DISCLAIMER: No infringement of copyright is intended. You know the drill, anyone appearing on or mentioned on BtVS are ME's. New characters introduced here are mine.
PAIRING: Tara-centric but a fairly ensemble cast. Tara, Giles, Other, Faith, Amanda, Oz, Larry, etc.
SETTING: This is set in an alternate Doppelganger universe around Season 5-6. This is the world the Master envisioned. His Vampiretopia come into being.
EXTRA WARNINGS and or SPOILERS: Language, slanguage, AU, OCs.
AUTHOR'S NOTES/BACKSTORY: In this universe Buffy was unable to kill the Master. The Master succeeded in creating his Vampiretopia. The Master sired Willow in S-1. Willow eventually killed him in order to rule the empire. Willow reigned with an iron fang over SunnyD until she was killed, right before the beginning of this story. Willow is credited as killing Buffy, Kendra and Faith, but Faith was resuscitated. Faith's death activated new slayer Amanda.
PROLOGUE
1997:
Rupert Giles is sent to Sunnydale to be Buffy Summers’ new Watcher.
Student Willow Rosenberg is kidnapped by vampires and given as a sacrifice to the Master. The Master, sensing potential in the girl, sires her to become his instrument of release.
Buffy Summers, the slayer of the day, is unable to prevent The Harvest, and the Master, the vampire king, rises once again to terrorize the land overseeing the creation of his Vampiretopia.
Buffy dies by the Master’s hand, but incredibly, is revived to continue the fight against his tyranny.
Buffy’s death brings about the creation of a second slayer, Kendra, to join the fight against the Master and the forces of darkness.
Giles begins establishing a stronghold in Sunnydale to combat the forces of darkness.
Sunnydale students Xander, Oz, Cordelia, Amy, Larry, Harmony, Nancy and others join Giles and Buffy.
Willow terrorizes the slayer and her friends at the newly established complex attempting to get at Xander.
Tara leaves home and is befriended by Ethan Rayne. They travel the states skirting the law as Ethan teaches her Chaos magic and grifting.
The Master brings about a demonic police state for the city of Sunnydale and its surrounding towns. He is unable to secure LA and that remains a free territory.
The subsequent blood typing, classification and registration of all humans within the Master’s empire begins.
Willow selects a candidate from the Master’s dungeon for personal experimentation.
1998:
The Master, while attempting to cast the world into total darkness forever, only manages to make it so every month at the cycle of the new moon there are three days of total darkness instead of one. This is referred to as the 3 Day Night.
A human underground begins to form.
The Master expands his territory into the surrounding states of Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico.
Tara and Ethan are captured by the vampires and sent to a detention camp. They escape with the help of the underground but Tara is injured.
Tara gets tattooed to prevent any future near death experiences.
To insure their survival in the new Vampiretopia, demons and therio creatures that hadn’t already, form protective clans.
Nancy dies at the hands of the vampires.
Willow forms an elite force of loyalists under the guise of assisting the Master in his human enforcement efforts.
Willow instills her Lieutenant to head up the day forces.
The Master is forced to create a council of demonic and therio clans to keep the peace under his expanding rule.
Willow kills Kendra which brings about the activation of new slayer, Faith.
Ethan introduces Tara to the Kalderash clan and Janna who teaches her much gypsy magicks.
1999:
More states fall under the reign of the Master spreading his rule coast to coast.
Harmony is vamped.
Xander and Cordy marry.
Willow and her loyalists, in a mad power grab, kill the Master, and by right of succession, she takes control of the empire.
In conjunction with the LA Enforcers the Hellmouth Holdouts manage to permanently disrupt the Master’s overseas blood trade from the West coast.
Cordelia leaves for LA.
Xander begins his exploits to the outer territories to make contact with the fractured underground factions.
In a magnificent display of power, the Master Willow kills Buffy in a giant battle, then outlaws the use of magic in Sunnydale. Witches, sorcerers, and other magic using beings are subsequently hunted down, tortured, and destroyed.
Veruca arrives in Sunnydale tempting Oz away.
In a scuffle Willow’s Lieutenant and Faith seriously injure one another.
Tara arrives in Sunnydale with Ethan Rayne and finds sanctuary and a home at the complex.
Ethan returns to his old ways, leaving for territories unknown.
2000:
Master Willow’s forces complete her statewide empire with the exception of a few free city cell factions.
Oz returns alone, bringing with him some new therio breakthroughs.
Faith and Amy clash with Willow’s forces and demolish part of the factory.
Willow puts a bounty on Faith’s head and steps up her witch hunting.
New baddies who weren’t interested in the death of slayer now are.
Master Willow releases an evil force which rocks the complex decimating the Holdouts’ ranks.
Giles, with Amy and Tara’s help, breaks Willow’s spell, but the damage has been done and a quarter of the complex’s inhabitants are no more.
Amy discovers a costly way to boost her magicks.
Tara uses her knowledge of the gypsy and human clans to form new trade alliances with the Hellmouth Holdouts.
2001:
Amy permanently takes out the Elmwood Blood Repository and the surrounding blocks.
Xander is near fatally wounded during an attack by Willow and her Lieutenant.
Willow sets up Faith killing her, which brings about the activation of new slayer, Amanda.
Faith at the very last moment is revived, and continues her fight against Willow and her forces.
Willow maneuvers to expand her empire worldwide.
Amy begins to spiral out of control.
Willow re-envisions her sire’s plan to allow the creatures of the night to walk in daylight.
The Holdouts foil Willow’s plan but at great expense. Amy is tripped over the edge.
Giles and the coven kill Amy.
2002:
Willow is killed by Faith and her mansion headquarters burned to the ground.
Willow’s death is covered up but the Grand Council of Demonic Clans is becoming suspicious. Feuds between clans are beginning to spark.
A girl is captured by the Holdouts. What secrets will be revealed?
Doppelgängland War
by Eris © 2003 — All rights reserved.
Chapter One: Out of Eden
Tara turned and reacted instincts taking control.
“Tara, NO!” Giles yelled.
Yet it was too late, her arm outstretched and the stake sunk deep into the chest. Suddenly something warm splattered across her face, wiping at it, she realized it was blood. Shock set in paralyzing her. Looking up she saw the girl was still there; she had not dissipated and turned to a fine pile of powder as expected. Instead, she stumbled back clutching at the stake and slammed into the wall, her face a twisted mask of pain.
Tara stared in horror at what she had done. The girl met her gaze, dark eyes clouded with confusion and pleading. She groaned and fell to the ground gasping for air and in a few moments, it was over. She was dead.
Giles rushed over pushing past Tara falling to his knee checking for signs of life. He sighed, hung his head, and removed his glasses, wiping a haggard hand across his face.
“Giles?” Tara inquired, fear running its icy fingers over her spine to tingle at the base of her skull.
“Stupid girl.” He responded curtly, fatigued and battle weary, “Stupid, reckless and impulsive.” He continued, pulling the stake from the girl’s chest.
“I didn’t think—,” She blurted out disturbed by her own actions.
“No, you didn’t.” He spat, and then turned to Larry and Oz, “Get her loose.” The boys worked on getting the iron off her leg as Giles paced disgruntled like. Returning his glasses to their proper resting place, he turned back and focused on Tara, his tone sharp and gruff. “Not everyone in the inner sanctum will be a vampire. How many times have we gone over this?”
“Oh Goddess, I’m s-so s-s-sorry.” Tara declared riding the guilt, her stutter giving her up as she lowered her head.
“Well, you should be.” He nodded, hands on his hips and rocking on his heels, but then his tone and mannerisms changed, anger seeming to drain away as he was sure she had learned her lesson the hard way. “Now, don’t ever rush ahead like that. You may never be so lucky, again.”
She looked up at him confused and shaking.
“Got it.” Larry announced as the manacle fell to the floor with a reverberating clank.
“Good. Now fetch something to bind her with.” He ordered.
As they did, Tara retreated to Giles’ side and stared down at the girl drenched in redness. Her mind swam. She had killed her, killed a real actual-type person. She felt sick and wanted to cry. Suddenly the wound began to gush the girl gasped a big breath and writhed about on the floor.
Giles removed his handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it into the wound firmly. “Quickly.” He instructed as the boys returned with rope. “Let’s get her out of here.”
“I-I don’t understand. What’s happening?” Tara inquired completely baffled.
Finishing the knot and double-checking the tautness, he looked to her once more. “She wasn’t a vampire, Tara. You just staked a shapeshifter. A human being. Learn from your mistake and be better next time. Now, grab the weapons and go open the van.” He then guided the boys in lifting the incapacitated girl, but she was far heavier than she looked. “And be quick about it.” He declared, firmly adjusting his grip to move her outside to the truck.
As quickly as they arrived, swarming like insects, they were gone, the small caravan moving back out into the darkness, retreating to their shelter leaving deadly flames and small piles of dust in their wake. The raid had been a successful one. They needed this after the disappointment of the last few.
* * * * * * * * * *
Back at the compound.
Upstairs, as usual, the spoils were being unloaded in the bay, and the gear and vehicles inspected, replenished and stowed for the daylight recon mission in but a few scant hours. Methodically all incoming personnel were ushered through the infirmary and given the once over and all clear by the makeshift medical staff for vampire and demon bites to ensure the safety of everyone within the complex.
* * * * * * * * * *
Downstairs.
“Make sure her arms are secure.” Giles insisted as the boys worked to lock the chains.
“Cold. So cold.” The girl muttered and began to shiver as her body attempted to compensate for the injury and heal itself.
All the complex inhabitants had turned out to inspect the hunting party’s new acquisition.
“Why did you bring her back here?” Amanda asked. “She’s a killer.”
“She’s also a human being and we don’t turn our back on our own kind.”
“But she fought with them, for them.” She argued. “I know, I fought her not too long ago down—”
“Amanda.” He blurted out. “This is not a debate open for discussion.” Then removed his glasses and glared at her. “It’s getting late. You have a job to finish. I suggest you get to it.” He scanned the crowd, “The rest of you lot clear out, get back to your posts.”
The band dispersed. Only his recon team remained to finish anchoring the prisoner. Giles popped his glasses into his vest pocket and knelt near the girl. “What’s your name?”
She stayed silent still seemingly dazed.
Tara watched from outside the cell eagerly leaning into its bars.
Reaching out he grabbed her roughly by the face putting a slight pressure on the back of her neck with his fingers and her sinus cavity with his thumb. “I asked you what your name is. You will answer me.”
“Rue.” She croaked hoarsely cringing in discomfort.
He released the pressure holding her head up and proceeded to check her eyes. “Rue, you are safe now.”
Their task accomplished he ushered the boys out of the cell.
“Where’s Willow?” She inquired feebly.
“She’s dead.” He responded simply, continuing his physical exam on her. Removing the soaked handkerchief, he began to sterilize and bandage the wound.
“Vampire.” She mumbled drowsily through now closed eyes.
“No, not undead.” He clarified. “She’s quite dead and shan’t be returning.”
“Noooo.” She grimly focused on him and struggled weakly against the chains.
He wasn’t worried yet. It would be a while before she was up to par. “I’m sorry but, yes.” He replied finished with his doctoring and moved to make his own exit of the cell.
“Lies!” She spat. “S’a trick.” She smiled smugly. “You can’t defeat her and you can’t make me believe your enemy lies. I don’t believe you.”
Locking the door, he again popped his glasses into place and furrowed his brow in typical Gilesean fashion. “You will believe once we’re done with you.” He muttered turning on his heel and heading up the stairs. “Come, Tara.”
However, Tara lingered and stared at the girl a moment longer. Her life had just been ripped asunder. She felt for her. Felt sorry for her and was still guilt ridden at injuring her. What was Mister Giles up to?
The girl stared back at her from inside the cell with heavy eyes.
“Tara!” Giles boomed from upstairs.
She jumped, “Coming.” Backing away she almost stumbled over the bottom step then turned and ran up the stairs to meet with him.
* * * * * * * * * *
Tara reclined on the second tier of stairs to the sub-level with her book as she had every day since they put the girl, Rue, into the detention area. It was quiet here and from her vantage point through a small barred window, she could secretly watch the girl in her cell below. Not that she did much, or could, chained to the wall and floor as she was, yet Tara felt compelled to keep an eye on her still riding the guilt that brought her here.
Every day she watched silently, steadfastly searching for any new changes, any signs she might be getting better or crossing back, but she couldn’t tell. The drug she was being given was powerful, partially mystical in origin, and made her aura all wonky as she stared and glowered unmoving hours on end sometimes, sleeping the rest if allowed. Other times she would spy her spying on her, but did she truly see her or was she spaced? She had no way of telling.
She had tried talking to her on numerous occasions leaning into the bars speaking softly but there was never a reply only more stares and if she was lucky some blinking. Still she was there every time they came to collect her and drag her down to the room. She was there when they brought her back and chained her down once more. She was there when they administered the drug that took the fight from her and made her incapable of using her power. She was there when others came to tease, insult and attempt to provoke her, throwing things through the bars at her and she would chase them away. If it weren’t for that first day and the consistent god-awful screams escaping the room she would think Rue incapable of speech.
The de-brainwashing process was painstakingly slow with hours and days feeling more like weeks and months and the intense hanging in the lower level driving most away, yet Tara lingered. It was only the girl unable to control her empathic abilities under the stress Giles had said. Only. Right. It *only* felt like nothing else on the planet as it crashed into her tearing and clawing at her making tiny holes with which to crawl deep beneath her skin and put her on edge, unnerving her just enough to feel the fear and confusion and anger and the pain. All of it, the now, the then, it made her shudder every time, and made her remember...Amy. Ethan. Janna. Everything.
Late one night as Ethan pulled their broken-down excuse for a van into Sunnydale after fast-talking his way past the border guards with their forged papers and filthy flesh and blood bribes, the code enforcers had taken them by surprise. Rough and rowdy, spurred on by the commencement of the seventy-two, Ethan wasn’t able to slime his way out of this situation. They were in the process of draining him dry and making a night of her when she felt it...her...Amy. Seemingly coming out of nowhere to her rescue, to put the big hurt on the vampolice and take them to the compound. She had sensed them coming way beyond Elmwood proper and Mister Giles was prepared to greet his wayward chum with the hospitality he deserved. His companion was a different story. She wasn’t to be tossed helpless back out into the fray. She was a kindred, one of the hunted, beneficial to the fight.
Ethan, however, that smarmy, untrustworthy, chaos worshipping, nomad that he was, he was quite capable of taking care of himself. He would be sent swiftly on his oily way once more, alone, to who knows where, rest assured he would begin his slippery cycle over again, find and take advantage of yet another naive, unskilled, lost soul, to ensure his survival for that one day longer.
She would miss him at times, in her special way, wondering what trickery he would be pulling and where, but it never lasted long as there was Amy now. So like Janna yet so unalike. Amy befriended her, and introduced her to the fight. Amy was the reason she was here. Here still alive and here in the compound where she should have been all along. She was also instrumental in pushing Tara fast forward past her familially programmed fears of herself and her powers, helping her finally to come into her own as the true witch she was.
Yet it was only recently she had begun to flex her psychic and telepathic abilities earnestly putting them to use for the good of the team. They weren’t strong like Amy’s but they were there. They had always been there only she hadn’t realized just how to tap into them. It was Amy who encouraged her to develop them as she had with everything. Then, Amy’s abilities were amazing. Her extrasensory voice could cut through her brain like a surgeon’s scalpel in the darkness, forceful and direct, and sometimes Tara could feel her exploring the recesses of her mind when she thought she wasn’t paying attention, her presence and skill had become so powerful, so acute, it frightened her. However this was different, this sensation was not a voice, or a mind probe, but pure, raw emotion in a form so concentrated she was unaccustomed to. Her stomach ached for her to stop most days and rejoiced when Giles would finally exit the room signaling the climax of each day’s session.
The girl’s deconstruction was agonizing not only on her but on Giles too. Even though he wore a mask of stoicism Tara could see his frustration, feel his inner turmoil in not wanting this task, not wanting to persist in keeping the pressure on and the pace high but he explained the ultimate goal was worth the pain and suffering, if he succeeded. As expected, she had been thoroughly reprogrammed with many reinforcements instilled. They would never be certain if he had breached them all and feared repercussions due to his not exactly skilled-type tampering. That Willow was a smarty, but eventually he made a breakthrough and hope glimmered once more. The days of deprivation, drugs, starvation and constant barrages eventually wore her down and he finally got what he wanted. “She’s broken.” He announced this day exiting the door with exceptional vigor, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.
But Tara already knew something had happened, the sickening emotions that hung heavy clinging to everything living for so many weeks had abruptly stopped and her skin prickled, chilling cold as if someone had walked over her grave. Now a deep unrelenting sadness seemed to fill her soul. “She is?” She said sounding concerned descending to meet him.
He looked to her unsure if she where having one on with him or not ‘til she smiled. “That’s wonderful.”
“Yes. I was beginning to fear the worst.”
Larry and the boys dragged her from the room. Today she did not leave under her own power looking particularly weak and small.
As the rest hurriedly left congratulating themselves on a job well done, Tara stayed behind. She wondered if they felt it, or felt anything about what they had truly done? She stood on the bars leaning into them and stared at her. Her aura was fractured leaping out and about as if in pain. She wished she could do something and finally said, “It hurts, I know, but Mister Giles is a good man and he’s only trying to help... even though it doesn’t feel that way to you now.” She turned to leave then stopped and turned back adding. “Rue, I’m sorry.”
Her tears flowed uncontrollably, which was a positive change as she looked over at her but still she refused to utter a sound to her.
Only time would tell now Tara guessed if Giles had actually brought her back or tripped her over completely. She would give her the time. “Good night.” She said and slowly made her way up the stairs to find the others.
* * * * * * * * * *
Tara finished dressing and began lacing up her boots. ‘She’s broken,’ Giles had said with relief. What did that truly mean? Her brain had asked this question ceaselessly since he said it yesterday. Everyone in this complex was broken, that’s essentially, why they were here. Perhaps the whole town was broken in one way or another thanks to the hellmouth.
She was broken, she knew this much. But somehow, if one could believe it, instead of unraveling in this hellplace, this place of dark and death was slowly mending her, making her whole again, or rather, her time now spent with Mister Giles and the others here at the compound.
So, did Giles actually manage to help the girl like he helped her and the rest? Would she too begin to heal now from Master Willow’s torturous hands, become a whole being instead of a bestial puppet or, did he inadvertently break her in the other direction? Screw up, crack her like an egg making her completely insane and unstable so they’d all end up Swiss cheesed worm chow if they blinked wrong and would forthwith be forced to kill her after all their efforts?
Boots laced tight she finished braiding her last pigtail and tied a rubber band around it. Grabbing a stake, she slid it into the holster on her vest and headed out. Once downstairs she grabbed the first aid supplies, adjusted the Velcro to some of the pockets on her cargo pants and waited as Giles finished his last minute instructions and ushered everyone from the armory. She looked to the girl. There she sat quiet as always.
* * * * * *
The girl watched her carefully now as she tied her headband on and greeted another younger girl to race back up the stairs ahead of the hunting pack.
* * * * * *
The attack went as planned. They hit hard and fast, retrieving their goal of the much-needed convoy supplies with as little casualties as possible. While outside, they took note of the confusion over the Master, confirming the facts on the street with contacts and deep cover operatives in heavy detail to be spread throughout the territory. Rumblings of collapse and chaos and the search for a new leader were beginning to take root.
However, Master Willow’s people were very loyal and astute, managing to quell the majority of the rumors of her untimely demise so as not to alarm the ruling clans setting off a whirlwind of chaos and greed. Only now, since the whitehats had stepped up their assaults and razed the home court mansion to the ground, the fire raging for days, able to be seen burning white-hot as far away as Elmwood, now more than just the vampires were concerned. The wer and demon clans were wanting to hear from the Master to be put at ease.
* * * * * *
Hours later, Rue watched as a strongly protesting vampire was dragged past her cell to the room she knew all too well.
* * * * * *
Tara handed the first aid kit to Amanda to put back in the infirmary choosing to stay by the stairs. She never ventured past the cell, past the infirmary, down to the end of the hall. She never went to the room. She smiled softly at Rue.
* * * * * *
The party was boisterous and animated upon their return, obviously successful in their goal Rue surmised and they milled about outside her confines for quite a while. She took in all the sights, sounds and smells she could, yet never registered her interest, staying quiet as the group slowly broke down and eventually went back upstairs. As always, the blonde girl was the last to leave speaking to her bidding her good night. Why?
* * * * * * * * * *
A few days later.
“Giles, man, you sure about this?”
“Yes, Oz, quite. She has to acclimate and the sooner, the sooner. Just be ready, I won’t promise it will be smooth, today or any other day.”
“Gotcha. One day at a time.” He turned to his buddies and gave the signal.
Up the stairs they climbed, it was slow going. This was her first time out of her cell and anywhere other than the corridor and the room. Up here, there were people, all humans by the smell, all milling about. All the people made her nervous, she was accustomed to the solitude and one on one with the vampires. They only ever gathered in numbers like this when something big was going down. So, was something big going down?
She heard them whisper and smelled their fear as she passed. She even thought she recognized a few of them but couldn’t be sure. The sound of the dragging chains distracted her echoing in her muddled mind and she tried to stop to shift them but was pushed onward. Quickly ushered into a big room to sit at a small table in the corner, they held her tightly as they once more secured the chains. Whatever they were giving her was taking the fight out of her but she couldn’t appear weak so she struggled a bit as they pushed her down into the chair.
She looked about, it was so bright and there were so many humans in this meeting area who all seemed very intrigued by her presence. Then she spied the blonde girl again moving towards her with a plate. She moved and sat atop the back of the chair across the table from her well out of reach of her chain length. She had smelled food since before they entered this great hall but couldn’t make out what it was. She watched curious as the girl nibbled something from the plate and found her own mouth involuntarily beginning to water.
Giles reappeared bearing a plate and set it in front of her. “Eat.”
She looked to him unsure and then at the plate. She didn’t remember when she had last eaten or even what. She stared at the plate for a long time. She was not allowed the luxury of utensils.
“Rue, eat.” Giles repeated keeping his eyes on her.
She almost jumped at the sound of his booming voice then sniffed at it, “S’cooked.” She said almost as a question. She hadn’t seen cooked food in she didn’t know how long and continued to stare at it like a foreign object. Then slowly she reached for a piece and brought it to her mouth. The chains were restrictive and she was forced to lower her head somewhat. Placing it in her mouth, she rolled it about a bit and chewed at it. The taste was just as foreign and quite displeasing to her palate and the texture threatened to make her hurl. She had been forced to live the life of a vampire and scavenger feeding off rats and blood and flesh for as long as she could remember back. She gagged and placed a hand over her mouth.
“Do stop playing about and eat.” Giles insisted fatigued as he was handed a plate for himself and moved away to huddle with a group of large humans.
She tried something else off the plate and seemed to remember it vaguely, at least it was more palatable and she chewed and swallowed. With that, her appetite awoke and slowly between chokes and bouts of coughing, she managed to down most of the plate. All too soon, it was whisked away and she was left to sit quietly listening as the others made decisions about her fate. Were they doing it on purpose to try to scare her or did they truly not realize she heard every word, every breath, and every heartbeat in the big room?
The blonde moved down into the chair now and leaned on the table staring at her. Rue met her gaze with downcast eyes.
Tara’s eyes were kind and she wore a gentle half smile as she pushed the left over of her sweet ration in front of her.
Uncertain she slowly reached as far as the chains allowed taking the offering with her fingertips. Rue stared at her blinking through the drugs. The girl made a motion for her to eat and she suddenly registered the item in her hand. Popping it into her mouth she tried to remember what it was, where she had tasted something like it before. She wanted to ask what it was but before she had the chance the men where back making more noise with the chains.
“Clear the way over to the door.” Giles instructed. “Yes, yes, hold it open.” He fussed then moved to the table to assist Larry and Oz and the others. “Tara, do get away from there before you end up in the infirmary.”
She jumped up and moved away from the table. “Sorry.”
“Rue, stand up. Walk. No, Chip, hold it taut but do not wrap it about your arm if you wish to have two, she may not take kindly to this next bit.”
“Why are you doing this again?” Tara asked following closely next to him.
“She needs to understand she’s not a creature of the night, she’s human.”
“I don’t understand why doing this should make a difference?” she continued.
“It makes a big difference.”
“But—”
“Tara,” Giles stopped, “now is not the time.” The door loomed just ahead. “Have you perfected that daylight spell yet?”
Her eyes drifted downward. “No, Sir.”
“Well then, if you are finished with your meal I suggest you get back to it. We are counting on that spell.”
“Yes, Sir.” She said disheartened.
“All right.” Giles halted the boys. “Be ready.” Then turned to Rue. “Rue keep moving out the door.” Rue obeyed continuing step by step ‘til she felt it getting warmer then stopped suspiciously. “Keep moving.” He repeated more firmly.
Through her daze she saw the door and saw the bright and began to put two and two together. “Outside?”
“Go NOW!” He yelled.
All at once the pack of large boys lurched forwards forcing their advantage to drag her out the door, outside into the sun.
“NO!” She yelled and began to panic pulling back with all her reserves on the chains.
The show was brief but highly animated as she struggled futilely to not be taken into the enclosed courtyard open to the full rays of the sun. The drugs did their job and before too long she was chained in a spot without shade. Her ruckus was short lived as Giles began the next phase of her reeducation. “The sun will not hurt you...”
Tara stared brow furrowed with compassion as Faith strolled up beside her shaking her head at the spectacle and munching on a hoagie end. “Ain’t that the shit.”
Tara tossed her a discontented look and just leaned into the door frame. “It’s sad.”
“It’s crap.” She announced loudly. “Shoulda just put her out of her misery, she’s beyond help.”
Tara disagreed with the brazen slayer and turned to object. “Mister Giles says—”
But Faith cut her off. “Mister Giles, says a lot,” She mocked. “But Giles wasn’t there. He doesn’t know what that bitch Willow did to her. She was smarter than he’ll ever be even if he lives to infinity.”
Unfortunately her words were true but she still felt the need to defend his actions even if she herself didn’t truly understand them. “She’s made a lot of progress.”
“Progress?” She looked at her in disbelief. “What, did Giles put you in the chair too?” Then rapped her on the head with her knuckles. “Hello, she’s out there having a hissy fit over the sun. Not to mention it just took five of our big burly guys and the old man to get her there and lock her down,” Faith snorted. “The only thing keeping her from wolfing out and killing everyone in the complex is that drug... which works, at best, sometimes.”
“But it is working.” She defended glowering at her and rubbing her sore head. She hated Faith’s arrogance and ignorance and the way she treated her most days, if she weren’t the slayer...
Faith blew a big blast of air past her lips. “I’ll remind you of that the night it stops working and she’s cutting you into wic-cabobs.” Disinterested she strolled back into the cafeteria in search of more food to quell her slayer appetite her voice trailing. “He’s dancing with the demon. We already got our lucky break and he’s gonna fuck it up for all of us.”
Tara stayed and continued to watch a bit longer. Giles had never intentionally done anything to hurt them. If it weren’t for him most of them, including her, would be dead thanks to Willow and her bloodsucking army of the undead. She trusted him, trusted he must know what he’s doing now too, why he was so preoccupied and curt with everyone. Speaking of curt, she straightened up and headed off into the complex she’d better get onto that spell and try and make some head way. She didn’t want to give him any ex cuses to exact any long drawn out lectures upon her which she knew would just be a cover for him to vent his frustrations over his plans.
* * * * * * * * * *
Tara sat before a stone mortar delicately sifting ingredients through her fingers and dropping them into the vessel. Mixing them with the pestle a bit she then tapped it and set it aside. Checking her book then double checking her notes she began an incantation and reached into the mortar retrieving some of the mixture. Pouring it into her other hand she then rubbed them together and closed her eyes as she spoke the last lines. Uncovering her hand and holding it aloft a flame erupted from her palm and slowly began to rise into the air compressing itself, transforming, flames extinguishing leaving just the light to burn bright. She concentrated hard maintaining the light then attempted to go to the next level, increase the intensity but it wasn’t working. Beads of sweat began to break on her forehead. It wasn’t happening and inwardly she cursed. The light began to wobble and she regrouped her focus wishing Amy were there with her.
Tara missed Amy so, it had been a true tragedy, cutting the do-gooders to the core, but circumstances were such the dark had finally overtaken her and if Willow hadn’t struck her down she would have succumbed completely to the evil, possibly doing them all harm, so no matter how cruel, it was best. Only now they were vulnerable, and Tara was alone. The two had become a force to be reckoned with, with Tara acting as mind and Amy the power. Yet now Tara was left to compensate for their loss, hampered even more so by an uber protective Giles who was determined not to let her traverse the same path and suffer the same fate as Amy embracing the dark just to gain them an edge.
Suddenly Giles strode in slamming the door and muttering to himself. The loud noise took Tara by surprise breaking her concentration and thus the spell.
Giles sat at his desk, threw down his glasses and rubbed his eyes not even noticing the abruptly diminished light or Tara up on the second tier of the library.
“Did it work?” She called out.
He looked up a bit startled. Then realized who it was and affected a quiet tone. “Did what work?”
“The... outside?”
“Well, I do think we managed to convince her she isn’t going to burst into flames today. We’ll know more tomorrow.” He sighed and began to rub his temples. “Probably be a repeat performance.” He muttered.
“That’s good, right?” She called out trying to be chipper for him.
It wasn’t working, his last nerve was shot and he snapped. “Is there a reason you are in here?”
“Spell.” She replied simply.
He thought a moment. “Ah, yes. How is it progressing?”
“I can make it work as long as I hold my concentration but I can’t seem to get any power behind it, so it’s not really a sun, more like a flashlight.” She offered him a half smile.
“I’m sure you will.” He returned almost absent mindedly. “Keep trying.”
She descended the stairs and came over to sit on his desk staring at him intently then stated the obvious. “You really need to sleep.”
He snorted upset by the truth and glared at her, then reached for a pencil and mockingly attended to his calendar desk blotter. “I’ll be sure and pencil one in right before wiping out the vampire army and just after this strong hold has been burnt to the ground.” Then tossed the pencil down, leaned back in his chair, kicked his feet up onto the desk, and ran his hands over his face and through his hair continuing his rant. “Between Faith trying to kill Amanda, Amanda trying to kill Amanda and this complex of *children* I’ll be lucky if I see my next birthday.”
“Don’t say that!” She shouted back at him voice beginning to wobble slightly.
He looked at her realizing sarcasm wasn’t his strong point and sighed. “Tara, I’m sorry. It’s just I’m... I’m—”
“Tired.”
“Yes,” he relinquished, “but I can’t rest. There’s too much work to be done. Planning the attacks, running the supplies, making sure Faith doesn’t get Amanda killed, rehabbing our newest team member. No, not just now.”
“Why? We killed the Master. They should be leaving us alone for a while, at least until they regroup, right?”
“Leaderless they are more dangerous now than ever.”
Tara played with the desk blotter running the paper through her fingers then coyly asking. “So what’s so important about that demony girl?”
He became quiet and indignant again. “She’s human—”
“—We have to save her. Yes, that’s the generic answer you’ve sp-sp-outed to everyone. Now what’s the truth?”
“The truth?” He stared at her insulted at her challenge meeting her unrelenting gaze then sputtered and clucked but she wasn’t backing down. Maybe it was time to share the burden? He yielded. “The truth is a long shot, but if our dark horse comes in we shall be rolling in dough.”
“Horse racing metaphors, it must be serious but I’m none the wiser.” She cocked her head at his vague.
He sighed, “A shapeshifter is a powerful ally. Especially one—”
“Who comes straight from the Master’s inner sanctum.” Realization twinkled in her eyes then she looked at him with dead seriousness. “So it’s not so much about the she’s human, but more she’s an asset to the cause?”
He looked at her slightly dismayed but didn’t deny it. “She *is* human.” He asserted then swung his legs down and leaned his elbows on the desk playing at his lips. Worry furrowed his brow and he looked to her searching her eyes. “Am I as bad as Willow? Treating her like a pawn?”
She smiled shyly crossing over to him to sit on the arm of his chair and hug him. “It’s not a crime to want to win as long as you aren’t doing this solely to sacrifice her *like* a pawn.”
“Never.” He sounded almost insulted. “She was dealt a horrible injustice and we’re going to fix it. She’s one of the family now. One of my children. My hopes are for her to be our knight... eventually.”
“Oooo, we’ve graduated from horse racing to chess references, I think we’re making significant headway.” She grinned playfully. “So, what am I?”
He smiled at her. “You, my dear, are my secret weapon, my rook.” She giggled and he hugged her close relaxing a bit.
At that moment there was a knock at the office door. “Mister Giles?” Amanda entered.
“Yes, Amanda.”
“Um, we were supposed to train—”
“Oh, damn!” He jumped up, “I’m sorry.”
Tara returned to her place on the desk.
“It’s okay. Faith offered to spar with me. I came to see if that’s okay.”
Giles suddenly went into staunch mode popping on his glasses and putting his hands on his hips. “Amanda, what happened last time Faith offered to spar with you?”
“Um, she wailed on me.” She screwed up her mouth.
“And...”
“...And... She’s just gonna do it again isn’t she?”
“It is Faith we’re talking about here, Stick.” Tara chimed in for the first time.
Amanda frowned. “When am I gonna learn?” And flopped down on the desk next to Tara.
“Street smarts are acquired with age.” Giles announced.
“Huh?” She had no clue what that meant.
Tara put an arm around her and translated. “Don’t grow up too fast.”
* * * * * * * * * *
To be continued in Chapter Two
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