A Trio Of Four: Part 7
by R A S
I don't own anything but the story. Joss and the WB own everything else.



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Part Seven

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"Where are you?" Willow called out, still unsure what had been trying to get her attention. "And how do you know my name?"

"Come over here," the voice continued to whisper.

"Where?" She said again. Then....her eyes slowly focused in on the lamp that lay secure on the table.

"I’m inside," it urged. "Set me free."

"Why?" Willow asked. "You know....I’m probably just imagining things because I’m tired."

"I’ll grant you wishes for eternity," the voice then pleaded. "Anything you want. That boy....Xander. He’ll start to like you sooner than you think. But....it will only happen if you get me out. That vampire friend of yours....he knew somehow. But you don’t have to say anything to anyone. We can join forces, Willow."

"In exchange for what? And how do you know about Xander?"

"I know all....I hear all, and soon...I shall see all. With your help."

"What are you?"

"I’m a genie," it offered. "And I perform good deeds for the worthy. Let me out and I’ll gladly show you."

"How...how do I do that?" She asked. All she wanted was respect and if it meant Xander treating her like a human being....

Xander and Cordelia sat in the dimly lit cafeteria. Cordy continued to glance nervously at the clock on the wall, as she decided whether or not it was worth it to go back into the library. Should she simply go home and paint her nails instead?

"Why isn’t there anything to eat in here?" Xander suddenly complained.

"They’re closed at night, half wit. Who’s going to order something near midnight?"

"Well....me," he told her. "If Giles wants us to come, he should stock up and hire some cooks."

"Oh, right. Just for your benefit," she said sarcastically. "I don’t think so. It’s bad enough that we can’t tell anyone we’re here. Not that I haven’t thought about spoiling Buffy’s secret identity."

"Cordy?"

"What?"

"Please shut up. You could give a man a billion headaches," he observed. "Hey. You know, I think I’m ready to go back now. My sugar high has suddenly diminished."

"Are you sure? It looks the same to me."

"Not my face, my personality, Cordelia. There’s a difference."

"Funny, Xander. I don’t see one."

Buffy hadn’t realized she’d fallen asleep on the couch in Angel’s arms. Not until she heard the loud, but insistent knock at the door. She shifted easily to the right, as she saw him get up. When he caught a glimpse of her, he smiled.

"Who is it?" He called out.

"Willow," the voice at the other end said. "Please open up."

"Buffy, isn’t Willow supposed to be-"

"At the library. Xander was supposed to call her," she finished. "Maybe she has something to tell us though. Maybe Giles found the name of our monster."

"Maybe. Wait here." Slowly, he went to the door. Hesitating a moment, he sensed something he couldn’t quite explain. Almost like a warning. The door was pulled open. The hacker stood there, a frown upon her face.

"I did some research, Buffy," she told the slayer quickly. "And I know what it looks like."

"Do you have a picture?" Buffy brought forth.

"Well. Not exactly. I left it back at the library, but-"

"Willow, are you okay?"

"Buffy," Angel motioned to her. She got up and went toward him. Almost immediately, he pulled her into another dark corner of the room, as Willow looked on suspiciously.

"What’s wrong with you?" she managed.

"That’s not her," he whispered. "I think its inhabited her body....taken it as a host or something. And if I’m right, it means both of us are going to die....if we don’t get out of here...right now."

"What are you talking about?"

"You heard her. She’s not making sense. She has no control over her actions anymore. She has to obey it, because she’s a follower."

"You knew-" she started.

"I didn’t want to scare you. I know what this thing is capable of. I think....I think-" his voice trailed off.

"I think it was in the lamp. You know....the one Willow bought with Xander."

The phone rang then, cutting them off, and causing Buffy to jump nearly two feet high in the air, just from pure shock. Angel kept his composure in front of Willow, and calmly walked over and picked it up. "Hello."

"Okay. I didn’t want to call, but Giles kind of made me." It was Cordelia’s voice. And to Angel, it expressed both worry and annoyance all at the same time.

"What is it?"

"Have you guys seen Willow? She hasn’t shown up at the library yet. Has she tried getting in touch with you?"


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