Chapter 13

Tara followed Willow down the stairs into the ransacked basement. The redhead noticed the boxes she had placed around Buffy had been thrown all around the unfinished space, making her trek to the corner difficult.

Spike hung back, not wanting to get to close to Willow. He was afraid he'd grab her by the throat. His blood was boiling, fully aware of what she was becoming. He waited till both witches were in the corner, then moved boxes out of the way, to make a path. He would be taking Buffy out of here as soon as she could be moved.

Tara watched in horror as her lover’s eyes went black, a myriad of black veins beginning to cover her skin as she chanted out her spell. The magic she was using was old and very black itself.

When Buffy’s body first came into view it was transparent, but built mass quickly. She had been propped up against the wall in the corner, sitting partially slumped over, and had an old moving blanket covering her legs. Her skin was pale and her breathing shallow. The only sign of life was her eyes—moving rapidly underneath her closed lids—and the slight rise and fall of her chest.

Spike could hear her heartbeat; slow, but steady. A lump firmly wedged in his throat, he asked Tara, “Can I move her?” A single tear fell from each eye as he waited for the girl’s response.

Willow had finished her chanting and was sitting on the floor, catching her breath. The spell to hide Buffy’s body had been difficult. She could feel her body slowly, gradually, returning to its previous state.

Tara walked around Willow and knelt beside Buffy’s slack body. Picking up her friend’s limp, lifeless hand, she checked her pulse. There was no normal waving aura around the body, only a slight flicker of gold near the surface of her skin. Tara wasn’t sure what it meant, but she sensed that Buffy wasn’t in there. This was just the shell of her friend. “She seems to be ok, kind of like a trance. But Spike, I don’t think her soul is here.”

Terror washed over Spike as his brain tried to grasp what the blonde had just told him. Will Buffy wake from this state soulless? Can her body sustain life without its soul? He rushed to her, roughly tossing the dirty blanket away from his love’s legs. The anger coursing through his veins forced his vampire face to burst forth. Carefully lifting Buffy’s limp body, pulling her close to his chest, he started for the stairs. He growled loudly at Willow before leaving the basement. “I want you out of this house and far away from Buffy, until you can fix this. You know that using dark magick always has a price. What price were you willing to pay, Willow? Were you prepared to lose her again? Well, I’m bloody well not. Get your things, and go work on your spell, wherever it was you were. Tara and I will tend to her body.” Spike choked on his own words. “While you work on fixing this. And don’t come back until you can.” With that said, Spike cradled Buffy in his arms as he took her body to her room.

Tara watched as the vampire gingerly carried his lover up the stairs. His aura blended with what was left of Buffy’s, seeming to cause Buffy’s to burn a little brighter. It looked like his touch improved her state. Maybe Buffy is aware that she’s not in her body and trying to reach out to him. Crying for help… Oh Goddess, she’s lost and is trying to get back. Willow, what have you done?

Willow started to get up, feeling her strength return.

“Sit down.” Tara found strength she didn’t know she had to stand up to Willow.

“But, baby, don’t be mad. Let me explain what happened. I’m really close to figuring this all out, and then you’ll see that I did a good thing.” Willow was walking over to Tara, arms outstretched.

Tara raised her hand, whispering a single word, causing an invisible shield to form around her. “Willow, it’s time for you to go, just like Spike said. Get your things together quickly and leave this house. Your invitation will be revoked until you can prove you’re trustworthy again.”

Willow tried to interrupt, desperate to explain her side, but Tara continued talking, silencing her.

"Willow, you have crossed a line that should never have been crossed. Bringing dark magick back into this home after all that’s happened... You’ve become selfish and careless. You never think of how things will affect others, and you have hurt us all. We cannot consider forgiving you until you have righted your wrong. I suggest that you look for a way to bring her back without the use of the black arts, as you will not be able to use them here. It’s time for you to go.” Tara felt a surge of power, unknown till that very moment, flood her body. She was infused with an inner strength, probably similar to what Willow felt when she practiced her dark magick, but on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.

“Tara, please listen to me. I did this for Buffy because she asked me. Why are you siding with Spike? He’s a soulless demon. Chipped, yes, but still a vampire. You trust him more than me? And you trust him with Buffy? Come on, sweetie, drop the shield so we can make up.” She tested the shield’s strength once more, shocking herself badly.

Tara raised her hand once more. “Willow, you have been asked nicely to leave, but if you don’t do it now, I will make you. Once more, get your things.”

Willow felt betrayed. By both of them, but mostly, Tara. Gathering her things from the basement, she started for the stairs.

“I need to get some clothes, is that ok with you?" The snotty comment was just a taste of the anger growing inside her.

“Make it quick. Spike and I need to care take care of your mess on this end,” Tara explained as she followed the angry redhead up the stairs to their shared room, prepared to use her own magick if needed.

Tara watched Willow closely as she packed a bag, aware of the muffled sobbing coming from Buffy’s room. Poor Spike. I need to get Willow out of here so I can see if there’s anything I can do to help Buffy.

Willow made quick work of her packing, stopping in the bathroom to get her toiletries. She wanted to get out of the house now; anger was beginning to take over.

Willow quickly descended the stairs, fully aware that Tara was following her, making sure she left. Hand on the front door, she turned toward Tara. “I have my cell on if you can find time to talk to me, maybe even listen to my side of story,” she snapped. “Or just go hang out with that disgusting creature just like Buffy. Maybe you’ve decided to change teams.” Willow’s face suddenly looked more hurt than angry. “I thought we knew each other. You have to know I would never hurt Buffy.”

“Willow, I don’t think you would ever hurt anyone intentionally, but you’ve hurt us all with this spell. I hope you come back soon, with a way to fix this mess. Before something worse happens.”

Willow stared at Tara for a second before leaving, crushed at the turn of events, devastated that the girl had not chosen to take her side. I would have listened to her. Tears threatened to fall as she made her way back to the mansion. At least she had a place to go.

Willow thought about Tara and Spike, and her anger turned to sorrow. She knew she’d never get her ex-girlfriend back after everything, and what she’d said about her changing teams. Willow always knew Tara was strong, but it never occurred to her that she would be the usually sweet girl stood up to. In a way, she was proud, even above her own pain.

Tara would prevent her from entering the house again; she even knew which spell she would use. But Tara lived there, and Willow wouldn’t be able to break it. “She’s mad at me for using magick on Buffy, but it’s ok for her to use it on me?” Willow was talking to herself as she reached the mansion. She had already set up the main living area with all of her magick supplies; candles were everywhere, just waiting to be lit. She even had some food there. She knew that there were beds left over from when Angel had set up house, so she figured she’d be comfortable sleeping there too if she needed. Sleep was really the furthest thing from her mind, however, as she approached the long table with what looked like something from a science lab. “Maybe I can veil the black magick so that Tara won’t know that’s what I’m using. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. No need to start all over, I know I’m close.”


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Buffy’s sleep that night was filled with strange, disturbing dreams. Kaia felt them too. She dreamt of Spike. She woke remembering very little, but what she did remember, was an overwhelming feeling of grief. It made her homesick for all she’d left behind.

She didn’t have time to be thinking about Sunnydale or anything in it right now; there were much more pressing matters at hand. She feared anyone finding out about Kaia’s period arriving, and their new cave wasn’t quite ready yet. What she really needed to do was plan a night trip to investigate whether or not Groma’s stories were true. She also wanted to test Kaia’s reflexes in full fighting mode if possible.

“Groma,” Buffy whispered.

Groma looked up from her early morning tasks. “Yes, child, what is it?”

Buffy moved closer to her so that she didn’t have to speak up. “I want to stay in the cave tonight. I need to see what dangers we will face as the darkness falls, but it would also allow me to be away from prying eyes while it is my time. Do you think I could pull it off? I mean, do you think there’s a way for me to do it with out alerting Kahn?” Buffy was helping Groma with her tasks, just as she had done every other morning since her arrival. Only now, she did them as routine. She enjoyed working with the woman, learning the way of her people. Sunnydale was fresh in her mind, making her realize that even despite the stress Kahn was causing, she was still more at ease there than in her everyday life back at home.

“I will arrange it, if you are sure you can handle whatever you may face.” Groma looked to her with concern.

“Not only am I sure, but I’m looking forward to it.”