Part 1
"You will pay for this," Angelus spat out.
The red head just laughed. "Will I? Big talk for someone chained to a wall." He amused her as he struggled against his shackles. "Cease your struggles. You won't break free from those chains."
"Pet, as much as I enjoy our new decoration," Spike said as he lit a cigarette. "We still have to feed him, take him for walks, clean up after him. Make sure he doesn't run away from home. Why don't we just stake him?"
Willow plucked the cigarette from his lips and took a drag. "Darling, don't worry so much. As soon as I break my little puppy he'll be as obedient as I want him to be."
"I will kill you, you bitch," Angelus snarled.
Willow held Spike back with a hand on his shoulder. She gave Spike back his smoke. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You always were so short sited, Angelus. You could never see the big picture." She walked up to him and gripped his chin in her tiny hand. "I have more power in my little finger than you could ever dream of. Even she knows that."
Although she couldn't see her, Willow knew Drusilla hid beyond the doorway. Releasing her hold on Angelus she extended her hand to the whimpering vampiress. "Come, my dear. I won't hurt you. Come on," she coaxed.
The dark haired woman moved slowly into the room. She kept her blue eyes focused on the newcomer. Even though she was turned only a few hours ago, Drusilla felt the power emanating from her. It both attracted and frightened her.
When Dru came close enough, Willow cupped her hand around the vampiress' cheek. "You used to love him." She paused as she pulled memories from Drusilla's fractured mind. "And he loved you."
Dru adverted her eyes from the intense green stare. "I'm sorry," she whimpered.
Willow brushed a light kiss across the dark vampiress' lips. "Hush, my dear. Don't fret. I don't blame you. Just as long as you don't trespass again."
Drusilla nodded her acceptance of this woman's ownership.
*****
Buffy burst through the library doors. "Giles! Giles! Where are you?"
she called.
The Watcher rushed out of his office at his Slayer's frantic yelling. "Buffy, what's wrong?"
"It's Willow. She's missing. I did a quick patrol after I dropped her at home. I swung by her place on the way home. Her bedroom light was still on and her balcony doors were wide open." She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a red envelope. "I found this on the floor."
He took the greeting card from her hand. Pulling the card out he read the hand written message on the inside. "Romina and Julian. Why do those names sound so familiar?" Giles muttered as he scratched his head. "Of course, Romeo and Juliet," he exclaimed as he rushed into his office to look for a book.
Buffy stared after her Watcher. "Wait a sec. How did we go from Willow missing to Shakespeare?" she asked as she followed him.
"Shakespeare took the idea from a 16th Century...well, I guess you would call it a tabloid story of the time. This would also fit the prophecy we learned about," he muttered as he searched his volumes for the tale. "Ah, here it is." He opened the heavy volume and searched for the correct page. "Let's see. Romina and Julian. Yes. It's all right here. Interesting."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Hello. Can we fill me in on this story?" she prompted.
"Oh, yes, of course. Romina and Julian were lovers around 1570 or so. Romina was a powerful sorceress. Apparently one of her apprentices secretly loved Julian. I think her name was Alexandra. Anyway she placed a love spell on Julian, but it backfired and Julian hated her with a vengeance. According to legend Alexandra was so angry that she killed Julian."
"A kind of 'if I can't have him no one will' thing?" Buffy asked.
"Exactly. Apparently Romina had placed a spell on herself and Julian that if they were ever parted their souls would continue to search each other out. They would remember their past history when they saw each other again."
"So Willow is this Romina chick. Now we just have to figure out who Julian is. You don't think it 's Angel, do you?"
"No, they would have remembered as soon as they saw each other. Now what did the prophecy say about it."
Buffy tried to think back to what Giles had told them earlier. "The light was turned off or something."
"You were paying attention." He didn't think she actually listen when he talked.
"Maybe I should take a little trip down to the factory and check on Angel." She turned to gather some supplies from the weapon's cabinet. "I stil owe him a Valentine's Day present," she muttered as she tucked a couple of stakes into her jacket pockets.
Part 2
Buffy walked straight up to the factory door. She was just about to
kick the door in when she heard someone call to her.
"Slayer."
Buffy turned to her left. She spotted four vampires chained to the outside wall. "Looks like someone left me a Valentine's Day present," she smirked at the helpless vamps.
"Please, Slayer. Stake us."
"Now why should I do that?"
"It's your job."
She turned to look at the horizon. The night sky was slowly beginning to lighten. "But that would require some effect on my part and I really don't feel like it. The sun will take care of you in a few hours."
"We'll give you information," the last one begged.
"Like what?"
"Angelus isn't in charge anymore," he offered.
"Yeah, right."
"It's true. He's hanging on the wall inside," the first vamp said.
"If Angel's not in charge, then who is?" If this was true she needed to know who had defeated him.
"That would be me."
Buffy turned at the familiar voice behind her. Her jaw dropped. "Willow?" She took a step towards her friend, but something made her stop.
The leather clad red head pushed herself away from the door jamb. "Do you like my little garden gnomes? It's such a shame they'll be dust in a couple of hours."
Each of the chained vamps avoided her direct gaze. Almost as if a look from her would cause them to burst into dust.
"Did he turn you?"
"Who? Angelus? No. He's been a faithful puppy. Would you like to see him? He makes a wonderful wall decoration." She turned and entered the factory. "Don't worry your pretty little head. You're perfectly safe." She paused. "For now."
Hesitantly Buffy followed her into the building. She glanced around looking for an ambush. "Where's Spike and Drusilla?" she asked.
"They're busy cleaning house for me. Apparently there has been some grumbling about my 'hostile' take over," she chuckled. "Those four out front were most vocal about it. They will serve as a lesson to the others."
The first thing Buffy saw when she entered the main room was Angel. He hung by his arms from the far wall. When he saw Willow he started to struggle against his bindings.
"Don't get too close. We haven't finished his obedience training yet," she mused. Seeing him helpless amused her to no end.
"Why?" Buffy asked as she kept her eyes focused on the dark vampire.
"Why not?" she said with a shrug. "You know it's amazing when you think about it. The little nerdy school girl could do what the mighty Slayer could not." Willow smirked as she hopped up onto the table. Swinging her feet, she watched Buffy carefully. "I have a proposition for you."
"What's that?"
"A proposition is a deal between two parties." Buffy glared at the smart ass red head who used to be her sweet friend. Willow leaned back on her hands. "Ooohh. Someone has an attitude. The deal is you leave my chosen few alone and we'll leave you and the rest of the Scooby gang alone."
"How about I just stake you now?" Buffy tossed back.
Her green eyes glittered in amusement as she shook her head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Got to work on those anger management issues, Buff. You couldn't kill your lover; what makes you think you can stake your best friend?"
"My best friend is dead."
Willow sat up as she relented on that issue. "If you want to get technical about it. Let me put this in perspective for you. I've only been a vamp for one night and I was able to subdue Angelus and take control. Do you really think you can take me out?" She watched the blonde as she considered this new information. "I'll let you sleep on it. We'll stop by the library tomorrow for your answer." She jumped down from the table and left the room.
Buffy watched the young woman, who she thought of as a sister, stride confidently out of the room. *Oh, God. Willow,* she moaned silently to herself.
"Release me and I'll help you," Angelus growled.
*Almost forgot about him.* Buffy looked at her ex-lover. "And I should help you because?"
He pulled at his chains. "At this moment, I hate her more than you."
"I remember you and your moments. They don't seem to last very long." She walked up to him. Pulling a stake out of her pocket, she looked him over. His finely muscled chest wasn't quite as enticing as it used to be. His deep brown eyes held a hatred that chilled her to her soul. "I should just stake you right here."
"You don't have the balls," he taunted.
"Oh, but I do. I'm just debating whether or not Willow's obedience training will be more effective. I think I'll sleep on it." She turned to leave. "Oh, I almost forgot. Happy Valentine's Day, lover. Thanks for the flowers, but they had thorns." She thrust the stake into his side. She turned on her heel and left the factory behind.
*****
"Well, Giles. What do you think?" Buffy asked as she watched him pace
across the floor.
"She actually took out Angel?" Xander asked. "Way to go Will."
"It does fulfill the prophecy. She has taken out our current enemy," Giles muttered.
"Yeah, but hello. She's dead. Is anyone not grasping that fact?" Buffy asked.
"Well, she's not really dead," Xander tried to reason. The loss of his best friend was too much to accept.
Cordelia sighed. "She's a soulless demon now, right?"
"Yes," Buffy said just above a whisper.
The library doors flew open with a bang. Willow strode into the room followed closely by Spike on her right and Drusilla on the left. She pulled out a chair and sat down. She glared at the Slayer. "Well?"
Buffy glared back. "Well, what?"
"Don't play games with me, Slayer. I'm not in a good mood today. I had a cranky puppy whining all night about a sliver stuck in his side," she said as she sat back and crossed her arms under her breasts.
Xander couldn't believe the changes in his best friend. Her long red hair was pulled into a high ponytail. Her loose fluffy clothes had been replaced by tight black leather. "Willow?"
"Willow's dead, Xander," Buffy said quietly.
Willow turned her attention to the teenager who had been her friend since forever. "Are you people still on that part? Moving a little slow, aren't you Watcher?" she asked Giles. "Haven't you got to the part where I'm a powerful sorceress, yet. I'll let you fill everyone in after we've left. So, Slayer, what's you're answer. I'm getting bored."
"Who are your chosen ones?" Giles asked.
*Finally, now we're getting somewhere,* she thought. "Spike and Dru, of course," Willow said aloud with a wave of her hand behind her.
"What about Angel?" Buffy asked.
"What about him?"
"Is he part of your chosen few?" she asked.
"Eventually he will be. Don't worry so much about him. I'm keeping him on a very short leash until he learns to obey."
"Is that all?" Giles asked.
"No. There will be a handful of others I haven't selected yet." Willow had yet to weed through her minions to find those worthy of her gift.
"How many more?"
"How about an even trade between our camps?" At the Slayer's confusion, Willow clarified things. "You have five members in your little troop. Giles, Xander, Cordy, Oz and yourself. I get five chosen ones."
"Including yourself?" she asked.
"No. I'll be fair game."
"Fine. But no feeding from the local population," Buffy demanded.
Drusilla whimpered at loosing her food supply. She was silenced by a flick of Willow's wrist. "Done." *Buffy was learning the fine art of negotiation.*
"How will we know your chosen ones?"
"You'll know. Bored now." She pushed back the chair and turned on her heel. "Remember. If you come after mine you will wish Angelus was running amuck." She called as the door closed behind Drusilla and Spike.
******
"We can't eat," Dru moaned as they walked through the empty hallways
of the high school.
"Don't fret, deary. We may have to order take out for a while, but the Slayer will break this truce soon enough," Willow said as she paused before a locker door.
"You have a plan spinning in that devious mind of yours," Spike said as he watched his lover and childe rip the metal door off the hinges.
She reached into the locker and removed some of the books she had left there. She knew the combination, it was her locker after all, but this was more fun. "Of course, I have a plan. I always have a plan."
Part 3
Spike leaned back in his chair and set his feet on the table. "How long are we going to keep him chained to the wall, ducks?"
"Who's in charge, Angelus?" she asked not looking up from her book.
Angelus glared at the red headed bitch. He refused to answer her stupid questions. As soon as he was free he would torture her and maybe if he was in a good mood he'd stake her.
Willow smiled at his defiance. "I think a few more days should do it," she said as she turned a page in her book.
"Whatcha reading, pet?" Spike asked. He was beyond bored, but Willow had set the rules.
"One of the Watcher's spell books," she said. She pulled a cigarette out of Spike's pack and lit the tip. As she inhaled, the front door burst open.
There was a commotion in the front hall before Buffy and Kendra made their way into the main room. "Your vamps are tearing up the town," Buffy said.
Willow leaned back in her chair. "What no hello? How ya doing? Where are your manners, Slayer?" Buffy just glared at her. "I told you before you can stake who ever you want. Doesn't matter to me. Those losers don't belong to me. Those who choose to disobey me get what they deserve."
A crowd of vamps surrounded the two Slayers. The Slayers had broken into their lair and they weren't feeling too hospitable about it. They followed Willow because they were more afraid of her then the Slayer and her band.
Kendra wasn't too happy about the agreement Buffy had made with a vampire. It went against every instinct she possessed. A slayer was supposed to stake vampires not bargain with them.
"Tell them to back off, Willow," Buffy said between her clenched teeth.
"You invade my home and expect my people to be all joyous over it? We had a deal, Slayer. I've kept my end. None of my crew had done anything to this town. It's not my fault you two can't do your job," Willow growled.
"I can do my job just fine," Kendra said in her Jamaican accent. Sensing a vamp behind her she spun and trust her stake into its heart.
Buffy tried to stop her, but Kendra was too fast. She watched in shock as Drusilla burst into dust. "Oh, God. No. Willow, she didn't know."
Willow stood so quickly that her chair fell backwards. She was across the room in moments. Her fingers gripped the dark Slayer's throat. She threw her across the room knocking her unconscious before she turned her golden eyes on the blonde.
"Please, Willow, she didn't know." Buffy knew she'd made a mistake bringing Kendra with her tonight.
"And who's fault is that, Slayer? You knew Dru was off limits. It was your responsibility to tell her. Not that you're much on responsibility. I suggest you leave now while you still have the chance." She waived her hand to part the pack of vampires behind Buffy.
"What about Kendra?"
Willow just stared at the blonde.
"Another will be called," Buffy warned.
"Only if I kill her."
Buffy realized that her options had just run out. She cast a quick glance at the unconscious Slayer and left the building before Willow changed her mind. She felt bad, but she was out numbered twenty to one. *Hang in there, Kendra. I'll get you out somehow,* she promised silently.
"I want reports on all of them. No one touches them without my orders. Go!" Willow said as she walked over to the fallen Slayer. She squated down next to the dark skinned girl. Grabbing her hair in her fist she looked down into her dark eyes as they fluttered open. "Thank you, Slayer. You served me so well that I'm going to keep you alive for a while." Turning to the two of her strongest fledglings she ordered, "Unchain Angelus and put her in his place."
She moved to Spike who stood over the spot where Drusilla met her end. She set a hand on his shoulder. "Was this part of you're wonderful plan?" he growled at her.
"No." She leaned into his side. "I had planned on sacrificing one of the others. Not Dru. I know you loved her. I would never do that to you, my love."
"You bitch," Angelus yelled as he was freed. "I will kill you."
Willow turned to him. "Don't blame me for Drusilla. Your little Buffy did this. Just remember, Angelus, I am still in charge. I put you in those chains, I released you from them, and I can put you back just as easily."
Angelus felt the power she held. Reluctantly, he backed down. He would just have to bide his time until he could make his move. One thing he did learn from the red headed bitch was patience.