In His Shadow, Book 2: The Shadow of Angelus

 

Summary: Previously, Buffy gives the bad news about Angelus to Willow and Tara. Gnash plots some more. Spike broods. Xander has a night out then saves a woman. Angel heads back to Sunnydale. Xander finds the mysterious orb Gnash left for him.

 

 

Chapter 5: Of Orbs and Unexpected Company

 

“It’s beautiful,” Buffy said as she held the orb up to get a closer look. “Where did you say you got this again?”

 

“A woman dropped it, I think. Or maybe the vampire dropped it. The vampire I scared away,” Xander added.

 

Buffy nodded and resisted the urge to tell Xander that he’d told them about scaring the vampire away ten times already. Instead she asked him, “But why would a vampire want an orb? The only orbs I’ve been aware of so far? Not the kind of things a vampire would want. With the orb of Thessula, it was more the opposite. And that orb thingy that came with Glory? She didn’t seem too happy about that.” She handed the orb to Willow to examine.

 

“This one is almost mesmerizing,” Willow said as she stared deeply into the prisms of color. “So many beautiful colors.”

 

“B-be careful, though. Looks can be deceiving,” Tara warned. “I don’t get friendly vibes from that thing.”

 

“Really?” Willow asked with some disappointment.

 

“You can get vibes from an orb?” Xander asked.

 

“Well, not like with live entities,” Tara answered, but her brow furrowed like she was a bit confused. “This one though… I don’t know. It’s not normal.”

 

“Well, that would be the usual for us then,” Buffy quipped. “Normal does not describe our lives. Oh, but Angel should be here soon. Maybe he can help us figure it out.”

 

“A very good example of the abnormality of our lives,” Xander joked. He reached for the orb in Willow’s grasp, but she frowned exaggeratedly and pulled it away from him, motioning to his hands which were coated with powdered sugar.

 

“You should be used to Angel by now,” Buffy said.

 

Wiping his hands on his slacks, Xander smirked at her. “Well considering he now lives in Spike’s body, and that Spike sometimes comes out to visit, I think we can legitimately place that back in the abnormal category.” He took another bite of his donut, this time being careful to keep the powdered sugar from getting everywhere.

 

Buffy sighed. “Fine. I’m a weirdo.” Raising her chin, she gave a smile. “See not so bad. Didn’t hurt a bit.” Her mouth returned to a frown as she faced Willow. “But unfortunately, I still have to try and find out more about Angelus’ return. So Willow if you could…”

 

Xander’s choking interrupted her. “Angelus’ what?”

 

Willow pouted. “We didn’t tell you?”

 

“I think I would’ve remembered something like that!” Xander pointed out indignantly as he waved his donut for emphasis.

 

“Oh, sorry, Xan,” Buffy apologized. “We kinda got distracted by your orb, but that’s why we’re here researching. I had a slayer dream, and in it Angelus said he was coming back here.”

 

“And the bad just keeps on coming,” Xander said.

*********

Angelus was hungry again, and he was bored. Now that Gnash was bringing him people to eat, it just made the in between times that much more monotonous. His benefactor had told him there was only so much he could do about that, however. Time moved more quickly where Angelus was, so Gnash would have a hard time keeping him in fresh bodies without attracting suspicion. In fact, the demon told him last time he brought someone – a young man this time to make the hunt that much more interesting – that it had only been a day for him since he’d brought the woman. For Angelus, it had been almost a week. He’d tried to make this one last, not killing him the first time he’d fed or the second time either. By the third day of being hunted and bitten though, the young man had finally showed signs of succumbing, so Angelus finished him off: after he’d imagined that he was Angel or Spike and acted out just what he planned to do to them if he had the chance.

 

He vaguely wondered which of the two would receive his wrath, which one had control. He supposed it would be Angel, and that would be fitting, because he certainly would like to get revenge for all those years he had to spend trapped in tedium. Spike though, that would be a nice trip down memory lane. He really should have disciplined that boy more, and maybe he wouldn’t have ended up the disgrace of a demon he’d become. Angelus scoffed. Who knew that someone from his family would be so reckless and driven by emotion? Maybe it had something to do with who William had been, or maybe it was because Drusilla had been so unpredictable herself. Angelus sighed. Now he was even boring himself. Who the hell cared why the two were like they were? He’d just make sure they regretted it.

 

It almost made him wish Gnash would bring him another young man to eat again this next time.

*********

“I found it! Look!” Willow said excitedly as she held up a battered volume, her finger tucked inside to mark the place.

 

“Where’d you find it?” Buffy asked.

 

“It was in this box of books, here.” She motioned to a box of books on the table with her head.

 

“Um, Will, I hope you didn’t take any of those books out of the box, and um, you know, misplace them?” Xander said.

 

Willow gave him an odd look and again held up her prize. “Book we need. Yay,” she reminded him.

 

“Yes, I’m all for the excitement of finding the info we needed, but those are new books for the shop. That Anya hasn’t gone through, yet,” Xander added as he pointed to the box. “And now the box looks half empty. Not yay.”

 

“She’ll forgive us this one time. I’m sure. We’ll show her the orb when she gets here. Convince her it might be worth something,” Willow suggested.

 

“I think we better find out what it is before we suggest releasing it on an unsuspecting public, honey,” Tara lightly chided her lover.

 

“Oh, of course,” Willow agreed. “Research first. Potential riches later.” She smiled widely at Tara and sat next to her at the table.

 

Xander looked at the list of books on the packing slip he’d retrieved and then back to the box. “While you guys do that, I think I’ll have another donut and try to find where these books might have gone to.”

 

Buffy smiled. “She may not be a vengeance demon anymore, but you still fear the wrath of Anya, huh Xan?”

 

“She’s had much experience, and we all know how she is about her inventory.”

 

Buffy groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

 

“I second that thought,” Willow said from her seat at the table. Her eyes hadn’t left the pages. “Darn!” she exclaimed suddenly.

 

“Well it least it wasn’t an uh oh,” Buffy remarked. “What’s the matter, Will?”

 

“There’s almost a whole page missing. I mean, I can tell from what’s here that the orb is powerful and can enhance a person’s magical abilities, but I’m not exactly sure how it enhances their abilities.”

 

“In other words, we don’t know how to activate it?” Tara asked. She sounded almost hopeful.

 

“No, it tells here how to activate it. I’m just a little fuzzy on what happens after that. Oh, maybe there’s another reference to it here somewhere.” Willow moved over to the bookcases, her face scrunched in concentration but her eyes bright with anticipation.

 

Tara didn’t like this one bit. Willow looked excited, excited enough that she might throw caution to the wind when they didn’t have enough information about what this orb did exactly.

 

“Yes, good, I’ll help you,” Tara encouraged. She quickly perused the pages Willow had been studying, looking for any clue that might lead to a new reference to search. She saw the orb’s box and briefly considered letting the object have a tragic accident, but she noticed Willow held it in one hand as she traced her finger across the book spines with the other. No, not good at all, she thought.

*********

Gnash was itching to act. The boy Harris was coming closer to discovering that the book Willow held hadn’t been on the original inventory. Fortunately for him, the witch had done a good job of spreading the books around into piles with other books after she’d searched them, good for keeping the already perused books away from those not searched, but not helpful for Xander’s quest to get them all back in the box. Despite him getting closer, Gnash didn’t want to act quite yet though, because two more members of their party had yet to arrive, and he wanted everyone present before he acted. In a way, it might be safer to do it now, but in another, it would be just that more effective when the ex-demon and the vampire got there. Either Angel or Anya would no doubt recognize the disguise he would use and could inform the others how difficult it would be to save their friend. A Vishnak demon was known for being powerful, ruthless, and most of all conniving: always with an agenda, even if that agenda often was an insane one.

 

It was a good plan. The one problem: where he planned to stash the boy wasn’t the most hospitable place. He decided he better devise a method of protection for him while he waited, because the boy certainly was going to need it. Oh, and look, the ex-demon girl had just arrived. She’d never figure out about the book in time, because she hadn’t heard where the witch had found it, but she was sure to take the next part of his plan very badly. Gnash chuckled. This was going to be fun.

*********

Angel was surprised to find that everyone was still at the Magic Box when he arrived. Anya let him in and smiled pleasantly at him. “How was your trip?” she asked in her usual overly-polite manner.

 

“Angel!” Buffy said, rushing up to wrap her arms around him. “Yes, how was your trip?”

 

Sighing, Angel took a moment to melt into her embrace before he answered. “Long. Spike was brooding. As if I wasn’t worried enough already.” He made a face. “So I had to listen to tapes of the Ramones and the Clash the whole second half of the trip just to distract him.”

 

Xander chuckled. “Oh that must have been awful.” Then he stopped what he was doing abruptly as if he realized that he had just brought attention to himself.

 

As if to justify his concern, Anya looked at him accusingly. “Xander, what are you doing with my brand new book shipment?”

 

Xander looked like a deer-in-the-headlights. Angel supposed it was a common look on him since he met the ex-demon. The others seemed to be oh so casually moving away from the caught Xander.

 

“It wasn’t me,” he insisted. “I said they shouldn’t touch them.”

 

“Well, they either didn’t listen to you, or you told them after the fact,” she replied.

 

Willow raised her eyebrows, looking impressed enough that Angel figured one of Anya’s guesses was correct. But as entertaining as seeing Xander get in trouble might be, Angel decided they better get down to business. It was time to bail him out.

 

Buffy beat him to it. “It was our fault Anya, but we do have a bit of a crisis. That’s why we asked you to come help us.”

 

Anya rolled her eyes. “So what else is new? What is it this time? You were kinda vague about that part, but I figured if I was going to get you out of here in time to get in a good day’s business, I better come over now. So, is it nasty demons? An upcoming apocalypse?”

 

“Angelus is coming back,” Buffy stated.

 

Anya furrowed her brow. “But he’s just a vampire, right? We stake him. No problem.”

 

“He’s a vampire that knows all about us,” Xander explained.

 

“And knows how to use that against us,” Buffy added.

 

Willow put in her two cents next. “And it’s probably going to take some major magic to get him back here, so somewhere there has to be a powerful force at work to make this happen.”

 

“And I’m guessing that force is not one of the good kind.” Buffy looked then as if she’d just realized something. “So could it be possible that Angelus might be a symptom of something worse? Of some major evil brewing?”

 

“As if Angelus isn’t bad enough,” Xander complained. “No offense Angel but your evil twin sucks.”

 

“No argument here,” Angel agreed.

 

“I mean he made Spike look almost nice…”

 

“Don’t let Spike hear you say that,” Angel teased. “Oops, he probably already did somewhere in here.” He pointed to his head.

 

Willow looked up. “Well, having been almost bitten by both of them, Spike twice, or three times if you count that time on parent/teacher night when I had to hide in a closet with Cordelia which was a whole ‘nother sort of evil.” She shuddered dramatically. “I can say they were both pretty bad. Spike just changed somehow.”

 

“A good migraine inducing chip will do that to you,” Xander chided.

 

Tara looked up. “Well, I didn’t really know him very well when he was evil, but he did help us a lot, and the chip didn’t make him do that. Things would have been much harder that summer Buffy was… gone without his help.”

 

“Well, no one look at me,” Anya added, momentarily looking up from her search for her missing books. “I found him just as interesting when he was evil. We shared a common bond then – he was newly chipped, I’d just lost my powers. We commiserated over drinks.” She frowned at her packing slip then, and didn’t add anything else as she once again became engrossed in the search for her misplaced inventory.

 

“Well, I agree boring never really was a word I’d use for Spike,” Buffy said. “But I don’t think even you’d have appreciated him pre-chip, Anya.”

 

Anya looked up again. “Well, maybe when I was Anyanka…” she hinted wistfully.

 

No one seemed to want to dwell on that thought any further, so Angel decided to add his own opinion. “He has changed. At least enough that I’m okay with having him in here.” He pointed to his head. “I never would have done the binding spell with Angelus.”

 

“And I wouldn’t have let you either,” Buffy said. Putting her arms around him, she got on her tip toes and kissed his forehead. “That’s for Spike,” she said. “Now enough of the trip down twisted memory lane. Updates? Angel? Got any ideas? How proficient is Angelus at magic?”

 

“Pretty good for a vampire,” Angel admitted.

 

“But not good enough to get back here from where I sent him,” Willow asserted. “No, I think we’re pretty much in a ‘big Evil is helping Angelus’ situation here.  Major magic involved. Sorry, Buffy, but I think you were probably right earlier with Angelus maybe being a symptom. Good try though.” Then she looked as if her thought process had reminded her of something. “Oh! Major magic!” She turned to Angel. “Xander found this. Does it look at all familiar? I think it’s a Tapas orb, but one of the pages to this book is missing.”

 

Angel frowned at the orb. “I can’t say as I’ve heard of one. What does it do?”

 

“It’s supposed to enhance a person’s magical abilities. Sort of like an amplifier.”

 

“Without the need for electricity or the potential for loud, annoying feedback. At least I hope not,” Xander quipped.

 

Angel watched everyone give Harris blank stares. Inwardly, he smiled. Some things never changed.

 

“Like with a musical instrument amplifier,” Xander clarified. “And the ‘check, check’ then the annoying squeal?”

 

Willow smiled at him “Dated a band member, remember? But you’re right about the squealing part. The orb would definitely lose all its appeal for me if anything like that happens.”

 

“There’s potential squealing now? There isn’t a pig involved all of a sudden is there?” Buffy joked.

 

“God, I hope not, because that sort of squeal also has little appeal, along with the whole wallowing in mud aspect.” Xander said, his face showing that he was seemingly pleased that someone decided to join him in the “let’s trivialize our problems so they don’t overwhelm us” banter.

 

Of course, looking back on it later, Angel should have known that was a sure sign that something terrible was about to happen.

*********

Yes, good, Xander thought as he smiled genuinely at Buffy’s joke. This is how it should be. Us working all together. We’ll figure this out. Looking once again at the book he held, the one filled with weird words and hardly any pictures, he started to have doubts.  He glanced up again at the off chance he might engage someone in another joke. Nope. Everyone was working. Okay this is bad, he mused. My optimism already wore off. That might be a record. Come on, Xander, you can do this. You scared away a vampire tonight. He smiled at that thought, his confidence renewed.  Nothing can stop us now. Then he heard a sound, an almost electrical static. “I just never learn, do I?” he muttered just before a horrendous looking demon grabbed him.

 

He had just enough time to hear Anya scream his name and see the horrified looks on his friends’ faces before a strange and unpleasant feeling overtook his body. The next thing he knew he was in a weird room, his body momentarily disorientated. He fell to a seated position as the demon moved to stand in front of him. Then it changed. Instead of the flashy, horned, and strangely coiffed demon he’d seen grab him, in its place stood a sturdy ox of a demon with black eyes, talons, and slightly scaly skin in a color that vaguely reminded him of Kermit the Frog. Weirder still, it spoke in perfect English.

 

“Here, you’re going to need this.” The demon held out a chain which held a large, globe pendant. “I suggest you put it on.”

 

“Who are you? Why am I here?”

 

The demon smiled, though the effect was more unnerving than amusing. “Sorry. This evil villain doesn’t tell all his secrets, even if the hero isn’t supposed to be around afterwards.”

 

Xander laughed nervously. “Not one for clichés, huh? But it always works in the movies.” He eyed the chain skeptically.

 

“If you don’t put it on, you’ll die. I can almost guarantee that.”

 

Xander sighed and took the chain in a slightly shaking hand. It felt heavy as he slipped it on, and he almost expected to catch on fire or turn into a toad as soon as it settled around his neck. Nothing happened except a slight, momentary tingling sensation. As he settled the odd necklace on his chest, he caught site of a door.

 

The demon moved his body slightly to block his path to the exit before Xander even had the chance to try for it.

 

“Don’t make me chase you. You won’t like it if I get mad.”

 

I already don’t like it,” he replied.

 

“Well, you’ll like it less. Now listen carefully. You can continue to be scared, just pay attention while doing it.”

 

Eyes darting back to the demon’s, Xander tried to keep them there without totally losing his barely restrained sanity. His brain, however, kept chanting Oh, God. Oh, God.

 

The demon continued. “This pendant will keep you safe. There isn’t much magic where you’re going so you’ll need to keep it on at all times. It’s like a small piece of magic energy trapped in there. Without it, the protection spells I’m about to cast on you won’t work, and then well… let’s just say it will be messy.”

 

Xander wanted to ask more questions, but was afraid to interrupt the demon as he cast his spells. Either they really were protection spells and he’d mess them up, or they were evil spells and he’d mess them up. Either way the results were likely to be bad. Good, the need for quiet will give me time to calm down, he thought, but the spells were over quickly, so Xander blurted out a question anyway. “What do I need protection from? And why do you want to protect me? You are the bad guy, right? Stupid, you’re not supposed to remind the evil demon that he’s the bad guy.

 

“I need you alive for now. That’s all you need to know. Oh, and that if you lose that pendant, you won’t last long.” He dumped a good-sized leather bag on his lap. “Better hold on to this, too. It’s enough food and water for a few days. I’m not sure when I’ll be there next.”

 

“Days?” Xander almost choked.

 

“Well days for you, not for me. Don’t worry, you’ll have company.” The demon chuckled and Xander began to suspect he’d rather not have whatever company he referred to. “Hold on tight to your bag. This first step is a doozy.” He raised his taloned fingers.

 

“Wait, wait. Can’t I just stay here? I won’t be a problem at all… Ungh!”

 

Okay that spell was quick too, Xander thought from his new position on his back. The surface wasn’t the most comfortable, but the aching in his entire body made him decide to stay put for the moment. Instead, he checked to see that he still held his leather bag and that his pendant was intact. He closed his eyes and tried to think of what he should do now, or at least what he should do as soon as his body stopped hurting.

 

“Oh good, I was staring to get hungry.”

 

I know that voice, Xander thought. Don’t open your eyes. Don’t open your eyes.

 

“Oh, come on, Xander. It’ll be more fun if your eyes aren’t closed.” His new companion encouraged.

 

Xander opened his eyes. Stupid! Of course now that he saw, there was no denying it. Angelus! My company is Angelus! Suddenly Xander wished he were back with the scaly demon again.

 

The vampire moved closer then crouched beside him. Xander watched Angelus’ hand extend to touch his shoulder, almost mesmerized. It made no sense to even try to move. In his state, his body wouldn’t make it more than a few steps before he was caught. Just as the hand was about to make contact, Angelus yanked his hand back as it if it had been scorched.

 

“What the f…?” He tried again with the same result.

 

At first Xander watched the vampire’s eyes flash in frustration and barely restrained rage as the demon paced like a trapped animal, but then his look seemed to change, the rage replaced by resignation and… amusement? Angelus walked back and looked down at him.

 

“So I guess you’re not dinner after all. Doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun, huh, Harris?” He crouched beside him again. “We can discuss old times, like the many ways you always seem to end up in these situations. And I can tell you all about my plans for what I’ll do to your friends when I get back to Sunnydale.” He smiled evilly. “Later you can watch me hunt. I’m sure the next one will be a nice, ripe young thing. You can watch me hunt her down.” He leaned down close to his ear. “Maybe I’ll give you first crack at her.”

 

“Oh, God,” Xander said, and Angelus chuckled and walked away. “You rest. I’ll see you soon.”

 

Watching him walk away, Xander assessed his situation. He had no idea what a powerful demon had planned for his future. For the present, he was in a barren wasteland with no way to get back. He had a few days worth of food and water, and now, presumably, he had only Angelus as his “company.” He truly was in Hell.

 

Xander decided that now, officially, things couldn’t get any worse.

 

 

Chapter 6: Annoyances

 

The chair cracked and partially splintered against the floor, because the demon it was intended for had vanished. Dropping the damaged chair, Spike growled his fury at being left with nothing to fight. Beside him, Buffy looked similarly pissed off. The horror of the situation hadn’t sunken in for her yet; she was still running on pure instinct. The rest of the Scoobies looked similarly shocked, especially Anya, who after screaming Xander’s name now looked as if she couldn’t believe what she’d seen. Even after countless years of wreaking vengeance and horror, it never prepared you for the time when it was someone you cared about. Spike knew that particular lesson all too well.

 

“H-how did that happen?” Anya asked in disbelief.

 

“The demon was powerful,” Tara answered. “And it seemed to know just where to materialize. It didn’t hesitate.”

 

“Are you saying it purposely wanted Xander?” Anya asked in alarm. “Why would it want Xander? I’m supposed to be the only one who wants Xander!”

 

“He had the orb,” Willow said suddenly. She raised it, holding it tightly with both hands. “Maybe it wanted the orb.”

 

Angel surfaced again now that there was no immediate need for his vampire counterpart, though he had to fight a little to get forward because of Spike’s anxiety over the situation. “It was a Vishnak demon,” he told everyone. “They are already fairly powerful with magic. And they know what they want. I’ve never known them to use any type of enhancements, though I’ll admit to little experience. Vishnaks rarely show up here.”

 

“They feel that this dimension is beneath them,” Anya said, her gaze on nothing in particular. “And he didn’t seem to be looking for the orb.” She looked at everyone again pleadingly. “We have to find him. He can’t be dead. Do a spell Willow. Find him.”

 

“But if they aren’t that common here, Xander may not even be here anymore,” Willow protested. “I’m not sure I can find him in another dimension.”

 

“Well use that,” Anya said as she pointed to the orb in Willow’s hands. “You said it enhances magical powers. Well, do it! Get powerful and find Xander before he gets used in some awful ceremony or something.”

 

“Anya, we can’t be sure of what this will do,” Tara said. “We’ll find another way.”

 

“There’s no time,” Anya protested.

 

“There might be some time,” Angel said. “If it wanted to kill him, it probably would have done so as soon as it….”

 

“Probably?” Anya interrupted. “You have to be more certain than probably.” She seemed to be on the verge of losing what little remained of her composure.

 

“I don’t think it wants to kill Xander,” Buffy said suddenly. She held a piece of paper in her hand and now lifted it for everyone else to see. “This writing is weird and… magic.” She wrinkled her forehead and her mouth in confusion. “I only seem to understand it when I read it, otherwise it looks like gibberish if I’m just glancing at it.”

 

“Okay, okay we get it. Magic writing,” Anya said impatiently. “Some demons are actually clever. What does the damn thing say?”

 

Buffy took a breath as if trying to reign in her temper. Angel noticed and put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

 

“It says that they have Xander and we’ll get him back when they get what they want from us.”

 

“And what do they want?” Willow asked.

 

“It doesn’t say exactly. Only that they’ll let us know soon and that they need the witches to get it.”

 

“But w-why would they need us?” Tara asked. “They are already powerful. We saw that. Their magic is more advanced than ours.”

 

“I don’t know,” Buffy replied. “Maybe only a human or non-demon can get whatever it is.”

 

“Like if there is a protection spell,” Anya said. “But that could be dangerous. What if they want something demons shouldn’t have? I don’t trust this. I still say we find him.”

 

“I don’t know what choice we have,” Willow said. “My power can’t defeat theirs. And we have to get Xander from them. Did it mention when we’ll know what they want?”

 

“We have two days,” Buffy answered solemnly. “If we don’t find an alternate solution by then, we’ll have to consider their offer.”

 

“Then we do what we can until then,” Willow said

 

“And rest,” Buffy said. “That’s the P.S. That we should rest, because we’re gonna need all our strength.”

 

“But we can’t stop looking,” Anya pleaded.

 

“And we can’t go without sleep. If we need to fight…” Buffy began.

 

“We’ll take turns,” Angel said, though he sounded doubtful. He couldn’t imagine anyone would be getting much sleep.

 

“I need to kill something first,” Buffy said. “Sorry guys, but maybe I can beat some info out of something.”

 

“Yes, go Buffy,” Willow said with an understanding nod. “We know it’s what you have to do. And if you find something out…”

 

“You’ll be the first to know.” Buffy turned to Angel. “You wanna come?”

 

“Don’t think I could say no if I wanted to,” Angel answered.

 

Buffy reached up and rubbed his head soothingly. “The demons restless up there?”

 

“That’s putting it mildly,” Angel answered. He checked his pockets for weapons while Buffy armed herself from the stash in the shop.

 

“You guys be careful,” Buffy warned. “Maybe put up a protection spell that specifically blocks these guys out or something so they don’t get anyone else.”

 

“Good idea,” Tara said. “And maybe some kind of warning spell in case they’ve got other demons working for them.”

 

Buffy’s head suddenly shot up from her search in the weapons chest. “Could these be the demons who might bring back Angelus?”

 

“And what if that’s what they want us to do?” Willow asked in alarm. “What if what we do to save Xander causes Angelus to return?”

 

“Shit,” Buffy swore uncharacteristically. “There better be some demons out there with info tonight or I swear they’ll be making it up by the time the morning comes.” Without another word, she stormed out of the magic box, Angel following right behind her.

 

He almost felt sorry for whatever demons lay in Buffy’s path tonight.

*********

Gnash chuckled, glad that he’d been able to witness that last little bit of the human gang’s misery. Oh what interesting conclusions they came to: in some ways wrong, but in others right, and just enough of both to make their task almost impossible without using his little gift. The demon they saw would cause Angelus to return, just as they’d concluded, but only because it was him. They thought it was a Vishnak though, because that’s what his disguise told them, so they’d be blocking the wrong type of demon.

 

Gnash knew he was safe for now. And the note he’d left them had been a last minute idea, but surprisingly, a good one. He wanted to let them know Xander was still alive so they wouldn’t give up. Now they had enough hope to keep trying, and eventually someone was going to cave in and use the power they had in their hands as long as they thought they had a chance to save him.  And if they thought cooperating with the Vishnak would bring back Angelus… Gnash smiled. Now they had even more reason to need the power the orb could provide. Soon it would seem to be the only way to find their friend before their forty-eight hours were up and they’d have to make a deal. It was too bad for them Angelus would be coming back anyway, and too bad for them that once the orb was activated, whoever got the orb’s power would also get it’s darkness.

 

Gnash couldn’t wait.

*********

Angelus snarled as another rock smacked into him, this one hitting his arm. He’d learned hours ago that he couldn’t retaliate, at least not physically. Anything he held or threw wouldn’t pass through the protective barrier surrounding Xander. Even hitting a rock towards the boy using something else didn’t work. It seemed that his essence traveled with whatever projectile he tried and set the magic off, causing an annoying sound as the barrier deflected it. He was seriously considering wringing Gnash’s neck when the demon next arrived.

 

As another rock bounced off his head, he decided it was time to retaliate again in the only way he could. His last attack, describing Angel’s first night with Buffy in exquisite detail, had been quite satisfying. He turned gold eyes on the man.

 

“If I were you, I’d be thinking of ways to save her rather than getting me pissed off, because when I get pissed off, I’ll have to take it out on someone, and if not you…” He smiled then. So what if he planned on playing with his food no matter what Xander did? The boy didn’t have to know that.

 

“Buffy can take care of herself,” Xander said. He stuck his chin up, looking confident in that assessment.

 

“I wasn’t referring to Buff. I was referring to the tasty morsel that should be arriving fairly soon.”

 

“How would a ‘tasty morsel’ get here?” Xander asked, using air quotes to surround the quoted words.

 

“Same way you did. I figure it’ll be a young gal this time.” He stood up and sauntered over to Xander. “I suppose you could throw your body over hers, use your barrier to protect her. That is if she’d let you.” He gave him a doubtful, mocking expression. “Of course that might get uncomfortable after a while, for her as well as you. She being all suffocated beneath your weight, and you having to be pressed up against all that young flesh. You’ll probably get a…”

 

“Shut up!” Xander snapped.

 

Angelus chuckled, enjoying himself.

 

“Well, I’m not the one stuck here in this Hell dimension.” Xander trailed off as Angelus raised his eyebrows and gestured around dramatically, his face amused. He seemed to reconsider. “Well, all right, I guess I am, but you’ve been here longer, and I’ll be out of here in no time.”

 

“Because you think your little gang of do-gooders will come to the rescue?”

 

“Oh, I know they will.” The boy actually managed a defiant glare.

 

 Angelus chuckled again. “Once I’m back home, and I expect that’ll be soon, getting you back will be way down on their list of priorities, boy. They’ll have other problems. Would you like me to tell you what I plan to do?”

 

Xander snorted. “No, because I’m sure it would bore me to death. You evil dead types always have the same plans. ‘I’m going to destroy the world.’ As if that one’s never been tried before.”

 

“Nah, I did that one already. This time I’d rather just destroy all of you instead and leave the world annihilation to someone else.” Angelus looked absently at his fingernails. “It’ll be nice to get my bare hands on them, but since I’ll be here a little longer, I’ll settle for getting my hands on my next meal.” He looked at Xander again with an evil smile. “I do hope she’s pretty.”

 

“No, that’s not gonna happen. I won’t let it.”

 

The boy looked worried, and Angelus gave himself a moment to gloat. “You can’t stop me forever. All I’ll need is time.” He leaned close. “You’ll have to fall asleep eventually. I’ll just need one small opening to grab her.”

 

“No!” Xander yelled. “I’ll figure something out.”

 

“Oh I’m sure you will,” he mocked. “Better get to thinking then. Who knows how much time you’ll have before she arrives?”

 

“You just wait. I’ll find a way so you can’t get her! That is if there is even a ‘her’. You’re probably making it all up…” he heard Xander protest as he turned his back on the young man and walked away. He didn’t expect any more rocks thrown at him for quite a while.

*********

The bus pulled into Sunnydale well after midnight, the vehicle’s lurching halt jostling awake any passengers who had been exhausted enough or crazy enough to fall asleep during the ride. With a surreptitious sweep of his eyes, one young man checked to see if any other passengers planned to disembark, but no one seemed to be doing more than shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

 

“Sunnydale Station,” the driver announced. Anyone listening hard enough might have thought his tone uncertain. The initiated ones, the ones who were familiar with this town, knew it should be.

 

The young man rose and lugged the large pack from the seat beside him. When he’d boarded, the driver had insisted it go below with the luggage, assuring him that he’d personally make sure he got it out for him when they reached his stop. Upon hearing his destination, however, the man had suddenly recanted and let him keep the bag instead. It had been just as well, because the boy hadn’t been about to part with it. Now he slung the pack over his shoulder and walked down the narrow aisle without making eye contact with any of the other passengers. The driver opened the door for him without a word.

 

The street was deserted as the bus pulled away, but that didn’t surprise the young man. No one knew he was here, not yet anyway. Soon enough that would change. He looked up and down the street, instinctively making a mental note of all the shadows and hiding places before he started off down the pavement without a second glance. He knew what monsters lurked in the dark shadows, but he wasn’t afraid of them. Shaking his long hair from his eyes, Conner shifted his pack, and a contemptuous, almost feral smile crossed his lips. Soon enough the things in the dark would be afraid of him.

 

 

Chapter 7:  Power

 

Flashlight in hand, Conner scrutinized the old, deserted mansion, taking notice of every detail. There were little signs of him… and the other… everywhere. There were even signs of Spike, but somehow Conner got the feeling that this place never felt like home to the younger vampire.

 

Maybe someday he’d ask Spike for the whole story if he got the nerve, or if he wanted to get a good sparring session out of him. A smirk forming on his lips at the very thought, Conner was momentarily distracted from his exploration as his mind wandered to the last few months. He enjoyed sparring with the vampire. They shared a mutual respect. Spike might often use the words “boy” and “kid” when addressing him, but he always treated him as an equal. Others in his life often went out of their way to avoid those terms, yet all too often it was only lip service. He much preferred the moniker of “kid” to being treated as one.

 

His departure from L.A. amidst much adult disapproval had only been the latest example. Though he’d argued fairly convincingly that he’d been fighting demons longer than most of them put together, he’d still gotten the “you’re too young” lecture and the “you’re staying right here so Angel doesn’t have to worry” admonishment. They’d even tried locking him in and watching him like a hawk. That stopped him for about half a day. Escaping from a locked room was nothing compared to surviving some of the tests Holtz put him through. It just went to show that they hardly knew him at all.

 

Conner sighed and returned to the task at hand. After checking the place thoroughly, he finally dropped his weapons bag in a bedroom upstairs and made himself somewhat comfortable on the bed. He didn’t bother to get under the covers or get undressed except for removing his shoes. Those he tossed on the floor after retrieving the knife he had stashed in the left one. That he placed beside his head on the vacant pillow. Some kids liked to sleep with a teddy bear or a pet to keep them company and make them feel safe. He’d take the comfort of his knife any day.

 

Conner stared up at the dark ceiling, thinking about tomorrow. Tomorrow he’d find his dad. That thought in his head, he drifted off into a light sleep that would last until morning.

*********

Xander felt completely useless. He’d tried and tried to come up with a good plan to counter Angelus, but in the end he’d come up empty. Not that it mattered anyway except as a reminder to his bruised ego. Gnash had made it nearly impossible for him to even try to save the girl. Xander gave a frustrated yell and slammed his fist against the dirt. Damn it! He would’ve at least liked a decent chance, but his bloodied leg and hands and his sprained ankle were testaments to the fact that his efforts only got him hurt.

 

And still she screamed.

 

The woman had materialized on top of one of the jagged rock formations. An electric hum and a flash had accompanied her arrival, even though such indications hadn’t really been necessary. Angelus had scented her almost immediately. He’d given Xander a knowing smirk and raised his eyebrows.

 

“Looks like whatever you had planned won’t make a difference. Dinner is served,” he’d taunted, and taken off towards the rocks.

 

That had been almost an hour ago. It‘d taken Angelus only a few moments to scale the rock outcropping and reach the top. The pleading and screaming had been going on ever since.

 

Xander had tried for half an hour to scale the rocks, but without Angelus’ strength and abilities, he’d only managed to get half way up before sliding down again. By then he’d known it was likely too late anyway. He’d heard her pitiful cries and knew what the vampire had been doing to her.

 

Now Xander wished it would only end soon and that Angelus wouldn’t remind him of his failure or describe exactly what he’d done to the poor girl when he came back down. It was wishful thinking, he knew. The likelihood of getting even one of those wishes was as remote as his chances of getting out of here anytime soon.

 

And still she screamed.

*********

It was only them now. Willow looked at her lover, admiring the spill of her hair across the ancient pages of text and the steady rise and fall of her chest. Tara had fallen asleep just a few moments ago after yet another lead had run dry. Their attempt at a locator spell, the first thing they’d tried after their short nap, had yielded them nothing either. Their magic just wasn’t strong enough.

 

Buffy and Angel’s patrol had similarly turned up nothing in the way of information, though it had allowed her friend to finally sleep, mostly due to exhaustion. Many vampires and demons had paid with their lives to get Buffy to that much-needed state. Angel went with her to rest only because Spike had driven their shared body into the same drained state as well as sustained a few minor injuries that required rest to heal. Willow envied their ability to let exhaustion give them peace, even temporarily.

 

Anya had been harder to convince. After finding her buried in books when they returned from their short rest, Tara had finally persuaded her that if she got some sleep, she’d be of a sharper mind to talk to her demon contacts the next day and ask for information. Well, that and the mild spell she’d used to make Anya drowsy. They’d placed her on the couch in the training room where she’d slept until an hour ago. She’d left to contact her demon friends without a word. Despite all the times Willow had wished Anya would be quiet, the silent departure had unnerved her.

 

Now it was their turn for rest again. She could hear Buffy and Angel returning from the cellar below, reminding her that it was now mid-morning. With careful hands she brushed the hair back from Tara’s face and called to her softly. Her girlfriend roused, only a little startled, and smiled at Willow sadly.

 

“Time for us to sleep again, baby.”

 

Tara nodded and rolled her shoulders and neck, stretching sore muscles as she rose from her chair. “Maybe we’ll have a better chance when our minds are refreshed.”

 

Wishing she shared her confidence, Willow forced a reassuring smile in response. “I’m sure we will,” she said, but she didn’t believe it. Keeping the smile plastered on her face, she quickly explained to Buffy and Angel which books they’d gone through and gave them hasty goodbyes and words of encouragement.

 

Only she knew she didn’t expect them to find anything, and that after a few hours sleep, she planned her own information gathering foray that would likely make that problem moot anyway. If all went as planned, she’d wake before Tara and conduct a little magical inquiry. Tara might be able to read auras, but Willow had a few skills up her sleeve, and she would use them to find out something about that orb. Xander’s life likely depended on it, and she had no intention of letting him down.

*********

If there was any way to send encouragement across space, Gnash would’ve given almost anything right now to make it so. As it was, his growl of frustration practically shook the walls, and his taloned fingers twitched in their desire to give a prodding nudge. The red witch was so close, so close to activating the orb, but he could do nothing except watch through his little window and grind his teeth. Sometimes not acting directly had its disadvantages. The payoffs, though, they were always so sweet. Gnash smiled evilly. Nothing felt as good as getting away with something scott free, and that was a pleasure reserved only for a master manipulator.

 

He refocused his concentration as he almost lost the image. His anticipation was making it difficult to remain calm enough. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a moment and hoped he wouldn’t miss anything while he centered himself. Then he slowly opened his eyes and continued his surveillance.

*********

A power seemed to seethe just out of reach, tantalizing her with its potential. It manifested itself as a sort of tingling energy that sent shivers down her spine and caused the hairs on her skin to stand on end. It was thrilling and seductive, and Willow wanted it.

 

She hadn’t thought she’d be able to see so much of the orb’s potential just by a simple, meditative visualization exercise, but the fact that she could only furthered her belief that it held great power. And it was power that she needed to help find Xander.

 

Her breath catching in her throat, Willow pulled back mentally from the orb. The seductive pull still called to her, but there was something else too, something foreboding and dark. She knew this. It‘d gotten her before. The last time she’d been drunk on that much power, she’d hurt Dawn and had almost lost Tara, but she was different now, she reasoned. She’d come back from that, learned from her mistakes, and this time she’d be careful. Evening was coming and in a few hours, their first day would be up with only one more day to go.

 

Her trembling finger reached out to touch the orb’s cold surface, and she admonished herself for the reaction. She’d held the thing already. Why should touching it now be any different? Because now you are open to the possibility, she answered herself, and that makes all the difference. Caressing the surface carefully, she closed her eyes. It always amazed her what she could see with her eyes closed. Flashes of dark danced in her mind’s eye, the idea contradictory at the same time as it made sense, and a cold jolt shot up her arm. Her eyes flew open as she jerked her hand away. Frowning, she snorted and tried again. Strangely, the effect wasn’t as bad this time. The flashes she saw were brighter and the cold was replaced by a cool tingle. See not so bad, she told herself, I can do this if I have to. Almost reluctantly, her fingers drew away from the orb.

 

She exhaled and glanced towards the bedroom door, listening for any stirrings of Tara. All was quiet, so she looked at her watch. She had approximately one hour to go over the spell. If no one had found out any information, Willow wanted to be prepared to do whatever she had to do to save Xander.

 

*********

The sun cast its last rays of light over downtown Sunnydale. It was that long shadow time of day when the sun slipped towards the horizon and the sunbeams were their darkest gold. The irony that she thought this the most beautiful time of day wasn’t lost on Tara. Most people thought she preferred the early morning hours, the dawn, and perhaps she did, but this time, the hour before sunset, inspired her the most. That it happened to come just before one of the most unsettling times of day in this town was just an unhappy coincidence.

 

On the subject of unsettling, Tara thought as she let her gaze slip to the woman accompanying her. Willow hurried towards their meeting at the magic shop with an uncharacteristic nervousness. Yes, things were tense and this would likely be their last group meeting before they once again separated to each do their part, but this didn’t totally explain her lover’s distance, both emotional and physical. Tara had expected that Willow would be leaning on her for support, much like she had earlier in the day as they’d gone home for their much needed rest. She had the uneasy suspicion that something strange had happened that she somehow missed. Resisting the urge to read Willow’s aura, she hurried to walk alongside her.

 

“Do you think Anya found out anything from her demon contacts?” she asked.

 

Willow startled at her question, causing Tara to frown. “What, um, I don’t know. Demons aren’t always so reliable I’ve always thought.”

 

“Well, that’s true, but maybe she got lucky,” Tara ventured hopefully. Not that it mattered. Willow was once again distracted and anxious, grabbing at the magic shop door without even acknowledging Tara’s reply.

 

Something was definitely wrong.

*********

“Nothing!” Anya spat out the word like it was a curse. “All the walking, all the groveling, and they couldn’t tell me anything.” She stared at the assembled group accusingly as if they were somehow partly to blame.

 

Angel wrinkled his brow. “That’s surprising. The demon community is usually pretty good at knowing each other’s business.”

 

Buffy snorted. “Yeah, but it usually takes a few punches to the nose to get the goods.” She seemed to be lost in memories of said times before returning her attention to the group.

 

“Well yes, but that mostly only worked for Spike,” Anya said with an eye roll. “And no demon gives up that much information without an ulterior motive.”

 

“Yeah, like our cold, hard cash,” Buffy said.

 

“Oh yes, that was the only reason Spike spilled the beans,” Anya said dubiously.

 

“Well, when he was evil,” Buffy protested, obviously not comfortable with the direction of this conversation.

 

Anya looked at her. “Oh yeah, when he was evil. Like there still weren’t enough sparks flying between you two even then to start a bonfire. Does a certain spell of Willow’s ring any bells?”

 

“That was the spell,” Buffy protested, blushing visibly. “And this is so not what we need to be discussing now.” She lifted her chin. “You’re just mad because you couldn’t find anything out.”

 

“Damn right I’m mad! I need this information! Doesn’t over a thousand years of dedicated service dishing out bloody vengeance count for anything? I mean, you’d think I’d earned some little consideration. Instead, nothing.” She sighed. “Although there was one demon who seemed to be lying. I think he knew more than he was telling.”

 

“How could you tell?” Willow asked.

 

“After you’ve lived as long as I have you know the signs. But I also knew that no matter what I tried or threatened he wouldn’t spill.”

 

“Why?” Tara asked.

 

“Because some things are worse than potentially being killed,” Angel said knowingly.

 

“Exactly,” Anya agreed. “I have a feeling that whatever this is, it’s big, it’s evil, and it’s very powerful, and the only reason we haven’t seen more of it yet is because it doesn’t want to be seen.” Her eyebrows furrowed a bit. “One odd thing though.” She addressed Angel. “No one else had seen any Vishnak demons. Aren’t they usually fairly conspicuous on the rare occasion they do show up?”

 

“Yes,“ Angel answered. “They usually create some havoc when they appear.”

 

“So either we have very restrained Vishnak demons…” Willow began, but stopped when Anya shook her head. “Or they’re working with someone powerful enough to control them,” she concluded.

 

“Or they’re the warm-up act, the diversion,” Buffy supplied.

 

“Oh,” Tara said. “Then I don’t want to see the main act.”

 

“I do,” Buffy said. “At this point I’d take a nice, visible foe. Something I could fight. Something I could kill. Right now all I know is that the demon and vampire activity seems to be up a little, but none of them know anything and there’s no organization to it.”

 

“No apparent Big Bad that their toadying for then,” Willow observed with disappointment.

 

“No. Just random pains in my butt that get us no where closer to finding Xander, and who know nothing helpful. If this keeps up, I’m going to have to patrol again soon. We have to find Xander, but I can’t let the vampires just roam free in the meantime.”

 

“Then you need my help.” The voice from the doorway wasn’t loud, but it was confident.

 

Angel looked up and only partially hid his surprise. “Conner, what are you doing here?”

*********

Gnash’s eyes narrowed at the sight of the boy who now came into view in his observation glass. This was no ordinary boy, he could tell. He emanated power and strength that was not entirely of this world. He was definitely dangerous.

 

The demon growled under his breath. He’d been aiding demon activity subtly in the last couple of days, both to cover for his own foraging activity when supplying Angelus with fresh blood and to distract Buffy and her vampire with the need to patrol. Now, though, he was going to have to step up his efforts: something he didn’t have time for right now. He had to prepare for the next step in case the gang of do-gooders didn’t activate the orb, maybe even up the stakes a bit. That was going to take careful planning, and for that he needed to focus, not worry about a new player this late in the game.

 

He only needed to hear a little more to learn just how dangerous this boy was. Grunting in frustration, he waved his hand and let the glass go dark. His plans would have to wait. Right now he needed more distractions. He needed this new boy out of the big picture, and to do that he needed demons to keep him busy. It was time to open a little tear in the time fabric. He’d choose a nice, close dimension that wouldn’t take too much effort. Now where was that Scrivener amulet? He didn’t have all night.

*********

Conner strolled from the doorframe and crossed to Angel. “What do you think I’m doing here, Dad?” The last word was said deliberately, almost defiantly. “I’m here to help. You need demon fighters. Here I am.”

 

“But you’re so young. Just a kid,” Anya said.

 

Sneering a bit, Conner looked at her with the indignation only a teenager could affect. “I’ve never been a kid.” Then he dismissed Anya, instead turning back to Angel. “Right, Dad?”

 

“You were always something more,” Angel assured him with a smile of fatherly pride.

 

Conner smiled lightly then reached out and cuffed his father on the side of the head. The action startled everyone. The boy smirked amiably as Angel’s face changed. “Hey, evil demon, how’s my dad treating you?”

 

“Same as always,” Spike replied, cuffing Conner in return.

 

“Ow, jerk!” Conner complained.

 

“Brat,” Spike countered. He sniffed conspicuously. “You’ve been a busy boy today. Out harassing the demon population, I suspect.”

 

“Well, I gotta have some fun. Why, you up for a round?”

 

The vampire shook his head and his face changed back to his human features. “You can fight with Spike later, Conner,” Angel admonished.

 

Conner pouted. “Can we spar with swords?”

 

“No! No real damage. I’ve got to stay healthy….

 

“Hey, wait a minute,” Anya interrupted, gesturing exaggeratedly between Angel and Conner. “Spike hit him! He’s not supposed to be able to do that.”

 

“The chip doesn’t work on me,” Conner said with a shrug. “Must be all that time I spent in Quortoth. Or maybe I’m not quite human.”

 

Buffy couldn’t take her eyes off him. She’d heard so much about him, but this was the first time she’d actually seen Conner. What she’d heard definitely didn’t translate into the young man she saw in front of her. When Spike had said “ferocious little fighter,” she hadn’t imagined the thin, lanky youth with the delicate face that she now saw. She supposed that was something they had in common. Words from Tara startled her from her thoughts.

 

“You’re human,” Tara told him. “But there is something more.” When everyone turned to her, she dipped her head shyly. “I-I can tell. I can read people.”

 

“That’s right,” Willow said proudly. “She can read their auras”

 

Conner tried to pretend indifference, even though his initial facial expression had clearly shown interest. He seemed distracted though as his eyes moved to Buffy.

 

Buffy knew she’d been caught staring and wasn’t about to turn away now. “You must be Conner,” was all she could think to say. “Angel’s told me a lot about you. Spike a little too.”

 

Conner stared at her. “Then you must be Buffy. Spike tells me I fight like you.” He looked her over. “Now I’m not so sure whether that was a compliment or not. I thought you’d be taller.”

 

Buffy just smiled. “So do the demons. I thought you’d be...”

 

“Broodier? More glowery?” Anya supplied.

 

“No,” Buffy said. “Darker. Dark hair, dark eyes.”

 

Angel touched his son’s hair. “He gets this from his mother.”

 

“Dad,” Conner complained, lightly shooing Angel’s hand away.

 

“And he broods just fine. At least according to Spike,” Angel added.

 

“Do not,” Conner complained, making it obvious to Buffy that he did. “And I didn’t come here to get picked on. Just tell me where to find him.”

 

“Where to find who?” Anya asked.

 

“My other Father,” Conner said, his tone almost annoyed.

 

“It’s not that easy,” Angel told him. “We don’t know where he is right now, and we don’t think he’s working alone.”

 

“All the more demons for me to kill.”

 

“Is he really that good at killing demons?” Willow asked.

 

“He’s really that good,” Angel replied solemnly.

 

“Then you take him out and show him where to go,” Buffy said to Angel with a decisive nod. “Tara and Willow, I need you to come with me. I’ve got to pick up Dawn from her friend Mandy’s. I need you to put a protection spell around the house. Something that’ll keep out demons.”

 

“What about Dad?” Conner asked.

 

“Yeah good point. Oh, I know.” She turned to Willow and Tara. “Could you make it so that only beings with a human soul can come in? That’ll cover all of us and Angel.”

 

“We can do that,” Tara said.

 

“Good. Okay Anya, you…”

 

“Keep researching, I know.”

 

“And we’ll be back as soon as we can,” Buffy added. “Though I might take one more crack at…. well, cracking heads in the seedier part of town before I get back here. I will find out something this time.”

 

With little further discussion, the group spilt up to pursue their own tasks: all different, but all in the service of a common goal.

*********

So we have some more help. Score one for the good guys, Willow thought. Then how come I don’t feel any better? She answered herself easily. Because no amount of demon hunting is going to bring us closer to finding Xander. No, that was up to her. And she better figure out a way quickly.

 

She went with Tara to Buffy’s. It would take a couple hours to set up a decent protection spell. Dawn, sensing the severity of the situation, helped them get things ready for the spell then retired to her room. Buffy, after eating a cursory something she dug out of the refrigerator, said her goodbyes and reassurances to Dawn before heading for downtown Sunnydale’s disreputable part of town. The door banging shut and the lock clicking closed marked her departure. It was only them again. That made it difficult to hide.

 

“Honey, are you all right?” Tara asked as soon as they were alone.

 

Willow frowned. “No. My best friend is out there somewhere with God knows what happening to him, so a big ‘no’ to that, but if you are asking me if I can do the spell, then yes, I can.”

 

She nodded, and Willow tried a reassuring smile. Inside though, she wanted only to get this spell done then find an excuse for Tara to remain behind while she went to the Magic Box. Just an hour alone in the training room: that was all she wanted. Then she’d have all the power she needed. She briefly considered caving in and telling Tara her plan, but she stuffed that thought down quickly. Tara would never agree. She’d want to be cautious and there was no more time for that. Tara would have to be kept oblivious and here, but how?

 

Wracking her brain, Willow thought of something. Dawn needed dinner, and the rest of the gang could use some food. She’d have Tara call up for something or fix something for Dawn and bring some food to them as well. Fixing something would take longer and fit their budget better. Buffy’s job at the high school and Tara’s tutoring didn’t bring in much. Willow brought in what she could by hiring out her services as a computer nerd to needy college students, but still pizza and take out didn’t come cheap, so it shouldn’t take much convincing to get Tara to cook something. That decided, she smiled more broadly, her confidence somewhat restored. She was ready to do this protection spell. In a couple of hours, she’d be more than ready for the next spell.

 

They completed the protection spell in only an hour and a half.

*********

Tara smiled at Dawn as she ate. The girl attacked her dinner with the vigor of a teenager, tearing into her food as if she were starving.

 

“I’m glad you cooked. You’re so much better than Buffy,” the teen told her around a mouthful of chicken. “I can tell this is chicken and everything.”

 

“Now, Buffy can’t be that bad,” she replied with a chuckle as she packed the rest of the chicken into a large-sized plastic container.

 

“Compared to this?” Dawn chided, her eyebrows arching and her hand lifting the chicken as if in salute. “No contest.”

 

“Well I’m glad you approve,” Tara said as she took the potato salad out of the refrigerator. The green beans she’d given Dawn wouldn’t travel so well. The rest were just going to have to skip the vegetable this time. She packed the food in the car, carefully watching her surroundings as she did so then returned for her spell books. “You’re going to be okay, right?” she asked Dawn.

 

“I’ll be fine. No leaving the house, I promise. I’ll be staying right here under the protection of your spell.”

 

Tara gave her a stern look. “Not even if a puppy comes limping up the driveway, whimpering its little heart out.”

 

Dawn crossed her heart with an index finger. “I’ll go upstairs and put on my headphones, because I so would know that was a trap.”

 

“Good.” Tara said, and she believed it, at least for a moment. As she returned to the living room though, a strange feeling washed over her: an inexplicable dread that she didn’t understand. She looked around the room in dismay, trying to figure out what had spooked her. Then her eyes fell on the coffee table. A book was missing. She searched the room, but didn’t see it anywhere, knowing that she wouldn’t find it. Still that was okay, because there was the box, right where she’d seen it last, and… With increasing dread, Tara approached the ornate box. She didn’t want to open it, knowing that if she did the answer would be final. She had to though. She had to know, and the answer couldn’t wait. With trembling fingers she touched the lid, praying to whatever goddess would hear her that Willow wouldn’t, not now, not after what she’d almost done before. Her fingertips unhooked the clasp, and she flipped back the lid as if it would bite her. It didn’t, but the sight inside stung her just as much. Just as she’d feared, the box sat empty. The orb was gone.

 

 

Chapter 8: Setbacks

 

By the time she reached the street for the Magic Box, Tara had almost convinced herself that she’d only been paranoid. There could be a perfectly logical explanation as to why Willow had both the book and the orb and hadn’t given her any indication that she was taking them. Okay, okay, so there wasn’t really any. Tara would take even an illogical explanation at this point as long as it didn’t point to Willow doing something rash. They had a whole day left, and each of them had rested at least once. Surely Willow wouldn’t have panicked yet. With the added benefit of the food she now brought, they would certainly be in good shape to get some major inroads into their problem. As her thoughts dwelled on the food, though, it occurred to Tara whose idea it’d been to make the dinner and exactly what cooking that food had done. It had given Willow an excuse to leave ahead of her. Alone. When Xander’s life was on the line.

 

Her car wheels squealing from sudden acceleration, Tara raced the last two blocks to the shop, skidding to a stop in the first available parking space. Almost in defiance, she snatched the carrying basket of chicken and potato salad from the seat beside her as if the physical act of taking the food with her demanded that everything be okay. I bring food, therefore we will eat it, and all will be well, her brain supplied, and she vaguely recognized the panic of her thoughts. She slammed the car door without bothering to lock it and ran to the shop’s entrance. Fumbling a moment at the front door, she muttered, “Come on. Come on,” as she twisted the key in the lock and tried desperately to curb her growing fear. As she ran, the door closed behind her, mercifully locking on its own, because Anya would be upset if her store was left open. Now Tara knew she was losing it. She forced herself to come to a halt and take a breath. Putting the basket of food on the research table, she planted on a neutral face and asked Anya calmly, “Have you seen Willow?”

 

The worried look Anya gave her told Tara that her calm façade was crumbling.

 

“Don’t worry. Willow’s here. She’s right back there in the training room. Geesh, separate you two for…”

 

Tara didn’t catch the rest. The scent of magic in the air told her all she needed to know. Running to the training room door, she threw it open then hesitated. She knew she shouldn’t have been, so why was she so surprised to see Willow there in the middle of the training room floor, pentagram and candles around her, energy manifesting around her body in seductive swirls?

 

“Willow, no!” The words came just a moment before she rushed forward. Willow showed no reaction to her presence, though, even when she yelled her name again, not five feet from her. Willow’s chanting remained on the same even tone, as if she wasn’t even aware of anyone else’s presence. Panicking, Tara looked wildly around the room, trying to think of a safe way to end the spell and break the magic barrier, but a movement seen in the corner of her eye made her jerk her focus back to Willow and to the orb resting on its pedestal in the top triangle of the pentagram. There was something odd, something wrong with the orb. It looked almost alive. Tara had a sudden urge more powerful than any she’d ever felt. Without further thought, she reached through the magic barrier and grabbed the orb, smashing it against the floor.

 

Three screams echoed through the training room, bouncing off the walls and shattering what semblance of harmony remained in the night. The screams reduced to two, and finally to only one as Willow watched the shattered pieces of the orb infuse into Tara’s skin and the familiar, soft eyes turn a harsh, glowing green.

 

“Shh,” said a voice that sounded deceptively like Tara, but that Willow instinctively knew held none of her warmth. “Everything’s all right, baby.”

 

Willow didn’t know why she quieted like the voice asked her to, because nothing could be farther from the truth. Nothing was likely to be all right ever again.

*********

Gnash slipped off his chair. Few things surprised him, but that had been totally unexpected. And wonderful. He smiled evilly as he picked himself up off the floor and briefly considered reconnecting his window right away. He decided it wasn’t necessary; he could catch up in a moment. Right now he wanted a few moments to thoroughly gloat. He’d been sure that the red-haired witch would be ensnared by his orb’s trap, host to a powerful and insidious demon, but that it was the other instead was just too perfect. Though less powerful, she was the more level headed, and would likely be just as missed because of it. And the other witch would be consumed by guilt, its gnawing ache affecting her judgment and clouding her ability.

 

He leaned back and took a slow leisurely breath. His brief tearing of the dimensional barriers earlier today had allowed several nasty demons to slip through, and they were now merrily making their way about Sunnydale, keeping that odd, disconcerting Conner and his vampire father busy. He wasn’t sure why the strange boy concerned him so much, but of all the potential foes in this scenario, that one worried him most. Magical power he understood. Feelings he could manipulate. But that boy had strange motivations he couldn’t understand. They were even stranger than his vampire father’s.

 

Speaking of vampires, he supposed it was time to go bring Angelus something to eat again. It was also time for another distraction of sorts. Since the powerful witch was left on their side, he better give her something to use her powers on besides trying to save her lover too quickly. Well, since she wanted that annoying Xander back so badly, he supposed she’d use her powers for that. Besides, watching her try to decide what to do - save her lover or save her friend - would be amusing. He’d make it more difficult.

 

Taking a piece of cloth from his pocket, Gnash ran it casually through his fingers. It belonged to the boy, Xander, taken from his shirt last time he’d visited. Originally meant to be an indication that he had the boy, it would now serve another purpose. Using his abilities, he made sure it was clear, and there it was: a strong essence of the other dimension. The witch would be able to use this to track him… well as long as she had an amplifier. Gnash sighed. He almost hated to part with it, but he’d find another one. He picked up the gaudy trinket and donned his Vishnak demon disguise. Hmm, now what could he get her to do in order to earn his generous help? He’d think of something outrageous, then compromise, giving her the means to find Xander on her own as payment. So generous of him. Sometimes he was so good at this, he almost amazed himself. Well, he better hurry; his new ally would likely be arriving soon, and he couldn’t wait to meet her.

*********

Buffy had left Ms. Nice Gal about three exits back. Far past being moved by screams or pleading, she took to her task with cold efficiency. She wanted information, and she wanted it now. That she had to cause a few demons pain to get it no longer concerned her. Too many times she’d had to see her friends and loved ones scared or hurt. Both Giles and Spike had been tortured. Her mother and sister had been kidnapped to lure her into a trap. Cordelia and Willow had been taken for use as sacrifices. There was more, she was sure, but she didn’t want to be bothered and hell, that list was enough of an excuse right there. Xander was coming back, period, end of story, and woe be it to anyone or anything that denied her the means to do it. She pressed the cross onto the vampire’s chest again, almost mesmerized by the smoke rising from his skin. Predictably he screamed.

 

“I can keep this up all night,” she informed him. “I’m not even tired.”

 

“Come on, Slayer, I don’t know what you expect me to know…” He cut off, screaming instead as she put the cross to the back of his hand this time. He tried to twist his hand away, but both were held tight, bound at the wrists to a sturdy chair. Struggling for a moment, he tested the bonds then jerked his head up. His golden stare locked with hers.  “Look, I only know it has something to do with your pet, okay,” he said desperately. “And that’s only rumor. I don’t even know for sure.”

 

“I don’t have any pets,” Buffy said, her mouth quirking in genuine confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”

 

“Your vampire. Spike! Spike!” he said hastily.

 

With her cross hovering a mere inch from his skin, Buffy halted. She took the cross away, folded her arms across her chest, and scowled at him. “What about Spike?” She wasn’t about to explain to this vampire that Spike wasn’t just Spike, but Angel as well. She doubted that most of the vampire population was privy to that bit of information, and she intended to keep it that way.

 

“Word on the street is that there’s a demon out to get him.”

 

Buffy scoffed. “There’s almost always a demon out to get him. That’s nothing new.”

 

“This is a powerful one. Into magic.”

 

Buffy thought about the Vishnak demon and its powerful magic, but Angel had been right there when Xander was taken. If the demon had wanted Spike, why would it take Xander if Spike was right there? She decided to ask the question. Maybe she’d get lucky. “A Vishnak demon?”

 

“I don’t know what kind of demon, but Vishnaks… Well they are pretty rare. Good with magic, though,” he amended as he warily eyed the cross dangling from her fingers. “So it could be.”

 

Damn, he doesn’t know, Buffy thought.

 

“But Vishnaks tend to work in groups,” the vampire was continuing. “And it was my impression that this was a lone demon.”

 

Geesh, once you got them talking, then they won’t shut up, Buffy thought. Kinda like Spike, she added with a smirk. Must be a vampire thing.

 

“And Vishnaks are usually pretty flashy. Making trouble all over…”

 

Buffy looked at him almost murderously. “I know all that. I am the Slayer. I know a little about demons, you know.” She didn’t have to tell him that it was Anya and Angel that had filled her in. Better to keep her reputation intact. “So if you don’t have anything more to add that’s actually useful…” She removed a stake from her back pocket.

 

“Hey wait! You said I could go if I told you what I know, and I did that!”

 

Buffy sighed. Stupid vampires and their good memories. Well, at least this way, he could spread the word that she meant business. Maybe next time, she’d get her information easier. She wasn’t about to just let him go unscathed, however. “You know I can’t let you go scott free, though. What would the demons say?”

 

“That you are a fair, good guy who keeps your word?” the vampire asked hopefully.

 

“They’ll still say that. But this way they’ll also know I’m not a push over.” She put down the stake. “You’ll make sure to tell them that, right?”

 

“Sure, whatever you say, Slayer,” he promised with a sigh of relief.

 

Buffy almost felt bad that he was relieved. Almost. She picked up a nearby pipe and started breaking bones.

*********

Willow stood motionless, all her instincts having left her in the face of Tara’s transformation. She should have chanted a protection spell or a binding spell of some sort to keep Tara there until she could figure out what to do, but she couldn’t find her voice.

 

Anya broke the silence. “What is going on in here?” She stood uncertainly in the doorframe, glancing nervously from Willow to Tara.

 

“I have to go now,” Tara’s voice said. A wave of her hand shoved Anya out of the doorway, causing her to fall clumsily.

 

That was enough to break Willow out of inaction. “No, Tara, wait!” When Tara turned back to look, she raised her hand. “Thicken!”

 

Tara was caught momentarily until her eyes glowed even brighter and she spoke in a language so ancient, Willow couldn’t place it. The barrier shimmered and dissipated, and she walked from the room without any further acknowledgment. Usually one for self-preservation unless Xander was involved, Anya remained out of her way, even shrinking further from the unknown threat. Willow tried another spell, but this time her opponent was ready and deflected the magic before it even reached her. The backlash of her own spell knocked Willow over, leaving only Anya to watch Tara leave out the front door.

 

“What did you do?”

 

Perhaps because it was Anya asking, Willow bristled slightly at the insinuation that this was her fault, even if it was true. Then it really sunk in. “Oh, God, Tara.”

 

“Is obviously not herself,” Anya said as she moved further into the training room. “Now what did you do, because we’re going to have to do something about this and unless we know what we’re up against…”

 

“The orb,” Willow answered softly. “It was the orb.”

 

“Great,” Anya observed sarcastically. “Well, I guess we found out what was on that missing page, huh? Apparently the power comes from letting a demon in. Just great.”

 

“Look, not helping much,” Willow snapped. “Besides you were the one who was all for using it. ‘Use the orb Willow. Get powerful Willow, so we can save Xander’,” she added mockingly.

 

Anya huffed. “Oh, that’s really helping. Let’s mock the scared former demon. You’re the one who should’ve known better.”

 

Willow waved at her absently as if trying to disregard her. “Okay, we need to do a locating spell to find out where she went. And we need help. More resources. Find out how to undo the possession. We have to find out how to fix this.” Willow knew she was babbling to a hostile audience, but she couldn’t stop herself.

 

As if to confirm her thoughts, Anya said, “By all means, because every time you mess up with the magic, it’s so easy to fix.”

 

Willow glared at the other woman as she pushed past her. She rushed into the shop, grabbing distractedly at the books piled around. But after a minute she realized that her panic was causing her to reach out blindly with little purpose. Willow stopped and tried to calm herself. “Anya, I need your help. Will you help?”

 

“I’ll help,” Anya agreed, all fire gone from her now resigned voice. She moved grimly towards the books and started looking.

*********

Conner smirked as yet another demon exhaled its last, gurgling breath. Stepping back from the body, he looked into Angel’s eyes questioningly, and Angel knew he was looking for approval. He nodded, giving it. Over two hundred years later, and Angel still remembered that need for affirmation, the desire to see pride and acceptance in a father’s eyes. Conner was young and not yet ready to realize that most of the time you only had your own sense of worth to rely on. He would have time to learn that later.

 

“Where are all these demons coming from?” Conner asked as he prodded the strange creature’s body with his foot. He cocked his head to study it with a frown.

 

“I’m not sure,” Angel answered, “but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that they’re here now. I think someone is trying to keep us busy.”

 

“They’re doing a good job,” Conner noted. He took in a heavy breath and exhaled, watching with vague interest as the body starting fizzling and evaporating. “Should we be trying to find out what the real trouble is? What this is a diversion for?” he asked doubtfully.

 

Angel thought for a moment, aided by a feeling he interpreted as a “Hell, no!” from Spike. “Well, we can’t let these things run loose,” he reasoned. “And besides, that’s not what we do, is it?”

 

“Buffy did tell us to go kill the demons,” Conner agreed with an expression that most closely resembled relief.

 

Killing demons is what Conner knew. It made him feel useful. Angel knew it was too late to undo everything that Holtz had taught his son. It was better to let him know that what he could do was helpful rather than make him feel inadequate for the things he couldn’t do as well. Angel, himself, was glad that there was someone else to pick up the mental slack this time. Angelus may have been a planner, but Angel, and apparently Spike, preferred action. There seemed to be plenty of that tonight.

 

Conner’s head jerked up at the sound of running, inhuman feet. By the time Angel joined him, they were almost bowled over by two fleeing vampires. Angel reached out to clothesline one of them. Conner tripped the other. They sprawled on the damp earth of the cemetery amidst a flurry of curses.

 

“Are you insane?” one of them asked him.

 

“That one’s human,” the other observed as he sat up. He cocked his head towards Conner.

 

Angel vamped out, letting Spike come to the forefront. “You better not even consider touching him, mate.”

 

“Oh, hell, no. That’s him. That’s Spike,” the first vamp observed. He was the shorter of the two, but he looked somewhat meatier than his counterpart.

 

The second vampire growled, as he got up. “Well, he better tell his slayer that she’s crossed the line this time.”

 

Spike raised his eyebrows and cocked his head. “Oh, and how’s that?”

 

“She’s gone insane. We found Charlie babbling that the Slayer got him,” the shorter one said.

 

“She’d broken almost every bone in his body and left him there,” the other observed as if that was some incredibly rude breech of Slayer etiquette. “If I were you, Spike, I’d reconsider my options before she goes Charles Manson on you, next.”

 

Spike chuckled. “Newsflash, morons,” he told them as he discreetly pulled a stake. “She’s a vampire slayer. You’re vampires.”

 

“And you’re what? A fluffy, little bunny?” the shorter one observed incredulously. Then he snickered.

 

Spike staked him before he had a chance to finish his snicker. “Oops,” he said, though he didn’t sound or feel the least bit sorry. He turned gold eyes on the second vampire.

 

The remaining vampire, not being completely stupid, realized he was outnumbered. “Okay, um look. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

 

“You do that just by being here, mate,” Spike observed. He casually flipped his stake. “But seeing as how you might be useful for spreading the word, I’ll let you go. For now.”

 

“Don’t do me any favors, traitor.”

 

Spike sighed heavily, looking like he was going let that roll off his shoulders, then he shrugged and slugged the guy instead. “Okay, I won’t,” he said to the downed vamp.

 

Conner arched his eyebrows and crossed his arms. “They just can’t help themselves, can they?”

 

Spike dragged the vampire back up, lifting his feet off the ground as he held him firmly around the neck. “Bloody stupid, vampires are today. Maybe the embalming fluid fries their brain or something?”

 

“I’ll have you know my sire buried me himself…”

 

“Don’t care,” Spike observed as he squeezed the vampire’s neck harder. “And I’d shut your gob if I were you. Slayer’s not the only one who can break bones. Now listen up! You tell your buddies that my slayer wants information, and those of you who have it, better give it up nice and easy, or we’ll both rip your limbs off and let you do a nice Monty Python’s Black Knight impersonation. Got it?”

 

The vampire nodded as vigorously as his position allowed, and Spike dropped him. Conner was at the ready to back him up with a battleaxe. The vampire gained his balance then stood there momentarily, almost as if he were frozen.

 

Spike rolled his eyes. “Um, go?” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. He watched the vampire rush shakily off into the night. “I give that one two months, tops.”

 

Conner nodded then looked up, sniffing the air. “Fun’s over,” he observed. “More demons are coming.”

 

Spike smirked around his fangs. “On the contrary, then. Fun’s just starting.” He patted Conner on the shoulder reassuringly before rolling his neck. Then he looked down and found the battleaxe Angel had brought, tested the balance out of habit, and braced himself for round two.

*********

Gnash popped into the Magic Box just as Willow and Anya had settled somewhat shakily down to research. Willow startled and raised her hand, eyes going black.

 

“Don’t,” Gnash told them. “Or you’ll never find your friend.” He hoped that his Vishnak demon glamour was similar enough to the one he’d used before. Sometimes he couldn’t remember all the gory details, and Vishnaks did differ from each other more than most demons did. This was especially true of the garish shock of hair which could come in a rainbow of colors atop their egg-shaped heads. Gnash often wondered if there was a preference among the demons for one color over another. Now though, he had other concerns.

 

“It hasn’t been forty eight hours,” Anya observed. Somehow despite the slight trembling in her voice, her tone sounded more annoyed than anything else.

 

“I didn’t want to wait anymore. Don’t you want your friend back?” he asked solicitously.

 

“What do you want?” Willow asked. Her tone was all business.

 

“A Fulgor amulet. Then I’ll bring you your friend.”

 

Anya’s mouth dropped open while Willow’s face furrowed in thought as she tried to place the object he had indicated. The former demon spoke first. “I want Xander back, yes, but you can’t have that. First of all, I don’t have one, and second…”

 

“It disintegrates things. And people,” Willow finished for her.

 

“So?” Gnash prompted.

 

“Well for one, it could disintegrate us,” Anya pointed out, “and ahem, I don’t have one,” she reiterated with a hint of that annoyance Gnash remembered from the night she’d accidentally popped in on him offering vengeance. He tried not to smile at the memory.

 

He made a show of being put out, sighing heavily. He really did enjoy impersonating Vishnaks, because they were such drama queens. Overacting was never a problem. “Fine, then, go ahead and put your friend’s life in mortal danger,” he huffed.

 

“We could give you a Sethoz stone,” Anya offered. “It makes you invisible for short periods of time.”

 

Gnash scrunched his forehead in thought. Actually that would be rather useful to him. He always did seem to be quite lucky in such matters. He smirked at the disapproving face the red-haired witch was making at Anya, as if the former vengeance demon didn’t know that what she offered had potential for trouble. Humans could be so condescending. Accepting Anya’s offer would be all the more sweet for making her the take charge woman of this encounter. He almost would’ve been inclined to accept anything she offered just for that reason alone. She might’ve regrettably decided to leave her vengeance demon job behind again, but she still had that same fire and determination that she had when she’d popped into his home. Even now she had her hands on her hips, looking at him disapprovingly for taking too long, or perhaps because she thought he was leering which of course he was. Gnash couldn’t stop a smile. “Well, it isn’t what I wanted, but I shall compromise. I will take the Sethoz stone, and you can have this.” He took the piece of Xander’s shirt from his pocket and showed it to them.

 

“That’s Xander’s,” Willow said, reaching for the piece of material. Gnash pulled it out of her reach but not out of view.

 

“How will that get us Xander back?” Anya asked dubiously.

 

“With the help of this,” Gnash explained as he produced a garish talisman. Willow’s eyes were drawn away from the piece of shirt to the talisman, and Gnash could tell that she immediately sensed the potential for its power. Her eyes lit up with understanding and perhaps a longing. Maybe she thought she could use it for other things as well: like saving her lover. If she could pull that off, Gnash would be intrigued enough that he almost wouldn’t mind losing his new ally: almost. He’d have to fight the witch of course if that happened. He did have his pride. “With the piece of shirt and this.” He held up the talisman. “You will be able to find the dimension your friend is in and retrieve him. Of course it will take a lot of power.”

 

“I have power,” Willow told him defiantly.

 

“I’m sure you do. Be glad I can use your Sethoz stone, or I would make you use that power to get me a Fulgor amulet. Do we have a deal?”

 

“Yes,” Anya said hastily. “Let me get you…”

 

“Anya!” Willow admonished.

 

“It’s Xander, Willow. Do you really want to take the chance of a magic duel and potentially burn up our only chance of rescuing him?” Anya asked as she indicated the fragile piece of cloth that Gnash held.

 

“Maybe we should wait…”

 

“No, no more waiting! Give the demon what it wants, get it out of here, and let’s save Xander.” She was walking to the shelves behind her counter. She quickly found what she wanted, holding it up to show the demon. Willow was glaring at her, but starting to look resigned. “Give the shirt and the talisman to Willow,” Anya directed him.

 

“You first,” Gnash said.

 

“No, you first.” Something in her eyes told Gnash she wouldn’t budge on this point. She truly was a magnificent woman. He put the shirt piece and talisman on the table and lifted his hands. Anya threw him the stone which he snatched effortlessly out of the air.

 

“Nice doing business with you ladies.” Before they could say anything else or more importantly, try any magic, Gnash teleported himself out of there.

 

Back in his home, he couldn’t wait to try his new toy, but first he had a demon witch to meet.  He put his Sethoz stone safely away and smiled. Even now, he could feel the magic wards shimmering at the edges of his aura, signaling him of an approaching being. Deciding that it wouldn’t do to be rude to the lady, Gnash crossed the room and opened his front door.

 

TBC