I was powerless to get away as the man reached toward me.  I was totally at his mercy and it was one of the most frustrating feelings I had ever had.  In that moment I hated myself more than I ever had before.  If I had only waited for Buffy I wouldn't have been in this mess.  And I wouldn't have gotten Xander hurt...possibly killed.  My heart sank as I acknowledged that he could already be dead.  I deserved this.  I got him into this mess and then left him behind, injured and cornered.  I deserved to be paralyzed and imprisoned by a demon.  Hot tears sprung to my eyes and I couldn't even reach up to wipe them away.  Stop it, Willow!  Remember what Wynn told you...keep yourself in control.

     The strange little man gazed down at me, a look of pity on his face.  "It's okay, little one.  I won't hurt you.  My name is Asa and I'm here to take care of you."  He gently reached up and wiped the tears from my face.  "I assure you that your friend is alive.  He'll be well taken care of."

     What, until you can use him to force me to get married to a demon? I thought bitterly.

     Asa smiled slightly and ran his fingers through my hair as if trying to soothe me.  It only made me hate him all the more.  "Don't worry, little one.  You won't be harmed."

     Of course not.  Dalton wouldn't want damaged goods...oops, too late.  I derived a slight bit of satisfaction from that.  It was the only good thing about being paralyzed.

     Asa shook his head slightly, a sad look in his eyes.  He slid one hand under my neck and continued to stroke my hair with the other.  "I promise you that--if you cooperate--when this is all over you will be set free."

     I felt a strange tingling at the touch of his hand.  At first it was only at the base of my neck where his hand was contacting me, but then the prickling began to spread, first to my arms then my legs.  I stared up at him in surprise.  Somehow he was healing me.  But why?  For Dalton?  But he'd said something about after it being over that I would be set free!  How would I possibly be set free if I was to be wed to a demon?  Perhaps his idea of free wasn't quite the same as mine...

     As I felt my strength returning I sat up.  Asa moved away from me then stood up and reached his hand down to help me to my feet.  Ignoring it, I stood on my own--I didn't trust him despite the fact that he had healed me.  He was, after all, the servant of a demon.

     "We all have our crosses to bear," he whispered.

     What was that supposed to mean?  I stared at him questioningly, but he only smiled weakly in response.

     "Come, now, child," he spoke softly as he reached out and grasped my hand.  "We must get you ready for the ceremony."

     "I'll never marry him," I spat, jerking away from him.  "Never."

     The little man nodded, an amused look on his face.  "Just cooperate and everything will be okay."

     "And if I don't?"

     His eyes lowered and his smile faded.  After a moment he looked back up at me.  "Just cooperate.  I give you my word that you will be spared."

     Spared?  Spared from what?  Spared from death?  I'd rather die than spend eternity--

     "You don't get it, do you?" he interrupted my thoughts.

     "Get what?  Get that my destiny is to watch everyone I know and love be completely destroyed?" I snapped.

     "No..." He sighed and reached out and took my hand again, as if he wanted to protect me from whatever it was he was about to tell me.  I wanted no part of it.  All I wanted was to go back upstairs and make sure that Xander was still alive.  Once I knew he was okay I'd make my deal.  I'd willingly go through with the stupid wedding if they'd spare his life.  I pulled away from him and whirled around to go back inside...and caught sight of Xander being carried toward the chapel by the big thug that had locked me in the dungeon.  My heart soared; he was alive!  All I had to do now was make my offer--"No, my dear," Asa whispered in my ear, placing his hand on my shoulder.  I glanced back at him and suddenly had a horrible feeling as I caught the seriousness of his expression.  "You are not the bride."

     I'm not the bride?  But then who...?  I turned back toward Xander and the realization hit me like a ton of bricks.  Suddenly it all made sense--the abduction at the library, the difference in prison cells, and my lack of any memory where Lissette's past was concerned.  It wasn't me they wanted at all--it was Xander!  I had simply gotten in the way.  Oh, God, I've got to get him out of here!  I fought the urge to chase after him, to try and free him from that thug.  Wynn had warned me not to let my emotions get the better of me.  If I tried something that rash now, I'd only make matters worse.  I'd probably end up getting myself killed, and what good would that do Xander?  No, as Wynn told me, I had to bide my time until just the right moment.

     "Now please come, we must prepare for the ceremony," Asa reiterated.

     I nodded, resigned.  If I was to be any use to Xander, I would have to keep myself in one piece and that meant going along with Asa.  Except...perhaps not.  Asa didn't seem like he was a terribly big threat.  What if I just ran?  I could hide out somewhere and then I could interrupt--

     "I can't allow you to do that," Asa interjected.

     How had he known what I was thinking?  Obviously he couldn't.  It was just a good guess.  "Do what?" I asked innocently.

     Asa smiled wanly.  "If you try to escape Dalton will only send Martel to hunt you down.  He wants you at the wedding."

     "But...why?"  I knew the answer before I even finished asking the simple question.  To keep Xander in line.  They were going to use me to force Xander to cooperate.  And it would work, I knew it with a certainty that made my heart sink.  Well, I wouldn't let them.  I'd sooner be hunted down than become the cause of Xander's downfall.  I'd make them kill me before I'd--

     "If you do escape, you'll only make Dalton use alternative ways of making him cooperate," Asa warned.  My heart sank farther, understanding Asa's meaning immediately.  If I wasn't there to keep him in line, they'd probably torture him until he gave in.  It was a no-win situation.

     "Fine.  I'll go," I agreed, resigned.

     Asa smiled.  "Good.  And I promise you when this is over--"

     "I'll be spared," I finished bitterly.  I didn't want to be spared.  How was ever going to live with myself for making matters worse?  If I hadn't come, Xander might have escaped by now.  Instead, he'd freed himself and then wasted time going after me.

     "Don't blame yourself, little one," Asa soothed.  "You can't fight your destiny."

     As I allowed Asa to lead me into the chapel, I found myself wondering if Xander knew yet what his fate was to be.  If he did, he was probably freaking out.  When others were around for him to "protect", he usually managed to keep up a brave front, but I knew that he had the tendency to panic easily when he was facing danger alone.  I wished that I could be with him to help him keep calm.  Or that I could trade places with him. Instead, I was the one who was relatively safe, and he was facing an eternity of hell.

     The clues had been right there in front of us, but we'd been so busy jumping to the conclusion that the bride was me, that we'd missed them all.  Jesus, even Lissette's name should have been a tip off.  Azalea Lissette Harberge, Alexander LaVelle Harris.  How could I have been so blind?  And I'd been so self-absorbed with the idea of protecting Xander by keeping him away from me that I had lured Buffy away from him.  She could have protected him, but I had to go and do something stupid.

     Asa led me up into the little church's balcony, where the second man from The Bronze was waiting for us.  He grinned as he saw us approach. "About time you got her here.  I saw Kaelan bring in the bride a few minutes ago and Dalton should be any minute.  We still have to get her ready."  Get me ready?  What exactly did they have in mind? I found out a moment later as the man grabbed my wrists, forced them behind my back, and bound them tightly with wire that bit into my flesh.

     Asa gave me a pat on the shoulder.  "You'll be all right," he reassured me.  "I'm going to go down and make sure that the bride is ready."  With that, he turned and hurried away, leaving me alone with the thug.

     As soon as my arms were secured, the thug pushed me down and began binding my legs.  I winced as he pulled the wire too tightly.  I could feel it cutting into my skin.  He snickered at my discomfort.  I glared at him, but he didn't appear to be threatened in the slightest.   "Now you hang tight, I'll be right back," he ordered.

     Hang tight.  Sure thing--not.  As soon as he moved away I began trying to stand up, which was no easy task without the use of my arms or the full movement of my legs.  After several failed attempts I realized that even if I was able to stand up I wouldn't get very far tied as I was.  Maybe I could manage to get myself untied.  If I could get my hands in front of me...I curled up into a ball and began to work my legs through the ring my arms created.  I could feel blood trickling from the new cuts on my wrists as I pulled the wire tighter and tighter.  Involuntary tears again sprang to my eyes, but I forced the pain into the back of my mind, focusing instead on thoughts of getting free and rescuing Xander.  Just a little farther...and my arms were in front.  I quickly rolled into a crouch and set to work on getting my ankles untied.

     Unfortunately that's when the man returned. He grabbed me by the hair and pulled me backward.  A hangman's noose dangled from his free hand.  Without a word he forced my head through the loop and tightened it around my neck.  I struggled to get my feet under me to keep from choking as he started dragging me toward the edge of the balcony.  He was going to kill me!

     We reached the edge of the balcony and he pulled me to my feet.  I peered over the edge and was stunned to see Dalton already at the altar.  Beside him was...was Xander?  His back was turned and he was wearing a long white wedding dress complete with veil, but it was most definitely Xander.  And the minister was already performing the ceremony.  I had to do something!  I had to stop the wedding.  But how?

      I was about to yell out when suddenly I felt a thick cloth being shoved into my mouth and being tied tightly around my head. "Just so you don't get any bright ideas of interrupting," the thug teased.  Then he was lifting me up and standing me on the balcony railing.  I had to struggle to keep my balance, but then he put one arm around me to keep me steady.

     I couldn't hear what was being said down below, but I could see the minister conversing with Dalton, then turning to Xander.  I could only assume that he was asking for confirmation of wedding vows. Oh, Xander, don't do it...As if on queue I saw Xander reach up and rip off the veil and distinctly heard him yell out, "No!"  He threw down the veil and stared at Dalton defiantly.

     Dalton backhanded him so hard that he was thrown backward.  I closed my eyes, feeling Xander's pain as if I had been the one to be hit. Xander, run, I silently prodded him.  Just make a break for it...

     "Let's get on with this," I heard Dalton ordering the minister and I opened my eyes again to see that not only had Xander not run, but he was again back at the altar with Dalton, who was grabbing his arm.  The minister again asked Xander his question.

     No!  I watched Xander as he again refused and was hit again.  This time, instead of letting himself be taken back to the altar, Xander finally decided to make his escape.  And he was going to make it!  My heart leapt for joy as I watched him race unhindered up the aisle.  Go!  I felt the thug's arm releasing me and his hands on my back, getting ready to push me over.  It didn't matter, Xander was going to--

     And then, abruptly, Xander stopped running.  Xander, no!  Keep going, I pleaded with him.  But it was no use.  He'd seen me, and he wasn't going to risk my life.  Please! I begged him silently, hoping he could read it in my eyes.  Unfortunately, he wouldn't go.  I could feel tears start to roll down my cheeks as I saw the look of resignation on his face.  He was going to sacrifice himself for me, and there was no way I could convince him not to.  Asa caught up to him and whispered something into his ear.  He nodded, still looking up at me, then turned and allowed himself to be taken back to Dalton.

     The rest of the ceremony seemed to happen in fast forward.  Xander ignored my muffled protests and conceded to the vows.  Then I watched in horror as Dalton placed his ring on Xander's hand.  I closed my eyes unable to watch the rest.  It was over.  We'd lost.  Xander was as good as enslaved.  I had the sudden urge to just let myself fall over the railing and be done with it. Fortunately, before I could act on that impulse the thug picked me up and set me back on the balcony floor.  He pulled the gag from my mouth, and released the noose.

     "Why is it that women always cry at weddings?" he teased as he noticed my tears.  He reached down and with a quick jerk and unnatural strength he snapped the wire that bound my ankles.   "Come on, let's go congratulate the happy couple."  He freed my wrists as easily as he'd unbound my legs, but he kept a tight hold on my arm as he walked me downstairs.

     I watched as Dalton and Xander made their way up the aisle toward us.  Xander's eyes were lowered and he would not meet my gaze.  He blamed me.  And why shouldn't he?  I hadn't been able to help him when he needed me most.  I stifled a sob as Dalton whisked him right past me without a word.  Xander tried to stop, but Dalton kept right on pulling him away.  No!  Please, I just want a minute...

     "Sir?" I heard Asa call.  Dalton stopped and turned back.  "I think you should give them a moment to...to say goodbye."

     Dalton frowned at Asa, but nodded, releasing Xander's arm.  I glared at my captor until he released me, and backed away.  Was this the moment that Wynn was talking about?  Was this the moment when we could get away?  Somehow I just didn't think so.  Not with Dalton and his thugs so close.  But this could very well be our last chance...Don't let your emotions control you.  You'll know when the time is right, I could almost hear Wynn saying.

     Xander silently moved closer to me and wordlessly wiped the tears from my face.  Then he put his arms around me, embracing me tightly.  A lump formed in my throat and I couldn't even begin to think of what to say to him, so I just leaned against him and returned his embrace.  What was I ever going to do without him?  "It'll be okay," he spoke softly.  "I'll be okay."  His words totally contradicted the tone of his voice.

     "Xander, I'm so sor--"

     "Don't," he cut me off.  "Don't you think that for one second.  This is in no way your fault...Wills, I need you to promise me something."

     "Anything."

     "Promise me that you'll get out of here, that you won't try to come after me again."

     "Xander, no I--"

     "Promise!" he insisted.  "I need you to...to tell my mother that I love her.  And I need you to watch out for Buffy for me..."

     "Xan--"

     "Please, Will.  Promise me." He stared pleadingly down at me, his eyes glistening with desperation.  Before I could refuse his request he planted a soft kiss on my forehead and pulled away from me.  Dalton immediately grabbed him by the arm and pulled him close, putting one arm around him possessively.

     Dalton nodded at the smaller of the two thugs, who quickly resumed his hold on me. "Come, Love," Dalton ordered, starting trying to pull Xander away.

     "No," Xander refused, defiantly holding his ground.  "Not until she's released.  You said if I obeyed she'd go free..."  Dalton turned on him, a menacing grin spreading across his face.  He laughed at the shocked look on Xander's face.  He leaned in close and whispered something into Xander's ear.  All the color drained from Xander's face and he stared at me with a look of horror.

     Dalton's grin widened as he turned one last time to his thugs.  "She's all yours.  Take her to the chamber and...do with her what you will."