THE POWER OF THREE
Book 1 Part 04
By DragonWriter17
 

Rating: PG-13 through Part 10, R after that

Disclaimer: All of the materials borrowed from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel belong to Joss Whedon and to the entities and companies associated with their creation.  I have borrowed them for creative and entertainment purposes only.  No compensation has been or ever shall be received for the writing below.  No copyright infringement is intended.

My Website: http://www.dragonwriter17.net/

Feedback: Yes, but only if it’s of the non-flamey variety: DragonWriter17@aol.com

Distribution: The Mystic Muse, Near Her Always  (If you are interested in posting my story on your site, please contact me first for permission.)

Spoilers: The end of BtVS Season 4’s “Wild At Heart” and beyond.

Pairings: Willow/Buffy/Tara

Author’s Notes: I have kept to the BtVS/Angel canon in some ways, borrowing directly from aired episodes; however, I have also made significant changes: deleting certain storylines, moving some, changing others, as well as adding some completely original plots.  You may want to read my stand-alone story “Out Of Shadow Into Light,” which tells my version of Tara’s life prior to her arrival in Sunnydale; it is the backstory for Tara for this series.

Number of Chapters: 13

Complete: 1-12

Series Summary: After Oz leaves Sunnydale, Willow turns to best friend, Buffy, and new friend, Tara, for comfort, resulting in a remarkable new relationship for all three.  Amidst the daily dangers of life on the Hellmouth, the three women forge bravely ahead, unaware that their relationship has been predestined.

Chapter Summary: After their evening at the Bronze, both Buffy and Willow stay out all night, with very different results.  While Buffy and the gang stop the hellmouth from being opened, secrets are revealed.  Outsiders become interested in Sunnydale when an ominous prophecy points in the town’s direction.

Return to the Home Page       Return to BtVS Stories

PART ONE       PART TWO       PART THREE       PART FOUR       PART FIVE      

PART SIX       PART SEVEN       PART EIGHT       PART NINE

PART TEN       PART ELEVEN       PART TWELVE       PART THIRTEEN

PART FOUR

Tara saw Willow’s eyes shift.  She turned to see what drew Willow’s glance.  It was Buffy and Riley leaving the Bronze together.

“Well, it looks like Buffy has made other plans,” Willow said, with more than a little hurt in her voice.

“Looks like,” Tara agreed.

Willow shook her head and put on a happy smile and looked at Tara.

“So, what do you wanna do now?” Willow asked.

Tara simply shrugged, content to let Willow decide.

“Well, we could stay here, or… we could go back to your place and hang out?” Willow suggested.

Tara had tried to stay non-committal on the first option, but she couldn’t contain her enthusiasm for the second; she grinned widely.

Willow matched Tara’s grin.  “The latter it is then,” Willow said, rising from her chair.  “Let me go say bye to Xander and Anya first, and then we can go.”

*     *     *

As Willow and Tara made their way from the Bronze back to campus, they walked quietly side by side.

“I…ummm…I like your friends,” Tara said.  “I think they’re…ummm…n-n-neat.”

“Thanks,” Willow said.  “I think so too.  Buffy’s usually not so…abrupt.  I don’t know what’s the matter with her lately.  She just hasn’t been herself.”

“Maybe she’s got something on her mind,” Tara suggested.  “M-M-Maybe she was hoping to talk to you about it tonight, and then I showed up.”

“Oh, no, I-I-I don’t think so,” Willow said, wanting to reassure Tara.  “If she really wanted to talk, she probably wouldn’t have planned to do it at the Bronze.  It’s just too loud and crazy in there.”

Willow looked away for a moment, considering Tara’s comment.  Maybe Buffy does need to talk, Willow thought.  She and Riley seem to be getting close.  Maybe she’s got doubts.  Maybe she’s got fears—big, scary, gut-wrenching fears—and I haven’t been there for her.  I’m being a bad friend!  I—

“Willow!”

Willow’s internal tirade was stopped by Tara’s voice.

“What?” Willow asked.

“We’re here,” Tara answered.

Willow looked around and realized that they were standing outside Tara’s dorm.

“How did we get here so fast?” Willow wondered out loud.

“We didn’t.  You just didn’t notice because you were thinking so hard,” Tara said, poking Willow playfully.  “I swear, I could hear the wheels and cogs turning.”

“Sorry,” Willow said sheepishly.

“It’s okay.  I didn’t mind,” Tara said.  Tara moved up to the first step to her dorm entrance.  “Are you still coming up?” she asked.

At that, Willow smiled, her thoughts happily diverted.  “You bet!” she exclaimed, joining Tara on the steps.

*     *     *

“Well, this is it,” Riley said nervously as he and Buffy entered his room in Lowell House.

Buffy made a token glance about the room.  “It’s nice,” she said.

“Thanks,” Riley said.

Buffy moved closer to Riley.  “But not as nice as the man that lives here,” she said, tip-toeing the fingertips of her right hand up Riley’s chest.

Buffy tilted her head back and looked into Riley’s eyes.  That was the only invitation Riley needed.  He moved in for a smoldering kiss.  As Riley wrapped his arms around Buffy, she threw herself into the moment.

This is good, Buffy thought.  One dose of Riley, and Willow will be off my mind for good.  Besides, he’s nice and handsome and-- 

Buffy’s thoughts were interrupted as Riley began kissing down her neck.  Oh god…he knows what he’s doing.  Thank goodness.

Okay, I can do this, Buffy assured herself as she felt Riley guide her to his bed.

*     *     *

As Willow followed Tara through the dorm to her room, Willow’s initial cheer gave way to a bad case of nerves.

We’re going to be alone, together, in her room, just like yesterday! Willow thought frantically.  What if we--?  Oh, god, I have got to get a grip here! 

Maybe I was just imagining things, she thought.  I probably was.  It was just post-earthquake disaster-bonding, that’s all.

But what if I wasn’t imagining things?  What if--?  Willow didn’t complete that thought for fear of where it would take her.

I should talk to her about it, Willow finally told herself.  Just get it out in the open, one way or the other.  Otherwise, I’ll just worry myself sill--

“Are you coming in?” Tara asked, breaking up Willow’s mental debate with herself.

“Oh.  Yeah.  Sure,” Willow answered.

As Willow stepped into Tara’s room, she took a deep breath. 

Okay, I can do this, Willow assured herself.

*     *     *

Once inside Tara’s room, Willow took off her coat and placed it on the chair.  Then she sat down on the side of Tara’s bed.

Tara went over to the table and picked up the doll’s-eye crystal.

“So, you wanna try a spell with the crystal?” Tara offered.

Here we go, Willow thought.  It’s now or never.

“Actually, I was hoping we could talk,” Willow said seriously.  Then she scooted toward the head of the bed to make room for Tara to sit.

“Oh,” Tara said, expecting the worst.  “Sure.  We can do that,” she said as she sat on the bed next to Willow.

Willow folded one leg onto the bed so that she could face Tara.  Tara duplicated her position.

“I wanted to talk about what happened yesterday,” Willow said.

“You mean the spell?  Why it went all wacky?” Tara inquired.

“No, I don’t mean the spell,” Willow replied.  “I mean what happened after the spell, after the earthquake.”

“W-W-What do you mean?” Tara asked, not wanting to be the one to bring up the subject.

Willow fidgeted a moment, then began: “When we were on the floor and you were…I got the distinct impression that…”  Willow searched Tara’s face then stopped.  “Never mind,” Willow said abruptly before standing and walking toward her coat.  “I’m sorry.  I was obviously wrong, so I’m just gonna leave before--”

Tara stopped Willow from putting on her coat.  “Don’t,” Tara said.  “Don’t go.  Please.”

Willow allowed Tara to take her coat from her and put it back on the chair, but she still wouldn’t meet Tara’s eyes.

Tara took Willow’s hands into hers.  Then she leaned her forehead against Willow’s.  “You were right,” Tara whispered.

“About what?” Willow asked softly, lifting her eyes to Tara’s.

“This,” Tara said, as she leaned down and captured Willow’s lips with her own.

The kiss started sweetly, chastely, but it quickly grew into much more as both women unlinked their hands so that they could wrap their arms around each other.  They pulled each other close, squeezing tightly, hands roaming, unable to get enough of each other.  Finally, breathless, they pulled apart, still touching, still holding each other.

“Whew,” Willow said, catching her breath.  “It’s good to be right,” she said, grinning from ear to ear.

Tara smiled widely, and Willow could have sworn that the room got brighter when she did.  Tara had such a light about her.  Willow looked intently at Tara’s face, taking in every feature, as if seeing it for the first time.

“What?” Tara asked, a little unnerved by Willow’s stare.  “What are you looking at?”

“You,” Willow said, lifting her hand to stroke Tara’s face with her fingertips.

Tara’s eyes filled with tears, and she leaned her face into Willow’s hand.  Then, overcome by emotion, Tara pulled Willow into a hug and began to cry on Willow’s shoulder.

Willow was shocked and confused, but she held Tara tightly and tried to comfort her.

Oh, god, what did I do?  I didn’t mean to make her cry! Willow thought.

Soon Tara’s crying ceased, and she pulled completely out of the hug, sniffling.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to cry all over you,” Tara said.

“It’s okay.  I didn’t mind,” Willow assured her.  “Come on, let’s sit down,”

Willow took Tara’s hand and led her to the bed.  They resumed their former positions, though in reverse, with Tara at the head and Willow at the foot.

Tara held her head down, letting her hair fall over her face.  Willow put her hand on Tara’s knee.  Tara looked up.

“So…ummm…what’s up with the crying?” Willow asked.

“I-I-I couldn’t help it, I was so…” Tara said before becoming choked up again.  She took a deep breath and continued.  “I was so happy.”

“So, it was a happy cry?” Willow asked.

Tara nodded firmly.

“Thank goodness!” Willow exclaimed.  “I was so afraid that I had done something wrong, said the wrong thing, I--”

“No,” Tara insisted.  “You haven’t done anything wrong.  You’ve done everything…perfectly.”

“Everything?” Willow asked shyly.

“Everything,” Tara said certainly.

“I was a little worried,” Willow admitted. “I’m new at this.  I’ve never…I’ve never kissed another woman before.”

“I figured that,” Tara said.

Willow looked crushed.

“No!  I didn’t mean it like that!” Tara corrected.  “I just meant that since you had been dating a guy before we met…I just assumed that you’d never…God! I am such a dork, so stupid, always saying the wrong--”

“Tara!” Willow said sharply, cutting off Tara’s tirade against herself.  “It’s okay.  I get it now.  I know what you meant.”

“Really?” Tara asked.

Willow nodded.  She paused, looked at her hands, and then looked back up at Tara.

“But you…you’ve…you’ve done this before?” Willow asked.

“Yes,” Tara answered.

“So, you’re gay then, a…ummm…a lesbian?”

“Yes,” Tara said.

“I don’t know what I am,” Willow said.  “I thought I did.  When I was in high school.  When I was with Oz.  But now…”

“It’s okay to be confused,” Tara said gently.

“Good, ‘cause that’s what I am,” Willow said.  “But not about us,” she amended.  “Not about what happened between us.  If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that…” Willow paused.

“What?” Tara whispered.

Willow ducked her head.  Then she lifted her head again and met Tara’s eyes.  “It’s that…that was the best kiss I have ever had in my whole life!”

Willow and Tara laughed at Willow’s admission, smiling broadly, both enjoying a quick remembrance of the kiss.  Then the smile faded from Willow’s face, causing Tara’s to do the same.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Willow said. “I enjoyed kissing Oz.  But…it was…nothing like what just happened.  I don’t know how to explain it…it was like...”  Willow paused, thinking hard.  Then she continued.  “Oz and I were…a wave, like on the beach.  A good wave, but an ordinary wave nonetheless.  But you and I…we were a tsunami.”

Willow laughed and hung her head, embarrassed at her pathetically exaggerated metaphor.  When she looked up, she found Tara gazing at her.

“What?” Willow asked, a little unnerved by Tara’s stare.  “What are you looking at?”

“You,” Tara said, lifting her hand to stroke Willow’s face with the back of her hand.

Willow knew instantly why Tara had cried earlier; she felt similar tears filling her own eyes.  She was overcome with joy, that this beautiful woman could look at her the way she was looking at her right now.  It was simply unbelievable.

Willow couldn’t stand the separation any longer.  She moved quickly into Tara’s arms and kissed her, guiding her onto her back on the bed.  Willow felt the rush once again as their lips met over and over.  She was dizzy from the tide of emotions rolling through her body, but she didn’t want to stop.  Ultimately, the need for oxygen forced her to pull away.  She leaned up on her arms.

Tara was the first to regain her breath.  She giggled softly to herself then looked at Willow.

“Tsunami, huh?” Tara asked teasingly.

“Absolutely,” Willow said, smiling but with utter conviction.

Willow plopped onto her back next to Tara.  Then she concentrated on getting her breathing back under control.  After a few moments, she turned onto her side and faced Tara.  Tara did the same.

“I still can’t believe this is happening.  It’s like a dream or something,” Willow said.

“I know what you mean,” Tara agreed.

“I mean, it hasn’t been that long since Oz left, and…”  Willow stopped for a moment.  “I was in a really bad space for a while.  I just wanted to die.  In a way, I was dead, already.  Nothing mattered.  If it hadn’t been for Buffy, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

Tara dropped her gaze at the mention of Buffy’s name, but lifted it again when Willow continued.

“But now…being here with you…” Willow said softly,  “…this is the first time since then that I’ve felt…hope.  That it was actually possible that I might be happy again some day.”

Tears spilled over Willow’s eyelids and streamed down her cheeks.  Annoyed at her tears, Willow wiped her face roughly. 

Tara’s heart broke as she saw the anguish behind Willow’s eyes.  She reached out to Willow and drew her into her arms. 

Willow didn’t try to stop the tears then; she let them come full force, sobbing uncontrollably.

Tara held Willow and did her best to comfort her as she cried.

When her tears had stopped, Willow pulled away and rolled onto her back.  She draped her arm over her eyes.

“I’m so tired of crying,” Willow said in a choked and exhausted voice.  “I’m just so tired.”

“I know,” Tara whispered, stroking Willow’s arm.

Willow turned and looked at the clock beside Tara’ s bed.  “I guess I’d better go.  I have an early class tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I do too,” Tara said.

Willow sat up, wiped her eyes one more time, and then stood up.  Tara also rose.  She watched as Willow trudged over to the chair to retrieve her coat.  Tara met her in the middle of the room in front of the door.

“I had a really great time tonight,” Willow said.

“Me too,” Tara said.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then?” Willow said.

“Yes, I’d like that,” Tara said.

Willow kissed Tara passionately but quickly, then she turned for the door.  Willow took the door knob in her hand and then froze.  She released the knob and turned back around to face Tara.

Tara couldn’t believe the pain and vulnerability she saw in Willow at that moment.  Willow looked like she was seconds away from crumbling in place.  Tara took a step towards her.

“Willow, what is it?” Tara asked gently.

“I don’t want to go,” Willow said.

“Then don’t,” Tara said simply.

Willow ran to Tara and threw her arms around her.  God, it feels so good to be here, in her arms, Willow thought. It’s like I belong here.

Tara wrapped her arms around Willow and hugged her tightly.  Goddess, it feels so good to hold her like this, in my arms, Tara thought. It’s like she belongs here.

After a moment, Willow pulled away.  “Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asked Tara.

“I’m sure,” Tara assured her.

“I don’t want to be a bother or anything,” Willow said.

“You’re not a bother,” Tara said, moving to her chest of drawers.  “Let me see if I’ve got something you can sleep in, something that won’t swallow you whole.”

Tara searched the drawers until she found an old t-shirt that she thought would do.  She pulled it out and walked back to Willow, who was wringing her hands with worry.

“Here,” Tara said, handing Willow the t-shirt.

Willow took the t-shirt.  “Thanks,” she said.  She looked down at her hands holding the t-shirt.  After a moment, she looked back up.  “Tara,” she said.  “I want to stay, but I don’t want to…” Willow shrugged, hoping Tara would understand.

“I understand,” Tara said sincerely.  “We won’t ever do anything that you don’t want to do.”

“Okay,” Willow said, relieved.  Then she added quickly: “I-I-It’s not that I don’t want to, because I do, it’s just that, well, I’ve never done that before, at least not with a woman, and I don’t think I’m ready for that, not yet anyway, I mean, we’ve only just kissed tonight, and it seems a little sudden to--”

“Willow!” Tara called out, stopping Willow’s rampant babble.  “It’s okay.  I understand.  I feel the same way.”

“You do?” Willow asked.

“Yes,” Tara said.

“Cool,” Willow said, grinning, holding Tara’s t-shirt to her chest sheepishly.

“Get changed,” Tara said.  “It’s going to be a short night.”

While Tara went back to her chest of drawers, Willow quickly changed into the t-shirt Tara had lent her.  When she turned around, Tara was just getting her gown over her head.  Willow averted her eyes at first, but then quickly looked again.  Willow saw a flash of Tara’s bare back and then a swish of blue silk covered it.  Tara settled her gown into place and turned around.  Willow’s mouth dropped open as she took in the sight. 

Goddess… Willow thought to herself. 

Tara blushed deeply when she saw Willow’s reaction.  She shook her head and walked past Willow to the door, where she turned off the overhead light.  The room was then lit only by the Christmas lights.

“Come on, let’s get some sleep,” Tara said.

Tara went to the bed and pulled down the covers.  Then she got in and patted the mattress beside her.

Willow walked over to the bed and shyly got in.

*     *     *

Buffy lay on her back, staring at the ceiling.  Riley was sprawled face down with his arm draped across Buffy’s stomach.  He began to snore softly.  Buffy glanced at Riley, then sighed and looked away.

She had thought that sleeping with Riley would cure her little Willow-crush, but it hadn’t.  When Buffy compared her feelings for Riley with her feelings for Willow, well…there just was no comparison.  Buffy knew that she didn’t just have a crush on Willow; she was in love with Willow.  And no liaison, no matter how enjoyable, would change that fact.

Buffy covered her eyes with her arm.  Oh, god, she thought, this was a mistake.

Buffy uncovered her eyes and looked at Riley once more.  Her face creased into a guilty frown when she thought of how she had used Riley.

Slowly and carefully, she extricated herself from Riley’s embrace without awakening him.  Once free of the bed, Buffy quickly located her scattered clothing and got dressed.  Then she slipped silently out of Riley’s room and out of Lowell House.

*     *     *

Buffy headed straight for her dorm.  About halfway there, she stopped in her tracks, realizing that Willow would probably be waiting for her.

Damn! Buffy thought. Willow’s gonna wanna know why I turned into a super-bitch at the Bronze.  I so cannot deal with this right now.

“I guess I’ll patrol,” Buffy mumbled to herself as she changed direction and trudged toward the nearest cemetery.

*     *     *

Spike lay on the floor of his cell, the drugged bag of blood now empty at his side.  Two white-coated orderlies lifted Spike from the floor and placed him onto a gurney.  As the first orderly started to strap down the unconscious vampire, Spike suddenly opened his eyes.  He grabbed the orderly by the throat, cutting off his breathing.

“Sorry, can’t stay,” Spike said gleefully as he morphed into vampire face.  “Gotta go see a girl.”

Spike jumped off the gurney, still holding the first orderly.  He did a quick wrench of the orderly’s head, breaking his neck instantly.  The second orderly rushed Spike.  Spike grabbed him by the arm and flipped him over the gurney, sending him rolling onto the floor.  Spike followed him, ready to attack, but the orderly grabbed him and slammed him into the glass wall of the cell next door.

“Let me out!” Spike’s fellow lab-rat vampire demanded.

“Bit busy right now,” Spike growled as he grappled with the orderly.

Spike pulled the orderly’s hands away and whipped him around in a full 180.  Then he drove his fangs into the orderly’s neck.

The sound of the alarm wailing pulled Spike from his bloody feast.  He looked around the room until he located the exit, and then he ran for the door.

“Hey!  What about me?” the vampire yelled to Spike’s retreating back.

Spike left the cell block and ran down the hallway.  At the end of the corridor, he saw the large security door start to come down.  He increased his speed and then dove under the heavy door just before it closed.

*     *     *

Riley was jolted awake by the beeper on his night stand.  He switched on the light and looked at the beeper.  Then he turned over to tell Buffy he had to leave.  But Buffy wasn’t there.  With pain in his eyes, Riley looked at the empty side of the bed.  He clenched his jaw, then hurried to pull on his clothes.

*     *     *

Riley joined Forrest and Graham by the large mirror in the hallway of their frat house.

“What’d ya tell your girl?” Forrest asked.  “I saw you bring her up last night.”

“Ummm…nothing,” Riley mumbled.  “She’s…she’s already gone.”

“Oooo,” Forrest said, wincing.  “Not the ole slip-away-before-you-wake-up routine?  Not a good sign.”

“Shut up, Forrest,” Riley said sharply.

As the three men stood in front of the mirror, a glowing green light scanned them.

“I'm protecting you, buddy,” Forrest said.  “I don't want to see you mooning over some freshman for the next three months.”

A computer voice came from the wall: “Retinal scan accepted.”

The wall holding the mirror opened, revealing the car of an elevator.  The three men entered the car.  The elevator doors closed, and the car started moving down.

“I’m sure it’s nothing, man,” Graham said, patting Riley on the back.

“Thanks, Graham,” Riley said before leaning forward to speak into a microphone panel.  “Riley Finn,” he said officially.

The computer voice answered: “Initiative vocal code match complete. Special Agent Finn, Riley. Identity number 75329.”

*     *     *

When the elevator doors opened, Riley, Forrest, and Graham entered a vast underground facility.  The three men halted as a group of soldiers in green commando garb hurried by in front of them.  When the squad had passed by, Riley and his comrades walked briskly to a technical briefing area.  A blonde woman in a white lab coat stood facing an array of computers.  Riley went immediately to the woman.

“Situation?” he asked.

“Gentlemen, suit up,” the blonde woman said ominously as she turned to face Riley.  It was Professor Walsh.  “We have a Code Red.  Hostile 17 has escaped.”

Riley and his comrades moved quickly to an area nearby that held weapons and equipment.  They began donning their gear.  Professor Walsh followed, carrying her clipboard.

“What do we know?” Riley inquired.

“Hostile 17 broke restraints at exactly 2:47 A.M.,” Walsh replied.

“Good,” Forrest said.  “He doesn’t have much of a head start.”

“It was bagged and tagged locally,” Walsh continued, “so assume it knows the area.”

“Neutralized?” Graham asked.

“Negative,” Walsh responded.  “It was on its way to surgery when it escaped.  It has a tracking device, but nothing else.  It will be very dangerous, so watch your backs.  Remember, the creature has every advantage right now.  Fail to recapture it, and everything we’ve worked for--The Initiative itself--could end tonight.”

“Nobody’s failin’ on my watch,” Riley said grimly, as other soldiers joined him and took their places in their individual squads.

“Glad to hear it,” Walsh said.  “Gentlemen, Agent Finn is now in charge of this operation.”

Riley finished the last touches on his gear, then turned to the soldiers that awaited him.

Riley addressed the whole group: “We start with the basic mobilization pattern: three teams. Sweep and search, just like practice. Thorough but fast.”

Riley moved to stand in front of one particular soldier:  “C-team, take the campus perimeter. Make sure he can't leave. Stake him if you gotta, but only as a last resort.”

Riley moved to another soldier:  “B-team, you're going down. Tunnels, sewers, cemeteries.” 

Riley stood before his buddies:  “Forrest and Graham, you’re with me. We’ll take the heart of campus and work our way out.”

Riley turned to face the whole group again: “All units, maintain radio contact early and often.  Who’s got questions?”  When no questions were raised, Riley belted: “Move!” And the soldiers burst into action.

*     *     *

Spike raced through the wooded areas of UC Sunnydale, the commandoes in hot pursuit.  He quickly lost them in the woods.  When he thought it was safe, he changed directions and headed for town.

*     *     *

Spike walked along an alleyway, looking over his shoulder often.  Then he heard a sound behind him.  He zipped over to a dumpster and hid behind it.

Riley, Forrest, and Graham crept into the alley.  Riley was at point, flanked by the other two.  Graham pointed the tracking device and swept it along the alley.

“He’s close,” Graham said.  “I’ve got a strong reading.”

Bloody hell! Spike cursed in his mind. They’ve got a freakin’ tracer on me!

Spike leapt from his hiding place in front of Riley.  He took out Riley with a spinning kick.  When Forrest pointed his weapon in Spike’s direction, Spike grabbed it and shifted it, causing it to zap Graham.  Then Spike slammed the butt of the weapon into Forrest’s chin, sending him to the ground.  Spike turned to face Riley, but he was still on the ground.  Spike kept the weapon and ran onto the main street.

Frantically, Spike looked around.  Then he saw a motorcycle coming slowly up the street.  He stepped behind a parked van and waited until the motorcycle got closer.  When the motorcycle neared, Spike threw down the weapon, jumped in front of the motorcycle, and clothes-lined the driver.  The driver’s head snapped back as his body stayed put and his cycle kept going.  The driver crumpled to the ground.  The motorcycle fell over and skidded to a halt about twenty feet away, the engine still running.

Spike ran to the motorcycle, pulled it upright, and jumped aboard.  He revved up the engine until the tires squealed and sped away.

*     *     *

When Spike reached the outskirts of town, he pulled over beside a sign and stopped, leaving the engine still running.  He turned and looked back at Sunnydale.

“Don’t get comfortable, Slayer,” he said in a barely contained rage.  “I’ll be back.  I’ll get this damn tracer out, and I’ll be back.”

Spike turned back to his cycle, put it into gear, and screeched away, sending gravel and dust flying into the ‘Welcome to Sunnydale’ sign.

*     *     *

It was early morning at Stevenson Hall.  Buffy eased into her dorm room and closed the door behind her.  She tiptoed toward her closet, then stopped in place when she realized that Willow wasn’t there.  She looked at Willow’s bed and her own; both were undisturbed.  The sound of the door opening caused Buffy to turn around.

Willow opened the door softly and tiptoed in.  She moved directly toward her bed, not noticing Buffy on the other side of the room.

“Hey,” Buffy said.

Willow nearly jumped out of her skin at Buffy’s voice.  She twirled around towards Buffy, almost dropping the doll’s-eye crystal that she held in her hands.

“Hey!” Willow cried nervously, before calming her voice down.  “Buffy, hey, there, to you too,” she said, crossing and re-crossing her arms several times before getting them in the right position.

Buffy pointed out Willow’s bed.  “Out all night, huh?” she asked.

“Ummm…yes.  Yes, I was,” Willow said, taking what she hoped looked like a firm stance.  She looked over at Buffy’s bed.  “You, too, I see.”

“Yeah,” Buffy said sadly, looking down at her hands.

They were both silent for a moment.  Willow unfolded her arms and began to fidget with the crystal.  Then she moved to her dresser and set the crystal down.

“I’m sorry about bailing on you at the Bronze,” Buffy said.

“That’s okay,” Willow said.  “I understand.  You wanted to be with Riley.”

“Yeah, right,” Buffy lied.

*     *     *

Later that day, Xander slammed the door as he and Anya entered Giles’ apartment.

“Okay, we’re here,” Xander announced as he entered the living room.  He motioned dramatically and said, “Let the meeting commence.”

Willow, Buffy, and Giles collectively turned and glared at the duo.

Xander dropped his arms and shrank down when he realized his joke was not appreciated.  “Okay, sitting now,” he squeaked as he and Anya took the empty seats on the couch next to Buffy.

Buffy and Giles turned their attention back to Willow.

“As I was saying,” Willow said with irritation, “I hacked into the mainframe at the police department and downloaded a copy of all the reports and pictures.” 

Willow handed out a couple of copies of the autopsy report.

“As you can see,” Willow continued, “the victim was found in his dorm room, exsanguinated.”

“Ex-sang-wi-what?” Xander asked.

“Exsanguinated,” Anya answered matter-of-factly.  “It means all his blood was gone.”

“Vampire?” Buffy asked.

“No,” Willow replied.  “His throat was cut.  But here’s the weird thing.  There was very little blood at the scene, which means that whoever, or whatever, did this took the blood with him.”

“Oh, and something else,” Willow added.  “The victim had a symbol carved into his chest.”

Willow handed one photo to Buffy and another to Giles.  Buffy looked at it intently.

The photo showed a triangle with an eye inside it, carved directly into the skin of the unfortunate co-ed. 

Xander peeked over Buffy’s shoulder.  “It’s kind of like the CBS logo,” Xander said.  “Hey, could this be the handiwork of one Morley Safer?”

“I’m telling you I’ve seen this somewhere before,” Buffy said.  “I just can’t remember where!  I mean, it’s like--”

“It’s the end of the world,” Giles said ominously.

Buffy, Xander, and Willow all turned to Giles and cried simultaneously: “Again?”

“It’s…ahhh…the earthquake, and that symbol, yes,” Giles stated.

“I told you!” Buffy accused.  “I-I-I said ‘end of the world’ and you were like ‘poo-poo,  southern California, poo-poo!’ ”

“I’m so very sorry,” Giles replied.  “My contrition completely dwarfs the impending apocalypse.”

“No, i-i-it can’t be,” Willow insisted in denial.  “We’ve done this already.”

“It’s the end of the world, everyone dies,” Giles said.  “It’s rather important really.”

“So what do we do?” Willow asked.

“We stop it,” Buffy said firmly.  “And the first order of business, I figure out where I’ve seen this symbol.”

*     *     *

“I wonder where I’ve seen this before?” Buffy said sarcastically as she stood in front of a huge crypt in the cemetery.  “Where else?  The place I spend most of my waking hours memorizing stuff off the sides of mausoleums.  Those big freaky cereal boxes of death.”

A scraping noise from inside the crypt drew Buffy’s attention.  She pulled her crossbow off her shoulder and crept to the entrance.  The door was open, so she slipped quietly across the threshold.

Inside, Buffy found a green-skinned, quill-headed demon standing beside the now-open coffin of a small child.  The demon was picking up the bones of the child’s skeleton and putting them into a burlap sack.

“The door was open,” Buffy said to the demon.  “Thought I’d drop in.”

The demon turned and roared at Buffy.  She shot the demon in the shoulder, barely fazing him.  She threw the crossbow at the demon, but he just batted the weapon aside and came right at her. 

Buffy pummeled the demon with multiple kicks, with little effect.  The demon grabbed her and flung onto a stone bench.  The demon brought his arms down hard, intending to crush her, but she slipped out of the way just in time.  Buffy slammed her arms onto the demon’s  back and then threw him against the wall.  Before he could recover, she shoved him onto the steps that led down into the crypt.  When he stood up, Buffy high-kicked him right out of the mausoleum.

She jumped over the demon’s back and engaged him on the outside of the crypt.  The demon smacked Buffy hard, sending her flying off.  The demon continued to come after her.  She fought back from her knees, punching the demon repeatedly, and when the demon grabbed her arms, she popped him in the face with a head butt.  Then the demon wrapped his arms around Buffy’s legs and lifted her off the ground.  As she rained blows on his head, he slammed her back-first onto the top of a tombstone.  Buffy tumbled off the stone marker and lay groaning on the ground.  When Buffy didn’t get up right away, the demon took off, taking the burlap bag of bones along with him.

*     *     *

Riley, Graham, and Forrest, still in their commando attire, crept through the cemetery.  Graham looked intently at the tracking device.

“I’m gettin’ nothing,” Graham said.

“This is a total waste of time,” Forrest said.  “We’ve been looking all day, and the signal on the tracer’s gone, which means Hostile 17’s gone, too.”

“Forrest is right,” Graham said.  “My guess is he’ll head for L.A., try to get lost in the crowd.  We should see if Professor Walsh can use the satellite, maybe track him that way.”

“The tracer’s for local area use only,” Riley said.  “You know that.”

“Well,” Forrest said, “we at least need to let our other cells know so that--”

Forrest’s words were cut off when the green-skinned demon that had just bested Buffy burst into the group.  Once again, the commandoes were caught completely off guard.  Within a matter of seconds, the demon had pummeled the soldiers and gotten away.

“Aw, man,” Graham groaned, sitting up. “We are gonna get ragged so bad by the other guys.”

“No doubt,” Forrest said, also rising.  “Zero for Two.  Not good.”

“It’s not the guys I’m worried about,” Riley said. “It’s Professor Walsh.”

Graham and Forrest grimaced at the thought.  Riley clenched his jaw in anger.

“That does it!  We’re gonna get this thing,” Riley said firmly as he stood.  “Forget Hostile 17.  I want this one, and I want it dead.”

*     *     *

Giles, Willow, and Xander sat on the couch in Giles’ apartment, their laps covered with books.  Buffy paced behind them.

“A Vahrall demon,” Giles announced, passing the book to Willow.

“Eewww!” Willow said as she looked at what was on the page.

Xander looked over Willow’s shoulder.  “I second that revulsion.”

Willow passed the book back to Giles, who read from the text: “ ‘Slick like gold and gird in moonlight, father of portents and brother to blight.’ ”

Buffy joined them and read over Giles’ shoulder: “ ‘Limbs with talons, eyes like knives, bane to the blameless, thief of lives.’  This thing isn’t digging up the bones of a child for fun.”

“Well, a demon’s got some pretty hilarious ideas about fun,” Xander said.

“ ‘Bones of a child,’ though,” Willow said, thinking.  “I saw that somewhere!”

Willow pulled another book from the stack and flipped through its pages until she found the right one.

“An ancient ritual,” Willow explained.  “It uses the blood of a man, the bones of a child, and…something called ‘The Word of Valios?’  I-I-It’s all part of a sacrifice, ‘The Sacrifice of Three.”

“Let me guess,” Buffy said, “it ends the world.”

“Well, yeah,” Willow answered.  “I-I-It’s not big with the details, though.  It doesn’t say how the world ends or what the ritual entails exactly.”

“The sacrifice of three...” Xander repeated, thinking.  Then his eyes grew wide.  “Three people are going to die?”

“No, they won’t,” Buffy said, crossing her arms tightly.  “Because ‘claw boy’ is not getting all of his ingredients.  We have to find that third one, ‘The Word of Valios,’ and keep him from getting it.”

“If he doesn’t already have it,” Willow countered.

“I’ll check the magic shop,” Buffy said.  “I’ll see if they’ve heard of a book called ‘The Word of Valios.’   Willow, Xander, you two check out the book archives at the museum.  And, Giles, you--”

“I’ll keep researching here,” Giles said.  “I’ve seen that term, ‘The Word of Valios,’ before.  I’ll see if I can find it.”

*     *     *

Riley walked around the table in the briefing area.  His team leaders, along with Graham and Forrest, listened attentively, taking notes.

“Three meters tall, approximately 100 –120 kilograms, based on my visual analysis,” Riley stated.

“Special hazards?” one of the team leaders asked.

“Unknown,” Riley answered.  “Probably nothing we haven’t handled before.”

“There is no pattern that we can discern yet,” Graham added, “so we have to assume that it’s on a basic kill-crush-and-destroy.”

“Here’s one for the good guys,” Forrest interjected.  “This thing has a pheromone signature a mile wide.  I’ve been working with the detection system the lab’s developing.  I can’t tell where it’s going, but I’ve got a beat on where it’s been.  Residual traces showing up in populated areas.  The thing’s not shy.”

“Remember, it’s strict recon only till we find the thing,” Riley reminded.  “Once we have its location, we’ll mass the troops and storm the place.  This isn’t a capture, it’s a kill.”

“Get your quadrant assignments from me,” Forrest called as the meeting broke up.  “We’ll blanket the town.”

*     *     *

Now alone in his apartment, Giles sat at his desk and poured over a huge book from his collection.  He flipped through one section, then another, before settling on one that seemed to stimulate his memory.  He rifled through it quickly, then stopped as he saw the page he was looking for.

The page featured a drawing of a U-shaped decorative charm of some kind.  Marking the drawing was the title ‘The Word of Valios: 15^th Century Talisman.’

“Oh,” Giles said, recognizing the talisman immediately.  “As usual, dear.”

He rose quickly from his desk and opened the large chest behind him.  He pulled out a wooden box and brought it to his desk.  When he opened the box, it was filled with various types of charms.  He reached inside and pulled out The Word of Valios.  He looked at it for a moment, then went for his jacket.

Before he could get his jacket on, Giles found himself surrounded by the three Vahrall demons.  Giles punched one but was quickly overwhelmed by the other two.  They picked Giles up and threw him down onto his coffee table.  After the demons had beat him savagely, Giles felt one of them take the talisman from his hand.  Then he passed out.

*     *     *

Buffy entered Giles’ apartment and was shocked to find Willow and Xander caring for a bruised and bleeding Giles.

“What happened?” Buffy said, rushing over.

“It’s my fault,” Giles said haltingly.  “I should have known.”

“Giles, what is it?” Buffy asked.

“The Word of Valios,” Giles said, “it’s the name of a talisman, not a book.  I blame myself entirely.  I had it here.”

“You had it here?” Xander accused.  “Okay, first I thought you were being too hard on yourself, but...”

Willow brought some ice wrapped in towel and handed it to Giles.

“Oh, thank you,” Giles said, pressing the ice pack against his head.  Then he continued his explanation.  “I bought it at a sorcerer’s estate sale.  I really only glanced at it once.  I thought it was a knock-off.”

“Well, they have it,” Buffy said.  “And they probably have their sacrifices by now, too.”

“They’re on their way to perform the sacrifice now,” Giles said.

“On their way where?” Buffy asked.  “You found out what the ritual is for?”

“The Hellmouth,” Giles stated.  “They’re going to open the Hellmouth.  The one in the old library.”

Willow and Xander looked at Buffy with dread in their eyes.  Buffy stood up.

“Looks like we’re going back to high school,” Buffy said.

*     *     *

Buffy, Willow, and Xander entered the ruins of Sunnydale High School.

“Be careful you guys,” Xander said, “the place doesn’t look too stable.”

“When we get to the library,” Buffy said, “keep a look-out for the victims they’re keeping alive for the sacrifice.  Getting them out is the first priority.”

“Will do,” Willow said.

They left the foyer and walked down a burnt-up and tattered hallway.

“Sunnydale High,” Xander said dramatically.  “Oh, these walls--if they were still walls--what stories they could tell.”

Xander shifted the weapons bag on his shoulder, and then stepped on something squishy.

“Eewww!” Xander said, pulling back in disgust.  “Mayor meat, extra crispy,” Xander explained, when the other two looked at him.

The trio continued on through the condemned school until they reached what used to be the library. 

“Whoa, check out the new floor plan,” Willow whispered.

They saw the three Vahrall demons hovered about the fissure.  The demons were chanting in their guttural language.

“Three of them,” Buffy said.

“I don’t see any sacrifice people,” Willow said.

“They must be around here somewhere,” Xander said.  “The ritual is not finished.”

“And it’s not gonna be,” Buffy said as she jumped into the hole that used to be the library.

As Buffy attacked the three demons, Willow and Xander made their way down to the foundation level.

When one of the demons lost the bottle of blood, Xander dropped the weapons bag, hurried over to the bottle, and picked it up.

“The blood!  I’ve got the blood!” Xander said.  “Get the talisman.  They can’t do the ritual without it.”

As Buffy continued to pummel the demons, Willow darted in and snatched the bag of bones from a demon’s hand.

“I’ve got the bones!” Willow yelled.  Then she tossed them to Xander.  “Here!”

Xander tossed them right back to her when one of the Vahrall demons attacked him.

Willow caught the bag of bones and slipped away just before the demon who had held them reached for her.

“You’ve got the wrong man, dude,” Xander joked as his demon continued to beat him.  “I’ve had a lot of practice with my lunch money.”

The demon put in one last hit on Xander, took the bottle of blood, ran to the fissure, and jumped into the Hellmouth.

“Okay, I guess I won,” Xander said when he realized the demon was no longer attacking him.

The earth began to shake.  A look of sudden comprehension came over Xander’s face.

“The demons!” he yelled.  “They are the sacrifice!”

Willow was still on the run.  As her demon closed in, Willow tripped over a chunk of debris and fell sprawling to the ground.  The bag of bones flew out of her hand.  The demon chasing her scooped up the bag and ran for the Hellmouth.  Then he jumped in.

The tremors intensified into a full quake.

“Get out of here!” Buffy yelled to her friends.  “The building is going to come down!”

Xander ran to Willow and helped her to her feet. 

Buffy continued to fight the last Vahrall demon.  When he tackled her to the ground, she picked up a stake and rammed it into the demon’s chest.  The demon roared in pain, but didn’t die.  Instead, he swung his arm down, intending to crush Buffy.

His arm was suddenly stopped in mid-motion by Riley, who pulled the demon away from Buffy. 

Buffy looked at Riley in total disbelief as he slugged the demon once, then twice, then once more before the demon picked Riley up and threw him across the room.  Riley got right up, but then went down again as the demon punched him hard in the gut.

Buffy was up now, and she kicked the demon in the side, sending him straight back to Riley.

“Don’t let him jump in the hole!” Buffy yelled to Riley.

While Riley grappled with the demon, Buffy struck blows on the demon’s back.  The demon roared to his feet, throwing both Buffy and Riley off.

The demon ran to the center of the room, looking for the talisman lost in the fight.

“Buffy!” Willow yelled.  “He’s getting the talisman!”

Riley jumped to his feet and ran to the demon, tackling the demon as he reached for the talisman.  Buffy quickly followed and claimed the talisman.  The demon kicked Riley off and stood up.

“Looking for this?” Buffy called, holding up the talisman.

The demon roared in rage and ran at Buffy.

“Xander!  Mace!” Buffy yelled.

Xander reached into the weapons bag and pulled out the heavy mace.  He threw it at Buffy, and she caught it mid-air.

Just as the last demon reached her, Buffy slammed the talisman on a slab of concrete and brought the mace down on it hard.  The energy released from the talisman blew both Buffy and the demon about ten feet back. 

As Buffy regained her feet, she watched as the remaining demon started writhing in agony.  He thrashed on the ground, screaming, until he disintegrated in a fiery burst.  The earthquake stopped.

*     *     *

Riley sat up and stared at the ashy spot that used to be the Vahrall demon.  Then he looked over at Buffy.  He hung his head and exhaled.  Walsh is going to kill me, Riley thought to himself. She is going to chop me into little bits and feed me to the hostiles.

Riley took a deep breath, got to his feet, and brushed himself off.  Then he walked over to Buffy and the others.

“Well, hey! Jeez, what are the chances, huh?” Riley said lamely.

Buffy folded her arms and looked at Riley with suspicion.

“Yeah, I was just passing by when I thought I heard people inside,” Riley added.

“Passing by in your G.I. Joe outfit?” Willow asked.

Riley looked down at his apparel.  “Paintball!” he said suddenly.  “Yeah, I was playing paintball.  And then the earthquake came and--”

“You’re one of those secret commando guys, aren’t you?” Xander asked.

“Oh, no.  No, no, no,” Riley denied.  “Commando?  No, I mean…I really need to get back.  I don’t want the guys wondering what happened to me.”

Riley dashed from the ruins, leaving Buffy and Willow and Xander alone again.  They slowly made their way out of the damaged library and walked once again down the burnt-out hallway. 

Buffy walked alone in the lead, carrying the weapons bag while contemplating the ramifications of discovering Riley’s secret identity.

Xander and Willow walked side by side, studying the ruins.

“It’s kinda weird being back, isn’t it?” Xander asked.

“Yeah,” Willow agreed.  “Everything seems so small.  And more charred and ruiny.”

Xander leaned over to whisper into Willow’s ear.  “Is it just me, or is our favorite Slayer a little less than ecstatic about our latest victory?”

“I think she’s in a rough Riley-reality-check right now,” Willow said.

“You gonna talk to her?” Xander asked.

“Yeah, once we get back to the room,” Willow said.  “Will you go update Giles?”

Xander nodded.

*     *     *

“Riley is one of the commandos?” Giles exclaimed.  “Oh, dear lord!”

“And ‘amen’ to that,” Xander said.

“I suppose it’s too much to ask that Buffy find a ‘normal’ boyfriend?” Giles lamented.

“Based on her track record,” Xander said, “I’m thinking, ‘Yes.’ ”

*     *     *

When Buffy and Willow got back to their dorm room, Buffy walked straight to her closet and set down the weapons bag.  Then, for the longest time, she just stood there staring at the bag at her feet.

Willow waited for Buffy to come back into the room.  When she didn’t, Willow went to where Buffy was standing.

“Are you okay?” Willow asked softly, putting her hand on Buffy’s back.

“No, I’m not,” Buffy said in a choked voice.

As Willow rubbed Buffy’s back in small, comforting circles, Buffy began to cry.  Her shoulders shook, and she brought her hands to her face. 

“It’ll be okay,” Willow said, circling her arm around Buffy’s waist and giving her a little squeeze.  Then she turned Buffy around and pulled her into her arms, hugging her tightly. 

At first, Buffy refused to move her hands from her face, but after a moment, Buffy dropped her hands and wrapped her arms around Willow.  She buried her face in the crook of Willow’s shoulder and continued to cry.

Willow rubbed Buffy’s back and rocked her gently.  She couldn’t bear to see Buffy so distraught.  She was determined to comfort her any way she could.  She would do for Buffy what Buffy had done for her when Oz had left.

Willow imagined herself in Buffy’s bed, lying with Buffy’s head on her chest.  She imagined holding her and stroking her hair.  She imagined whispering comforting words into her ear.  She imagined caressing Buffy’s tear-stained cheek.  She imagined silencing Buffy’s whimper with a full kiss on her lips.  She—

A loud record-needle scratch went off in Willow’s mind, cutting off her errant thoughts.

What is the matter with you? Willow scolded herself.

When Buffy had stopped crying, the two roommates undressed and put on their pajamas.  Willow tucked Buffy into her bed, then sat on the edge and held Buffy’s hand.

“Do you want me to stay with you?” Willow asked.

“Yes,” Buffy answered in a quiet voice.

Willow pulled back the covers and slipped into the bed beside Buffy.  Buffy scooted over to make room, then when Willow had settled in, Buffy put her head on Willow’s shoulder.  Willow wrapped her arms around Buffy and squeezed.

“Better?” Willow asked.

“I always feel better when I’m with you,” Buffy replied.

*     *     *

Lindsey McDonald straightened his tie before walking into the executive suite of Wolfram & Hart in Los Angeles.  He entered the Senior Partner’s office and stood quietly, waiting to be addressed.  The Senior Partner turned his chair around and looked at Lindsey.

“We have a problem,” the man said, “in Sunnydale.”

“What kind of problem?” Lindsey asked.

“A prophecy problem: ‘Three shall die, and from their ashes, three shall rise.  Should they be joined in love and light, no evil shall stand before their eyes.’ ”

“The ‘Power of Three’ ?” Lindsey asked incredulously.

“So say the Seers,” the Senior Partner stated.

Lindsey dropped his gaze to the floor and frowned as he considered this new complication.  He looked up when the Senior Partner addressed him.

“I want you in Sunnydale,” the man said.  “Find these three and eliminate them.  Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Lindsey said firmly.  “Consider it done.”

Return to the Home Page       Return to BtVS Stories