Alex P. - Prophecy's Curse

By Alex P.

Feedback: Please any comments or suggestions to: keeper444@webtv.net

Archive: Whatever or whoever Just tell me

Summary: A year after "If Destiny Wills It" and a whole new threat has come to town, that will test the Slayer and Great Sorceress's new found powers.

Spoilers: This is my own twisted little universe and, while there are characters and Sunnydale from the show their skills and places in these stories are purely of my own demented imagination. Sorry if it offends (not).

Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy, Willow, Giles, and any others from BTVS are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy etc. No infringement of any kind intended and no money made.

Warning: Contains scenes of a loving relationship between two consenting women. If you have a problem with that (why are you here?) or it is illegal where you live (I suggest you move to my end of the gutter...quickly) then PLEASE DELETE THIS NOW !!!!!

Rating: Possible PG-13 to R in some places.

Pairing: B/W

[[thoughts]]

***flashbacks***

Part 1

The moon was reaching its zenith and Buffy was headed for home. Another slow night of slaying: only three newbies, and a stray demon whose heart wasn't really in it. She would have been bored if her mind hadn't been occupied elsewhere.

Here it was, June twentieth already; less than six shopping weeks left until their first anniversary and she had no idea what to get her wife.

[[Geez, talk about a stereotype,]] the Slayer scolded herself in frustration. [[We've know each other all this time, I can see her thoughts for God's sake, and I haven't the slightest idea what she wants or what would make her happy.]]

The small blonde was so distracted that she almost didn't feel her slayer sense going off like a car alarm. She spun around, trying to locate the threat, but the unnatural speed of the older vampire suddenly behind her helped him to blindside her.

Running at full speed, he collided with her from the side: the blow took her off her feet and together they rolled across the dewy grass of the small clearing.

They both regained their feet quickly; spun to face each other, slowly circling, looking for an opening to attack. Then as if a signal was given they attacked simultaneously. The vampire tried to grab Buffy by the throat, stopped just in time by a right cross to the temple.

She knocked him back a few steps, trying to follow through but her opponent countered with a side kick that launched her sideways, flying through the air until she slammed roughly into a crumbling tombstone. She let out a gasp of pain as she felt a rib give way on impact.

The vampire noticed her gasp and saw the way she winced as she pushed away from the granite.

"My my, Slayer," the vampire hissed, his face got even uglier as he attempted a victorious grin. "Could it be that the Chosen One isn't as tough as she pretends to be?"

"Don't count on it, Fangs." Buffy snarled. "I could kick your butt in my sleep with both legs broken. By the way, who dresses you, a clown?!"

Growling in fury, the vampire launched himself at the weakened Slayer; enraged by her disrespectful comment, reacting just as Buffy knew he would.

Sure of a quick victory, he charged, blinded with anger at her insolence, he made it easy for Buffy to side step his awkward leap, and she brought a lightning-quick elbow down on the back of the vampire's neck.

The blow, combined with his uncontrolled forward momentum, drove him head first into the same tombstone she had hit. His head slammed into the solid granite, the stone cracking under the impact.

The stunned vampire rose to his feet and shook his head, trying to clear it. Before he could regain his senses, the Slayer leapt into air and delivered a scissor kick that connected with his chin and sent him sprawling to the ground.

She somersaulted over to land straddling the vampire's abdomen, and with a flourish produced a stake seemingly from thin air, driving it into his heart.

Buffy watched as her opponent disappeared in to a cloud of dust. She felt rather pleased with the outcome of the fight, until she moved and was reminded of her broken rib.

It joined her other forgotten injuries in protesting loudly at her neglect. Letting out a distracted sigh, she gingerly dusted herself off and slowly rose to her feet.

Once again she turned towards home and the red-headed center of her universe, her eyes glazing over as she once again became lost in thought.

"Where was I," she asked herself brightly. "Oh, yeah. What *do* you get the witch that has everything?"

==============

"Damn it, Giles, are you *sure* there's nothing we can do?" the red-haired witch asked for the fifth time. "I mean, there's always been some way around these prophecies before." Her tone was that pleading but somehow irritated tone he recognised so well. "Why not this one?"

"Really, Willow," Giles said trying to calm the agitated young woman stalking his living room. "it's not as if the prophecy is calling for the end of the world. It just says that the "prince of darkness" will come to the Hellmouth in search of his lost love. Why is it upsetting you so badly?"

Willow tapped the book impatiently. "Are you losing your fabulous highly trained watcher skills, Giles? 'He will come in search...'" She skipped over a couple of over-flowery lines, "'And find her at great cost to all'."

He blinked, looking at her blankly. Willow gave him an exasperated sigh for his troubles. "Giles, where have you been the last seven or eight years?" she snapped, unsure why the ex-watcher and her wife's surrogate father was being so obtuse. "Does the phrase "at great cost" ring a bell?

Giles took off his glasses, cleaning the lenses absently as he watched the young witch - and more importantly soulmate to his Slayer - pacing back and forth in front of his desk.

He was sure that the expensive Persian rug would soon have a rut worn through it. Willow was the picture of frustration: she couldn't believe that this normally intelligent man didn't understand why she was so worried.

"Willow, please sit down." he pleaded quietly, attempting to calm the Slayer's wife, "I'm sure, if we just sit down and give this some thought... "

The redhead threw herself into one of his over-stuffed leather easy chairs, obviously in a mood, her eyes glaring holes through the man behind the desk. She couldn't believe how things had changed, usually it was she that was the voice of calm and reason, reassuring the others, but now she could see the obvious problems presented by this new prophecy that apparently even Giles couldn't.

"Look, Giles, I know you just aren't looking," she said calmly, trying desperately to get the ex-watcher to see her point. "The prophecy says this "prince of darkness" will be *led* to the Hellmouth to find his lost love. She will be found but refuse him at a great cost to all. Isn't that what it says?"

"Well, yes, but there is no mention of the Sorceress or the Slayer." Giles studied the ancient text in front of him again, flicking the pages, "So I don't understand why you are as worried as you are. This is just an obscure prophecy written in a little known book of bad poetry, by a half mad Romanian monk that spent most of his short sad life confined in an isolated monastery. The only reason I even have it is one of my old contacts thought it would be a great joke to show me such mad ramblings. I only showed it to you because I thought you'd like to see a prophecy that didn't involve you or Buffy for a change. So why are you so upset?"

The Sorceress let out a long suffering sigh and leaned forward, locking eyes with the normally observant Englishman, hoping that the story-telling techniques Lugh had shown her would help him grasp what she was saying.

"All right, now look at this from my point of view," the frustrated witch said, her eyes taking on an eerie glow, and her voice sounding like a someone teaching algebra to a particularly dense child. "First it says he will be *led* here. But it doesn't say by whom, does it? And I would think that might be important, don't you?"

"Well, yes but..."

She held up her hand to stop his premature comment.

"Not yet, I'm not done," she warned casually. "Okay, now, it talks about a "prince of darkness". I have no idea who that might be. Do you?"

Giles could only shake his head and wait for her to continue.

"It would seem to me that it would be pretty important to know who and what he is, don't you?" she went on before he could comment again. "Most important, though, and what bothers me the most is this thing." Her glowing eyes intensified as she spoke. "The prophecy speaks of something at a great cost and do you have any thoughts about who usually pays the great costs on this Hellmouth? The *Slayer* that's who, and if my Buffy is hurt because you and your people treated this like a joke or held *anything* back then I promise you, the Hellmouth will seem like a resort vacation compared to what I'll do."

"Really, Willow," Giles protested, unsure of this person with the glowing eyes, "I see no reason for threats."

"Oh, no, my dear watcher," Willow purred menacingly. "I'm not making threats, this is a *promise*. I may be sworn not to take a human life, but there are things I know that would make death seem a charitable gift."

The two stared across the desk at each other for several heartbeats judging each others resolve. It was the ex-watcher that dropped his eyes first.

"Very well, Willow. We will investigate this further," He promised conceding defeat. "but I hardly see any reason for all this worry."

"That's fine, Giles," Willow answered softly, "I'll worry enough for us both." She glanced up. "Enough of this for now, Buffy's here."

All further discussion was interrupted when Giles' front door slammed open.

"Hey guys, I'm home!" the exuberant voice of the Slayer echoed through the townhouse. "Where's my honey?"

With a 100 watt smile on her face the red headed witch ran out of the study and leapt into the waiting arms of her beloved wife.

"Hey babe, how was your night?" Willow asked as she nuzzled Buffy's neck. "Anything exciting goin' on out there?"

"Uh-uh, cutie." Buffy said between kisses holding her universe tightly in her arms. "Nothing out there is as exciting as my Wills, not even close."

The witch stopped nuzzling and looked into her wife's eyes.

"You Slayers say the sweetest things," she whispered so that only Buffy could hear, then got serious. "Now tell me where you're hurt, and don't try to fool me. I can feel it."

The Slayer winced slightly at her wife's intense gaze, giving up before she was hit with the dreaded resolve face.

"All right, all right, just don't look at me like that." She stepped back and rubbed her side. "It's mostly bumps and bruises, nothing to worry about."

She tried to stop there, but one look at her lover's face told the Chosen One that the Great Sorceress wasn't buying it.

"Okay." She knew when she was beaten. "I think I probably broke a rib, but that's all."

"That's all!" Willow quipped trying to hide her irritation at the Slayer's evasiveness. "I think that's quite enough."

She stepped back and quickly examined her lover.

"Well at least your clothes aren't a complete loss, but that top is totalled." She glanced over the rest of Buffy's clothes quickly, then looked at her tired and hurt lover and gave her a sultry smile. "Come on home, baby, I'll run you a nice hot bath and we'll take care of all those nasty ol' Slayer boo-boos."

They both laughed and wrapped in each others arms headed for the door.

"We'll finish this tomorrow, Giles," Willow called as they went out the door. "Right now I have a Slayer to bathe."

"Oooh, can I have bubbles too?" Buffy asked in her best little girl voice. "I reeeally like bubbles and maybe a dash of my pretty Willow?"

"Only if you're very, very good," Willow purred teasingly. "Have you been very good?"

They both laughed, shutting the door behind them with a loud slam. Giles shook his head and chuckled, knowing the answer to Willow's question without hearing it. He enjoyed the two young women's banter. It made him feel as if there was hope left in the world as long as they had each other.

Remembering his promise to Willow, he returned to his study and began searching through his collection of ancient books and writings to see if he could find any mention of the Romanian prophecies, this 'prince of darkness' or any connection they might have with the Hellmouth.

His mind wandered back to his last conversation with Wesley... and how strangely the nervous little man had sounded as he adamantly insisted that Giles say nothing about the prophecy to either of his surrogate daughters.

He only hoped the little twit wouldn't have apoplexy when he found out he'd already told Willow.

Part 2

Willow finally got her beloved wife settled into their large bathtub with bubbles up to her chin, and after fending off several amorous advances decided to try to get the house in order.

She began picking up the clothes that had been discarded in the heat of passion the night before.

[[How in Hades did her panties get up there?]] the red head wondered chuckling as she pulled a pair of her lover's best underwear off a blade of the ceiling fan. [[I don't think I did that.]]

She had meant to straighten their bedroom as well, but she should have known better.

"Oh Willlllloooow," Buffy's voice called lyrically from the bathroom, "I need my Willlllllooooooow! Come on, baby. I need that magic touch of yours, you know... like last night?"

Willow turned to fire off a well tied retort about the night before, but was stopped short.

"You...I...ah...we...whoa!" was all that came from her college educated mouth. All she could do was stare, open mouthed at the vision before her eyes.

It was a sight to fuel a thousand fantasies. There was Buffy - her lover and wife - standing framed in the bathroom doorway, her considerable charms exposed to Willow's suddenly lust filled eyes. Water dripped from her body, giving her an aura that took Willow's breath away and drove all thoughts of cleaning from her mind.

"What wonderful thing have I done for the Goddess to have blessed me with you?" Her voice was so soft, almost a prayer of thanks. "You are so beautiful it hurts."

Buffy giggled and blushed from her toes to her scalp, driving her wife's fiery passions into an uncontrollable inferno.

"Do you see something you like?" the petite blonde asked smiling shyly

"I see everything I like," the inflamed witch growled as she advanced toward the object of all her desires. "and everything I'll ever need."

Her hands went to the buttons of her blouse as if they had minds of their own, and began opening the clinging silk garment that soon was on the floor along with the clothing from the night before - and soon followed by the rest of her clothes.

"Does this mean I get a dash of Willow in my bath?" the Slayer ask her voice getting husky as her own heat rose in watching her beautiful wife disrobe.

"I couldn't possibly deny you anything,." Willow admitted quietly, her voice tight with emotion and desire.

"I need you, my Willow," Buffy purred seductively as she backed toward the oversized tub piled high with bubbles. "Only you can make me feel this way. Only you have what I need."

Willow slowly entered the bathroom and was being driven nearly insane with lust.

The power of their love and desire for each other became visible, as Willow's green aura began glowing and joined Buffy's own bluish-white aura intertwining and swirling around the two Chosen lovers in a dazzling display of their souls uniting.

Buffy stepped into the water and held her arms out in an invitation for her Wills to join her. The young witch didn't think twice before flying to her lover's arms to be enveloped in the protective embrace of the very center of her universe. Willow's soft lips found Buffy's and melded to them, her tongue running over her love's lips, begging entrance. It was joyfully given: Willow felt more than heard her red haired lover groan as their tongues swirled around each other in a dance for dominance.

It was a long wet passionate kiss meant to stoke their desires until the lust they had was almost a living thing demanding release.

Soon the house was filled with the sounds of splashing water and cries and screams of needs being fulfilled.

+++++++++++

On the narrow winding road that led through the foothills down to the picturesque town of Sunnydale, a long black sedan, its once shining surface now dulled by the dust and film of the thousands of miles it had covered, pulled into a turn out and stopped.

Its lights went out and the motor stopped, leaving only shadows and dust filling the night air.

Only the ticking of its cooling engine could be heard; the air silent, as if waiting for the vehicle's occupants to make the next move.

The right rear door opened without a sound coming from its well oiled hinges. A tall gaunt figure dressed entirely in black stepped out and stretched out the kinks from the hours of travel in the confines of the vehicle.

The figure glided more than walked over to the edge of the cliff and looked out at the bejewelled vista that spread out from the base of the cliff toward the sea.

The tall figure brushed away some imaginary lint from his expensive custom made Italian suit, then straightened out to gaze out into the darkness looking for his destiny.

Another figure exited the sedan just as silently and walked across the gravel to stand beside the first. He was a shorter, stockier built man also dressed in all black but not as stylish as his companion. He, too, stared out over the scenic view; but for a much different reason.

"Is this the city the demoness spoke of, my Prince?" the shorter man asked, sounding somewhat confused. "The lights are pretty in a provincial kind of way, but the city does not look much."

"Ah, Victor, you are such an elitist in your Old World views." the tall man answered with a slight laugh. "Yes, this is our destination: and I would advise you not to underestimate the Americans, my friend. There is much more to this little hamlet than meets the eye."

"What could possibly be here that would be of interest to you, my Prince?" Victor asked looking up at the taller man. "I thought we had everything we needed in our homeland, now that the Communists are gone."

"My dear loyal Victor, how little you know." the tall man sighed. "This small spec on the map holds something I have been searching for... seeking for over a hundred years. The soul of my beloved has been reborn again and resides here. This time I will make her mine for an eternity."

"I see." Victor answered respectfully, knowing the man he served had suffered over the years yearning for his lost love. "We must go my Prince, The sun will rise soon and I want to have you resting comfortably before that occurs."

The tall man nodded and turned to follow his travelling companion back to their vehicle. Just before entering the back seat he turned and took a last look at the many-jewelled vision that was Sunnydale at night.

"I have found you at last my love," he murmured so softly it was almost a prayer. "This time I will not loose you. Do you hear me, my beautiful Elizabeta? You will be at my side again, and this time forever."

He got into the car and his assistant started the powerful engine, put the car in gear and left in a cloud of dust that hid the receding tail lights.

++++++++

Buffy woke up and knew instantly that something wasn't right. She reached for her wife, but instead of a warm soft body she found cool, long vacant sheets. Instantly wide awake, her mind shot to life with visions of the events of a year ago, just before their wedding.

The Slayer reached out with her mind attempting to locate her absent lover, but found nothing.

[[Damn it!]] she thought in frustration. [[She's closed her mind to me so I would wake up, cute. I gotta talk to her about that.]]

Buffy thought about calling out to her soulmate, but she knew only her lover's touch would calm her now. She slid out of bed and slipped on her robe to go in search of her missing wife.

When she failed to find Willow anywhere else in the house, she eventually reached to the kitchen and found the kettle on the stove still hot. That along with the combined scents of chamomile and pachouly permeating the air gave the Slayer a pretty good idea where to find her missing red-headed lover.

She went to the sliding glass door that led to their patio and smiled slightly when she found it open.

[[Geez, she knows me too well,]] she thought, knowing full well that her Wills had left the door open so she could find her. [[Gods, I love her!]]

With the silence only the Slayer was capable of Buffy slipped out the door and padded across the concrete slab to the four foot wall that surrounded the area where she could see the silhouette of her lover.

Apparently lost in thought and staring out at the summer sky, Willow was totally oblivious to Buffy's approach.

Not wanting to frighten her beloved wife - startling the Great Sorceress being almost as dangerous as sneaking up on the Slayer - Buffy slowed down and waited until her wife had sensed her presence.

Then she walked up behind her quiet lover and wrapped her arms protectively around Willow's waist.

Willow hummed in pleasure as she felt the waves of loving concern radiating from her partner. She leaned against the deceptively small yet powerful body behind her laying her head back to rest on her wife's shoulder.

"What's up, babe?" the petite blonde whispered into her lover's ear, her warm washing over the sensitive organ causing Willow to almost purr in arousal. "Whatcha doin' out here?"

"Oh, it's that damn Romanian prophecy that Giles found." Willow groaned. wallowing in her lover's protective embrace. "I can't believe he thinks it's some kind of joke. I mean, yeah, we aren't mentioned by name or anything, but it says something about a great price, and who always pays the great price around here?" She didn't wait for the obvious answer. "*Us* that's who!"

Buffy could sense her wife's growing agitation and tried her best to calm her. She knew her Wills well enough to know that the sensitive red haired witch would make herself sick with worry if Buffy didn't distract her some how.

"Shhh, babe," Buffy whispered softly. "Don't let it worry you now. We'll get the whole gang over here tomorrow and we won't stop until we have an answer. Full research mode, 'kay?"

Kissing and nipping her way to the pulse point where Willow's long beautiful neck joined her soft white shoulders. The Slayer's heightened senses revelled in the taste of her lover's flawless skin.

"Ummmm...full...research...mode?" Willow groaned her voice thick with her steadily rising desire.

"Uh huh." Buffy answered as she began sucking, licking, and biting at the tender flesh covering the pulsing artery just beneath that white skin, feeling her lover's heart beating faster and faster until she was sure it would burst.

"Promise?" Willow breathed as the Slayer's hands slid up to cup her full firm breasts, her calloused thumbs began teasing the redhead's quickly hardening nipples through the thin material of her silk robe.

"Pinky swear." Buffy whispered into her lover's ear her pink tongue sweeping around the reddening organ. "Have I told you how hot I get when you wear this and nothing else?"

"Mmmm...I think I heard something about that somewhere." Willow hissed as she turned in her wife's embrace to face her and let her burning eyes rake over the firm athletic body of the woman that owned her heart and soul. "I see you came to the party in the same outfit."

Her hands began working at the belt that held her wife's robe closed. As soon as she was successful her long, nimble fingers began roaming freely over Buffy's muscular body: dancing lightly over the Slayer's soft, smooth, tanned, skin leaving trails of fire with every touch.

Buffy's senses were reeling as she put a hand behind her wife's neck, tangling her fingers through her silky soft red hair and gently pulled the witch's mouth to hers.

As their lips met Buffy slid her free hand down between Willow's beautifully shaped thighs, searching through soft red curls until she found her lover's hot, now very wet center. Willow moaned into her devouring mouth at the feel of it; probing caresses found her throbbing swollen clitoris and began circling the hyper-sensitive bundle of nerves, a slim finger searching out the center of her urgent desire.

They opened their minds to each other, sharing the impulses and feeling that were scorching along their nerves throughout their bodies.

"Oh... my... sweet... Goddess..." Willow sighed as their lips parted and her head fell back. "I love you, Buffy..."

"I love you too, my Sorceress." Buffy gasped as her lover's hot wet mouth found and engulfed a hard nipple and began sucking firmly. "If you have me under a spell for Goddess' sake don't ever release me."

In a surge of passion, she swept her wife up and cradled the redhead in her arms. Willow wrapped her arms around her neck and began nuzzling and kissing, knowing exactly what it did to her lover.

"No spells, my Slayer." she whispered with a smile. "All there is between us is love."

Buffy smiled: without further words, she carried her Sorceress inside and up to their bedroom.

Part 3

As usual,despite their late night both Buffy and Willow were awake and by ten a.m. they were knocking on Giles door. It was a surprised ex-librarian that answered the door and found his two surrogate daughters. He stepped back and allowed them to enter his home.

"Hey Giles-y," Buffy said lightly "we brought donuts, even the jelly ones you like."

"To what do I owe this sudden spate of courtesy" the stunned ex-watcher inquired curious about why the two young women didn't just use their key and walk in unannounced as usual "mind you I'm not complaining but I have learned that when you people show me this kind of respect, something bad is about to happen."

"Oh Giles," Buffy said as they both rolled their eyes while making themselves at home on his couch. "you are just so full of it."

"Buffy!" Willow scolded "you just don't like it cause he's right. By the way Giles have you been grocery shopping lately?"

"Yesterday, why?" Giles asked, studying his two young friends

"Weeell...we kind of called Xander and Cordy and told them to meet us here for a research marathon." the red head confessed, giving her best shy innocent face. "and I mean you know how Xander can be when it comes to food."

"Yes I do" the Englishman snorted as he picked up the phone and began dialing the number of the nearest 24 hour pizza delivery. "How long is this going to be?"

Buffy looked at her mentor, her face suddenly deadly serious, her blue-green eyes boring holes into his very soul.

"It will take as long as it takes to find everything there is to know about this 'Romanian prophecy' and that's it." The Slayer snapped irritated at her ex-watcher for trying to get her wife to keep secrets from her. "We've called Xander, Cordy, and Dr. Fallon, who by the way, even offered to bring some books he had that referred to the Prince of Darkness, the prophecy, and anything else he could find. Isn't it funny the way the representatives of the church are being *so* helpful?"

Her sarcasm wasn't missed by Giles and he was feeling a little guilty because he knew he deserved it and a little hurt because she wouldn't let him explain why he hadn't wanted her to know about this crazy prophecy.

"Really Buffy, if you would just listen," the sad eyed man pleaded "I know I could explain..."

"Enough Giles!" Buffy snarled stopping his apology before he could get it out "I can't believe you, you sat here not a year ago and lectured *me* about keeping secrets and not tellin' Wills about things going on. Remember the night before our wedding and now you try to get my *wife*

to hide things from me, un-frickin'-believable."

"Buffy, please honey, let it go." Willow asked softly and almost instantly the Slayer calmed down, quit pacing and sat back down next to her gentle wife. Willow smiled indulgently at her beloved and highly emotional lover.

Their roles and reactions had been defined from the beginning by their calling. Willow the shy quiet intelligent girl was now the great Sorceress, still quiet, gentle, and extremely intelligent, but now she was confident, out going and self-assured, an anchor to her wife and friends.

Buffy on the other hand had become a volatile and intensely protective Slayer, completely comfortable with her greatly enhanced Slayer abilities. Her shortness of patience and the ever present danger of her reacting to everyday irritations with a wild flurry of physical attacks were held in check partially by the disciplines of the oriental martial arts that Willow insisted she continue.

However, the single most stabilizing influence in the Slayer's life was her life-partner and soulmate, Willow.

No matter how intense the situation a single soft word or touch from the red head and the deadly blonde Slayer would stop and calmly wait.

On the other hand one threat or insult, real or imagined, aimed at the quiet red head and the Slayer's hyper-protective nature took over and the outcome was always potentially fatal.

All this flashed through Giles mind as he saw the anger literally flashing in the Slayer's eyes.

He would never forget the night the three of them had discovered that particular new Slayer power.

A new vampire , called Spike had come to town and began to try to rally the younger vampires around him, hoping to create a vampire army to face the Slayer.

Angel had been called in L.A. and he confirmed that the new vampire was in fact his childe, and while the bleach blonde vampire was known to be vicious and completely ruthless, he wasn't too bright just mostly lucky.

Spike sent several of his followers after the Slayer and her friends. For the most part they met with the same fate as most of the Slayer's other opponents, dust buster chow.

Then a bizarre twist of fate put Willow and their friend Cordelia in Spike's hands.

Thinking he had the upper hand, he forced the Slayer to meet with him in the old industrial district,at an old abandoned warehouse, by threatening Willow's well being.

Unfortunately for Spike, no one had told him the consequences of incurring the wrath of the Slayer, especially when her Sorceress was involved, or about the ability of the two warriors of Light to draw power from each other.

Giles and Xander had, against Buffy's wishes, followed the Slayer to the meeting place that night.

While they didn't actually witness what happened from their vantage point, they saw the entire interior of the old warehouse light up in a burst of bluish-white light that seemed brighter than the noon sun, then came the horrible agonized screams of dying vampires.

To this day Giles still got a chill down his spine when he remembered that sound.

Later when Cordelia had calmed enough to tell what she had seen, Giles refused to enter it into his watcher's diary for fear someone might see it and realize the terrifying ramifications of the powers demonstrated that night.

According to Cordelia, when Buffy had entered the building she was almost instantly surrounded by Spike's minions all snarling and growling in full game face. Buffy stood in the middle of the hostile group of vamps, completely calm, with her arms crossed over her chest and her foot tapping impatiently on the concrete floor.

When Spike finally arrived the Slayer totally ignored the other vampires as if they didn't exist and focused her attention on the arrogant bleach blonde English vampire.

*******

"Hello Slayer," the vamp taunted "I think you came for these."

Two vamps stepped out of the shadows, each one holding a bound and gagged hostage. Spike reached out and grabbed Willow by her hair and roughly pulled the red head to him holding her close to his chest.

"Let them go Spike," the Slayer growled "that was the deal."

"Ah...but Slayer...I think I've changed my mind." Spike quipped and licked the side of Willow's face "This one's quite the tasty little piece."

"Shoulda' kept your word Ssspike" the Slayer hissed drawing out the vamp's name, her hazel eyes narrowed, she'd locked eyes with her wife the second she'd come into view, "You are a second rate night crawler at best. It's no wonder even your sire wants nothing to do with you. Now you're a liar too and I can't stand a liar."

Spike was about to give a smart retort when the bright lights shot from Willow and Buffy's eyes and met between them in an almost blinding burst of light, that filled the entire warehouse.

Then according to Cordelia, the vampires began melting, their screams of fear and agony were nearly enough to drive a person insane.

Spike was frozen in horror as he watched his people melt into puddles on the concrete floor.

Willow easily stepped out of his grasp and walked calmly to her lover, who began removing the ropes that bound the witch.

Once she was free, she gave her beloved Slayer a quick hug, then turned toward the antagonist that had kidnapped her and her friend and caused her wife so much worry.

"Look guys, hey, no harm, no foul right?" Spike said in panic when he saw the two women focusing on him "I mean I was just kidding, really. I was going to let her go."

"Spike! You laid hands on the one I love, *my* mate!" Buffy growled her anger just barely under control. "If it was up to me, your short life would be an eternity of pain, but it was my Wills you took and assaulted, so I leave you in her more than capable hands."

The Slayer turned her back on the terrified vampire and left him facing the angry red haired witch whose eyes were glowing eerily. Willow began chanting, quietly at first but as the glowing in her eyes grew brighter and spheres of green light appeared in her hands the sing song rhythm of the chanting became louder and faster.

It wasn't that Willow raised her voice, instead it was as if her voice was joined by voices from the air. As the ghostly chorus grew in volume and strength, the more terrified Spike became. Finally, Willow spoke over the etherial chorus.

"Do you hear them, Spike?" Willow said as if condemning a prisoner to death "Do you here the voices calling you,do you feel their hands reaching for you. Those are the souls of every human you have torn from this plane before their time. We have rendered your pitiful demon impotent, being the selfish entity it is, it won't allow you to destroy yourself, and he can stop you I've made sure of that. No other Slayer will touch you. You will spend every minute of every day for eternity hearing those voices. They will hound you until the powers that be have decided you have paid fully for your transgressions with your suffering, and they allow you the mercy of death. Until that time, William Blood, I bid you good bye."

Having finished with Spike the two women went to help Cordelia to her feet and removed her bonds. As they led the still frightened young woman out she looked over at Spike curled up in a fetal position in a corner, trembling in fear. His eyes were rolling wildly and he was mumbling incoherently.

Cordelia could feel a chill of fear run up and down her spine as she became aware of the power her two friends wielded so casually.

"Pay him no mind." Willow reassured her frightened friend "That one will never bother anyone ever again."

Cordelia shuddered but the truth was at that moment the ex-prom queen wasn't sure if she was more afraid of the evils of the Hellmouth or Buffy and Willow and the power they seemed to use with impunity. **********

In fact it was several weeks before she would be comfortable around them and several months before she would allow herself to be alone with them again.

It had only been a couple of weeks that the group had started hanging around with each other without the "Spike incident" hanging over their heads and to be honest they were actually looking forward to spending some time together doing something as normal as research together.

Part 4

When Wesley arrived from LA that afternoon the other researchers were already hard at it.

In addition to the regulars, the group was also joined by it's newest member Dr. Jeffrey Fallon or Brother Jeffrey as the group also knew him. He had proven his worth as an ally during the fight with the demoness Countess Hela and had earned the trust of not only the Slayer but also her Willow who had not trusted him at first because of his ties with the church.

He had been an invaluable asset both in a fight and when it came to research, and had been accepted by the others readily, even Giles who was overjoyed with the doctor's easy and willing access to the church's extensive occult library.

The doctor had brought over several extremely rare and priceless volumes that he'd obtained through his contacts in the Vatican.

Dr. Jeffrey, as the Scoobies called him, was proud to be a part of the group and was pleased when he learned of Giles obsession with ancient writings and prophetic works. The two of them had spent many hours over the last year comparing notes and arguing the merits of various writings.

He had as usual been able to locate several volumes that had references to "the Prince of Darkness" and had forwarded a request from Giles and Willow for anything else on the subject that could be found.

Dr. Jeffrey also informed them that he'd received word that a search was on going and all the results of the search would be forwarded as soon as humanly possible.

When Wesley showed up he looked around the room and a satisfied smirk crossed his face when he saw the group hard at their research. He dropped the materials he'd brought and called Giles into the study.

Although the small man hadn't noticed, Buffy had seen the self satisfied smirk on the weaselly little man's face.

Ever since his involvement with the Faith incident she had never completely trusted the "ex"-watcher and the secretive way he handled himself had done nothing to cause her to change her low opinion of him.

He'd never done anything that was outright detrimental to her or the group, since that time, but she'd noticed that things always seemed to go wrong when he was around.

Something about the way he had more or less ordered Giles into the library caused her to twitch, and it irked her to see the way the little weasel treated him like he was less than Wesley was.

Using some techniques Willow had taught her, Buffy focused her attention on extending her hearing so that she could eavesdrop on the surreptitious meeting in Giles study.

To everyone else in the room, with the possible exception of her wife, Buffy appeared to be concentrating on one of the texts in front of her, but all her inner powers were concentrated on her hearing enabling her to listen to them.

She could hear every word uttered in that room as if she was sitting in there with them, and the words she was listening to were making for a very angry Slayer.

"I'm telling you Giles, you can't tell them, they simply won't believe you." Wesley was saying "Deep down you know it's time to call the council and ask for help."

Giles snorted derisively at the man's suggestion. He knew that there was no way he would ever trust the council again, and even if he did he was equally sure that neither Buffy nor Willow would allow the council access to them again.

"I told you Wesley, I didn't like holding out information from Willow and Buffy when you called earlier, and I like it even less now." Giles retorted, his contempt and frustration for the little man fairly dripped from each word. "As far as the council goes, well they can go straight to Hell. They are nothing but a bunch of lying, murdering, pompous windbags. All I ever got from the council since coming to California is deceit and betrayal, I've sworn to never trust them again and I see no reason to change my mind now."

There was a pause and Buffy could hear some one pacing.

"Don't you see it Giles?" Wesley spouted off again "If this truly is who we think it is, then we need them. The council is better equipped to face his return than you and that group of children out there."

Buffy could hear Giles laughing loudly but without humor at the arrogance and stupidity of the skinny, little ex-watcher.

"You are either blind or stupid Wesley." Giles declared impatiently. "The glorious council can't even take care of itself. Don't you remember those inept fools they sent here for Faith? My god man, use your brain, the Watcher's Council is an outdated, impotent, old boys club that should have disbanded years ago. To be honest, if you're right and the Kaziglu Bey, is this "Prince of Darkness" in the prophecy I hope he shows good taste and does away with the council before he comes here."

"B...but you can't be serious." Wesley sputtered, shocked by the older man's attitude

"My good man," Giles snarled making Buffy smile with pride as her friend and mentor put the other man in his place, "I am deadly serious. Now if will excuse me, I'm going out there and help my Slayer and her wife look for the answers they need. Come along if you are a friend and wish to help, if not than either stay out of the way or better yet leave."

Giles rose from behind his desk and went into the living room, followed by a humbled Wesley Wyndom-Pryce. Buffy looked up at them, and Giles couldn't help but notice the triumphant smirk on her face.

He wondered what she was so happy about, but let it drop for now to be discussed later. The librarian went on to his favorite chair and sat down with a weary sigh.

He was already tired of having to argue with either Buffy, Willow, or Wesley every time he made a decision. Giles leaned his head back and closed his eyes trying to relax as Jeffrey and Willow filled him in on what they'd found so far.

"We have found references to a "Prince of Darkness" all the way back to the ancient Egyptians. Even further if I have translated some of the older texts properly." The doctor said quietly, he was still nervous about being this close to the Slayer and even more afraid of the Sorceress, remembering her attitude when they first met. "There are even mentions of him being a noble of Atlantis that escaped the sudden violent destruction of that civilization. In fact the name pops up at least once in nearly every great civilization, and always as a prince or close adviser to a great leader. In Egypt he was the adopted brother of Ramses the first and was credited with the expansionist wars of that time. He disappeared for a few years after Ramses death, only to return to assist Ramses the second nearly a hundred years later to help make Egypt the most powerful civilization of it's time."

"Yeah, this is some strange stuff." Willow joined in "For nearly every great conqueror there was, there is the mention of an adviser or general who's always called "the Prince of Darkness" but always by different real names."

All through the briefing Buffy just sat there quietly seeming to rest, but she was in reality keeping her eyes on the two ex-watchers.

Both of them were well aware of the Slayer's gaze and Wesley was squirming from it's intensity. Giles because he knew that Buffy still hadn't forgiven him for keeping secrets from her, and Wesley because he'd seen what the Slayer and her Sorceress could do and had a deep seated fear of strong women.

When Willow and Dr. Jeffrey had finished their summery of their research and finds, Buffy decided it was time to drop her "little" bomb.

"Hey Wesley, Giles," The Slayer spoke a little louder than normal, getting everyone's attention, "I was wondering, I have heard this other nickname for our dear elusive guest, and I couldn't help but ask. Do either one of you know who the Kaziglu Bey is?"

Wesley nearly exploded.

Part 5

At the mention of Kaziglu Bey, both men froze and an apprehensive silence fell over the room. Simultaneously they turned and looked at the Slayer, Giles expression was the definition of amused curiosity, obviously wondering how his Slayer had learned that name.

Wesley was another story, at the mention of Kaziglu Bey, he was the poster-boy for panic. His eyes went wide and darted from side to side as if looking for an escape, looking like at any minute he'd be in a fight for his life.

"Where did you get that name?" Wesley blurted out, panic and desperation evident in the edge in his too high an octave voice, and his hands were curled into fists "That name is known only to a few in the Watcher's Council and it comes from a text that is only in the council library."

Buffy tensed as she read the weaselly little man's body language telling her instincts to prepare to fight.

"What does that have to do with it." Buffy demanded, her contempt for the man dripping from her words. "Why does that name scare you so much Wesley?"

"W-w-what do you mean?" Wesley sputtered incredulously "That name means nothing to me."

Unfortunately the conversation had the attention of the Slayer's mate, and her mate was a powerful witch. Any one could have told the "ex"watcher you never ever lie when the Great Sorceress can hear you.

"WESLEY!" the witch roared, the venom in Willow's voice surprised even Buffy "I would suggest you leave, not just here but Sunnydale all together. I would also suggest you arrange to leave the U.S. as well, and I would suggest you do it as soon as possible"

The surprised man looked at Willow wide eyed, his mouth open with shock at the young woman's words.

"W-w-why s-s-should I l-l-leave." he stuttered in defiance "W-who are y-you to t-t-tell me to l-leave?"

"Why, Wesley?" Willow explained how bad the man's mistakes were, "I'll tell you why. You are at the very best a spy and betrayer, who has tried to harm both my wife and myself. Not to mention the lies and damages you have caused those around us and the poor people that made the mistake of expecting your kind to have either ethics or morals, not to mention a least a modicum of human decency. I suggest you leave now, while I can persuade my wife to let you live, but if you refuse I can not make any promises."

The great Sorceress rose from her chair (and there was no doubt this was, the Great Sorceress, not Willow), and approached the now trembling man. With each step she softly chanted in an ancient forgotten language that even Giles didn't understand.

She pulled the athame she always carried on her belt and slowly drew it across her palm as her chanting continued.

When Willow was face to face with Wesley, she drew back her now freely bleeding hand, and with a final word, slapped the watcher across the side of his face surprising everyone in the room.

Blood splattered all over the side of Wesley's face and shirt. He stood there trembling wondering what came next, he didn't have long to wait.

"Willow! Why did you do that?" Giles asked almost afraid to hear the answer.

Instead of answering right away the Sorceress turned and held up her wounded hand revealing the deep cut on her palm to everyone. As they watched the wound disappeared as if it never existed as did the blood on Wesley's face. Before any of the others could speak, Willow addressed them.

"Wesley, I would warn you that you really don't want to be here after the next 24 hours." The red head announced softly her voice taking on an etherial quality only a few had heard before. "You have been revealed as a blood enemy to my clan. That would include my wife, her line, and our mystic family as well. That includes Angel and Rupert Giles. As a blood enemy if you are in sight of any of my clan after 24 hours you will face the consequences of your betrayal. Your life will be an eternity of agony and insanity until you pass from this realm to the next."

Everybody in the room gasped at the Sorceress' curse except Buffy, she walked up behind her lover and protector and wrapped her arms around her red haired soulmate's waist. Looking over Willow's shoulder at Wesley, the Slayer gave the frightened little man a predatory smirk, causing him to let out a small whimper of abject terror.

Wesley knew that every minute he spent here put him in further danger, but he knew if he left he would be of no further use to the people that hired him.

"You tried to turn the man I call my father against me, you bastard!" the Slayer snarled her entire body trembling with rage, "You are a lucky man, Wesley Wyndom-Pryce, if my wife hadn't been here to stop me I would have broken every bone in your body, one at a time."

Wesley fell back into a chair looking around wild eyed for an ally, his mind reeling at the sudden way his smugly superior life had fallen apart before his very eyes.

"You can't do this to me!" he yelled his voice cracking with panic and his mind loosing it's grip on reality "I am a Watcher, the Slayer must obey a Watcher, it's tradition! You must end this...this unnatural relationship with that...that...that WITCH! You must return with me to the Council to be retrained properly. You and your concubine can NOT put curses on me!"

"Oh my Wesley, you just made a terrible mistake." Buffy laughed like a child "I don't think my wife likes it when a weak, spineless, whiny, bigoted, idiot like you calls her an unnatural concubine."

As the Slayer stepped back, an anything but friendly smile on her face, a green glowing sphere formed around the little man. Willow began chanting once again and the sphere's light intensified making it opaque.

The man inside began screaming in fear, with a sudden burst of blinding bright light the sphere disappeared taking the offensive little watcher with it, leaving only the fading echoes of his terrified screams behind and those faded quickly.

Part 6

As the final echoes of Wesley's screams died out Willow turned and faced her friends. She looked around and saw every emotion, from awe to abject fear written clearly on their faces, and knew she needed to give them an explanation for her actions and her methods.

The young witch knew from Cordelia's reactions after Spike, that both she and her mate were looked on with a certain amount of fear by their friends. A lot of this fear was generated by the shear power the two young women now wielded since their acceptance of their destinies as The Chosen Ones.

Both Buffy and Willow had acknowledged that they needed to inform their friends and allies of their new found powers, and the extent and limitations of their uses. They knew they owed their friends whatever reassurances were necessary to allay their fears.

In short now that the traitor in their midst had been exposed, and dealt with it was time to come clean, and let everyone know that despite their seemingly limitless powers, the two were still Buffy and Willow and subject to the same short-comings and in need of the same help as they always were.

They just had the means now to deal with the groups problems a little better than before.

They were also desperate to let their fellow Scoobies know that they were free to ask either of them or both for what ever help they needed.

As usual, before either could say anything their friend Xander opened the subject, with his usual style and grace.

"Whoa...a light show, and getting rid of Wes-man at the same time," their oldest friend exclaimed "Can you do that trick with my boss, oh say six or seven times, then I can be an assistant manager at the donut shop."

They all laughed at Xander's reference to his part time job. The pay for rookie cops wasn't that good. Well it was okay, if you didn't want to have a place to live, to eat, or have a life, that includes a girlfriend, soon to be wife.

With the mood lightened considerably, Xander asked the question that was nagging him ever since Cordelia had told him about the melting vampires.

"What did you do with him?" the young man asked quietly, hoping in his heart his friends had a favorable explanation, "You didn't...like...uh...you know...well...kill him or nothing did ya' Will?"

With the question out in the open the tension in the room rose sharply, each member of the group felt their hidden fears about what the two young women had become, and if the great powers they had were in anyway turning them into the very things that the group had joined together to fight.

Even Dr. Jeffrey could sense the sudden chill in the atmosphere as all four of the assembled inner-circle watched, and waited anxiously for the Slayer and her mate's answer to Xander's question.

Buffy and Willow looked at each other for a moment then burst out laughing as they received each other's thoughts. They hugged each other tightly then returned to the couch. Like the young people they were, the two flopped down on the comfortable piece of furniture.

Willow sat back against the corner formed by the arm and the back of Giles couch and brought one leg up to lay across the seat, then she pulled her beloved back to sit between her legs. Buffy leaned back to rest against her lover and smiled as Willow rested her chin on Buffy's shoulder. They were getting comfortable, knowing that once they began answering, they wouldn't stop until their friends were at least no longer afraid of them. It was going to be a long night.

"No Xander, he isn't dead." Willow said giving her wife a sideways glance and a mischievous smirk, "but I'm not really sure where he is."

"Really Willow," Giles spoke up a little upset at the frivolous manner in which they were acting "I know he is a worthless little git but if you don't know where he is the how do you know he's not either dead or dying?"

"Weeelll...ya' see...it's kind of a wording thing." Willow admitted timidly "Ya' see the language I used was kind of ambiguous and...so I uh I well kind of maynothavesenthimexactlywhereIintended."

They all sat there staring at each other waiting for someone that spoke fluent Willow babble to translate. Xander's eyes suddenly nearly bulged from their sockets when he realized the meaning of the red head's statement.

"Willlll...what did you do?" Xander asked drawing out his friends name like he had when they were children, causing his life long friend blush deep red while hiding her head behind her wife's shoulder and giggling. "Come on little Will...tell the grown ups what you did with the irritating little jerk."

Willow peeked out from behind Buffy looking like a little girl playing peek-a-boo. "Well for one thing, where ever he is, Wesley is totally naked," The powerful witch said giggling like a mischievous little child, and looking extremely cute in the process at least to her wife, "the spell destroys the recipients clothing. It's kind of a mystic's practical joke, it's not meant to hurt and in fact it won't work if there is any danger to the recipient, so I know he's safe. The only problem is the name of places, and things, don't always translate properly."

"Soooo, Will," Xander teasing her like always, now that he realized that while she was the Great Sorceress, she was still, and would always be his life long friend, "where did you send the twerp really?"

"It's kind of complicated, but Wesley's either in England at Stonehenge," Willow explained shyly "or he's in Nebraska, at Carhenge."

The room exploded with laughter at the young woman's confession, and the true comedy of the situation was revealed.

"You what?!!!" Giles blurted out yelling to be heard over the loud laughter, "How could you possibly do that? I mean mistake England for Nebraska, or...or the glorious splender and wonder of Stonehenge for that glorified junkyard in the middle of no where?!!"

"It's not my fault Giles really," Willow shouted innocently holding her hands up in surrender "I had to try to think, and cast in visuals, and when I thought of Stonehenge my mind went back to a show on the Discovery chanel, and wham he was gone. I don't know if he went to the original place I meant, or to the picture that was in my mind at the time. It's all cable's fault they shouldn't show things like that as educational. Yeah I'm gonna write them a really nasty note tonight."

"Yeah right Will," Xander threw in sarcastically "I can see the head of programming now as he reads:

Sir. I wish to lodge a complaint, I am a practicing witch known, as the Great Sorceress, and because of your program on that ridiculous place called Carhenge, I may have teleported a man to the wrong place. I must protest. Oh, and can't you do something about that crocodile person, I worry about him.

Oh that'll get action..."

The young man's speech was halted by his renewed uncontrolled laughter.

"Eeeeww.." Cordelia let out suddenly drawing everyone's attention, "I just thought of Wesley naked, eeeeww. Really bad visual place believe me."

"Yikes! You got a point Cordy," Buffy snorted in disgust "can you imagine Wesley, and the look on his weaselly face where ever he is, naked, and screaming like a girl. He'll be lucky if they don't lock him up some where, let alone believe any story he tries to tell them. I can just hear it. 'Really officer a witch put a curse on me and sent me here like this.' Yeah, they'll buy that."

With Buffy's vivid image of what was happening to the man that had lied to them, manipulated them, and betrayed them, being humiliated and arrested, locked away for psychiatric examination, the whole group burst out laughing.

They had a good laugh at the traitor's expense. The total ridiculousness of the situation even got a sincere chuckle from the normally serious, Dr. Jeffrey.

It was almost beyond his imagination that anyone could take the trials, and tribulations that these people went through and still have any sense of humor left. Yet here they were laughing at a cosmic, bad practical joke as if nothing had happened.

He knew he would probably never understand the small, eclectic band of battle scarred warriors, but he was sure glad he was given a chance to join them, and was now given the privilege of calling all of them his friends.

Watching them now as the laughter died down to a low chuckle, he could only shake his head in wonder at this group thrown together by the fates. The one time monk sent up a prayer to his God to ask for his divine protection for the Slayer and her friends.

Once everything was back to normal, Buffy turned to look at Giles and decided it was time to ask once again her question.

"So Giles-y," Buffy began her tone falsely bright "Now that we've handled all the pressing old business, and everyone has been brought up to speed. Don't you think it's time to get back to the business at hand?" Buffy looked over at the man she considered far more than just a watcher and mentor, after all they'd been through and after all the times he had held her, trying to sooth her over whatever problems she had from the loss of some high school crush up to and including the murder of a friend.

No, when her parents had divorced and her father had more or less abandoned her, then when people she trusted had turned on her because she loved Willow it was Giles that had held both of them trying to ease their pain.

No, that was not a friend or a teacher or even a mentor. That by any definition of the word was her "Dad".

Not her father, anyone that could create sperm could be a father, but he was her "dad", the man that was there for her and loved her unconditionally, even loving his child enough to discipline her when she deserved and needed it.

The stoic Englishman was much more than a friend and she decided it was about time to show him and everyone else in the room