell face forward. She knew in that moment a piece of her soul had died along with Tara.
Aponix studied the cold, blank face of his new toy. Maybe if he found another toy this one would make a better servant than the blonde. But until that time, he planned to enjoy his red head. He stroked a finger along her pale cheek. "Well, my dear. I had hoped to have more time to begin your training, but it looks like we need to leave," he said as he unlocked the shackles around her ankles. Then he reached up and unfastened the chair from its hook in the ceiling. He tugged on the chain to force her to follow him.
Willow didn't even notice the screaming pain in her shoulders as they lowered. Some distant part of her brain urged her to run, to do something. The more conscious part just said why bother.
"And don't worry about your friends. Their pain won't last long when they die. I promise."
****
Riley and Buffy took point as they entered the warehouse. Giles and Anya followed a few steps behind them while Graham and Xander kept an eye on their collective backs. Once inside they broke into pairs. "Xander and Anya, you take the right. Graham, Giles, take the left flank. Buffy and I will go straight up the middle," Riley ordered as he made sure his radio was set. "Keep in contact."
Buffy kept her eyes peeled for any sign of anything. She could hear the movements of the others as they searched. Her rubber soled work out shoes barely made a sound on the concrete floor. "I don't see or hear anything," she whispered into her mic.
"That scream came from this warehouse," Graham insisted.
"I'm coming up with a big nothing," Xander said.
"Wait. What's that?" Anya asked.
"It's a door," Xander replied. Everyone stood still as they listened to the door slowly creak open.
"Be careful, Xander," Giles cautioned.
"Don't need to tell me twice. There's a hallway. We're going to check it out," Xander informed them.
"We're on our way," Riley called back.
"Ditto," Graham said.
"What's that smell?" Anya asked. "Like barbecue or something." There was silence as the two of them moved down the hall. "Oh, my God!" Anya exclaimed.
Buffy could hear the sounds of retching in her ear and she quickened her pace to a run. She and Riley arrived at the hallway door just before Graham and Giles. They say Xander bent over outside another door down the hall. Anya stood beside him, rubbing his back.
Buffy ran into the room and stopped short when she saw the charred corpse on the ground. She swallowed back the bile in her throat as the pungent stench of burnt flesh assaulted her nose. The two soldiers pulled in oxygen through their mouths. Giles exited the room just as quickly as he entered it.
"Well, now we know where Tara is," Buffy said as she started at the few locks of blonde hair still on the corpse's head. She left the room and shut the door.
"But where's Willow?" Riley asked. "And who has her?"
An odor caught the Slayer's attention. "Do you smell that?" she asked.
"How can you not?" Xander asked, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.
"Not that. Something else," she replied as she started down the hall. "It's coming from over here."
Buffy slowly pushed open the door. She heard a quiet scratching sound and her eyes widened as she saw a river of flames racing towards a pile of barrels. Each container was liberally marked with 'Caution: Flammable' warning labels. "Run!" she screamed as she turned on her heel.
Before their minds could even comprehend the warning, the world ended for the Slayerettes and their extended members. It ended in a brilliant flash of chemicals and fire.
~*~*~*~
Los Angeles
2087
Cordelia brushed the tears from her cheeks as Angel pulled her closer to him. "But how do you know all this? How do you know what happened to them?" she asked quietly.
Willow looked up from the spot on the floor she'd been staring at so intently. "Aponix may be a piss poor demon, but he's a powerful sorcerer. He enjoyed letting me experience every millisecond of their deaths. Each time from a different person. Don't know why since it was always the same. A moment of terror, a flash of pain, then nothing." She paused. "Except Buffy. She didn't die right away." Her green eyes glazed over slightly as she remembered the horrible deaths of her friends. "She was in a coma for two days before she finally died," Willow whispered.
As the memories started flooding her brain, Willow became more restless and agitated. She pushed herself off the couch and after finding her jacket, she pulled a battered pack of cigarettes out of the pocket. She lit one and pulled in a lung full of smoke. The taste was stale since they had been in her pocket for over a year.
"You shouldn't smoke," Cordelia said. She was still in shock over how her old friends had died.
Willow exhaled and looked at her. The tall brunette curled into Angel for comfort. "Why not? It's not like I'll die from lung cancer or anything."
"I meant because they're illegal."
"Oh, and chopping off people's heads isn't?" Willow snapped. She was tired and irritated. All this talk of the past was opening old wounds she had thought long since scarred over.
Spike watched her carefully. He knew her nerves were beginning to fray and if they didn't leave soon the red head would start spouting comments guaranteed to hurt and push everyone away. It was her forte and only defense. 'Don't let anyone close enough to care about and I won't get hurt' was her motto. He had gotten closer to her than anyone, yet he was still on the outer edges of her life.
"Come on. Let's go home," he said, rising to his feet.
"We don't have a home, Spike. Remember? We live in cheep motels," she said. "Do you want a home, Spike? Do you want to settle down? Cuz maybe Angel will let you sleep on his couch until you can find a place of your own."
Spike ignored her words as he grabbed his coat out of the closet. Slipping into it, he stared at her. "Isn't that what you want?" he asked. "To be left alone. No one to care about. No one to care about you."
*No,* she answered silently, but couldn't say the word out loud.
He walked up to her and stood in her personal space. He waited for her to step back or run him through with her sword. She'd done that twice when he dared to invade her space. "Well, you know what, ducks? It doesn't work that way. Cuz I'm never going to stop caring about you, regardless of how many hurtful things you day to drive me away. In my two hundred years, I haven't figured out how to shut off my emotions."
*Like me,* she added silently. Willow stared up into his face. She could see the love in his clear blue eyes. She didn't want to hurt him, but she couldn't stop herself. Over and over again, she hurt him and pushed him away, but he kept coming back for more.
Angel stared at the two of them in awe. He'd never before seen the range of emotions that passed between them in such a short time. Everything from anger to fear to love. "Willow," he stared. "Spike's right. You can't stop us from loving you. We want to help. Any way we can."
The red head was the first to break the staring contest. Looking away, she sighed. "I'm tired," she said.
"Will you be back tomorrow?" Cordy asked.
Thinking about it, she slipped into her jacket. "Maybe."
Without another word, Spike and Willow left the apartment and returned to their motel.
****
"Are you certain it's her?"
"Yes."
"And she's here in LA?"
"Yes."
"I always knew my little toy was a resilient one," he chuckled. "Follow her, but don't let her see you. I don't want to spoil the surprise."
"Of course. What about the vampire?"
"He doesn't concern me. I just want her."
"Very well." Evan Giles ended the call and started his car to follow the pair as they walked down the deserted streets.
****
Part 11
Willow watched the shadows as she moved down the deserted street. Someone or something followed her. She didn’t have the tingling sensation she felt at the presence of another Immortal. The small hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. A light touch on her ankle made her jump. Turning she saw a discarded newspaper. She shook it off her boot and watched an unfelt breeze push it across the pavement.
“Willow,” a deep voice crawled up her spine.
She stopped and every muscle in her body tensed. She looked around to find the source. All she saw was the usual garbage littering the sidewalk.
“Did you think you would escape me forever, my dear?” the voice asked.
“I know that voice,” Willow whispered.
“Of course you do. You wouldn’t forget your master,” he whispered into her ear. “But just in case, here’s a reminder.”
A sharp pain cut across her stomach. With a gasp, she placed a hand over her bare midriff. Removing her hand she saw the thin streak of blood the cut had left. “Aponix.”
“See, you do remember.” This came from the end of the block. He stood grinning at her. With a wave of his hand, Spike appeared before him.
Willow wanted to run to the safety of Spike’s arms, but she was frozen in place.
“And don’t think your vampire can protect you, either,” Aponix warned. With a quick thrust he drove a stake through Spike’s back and into his heart. Before the dust could settle, he chuckled. “Vampires are so easily killed.”
“Spike!” Willow screamed sitting up in bed.
Spike jumped up and pulled the trembling red head into his arms. “Shh. It’s okay. I’m here,” he whispered into her sweat dampened hair.
Her hands clutched at him. She pulled back to assure herself that he was actually here. That he was alive, or undead or whatever you wanted to call a vampire. “You’re here. You weren’t dusted,” she said in a shaky voice.
He smoothed the wild tendrils of hair away from her abnormally pale face. “I’m here, pet. I’m too stubborn to be dusted,” he assured her. Spike pressed his lips to her clammy forehead. “It was just a dream,” he whispered.
She breathed in his scent, trying to calm herself. “It seemed so real.”
“It’s over now.” He held her until she began to relax against him. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Aponix was taunting me. He said he was coming for me. Then you were there and he staked you,” she mumbled into his bare shoulder.
Spike laid her back against the pillows and quickly went to grab a damp washcloth. When he returned, Willow followed his movements with her eyes. He sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her face with the cool cloth.
Willow closed her eyes as Spike washed her face. *It was only a dream. It was only a dream,* she repeated to herself.
Spike stroked the cloth down her slim neck and shoulders. His eyes drifted over her white tank top and noticed the red stain across her stomach. Curious, he lifted the hem and his eyes widened at the cut marring her pale flesh. “How did you get this?” he asked.
Willow opened her eyes and looked at her stomach. “I don’t...Aponix,” she answered. “In my dream, he cut me to remind me who he was,” she said softly.
Spike gently cleaned the cut. “In your dreams, he did this?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
****
“Are you sure about this?” Angel asked.
“Yes. Something’s wrong. I know it,” Cordelia said as she reached around Angel to knock on the door.
Angel heard a faint struggle coming from the motel room. He pressed his ear to the door. When he heard the sound of someone being slapped, the dark vampire pulled back and kicked the door in.
Cordelia let out a started yelp as the cheep wood door caved under Angel’s heavy kick. Immediately, she rushed into the room and found Spike straddling an unconscious Willow. She pulled her sword from its hidden scabbard. “Angel, come in,” she said as she placed the blade to the blonde’s throat. “Get off her,” Cordy said tightly. “And don’t think I won’t hesitate to use this.”
Slowly, Spike removed himself from Willow’s prone body. “You don’t understand,” he said.
Angel quickly checked Willow’s pulse. “You’re right. We don’t understand. I thought you loved Willow.”
“I do.”
“Then why did you hit her?” Angel asked, turning on his childe.
“I’m trying to wake her up. You need to wake her up, Angel. Please,” Spike begged.
Angel knew his childe was not one to beg for anything or anyone. He sat on t he edge of the bed and tried to gently wake the sleeping red head. “Willow, wake up.” With no response he shook her harder. “Willow! Willow!”
The red head moaned at the disturbance. “No, no, no,” she mumbled.
Cordelia realized she had been watching Angel and not Spike. When she returned her attention to the peroxide blonde, she saw the concern and fear in his eyes as he watched the pale red head carefully. She returned her katana to its scabbard.
“Willow! Wake up!” Angel said sharply.
Her green eyes slowly opened and stared blankly at the dark face above her. “Spike?” she asked weakly.
Spike stepped forward and sat on the opposite side of the bed. “I’m here, pet. I’ll always be here.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
“I fell asleep again, didn’t I?” she asked.
He brushed a few strands of hair out of her face. “Yes, you did, but that’s to be expected when you haven’t slept in four days.”
“Four days?” Cordy asked. “Why?”
Spike looked at them. “Aponix comes to here in her dreams and he hurts her. Cuts her. Then the cuts show up in the real world,” he said as he moved the hem of her shirt.
Cordy gasped at the myriad of cuts on Willow’s stomach. Dome were just faint lines while others looked red and angry. “How?” she asked.
“You think if we knew it would still be going on?” Spike snapped. Willow brushed his knee with her hand. “I’m sorry. I haven’t slept much either,” he apologized.
*First, begging and now apologizing. Spike really does love her,* Angel thought.
“Well, there’s only so long Willow can stay awake before she goes insane,” Cordy said.
“What else can we do?” Spike asked.
Cordy and Willow looked at each other and smiled. “Research,” they said in unison.
“Why don’t we pack up you stuff and move this over to our place?” Angel suggested as he pulled a duffel bag out of the closet.