The Witch and the Sorceress by Susan Carr

Willow threw back her head and looked at the stars shining above. The cool peaceful night suddenly shivered with the power she released from her.

"Come to me," she demanded in a dark voice, the sound transcending barriers as she summoned from beyond her dimension. Another burst of dark power rose from her, engulfing her in its red light as it shot into the sky. Willow's red hair blew back from her face from the energy.

The light faded as the power was released and Willow sank to her knees to rest and wait. From inside the house, she could hear large objects being tossed around and she glanced back as a large dresser came flying through the upstairs window and crashed to the ground. A moment later cousin Beth came running out of the house. Willow watched in amusement as Beth ran over and dropped to the ground in front of her.

Willow smiled sadly at the girl. "You're right. You don't remember, but Tara died months ago."

Beth looked at her in confusion, then her expression turned horrified as Willow's words broke Tara's spell. "I know," she whispered. "They…they told us she had been killed last May. Then…then…"

"After all you saw in Sunnydale, do you really believe that?" Willow asked. "Vampires are very real, and your cousin is one."

"No!" Beth insisted. "You're a liar! Uncle told me. You're a witch and a liar! Tara's dead. That's not Tara. She'd never hurt anyone. Donny! Where's Donny? He'll help me."

"He's a bad man, Beth," Willow said. "You know that, don't you? You know what he did to Tara."

"No!" Beth said. Willow watched as the girl pulled up chunks of grass from the ground. "It was Tara's demon that forced him to do terrible things. He'd never…"

"He did," Willow said, the anger thickening her voice. "There was no demon in Tara, not then. It was just Donny's sick, perverted self that caused him to rape his own sister. And now he's going to pay for it."

Willow remained silent, not caring to answer the babbling woman. From behind her she could feel Tara exit the house and approach them. Beth jumped up from the ground when she saw the vampire's approach and ran into the barn, crying out for help.

"Jumpy little thing, isn't she?" Tara said walking around to face Willow. Willow looked up and saw Tara was carrying her father across her shoulder. The man was showing signs of returning to consciousness.

Tara laughed. "Fool. She's got more to fear from you than she does from me. Isn't that right, lover?"

"Only if she gets in my way," Willow replied and then looked out into the darkness. "It's coming," she whispered.

Tara sniffed the air and nodded. "I'll get things ready then while you make your deal," she said and turned towards the barn, still carrying her father.

Willow waited. She noticed that all sound had ceased except for something large and ungainly crashing through the trees just beyond the fence. For just a moment she contemplated ending this madness now, but then the memory of what Donny did to Tara came rushing back and again her anger strengthened her resolve. She would see this out to its bitter end.

The beast crashed through the fence and approached Willow where she rested on the ground, apparently calm on the outside, but inside she was shaking in fear. Willow thanked the goddess this creature was not of the Earth. It stood before her, nearly seven feet tall, it's skin thick and scaly and black in the moonlight. Willow was grateful it wore a black robe that barely covered the ponderous bulge she knew was there.

"You summoned me, sorceress?" it hissed and Willow fought to keep herself from shivering at the sound.

"I did," she said, surprised her voice sounded so steady. "I need a boon, something only one of your kind can perform."

"Yes," Willow replied. "The younger man. He needs payback for something he did."

The creature nodded. "Payback is what we do best. And what do you offer in return?"

Willow looked the creature in the eye, "I send you back to your world, unharmed."

The demon laughed, "I don't think so, sorceress. I'm here now. I'll stay. I like this world."

Willow thought quickly. If she allowed the demon to remain, it would probably find its way to Sunnydale, where at least Buffy would have a chance to kill it, but not before it caused untold havoc.

"No," she said. "I'm only concerned with the one in there. I don't want you bringing trouble down on innocents."

The demon laughed. "There are no innocents in this world, sorceress. You should know that." It paused. "Very well, I will not ravish any innocents as you say. I'll stick to those like your boy in there. I'm sure I can find plenty to keep me amused. Don't you think?"

Willow knew it was true, the world was full of men, and women, like Tara's brother. "Agreed, then. You take care of him inside, and I'll allow you to remain here."

The creature bowed before Willow who finally stood up and led the way into the barn.

Inside, Willow took note of Tara's father hanging from the rafters, his wrists shacked to chains, his legs dangling free and his mouth gagged. He was conscious and facing the stall where Donny had raped his sister, where Donny himself was now restrained, his arms and legs spread out and the front of his body pressed against the back of the stall. Cousin Beth was trying unsuccessfully to free him from the ensorcelled restraints. Tara was sitting on the fence of another stall, watching her cousin's futile attempts with amusement. She looked up as Willow entered the barn and joined her on the fence.

"Hey," Tara said and kissed Willow tenderly. Willow kissed her back, again enjoying the sharp danger of Tara's fangs.

"Hey, yourself," she said, taking Tara's cold hand and interlacing their fingers together.

"Kroka demon, eh?" she said and squeezed Willow's hand playfully. "You are so bad! What did you offer it?"

Willow was about to reply, but stopped at Cousin Beth's scream of terror as she saw the demon. Beth began to run out of the barn, but Tara stopped her with a wave of her hand.

"Stay, Beth," the vampire said and Beth crumpled to floor near her uncle. "I want you to see what happens to rapists in the hands of an expert."

"What…what is it?" the girl cried, trying not to look at the demon who was sniffing at Donny.

Tara laughed, the glee evident in her voice. "That, my dear cousin, is a kroka demon. They're not from this world, but they sometimes show up here when summoned for revenge, particularly against vermin like my sweet brother there."

Beth shrieked as the demon removed its robe and stood before its audience. Mr. Maclay jerked against his restraints, his eyes bulging in terror as he looked upon the demon. Donny, his face pressed against the wall, could not see the demon and could only whimper in fear.

Tara clapped her hands in appreciation. "Very nice, kroka! You are a fine specimen. Please, on with the show!"

Willow again took Tara's hand in her own and looked away from the scene in the stall as Donny's whimpers turned to screams. She looked at Tara whose yellow eyes were glued to the demon's actions. Tara felt Willow's gaze and turned to look into her lover's eyes.

"Thank you, my love," Tara said, reaching her other hand to caress Willow's cheek. "This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me."

"I know," she replied. "And I know how hard it is for you. What did you promise the demon?"

Willow nodded and blushed her shame. Tara squeezed her hand in reassurance. "It'll be alright, Willow. I promise."

Willow looked at Tara's father, who had ceased his struggles. "Uh, Tara?" she said. "I think Donny's deflowering was a bit much for your dad," Willow nodded toward the man.

"What?" Tara said, jumping off the fence and approaching her father, the anger flashing in her eyes. She released the restraints and grabbed him as his limp form fell to the ground. Tara held him up and shook him as she looked into his face. With a roar of anger she threw him to the side.

Willow looked away as Tara took out her anger on her father's corpse. The kroka demon also ignored the vampire's rage as it continued its ministrations on Donny, who barely seemed conscious. Willow noted it was only the demon's skill that ensured Donny was still alive at this point, but she knew he would not be much longer. Again she felt nothing but cold rage against the man who had brought such harm to Tara, just like she felt nothing for Tara's father who had beaten and practically enslaved Tara, in addition to the mental abuse he had inflicted on her.

Instead, Willow wondered what she should do about the kroka demon that she had summoned into this world. Left alone, it would inflict the same horrors it was inflicting on Tara's brother on others.

Willow heard a final curse from Tara and looked up just as the vampire issued a final kick to the battered corpse.

"Feel better?" she asked as Tara rejoined her on the fence, licking her hands clean of blood.

Willow glanced up as Donny let out a final scream that ended in a gurgle as the kroka demon tore him apart from the inside out.

"Not necessarily better, but satisfied," she said, turning again to her lover. Willow jumped off the fence and bent down in front of Beth. The blond girl's eyes were staring sightlessly and a trickle of drool was running down one side of her chin. Willow waved a hand in front of Beth's eyes and frowned at the lack of response.

"Afraid so," Willow replied. She took the girl's limp hand in her own and lifted her to her feet. Beth followed wordlessly as Willow led her to the barn's entrance.

"Go on, girly," Willow said, letting go of Beth's hand and giving her a light push in the direction of the road that ran past the house. "You don't want to be here for the end. Go find a home in some nice psych ward somewhere. They won't believe a word you say, but at least you'll be well treated."

Willow turned back to the demon and was grateful to see that it had donned its robe again.

"Thank you for your service," Willow said. "I would remind you of our bargain. No innocents."

The kroka's laugh turned to a gasp of surprise as its face contorted in agony. It turned around and Willow could see a fire axe buried to the haft in its back. Standing behind the kroka, a cheery expression on her face was Tara.

"Oops! Did I do that? So sorry!" Tara ducked as the kroka swung one clawed hand at her face. Tara followed through with a kick to its abdomen. With a roar of rage, the demon caught Tara under the chin with a punch that sent the vampire crashing through the barn wall into the yard outside.

Willow followed the demon outside, chanting the words to a spell. To her dismay, there was no effect on the demon. Tara picked herself up from the ground as the demon approached her.

"Don't bother, Willow," she said, jumping up and catching the demon in the face with both feet. As she fell back to the ground she said, "Your magic is useless against it. You made a deal remember? Let me handle this."

Willow watched helplessly as Tara and demon fought for what seemed a very long time. Every hit the demon landed on the vampire, Willow felt in her gut, but she was still amazed at Tara's skill in handling herself, making her wonder again just where vampires learned to fight. Finally with a back flip, Tara jumped over the demon and grabbed the axe handle that was still sticking out of its back, wrenching it free. With a roar, Tara swung the axe and neatly beheaded the kroka. Tara fell to her knees in exhaustion and Willow rushed to her side.

"I know," the vampire replied. "But I couldn't let it stay here and you couldn't send it back to its world."

Tara nodded, "But I couldn't let you pay it. The cost was too high for you. You're not ready for that yet, Willow. Warren, Rack, Donny, even my father, yes. But you'd never be able to handle the price of any innocent blood on your hands and despite whatever deal you made with it, you know that innocents would have gotten hurt in its path. I couldn't let you do it, Willow. Not for me."

"Oh Tara," Willow said and gently let her forehead rest against Tara's. After a moment, she sat back and said, "Wait here. I'll clean up this mess and we'll head back to the van. Do you have everything you want from the house?"

"No, you rest," Willow said and levitated the chest over to them. She stood up and with another wave of her hand the body and head of the demon floated back into the barn.

Willow looked at her. "Oh please. I think I've learned a bit more control since then." With another incantation, the house was also on fire. Willow lifted the chest. "Do you need help? Can you walk?"

Tara stood up. "I can walk. Come on. Let's get out of here. I'm suddenly tired of this place."

By the time they reached the van, Tara could barely walk, so Willow got behind the wheel and drove off, watching as the orange glow from the burning ranch faded from view.

Watching the clock, Willow drove as far as she could, then checked them into a highway motel just before sunrise. Inside the room, she got Tara's wounds cleaned up and the vampire into bed before the sun rose over the horizon. Willow crawled into bed and snuggled against her sleeping lover, the warmth from the blankets unable to dispel the illusion that she was sleeping next to a corpse.

Tara left the motel room shortly after sunset, the hunger burning inside her. Willow spent the time her lover was gone in the shower, trying to drown out the lust and the excitement and the hot taste of blood in her mouth as Tara made her kill.

When Tara returned, the couple quickly packed the van, both eager to get back to Sunnydale.

As Tara pulled the black van off the freeway exit leading to Sunnydale in the early morning hour, she asked Willow, "By the way...what did you tell your roommates?"

"Probably not, but I think Buffy will respect me enough to keep quiet about it. I made a promise to her and I intend to keep it."

"That I would not harm her or Dawn or Xander nor use magic against them again." Willow looked at Tara. "That promise binds you as well. You're not to hurt them in any way."

Willow's prediction proved correct; Buffy was more concerned with her zombie-vampire problem than Willow's whereabouts. Willow merely explained the Silicon Valley company she interviewed with insisted Willow relocate, rather than telecommute from Sunnydale and Buffy dropped the matter.

"What's the sitch with the vamps?" Willow asked Buffy the next day at the Espresso Pump where the two women were meeting.

"Getting worse every night," Buffy replied, sipping on her mocha. "Damn things keep coming out of the ground, no matter how long they've been dead. Had one Night of the Living Dead reject leave his legs behind as he pulled himself out of the ground. Xander got him as he was crawling away from his grave."

Buffy continued, "Weird thing is they all seemed to be headed in the same direction. Same way those zombies at my coming home party were making a beeline for Mom's mask."

"Nope," Buffy replied. "Didn't pay much attention until last night. They all seemed to be heading to the northwest, though. Seemed to be more last night than the night before, too."

"This keeps up, the cemeteries will be fresh out of corpses soon," Buffy quipped and Willow gave her a ghost of a smile. Both knew the Sunnydale cemeteries were plenty stocked.

Willow shook her head. "Oh, you know Buff, I'd really like to, but I'm sorry. Got plans."

"Willow!" Buffy said with a tease in her voice. "Are we getting back to doing normal stuff?"

"Normal stuff?" Willow asked, confused for a moment, then remembering. She gave her friend a smile. "Oh! You mean like shop? Go to school? Hang out? Save the world from unspeakable demons? All that girl stuff, you mean?"

Buffy chuckled a moment longer, but then grew serious. "Look, Will. I know it's soon, hell ten years from now will still seem soon, but don't shut the door to your heart on anything that might come knocking."

Willow looked deep into Buffy's eyes. "Like you have, Buff? You've been afraid to let anyone in your heart since Angel. And that was such a long time ago."

Buffy looked down at her hands resting in her lap. "I know. It's been hard finding anyone who…"

"Measures up to a centuries old vampire with a soul?" Willow said. "Time to move on, Buffy. He is. You need to."

Buffy smiled, "Okay, best friend pact time. You and me! Let's promise each other that we'll both move on. Deal?"

"Oh!" Buffy said, glancing at her watch. "Gotta run! The troubled youth of Sunnydale High are crying for attention. Catch ya later, Will!"

Willow spent the rest of the day searching for Anya, but the vengeance demon was not to be found. Willow considered summoning her but, remembering what Anya had said about her travel restrictions, decided to wait. By the time the day's shadows were lengthening, she was feeling hungry, so she stopped first at the butcher shop for blood and then the Chinese take-out and hurried to the crypt before Tara woke.

She had settled down to eat her dinner and watch the evening news on Spike's TV when she heard a noise from the lower crypt. As Tara emerged from below, Willow's throat grew dry. Tara took her time as she walked slowly up the steps leading to the upper level, knowing and loving the effect she was having on her sire. Tara was dressed in a black silk blouse, the material hugging her waist while at the same time accentuating her voluptuous breasts. Willow nearly groaned when she fastened her eyes on Tara's exposed cleavage. As more of Tara was revealed, Willow's eyes traveled down to where just a strip of pale white skin was peeking out from between the blouse and a pair of hip-hugging leather pants. Tara's bountiful hips filled the sleek leather nicely, Willow noted. Finally, Tara's feet clad in a pair of shiny black boots emerged, completing the outfit.

Willow's eyes traveled back up Tara's body as the vampire approached her, still following her slow and steady course. Tara's blond hair cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. Willow couldn't remember Tara's hair ever being that rich or full before, but she liked it now. Tara's face glowed pale in the dim light of the crypt, her lips full and red, devoid of makeup, but with that characteristic smirk that was so Tara. Willow's own lips smiled in welcome.

Willow set aside the container of lo mein as Tara finally reached her. The vampire placed a hand on each of Willow's shoulders as she climbed onto the armchair, straddling her lover. Willow's own hands slipped comfortably around Tara's waist and she pulled her closer as Tara leaned down to place a searing kiss on Willow's lips.

"Mmm," Tara murmured breaking the kiss. "You taste good. Let me guess, Fong Lee's Chinese Kitchen?"

"Maybe later," Tara said, running her hands down Willow's arms and back up her sides, finally cupping Willow's breasts through her shirt. "Right now I'm hungry for something else."

"Can't you tell?" Tara said and then claimed Willow's lips again. Willow moaned in pleasure as she felt Tara's need for her through the connection they shared. Desire and passion and even love for Willow filled the vampire's being.

"Willow?" Tara asked, nuzzling in Willow's neck, her cool lips pressed to Willow's beating pulse.

Through the connection, Willow felt Tara's desire turn to blood lust. "What?" she asked, pushing Tara back.

Tara met Willow's look, her eyes darkening with passion. "Hunt with me, my love. I could feel you inside of me last night when I killed. You felt it, didn't you? The excitement? The heady rush of life rushing through my veins? I want you with me when that happens. Please, Willow. Be there for me?"

"Tara…" Willow began, but was interrupted by the sound of the crypt door opening.

Tara sat up, but did not release Willow, who was struggling underneath her in an attempt to stand up. She looked at the figure at the entrance and said, "Hey Anya. Ever hear of knocking?"

The vengeance demon blinked. "Tara," she said, walking into the crypt and placing a basket on the tomb near the entrance.

"Tara, let me up," Willow said quietly and Tara finally stood up and helped Willow to her feet, but interlocked her hand with Willow's as they both turned towards Anya.

"Well, congratulations Willow," Anya said looking at the couple. "I see you managed to bring her back. More impressive than that interdimensional spell you did last week that had such a great result on your anatomy. I trust this is more pleasurable for you than that was."

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Anya said, ignoring Willow as she stared at Tara. "I was looking for Clem. I've got the night off so I came for a bit of poker. I'm getting quite good at it, thank you for helping to teach me to play."

Willow glanced at Anya's basket and saw it was moving slightly. She released Tara's hand and went over the basket. Anya continued to stare at Tara.

"Clem doesn't live here any more, Anya," Tara explained. "I think you can find him at the cemetery near the university."

"I see," she said, finally turning to Willow who had carried the basket to the door and was releasing the kittens outside. "Hey! Those are mine!"

Willow shooed the last tabby out the door and handed the basket back to Anya. "Find another hobby, Anya," she suggested.

Anya shrugged, "Yeah, sure. Who am I to argue with someone who can raise the dead and create vampires? You certainly proved you can kick my ass the last time you were evil."

Anya sighed. "Well, I am glad you're back, Tara. I've missed having you around and we were friends even after you were smart enough to leave Willow for the evil she did to you. I'm sorry you were killed."

"Good," Anya said, nodding her head emphatically. "You should be glad. Life is always better than death, even if you are technically still dead. And I'm sure Willow is happy you're back, but I doubt she'll ever admit to it. She'll just continue to feel all guilty about everything, although what she did to Warren was classic vengeance."

"I'll be happy to tell you. Speaking of vengeance…" Anya turned to the redhead. "You reek of it, Willow. What have you been up to?"

"Willow helped me take care of a few things concerning my family," Tara answered for her lover.

"Oh, very good," Anya said with a smile on her face. "I knew that brother of yours was no good when they were here last time. I considered summoning my friend Halfrek on your behalf at the time, but Xander talked me out of it. He said what was past was past and I should let sleeping dogs lie, whatever that means."

"Well, the dog will never rise again, thanks to Willow," Tara said with a fond smile. Willow just shook her head in exasperation and sat on the arm of the chair, unable to find any way to positively contribute to the conversation.

Tara began to explain in rich detail the events as Willow just sat there and listened. Willow felt as if the subject of the vampire's narration was someone other than herself. As she listened, she could barely reconcile the idealistic and innocent girl she used to be with the person she was today. When did she lose that combination of idealism and innocence she knew she had when she pledged herself to helping her best friend fight evil? Was the price for fighting evil to eventually succumb to it? And after all the evil things she had done, was she even worthy enough to continue to fight at the Slayer's side?

Willow looked at the two women talking before her. While it was true that Anya and her had never been that close, Willow knew they were so much alike which caused most of the tension between them. Most of Anya's long life was spent committing evil acts, but Willow understood vengeance all too well, so she could not fault the demon for the service she provided. But Tara was another story altogether. When Tara's family had unexpectedly arrived in Sunnydale, for the first and only time in her life Tara cast a spell that was against her Wiccan beliefs. And Willow knew that Tara's action was done out of fear and not malice. Tara had given a lot of her time and effort into making up to each of the Scoobies in an attempt at redemption for that one simple act.

Willow flushed with shame again at her memory of the spells she had cast in an attempt to control Tara when things began to go bad for them. While in England, Willow had discussed what happened with the high priestess of the Devon coven and the woman made her realize just how evil her actions had been. Willow knew she had treated Tara worse than Tara's family had treated her. At least when they attempted to beat her into submission, Tara had the choice to leave. Willow never even gave her that choice. Looking at the vampire, Willow knew that this was the Tara she deserved, not the one who had died in her arms.

Anya looked at Willow. "Well, you get points for creativity, but when it comes to vengeance you're still an amateur, Willow. Kroka demons are more trouble than they're worth. You're lucky Tara was there to kill it."

"Thank you for the tale, Tara," Anya said. "I'll be going now. Come see me if you get bored. It'll be even more fun thumb wrestling with you now that we're both stronger."

Willow was about to stop Anya before she left, remembering that she wanted to ask Anya a few questions, but before she had a chance the door of the crypt flew open and a horrible stench invaded the space. Willow jumped up in fear as three scaly vampires stumbled in with more following behind. As she pushed Anya and Tara out of the way of the approaching fiends, she had a brief moment to realize that Buffy had been right—they were straight out of a B-movie horror flick and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that they belonged to her.

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The Witch and the Sorceress

by Susan L. Carr

Copyright © 2002-2003

skeeter451@mysticmuse.net

Part Four

Willow crosses the line again.