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Part Two

Amy stood across the street from the Summers House.  Her coal black eyes glimmered as she began walking across the pavement.  A car was to her right and it was coming right at her.  She didn't bother to turn her head to look at the car, she merely raised her hand and the car stopped in mid motion.  She continued across the street until she was standing merely a few feet from the front porch.  She smiled an evil smile as she raised her hands and prepared to break the door open to announce her presence to the Slayer.

Inside the house, Buffy was downstairs eating some pizza with Dawn and Xander.  The three were talking about the television show that they were watching.  None of them were really paying any attention to what was happening outside the house, so they were surprised and shocked at what happened a few moments later.

Without warning, the front door exploded inward, blowing it apart and sending shards of the wood everywhere.  Buffy pulled her body over Dawn's as the door exploded.  The impact of the blast sent Xander off the couch and onto the floor.  All three looked towards the door as a lone figure walked inside the house.  Buffy stood as she recognized the figure immediately.  Even though her hair was slightly darker with streaks of white in it and the eyes were black, Buffy knew it was Amy.  Buffy had been hoping she'd show up sooner or later because she still wanted to get a little payback on her for what she'd done to Willow.

"Amy." Buffy hissed.

Xander and Dawn rose as well.  "Well.....look at you."

Without speaking, the powerful witch raised her hand and black energy shot out of her fingers and impacted Xander in the chest.  The dark haired man went flying, crashing through the table on the far side of the room.  Buffy stepped forward and advanced towards Amy.  "Alright!  That's enough." she said as she grabbed the witch.

Amy reached up and grabbed Buffy's arms as they grabbed her.  She easily hurled the Slayer up by the arms and tossed her back.  Buffy hit Dawn as they both hit the floor.  Amy smiled as she walked closer to the Slayer.  Just then, a blast of green energy descended from the top of the stairs and Amy's body hit the wall next to the front door entrance.  Looking up, Amy's hatred intensified as she saw Tara and Willow standing there, visibly shaken at seeing her.

Willow had pulled on her white nightshirt and a pair of red boxers.  Tara had pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a white shirt.  Amy snarled and sent a charge of power at them.  At the last possible moment, Willow grabbed Tara and pulled both their bodies to the ground as the blast hit the wall behind them, leaving a scorch mark.  Amy started for the stairs, then an idea hit her.  She turned back to Buffy, who was standing nearby.  "I'll be waiting at the cemetery for you Buffy.  Don't take too long or I might have to cause some chaos." Amy sneered before she simply turned and walked away, slowly shimmering away as she did so.

Buffy stayed silent and motionless for a few moments.  Then she turned to Dawn.  "You okay?"

"I'm okay." Dawn said.

Xander was getting back to his feet.  He was holding his left arm.  Blood was slowly covering his fingers.

"Xander!  Are you alright?" the Slayer asked.

Xander nodded.  "Yeah, it's just a cut from the wood on that table.  I've had worse Buffy."

Buffy nodded before she headed upstairs, seeing the two Wiccans slowly get to their feet.  "How about you guys?"

"We're fine." Tara told her.

"Buffy," Willow said, sitting up, "what the frilly heck's going on?"

"I don't know." Buffy sighed.

A moment's silence before a new voice broke it.  "Amy's got new power."

The three women looked down the stairs to see a familiar figure standing in front of Xander and Dawn.  The vengeance demon known as Anyanka, otherwise just called Anya, stood there.  She was dressed in a dark red long sleeved shirt tucked into a pair of black pants.  She deliberately avoided eye contact with Xander as she looked at them.  Buffy slowly rose.

"New power?" Buffy asked, not bothering to say hello to the demon.

Anya nodded as she waited for the three to descend from the stairs.  "Did you see the necklace she was wearing?"

They shook their heads at her.

"She wore the Amulet of Zenubacon.  The Amulet of Zenubacon is legendary for it's power.  It magnifies and intensifies the powers of any witch who constantly uses dark magick.  I was watching from the shadows because I've felt this powerful dark presence in Sunnydale for a while now and I thought I should tell you.  Then, Amy showed up and I saw the Amulet and I just....kind of froze." Anya said.

"How did Amy get this Amulet?" Willow asked.

"I wish I knew.  There have been many warlocks and witches who have searched the world for it.  It's been lost for centuries.  I can't understand how she could have gotten it." Anya replied.

"Maybe this dark presence you felt gave it to her." Xander suggested.

Buffy sighed.  "Which would mean she's aligned herself with an enemy.  That makes her our enemy."

"What are we going to do?" Dawn asked.

A determined look crossed the blonde's face.  "She came here wanting a fight.  She's going to get one."

They looked at her.  "Alright," Buffy said, "Xander, Dawn, you're coming with me.  Willow, Tara, stay here.  I'm sorry, but because of last night, I don't want Tara out there...especially considering Amy has a big reason to see you both hurt.  Let's go."

Buffy, Xander, and Dawn headed out of the house, leaving Anya, Willow, and Tara alone in the house.

---**---

Amy stood in the cemetery.  She was surrounded by tombstones of many different people.  Her lips turned into a smirk as she saw the Slayer, her little sister, and the Harris boy, as she called him, slowly walk towards her.  She was aware of their caution, being set up in so many traps in the past that they always looked for traps now.  She waited until they drew near before she spoke.  "Hello Buffy." she said.

Buffy slowly stopped.  "It's been what....a few months at least."

Amy tilted her head to one side.  "I remember the last time I saw you, Buffy.  You had me pinned against the wall.  You made me barf, remember?"

Dawn and Xander looked quizzically at her.  Buffy merely nodded.  "I remember."

"Well, this time is gonna be different, Buffy.  This time I've got strength and power and you're going to be the one to barf before I'm through." Amy said.

"Let's find out, then." Buffy said before she rushed at the witch.  Amy met her halfway.  Buffy tried a combination of rights and lefts at Amy's face, but the witch blocked each and every one of them and came back with a thunderous right hand that sent the Slayer through the air, landing on the grass several feet away.

Xander rushed forward.  He crashed his body into the witch's, taking them both down to the ground.  He tried to pin her arms down, but she sent a bolt of energy shooting from her eyes out and it hit him in the chest.  Xander flew backward to the ground.  Amy slowly stood up and looked at Dawn.  "Here, Dawnie, Dawnie, Dawnie." she smiled as she waved her arm at the youngster.  Dawn went crashing against a tombstone.  Buffy rose from behind Amy and headed straight towards her, anger flashing in her eyes.

She hit a searing swift kick right at the back of Amy's head.  Amy staggered forward a few steps, then she turned around.  "That one's gonna cost you, Slayer." she snarled as she channeled a powerful bolt of dark energy at the Slayer.  Buffy rolled onto the ground and twisted her body around as Amy continued sending more blasts at her.  After a shot almost hit her, she jumped into the ground and began running, more blasts being sent at her.  She was fast enough to keep clear of the blasts and, as she neared a stone crypt, she dove on top of it and stayed there, breathing hard, as Amy walked over.  Without speaking, the witch propelled her arms upward and powerful tendrils of power surged from her fingers, creating a mystical sphere of black energy around her, like a bubble and lifting her off the ground.  She floated a little higher than where Buffy was and watched the Slayer, her arms still outstretched.  The black energy bubble still surrounded her.

"Time to die, Slayer." she said then thrust her arms straight at Buffy.  Black and purple flames of explosive power shot out from her hands, heading towards Buffy.  The Slayer didn't have time to move or react and the powerful blasts hit her directly on the chest.  Buffy's body went flying into the air, continuing to remain in the air until she crashed through a large tombstone.  After the impact, she lay on the ground, gasping from the intense pain as Amy's floating body came closer.  Amy landed back on the ground and she faded the black energy bubble as she stood over the Slayer.  She reached down with her left hand and wrapped it in Buffy's hair, yanking her head up.  She raised her right arm up, her hand motioned like a claw and prepared to send as much dark power as she could.  It would be enough to destroy her.  Snarling, Amy brought her hand downward.

---**---

Back at the Summers House, Willow and Tara had just finished dressing and they were heading downstairs to the living room.  Willow had changed into a pair of blue jeans and the blue top she'd worn when they were dealing with that apparition that they created when Buffy was brought back.  Her lover had decided to wear one of her long black skirts with a green shirt with a flowery design all over it.  She would have commented on the clothing, but the recent situation with Amy had most of her attention.

She and Amy had been friends since high school.  She was having a hard time believing that Amy would do what she was doing.  But then again, Willow knew that the use of dark magick could corrupt a person's soul.  It had done that to her and she hadn't used it much.  That brief instance when she tried to avenge Tara by going against Glory had changed her and her use of the darker side of magick hadn't improved since then.  Willow sighed.  She didn't want to think of Amy as a bad guy, but she was having no choice in the matter.  She only hoped Buffy could stop Amy before she really did something awful.

"It's good to see you alive again, Tara." Anya said, giving the blonde a small hug.  Tara returned the embrace.

"Thanks." she said.  "I had to come back.  Someone needed me."

She looked at Willow when she said it and, as she hoped, she was rewarded with a smile.  She returned the smile as the three of them walked over to the couch.  "Anya, how much do you know about this Amulet of Zenubacon?" Tara asked.

Anya sat down on the couch.  "Not a whole lot.  I know some about what Zenubacon was.  Zenubacon was a warrior who tapped the powers of dark magick to fight evil.  During his last battle, he fought a demonic sorcerer who's soul was created by dark magick.  He came very close to destroying the sorcerer, but he failed.  The sorcerer destroyed his body and encased all of the dark magick that the warrior possessed into a black stone.  After that was done, the sorcerer forged the stone with a chain and it became the Amulet of Zenubacon.  For centuries of years, the Amulet has been lost and no one has known where it's been.  It's been believed that the Amulet was in one of the Great Pyramids, but no one has been able to find it.  I really can't understand how Amy seemed to get it."

"You said this amulet magnifies her powers?" Willow asked as she sat down on one of the recliners.

Anya nodded.  "Yes.  Only a witch, sorcerer, or warlock who is a user of dark magick can wear the Amulet.  What the Amulet does is it intensifies however much power the being has.  Right now, I think Amy's about as powerful as you were a few weeks ago."

Tara looked at Willow, but the redhead looked away.  The two of them still had that one issue hanging between them.  Tara looked down at her knees.  She was sitting next to Anya on the couch.  "Can we stop her?" she asked while looking down.

"Of course.  All Buffy really has to do is take the Amulet from her neck.  If she does that, Amy's power will be reduced to whatever level she was before she put the necklace on.  Then, Buffy can just...do her Slaying thing." Anya answered.

"She won't kill her." Willow said, knowing that Buffy was against using her title as Slayer to kill humans.

"I really don't see any way around that." Anya said.  "Because if she doesn't kill her, Amy will just try another plan.  She hates Buffy because she blames her for you." Anya said, looking at the redhead.

"Me?" the redhead was shocked.

"Yes." Anya replied, "Amy blames you because she thinks Buffy's one of the reasons you stopped using magic.  Well, Buffy and Tara."

Willow shook her head.  "I should have left her a rat." she whispered.

"Willow, what's done is done.  There's no changing it.  The only thing we can do now is move forward and stop Amy now." Tara said, speaking up.  The other two looked at her, slowly nodding their heads.

They were all silent for the next few moments as they let the silence lengthen.  After a while, Anya's eyes widened and she dove up off the couch.  "We have to get out of here!" she told the two Wiccans.

"What?" Willow rose.

"Why?" Tara also rose.

"The dark presence, it's coming closer!" Anya said, heading to the door.

Willow and Tara looked at each other and they started following Anya to the door, but they felt their bodies suddenly freeze and they were immobile.  They also couldn't speak.  It was much the same effect as when Anya had been frozen by Willow.  Anya looked at them, knowing it was too late to escape.  A moment later, a form shimmered in behind Anya.  The demon in brown robes grabbed Anya by her shirt and tossed her against the far wall.  The impact was hard enough to knock the vengeance demon out.  The robed demon turned to the two immobile witches.  "Hello girls." Saijhan said.

The demon waved his hand and they were released from the freezing spell.  They slowly began to back away from the demon sorcerer.  "W...who are you?" Tara asked.

Saijhan smiled.  "Me?  I'm Saijhan.  But you...it's you who are the important one here."

"What are you talking about?" Willow demanded, putting herself in front of Tara.

Saijhan kept his eyes locked on Tara.  "The Powers That Be have given you great power since you returned from beyond." he said.  The look in Tara's eyes told him she already knew.  "I've come here to this disgusting little town because you're going to give them to me."

"Wha..wha..what?" the blonde stuttered.

"That's right, you're going to give them to me.  Well, to be accurate, I'm going to take them from you.  Same difference." the demon chuckled at his own words.  "And you redhead, are not going to stop me." Saijhan said before he whipped his right arm out and struck Willow across the head.  Willow's body was knocked against the wall behind her.  She crashed to the floor, holding her head.

"Willow!" Tara rushed to her lover's aid.

Saijhan walked around the living room as Tara kneeled beside her lover.  "You know," he commented, "this is a very nice place.  If I ever decide to settle down and buy a house, it would be like this one."

The two witches rose as Saijhan looked at them.  "You're not taking my powers." Tara said, determined.

"You really don't have much of a say in the matter, sweet cheeks." Saijhan said.  He raised his right hand and held his palm facing them.  Willow suddenly felt her body unable to move again.  She could breathe but she couldn't move.  Saijhan slowly raised his arm up and to the right.  Willow's body went airborne, crashing into the ceiling, then the far wall.

"Willow!!  Stop it, stop it!!!" Tara screamed at the sorcerer, tears running down her cheeks.  She looked up and saw blood beginning to fall down Willow's face.

Saijhan moved his arm back to his side and Willow's body came back down to the floor, crashing through the coffee table before she hit the floor.  As Tara looked at her, she could see Willow's chest was moving up and down, but the redhead was unconscious.  Tara's gaze drifted to Saijhan.  The demon wasn't smiling or smirking.  Dark menace was rolling off him.

"Now, we can do this the easy way...or the hard way.  You choose.  The easy way is for you to just fall to your knees and don't cause me anymore trouble and let me take what I want.  The hard way is for me to finish killing your girlfriend and then I'll just take your power anyways.  Choose." he told her.

Tara's lips trembled as she looked at her lover's fallen body.  Her choice was already made.  She wouldn't let anything happen to Willow, no matter the cost.  Closing her eyes and without speaking, Tara dropped to her knees in front of the demon sorcerer.

"Excellent." Saijhan said as he moved closer.  As he moved his right hand, palm out, over Tara's chest, Anya's fluttered open.  As she saw the scene before her, she made an instant decision and she let herself shimmer out of the house.  She had to warn Buffy about this.  Then, Saijhan's hand touched Tara's chest and white light exuded from her chest and into his hand.  Saijhan gasped at the first touch of her power and Tara screamed.

---**---

Amy's right hand came downward.  She was going to surge enough power into Buffy's body to burn her completely.  As her arm started moving downward at a fast speed, she suddenly felt her wrist grabbed by a gloved hand and another gloved hand grabbed her by her leather trenchcoat and yanked, hard.  Amy's leather covered body went flying backwards, hitting the ground a few feet away.  As the witch rolled to her feet, she looked up and saw a silver gun being held by a hand covered in black.  Her coal black eyes widened when the person holding the weapon pulled the trigger four consecutive times.

Four blasts of mystical energy shot out of the weapon and two of them hit her on both her shoulders, while the other two hit her in the center of her chest, knocking her backward and crashing through the wall of the crypt behind her.  The stone crumpled as she crashed through to the other side.  The person holding the silver blasting weapon lowered it and reholstered it at his waist.  Then, the person reached up and grabbed his shades off his nose to reveal familiar eyes.

He turned and kneeled down next to Buffy.  "Are you alright, Buffy?" Jacob asked as he helped the Slayer to stand.

"Yeah," she nodded, "my back's kinda sore.  But, Slayer healing will do it's job."

"Good." Jacob said, looking at Amy as the witch started to crawl out of the crypt.  Xander and Dawn hurried up to them.

"Jacob....man, it's a relief to see you." Xander commented.

"Why did you return so quickly?" Dawn asked.

The Daywalker sighed.  "I don't know why...I can't really explain it but, I felt something major was about to happen here.  So, I came back.  And I see my instincts were right."

They all turned as Amy started to rise.  "What are we going to do about her?" Xander pointed.

"That's simple." Jacob said.  He turned and walked over to the slowly rising witch.  He grabbed her by the throat with his left hand and shoved her against one side of the wall.  With his right hand, he wrapped his fingers around the stone part of the Amulet of Zenubacon and pulled.  The chain necklace broke as he yanked it from her neck.

Stepping back, the Daywalker and the remainder of them watched as Amy's body glowed a powerful black for several moments.  When it was over, she was no longer in the black leather.  She was in her street clothes and her coal black eyes were returned to brown.  She slowly looked around and realized she no longer had all the power.  She screamed at Jacob and tried to rush at him, but Buffy moved forward and whipped her fist out, hitting her in the jaw and sending Amy's head snapping against the stone, knocking her out.

Jacob held the Amulet in his hand.  "The Amulet of Zenubacon.  For centuries thought lost." he murmured.

"What are you going to do with it?" Buffy asked as the others drew near.

Jacob put the Amulet in a black pouch set at his waist.  "When I leave Sunnydale, I'll take it to a Temple outside Los Angeles.  The monks there will keep this Amulet from evil's hands." the Daywalker said.  "But I can't leave yet.  There's a powerful dark presence here.  It's my guess that whatever this dark presence is....it gave her the Amulet.  We're going to have to deal with this presence before it's all said and done."

They nodded.  As they began heading back towards the Summer House, a form shimmered in front of them.  It was Anya and they could see she looked panic stricken to them.  "Anya, what's going on?" Buffy asked.

She was breathing quickly.  "You have to get back to the house!"

"What?  Why?" Buffy asked.

"It...it was a trap.  Amy leading you from the house was part of his trap.  Willow...Tara...they're in trouble." Anya got out, still breathing hard.

Buffy didn't need to hear anymore.  She quickly turned to the others.  "Xander, grab Amy and start heading back to the house.  I don't want Amy being loose.  Dawn, stay with Xander.  Jacob, let's go."

Jacob nodded.  Two chosen champions, the Slayer and the Daywalker, began heading off, running as fast as their legs could carry them.  They were about the same speed.  Anya wasted no more time and she shimmered out.  That left Xander and Dawn looking at each other and sighing simultaneously.  "Alright Dawnmeister, let's grab the witch and get outta here." he said.

"I'm with you." Dawn said.

Walking over, Xander hoisted Amy up and over his shoulder and he then joined Dawn.  They began heading back to the house as quickly as they possibly could.

---**---

Tara's body remained on it's knees and she couldn't move any of her body as Saijhan's hand continued to drain her of the mystical powers endued into her by the Powers That Be.  She had stopped screaming from the combined pain from the process, but her eyes were rolling back in her head and her upper body was twitching and convulsing as Saijhan continued.

The demon sorcerer felt more and more of the powerful energy rupture through his body.  Truth be told, he had never felt such highs from taking a mortal's power before and it was making him thirst for more and more of the delicious power.  He opened his mouth and sighed happily as more of the power entered his body.

What he didn't plan on or even expect was an intruder stopping him.  But that's exactly what happened a moment later as Sonya Baxter shimmered in and took in the scene before her.  Willow lying at the bottom of a crashed table, unconscious and bleeding.  When she saw Saijhan with her responsibility, Sonya raised her arms and shot a powerful blast right at Saijhan's back.  The sorcerer gasped as his body was thrown against the wall.  Tara's body fell forward and hit the ground.  Sonya looked at her for a moment before she turned and faced the demon sorcerer.

"Baxter, didn't expect you to show up." Saijhan said, gasping from the blast and the highs he was still feeling from the draining of Tara's power.

Sonya's expression of anger didn't change as she faced him.  "You know I've been assigned as Tara's guardian by the Powers, don't you?"

"Of course I'm aware of that.  I just didn't think you'd follow what the Powers tell you.  You never have before." Saijhan said, slowly moving towards her.

"Did you really think I was going to sit by and let this happen?" she demanded.  "Aside from the fact that I'm her guardian, she's a gentle soul who doesn't deserve everything that's happened to her.  And I am not going to let you do this!" she told him.

"YOU really can't stop me, Baxter." Saijhan snarled before he advanced towards her.  Even though he had mystical powers, he preferred to destroy his enemies physically.  He struck her in the face with his hand.  She was reeled back, but she recovered quickly.  She sent a kick using her left leg that whipped Saijhan back against the stairs.  As he started rising to his feet, two visitors stormed through the front door entrance.

Buffy and Jacob took in the scene with shocked eyes.  The first thing that Buffy saw was Willow's form and she rushed over.  Jacob headed to where Tara's body lay and he gently turned her over.  Buffy was pushing the pieces of the broken table out of her way as she examined Willow's injuries.  She was relieved when she saw that the injuries were minor.  She looked over to where Sonya was advancing towards a demon in robes.  "Sonya, what's going on?  Why are you here?" Buffy still didn't know if she could trust Sonya.

Sonya glanced at the Slayer.  "This is Saijhan.  He's responsible for Amy getting that Amulet an he's here because he wants Tara's power."

"And I'll have it." Saijhan said, "After I destroy you." he pointed his finger at Sonya.

Sonya looked at him.  "Then let's take this battle somewhere where only you and I will matter."

Saijhan's eyes gleamed.  "You want to fight me on the Astral Plane."

Sonya nodded.  "It's up to you.  Are you afraid to face me there?"

Saijhan's demeanor changed.  One thing he's always hated is when someone challenges his courage.  "Let's go." Saijhan knew that after he finished the sorceress, he would return and finish what he started with Tara.  But, an idea flickered in his head.  He knew there was a chance he would lose.  With that possibility in his mind, he glanced at Tara's body.  His eyes locked on her body for a few moments before he looked back at Sonya.  He shimmered gone after a few seconds.  Then, Sonya vanished in a flash of energy.

Xander and Dawn returned after Sonya vanished, Amy over Xander's shoulder.  He set her down near the stairs as Dawn hurried over to Tara.  "Is she okay?" the youngster wanted to know.

Jacob nodded.  "Yes, she will be.  The draining of her power is a rough and painful process, but it's not life threatening.  She's going to need some rest."

"Tara..." Willow's low voice rumbled as the redhead slowly returned to consciousness.

"Easy Will." Xander said, helping Buffy sit her up.  There was a light laceration on Willow's forehead, on the left side.  There was dried blood over the left side of her face.  She had a few cuts across her face as well, but she was relatively fine.  Once she saw Tara's crumpled form in Jacob's arms, she nearly leapt from Buffy's arms and crawled her way to Tara.

Jacob moved aside as Willow cradled Tara's body against her chest.  She had her right arm around Tara's upper back while her left hand stroked her lover's right cheek.  She was rocking Tara's body against her own.  She was astoundingly relieved when she saw Tara's chest moving in deep breaths.

All was silent in the Summers House for a few moments before Anya shimmered in.  The blonde vengeance demon took everything in, relieved more than she could admit that both witches were alive and well.  She looked at Amy's unconscious form.  "What are you going to do with her?" she asked.

"I don't know yet.  We can't just let her walk out because she'll try something again." Buffy answered.

"But we can't keep her for long." Xander commented.

"There is one possibility I know of." Jacob said.

"What?" Buffy looked at him.

"There's a monastery a little ways north of Sunnydale in the mountains.  They take any witch in who's abused dark magick and they reform them. There's no escape because once the witch is brought in, a force field is created to keep them inside until they are successfully reformed.  It's the one chance at saving her." Jacob told them.

"How long have you known about it?" Dawn asked.

Jacob sighed.  "There are monasteries all over the world like that one.  I spent time in one after a killed a group of men using my bare hands.  The monasteries are not only for witches, but they are for any beings who have committed inhuman acts against others.  Whether they seek redemption or not, the person will not be allowed to leave the monastery until it is achieved."

"Alright, once this is over, we're going to put Amy in this monastery.  She's not gonna like it, but that's just the way life words sometimes." Buffy said, slowly rising.

"Man...I'm sorry about the house, Buff." Xander said.

Buffy quirked a brow at him.  "So am I."

"Willow, why don't you take Tara to your guys bedroom.  Both of you need a little rest after this whole mess." Buffy said.

Willow nodded, slowly rising up to her feet.  Dawn assisted Willow in helping them navigate the stairs.  Once in their room, Dawn closed the door behind her as she rejoined everyone downstairs.  Willow first removed Tara's shirt and skirt and put her under the covers.  Then, Willow went into the bathroom and cleaned herself up a little, tending to the scratches and laceration she received.  Afterwards, she removed her jeans and shirt and joined her lover.  Both women now only had their bras and panties on as Willow pulled the covers over their bodies.  She curled herself around Tara's still unconcious body and closed her eyes, willing her rapidly beating heart to slow down.  Willow had been terrified when that demon had lifted her body into the air.  She knew that since he was doing that to her with relative ease, he wouldn't have a problem with doing what he wanted to Tara and that thought terrified the redhead more than anything else.  She shivered as she rested her cheek against her lover's shoulder.

Willow and everyone else downstairs had no way of knowing that when Saijhan took one long last look at Tara's body that he'd channeled some of his dark essence into her.  They also had no way of knowing the impact that very action was going to have on them all once his destruction came to be.

---**---

Two days passed since Sonya Baxter and Saijhan left the Earth's physical realm to battle on the Astral Plane.  There hadn't been no contact or word from Sonya or Saijhan since.  The Scoobs could only hope that Sonya was victorious.  Two days for the entire gang to relax their wounds from the battle with the former rat.  When Amy had woken up, she'd tried very hard to escape, but Jacob had seen to it that she didn't.

Jacob had asked the two Wiccans to put up a force field up around the Summers House to keep Amy trapped within the house.  Then, he'd taken off to head to the nearest monastery so that he could prepare things for her journey there.  At first, Amy had constantly tried to escape, but once she realized there was no way out for her, she'd stopped the constant struggling and she seemed to accept her fate.  Willow's injuries were minor, but they still stung constantly.  Her back was bruised from the collisions with the walls and breaking through Buffy's coffee table.  The scratches on her face were fading away, leaving just small reminders of the reason they were there.  The small laceration on her forehead was slowly healing itself as well.  Tara had wanted to use magic to make the injuries go away, not liking to see her lover in pain, but Willow had told her in no uncertain terms that using the magic like that had started a lot of their problems to begin with and the redhead wasn't about to let herself or her lover fall into that pit ever again.

Xander's left arm was bandaged and it was slowly healing as well.  The cut he'd gotten from crashing through the table hadn't been that bad, but it was enough for him to wince when he tried to put pressure on his arm.  Dawn, who wasn't injured at all, helped Buffy and Jacob handle most of the cleaning of the house.  Jacob was able to save the big table that Xander had crashed through, but the smaller table that Willow's body had crashed was gone, for good.  They'd gotten rid of that table, or it's remains, and cleaned the rest of the mess left from the attacks in the Summers House.  Xander had told Buffy that he would replace the front door and at the moment, he was beginning to fulfill that promise, carving a new door like he'd made her new weapons cabinet.

They'd moved a spare matress and blankets with a pillow to the basement.  That's where they were making Amy stay until Jacob returned.  Amy was sitting with her back against the far side of one of the walls when she heard the basement door open.  Willow descended down the stairs slowly, taking each step slowly.  She was being very cautious around Amy and the former rat smirked inwardly at the thought.

"Amy." Willow said as she slowly stopped at the end of the stairs.

The darker haired witch studied Willow.  The redhead was wearing her blue jeans long skirt with her black checkered sweater.  She stayed standing on the staircase for a few moments before she slowly sat down on one of the steps.  Amy didn't move either, just stared at her with disgust and loathing in her eyes.  "What do you want?" she demanded.

Willow sighed, shaking her head.  She'd hoped that during the past two days, she could get through to Amy and find out why Amy had so much hatred for all of them.  She heard everyone else's reasons for why Amy was doing what she was doing, but Amy had been her friend in high school and the redhead wanted to understand why she was doing what she was doing.  "I just.....I wish I could understand why you wanted to destroy us." she said, gazing into Amy's eyes.

Amy crossed her arms over her chest.  "I think you know why."

"No...I don't." Willow replied.

"Fine," Amy said, disgusted, "you want to know why I hate you all so much, then here it is.  For starters, they're the reason you stopped hanging out with me.  You can say all you want that you wanted to stop using the magic, but we both know the truth.  You can stop using magic, but it's always going to be inside you.  That's something you can't ignore.  Why do you think it was so easy for you to become the megabitch when your precious girlie friend was shot.  You used the magic before you even got to the books."

Willow couldn't deny the words if she wanted to.  She knew they were the truth.  She remained silent.

"You stopped using it because you got scared.  That little brat sister of Buffy's got hurt and you let them convince you it was your fault." Amy said.

"It was my fault." Willow argued.

"Hmph, believe it if you want.  That little brat went with you to Rack's.  She could have said no.  She could've found her way home on her own, but no, she went with you.  What happened to her is her fault, not yours.  You think you were addicted to magic, you don't know what being addicted really is.  It's like a hunger that you can't ever get rid of." the witch said, her disdain for Willow dripping with every word.  "You had a blast with that last spell I gave you, don't deny it."

"I won't." Willow said.  "It was an enjoyable spell.  It took me to a great high, but you know what?" Willow waited until Amy was looking at her eyes.  "There is something else out there that not only matches what magic gives me, but it tops it greatly."

"What would that be?" Amy asked, slightly intrigued by the serious voice of the redhead.

"Love." Willow stated.  She kept her gaze locked with Amy's for a few moments before she rose off the steps and left the basement, leaving a slightly surprised and thoughtful Amy following her form out.

---**---

"Thank you for choosing Doublemeat Palace, please come again!" Buffy said as enthusiastic as she could to the dark haired male customer in front of her.  She gave him his order and his change and watched as he left.  He was the last customer of the lunch hour that was one of the busiest times of the day for the restaurant.  She looked to the left as the double glass doors opened and a familiar face entered.  Buffy turned to the oldest employee of the restaurant, Gina.  "If you need anything, I'll be in the back." Buffy said as she left the counter after removing her cap.

She joined the familiar face in the back and sat down across from her.  "Thanks for coming." Buffy said.

Across from the table the Slayer was sitting at, Tara Maclay smiled.  "No problem, Buffy.  It's like I told you, if you need anything, I'm here for you." Tara said.  The dark blonde was wearing her dark green long sleeved sweater jacket over a white shirt that was tucked into her dark gray pants.  She had her hand bag with her as she brought her left leg up to rest on the chair with her, her knee resting near her shoulder.

Buffy smiled at the words, Willow's girlfriend really was sweet to everybody.  "Tara, I need a favor."

"Alright, what is it?" Tara asked.

Buffy looked at the table for a few moments.  She kind of felt the same way now as she had when she'd asked Tara to look at the spell that brought her back.  Only without the Spike element.  She looked up.  "I've been having...these dreams." she began.

Tara furrowed her brow.  "Dreams?"

Buffy nodded.  "Yeah, the past several months, I've been getting these dreams.  Each night they're always the same.  I'm standing in the middle of a room and everyone I know is there.  You, Will, Xander, Dawn, Anya everybody.  But the thing is...you're all dead and I don't know how it happened.  Each night, the dream gets worse.  Tara, I need to know what these dreams mean."

"What makes you think there's any relevance to them?" Tara asked.

Buffy sighed.  "It's just....I can feel these emotions each time I have the dream.  Every time I wake up, I feel like these dreams are like a warning.  I just need to know if they're anything to them.  Do you know any kind of spell that can help?"

"Yeah, I think I may know of a few spells that can define the meaning of dreams.  It may take me a while to find the right book, though." Tara looked down.

Buffy nodded.  "Alright, I would appreciate it if you could find it.  And, don't tell anybody about it."

"Buffy..." Tara sighed, "I don't want to keep secrets from Willow.  Keeping secrets is what almost ruined us the first time."

Buffy leaned forward.  She understood where Tara was coming from.  "I know and I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think it was important.  I don't want any of them worrying until I know more.  Please, just keep this quiet for just right now."

Tara looked at her hands for several moments.  She knew that if she said yes, she would be breaking a promise she'd made with Willow the night they'd gotten back together.  But, looking into Buffy's eyes, she knew that the Slayer wouldn't ask her if she didn't think it was serious.  She judged her options as the silence lengthened and she made her decision, hoping Willow would understand and forgive her for it later.  "Alright.  I'll look up the spells that cover dream interpretations and see what I can find out." Tara said.

Buffy gripped the blonde's hand in her own.  "Thank you." she said, meaning every word.

"What time do you get off work?" Tara asked.

"I'm here until three." Buffy told her.  Buffy's shift had started at eight that morning.  She was looking forward to leaving at three.

"Okay.  Listen, Willow was kind of wanting to do a little picnic at the park after you get off work.  You up for it?" Tara asked.

Buffy grinned, "Yeah, I think a picnic will be a nice distraction." she said.  An idea hit her suddenly.  "What about Amy?"

Tara rose from the chair, slinging her bag over her shoulder.  "Willow's going to leave her some dinner.  Willow and Xander have her in the basement until Jacob returns."

Buffy nodded once.  She didn't like the witch staying at her house alone, but, since they were keeping the basement locked, Amy wouldn't be able to do anything.  "Okay.  Tell everybody I'll meet them at the park.  I have an extra set of clothes to change into."

"Okay sweetie." Tara said as she headed out of the Doublemeat Palace restaurant.  Buffy took a few deep breaths before she headed back to work.

---**---

Xander Harris opened the front door to the Magic Box with a little hesitation and a lot of nervousness.  He was here to try to begin the process of mending things between him and his ex-girlfriend Anya.  Well, to be truthful, he was here to find out if they're was still a chance for them.  If there was, he would do whatever he had to to make things work.  If there wasn't, he would turn and walk away, heartbroken, but he would accept it.

His eyes widened as he looked at the interior.  Whereas part of the roof and much of the shop had been blown apart during Willow's vengeance quest, much of the structural damage was now gone.  Xander realized Anya most of used her demonic powers to do that.  Anya was standing behind the counter of the shop when he entered.  She stood frozen, not sure of what she should do.  Should she move forward and see what he wanted or just stand there?

Xander made the choice for her.  He walked down the steps that led to the center of the shop.  Xander was wearing a tan colored button up shirt that was left untucked with a pair of blue jeans.  He had on his black jacket over the shirt.  He walked over and stopped a few feet from the front counter.  "Anya." he said, gazing at her.

"Hi." Anya returned.  She was nervous to see him, that much was clear to him and that gave him a renewed hope that things could still be mended between them.  As he gazed at her, he took in her appearance.  She was wearing a dark green shirt that had see through material above the chest area and over the sleeves.  She had the shirt tucked into a pair of black dress slacks.  Her hair was rolled up into a bun on top of her head.  She looked at him as he took a seat at a stool near the counter.  "Why are you here, Xander?"

Typical bluntiness, Xander thought with a grin, I always liked her bluntiness.  The dark haired man sighed.  "Ahn, I'm here because.....because I want to know if there's a chance for us to work things out.  I know what I did to you was bad...horrible.  And I've waited and stayed away from you to let you have enough time to think things through.  All I want to know is...is there a chance at all for us to be together again or am I just holding onto false hope?"

Anya's lips twitched as she listened to his words.  Part of her, a big part, was still sore from being left at the alter, but another equally strong part of her wanted to try to work things out between them.  As she let the silence lengthen, she thought of Willow and Tara.  The two women had been through so much during the past year.  From Willow's abuse of magic, to her spell on Tara, then to Tara's leaving her, they'd survived it all and Anya could tell that they were well on their way to being stronger than they were before.  And Anya knew that if Tara could take Willow back after what the redhead had done to her, then Anya could give Xander the benefit of the doubt.  She owed it to him, to herself.

She looked Xander straight in the eyes.  She needed to ask him a question first.  "Xander, what guarantee do I have that you do this again?  That one day, you'll propose again and we'll go through everything again only for you to ruin it?"

Xander looked down, knowing he was the reason for the hurt Anya was in right now.  "Ahn, I can't give you a guarantee for that.  I wish I could, but I can't.  It's like I said before, I thought I was ready to get married before, but the truth is...I think we moved too fast.  Proposing to you right when we were about to face Glory was a mistake.  Not proposing, but the timing was the mistake.  I do want to marry you, Anya, I just want it to be when we're both ready and I want it to be for the right reasons."

Anya felt a flood of relief wash over her.  Even though that wasn't the answer she wanted, it was an answer that calmed her nerves.  It told her that he wanted to be with her in so many ways.  As she looked at his face, she felt for the first time in the past few weeks that maybe things could work out for the two of them.  "Alright, we have to take things one step at a time, but I'm willing to try, Xander."

Xander smiled, a full relaxed one that he hadn't done in many weeks.  "One step at a time."

"Yes." Anya clarified as she smiled at him.  They started talking about many things they used to talk about all the time.  About fifteen minutes later, Xander remembered something.

"You want to come to a picnic that me and Willow are putting together?  Sort of something to help relax everyone after that whole thing with that demon." Xander asked her.

"Sure, it sounds like the kind of fun humans have.  I'm up for it." Anya said.

She turned to put a book up on the shelf and didn't see Xander's troubled look.  He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she was Anyanka again.  He'd have to talk to her about it soon.  He smiled as she turned back to him.  She grabbed her coat and they left to go fetch the lunches they would have for the picnic.

---**---

Jacob entered the monastery with calm clarity in his heart.  The monks who ran this monastery were also part mind readers and if they sensed dark emotions from anyone who entered, those with the dark emotions wouldn't be allowed to stay unless they were here to be redeemed for their past actions.  Jacob walked down an isle between two sets of alters.  The chamber was much like a church.  Their were the alters on both sides of the room with the isle that led to where the preacher would do his sermon.

Only here, there was an older man in his late sixties sitting on a golden throne.  He wore light yellow and brown clothing.   Jacob stopped and dropped to one knee before the man.  "Josiah, I have returned." Jacob said, his head bowed.

The man in the throne rested his hand on Jacob's head.  "Honorable one, welcome.  It's been over a year since I have seen you.  What brings you here?"

Jacob raised his head and looked at the elder monk.  "I am here on behalf of someone who needs to be redeemed."

The monk squinted his eyes as he looked at Jacob.  "A woman, a witch.  She doesn't want to be redeemed." he stated.

Jacob pursed his lips.  "No, she doesn't.  But, it's what she needs.  I believe that she can be redeemed for what she's done."

"And you...believe this woman can be redeemed?"

Jacob nodded.  "Yes, Josiah, I do.  This woman has ended up the way she has because of actions not in her own.  She was turned into a rat earlier in her life."

"By her own hands." Josiah reminded him.

"Yes, I know that.  But I think she needs to be showed the error of her ways.  And I firmly believe you can show her that.  Josiah, you helped me when no one else would.  All I ask is the chance to do the same for her." Jacob said.

Josiah looked at the half vampire.  "Very well, Jacob.  Because it's you that is asking, I will let her in.  Bring her here with at least three people who desire to see her redeemed."

Jacob nodded his head.  "I shall do so at once, Josiah.  Thank you."

Josiah nodded as Jacob rose and began heading out of the inner chamber.  He watched the Daywalker leave.  After Jacob was gone, a figure walked out of the shadows to the far left of the chamber.  The figure stopped next to Josiah and just watched the aisle way.

"You heard." Josiah said.  It wasn't a question, but a fact.

"Yes." the figure replied.

"What do they want me to do?" Josiah asked.

"Trust your heart.  Never go against what your heart says.  If you believe she can be redeemed of her actions, take her in.  Otherwise, send her on her way." the figure replied before it vanished in a flash of light.

Josiah looked thoughtful.

---**---

Three o'clock rolled around and Willow and Tara were already at the park, finding a nice spot for the picnic.  They found a nice and spacey area of freshly cut grass that was shaded by a few trees around the grassy glades.  Tara was laying out the blankets for the picnic while Willow grabbing the pitchers of lemonade she'd made at the house before coming out here.

Dawn came walking over, carrying a small basket that held the dessert they were going to have, assorted fruits and small cakes.  Buffy was walking along side her.  "Hey you two." Buffy greeted her friends.

Willow and Tara looked up as they walked over and both smiled.  "Hey." Willow said.

"We ready for a good ole fashioned picnic!" Buffy enthused.

"We sure are!" Tara said, sitting down with her back resting against a tree.  She extended her legs out and sighed.  She was still wearing her same outfit as before, only she'd removed the sweater coat because of the heat.  Willow flopped down beside her and leaned back against the tree, letting her shoulder touch Tara's.  The redhead had changed her clothing.  Because of the summer's heatwaves hitting the city, she'd changed out of her sweater and skirt into a pair of khaki dress shorts with a white sleeveless shirt tucked into them.  Both witches looked happy with the way the picnic was looking.

Xander and Anya arrived a little while later and the entire group settled down to enjoy the picnic.  Willow and Tara ate their sandwiches and drank their lemonade cuddled together under the tree while Buffy stretched out on a blanket enough space away to provide the witches them with privacy.  Dawn wasn't as gracious.  She parked herself as close to Tara as she could while trying to give them their privacy.  She was still reeling from having her surrogate mother back and she wasn't ready to let Tara go again.  Xander and Anya were seated closer to where Buffy was laying.  Even though the two were trying to put their relationship back together, they still had a long way to go and Anya wasn't staying as close to Xander as she normally would.  The entire Scooby group were enjoying their picnic and they talked about a great many things.  They talked about how school was going for the two Wiccans, then the conversation went to how Xander's construction company was doing, and it then went to what Buffy was planning on doing with her life.

"Honestly, I don't know.  I might re-enroll in the fall, but I'm not sure what I want to do." Buffy told her friends.

"Well.....just spend your time thinking about it." Willow stated the obvious.

The redhead looked at her lover and her brow furrowed.  Tara's left hand was rubbing just below her throat.  Tara had an expression on her face that looked as if she was going to throw up.  "Tara, are you okay?" Willow asked in a low voice so no one else would hear.

Tara looked at her.  "Yeah, I'm fine.  It's just....I don't know.  I'm feeling a little....off for someone reason.  Can't explain it."

Willow put her palm over Tara's forehead.  "You don't have a fever."

"I'll be fine." Tara pushed her lover's hands away.

"What about you two?" Buffy's voice brought their attention back over.

She had directed the question to Xander and Anya.  The dark haired best friend looked down.  "There's a lot for us to go through.  We're taking things slow." he told Buffy.

"Well, that's good to hear." Dawn said.  Even though she sometimes hated Anya's attitude, she did like the vengeance demon more than she cared to admit.

The conversation continued to other topics.  Eventually, though, the conversation went to the house captive they had now, Amy.  "What are we going to do if this monastery doesn't take her, Buffy?" Willow asked, her hand holding Tara's.  Her thumb was rubbing one of Tara's knuckles, a calming gesture for both of them.

Buffy sat up.  "I'm not sure." she said.  Buffy had changed into white t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.  "I guess we'll have to ask Jacob.  He seems to know a lot about redemption than most people.  If Amy truly wants to change, we have to help her."

"Buffy, I talked to her this morning.  She doesn't want to change.  She doesn't even think what she's been doing is wrong." Willow said.

"We'll have to show her then." Buffy said back, laying down again and wishing they would change the subject to something less depressing.  None of them saw it, but Tara began rubbing her throat again, this time slightly longer than previously.  Her face cleared before anyone noticed.

"How?  I mean, if Amy's so convinced she's doing the right thing, how are we going to show her that she's done something wrong?" Xander asked.

No one had any answers for that, so they remained silent.  A few more seconds passed as the silence between the group lengthened.  It took less than a second for everything to change.  Because in one instant, something did change.  One moment they were all enjoying the silence as the birds chirped and the sun shined, then the next, they heard a scream and saw something totally unexpected.

Tara's voice rose up above all others and she suddenly sat up from her position against the tree and screamed, a painful agony ripping through her.  Everyone turned and sat up, immediately concerned.  Willow had already moved and was trying to stop her lover's scream. "Tara!  Baby, what's wrong?!?" she demanded.

Before Tara's voice could even respond, her body moved with lightning speed.  It was as if some unseen force had grabbed her and started pulling her because her body suddenly went flat against the ground and began moving, her back scraping against the grass as it looked like she was being dragged.  Buffy and Willow chased after her moving body as the others followed closely behind.  "Tara!!" Willow yelled, trying to reach her lover's body.

"What's going on?" Dawn asked Anya.

Anya looked shocked.  "I'm not sure."

As Buffy and Willow caught up to Willow's moving body, it suddenly stopped for a fraction of a second before her body was airborne, moving upward quickly before anyone could grab her.  Then, Tara's body started glowing a bright green and a dark black shade.  Her entire body glowed the two colors.  The light illuminated from the body was so bright that the others had to shade their eyes from it.  Xander, Anya, and Dawn caught up to Buffy and Willow and they all looked up at Tara's body, stunned beyond speech.

Only a moment passed before the lights shimmered out and Tara's body was visible again.  They could tell immediately that something had happened.  Tara's hair had changed.  It was changed to bright green with black streaks running throughout it.  Her eyes were closed and her body was starting to convulse.  Tearfully, Willow watched as, a moment later, Tara's body was moving again.  It suddenly moved back as if a powerful bolt had hit it.  It flew back several feet and Tara's body somersaulted around and she hit the ground hard, on her stomach and face.  Willow was already moving before the others had even realized it.  As they caught up to her and Tara's still body, Tara's body moved again.  This time, her entire body rose until she was standing on her feet, looking at them with eyes not of Tara's own.  They were bright green with black charges fusing through them.

"Tara?" Willow took a step closer.

"Not anymore." Tara replied.  It was Tara's voice, but the timber of the voice was only a slight degree lower.  Willow stopped, frozen in place at the voice.  Her mouth was slightly open and she didn't know what to do.

This...this can't be happening.  Not now!  Willow kept thinking.

The others were totally shocked at hearing and seeing what they were.  Anya's face, however, was beginning to look thoughtful.  The green eyed Tara moved forward and whipped her arm out.  An invisible charge of energy struck at the entire group, including Willow and they were tossed backward, hitting the ground some feet back.  "I want to thank you, Slayer." Tara's lower timbered voice boomed.  "You have freed me from Tara's mind and now I am free to destroy the world!" Tara's voice said.  She laughed, an eerie sound not one of them wanted to hear.  Then, she raised her arms up high into the air and her body vanished in a whirlwind of green winded energy, leaving four stunned faces and one heartbroken one in her wake.

---**---

About a half hour later, the group assembled at the Summers House.  They brought Amy up from the basement and made her sit on the floor.  Xander sat on one of the recliners while Dawn and Willow were seated on the sofa.  Buffy was standing next to the seated Amy and Anya was facing them, her hands on her hips.  She didn't have a pleased look on her face.

"Anya, am I wrong or do you have some idea of what's going on here?" Buffy demanded.  Willow's gaze shifted to her and she took several deep breaths to calm herself.

Anya took a deep breath.  "I've seen something like this only once before.  And I wasn't sure that this was the same thing, but after what she said, I know what happened."

"Well, what happened?" Willow stood.  "Tell me."

Anya let her arms rest at her sides as she began.  "Have any of you ever heard of something called Dark Essence?"

A moment's silence.  "I read something about that in one of Giles's books." Xander said.  "Isn't that like....what the souls of some demons are created from?"

"Close," Anya replied, "Dark Essence is the matter that exists in dark magick.  There are certain demons, sorcerers, even warlocks, who's souls are filled with Dark Essence.  About a thousand years ago, I was doing vengeance on a demon who'd wronged a woman.  Needless to say, I didn't do what I wanted because he was so much more powerful.  His very soul was filled with Dark Essence.  So much that just cast a spell against him would create a link with him that no one would be able to break."

"What does any of this have to do with Tara?" Dawn asked.

"It's not what Dark Essence is that's the important thing.  It's what it does." Anya said.  "Dark Essence....well, when it enters a person's body, it takes every dark emotion, every painful experience that a person has and it takes all of it and magnifies it tenfold, virtually creating a dark shroud of that person.  That dark shroud becomes a new entity and the entity takes control of the person's body.  What I think has happened here is somehow, Saijhan channeled some of his Dark Essence into Tara before and left for the Astral Realm.  And the only way for the Dark Essence to take over her body was for the original holder of that Dark Essence to be destroyed."

"So what you're saying is Sonya destroyed Saijhan and the Dark Essence he channeled into Tara has created some evil entity that's taken control of her body?" Buffy said.

"It's not some evil entity.  What the Dark Essence's done is it's taken every painful experience Tara has, every dark emotion, anger, hate, envy, even jealousy, it's taken them all and bound them together.  And with as many dark emotions and experiences as Tara's obviously had since childhood, the dark shroud that's taken over her body is extremely powerful." Anya clarified.

"How can we.....how can we undo this?" Willow asked, she was having trouble with the latest development.

Anya looked at the floor.  "The other time I saw this....the only way to undo what was done to the person was a separation spell.  But, the spell has to be performed by a loved one and the spell uses a considerable amount of dark magic.  And even then, the separation of the entity from the person has drastic results.  A thousand years ago, after the entity was removed from the person, the person was left in such a devastated state that he lost his sanity for the rest of his life.  That could happen here."

"It won't." Willow said.  "We need to find this separation spell.  I am NOT going to let Tara die like this.  Especially not after..." she didn't finish the sentence, but she did finish it in her thoughts.  Especially not after what I was planning to do tomorrow night.  I will save her.  She's my baby and I won't fail her, not again.

They all looked very solemn as they accepted the latest facets of their situation.  One thing was sure to all of them: Saijhan's last gift to them was one that could cost them both Tara and Willow because they knew that if Tara didn't survive this Willow was likely to not survive as well.  That's why they were determined to save Tara from the dark shroud that controlled her.  No matter what the costs.

---**---

The green haired Tara walked through the cemetery with no hesitation at all.  The sun had fallen and all was dark in the city.  As she rounded a corner of one of the large crypts, she stopped because of five vampires that stepped in her path.  "Well..well....lookie here." one of the vamps sneered.

The five vamps had their vamp faces on and with their fangs exposed, they were greedily looking at Tara's throat.  She looked at them calmly, powerful energy surging through her veins.  "Get out of my way, vampires." she told them, her eyes bright green.

"Oh no. I don't think so.  We're pretty hungry and you're going to satisfy that hunger." the lead vamp, a caucasion male with blonde hair, said.

Tara raised her right arm and concentrated.  Unseen power shot from her hand and the blonde vamp suddenly erupted into flames, turning to ashes instantly. She glared at the other vamps.  She raised an eyebrow.  Wisely, the vamps changed direction and headed away from her as quickly as they could.  Tara marched on.  She was wearing a bright green silk robe that covered her body from shoulders to her ankles.  On the chest of the robe was a symbol.  It was a dagger with the blade upward and a snake was curled around the blade.  Tara's trek continued as she passed through the cemetery to an area in the mountains beyond the cemetery and beyond Sunnydale.

---**---

The Scooby group and one reluctant Amy had already left the Summers House and now they were gathered at the Magic Box.  Amy was sitting at the round table, looking through some of the books.  She'd already given up on trying to escape and instead, she was mainly just doing what the Slayer wanted because she wasn't in the mood to be hurt by the stronger woman.  The others were all scattered throughout the shop.  Buffy and Dawn had taken a number of magic books off different shelves and were near the counter, looking through them.

Xander was in the far back, on the upper level, going through whatever darker magic books were left from Willow's vengeance descent.  And Willow was also in the back, searching through the books she and Tara had used to go through constantly.  She'd remembered seeing separating spells in some of the books.  The only one not present was Anya and the vengeance demon had told them she wanted to see what Tara was doing, so they could have an idea of where she would be when they finally got the spell ready.

They had been going through the books for a little over two hours now and so far, they hadn't found the spell they needed.  Anya had been gone less than an hour.  "Um.." Amy spoke up suddenly.  "I think I've got something." she said quietly.  She knew that right now, none of them were allies to her, so she was careful with how she acted.

Willow was the first to reach the witch.  She grabbed the book Amy had been looking at and studied the page Amy had been referring to.  As the others neared the redhead, Willow looked up, her face set in determination.  "This is it." she said.  "The spell separates the dark shroud from the person's body and gives it form."

"And once it's been given form, I can kill it." Buffy said.

Less than a moment later, Anya shimmered in the Magic Box, moving towards them.  As they looked at the demon, they knew immediately that something was wrong.  "What is it, Anya?" Xander asked.

Anya pursed her lips.  "It looks like we've got less time than I'd hoped."

"Why?" Buffy stepped closer to Anya.

"I found Tara, but I don't like where she's going." the vengeance demon said.

"What are you talking about?" Dawn asked.

Anya sighed.  "Tara's dark shroud plans to finish what Willow started."

"You mean..." Willow left the sentence hanging.

"Yes.  She's going to end the world, but she's not going to do it the way you were.  In the mountains outside Sunnydale, there's a cave that leads deep underground.  So deep that not a spectral of light could reach in.  There's a hidden chamber that worshippers have used to worship whatever gods they represent.  There's a powerful crystal embedded into the chamber's floor.  The crystal works much the same way as Roxapexa's ephagy.  The dark shroud is going to funnel the Earth's life force energy into the crystal.  What's going to happen is it's going to cause the Earth's core to meltdown, literally destroying everything and everyone on this planet." Anya explained.

"We have to stop her!" Amy yelped from her seat.  The others glared at her.

"We found the separation spell." Buffy told the blonde.

"Then, we're going to have to do it at once." Anya told them.

"Alright, here's what we'll do." Buffy turned to the assembled friends.  "Anya, you and Amy will perform the spell."

"Like hell." Amy snarled.  She wasn't about to help them at all.

Buffy grabbed the woman by the throat and slammed her against the wall.  "Yes you are.  Because if you don't, I'm going to make life very hard for you, understand?"

Looking into the Slayer's eyes, Amy suddenly felt fear in her guts.  "F..fine." she managed.

Buffy released her and turned.  "Xander, stay here and make sure she does the spell with Anya."

"Alright." Xander replied.

"And me and Willow...." Buffy began and she turned.

"Where is she?" Dawn asked.

Willow was nowhere in the Magic Box.

"She's gone to the mountains after Tara." Anya guessed.

"Crap." Buffy snapped, heading to the door.  "Get started on the spell."

Buffy was already out the door before she finished her statement.  Anya looked at Amy for a moment, then she turned and began heading to the back to retrieve the ingredients she knew they'd need.  Xander stood near Amy, making sure the witch didn't try anything.  Dawn was by the counter, watching everything and hoping Willow and Buffy wouldn't hurt Tara, knowing Willow wouldn't, but also knowing that Buffy would stop Tara from hurting anyone.  She sighed, things always seemed to get more complicated with each day.

---**---

Tara stood in the center of a rock formed chamber.  She was staring intently at the floor of the chamber.  In the center of the chamber floor was a circle with a bed of crystals filling it.  Tara's eyes glittered as she gazed at the crystals.  Green and black colored energy flickered through her hands and arms as she prepared for the reason for being here.  Once she began funneling her power into the crystals, the meltdown of the Earth's core would begin.  And the only way to stop it was to destroy the cause of the energy being funneled.

Raising her hands over the crystals, Tara's lips turned into a snarl a she began the process.

---**---

In the woods that led straight to the mountains, a lone figure ran as fast as her feet could carry her.  Willow moved through the forestry with an intensity that was borne and driven by the only emotion she felt right now.  That emotion was the one and only emotion she felt where Tara was concerned.  It was love.

She moved as fast as she could, her red hair flapping as the wind blew by her.  She moved past tree after tree, following different trails that led towards the cave systems.  She already knew where the cave was because earlier in the last year, she and Tara had taken a few trips out to the caves and they'd actually visited the caves.  The only cave she and Tara hadn't had the chance to visit was the cave she was heading towards.  And as she moved uphill, she prayed that she would have the strength to bring her lover back.

---**---

At the Magic Box, Anya had the ingredients for the spell already laid out.  She had a powder substance in white color and she poured it out in a perfect circle with a pentagram inside it.  She sat down cross legged on one end while Amy sat down across from her cross legged.  Both had their hands resting on their knees and they were staring intently at the center of the pentagram.  "Ready?" Anya asked.

Amy merely nodded, not wanting to incur the wrath of any of them.  Xander was standing nearby, far enough away as to not interfere with the spell, but close enough to stop Amy if the former rat tried to run.  Amy began the spell.  "Goddess of pain, goddess of agony...hear this char." she chanted.

There was a small black bowl in the center of the pentagram and as Amy spoke, she poured a powdery mixture into the bowl.  Black colored smoke rose up as the powder was ignited.  Anya continued the chant.  "Find the soul...who's trapped within her own vessel.  Separate from within, separate from within!" Anya chanted, adding a different colored powder substance into the bowl.  More different colored smoke rose up from the bowl.

Amy added another powdery mixture.  "Separate from within and give form!" 

Anya copied the move.  "Separate and give form!"

A few more chants and additions of powder mixtures and a cloud of multicolored smoke rose from the bowl, rising to the ceiling as a powerful ball of energy flashed through the entire Magic Box.  They were all blinded for several moments before they regained their eye sight and glanced around.

"Did it work?" Dawn asked.

Anya stood up.  "We'll know soon."

"Let's just hope Buffy can get there before this dark shroud thing attacks Willow." Xander was concerned about his childhood friend.

"And Tara." Dawn reminded him.

He nodded.

---**---

Buffy was about five minutes behind Willow and she now reached the woods that surrounded the mountains outside Sunnydale.  The Slayer was moving on pure adrenaline.  She knew what she had to do.  She had to find a way to get to the cave before Willow did.  Buffy knew that the dark shroud controlling Tara's body would find great pleasure in delivering pain to Tara's lover.  And that was something that Buffy wasn't about to let happen, not to Willow and not to Tara.

Taking several deep breaths while she moved, Buffy sped up her steps.

Several yards ahead of her, Willow arrived at the top of a very steep hill.  All along the even ground she found herself on were different caves.  Sweat was dripping down her forehead over her face as she found the right cave.  She knew instantly it was the cave she needed to be at because something drew her to this one more than the others.  The redhead took a deep breath and began heading into the cave.

The cave she entered was much like the others, made out of the mountains and it was rocky and not very large.  Willow had to keep her head down so she could move through the cave.  It remained level for about fifteen yards into the cave before it began to descend deep into the ground.  As the dissension of the cave continued, Willow could make out steps that were carefully carved into the ground to allow better navigation into the cave.  Stepping down the rocky steps, she started moving down them as fast as she could, moving quicker and quicker until she began to see a faint light at the far bottom.

As she moved faster and further into the mountain, the faint light at the bottom of the stairs grew stronger and stronger until she was suddenly there.  Stopping at the entranceway to the inner chamber, she saw two things immediately.  One, there were torches connected to the wall all around the chamber and two, her lover was standing in the center of it, her back to Willow.  As the redhead slowly entered the chamber, she could see that Tara's hair was still the bright green and now, she had a matching robe that covered her body.

Willow took a few deep breaths and stepped forward.  Either she saved Tara right here...right now, or she wasn't leaving this chamber.  "Tara." she said the word quietly.

Tara's body stilled and then whirled around, clearly not expecting the intrusion.  "Witch!  What are you doing here?"

Willow was cautious as she moved forward.  "I'm here to help you." she said, calmly.

The green haired Tara watched her as Willow walked further into the room.  "I don't need no help from anyone.  I knew what I'm doing."

Willow shook her head.  "No.  You don't.  You're Tara, not some evil superbitch from beyond.  Tara, I know you're in there somewhere, fight!" she urged.

Tara's lips turned into a sneer.  "If you say so." the entity snarled as she rushed forward towards Willow.  This was not the way Willow had wanted this to go as her lover's hands grabbed her by her shirt and tossed her effortlessly across the chamber.  Willow's back hit the wall and she slid down to the floor.  "Your lover, you baby is gone, witch.  It's time you get used to that idea."

"NO!!" Willow screamed as she ran straight at Tara, letting her body slam into Tara's and taking them both down.  Willow used all of her strength and she even channeled some of her magic into her arms as she grabbed Tara's wrists and held them down.  The dark shroud, who wasn't expecting this at all, tried to resist, but it was to no avail.  Willow's strength was overpowering her.  As Willow kept her locked down, she stared into the bright and shiny green eyes that were so not her lover's.  "Tara...baby?  I know you're in there somewhere, I just know it.  You're tougher than this entity.  Prove it.  Come back to me.  Please." her voice cracked on the last word.

The redhead eased the pressure off Tara's wrists and leaned up slightly, still keeping Tara's body down, but not using all her considerable strength.  Tara's body was still, no twitching in any part of her body whatsoever and Willow was beginning to wonder if she'd gotten through to her lover, who she believed was still in there, somewhere.  Willow moved her right hand from the wrist and moved it to stroke Tara's cheek, hoping against all hope that she was getting through.  She felt Tara's eyes flutter close at the touch and Willow breathed a deep sigh of relief, believing that she was getting through to wherever her lover actually was.  Leaning forward, Willow began to descend her lips to her lover's.

At the last possible moment, Tara's free hand went up and grabbed Willow by the throat and tossed her back against the far wall.  As Tara's body rose back to it's feet, Willow looked up at her, shocked.  "I told you.  Tara's gone and I am in her place." the entity with Tara's voice decreed.

"I will never believe that!" Willow stated.

"Then you will die." Tara said, moving towards the redhead.

Willow moved to her knees and just stayed there.  If this was the way she was going to die, then she wouldn't back down.  "Then do it.  Kill me Tara."

Tara's body was halfway from Willow when the redhead said those last three words.  And, for some reason the entity couldn't fathom, Tara's body froze from the words.  It was as if another unseen force held Tara's body still.  The entity couldn't move for several long seconds.  It was then that the entity realized that Tara was indeed still inside and trying to fight back.  The entity was too strong, though, and soon, Tara's body was moving again.  She stopped less than a few feet from where Willow was.  She raised her hand up high and prepared to do what Willow said.  Prepared to kill her.  As the tendrils of energy surged to her fingers, she suddenly felt herself lifted off the ground and tossed back to the ground.

Buffy stood in front of Willow as the dark shroud in Tara's body got back to it's feet.  The green eyes flashed.  "Trying to ruin my plans, Slayer." she snarled as she sent out multiple green blasts of energy at both of them.

Buffy grabbed Willow and moved both of their bodies out of the way as the blasts hit behind them.  Small explosions erupted where the blasts hit as the two women fell to the ground.  Buffy got back to her feet and advanced towards Tara.  "Don't hurt her Buffy!" Willow yelled after her.  She was rubbing her left leg where a piece of rock had hit her.

Buffy heard her friend's words and she kept them in mind as she began to grapple with Tara.  The green haired woman used as much strength as she had to push the Slayer back, but Buffy was relentless.  She moved forward, whipping her leg out and across Tara's head, knocking the witch down.  Buffy moved back as Tara unleashed a whirlwind of power her way, letting the blast pass her and hit the wall behind her.  Buffy reached down and grabbed Tara by the shoulders and slammed her against the wall.  There was a small cut at Tara's right cheek, drops of the crimson substance inching down her cheek.  "I want you OUT of there, damn you!" she yelled to the entity.  "Get out of my friend!" she yelled again.

Willow limped over and touched Buffy's shoulder.  The touch was enough to bring Buffy back to her senses.  The Slayer released her shoulders and stepped back.  Tara's hands clenched tightly and she began to summon as many surges of power as she could muster into her hands.  It would be more than enough to crush both women in front of her.  As she raised her hands to destroy them, the dark shroud felt Tara's entire body jolt and convulse, raising into the air with a powerful rush of wind.  Electrical charges of power surged through Tara's body and the entity roared in outrage as it realized what was happening.  It was being separated from Tara's body and given it's own form.  Once it was done, it wouldn't be able to feed off of Tara's negative feelings and that thought enraged the entity.

As Buffy and Willow watched, Tara's floating body began to glow a bright green.  Her eyes slowly changed from completely green to her normal blue as the green energy left her face and directed to her chest.  The same thing happened to her hair as it changed back to the darker shade of blonde that Willow loved so much.  Then, all the power that was used to create the dark shroud left Tara's body through the chest and Tara's body was thrown backwards.  Her body crashed through the wall it was in front of, falling to the ground after it crashed through.  Then, it lay motionless.  Above the Slayer and the redhead, the green sphere of mystical energy changed from being round to having it's own form.

It changed into the form of a woman clad in black.  A black long sleeved shirt and black pants with black hair and black eyes.  Black fingernails attached to hands raised as she started stalking towards Buffy.  "YOU!!" she roared.  "This is because of you!!"

"Guess the spell worked." Buffy muttered.  "Now I can slay."

Buffy moved forward with surprising speed and hit the entity with a spinning wheel kick, knocking the dark shroud back against the wall.  The Slayer moved forward with her attack and began laying into the dark shroud with lefts and rights into the face and kicks at other parts of the being's body.  Stepping back after several moments, Buffy pulled a wooden stake out of her pants and went to shove it into the entity's chest.  The entity blocked the attempt and pressed her palm against Buffy's chest.  Buffy was knocked backward, falling on the floor on her back a few feet away.  The entity moved forward and sent a charge of energy at Buffy, knocking her further back and against the far wall.  The entity disregarded Willow, who was leaning against the wall, wanting to help Buffy, but feeling her attention should be on her lover.

The entity stalked forward and dove up into the air, slowly landing down, fully expecting to drive her hands into Buffy's chest and killing the Slayer.  Never expecting what happened to actually happen.  The stake had been lying on the ground near Buffy and the blonde Slayer merely grabbed it as the entity landed downward.  The stake impaled the entity through it's chest.  For long moments, the entity merely lay still over Buffy's body.  Then, the entity started to fade away to nothing.  Buffy took several deep breaths as she leaned up, looking around.  She saw Willow limping towards the huge forced opening in the wall, where Tara's fallen body lay still.

The dark blonde was lying on her left side, her right arm up covering her head.  There were large chunks of rock and stone covering most of her body.  And when Willow saw her, she wasted no further time.  She moved forward, dropping to her knees next to Tara's body.  There were bloody scrapes all along her skin.  Willow, as gently as she could, moved Tara's arm from her face and tilted her head up.  Slowly, much too slowly for Willow's liking, Tara's eyes began to flutter open, her entire face wincing at the sudden pain she was feeling. 

Her entire back felt like a hundred searing red hot needles were poking inside her.  "Wil...Willow?" she croaked, too hurt and exhausted to say much else.

The redhead's body trembled as she reached down and grabbed Tara's shoulders, pulling her into her arms and wrapping her arms around Tara's shoulders.  She pressed her cheek against Tara's head and pressed Tara's cheek against her chest.  "I'm here baby." she murmured while gently rocking her body back and forth.

Buffy lowered her head and gazed at the floor as the tender scene unfolded.  :She sighed a deep sigh of intense relief.  They'd done it.  They'd survived yet another attempt at ending the world and unlike the previous time, they didn't lose anybody.  Everyone was safe as sound, well relatively safe and sound and that was enough for Buffy.

Epilogue...

The water from the shower poured and drizzled over Tara Maclay's drenched body.  She ran her fingers through her wet hair as she allowed the water to continue to drench her hair.  She sighed when she thought of everything that had been going on over the past three weeks.  Three weeks previously, she'd been trapped deep within herself with no idea how it happened.  The only thing she knew was that something was controlling her body and doing harm to the world.  But that's not what had bothered Tara.

What had bothered the blonde the most was that she knew her body had used magic power to harm Willow.  Even though it was an entity that was making her do things, Tara still didn't like the idea that she had hurt Willow.  The first few days after the whole thing happened were hard for Tara.  She constantly blamed herself for what happened and it took Willow a good long while to show her that it wasn't her fault and that Willow didn't blame her for it.

Still, there was a nagging feeling that Tara couldn't shake.  That it was somehow, in some way, her fault that this had happened.  She tried not to think about it, but sometimes, she couldn't help but think about it.  She rinsed the last of the strawberry scented shampoo out of her hair and turned the water off.  Stepping out of the shower, she picked up the fluffy towel and began washing herself off. 

A few minutes later, she had her body dried off from the towel and she had her hair combed straight back.  She picked up one of the blue silk robes she'd bought for herself during her breakup from Willow and put it around her body, tying it off at the waist.  She left the bathroom and re-entered the bedroom feeling slightly refreshed.

It was about eight o'clock at night and it was Sunday night, personally one of Tara's favorite nights but not Willow's.  Tara especially liked it because it was the start of a new week.  Willow didn't particularly like it because it ended the weekend and the redhead loved the weekends because she spent most moments of the weekend with Tara.  During the week, both were usually busy and didn't have much time, aside from the night, to be together.  As she walked inside and closed the door behind her, she saw Willow laying in the bed, her back resting against the headboard and flipping through a fashion magazine.

"Find anything interesting?" Tara asked as she entered.  She walked over their dresser and looked for her nightshirt.

Willow crossed her legs at the ankles.  She was wearing Tara's Mickey Mouse nightshirt and nothing else.  "Not really.  Just seeing if there are any new clothes in here that I don't already have." the redhead grinned.

Tara sent a half grin Willow's way.  "Sure you're not just staring at those models?"

Willow looked up.  "Why would I need to look at these women when I have a gorgeous one living with me?"

Tara smiled while her back was to the redhead.  She was charmed and relieved by the comment.  Sometimes, at times that seemed more often lately, her insecurities would spark at the worst of times and she would need heavy convincing to quell them.  Those insecurities were troubling to her, but Willow took them in stride.  The redhead would say a lot with just a look or with how tender she would be at times that it would take Tara's breath away and leave her satisfied.  Willow never stopped surprising Tara and she privately hoped she never would.  Tara found the nightshirt she wanted to wear.  It was a cut-off t-shirt that left her arms bare and covered to just her mid thighs.  She untied her robe and tossed it aside as she pulled on her nightshirt.

If she'd been turned around, her knees would have turned to jelly at seeing the sudden smoldering look of intense arousal Willow had had on her face.  Seeing all of Tara's bare body in that one instance was enough to ignite Willow's passion.  She tried to calm her arousal as Tara turned around and headed to the bed.  The redhead actually had something special in mind for tonght.  Buffy and Dawn were over at Xander's tonight.  Buffy wanted to give Willow and Tara the night to be alone.  She wanted nothing to ruin their night.  And since they'd just gotten back from the monastery, they were going to have it.  Amy had been taken in by the monks and they promised to at lease try to help her gain redemption, even if she wasn't searching for it.

"C'mere." Willow said, her finger pointing at Tara and crooking, making the motion to come closer.

Tara came over to the bed and put her left knee on it as she moved around Willow.  She smiled as the redhead patted her thighs.  Putting her hands on either side of Willow's head, on the headboards, she put her left knee on the bed next to Willow's right leg and moved her other leg to the other side of Willow's legs, straddling the legs.  Then, she leaned back, her hands resting on Willow's shoulders as the redheaded witch grasped her by the waist, her fingers caressing Tara's skin there.

Tara smiled as she ran her fingers through Willow's red locks of hair.  "What are you thinking?" she asked.

Willow smiled at her lover, leaning forward and stealing a quick kiss then doing it again just because she could.  "I'm thinking..." Willow replied, "tonight is going to be the beginning of a new chapter in our lives."

Tara's eyebrow raised.  "Oh really?"

Willow nodded.  "Oh yes." she purred, running her fingers up and down Tara's back before she gently, but firmly, began caressing her lover's behind.

"Mm." Tara enjoyed the contact and the caressing for a few moments.  "Why a new chapter, baby?" she asked.

Willow's eyes went serious as she gazed at her lover's relaxed features.  "Because tonight, I have something to ask you and I know the question is going to change things between us forever."

Tara's eyes watched Willow, her insecurities making a return momentarily.  "What's the question, Will?"

Willow moved her right hand from Tara's rear and reached under one of the pillows nearby, her eyes never leaving Tara's.  She pulled a small velvet box out and used her other hand to hold it.  Staring intently at Tara's eyes, she opened the box to produce the ring she'd had made by the jeweler.  "Tara, I love you.  We've been together for over two years.  Even though we had that break earlier this year, I like to think our relationship is stronger than ever." she paused.  "When you were shot..." she swallowed, "I felt like a part of me died right along with you.  The best part.  I didn't care about my life, or about my friends.  I just wanted all the pain, all the agony I was in to stop.  And when you came back, I was so overjoyed I can't explain it.  But, what I'm trying to say is I love you so much that sometimes I can't breathe, I can't think.  And I want the world to know how much you mean to me.  I want to be able to walk the streets knowing that anybody that looks at me can say...she's hooked.  So, Tara, will you marry me?" she finished, the velvet box opened to reveal the ring with the two dolphins wrapped around a large studded diamond.

Tara sat back on Willow's thighs and just looked at the ring, then at Willow and back again at the ring.  She was overwhelmed with emotion.  Tears were falling over her cheeks as she listened to Willow's impassioned words.  She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, grateful and happy when Willow's hand touched her cheek and wiped the tears away.  She slowly opened her eyes again and looked at her girlfriend.  "Yes." she whispered the word with quiet reverence, meaning it will all the emotion in her heart.

Willow smiled and she took the ring out of the velvet box, putting the box aside as she took Tara's left hand in her own.  Tears filled her own eyes as she watched the gold band slide over Tara's ring finger.  And as the ring slid past the last knuckle, Willow felt her lips taken in a deep meaningful kiss by Tara's own lips.  Tara pulled her closer as she let herself fall back to the mattress on her back, Willow over her.

As they began to make love in their room and celebrate this union of their bodies and their souls, both women silently agreed to one thought, one answer.  This truly was the beginning of the next chapter of their lives and Tara knew that somewhere above, her mother was smiling down on her.

The End....For Now.