Chapter 14


Groma packed Buffy’s bag as they prepared for their day, collecting roots and herbs outside the cave, making sure to include extra food for Buffy’s stay in the new cave. She was nervous, but she understood this needed to happen, and soon.

Clouds covered the sun most of the day, leaving an ominous feeling in the air. Buffy and Groma went about their normal daily gathering until mid afternoon, when the older woman gave her the nod.

They had worked out how Buffy would get away. The nod meant it was time for her to be heading back to the cave, only to circle back through the nearby woods and continue her trek to the new cave. Groma would pile the furs high at their hearth, making it appear like Kaia had retired early. If questioned by Hourak, Groma would say Kaia was feeling ill, and that her time was possibly near, figuring that Kahn would be excited to hear that news.

Buffy made sure that she was seen heading back, walking in the open among the other cave residents. As soon as she was sure no one was watching, she hurried back into the woods. She hoped to make it there before nightfall. She had been able to whittle a few decent stakes at the hearth, the past few nights, and they were hidden in her pack, ready when and if needed.

To make sure she wasn’t creating an obvious path, she took a different route each time she traveled to her new lodgings. There were risks to not having a regular path too, she knew, and she hoped her senses would still work in Kaia’s body. She had felt a familiar tingle at the back of her neck once before, and hoped she hadn’t imagined it. She was actually looking forward to something normal from her real life, and dusting her first vamp here fit the bill.

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Kahn had been lurking just inside the cave entrance, watching for Kaia to return, hoping that she might be alone. He was trying to memorize their schedule, needing to find a time when, if Kaia was missing, no one would know to even go looking for her.

Just when he was growing bored watching all the productive members of the clan, he spotted her, her white blond hair, flowing behind her as she hurried toward the cave. He hid his body from view, but made sure he could still see her. She was getting close, so he retreated to the shadows, anxiously awaiting her to enter the cave. When she didn’t appear, he quickly looked again, only to find her rushing off into the woods. Grabbing a hide drying on a rack in the sun, he took off after her. A devious smile crept across his face as he stealthily followed her into the shaded forest.


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Tara stood, right hand on the door, as Willow walked away from the house. This had been their home, and Tara knew things could never be the same. Her heart broke as she recounted all the good memories they’d shared within those walls, only to be tarnished by the bad ones they were encountering now. The Willow she knew was gone.

Wiping away her tears, she cast the spell against her one true love, preventing her from entering again, then added a clause to her spell, preventing anyone from ever lifting it. Should Willow’s heart be true, and should she come back seeking forgiveness, she would be given permission to cross the threshold once forgiven by all who resided within.

She realized she would need to discuss with Spike whether Dawn or either of them had to be protected as well, but it wasn’t the time for that. For the moment, they needed to see what—if anything—they could do for Buffy.

On the top landing, Tara stopped to listen for Spike, cautious in case he wanted privacy with Buffy.

Spike wiped the tears from his eyes, and gently kissed his Slayer’s mouth, hoping that she would stir just a bit, give a sign she was still in there, but nothing happened. Spike hoarsely whispered, “Please, luv, come back to me. I need you…” He heard Tara in the hallway.

“Come in, Glinda.” Seeing the questioning look in her eyes, he added, “Vampire hearing, remember? ”

She smiled, glad that he had stopped crying. Buffy had been changed into a clean nightgown, and tucked into her bed. Spike had washed her face and brushed her hair. She looked like she was just asleep.

“She looks like…” Tara began, only to have him complete her sentence.

“Sleeping Beauty. I know, and no, a kiss didn’t wake her.” Spike tried to smile, knowing Tara was going through a lot too. “Her heartbeat is strong, steady. I don’t know what more I can do for her. At least here she will be more comfortable.”

Tara wasn’t sure what to do first. “Spike, I need to do some research about her aura, but I also need to research more about tracking her. I need you to tell me everything that you know about Kaia. Maybe I can figure a way to get a message to her. Maybe she has seen Buffy. I’m grasping at straws, but maybe one will pan out.”

“I have faith in you, Tara. Have a seat and let’s start with what I do know.” Spike sat on the edge of the bed, offering the upholstered chair to her.

The vampire told her about the dreams Buffy had shared with him shortly after her resurrection. He told her about Kaia, and the cave, and the clan. He shared that Buffy had been convinced that Kaia was in trouble and needed her, that the Slayer had been a type of guardian angel to the girl after she died. He also told her that, somehow, Buffy had still been receiving the messages from Kaia in the form of dreams after she’d been brought back. “I don’t know of anything else. Does that give you enough to go on? Please tell me you have an idea…” The lump in his throat had returned.

Tara’s face beamed. Not only did she have an idea, but she knew exactly how to proceed. It wouldn’t be easy, but she would do it.

“Spike, I need to speak with the Oracles. I will need to cast a locator spell for their nearest portal, but they should have all the information we need to find her. The Powers That Be will help if they want their champion back.” Tara was happy she could help Buffy, but a bit anxious of talking to the Oracles. She’d never communed directly with a higher power, but her time had come.