Hold Me Close: Part 2
by Jayme Stone
Part Two

"Mariah, I know that this is going to be hard for you, but it is the only way to stop the headaches and other weaknesses." Giles spoke to Mariah, with great concern as he looked at her across the table. Angel stood next to him, trying to convince her of the necessity of what must be done.

Mariah looked confused and disbelieving. "There has to be another way. I don't want to embrace the voices. It's too hard and what if I lose control completely? What then?"

"We will deal with that as it happens. As of now, embracing them is the only way to stop any further damage to yourself and others." Giles didn't know what else to tell her. He looked to Angel for support.

Angel walked to Mariah and squatted down beside her. "Mariah, it's the only way and just remember I'm here for you. We'll get through this together."

She smiled at Angel. "Fine." Slowly all the tension drained from Mariah's face. Her eyes turned black and then lit up with one bright light. She relaxed and looked at Giles and Angel. "Did anything change?"

"Except the tension leaving your body, no." Giles said, skeptical of what had happened.

"You'll probably not see any change till tomorrow, but for now I'd like to go home and take a nap." She stood up and Angel took her arm, drawing her to him.

Giles smiled at the romance the two had. "If anything happens, call me either here or at my flat."

Mariah smiled again, but this time with an added something. "Sure, whatever you say."

* * *

Buffy sat at the library table. Giles had told her to stay there till Mariah got to school and to make sure she was all right. Buffy hated waiting. She was a more go out and get them kind of person, but she was eager to see how Mariah was doing. As she continued on with her thoughts, Willow, Oz and Xander walked into the library. They all looked well rested, yet not eager to face the day ahead of them.

"Is Mariah here yet?" Willow asked.

"No, but she should get here any minute. She embraced the voices in her head last night and Giles is worried if she's well." Buffy said.

Oz looked confused. "Why did she embrace the voices, isn't that a way to lose control faster?"

Giles walked into the library. "Actually by embracing the voices, she should regain more control over herself. She should be here by now."

Just as Giles sat down at the table, Mariah walked into the library, but not the Mariah they knew. She wore a black leather jacket, a black top, and a pair of leather pants that were held together on the side by pieces of chain. Her hair hung lose down around her shoulders and she was smiling. She carried no books and the talking in the halls grew louder after she had entered.

"Hey, everybody. What's going on?" She hopped up on the counter, as everyone just stared at her. "Is there something wrong?"

"Mariah, what are you wearing?" Buffy indignantly yelled at Mariah.

"What? You don't like my new look. I thought I looked good in leather, but Angel had pretty much the same response. It must be those voices in my head. They're crazy little guys." Mariah pulled a pieces of gum out of her jacket pocket and shoved it into her mouth.

Giles got up and walked over to her. "Are you feeling any pain or discomfort since you embraced the voices?"

"Not really. But I think I better get to class. Don't want to be late, do I?" She jumped off the counter and sauntered out of the library.

"Giles, I don't think she's suppose to be acting like that." Xander said.

"I know, but for now that is better than her blowing a hole through a wall, especially in front of Synder. But that reminds me, somebody better watch her and make sure she doesn't encounter Synder." Giles looked at the group, his eyes falling of Xander.

"Why me? I don't deserve this."

"Just think of it this way, Xander, you'll be seen around school with a girl wearing leather. Tight black leather." Buffy said, hoping that would convince him.

"Fine." Xander got out of his chair and hurried to catch up with Mariah.

* * *

Mariah walked slowly down the halls, enjoying the stares she received. Several guys had tried to approach her, but she had just kept on walking. She heard footsteps behind her and Xander appeared beside her. She smiled at him.

"Hey, Xander. We're you sent to baby-sit me?" Mariah enjoyed the look of dread that passed over his features.

Xander decided for the truthful approach. "Yes."

"That's all right, but things might get ugly. Here comes Synder and he looks like he's really steamed." Mariah glared at the principal, waiting for him to stop in front of her.

He did. "Miss Gray, what are you doing? You look like you belong out on the street. Well, actually everyone here does, but you more so. Explain now, or you'll be seeing me in detention, from now until you graduate."

Mariah grinned at him. "Well, let's see. I felt like dressing like this, so I did. What's the prob, Synd?" Xander grimaced. There was going to be trouble.

"What did you just call me?" Principal Synder was now steaming from the ears.

"I called you Synd. It was the best of my choices, Big Ears, Shortie, or Synd. I picked the least offensive. So if there is nothing else, I'll be on my way." Before he could respond, Mariah walked around him and continued on her way. Xander stuck close, not wanting to be picked on by their mean little principal more than anyone else did.

Just as he caught up with Mariah, she was surrounded by several guys who had all started talking to her. Xander worked his way through the group, knowing that later on, he would be seriously injured by one of the huge jocks, but he wasn't worried about that. He grabbed Mariah arm and pushed a path out of the group.

They walked to the lounge. Mariah plopped herself of the couch and laid down. "Oh, I hate being beautiful. Thanks for getting me out of that group of guys. They were suffocating me."

Xander looked to the heavens. "I'm not going to survive this, am I?" He mumbled as he smiled at her.

* * *

The school day was over and Mariah's new image had caused a bit of a stir, but she was handling it rather well. Her baby-sitter, Xander, was exhausted. Keeping up with her was quite a task, but all he knew was that the day was over and Buffy could now keep an eye on Mariah.

Xander sat in the library, dozing in a chair while Mariah filed her nails at the library counter. Giles and Buffy were no place to be seen. Just then, Cordelia Chase walked into the library, immediately taking notice of Mariah and her attire.

"What in God's name are you wearing? You look like you just came out of a bikers magazine." Cordelia stared at Mariah.

"Actually, I think it did come out of a biker magazine. So tell me, what's your honest opinion of my new look? Be truthful now." Mariah stopped doing her nails and looked at Cordelia.

"You look horrid. And to believe I thought you had style."

"Well, at least I don't look like a drag queen."

Cordelia looked down at her short skirt and thin blouse, but could think of no comeback for Mariah's terse statement. All she did was turn and leave the library, forgetting why she even came in.

"That was fun." Mariah smiled at what she had done and turned to Xander. She saw that he was asleep and had missed all the fun. "Well, I'll just be going. See you later, Xander." Mariah left the library quietly, not wanting to wake her watch dog.

Several minutes later, Buffy and Giles entered the library, immediately noticing Xander was there and Mariah was not. "Xander, wake up, now!" Giles shouted at the slumbering guy.

He awoke with a start and stared at them. "What?" He looked around. "I lost her, didn't I?"

"Yes. Do you have any idea where she went?" Buffy tried to say calmly.

"No, except that it had to be in the last ten minutes, because it was five fifty when I went to sleep and it's now six." Xander got up and had no idea what to do.

"Xander, you stay here and make sure that Oz gets into the book cage before sundown. Buffy and I will try to find Mariah, before she does something rash, all right?" Giles went to the book cage and unlocked the door, then quickly left with Buffy.

But as they left, they didn't know that Mariah had not gone far, because she had plans on how she was going to spend her evening.

* * *

Oz entered the library with Willow and saw that only Xander was there. "What's up?"

"I lost Mariah. Giles and Buffy are looking for her. They left me here to make sure you got into the cage on time." Xander ushered Oz into the book cage, shutting the door quickly. "And you made it just in time. The sun will be down in a few minutes."

"I knew we shouldn't have stopped for ice cream." Willow said backing away from the cage.

"But you look so cute with ice cream on you nose." Oz said as the sun slipped below the horizon.

"I have to say I prefer custard, but I have other things to worry about." Mariah spoke from the door of the library, staring at the happy little group with blank eyes. "I'm planning some fun activities for this evening."

Xander looked at Mariah with relief. "Giles and Buffy are looking all over for you. They thought you might get into some trouble."

"I'm about to." She slowly walked to the door of the book cage as Oz began to transform.

"Move away from the cage, Mariah. You might get hurt." Those were the last coherent words Oz spoke as he embraced the beast he was.

Mariah grinned. "I wouldn't count on it." She gripped the door in her hand and yanked it out of place, throwing it to the other side of the library. The werewolf exited the cage and looked at Mariah with hunger. She stared into his eyes and he saw that she was more powerful than him. He turned to the other two people in the library and advanced towards them.

"No, leave them. They're not worth it." She turned and left the library, with Oz at her heels.

* * *

Buffy and Giles returned to the school just in time to see Mariah and Oz leave. Immediately, they both knew that something was wrong, yet they didn’t know if they should follow Mariah or see if Xander was okay. Buffy ran towards the school, praying that her friend was all right. She would never want to see any of her friends hurt.

Giles tried to keep up with her, but it was hard. As they entered the library, the destruction was evident. The door of the book cage had smashed one of the chairs and Xander was nursing a bump on the head. Willow, however, was just standing there. She was in shock. “What happened?” Buffy said shaking Willow back to reality.

“Mariah went crazy and ripped the door to the cage off and freed Oz. She stopped him from attacking us, but then she had him follow her. I hope nothing happens to Oz." Willow spoke with a whisper.

Buffy guided her friend to a chair, before turning to Giles. She gave him a look of confusion. She had no idea what to do next. “Willow, everything is going to be all right.” Buffy walked over to Giles and leaned in towards him. “I’m right, aren’t I?” She whispered softly, not wanting to upset her friends.

“We need to go after them. They could hurt a lot of innocent people and all we’re doing is sitting here.” Xander shouted, but then realized that shouting would only upset Willow more.

“You’re right, Xander. Why don’t you go find Angel. Buffy and I will go see if we can find Mariah and Oz.” Giles was trying to keep control of the situation.

Buffy looked at Willow again. “What about Willow, Giles? We can’t just leave her here. Something might happen to her.”

“Quite right," said Giles. "Xander, take her with you.” Xander walked over to Willow and helped to out of the chair. “Go, quickly now.”

After they had left, Buffy went into the book cage and opened the weapons cabinet and removed several things, but finally decided on the tranquilizer gun. “Giles, you’ll need this.” She grabbed a cross-bow and several wooden shafts. “I’ll be using these on any vampires we find.” Giles and Buffy quickly left the library, knowing that things were going to happen and there weren’t going to be good.

* * *

Spike walked around the park, looking for any tiny morsel that had decided to come and get lucky in the park. He hoped that several people came, but most importantly the woman he had driven insane. < Having an insane Slayer is a thing of beauty. It’s even better than some of that fancy French art work. > Suddenly he heard something and he darted behind a tree, wanting to make sure it wasn’t the Slayer, namely Buffy.

“I’m in luck.” Spike whispered as he saw Mariah enter the park, however he failed to notice Oz in his beastly form. “Let’s have a little fun.” Spike stepped out from behind the tree and made sure Mariah saw him.

“Well if it isn’t Spike or would you prefer to be called William the Bloody. I think using railroad spikes on your victims is just a little unfair, but it shows creativity on your part. Well, is there something I can do for you? I mean it’s the least I can do to offer my services to you, after YOU’VE DRIVEN ME INSANE.” Mariah’s anger had been mounting for the past few minutes and it was time she released just a little of it.

Spike had just stood there in shock once her speech had started, but when the ball of fire came at him, he came to a conclusion. “You’re not a Slayer, are you?” He ducked away just in time.

“No shit, Sherlock.” She pointed her finger at Spike, but instead of shooting more fire at him, she did something a little more sporting. “Sick’em, Oz.” Oz leapt at Spike clawing at his face and throat. He wasn’t going to kill Spike, just bang him up a bit.

Then out of nowhere came Buffy and Giles. They saw what was going on and weren’t sure if they should stop it. But then they realized that they should save him, not because they liked him but because they needed him to get to Drusilla and in turn save Mariah.

Buffy advanced towards Mariah, not realizing her mistake. With a wave of Mariah’s hand, Buffy was thrown up against a tree. “Mariah, put me down. I’m trying to help you.”

Giles slowly stepped forward. “You don’t want to hurt her.”

“How do you know what I want?” She waved her hand once again and Buffy was released. She turned when she heard a noise in the bushes. Out stepped Angel, Xander and Willow. They saw Oz and Spike fighting, not sure who would be the victor, but immediately turned to Mariah.

“Mariah, tell me what’s wrong. I want to help you.” Angel looked at her with such sorrow, she didn’t know what to do. Mariah’s gaze swept over the group that surrounded her.

“Oz, here boy.” Oz stopped his attack on Spike and quickly went to her. She turned and ran as quickly as she could from the group. She refused to look back, not wanting to see the one she love come as close to tears as he ever would.

“That was interesting.” Spike got up from his place on the ground and brushed himself off. “So, she has a bit of a temper.”

Angel growled at Spike and morphed into full vampire mode. He rammed Spike up against a tree. “Well, I do, too. Why did you do this to her?”

“Touchy, touchy.” Spike was trying to use his comical side to get Angel off of him, but it failed to work. “I thought she was the second Slayer, and well, I decided an insane Slayer was better than a sane one.”

Angel growled again and was about to do Spike bodily harm, but Buffy came over and touched his arm. “Angel, put him down. If something happens to him, we can’t get Drusilla to undo the spell.”

“Hey, that’s right.” Spike said as he struggled against Angel’s hold on him. “If you don’t put me down, Angel my boy, your little girlfriend will be insane forever.”

Angel released him and stared him in the eye. “How did you know?”

“I knew she was your girlfriend for several reasons.” Spike decided to use the situation to his advantage, since escape was impossible. “The first reason is how you made me intimate with that tree over there. Second, I remember her now from that time we spent in Prague. One minute you were enjoying the party and the next a beautiful little brunette was leading you out of the room. Well,” Spike walked around the group. “who is she, Angel? More importantly, what is she?”

"That isn't important. We need you to save her." Angel grinned at him, "And you're going to save her."

"You and what army are going to make me?" Spike thought he had him stumped, but he had no idea how wrong he was.

Buffy realized where Angel was going and jumped in. "Spike, we can always convince Mariah to come back and do what she wants to you."

"I think she's having far too much fun with her little boy toy to worry about me." Spike said, nonchalantly.

"Hey, that's my boyfriend you’re talking about." Willow was enraged that Spike dared to call Oz a boy toy.

Spike glared at her. "I'll call him anything I bloody well please." He stopped in front of Buffy and his grin faded. "Okay, I'll help you, but only if you keep Mariah away from me and Dru once this whole thing is over. Deal?"

Buffy looked to Angel to see what he thought of the deal, but only saw hatred. She then turned to Giles and saw his encouragement. "It's a deal, but if you do anything afterwards to make Mariah mad, you'll have to fend for yourself."

"Fine. I'll be going now, see you tomorrow night, right here." With that, Spike wandered off into the night, knowing that if he didn't show, the Slayer would track him down and cut out "his freaking heart".

Xander finally decided to butt in. "Don't you think we should try to find Mariah? She could be causing all kinds of trouble."

"Quite right, Xander. Let's split up into two groups. Buffy, you go with Xander and Willow. Angel and I will be the other team." He looked at his watch. "We'll meet at the library in two hours."

With that decided, they all went off, not realizing that they wouldn't find Mariah, because she was in the place they least expected her to be.

Mariah had been wandering around Sunnydale, thinking. Her world was in shambles and there was little she could do until she regained her sanity. Oz followed at her heels, occasionally snapping at passer byers, but for the most part he just accompanied her through the streets of Sunnydale. Mariah's path lead her back to the school. She hesitated, not sure if the others were inside waiting for her, but she took the chance.

As she entered the library, Mariah breathed a sigh of relief, the room was dark. She ushered the tired werewolf back into the book cage. Oz wasn't extremely happy that his freedom was being taken away, but he was fairly tired. Mariah retrieved the door from where she had thrown it, making sure that she replaced it perfectly. She set it on its hinges and the door slowly melded itself back into place. With a wave of her hand she locked the door.

"Try to get some sleep, Oz. I kept you up pretty late. It's already Wednesday. I'm going to take a little nap on the library table, because yesterday's personality was rather energetic. I wonder what today's will be like." Mariah wandered over to the table and climbed up on top. She rested her head on her hands. "Try to keep the noise down, will ya?"

Oz gave her a little growl before he too curled up and went to sleep.

* * *

Buffy, Willow and Xander didn't have any luck finding Mariah and actually had joined up with Giles and Angel near the end of their search. They all decided to stay together, especially after being attacked a group of vampires, but they quickly dusted them. They had entered school only moments ago, all discouraged that they hadn't found any sign of Oz or Mariah.

Angel walked into the library first and immediately saw Mariah resting on the table. He rushed over to her before anybody else realized she was there. He gently shook her shoulder and she was roused from her slumber. Her eyes opened slowly and were met almost at once by her Angel's. "Mariah, are you okay?"

"I told you I don't like being asked that. But yes, I'm fine. Is everybody here?" Mariah spoke in a whisper, sleepiness still in her eyes.

Angel smiled. "Yeah, the gangs all here." He helped her to sit up and get off the table. He felt the weakness that gripped her and his heart wrenched.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused. You might say that I wasn't myself. Oz is in the book cage and he's perfectly fine. I'm really tired and would like to go home. That is if no one minds." She glanced at everyone.

Giles took control. "I think it might be wise for me to keep an eye on you, that is, if you're still not in control."

"Giles, the crazy biker chick from hell has left the building and I'm in control for the moment. So I'm going and I'm going now." Mariah slowly walked out of the building, Angel assisting her. She didn't look back, but just kept walking.

* * *

A man dressed all in black wandered around the cemetery, gazing at the names on each and every tombstone. He looked to be about twenty-five and had a strong physical build, but there was something about him that just wasn't quite right. He stopped in front of one rather old and rather large tombstone and a grin spread across his face. The stone read, "Gustav Wilheim."

"Well, it looks like I've found part of what I'm looking for. The Supreme Being is here somewhere I can feel her presence in the air. Now, all I have to do is find her." He looked around. "Mariah Gray, if I must do one thing before I die, it will be your completely and absolute annihilation."

He turned and scanned the graveyard. "This is the perfect place to fight her. Before the eyes of her beloved. Oh, I have waited so long for this. But I shall wait one more night." He walked off into the darkness and sinister grin on his face.

* * *

Mariah walked into the library with her normal ease and grace but there was an extra something in her step that Giles noticed immediately. He and Buffy had been talking about how to best deal with Spike and later on with Zortorian. When Mariah walked in, both their heads perked up. They saw that she was wearing a short, beige pleated skirt and a cropped white blouse. Her high heal sandals hit the floor with a resonating thump, giving off an air normalcy.

“How is everyone on this glorious morning? When I woke up, I felt so full of energy and zest that I decided to take my whole walk to school at a leisurely pace. So what’s going on?” Mariah sat down next to Buffy.

“We were deciding how to deal with Spike. We know he’ll go along with our deal, but we need to have a back-up plan.” Giles had always thought that having two plans was better than one.

Mariah looked confused. “What deal?”

Buffy hesitated. She just wasn’t sure she should tell Mariah the agreement they had come to with Spike last night, but she needed to know. “We told Spike if he reversed the spell, you wouldn’t try to kill him until he did something else to piss you off.”

“Sounds good to me, but you must know that I’m planning to get in his way just because I want to have a chance to hurt him.” Mariah looked at the clock on the library wall. “Well, I should go. I have to find someone before classes start. Tell my watch dog, whenever he gets here, that I’m in the lounge.” She smiled at them and quickly left the library.

Buffy got up and quickly stated. “She’s awful chipper this morning. " Buffy pondered for a moment. "Giles, she gave me the wiggins. She was just too happy. Mariah’s always been the calm and collected one.”

“I understand what you’re saying, Buffy and I agree completely. Once Xander gets here, we’ll do just as Mariah said we would, send him to watch after her.” Giles rose, as Xander and Willow entered the library. “Just the person we were looking for.”

“What do you want me to do now?” Xander always knew they had something for him to do. Be it, fetch them some snacks while they researched or to warn somebody about something happening.

“You’re going to watch Mariah, again. That is if you don’t mind?” Buffy said, patting her friend on the shoulder.

“I’ll do it, but only if she’s not wearing biker clothes.” Xander said.

Buffy smiled. “She’s wear normal clothes, but you could say she looks kind of like Cordelia.”

“Oh, great just what the world needs, another Cordelia.”

* * *

Mariah walked down the hallway with gentle ease, ignoring the cat calls and whistles she received from several of the jocks. She was on a mission, one that involved cunning, intelligence, and a quick tongue. Apologizing to Cordelia Chase would be quite the ordeal, but Mariah knew she had to fix the damage she had done, by insulting her. The spirit within her was the type that always had to be the center of attention and part of the in crowd, so Mariah had to do whatever the spirit wanted to make sure it stayed happy and unaggressive.

Cordelia saw her first and tried to escape, but Mariah was too quick. “Cordelia, if I might have a word with you?”

“What? Do you want to insult me again or just mock me?” Cordelia put her hands on her hips and looked ready to take anything Mariah threw at her.

“Beside tell you that both comments you just said are the same, I wanted to apologize for the rude comment I said about what you were wearing yesterday. You might say I just wasn’t myself and as you can see, I’m once again stylish.” Mariah stated.

Cordelia scanned what Mariah wore and smiled. “Well, I can’t condemn someone for one bad day of fashion. So," she paused, "you’re forgiven.”

Mariah smiled back, but was stopped from speaking by the approach of Xander. He walked up next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and give her a squeeze. “Hey, Mariah. Whatcha doing?”

Cordelia immediately became angry. “Xander, don’t you have anything better to do? No, I guess you don’t, you being a loser and all.”

“I think that’s a little harsh, Cordelia. Xander’s not bother anybody and he is my friend.” Mariah grinned at Xander.

“You have to learn that hanging out with losers like Alexander Harris are the mistakes that make you lose your popularity. I know from experience. Let’s go.” Cordelia grabbed Mariah’s arm and pulled her away from Xander, but he followed right behind.

“Cordy, don’t be so difficult. We can all be friends.” Xander enjoyed getting Cordelia angry.

Cordelia turned and glared at him. "No, we can't. I won't let you do anything else to damage my reputation, especially by becoming your friend. Mariah, if you want to be popular, the only way to do so is to get rid of all the people who stand in your way. Remember that." Cordelia walked away, leaving Mariah and a rather stunned Xander.

"She's not much of a people person is she?" Mariah said leading Xander over to the lounge and taking a seat. "Cordelia has a complex, one that only involves her and herself. People like that really get under my skin. But I out live them, so it's not such a big deal."

Xander sat down next to her. "Cordy hasn't always been like that. For a while, when she was involved with our group, she was a very different Cordelia. She occasionally thought of others. But that all changed when she caught Willow and me kissing. It hurt her really bad, plus she fell through a floor right after it happened, which didn't help much."

"Buffy told me about what happened. I'm really sorry you lost her. Losing someone you care about is tough, be it that they die or they hate you." Xander gave her a funny look. "It's evident you care about her still and I think she still likes you."

"Where did you get a silly idea like that? We hate each other thoroughly."

"Xander, you can't have hate without love. You have to remember that you hurt her so her hatred of you is strong. Cordelia will realize soon enough that you're the only guy for her. Trust me."

Mariah stood up from her place on the couch, giving Xander a pat on the shoulder. He was deep in thought as she walked away, but once he realized she was gone, he followed her. "Mariah, wait up." He shouted as he ran after her, but just as he caught up, Principal Synder approached them.

"Miss Gray, I see that you are dressed appropriately today." Synder frowned at her. His hopes had been she would dress outrageously once again so he could suspend her.

Mariah smiled. "I was just going through a phase Principal Synder. It most likely won't happen again." The bell rang. "You must excuse me and Mr. Harris, we're going to be late to class if we don't go now." She grabbed Xander's arm and walked slowly away from Synder, hoping to God that he didn't say anything else to her.

"That was close, Mariah. If you had said one wrong word Synder would have suspended you."

"I know that. That's why I said exactly the right things." Mariah gave Xander a sweet little kiss on the cheek and continued on to class.

* * *

The cafeteria was full of loud hungry teenagers, whose only escape from class was the lunch period. Cordelia sat at a table with several of her followers, but her gaze kept wandering over to the table where Mariah sat with Xander. She knew that Mariah should be at her table but wasn’t going to start a scene, especially not in front of Xander.

Mariah felt Cordelia watching her and turned to face her. "Xander, your ex-girlfriend is watching me. Should I be alarmed?"

"Just ignore her and she'll go away. Cordelia thinks she can influence anybody with her eyes." Xander went back to eating.

But Mariah continued to ponder what Cordelia was doing. "I have the best idea." She shouted all at once. "Xander, what do you think of giving Cordelia a race for her popularity?"

"I don't think that's a good idea, Mariah. For all you know this is just another phase you're going through. You may not want to be popular tomorrow." Xander was worried that Mariah might get in over her head.

Mariah smiled. "Oh, all I want to do is make Cordelia uncomfortable for one day. Well, here goes nothing." She got up and walked over to a table where several guys from the basketball team were sitting. "Hey, guys. I was wondering if any of you were doing anything after school." She smiled seductively at them.

The captain of the varsity team smiled back at her. "No, well, at least I'm not doing anything. So, what do you have in mind?"

"Neil, don't let things go to your head. I'm not that kind of girl."

"Of course not, but you can't blame a guy for trying." He pulled her down on to his lap and she laughed. “But I’m definitely going to try harder.”

“Well, I might even let you.” Mariah’s gaze fell on Cordelia, who almost had steam coming out of her ears. “But I must ask you a question. Why do you guys always keep your distance from me? You sure know how to make a girl feel unwanted.” Mariah pouted.

Neil was quick to object. “We keep our distance because you always seem to be brooding. Also you hang out with Buffy and her friends, that girl just freaks me out. She’s so violent and strong.”

“Well, I’m violent and strong and you don’t dislike me.”

“You’re just,” Neil paused. “I don’t know, different.”

Mariah laughed. "Well, of course, I am. I'll see you all later. Bye." She ran her finger down Neil's cheek seductively, before rising and return to the table she had been at before with Xander. "Xander, how do you think I did?"

Xander looked up at her and smiled. "As always, you've blown her out of the water." Mariah glanced at the table Cordelia had been sitting at and saw that she was gone. Her puzzled expression reached Xander. "She left right after you laughed. Cordy didn't look too happy that you were getting along with the jocks."

Mariah grabbed a chip off of Xander's plate and ate it hungrily. "She never was a good sport. After all, it is survival of the fittest."

A few students lingered in the halls after school, but for the most part everyone was gone, except the Slayer and the Slayerettes. Giles was worried about their plan for the evening. < What if Drusilla and Spike don't show up? What if some other creature comes out of the wood work? > These thoughts and many others flew through the heads of everyone in the library.

Mariah lounged on the steps to the upper level of the library. She looked utterly bored and would have left if it weren't for the feeling that staying in the library was the safest place to be. "Why do I have to be here? I'm not a prisoner am I?"

Buffy looked at her friend. "No, you're not, but staying here is the best place for us to keep an eye on you. You have to understand that if you start wiggin' out on us again, we have no way to stop you. You could even kill us." Everyone swallowed visibly.

Mariah rolled her eyes. “Buffy, I have enough control over my inner demons, not to kill you. Last night in the park, remember, I could have killed you then but I didn’t. Any way, this personality is very nonviolent. Don’t worry so much or you’ll age yourself prematurely.” She got up and walked to the table, taking a seat.

“Well, it’s almost time for me to get into my cage. The sun’s about to go down.” Oz looked out the window, staring at the setting sun. He slowly entered the cage.

Buffy closed and locked the door behind him. “Yeah, and it’s almost time for us to meet Spike in the graveyard.”

“We can’t leave till Angel gets here. I’m not going any where near Spike if Angel’s not there.” Mariah sounded frantic.

Faith tried to calm her. “Chill out, Mariah. Angel will get here as soon as the sun sets. That should. . . .” She trailed off as her eyes turned to the book cage where Oz was slowly transforming into his werewolf self.

“Don’t stare at him, Faith. He’s self conscious.” Willow looked at her boyfriend with sympathy, but all he did was snarl at her.

“We better get all our weapons in order, so we can leave as soon as Angel arrives.” Giles exited his office, sipping a mug of coffee.

“Goody, weapons. Can I use one of those fancy crossbows? That’s a lot easier than trying to use a regular stake.” Xander spoke eagerly, but stared at the book cage. “How are we suppose to get the weapons? They're in the book cage.”

Giles grinned. “I’ve already removed the weapons we are going to use. They're in my office.”

Faith, who had walked into the office a moment earlier, carried out an armful of weapons. “Here they are.”

Xander ran to the table, where they had been set down and quickly picked up a crossbow. “How does this thing work?” Before Faith could show him how to operate it, the crossbow went off, sending a wooden arrow fly towards the library door just as Angel walked through.

Luckily, it hit the door Angel hadn’t opened, but nonetheless Mariah ran to Angel wrapping her arm protectively around him. “Oh, my God. You could have been killed. Are you all right, Angel?”

“Just a little startled, but otherwise unharmed.” Angel held her close to him, finding strength in her touch. “Xander, I think you need to be a little more careful with that.” Angel grinned at the very guilty Xander.

“Xander won’t be playing with this any more. He’s going to be using a regular old stake from now on.” Giles grabbed the crossbow out of Xander’s hands and put it back on the table.

Buffy looked at Angel and Mariah in each others arms and smiled, but then something hit her. “Angel, how did you get here so quick? I mean, the sun only set a few minutes ago.” Her gaze fell on Oz as he growled in the book cage.

Angel dropped a kiss on the top of Mariah’s head. “I came through the tunnels below Sunnydale. I wanted to get here as soon as the sun set, so Mariah can be saved as quick as possible.”

“That reminds me, we must prepare to leave. We don’t want Spike to leave before we get there.” Giles quickly picked up some of the weapons. “Faith, I’d like you to stay with Oz, in case he gets out of hand.”

“Sure thing.” Faith sat down at the table.

Buffy picked up the crossbow and several wooden arrows. Willow nervously grabbed a stake and handed one to Xander. Giles took the other crossbow off the table and turned to Angel and Mariah. "Aren't either of you going to take any weapons? They might come in handy." Giles didn't know if they even heard him, because they seemed to be having their own little conversation.

"Mariah's not going to be in any condition to fight and I'll be keeping my eyes on Spike, making sure he's not up to anything." Angel looked at Mariah. "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready for anything if it will return my sanity." Mariah looked down at her feet. "Angel, you're going to be mad at me. I was flirting with these guys at school, but I assure you it was just this crazy personality of mine."

"Don't worry about it. Just as long as you don't do it once you're sane again."

"I promise." Mariah smiled at the group. "Well, let's go see a vampire about my sanity."

* * *

Spike and Drusilla stood in the graveyard. They were both rather nervous about this meeting between the Slayer and themselves. Drusilla held her spell book in her arms as her eyes continued to dart around the graveyard, waiting and almost wishing that the Slayer would come and then she and Spike could leave.

"Spike, I'm scared. What if the spell doesn't work? What then?" Drusilla's voice quavered.

Spike tried to smile sweetly at her, but it didn't look very supportive. "Dru, baby, don't worry, it'll work. It's got to."

"You're right there, Spike. If I don't regain my sanity, it's gonna be Spike and Drusilla flambè." Mariah slowly walked out of the tree line with Angel beside her.

Spike looked for the Slayer. "Well, it looks like you're Slayerless, tonight."

"Guess again, Spike." Buffy walked up behind them, with Giles, Willow and Xander right behind her. "You guys, stay back there out of sight. Don't want you to get hurt, do I? You're the reinforcements."

Spike looked around, not sure quite how to proceed, but decided the sooner this was over the better. “Well I hope you’re ready to regain your sanity.”

“I’m quite ready, more than you could even imagine.” Mariah paused and turned to Buffy. Her thoughts seems to be miles away, but she spoke hurriedly. “There’s something happening in one of the cemeteries on the east side of town. I think it’s Zortorian.” Her eyes pleaded with Buffy, hoping to God she would go and face her nightmare.

“Giles, stay here with Mariah and make sure Spike doesn’t leave until Drusilla saves her. I’m going to see this sorcerer.” With that, Buffy ran to the east, hoping to God that she could beat Zortorian and make her friend proud of her for defeating the man who killed the one she held most dear.

Angel had remained quiet since they arrived, but finally he spoke. “Giles, give Drusilla the spell, so we can get on with this. And don’t try any trick Spike, you aren’t leaving until Mariah’s all right.” His anger was evident, but he stayed calm for everyone’s sake. He looked down at Mariah and smiled. < She looks beautiful, even though she's not quite herself. I have to love her for that. >

Drusilla nervously stepped forward. “Stand in the middle of the clearing here and I will begin.” She motioned to Mariah to stand in the clearing as Giles handed her the book he had brought. “I won’t need that. I have my own copy of the reversal spell.” She opened her book and began to read the spell slowly, making sure ever word was said and said properly.

But as the spell progressed and nothing happened, Mariah became worried and extremely upset. “Why isn’t anything happening? I don’t want to be insane forever.” Slowly tears came pouring down her face, tears that could bring forth life in its purest form.

“Pet, why isn’t anything happening? I don’t wanna bloody die.” Spike whispered to Drusilla, but she continued on with the spell. Only she knew that the emotions of the true person, who was being driven insane, must be brought froth before the spell would work.

And of course she was right, Mariah slowly felt the craziness within start to lift and as she looked down around her, she saw the little glowing balls leave her body. “It’s working. I’m almost free.” Hundreds of little balls flew out of her and vanished as they hit the cold night air. The release was too much for Mariah because once again she collapsed.

Angel knelt down next to her and helped her to rise. Angel wrapped his arms around her, hugging her with all he had. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

Relief swept over Giles, Willow, and Xander. Mariah was going to be okay and that was all that mattered at the moment. Mariah turned and saw that Drusilla and Spike were leaving ever so slowly. She ran up behind them and grabbed one of each of their shoulders. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Buffy said you wouldn’t hurt us.” Spike yelled indignantly.

“I’m not planning on it, but I do want to give you both a warning. If you ever try something like this, either involving me or one of my friends, I swear I will tear out your freaking heart and eat it.” Mariah was having fun toying with them, but she released them any way.

“I’m sure you will.” Spike and Drusilla walked into the night, careful not to look back.

Mariah went to Angel and gave him a hug, before she turned to Giles. “You three can go back to the library. Angel and I will go help Buffy with Zortorian. He and I have unfinished business to attend to. And I’m planning on finishing it.”

* * *

Buffy slowly entered a cemetery on the east side of town. She had been in ever one, except this one. < If his not here, I'm not sure what I should do. > Her gaze swept over the area and saw a man standing just inside the shadows. He wore black clothing, or at least rather dark ones, but the reason Buffy had noticed him, was that his eyes burned bright red. It must have been the evil within him, showing through for all to see.

"You're not who I expected to come. But I'm intrigued all the same." The man walked out of the shadows, carrying a staff.

"You're Zortorian? I thought you'd be a little more intimidating. Mariah gave you a rather nasty description." Buffy decided to study him as much as she could before she had to fight him.

At the mention of Mariah's name, his eyebrows raised. "Who are you? And where is Mariah? She is the reason I'm here and I will find her. Don't even think about trying to stop me." Zortorian wanted Mariah and he always got what he wanted, but currently he was mad.

Buffy smiled. " I'm Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. And Mariah's busy at the moment. But I'm sure I can take her place because you'll only find her over my dead body." She knew that she was provoking him, but knew no other way to keep him occupied.

"That can be arranged. But if you tell me where she is, she will be the only person who gets hurt."

"I don't think so. She's my friend and friends look out for one another."

"Fine, have it your way." Zortorian's red eyes turned a deadly black and he raised his staff.

A ball of energy flew at Buffy from the staff and she dodged it quickly. She started to throw her crossbow aside, but thought better of it. < Mariah mentioned that he could be hurt physically. I wonder what a wooden arrow would do to him. > Another energy ball came at her and she slipped behind a tree. Buffy loaded her crossbow quietly.

"Come out, come out where ever you are." Zortorian taunted her, but Buffy ignored his comment.

Buffy twirled out from behind the tree, shot her arrow and dived behind another. Her victim screamed in pain. "Well, it looks like I got his attention." Buffy said aloud to no one in particular. She circled around behind him "Here goes nothing." She ran towards his back and tackled him to the ground. "What do you think of that?" But as suddenly as she had attacked him, he was gone. All that was left was his cape.

There was a piercing pain in Buffy's back and she knew that Zortorian had used his magic to escape and was now using it on her. < This must be that energy beam that Mariah told me about. I can feel my insides staring to burn. > She heard a startled gasp come from somewhere in front of her and turned to see Mariah and Angel standing not five yards from her.

Zortorian heard it as well and saw what he had been searching for. "Deja vou, don't you think."

"Leave her alone, she has nothing to do with this. It's me you want." Mariah wanted her friend to be all right, to survive this attack, but her mind kept going back to the day he had killed Gustav.

Zortorian laughed. "But I rather like this turn of events."

"Fine, we'll do this the hard way." Mariah let all her defense go down and released the full fury of her power. She shot a power burst the size of a car spiraling towards him, throwing him back and releasing Buffy from his grasp. "Angel, get her back to the library. I have to finish this, so Gustav can have some peace."

Angel went t Buffy and gently lifted her limp form in his arms. He saw that she was still breathing. He gave a sigh of relief. He turned to Mariah and saw that she was determined to face this alone. A prayer fell from Angel's lips, that the woman he loved would be protected from harm and would stay in one piece. He left quickly, not wanting to see the battle that ensued.

"That was quite a hit. I didn't think you had it in you, but once again you proved me wrong. I know that you're not as powerful as you once were, but you still seem to have that fire of yours." Zortorian taunted her, behind his black eyes, but she paid him no heed.

"Justice will be served today. I will kill you."

"You and what army?"

"I'm my own army." Zortorian shot a beam of fire at her, but she stood her ground and took it head on. The fire enveloped her, but caused her no pain. "My turn." She canted a few words under her breath. She extended her arms before her and crossed them at the wrist. Between the palms of her hand, a small energy ball began to grow and gain strength. Suddenly it shot out towards Zortorian and hit him full in the chest. He rammed up against a tree, knocking the tree and himself further back into the tree line.

"How do you like that for a start?" Mariah grinned. It was going better than she planned, but things could always turn for the worst, so she kept her guard up.

Zortorian got up and brushed himself off. It was bleeding a little and seemed to be winded. "I'm not beaten yet. Try this on for size." He raised his staff and the winds began to pick. It was hard for Mariah to stand her ground and suddenly she was lifted off the ground by a tiny tornado and thrown down.

"Good try, but not nearly good enough. This ends, now." Mariah paused and closed her eyes. "Mouth of Hell, open for any instant and take this ill-begotten creature to your depths. He is your creation and I think that this is best." The earth began to shake as Mariah said the final words to the spell. A crack began at Mariah's feet and got bigger and bigger as it approached Zortorian.

"No, you can't beat me. I'm suppose to win." Slowly the darkness of the Hell-mouth pulled Zortorian down into the chasm.

"Don't you know by now, the good guy always wins." Mariah turned and left the graveyard, not looking at her enemy meeting the fate that was only fair for him to receive.

Everyone in the library felt the earth shake and knew that it had something to do with Mariah, but they had no idea how. Buffy seemed to be all right, after she had woken up, but they had to keep her restrained because she wanted to go help Mariah.

“Angel, please let me go. Mariah could be hurt or worse. You have to want to help her as much as I do, after all you love her.” Buffy pleaded with him, but he stood his ground.

Angel’s eyes were sad and he wanted to run back to where he had left Mariah, but for the moment he had to show everyone that he believed everything would be all right. “Buffy, Mariah can’t die, so there’s no need to worry about her safety. She’ll beat Zortorian then come right back here.”

“Angel’s right, Buff. Mariah’s a lot more powerful than we give her credit for. She always comes through for us. So chill.” Faith’s comforting words did little to relieve the tension in the room.

Giles knew that the slayer needed to be comforted, but he didn’t know what to say. “They’re right, Buffy. Though Mariah is personally involved with Zortorian. . . .”

He was cut off from saying anything else. “I beat him, just like I said I would and I didn’t even break a sweat. I call that fortitude." Mariah entered the library with gentle ease. Her smile took them all in. She saw the shock that registered on all theirs faces and she smiled. < They didn't think I had it in me, did they? Well, I proved them wrong. >

Angel walked over to her and enveloped her in a gigantic hug. "I'm so glad nothing happened to you. I was worried. I even reverted to prayer." He looked down into her face and saw that her smile faltered. Large wet tears slid down her face. He knew at that moment that all of her confidence was a sham. She had put on a brave face for all of them.

"I was so scared, Angel. Zortorian could have beaten me at any moment, but he didn't know I was at full strength. I'm. . . ." Slowly her words became incoherent, as her sobs grew louder.

All Angel could do was hold her and whisper comforting words to her. "Mariah, everything's going to be okay. You're here with all your friends and I would never let anything happen to you." He kissed each of her eyes, tasting the tears that she had shed. "Can you smile for me? Yeah, that's it. Now let's see if you can sit down and tell us all about what happened." Angel guided her to the table and Xander vacated a seat for her.

Mariah sat down and looked at all the faces that were trained on her. She tried to smile, but she just didn't have it in her. She looked behind her and saw that Angel was there to give her the support that she so desperately needed. "So, what do you want to know first?"

Buffy grabbed her friend's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I want to know if you're all right."

"I'll be fine as soon as I go home and get some rest." Several people attempted to speak up, but Mariah silenced them with her hand. "I'll go home as soon as I've answered some of your questions."

"Is Zortorian really gone, Mariah? You mentioned before that he was a strong nemesis." Giles was worried that this foe would come back and try to kill Mariah again.

Mariah gave Giles a little smile. "He was sucked into hell. He won't be coming back. I'm quite sure."

Willow was puzzled. "How did you get him sucked into hell? The Hell-mouth is sealed shut."

"I opened it. That was what caused the earthquake."

"You did, what?" Faith was upset, because she and Buffy might have to face whatever escaped the Hell-mouth.

Giles calmed Faith down. "I think we should ask, how did you opened the Hell-mouth?"

"Didn't I tell you? I sure I did. The Supreme Being is the gatekeeper of the Hell-mouth. I'm the only living creature who can open it. It can be escaped and all, but I'm the only one who can bring absolute chaos to this world. But it was only open for a second to suck Zortorian down into its depths. I didn't stay to watch, though."

"You control the Hell-mouth?" Xander's shocked voice was barely a whisper, but everyone had heard him.

"Most of the time. Is there anything else? I'm about to collapse over here, but I think I've done quite enough of that in the past few days." Mariah yawned and leaned further back in her chair. She felt Angel's hand on her shoulder and reached her own hand up to grasp his with hers.

"Mariah, go home and get some rest. We'll continue this conversation in the morning." Giles sounded very formal, but all Mariah did was chuckle.

Mariah stood up and leaned heavily on Angel's arm, which he had offered the instant that she had stood up. "I don't like the sound of that, but it's probably the best you can do after everything I've told you."

"Mariah, I'm going to walk you and Angel home. I don't want anything else to happen to you. You've been through quite enough in the past few days." Buffy got up and stood right in front of Mariah.

"Yeah, my power was drained by the Hell-mouth, I was driven insane and I destroyed an old nemesis. That's pretty much a standard week for me, well, except for the fact that I didn't have wild passionate love with anybody, but I can't complain." Mariah heard Giles gasped. "I'm kidding, all right. Giles, relax a little, why don't ya."

Buffy and Angel slowly lead her out of the library, one on each side of her. Mariah rambled on about nothing in particular. "Did I ever tell you about the romance I had with the Count? Now that was fun. But I have to say that the relationship that sired the Judge has to be my favorite. He had his mother's touch, but you should know that, after all you did blow him into a thousand little pieces."

Once they were gone, Giles breathed a sigh of relief, but Xander spoke first. "She seems like she has a little energy to burn. Mariah was wound pretty tight."

"Xander, you have to take into consideration what she just went through. Her most powerful enemy was sucked into hell. She exerted a lot of energy and is probably very upset about what happened. She's just come to terms with her husband's death. And he's been dead for over two hundred years." Willow spoke with wisdom beyond her years and she didn't know how right she was.

* * *

Mariah felt sleep trying to take control of her, but she was determined to get home without being carried or dragged. They were more than half way to the mansion and neither Angel nor Buffy had spoke to her or each other. Mariah stopped dead in her tracks.

"Since when have I been the enemy? Will you both please tell me what you're feeling? I don't like being given the cold shoulder." Mariah wavered on her feet, but pushed away Angel's attempts to steady her. "Talk to me!"

"Mariah, we all care about you deeply, but you should have told us about the whole gatekeeper thing, it would have helped a lot." Buffy calmly spoke to her friend, yet there was a twinge of anger in her voice.

"Yeah, that would have helped a lot. You would have just said to me, 'Seal the Hell-mouth, then I won't have to ever fight a vampire again or at least there won't be as many.' I couldn't have taken that from you. I open it, I close it, nothing else. I can't stop the flow of demons and what not and I can't relieve any of the pain you've been through. I have enough of my own to deal with." Mariah started to walk away, but Angel stopped her. He turned her to face him and saw that she was crying.

"Don't cry, Mariah. Buffy's just trying to understand. She didn't mean to upset you, after all she's your friend." Angel pleaded with her to apologize and she complied.

"I'm sorry, just too many things have happened in the past few days. Am I forgiven?" Mariah smiled at Buffy and received one in return.

"You're forgiven. We’re friends after all.” Buffy gave her friend a hug. “Well, I better be going home. You guys should be able to get home all right.” Buffy turned and walked in the direction of her own home, leaving Angel and Mariah to continue on to the mansion.

Mariah felt dizzy and tried to grasp something with her hand so she wouldn’t fall over. Angel steadied her. “I’m going to carry you, Mariah. You shouldn’t be walking around. You’re weak.”

“You will not carry me. I refuse to be treated like a simpering miss, who needs to be rescued by every knight in shining arm that goes by. Zortorian’s gone, so I’ll be fine.” Mariah leaned on him. “But I could use the support of your arm on the way home.” They resumed their walk, but at a very leisurely pace.

They approached the mansion about ten minutes later and by that time, Mariah was almost asleep. “Come on, Mariah.” Angel urged. “Just a little more and you’ll be in bed. Lift those feet, there you go.”

“Angel, I just want to go to sleep. Too tired to lift my feet.” Mariah slumped up against Angel, who lifted her into her arms and carried her the rest of the way. He placed her in between the cool sheet of their bed, gently resting Mariah’s head on the pillow.

Angel whispered into the darkness. “I have to make sure I don’t mention that I carried you the rest of the way.”

Mariah’s eyes opened. “I already know.”

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