All the disclaimers and such are the same. Thanks to everyone for reading and leaving feedback.
Chapter 5
“Tara!” Buffy yelled after the woman who walked out into her yard.
“There’s no talking me out of it Buffy. I’m going to see Rack.” She turned around and faced the Slayer. “And if you aren’t going with me then I’ll be more than happy to kick his ass myself.”
“Tara, its suicide.” Buffy stood there pleading with the witch.
Tara closed her eyes then opened them again. The slate blue color of her eyes darkened. “I told Willow long ago that I would die for her.”
“Well, well, isn’t that sweet. Blondie is gonna go off and get herself killed for Red. Poetry was my call pet.”
Buffy turned her head away from the blonde vampire.
“Spike, I would advise you to shut up.” Tara said slowly turning to him.
Spike smirked and sauntered with his steps. “Now why would you be headin’ off to see a nasty wanker like Rack? You wouldn’t be followin’ in Red’s footsteps would ya?”
Tara flared her nostrils. Her fist clinched at her sides.
Spike tilted his head and looked into her eyes. “Something’s got you in a tiff. C’mon, tell ol’ Spike what’s wrong.” He smirked and looked over at Buffy. He liked Tara but his aim was to get the Slayer riled for their nightly ritual of a ‘rough and tumble’ as he so casually put it.
The blonde vampire looked totally shocked to find himself on his back. He looked up expecting to see Buffy standing there but Tara was waving her hand around and cringing in pain.
“YES!” Xander yelled from the porch.
Buffy looked mortified and Anya clapped and whistled her approval.
“Bloody hell!” Spike wiped his lip to check for blood but found none. “What’s gotten into you?” He rose to his feet but kept his distance.
“I told you to shut up!” Tara yelled then started to walk away only to be stopped again by Buffy.
Buffy saw the determined look in the blonde’s eyes. There was no room for argument. This woman was on a mission.
“Let me get a weapon and we’ll go OK?”
Tara nodded and crossed her arms and watched as Buffy ran inside.
Spike cleared his throat which caused Tara to sharply look his way.
The blonde vampire held up his hands in submission. “Not gonna say anything that’s gonna get you riled. Just want to know if I can help.”
“Spike, you can help and I appreciate it.” She stepped forward. “But, if you’re doing this to get points with Buffy, I’ll personally stake you where you stand. Right now isn’t the time for you to fuck with me. Willow is in danger and we need everyone we can to find her.”
Spike nodded his head in understanding. “Whatever it takes,” He cautiously put his hand on her shoulder, “I’ll be there for you and Red.”
Tara offered the slightest hint of a smile to the vampire. “Thanks.”
Buffy came up behind the two. “Spike, are you causing trouble again?”
Tara turned to the Slayer. “He’s offering to help and we need it.”
Buffy nodded her head and the trio walked down the road.
***
Willow turned the knobs on the radio trying to pick up a station.
“The Lord commands you to repent! We are all sinners and will burn in hell!” The voice through the speakers shouted.
Willow rolled her eyes and turned the radio off.
Peering out the windshield, the green reflective sign told her in bold white letters that she was entering the city limits of YORK.
“Almost there.” Willow whispered then sighed thinking of her family and the love she left behind. She slightly regretted the fact that she didn’t tell them before she left, but decided it was for the best.
She knew that they would try to convince her to leave and more or less she would have relented and stayed in Sunnydale. But she had to build a new life for herself.
Showing her resolve face, she pressed her foot a little harder on the accelerator.
***
“How do we find this place?” Buffy asked standing beside the Espresso Pump.
Tara shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve never used black magic so I don’t know.”
Spike snickered. “You blokes haven’t got a clue. Hello! Evil standing right here.”
Buffy grabbed him by the collar. “Then by all means Big Bad, lead the way.”
Spike smiled then walked down the street to another alley. He walked down past a dumpster and then disappeared.
Buffy looked in the direction wide eyed. “Whoa! Where’d he…”
Spike poked his head out from the invisible barrier. “You comin’?”
Buffy and Tara walked on until they were both standing inside a dirty waiting room.
Tara held her nose from the stench of urine and filth.
“Oh this is pleasant.” Buffy commented looking around at the ‘customers’ curled on the furniture and some on the floor.
The people looked pale with dark circles under their eyes.
“Wait your turn! Wait your turn!” A man with his clothes covered in dirt and grime approached the Scoobies.
Buffy walked forward. “Is this Rack’s place?”
“Wait your turn!” He shouted again.
A door that was adjacent to the waiting room opened up.
Five people stood up shouting ‘My turn!”
A man approached the trio and looked at Tara up and down. “Strawberry’s bitch.”
“How did you…” Tara started to ask when Rack held up his hand.
“I can smell her all over you.” He tilted his head. “How is Strawberry these days?”
Buffy grabbed him by the collar and shoved him in the other room, followed by Tara and Spike who shut the door.
Rack laughed at the brut strength of the Slayer. “You have some nerve showing up here.” He looked into Buffy’s eyes. “You’re the one that Willow brought back?”
Buffy released him with a shove.
“Where’s Willow?” Tara asked the wizard.
“Well, she’s not here.” He said with a smirk. “Thought you of all people would know where your precious Willow was. Oh wait, that’s right, you left her.”
Tara walked closer with her hand held out. She mumbled a spell and her hand started glowing. She shot out a bolt of magic towards Rack which caused him to levitate off the floor.
He looked around the field. “Nice parlor trick.”
His eyes closed and he dropped down to the floor slowly.
Tara shook her head at the power she felt coming off the wizard in waves.
Buffy looked back and forth between Rack and Tara. “Amy said you know where Willow is.”
“Ah, Amy. Thought she was dead.” Rack told her. He rubbed his hands together. Sparks of energy crackled around.
“She died.” Buffy told him. “But not before she said that you had Willow.”
Rack threw his head back and let out a throaty laugh. “Amy, Amy, Amy. Poor little stupid girl.” He motioned with his hand. An illusion of Willow appeared. He stroked his finger around the image’s chin and then it vanished. “She was always jealous of Strawberry. Willow is the one with power.”
Tara felt sick thinking that her beloved Willow let this scum touch her. She growled and stepped forward. “Where is she?”
Rack smirked. “Gone.”
Buffy growled and threw her dagger at the wizard. The blade impaled him in the thigh.
Rack looked down at the dagger and laughed. He held out his hand and a wave of energy shot towards the Slayer.
Tara quickly stood in front of Buffy and held out her hand to try to block Rack’s magic but it was useless. His power was too strong. Her body absorbed the magic and she screamed out.
Buffy grabbed Tara and tackled her to the floor. She looked down at the blonde. Tara had a smile of pure ecstasy. She opened up her eyes and they were coal black.
Buffy got to her feet and stared at her then turned to Rack.
“What did you do to her?”
“Gave her a little of what Strawberry likes. No one can resist it.” He smiled.
Tara giggled and rolled on her back.
Buffy knew it was useless to go against the wizard. She turned to Spike.
“Are you just going to stand there or do something?”
“And what do you think I should do Slayer? He’s human. I’ve got this chip. I can’t hit humans. Or have you forgotten about you and your soldier boy?” Spike came back getting a cigarette from his jacket.
Buffy rolled her eyes. “I don’t even know why I bother.” She walked over to Rack. “Where is Willow?”
Rack laughed out again. “She’s not your concern anymore.”
Buffy walked even closer. “I’ll ask again, where is Willow?” He stood there grinning until Buffy quickly grabbed the dagger and jerked it out of his leg.
Rack cringed and gritted his teeth. “Seven gates of hell call me! Come forth and aid thy servant!”
A loud crackle of thunder echoed through the room. In a flash of light the same grey transparent figure, that took Amy away, appeared at Rack’s side.
Once again, it looked at Buffy in curiosity. The figure threw its head back and the Slayer flew across the room into Spike causing them both to collapse.
“Ascaroth, save me.” Rack pleaded with the creature.
With a screech, the figure reached into Rack’s chest. The wizard’s screams were muffled by the sound of blood gurgling up his throat. The creature pulled and tugged until Rack’s heart was in its hand.
Rack looked at his own heart for a second then fell onto the floor.
In a flash, the creature and Rack disappeared.