By the Moon's Light: Part Four
by Ahn
Render unto Joss and the big wigs what is theirs, namely BtVS, and please leave me to my insanity. I thank you.
Author's Note: Happens after BBB and before Season 3.
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Part Four
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The next morning the Scooby gang all gathered in the library, researching furiously. Then the bell rang, and after classes they returned to research some more.
“Damn! Nothing!”Xander said as he slammed the book shut. He looked up the others. “All that I can find is how to kill a werewolf, restrain a werewolf and lure a werewolf. Nothing on a werewolf and his mate.”
Buffy snorted. “And all that Giles found so far was that the skins of werewolves are considered aphodiasis for love potions or something. And that they’re used as certain potions. We’ve got to keep researching.”
“And we’ve got to find it fast, before tomorrow’s full moon,”Oz said calmly. Buffy looked at him, Willow’s boyfriend. His face was calm, but his eyes darted around worriedly, first at the clock then at the growing pile of useless books. She laid a calming hand on Oz’s arm.
“Don’t worry, Oz. We’ll find out what this Wolf-Woman wants with you and Will before she finds you two,”Buffy said gently. Oz nodded.”Well, speaking of, where’s Will?”
Xander frowned.”She went to see Ms.Delcaza about that thing with the extra college credits. Should’ve been back by now. Speaking of missing, did anyone see Cordy?”
Ignoring Xander’s query, Buffy and Oz looked at each other, then headed out the library doors.
* * *
“Well, no. I didn’t see Willow today, only in the hall, when I told her to meet me after school for the information that she needed,”Ms. Delcaza said slowly as she shoved her bag into the back seat. She looked at the two teens and gave them a puzzled look.”Is anything wrong?”
Buffy managed to give a tight smile.”No...she’s just supposed to tutor me in French. And she’s never late.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I’m sorry that I can’t help you,but I’m really late for a meeting.Oz,”Ms. Delcaza shrugged as she got into the driver’s seat. Buffy and Oz stepped back as she started to drive away.
“That woman gives me the major wiggins,”Buffy said aloud. Oz looked at her and nodded. As they walked back to the library, they heard a voice calling out. Turning, Buffy groaned inwardly. It was Candance.”Hi Candace!”
As she came up to them, Candace gave the weird girl and the Oz guy a regal nod.”Summers. Um, Oz. Did you see where Xander is or have any idea where he is? I have a message from Cordelia for him.”
“Uh, no, actually,”Buffy answered as she crossed her fingers behind her back..”But if you’ll tell me what the message is, I could give it to him if I see him.”
Candace merely gave the weird girl a brittle smile.“No, that’s all right. Before she left for home to get ready for a date with Jason Bryers, Cordelia wanted me to tell him something if I saw him. Thanks anyway. See you!”
“Cordy has a *date* with Jason Bryers? The soccer captain?”Buffy echoed as she looked at Oz.”Is that true or is she trying to make a wedge between Cordy and Xander?”
“All I know is that is one determined girl. Are you sure that she’s still not under the love spell?”Oz asked as Candace strode away. Buffy shrugged.
“Got me on that one. Come on, let’s try to find Will.”
* * *
When Willow came to, she winced. She wanted the little man hitting her head with a sledgehammer to stop.
“Are you awake yet, my dear?”asked a softly accented voice. Willow opened her eyes, she saw that she was in a cage, in a dark basement. With a small cauldron bubbling with some white liquid. Then she saw a figure moving in the shadows, waving a knife over a candle.”I am so sorry that I had to drug you, but I don’t think that you would have come with me willingly.”
The figure stepped closer, and Willow gasped. It was the Wolf-Woman, and it wasn’t.”Ms-Ms. Delcaza?”
The figure nodded, and smiled at her.”Very good, Willow. I see that you recognize me, but then that’s not too hard to do right now, is it?”
“What-what happened to you?You’re old! And...and part wolf!”Willow stuttered. Ms.Delcaza shrugged as she looked down at herself, and smiled bitterly.
“Oh, nothing. A spell gone awry, but soon that will be fixed,”she smiled as she looked up at the window, it was night. And tomorrow was the first full moon. “Very soon.”
Willow’s eyes widened.”Are you in cahoots with that other Wolf-Woman?”
Ms.Delcaza threw her head back and laughed harshly.”There *is* no other Wolf-Woman. It was me!”
Willow’s eyes widened. Ms.Delcaza saw the confusion in her eyes and laughed bitterly.”Allow me to introduce myself, I am Circe. And what you see now, is a shadow of my former self. But tomorrow in the light of the full moon, that will all change.”
Circe stretched out the arms and looked at the wrinkled limbs, then looked at her legs. They were wolf legs, just like her torso. Her aged hands touched her wrinkled face, then her face became young again.”By tomorrow night, I’ll have a human form and your youth!”
“People will find me! My friends-”
“Will do nothing!”Circe interrupted savegely.”By the time that the Slayer finds you and your werewolf, it will be too late! I will not allow a Slayer to interrupt me ever again!”
* * *
“Cordy! You’re here!” Buffy exclaimed as she entered the library. Cordelia looked at her and rolled her eyes at the Slayer.She was still in her cheerleading uniform as she had a book open in front of her.
“Where else would I rather be? Home? On the phone? Shopping?”Cordelia snided.”Or am I here simply because I love these musty books that so totally ruin my skin?”
“Well, Candace said that you were home getting ready for a date with Jason Breyers, and that she was supposed to give Xander some message, from you,”Oz said carefully. Xander lifted his head up and gaped at Cordelia as her eyes flashed.
“You have a date with Jason Breyers?”Xander demanded.”He asked you out on a date?!? Are you going out with him?”
“As if!”Cordelia snorted delicately.”I’m already dating you. Goes to show you how brain dead I am when I turn down the third time he asks me out! Candace must have heard him ask me out again! Why would she tell you this?”
“Well, she said that you gave her a message to tell Xander,”Buffy said.”Probably to, well, you know the scenario.”
Cordelia’s eyes widened, then she exploded.“That witch! Can you stake her for me? No wait! I’ll do it myself! I’ll fix her caboose!”
“As interesting this all is, did you manage to locate Willow?”Giles asked when there was a break in Cordelia’s tirade. Buffy and Oz shook their heads.”Cordelia! Sit!”
“We looked all over the school grounds, even called her house, but no Willow,”Oz said.”And I’m feeling not to happy with her being not here.”
“All right, we must assume that the Wolf-Woman somehow has Willow,”Giles stated as he looked around the table.”So the only other person she needs here is Oz.”
“And he’s going no where tonight,”Xander said as he pulled on his hair in frustration.”But where’s Willow? And why does this-this thing want them? Did we find anything yet?”
“Just alot of spells regarding virgin sacrifices and others involving werewolves, but nothing about both of them,”Cordelia said as she looked up from her book.”Why do most of these spells involve virgins, anyway?”
“Don’t worry, Cordy. You’ve got nothing to worry about, according to locker room talk,”Xander quipped. Cordelia glared at him as Giles cleared his throat.
“Most of the spells that require a virgin because she represents purity, youth...and hold! I think I’ve remembered something!”
The Slayer and Slayerettes waited as the Watcher ran into his office and came out with a volume.”I seem to recall, in one of the Watcher Diaries, that there was a Slayer, about two hundred years ago, who was fighting a sorceress that could change her shape. Her favorite form was a wolf...”
As he opened the diary, and lost himself in the volume, the group stared at him. Then Buffy prompted,”And? What’s the rest, Giles? Share please.”
Giles nodded his head in apology.“Sorry. It seems that this Slayer, Magda, she was called, was part of a gypsy clan that roamed England. And her Watcher was an English gentleman, called Sir Thomas Fife. It seemed that her half-sister was taken by this sorceress because she was engaged to the clan’s protector, who was said to have been able to change his shape...”
“And?”Oz prompted. Giles then shook his head and read from the diary.
‘November 2nd 1763: It has been two months since I was assigned my Slayer. Her name is Magda and she is a menace to my temper. Such is my fate to have a strong willed Slayer, yet I am so very proud of her. Even before I met her, her clan understood her destiny, and they embraced it and her. She was already taught some of the defenses, and each day I marvel at the things that I am forced to learn from her. She is wild, but she is as a Slayer should be. Brave. Bright. Beautiful. Caring. She loves only one other in her clan, her half-sister, Zinnia, who is as calm as her sister is wild. The sister is engaged to Rogan, who for some reason is designated as clan protector. And they are both protective of Magda. It will not be easy for me to gain their acceptance into their family.’
“Sounds a bit like you Buffy,”Xander quipped. Buffy glared at her friend as Giles continued.
‘January 27 1764: I have finally been accepted into the clan because I am Magda’s Watcher, yet I still think that they merely tolerate me for I have allowed them to stay on my lands. Much has happened in the six months, between me and my Slayer. She has killed many vampires and demons, but now she is troubled. Wolves and witches invade her dreams, and she is frightened by them. She has told me a fantastic story, that Rogan has the ability to change into any forest beast that he likes. He especially likes to take the form of a wolf when the seasons demand it. I am astounded as I am skeptical, yet after so much I have seen, how can I doubt it?’
“All right, so this Rogan was a werewolf?”Oz asked quizzically. Giles shook his head slowly.
“Perhaps. It only says that he favors the wolf form,”Giles mused.”Maybe-”
“But what does this have to do with virgins, werewolves and Willow?”Buffy asked. Giles looked down at his book and continued reading aloud.
‘March 3 1764: Tonight is the Full Moon of the Three Witches, and may God above help us all. The Mistress Hunt has kidnapped Zinnia and we know not where to find them. Rogan is beside himself with worry, as is the clan. The Elder woman has seen in her visions that if Rogan leaves the clan to find Zinnia, Rogan will be lost to them. She has also seen that Zinnia and Magda are forever changed in a ceremony not familiar with the gypsies. All she could repeat was “Old is young,Young is Old, the Wolf is gone, but a Wolf there shall be.”I do not know much, but I have a strange premonition going through my head. All not be well even if we do find Zinnia....’
“Oh, my Lord,”Giles whispered. Buffy stared at him.
“What? What Giles? What happened?”Buffy demanded. Giles looked at her with horror filled eyes as he read the passage.
‘After tonight’s happenings, I cannot doubt the existence of werewolves or sorceresses. And I cannot believe what has happened to my Slayer. In the struggle to save her sister, the spell and the potion that the Mistress Hunt prepared in the sacred circle spilled upon the Mistress Hunt, Zinnia and my Magda. Even as it happened before me, I could not believe mine own eyes. As I gaze at her, now, in her cage, in her wolf form, I still cannot believe it. My Slayer, my Magda is now a wolf.
‘The price that was paid to save her beloved sister was so high. She had stopped the Mistress Hunt’s ceremony, but at the cost of her humanity, Rogan’s ability and Zinnia’s youth. Never again will the clan have their Slayer or wolf protector or their beloved flower. May God above curse the Mistress Hunt forever in her half-form.’
Giles looked at Buffy, then at Oz as he continued in a low voice.
’March 30, 1764: It is with a heavy heart that I must report this in this diary. After much searching, I could not find a way to reverse the spell or potion that the Mistress Hunt used to change all our lives. Last night I told Rogan and Zinnia the news. After I had told Rogan and Zinnia, in that cottage near my house that they share with Magda, they had asked if there was a new Slayer yet. I could not look at them as I answered no. So long as the Slayer lives, it seems no matter what the form, the next shall not be called. When I returned this morning, they were all dead, holding each other’s hand with Magda’s near dead form between them.’
‘When I lifted Magda’s head, she opened her eyes, and licked my hand before she breathed her last. I have failed in my duty, I have lost my Slayer. May God in his mercy forgive me, because I am filled with hate. I will find a way to find Mistress Hunt, and I will find a way to destroy her for what she did to my Magda. And I will forever curse her with my dying breath. Let all the Watchers after me know this: the Mistress Hunt will return again, and I order you all to stay aware. Unless I find something significant about Lady Hunt or report her death, this will be my last entry as a Watcher. May God watch over you all.’
Giles then closed the book, and the room was filled with quiet. When he cleared his throat, everyone jumped.”That was his last entry in the diary.”
“Wow. Talk about being bitter,”Cordelia said wide eyed.”And he never ever found this Mistress Hunt again?”
Giles shook his head slowly.”It is assumed that he did not, mainly because there are no more written pages after this last entry.”
“So we’re going to assume that this Mistress Hunt is back,”Buffy said slowly.”Since that’s the only refernce we can find about wolves and virgins. And moons.”
Giles nodded slowly.”It would seem so, Buffy. And if she is back, then she must be using Willow for her own purposes.”
“Does anyone else see a match here?”Xander asked.”Flower names, Willow and Zinnia. Wolves, Oz and Rogan. Slayers, Buffy and Magda. Does that mean that tomorrow’s full moon is the night of the ceremony two hundred years ago?”
Giles went to a book, and read his calculations.”Yes...it seems that tomorrow *is* the Moon of the Three Witches.”
“Then we have to assume that this Mistress Hunt is in Sunnydale *and* that she hasn’t changed her name, much,”Buffy mused.”So that means we look for people around Sunnydale with the name ‘Hunt’ in it. How did she kidnap Zinnia?”
“She posed as a governess in a neighboring estate. And she took steps to care for her charges,”Giles replied.”So if we are to assume that she has not changed any of her tactics-”
“Then she might be a teacher here in the school or a school nearby,”Buffy finished.”I don’t like this Giles, too many assumptions. Too many chances, with Oz and Willow’s life is hanging in the balance.”
“Agreed, but it’s the only slim hope that we have,”Giles said slowly.”I’ll look to see if we have more on Sir Thomas. The ceremony took place in an open wooded field. Buffy-”
“I’ll see if there are any places that this ceremony can take place. Oz, you look in the computer and pull up any and all names that have the word ‘Hunt’ in them and see if they’re teachers or nannies or governors. Xander, you and Cordy will have to research more and see if there’s another angle to this. And call the names that Oz pulls up,” Buffy ordered.
“You’ll be looking for a clearing, more in the shape of a circle, in the middle of a wooded area,”Giles stated.”And a crossroads nearby.”
“Then I’m thinking near the back of the school or Waverly Park is where she’ll have her little shindig.”She looked at Oz and Xander.”We’ll find her, guys, and we’ll make sure that this Hunt lady never bothers anyone again.”
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