Chapter Eight

Willow grinned, who knew Xander's mother used to be so wild?

At the far back of her closet there was a whole section of leather pants, skirts and corset tops. Like most women, she had obviously refused to part with the items. Instead, they were kept for the occasion when she woke up and was somehow 20 years younger and several pounds lighter. Willow whispered a relieved 'thank you' to the irrationality of women everywhere. She could quickly get out of the pink fuzzy clothes and into something tight, sexy and more appropriate for her sudden soulless status.

After a few moments of deliberation, she pulled out a leather mini-skirt, a sheer red and black corset and a pair of black strappy kitten heels. She put the rest away in a bag, along with any other shoes and jewellery she could find. Willow giggled. It was always good to accessorise.

She felt sexy and strong and powerful. "Damn," she said to the empty room as she glanced down at herself, "I'd fuck me." And with another small laugh she left the room in search of Xander.

Xander had finished packing everything he wanted to keep. It really wasn't much, a few collectables to be sold, his weapons, a leather jacket and a few nice shirts that he'd been given. The rest could all go to hell. It was too sad to see Spiderman sheets still on the bed, even though he had been dating the head cheerleader of the high school. Yeah, was no wonder he didn't get any further than second base.

His eyes flittered over to Willow as she walked down the stairs. Wow. She looked amazing. How could his human self have been so blind? Xander's eyes darkened as he watched her scantily clad body move around the room. He softly stalked behind her, ready to throw her down on the bed when he could suddenly smell something familiar...he scrunched up his face for a moment until finally the realisation dawned on him, "ugh Willow! You smell like my mom!"

Willow giggled and made a pouty face, her lips shaping themselves into a small heart. "Aw poor baby, does the smell of mommy kill the mood? Silly Xander." She whipped her head back around to the boxes and finished up the packing.

Secretly she was pleased. She didn't know what was going on but the moment after she turned Xander, she didn't feel as strongly about him as she used to. For years she had felt like it was Xander she belonged with but now that she was with him, she realised that all this time it was about someone else entirely. But the question was who? Shaking away her thoughts, she smiled as she heard Red and Spike walk down to the basement. Willow could see how captivated Spike was with Red and it was certainly a nice thing to see.

Red stood in the middle of the room and smiled down at the three of them. "Right my children, we have found a new headquarters, a nice hidden place where no white hats can find us. Once we've set up there, we will devise a plan to take over this silly little town and make it our own. If only you could know what an amazing place it could be, with chains, cages, blood and fear running wild in the streets." Willow and Xander smiled dreamily at the images. "And we will pay that Slayer bitch back as well for killing my beloved Master in this universe. It ruins all my party plans."

The three cheered as torturous ides danced in their minds and then carried what little belongings they had into Spike's car outside.

Buffy looked down at the carnage in Willow's home. Her eyes filled with tears and the hand holding the stake was trembling badly. "Oh my god, Angel!" She moaned and sat down on the floor in shock. There was blood all over the hallway and the body of a young pizza boy was dumped to the side of the stairs. "What about Willow? Where is she? Do you think vamp Willow took her? She could be dead…or worse! This is all my fault!"

Angel surveyed the body and the scene, the smell of new death permeated the room. The blood looked terribly fresh and inviting, whoever had been here was very hungry. He swallowed slightly and tried to sense who had been there. It was so confusing, there was the smell of Willow everywhere, both dead and alive. He didn't think it would be good news. "It's not your fault Buffy; it's that vengeance demon that brought her here"

Buffy looked up his impassive face and sighed. "If…if the worst has happened, if Willow has been turned…do you think we could re-soul her? Like we did you?"

Angel frowned. For the years after the gypsies cursed him up until he had lost his soul again with Buffy, his soul had been a burden and a constant ache. The guilt was always there, anchored to his deeds. But since he had been re-souled, he hadn't felt the same. The pain and the suffering was no longer there, he didn't want to run around and rip people apart, but he didn't want to mope about and count his sins either. He felt…fine, which was what troubled him mostly. But the thought of Willow carrying the pain he'd felt for so long, that really bothered him.

"Buffy, I don't think that's a good idea. I know Willow wouldn't want that. You would be turning her into me. She doesn't deserve to suffer like that."

Buffy looked down sadly. "At least when it's my time to go, someone will be there to keep you company….but you're right," She lied, "Willow wouldn't want that." She gave Angel a shaky smile and resolved to speak to Giles about it. Willow did the spell before; Giles would have to read the translation.

Buffy started to move up the stairs, "I'm going to search up here. You look around and see if you can find anything to tell us where they went." She walked around Willow's room, afraid for her friend. Nothing had been touched, no clothes had been taken…was that a good or a bad thing? Nothing taken meant they didn't plan on holding her hostage. Then again, not all vampires are known for such thoughtfulness of their hostages.

Buffy rubbed her head and stared at herself in the mirror. She looked tired and haggard and a lot older than her 17 years. I look like such a mess, no wonder Angel is losing interest, she thought. She berated herself for thinking that, but since he had been released from Hell he seemed to be so much more distant that he'd ever been. No wonder, genius, you kissed him, stabbed him in the gut and sent him to hell. He was there for hundreds of years. Of course he's distant. Buffy nodded to herself, but the very idea that deep down he blamed her, maybe even hated her a little for that…it kept her up at nights.

"Buffy, you found anything?" Angel called up from the hall. Buffy jumped and walked down the stairs.

"No," she said quietly, "how about you?" Angel shook his head. "Well let's try Xander's house then. I'd imagine Red would want Xander to be turned; supposedly they were just as inseparable even as vampires." Angel nodded slightly but said nothing, so Buffy took Angel's hand and walked out of Willow's home, hoping against hope that they would all survive this.


Dark eyes flashed with murderous intent, as they watched Buffy hold hands with Angel and walk out into the night.

Bitch! I'm going to get her. I am going to rip her apart.

The figure smiled coldly.

Soon it will be a-Slayer huntin' time...

Soon there will be blood...

Authors Note: There's more to come but I just wanted to get this down and out there first, after such a wait.

Big Mak- My ever faithful feebacker, thanks for keeping me going :)

Luciun Weasley-Ogg - I'm glad you're enjoying it :D thanks for fbing

Stephycats7785 - In regards to mates and whos who...things will get very messy as time goes on lol

Buffy6490 - Wow pressure lol well hopefully i can live up to it. theres a few other Spike/Willow stories are that so amazing, theres one called Take Your Time by Carrie "." which will knock your socks off.

Pheonixfire979 - Wow thanks for the feedback :D

hewhoreaps - lol thanks for the review, and yes things could very much be worse as you will see.

WellxWisher - Hehe that really would...*rubs hands in glee* I know i feel sorry for spike sometimes but im glad you like their chemistry :D im glad there is chemistry lol hard to tell sometimes when you're writing it.

Harry2 - I would very much agree, sunnydale beware, who knows what dastardly things Red has in mind for angelus...well apart from me heheh