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Buffy the Tenno

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Episode 10 - part 3
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    • Episode 10 – part 3



    Willow makes her way to Mane Street, all thought of her afternoon class driven from her mind by the revelations made by Tara, and Buffy's invisibility. Spotting a car supplies shop, she pops in and quickly buys a can of hot rod red spray paint for a couple of dollars. Continuing down the street to the spa, it becomes obvious where the invisibility ray hit, when she hears someone trip over something.



    Hurrying over, she spots some black paint floating in the air. Taking a sample pot from her purse, along with the knife she uses for harvesting fresh herbs and flowers, Willow scrapes some of the paint off the, she feels around the object, fire hydrant.



    Standing up, she walks into the alleyway beside the spa, and lets out an "Oof" as she walks into an invisible dumpster.



    Xander finds her after she's bumped into the same dumpster for the umpteenth time, and has finally got fed up with it, and started to spray paint it.

    "Hey Willow."

    Willow looks up, "Oh, hey Xander. I wasn't expecting you here."

    Xander looks down at her, "Look, Willow. While I'm grateful for the memory spell you cast, it really wasn't on for everyone else. You could have got someone killed."

    Willow looks at the ground as she remembers that she got Buffy killed, "I know Xander, but I haven't been using that sort of magic without supervision since then."

    "You say that Willow, but how can we be sure?"

    Willow opens her mouth to reply, and then looks down and to the side, "Nothing I can say will prove it. But Buffy and Vhesthine know. I've even got a job now."

    Xander steps back, "Ok… Now we've established that… have you found anything?"

    Willow nods, "Yep, tyre marks there, they'd have had to been accelerating pretty hard to leave that." She holds up her sample pot, "And black paint on the fire hydrant. Probably from that van Buffy mentioned."

    Xander looks around, "Fire hydrant?"

    Willow nods, "Uh huh, right over there. There's also an invisible tree over there, though people are walking around it because there's a big hole in the ground."

    Xander starts to walk over, "Why isn't there a big hole where the… Ow! Shit! Oh, there is, you just have to be on top of it to see it."

    Willow shakes her spray can and walks over to spray the fire hydrant, "Xander, what's it like being a, you know. Also, weren't you supposed to be working?"

    Xander crouches down beside Willow, "I was working, but a delivery of concrete is late, and once we start the pour we can't just stop otherwise it looks wrong. So I left Frank there to wait for the shipment, and sent everyone else home. No point asking the boys to work after dark in this city. As for being a demon, to start with, it was horrible. I know it was a punishment, but everything was wrong. I'm not a mostly humanoid demon, so I kept getting sick, I couldn't move properly, and I tried to kill myself repeatedly. I was there for over a year Willow, and my new family was there for me every step of the way. They actually found me wandering their hell after Sweet changed me and just dumped me in the middle of nowhere. Is it weird that a family of demons treated me better than my own family ever did?"

    Willow places a hand on Xanders, "Do you want to grab a coffee and talk about it?"

    Xander laughs, "I can't, it doesn't agree with me. Grains, beans, potatoes, all of them make me ill. Too much starch and sugar. Or something like that. Besides, Anya wanted me for something. I'll see you later?"

    Willow looks down, "Oh, I was going to try and find the van in the local internet café."

    "Great, good luck with that."



    Somewhat dejected, Willow makes her way to the café on her own.



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    It's getting dark by the time Willow's finished hacking into the DMV and the City council to get the details of the van, and the address of the owner. Quickly noting it down on a scrap of paper, she shuts down the computer and heads out of the café. As she sees the sky, she curses the fact she couldn't use magic to make the hack go faster.



    Looking around for a nearby junction, she quickly gets her bearings and starts to walk the couple of miles to the address that's listed. As she walks, a smile graces her lips as she realises that she hacked into both the DMV and the City council in less than 3 hours. And she did it without magic. With a renewed spring in her step, she makes good time getting to the residential area ear the college.



    Once she's found the apartment block, Willow makes her way around the building twice before locating the stairs down to a basement apartment. Cautiously, she makes her way down the stairs before checking the door. As it clicks open, Willow freezes and cautiously looks inside. Not seeing anyone there, she cautiously walks in, scanning the room for any signs that someone is there. As she looks around, she spots a whiteboard with the blueprints of some form of gun. As she gets closer, the details catch her attention as some of the specifics tickle her brain about cutting edge science, along with the half hour talk that she had with Buffy about Quantum phase modulation. She's about to lean in for a closer look when a noise behind her makes her spin around. The last thing she sees is a strip of duct tape heading towards her, before someone loops a blindfold over her head.

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Vhesthine's sitting on Dawns bed stroking her hair gently after giving her another feed. Tara comes in levitating a pot of boiling water, and a couple of packs of different teas that Buffy managed to pick up from the store on Saturday.

    "Hey," Tara starts softly, "how's she doing?"

    Vhesthine looks down, "She could wake up at any point, and I don't want her to be alone when she does."

    Tara nods, "How are you doing?"

    Vhesthine looks up at her, "I'd rather not answer that."



    Tara conjures a couple of chairs, a small table, and a couple of mugs, "I brought you some tea. I remember you saying you can't really taste human stuff, but you can still smell it."

    As Tara sits down, and the pot settles onto the table, Vhesthine gives Tara a small smile, "Thank you. It's very considerate of you considering."

    Tara looks down at her hands, "You know, for a long time I thought I was going to turn into a demon when I turned 20. Since mother died, I must have heard each of my family telling me that at least once a day. She was a wonderful mother, and she was also a witch. She used to call me her little Lily, because my favourite flower was a Ginger Lily, that happened to also have the name Tara. A few years ago, I ran away from home. After all, if I was going to become a demon, I might as well enjoy life on the way.

    "I found my way to Sunnydale, and enrolled in the local college using the money mum left me and grants. It was in the wiccan group that I met Willow, and I could sense that she was really interested in magic. Not just going through the motions. Through Willow I met the rest of the Scoobie gang, and felt like I fit in for the first time. Though I believed that they only saw me as Willow's friend. A belief I held until Buffy kicked Willow out. But I felt safe with them because I could tell they were good people. I don't mean socially, I can sense auras.

    "I guess that this is a roundabout way of saying that I now feel safe with you. I didn't before Saturday, but your aura has lightened. Maybe you should see if you feel safe around others too." Tara pushes herself to her feet and walks out the door, pausing at the doorway, "Oh, the teapot's from downstairs, so please be careful with it. Enjoy your tea." A moment later she pops her head back around the door, "Oh, and when my family tried to take me away, they all stood up for me, even though they thought I might be a demon. And I'd also cast spells on them to hide my demonic nature, almost getting them killed in the process. I was able to counter the spell in time though. So, don't let being a succubus stop you from reaching out. We might surprise you."



    Opening a couple of the teas, Vhesthine absently smells them before deciding on a Lavender and Chamomile tea. As the tea starts to steep and the aroma begins to fill the room, Vhesthine goes back to stroking Dawn's hair.

    "I don't think she understands how much I've already opened up to her, and her friends. They are the only mortals that know my true nature outside Mikes Machining. But how do you really make friends with someone who's going to die in 60 to 80 years? Xander and Anya, they'll still be around when you're 500 and looking to become a matriarch in your own right. Look at me, treating you like a fledgling. I know it's only a matter of time before you become human again. I don't even know if I like your sister because she offered to feed me, or if there's more there. Though I can't say that it's not nice having someone to mingle with." She shakes her head, "The only reason I'm even considering it, is that she's already 1,000 years old."

    Dawn's hand reaches up and touches Vhesthine's wing, "Don't worry, I'll still be your fledgling, even if I have to become human again. And Tara's great, it was almost like having a mum around while Buffy was dead."



    Vhesthine looks down at Dawn, but she's already gone back to sleep. But a smile still graces her lips as she continues to stroke her hair comfortingly.

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Tara walks down the stairs to the lounge and looks around the devastation that she caused when she lost control over the power inside her, and it lashed out at everything around it. Movement catches her eye, as a mouse that might have been a coaster runs along a wall.



    Taking a deep breath, she runs through the spell in her head for the umpteenth time, before breathing out the words, "Restituere ad originale." As she does, a silvery white mist is exhaled with the breath before slowly swirling around the room and becoming more and more defuse. As it slowly settles on the various marks and transformations throughout the room, they return to their original condition.



    Even with the worst of the damage dealt with, there's still so much that wasn't fixed. As she sinks down into the sofa and puts her head in her hands, the house phone starts to ring. Looking up, Tara makes her way to the phone, and answers it.

    "Summers residence."

    The caller says, "Slayer!"

    "Uh, no, this is Tara. Buffy's at work."



    Tara frowns in confusion when there's a muffled conversation on the other end of the line. She's almost ready to hang up when the caller comes back.

    "We have a message for the Slayer. We have her friend, if she ever wants to see her again she'll come to the arcade alone."

    Tara gasps, "Which friend?"

    "That is none of your concern."

    In the background someone says, "Shouldn't we tell her that it's Willow, otherwise how will she know it's actually a friend?"

    All Tara hears is 'Willow', and her heart sinks, which is reflected in her voice, "When?"

    "8:30. Remember, if she brings anyone else, she will never see Willow again."

    The click and hum of a disconnected line sound loud in Tara's ear as she processes the conversation. Morosely, she puts the phone down and heads back upstairs to Dawn's room.



    Vhesthine looks up from where she's sitting beside Dawn, a mug of tea pressed to her nose, "Tara, what's wrong?"

    In a dead voice, Tara asks, "Can I have the number to your work?"

    In a stronger voice, Vhesthine says, "Tara, what's wrong?"

    "They've kidnapped Willow, and they want Buffy to meet them alone."

    Vhesthine puts as much kindness in her tone as she can, but still her exasperation is clear, "Tara, you are a powerful and capable witch who can turn invisible. Why do you need Buffy?"

    "They could be invisible, and what if they spot me?"

    Vhesthine sighs, "Tara, you're a witch, conjure some glitter or something. Or failing that, take a bag of flour from the kitchen. This isn't some magic resistant demon that needs the Slayer to combat it. It's some mortal kidnappers."

    Tara looks up, "How do you know they're mortal?"

    Vhesthine rolls her eyes, "They used the phone. Any demons or vampires that could do that already know that kidnapping someone the Slayer cares about is a death sentence. So, go, be the knight in shining armour for once, and rescue your girlfriend."

    Tara looks down, "She's not my girlfriend."

    Vhesthine huffs, "Keep telling yourself that. Just go and rescue her, and get the weapon too. If you can turn the kidnappers into something small and fuzzy too, great. Then you can take them to Buffy so that she can inform them about the reality of life in Sunnydale."



    "But I'm not like the others, I can't do this."

    "Tara, it was you that saved Dawn and drove off Rack last night. Not me. Not Buffy. Not Willow. And not Mr Happy Meal."

    Tara giggles, "His name is Spike."

    Vhesthine waves her hand, "Not when Buffy's around. Then he's so full of lust, obsession, and desire that he's just a walking meal. If she was a succubus, I'd be telling her to cultivate it, and keep him around as a reliable food source. Now, don't you have a girlfriend to save?"

    "I-I think I do. Thank you Vhesthine."

    Vhesthine smiles, "Don't forget, you don't have to get Willow out, just make sure they can't hurt her. Once that's done, securing the weapon is the most important thing you have to do. After all, if you have the weapon, then they are at your mercy rather than the other way around. Oh, and you should practice your invisibility thing on the way, as you don't want to struggle with it when they might see you."

    A soft smile comes over Tara face, "Thank you, and I think I can do this. After all, I turned a classroom of people into bunnies accidentally."



    As Tara leaves, Vhesthine smiles after her, "We'll make a confident companion out of you soon."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    As she's walking down the road from the house, Tara waves at Anya and Xander as they drive past and pull up outside the house. Once she starts getting closer to Maple Court, Tara remembers that there's an alleyway near the Magic Box that has a good view of arcade.



    After making her way around the back of the store to the mouth of the alleyway. Once there, she hesitantly pulls the void around her. A task that takes Buffy barely a thought, instead taking Tara over a minute, as the world resists the intrusion of the void and keeps pushing it out. As it snaps into place she breathes a sigh of relief as the mental strain drops.



    Walking towards the arcade, she almost lets go of the void when she catapults herself halfway across the court in one step. A second normal step has her pass through a patron walking out of the place, so she deliberately slows down. Once she's walking at almost a crawl, she's able to pass through the arcade without disappearing everywhere. With her rapidly dwindling supply of void energy, she's able to locate Willow and find the device floating behind her. But she doesn't have the energy spare to maintain the void and do something else.



    Thinking quickly, she holds our her hand across the back of Willow, and stops concentrating on the void. As she drops out, she calls, "Cohibeo"



    Two voices call out, "Hey!" "Where'd she come from."

    With a shake of her head, Tara looks over towards the voices and whispers "bracteamentum" before breathing out a stream of silver and gold glittering particles that coat everything in their path.



    A rather short man, and a taller man are both revealed as the glitter sticks to them both, and they start flailing trying to brush it off them. Turning to look at Willow, Tara smiles, "Hey Willow, miss me? Libero."

    As the duct tape over her mouth flies offs, Willow spins to look at Tara, "Tara, what are you doing here?"

    "Rescuing you, and retrieving this, and those three too." Tara prises the weapon out of the hand of the invisible person.

    "But Buffy?"

    "Is at work. One moment." Tara turns around as the two men covered in glitter are approaching, "Really? I'm clearly a witch, and equally clearly can see you."

    The shorter one blusters, "Oh, yeah, I'm a warlock."

    Tara shakes her head and gestures, "Facti lepus. Thanks for letting me know. What about you?"

    As the shorter man shrinks down into a glittering rabbit, the other man holds his hands up, "No, no, I'm good."

    Tara nods and conjures a pet carrier, "Good choice. Willow, would you be able to put that one in the carrier while I deal with the person that was holding this?"

    Willow finally snaps out of it and looks at Tara while grabbing the sparkly rabbit, "Tara, what's happened to you? You're not normally like this?"

    "Well, they shouldn't have kidnapped my girlfriend, even if we're currently having problems. Also, Vhesthine pointed out that I could actually do this. You remember our conversation earlier don't you."

    Willow nods thoughtfully.

    Gesturing at the remaining man, Tara adds, "You, grab the carrier, we're leaving. And do you have a name?"

    "Uh, Jonathan? Where are we going?"

    Tara smiles sweetly, "We're going to see the Slayer, at work. Come along."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    As the three of them climb the stairs to the reception of Mikes Machining, Buffy's voice comes through the door, "No, I don't care that you're a Boretz Demon. No pay, no goods."

    "And what are you going to do to stop me, human?"

    "Break your legs if you don't get out of my face."



    They all winced at the sound of two loud snaps, and a scream of pain, "I did warn you. And now you're getting your stink all over the carpet. Do you have any idea how much it costs us to get cleaners in?"



    Behind them, Jonathan says, "Um, maybe we should come back another day."

    Tara laughs, "Nope, in you go. I'm sure that Buffy has everything under control."



    As the three of them go into the reception, Buffy is talking to Razial at the door to his office. Her red blouse, black skirt, and heels seemingly supported by nothing, along with the lipstick and eyeshadow they can see from the wrong side.



    Razial looks over Buffy's shoulder at Willow, "Ah, apprentice. It's good that you are here, I need your note taking abilities."

    Buffy huffs, "Razial. I have a demon here that just tried to welch on his bill. What do you want to do with him?"

    Razial gives Buffy a look before looking down at the demon and a long string of an unknown language comes out of his mouth, before the demon disappears in a flash of green flame. "Buffy, I will be out of the office for the rest of the evening."

    Buffy just stares impotently at him while he walks over to Willow and they both disappear in a pillar of fire.



    Buffy throws her hands in the air, "Great, just great. Now we're down 80 kittens, and the boss has disappeared for who knows what reason. Hi Tara, just need to vent for a second."

    Jonathan stares at the space that Willow was just standing, the pet carrier falling out of his hands, "Willow is an apprentice to a… And we kidnapped her…"

    Tara nods and puts the gun on the reception desk, while Buffy is pacing around the room muttering, "Yep, that's my Willow. Buffy, we've got the invisibility gun."

    Buffy freezes mid-rant and turns to the desk, "Why didn't you say so before I started venting?"



    Quickly picking up the device, Buffy swiftly looks it over, "Oh this is brilliant. Crude and poorly made, but brilliant. I never imagined that this was possible with this level of technology. Whoever made this was both an absolute idiot and a genius."



    As a small toolkit floats out of a drawer on the desk, Tara coughs, "Buffy, before you get to absorbed by that. You should turn yourself visible again, along with these three."

    "No, no, no time for that. This is the answer to my manufacturing problems."

    Tara snatches the weapon away from the desk while Buffy is taking a screwdriver out of the toolkit, "Buffy! No! Slayer duties now, then work. You can play during the day tomorrow."

    Buffy whines, "But, do you have any idea what I can do with that?"

    "Buffy." Tara says warningly, "You are usually more composed than this. Now sit down and work out the settings needed to turn you back to normal."

    Buffy slumps back in the reception chair with a sigh, "You're right. You're right Tara. It's just… with this I could probably create some of the alloys and materials that the Corpus use. It might take me 10 years, but I have a place to start. It might have been charitably called a warzone, but it was my home for centuries."

    Tara walks around the desk and gives Buffy a one handed hug, "I know Buffy, but 10 years is still 10 years whether you start today or tomorrow."

    "I know. Come on, give me the device and I'll check the settings." Tara hands over the device, and Buffy looks at the fact there's two dials, "Dials? What idiot puts dials on something like this. Do they want to kill people?"

    Jonathan says "Um."

    Buffy glances up, "Oh. Never mind then. Same as making it handheld too I suppose."

    She lifts up the gun and shoots it at a chair, turning it invisible. Adjusts the dials a little and shoots it again, making it visible again.

    "Got it. Tara, do not touch the dials. Pull the trigger long enough for the beam to hit me and then let go. I'll do the tag along after that."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    A few minutes later, Buffy is facing three young men, "Well gentlemen, you've screwed up royally. Welcome to the dark side. According to Willow, we have cookies. However what it really means is that you are now officially part of the supernatural side of Sunnydale."

    One of the men stares at Buffy mulishly, so Jonathan speaks up, "Warren. I-I think we should listen to her."

    Warren looks at Jonathan, "Jonathan, shut up."

    Buffy sighs, "I should really get some business cards printed out. Right, I really couldn't care who any of you are. Or what you want to do in Sunnydale. However, there are five simple rules you need to live by, otherwise you get a personal visit from me. Do not Eat, enslave, hurt, hunt, or kill civilians. If you summon a demon, you will be responsible for what they do in Sunnydale until they have been dismissed. Or you've told me that they have escaped your control. Do you understand?"

    Warren looks down at Buffy, "And what will you do if we don't follow your rules?"

    Buffy smiles, "Kill you. You've had your warning."

    The third man puts his hand up, "Um."

    Warren growls at him, "Andrew, shut up."

    Andrew whines, "I only wanted to know what a civilian is."

    "Andrew!"

    Buffy smiles, "It's a fair question. In general, anyone that is unaware of the supernatural, and any demons that are not attacking you."

    Andrew moans, "But how are we going to take over Sunnydale and get girls with those rules?"

    Buffy glances at Tara for a moment, then back at the trio of men, "I can probably put you in contact with some succubae. They're not exactly girls, but I'm not sure you are actually looking for girls with that attitude."

    Andrew tries to make himself look big, "I am, they just don't want to date me."

    Warren grabs Andrew by the ear, "Stop talking you idiot. Jonathan, we're going."



    Jonathan looks at the door for a moment as Warren drags Andrew through it, then back at Buffy and Tara, "Look, I'm sorry about Willow. We didn't know."

    "Jonathan!"

    Buffy smiles at Jonathan, "It doesn't matter. You did it, and you'd be getting the same talk regardless of who you kidnapped. If you're in trouble, and want out, you know where I work."



    Once Jonathan's left, Tara summons a chair from the break room and sits down next to Buffy, "Buffy, do you think I'm crazy for considering dating Willow again?"

    Buffy stares off into space, "No Tara, I don't. But it's still too soon for me to let her live with us again. I know that Razial has her under control, and she's had a lot of her arrogance knocked out of her. But, it's still been little over a week for us."

    Tara nods, "I can understand that. I guess I'd be the same about Vhesthine if she hurt you. I did my best to repair everything at home. But there were things I couldn't do. I'll replace them, I promise. I, just need to get a job first."

    Buffy shakes her head, "Don't worry about it. As I said, I've seen worse."

    "But that's not fair on you. You're already working to pay the bills, and adding repairs for my accidents isn't fair on you."

    Buffy laughs, "Look, if you really want to help with the house. Arrange for the plumber to come and refit all the pipes, and I'll write the cheque. Then we'll call it even."

    Tara shakes her head, "I'll do that for you. But that's not making us even. I need to get a job for my own peace of mind. I refuse to be any of the things my family called me, and helping with the repairs and bills is one of those things."

    Buffy nods in acceptance and reaches for the invisibility gun. As she does, Tara grabs it with magic, "Ah ah, I'm taking this downstairs and asking someone to put it somewhere safe for you. You said it would help with work, so you can look at it when you're not the receptionist."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    The next morning, Buffy looks around the lounge with a smile before leaning over to have a small exchange with Vhesthine. Upstairs she can hear Dawn moving around in her room, and she smiles once again and wipes tears from her eyes as she remembers coming home to find Dawn sitting in the kitchen with Anya and Xander, in his new natural form. She'd immediately pulled Dawn into a hug and fed her a decent amount of essence, before doing the same with Vhesthine. It was nice having them around for support.



    "Vhesthine, what have you done to me? I haven't cried… for as long as I can easily remember, yet since Saturday it keeps happening."

    Vhesthine smiles, "Essence. Why do you think Succubae are such passionate creatures. Even Incubus are passionate in their own twisted way. When you take in another's essence, it stirs your own. Now dab your eyes, don't rub them. We only have a minute or so before social services arrive."



    At that moment, the doorbell rings, and Tara calls "I've got it" from the top of the stairs.



    As Buffy sees Tara open the door, the only thing that stops her from standing up is Vhesthine's soft grip on her hand.

    Tara smiles at the people on the doorstep, "Good morning."

    Doris looks Tara up and down, "Well, yes I hope it is. This is my colleague Prince Sellers. We're here for a follow-up interview with Miss Summers."

    Tara smiles, "They're in the lounge, I'm about to put the kettle on, do either of you want coffee?"

    Prince smiles, "Black two sugars please."

    Doris smiles brittlely as she shakes her head, and the two of them make their way into the lounge.



    When they come in, Vhesthine lets go of Buffy's hand, and she stands up, "Hello, I'm Buffy Summers. Thank you for returning today, yesterday was a bad day."

    With her hands demurely in her lap, Vhesthine politely adds, "What my girlfriend is failing to mention is that she has anxiety based mental health problems, that were exacerbated by Dawn's unexpected removal from the school." She glances down at a carefully placed ID, where the MoD hologram is visible, but the rest of the ID is obscured.

    Prince looks down, and then up at her curiously, "Have you known Miss Summers long?"

    Vhesthine smiles, "Indeed, I'm the evening receptionist at Mikes Machining. We deal with our international customers during that time. We've been dancing around each other for a month or so, and I've looked after Dawn when she hasn't been able to stay with one of Buffy's friends. She's a delightful young woman."

    Prince nods, and looks at a couple of notes, "I see from our notes that there were some mushrooms found in a bag."

    Vhesthine nods and lifts up Buffy's notes, "Buffy said as much herself in her notes. They belong to Tara, so if you wouldn't mind waiting until she's finished her coffee."

    Prince nods, "Of course. Moving on, there was a Willow sleeping on the couch, and she used to be a tenant here. Miss Summers, what did you mean when you said 'she made us forget ourselves'?"

    Buffy looks up, "Um, that was the weekend we had gathering to say good bye to one of the owners of Magic Box. And we had some drinks, non-alcoholic, and Willow brought something more. And well, Dawn got caught up in it, and I got angry and kicked her out. Nothing illegal for us, but well, Dawn."

    Vhesthine holds Buffy's hand comfortingly as she shivers, "It's ok, it's in the past and she's promised not to do that again."

    Prince makes a few notes on his pad, then looks at the next section, "We now come to the original reason for the call, the screams."

    Vhesthine sighs, "I was actually here for that one. Willow's moved back into college dorms, and she went clubbing with a dorm mate. Said dorm mate then took Willow to a 'place' she'd heard of. Once she found her way here, she was absolutely filthy and stank to high heaven. So we broke out the hose and the brushes in the yard, as we don't want that sort of stuff in the house. When the dealer took Dawn, Buffy was able to get her back. But Dawn was just as filthy. We're just glad she doesn't have any track marks unlike poor Willow. That's why Willow was staying on the couch, as students can't exactly afford that sort of medical bill."



    Prince nods, "Ok, apart from the mushrooms, that covers everything that was discussed yesterday. As there doesn't appear to be anything that can't be explained by misunderstandings, I'd like to move onto household finances."

    Vhesthine smiles at Buffy, "Do you think you can deal with this Hun?"

    Buffy nods and shuffles forward on the couch, and opens a folder on the coffee table.



    While they're doing that, a sound from the stairs catches Doris' attention, and she looks over before letting out an 'Eeep' as she spots Dawn as a succubus coming down the stairs.

    Vhesthine looks over, before calling out, "Where do you think you're going looking like that?"



    Dawn looks down at herself before scrambling back up the stairs, before Prince finds a good place to pause and look up. Doris cross herself and mutters, "She's a demon, Holy Mary, the child is a demon."



    A moment later, Tara comes in carrying a tray with two coffees and a teapot with Lavender and Chamomile tea in it, along with three mugs.



    Setting the tray on the table, Tara apologises, "Sorry I took so long, I over filled the kettle and it took ages to heat up."

    Vhesthine nods appreciatively, "Don't worry about it. Do you mind sticking around, as Prince is going through finances with Buffy at the moment."

    Tara nods, and waves her hand, absently noticing a spark of void energy, "I'll… just grab a chair from the other room and be right back."



    Once she's burned off a little void energy, Tara returns with a chair, and almost bumps into Dawn, "Have a good day at school Dawn."

    Dawn smiles at Tara, "Thanks, I'll try."

    Buffy calls out with a smile, "Have a good day."



    As Buffy goes back to discussing finances with Prince, Tara moves one of the coffees to Prince while taking the other for herself. Then she hands Vhesthine and Buffy a mug.

    "Doris wasn't it?" Doris nods, "I know you didn't want coffee, but I forgot to ask about the tea. It's Lavender and Chamomile. Be careful while you're pouring though, as it doesn't come in teabags."

    Doris nods thoughtfully.



    A few minutes later, a spark of light catches Doris' and Tara attention. As Doris looks down and sees a mouse on her coaster, she screams "It's a mouse!" and leaps to her feet. Tara discretely turns the mouse back into a mug that has a tiny china mouse on the handle, that's looking into the mug.



    As Doris screams and moves quickly, Buffy scoots back in her chair and raises her left arm. Vhesthine quickly grabs it and pushes it down before talking calmly and reassuringly to her. Prince looks at the mug curiously until he spots the mouse.



    With a sigh he drains his coffee, "Miss Summers, I apologise for my colleagues behaviour, I think the stress of the job is getting to her." He turns to Tara, "Tara wasn't it? We were told that you could identify the mushrooms that Doris found yesterday."

    Tara nods, "I can, they were Wood Ear Mushrooms. I practice Wicca and we some times burn them to purify an area. We also have locally found mushrooms, but they're always kept in a labelled sealed container as if we've made a mistake, we don't want to poison anyone. I've got a book on identifying mushrooms around here somewhere if you're interested."

    Prince nods, "I'm sorry for wasting your time today, and thank you for seeing us. Miss Summers, I just want to say that I'm impressed at how well you're managing the household finances. However, I notice that you're not receiving any of the benefits that California residents can claim for children under the age of 17. I'll have a pack posted to you that includes all the details of that."



    Buffy nods from where Vhesthine is still talking to her softly, so Tara sees the two social workers out.
     
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    • Episode 11 - part 1
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    • Episode 11 – part 1



    [an: I got Jonathan and Andrew mixed up, so mixed up they shall stay.]



    Tara stares at her alarm clock accusingly as it goes off at obscene o'clock in the morning. As it continues to stab at her head with its incessant beeping, clarity returns to her and she clambers out of bed to turn the stupid thing off.



    Pulling on a pair of sweat pants and a top, she makes her way downstairs to the back yard, where she can see Dawn and Buffy kneeling opposite each other already. Opening the door, she steps out and winces as the cold air hits her face.



    Both of the sisters open their eyes and look at Tara, so Tara stammers, "Um, I was wondering if I could join you. As Buffy said she'd teach me, but that was…"

    Buffy's attention is drawn to Dawns face, and she catches a fleeting expression of disappointment before it vanishes. Looking back at Tara, and then down at the ground, Buffy sighs, "Sorry Tara, I know I did. But this is my time with Dawn… Look, Dawn leaves for school at 8:30, so let's try and start a routine where I teach you at that time, ok?"

    Tara smiles and nods, "Yeah, I think that works better for me too. Did I tell you I had a response to one of my applications? I-I'll talk to you both about it over breakfast."



    Once Tara's gone back inside to get a couple more hours sleep, Buffy looks back at Dawn, "Dawn, Razial's started spending more time at the office again."

    Dawn lets out a moan, "Do we have to?"

    "Dawn…"

    "Buffy, I like being a succubus. I like feeding, I like the extra strength, speed, and senses. I like being able to tell what people at school are feeling. Besides, it's almost Christmas, I've been like this for over a month now. If something was going to happen, I'm sure it would have happened already."

    Buffy nods, "And how many of your school mates smell yummy? What about having a boyfriend, or eating? How many times have you told Janice that you've already eaten?"

    Dawn looks alarmed, "You know about that?"

    Buffy nods, "Her mother called the other day asking if you could go round straight after school one day. As she wants to teach you to cook Mexican food." Dawn looks down at the floor, "Dawn, it's not just that." Buffy takes a shuddering breath as she looks at the floor, her hands shaking on her thighs, "Dawn, I… I'm scared Dawn. I'm scared that if another incubus comes to town, he could take you away before we even know he's a danger. Dawn, I'm confident I could rescue you from any situation. But I can't do that if I don't know where you've been taken."

    Half-heartedly, Dawn says, "But Vhesthine likes having a fledgling around too, and she's teaching me so much."

    Buffy nods, "I know she does, and has. We do talk in the evenings. And she agreed with my worries. Though she persuaded me to add a caveat."

    Dawn looks hopeful, "Really?"

    Buffy smiles at Dawn, "Really. If you learn enough magic to transform yourself into a succubus and back into a human, then you can spend as much time as you want as a succubus. Same as if you learn the Void Snare and Guardian Shield techniques from the Vazarin Way. Either way, we think that you'd then know enough to at least escape from an incubus."

    Dawn looks down at her hands, "That's something I suppose. Will you both still be able to feed me occasionally?"

    Buffy smiles, "Until it starts feeling better than it does now, sure."

    Dawn beams at Buffy, "You're the best."

    Buffy smiles, "You've still got at least one more night as a succubus anyway, as Mrs Penshaw will be picking you up from school today to teach you how to cook Mexican food, including Tortillas from scratch."

    "Buffy___ Do I have to? You know food tastes meh for me."

    Buffy nods "Yes Dawn, you have to. Now, on your feet we're going to do the forms once, then we're going to spar with our daggers." Dawn groans, "I hate sparing daggers with you, I always get stabbed."

    Buffy nods, "And you're doing well for only having done this since October. Tell you what, one of the papers Tara's been getting had an adverts for a couple of places to learn Martial Arts called Dojo's. Why don't we head to one of those on Saturday and see if you can test yourself against the students there."

    Dawn looks down, "But they're just going to beat me, the same way you do."

    Buffy lifts Dawns chin, and then twists her hand out of the way of a grab, "Dawn, I said you're doing well. I've got 700 years of practice in all the different ways, don't compare yourself to me. I think you'll be surprised at what you're able to do."

    Dawn pouts, but still gets up to move through the Vazarin way.

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    While Buffy and Tara are eating breakfast, and Dawn is doing her homework, Vhesthine comes downstairs in a sheer robe that only just provides modesty to those who might be looking through the windows.



    As Vhesthine comes through the door, Buffy stands up and takes the couple of steps needed to embrace her and have a passionate exchange of essence.



    As the couple are doing that, Dawn leans over and says to Tara, "That. One day I want that."

    Tara puts her fingers to her lips, "Uh huh, me too. Oh, um, I wish Willow was here… No Tara, that's not helping."

    Dawns giggles break Buffy and Vhesthine apart, and they both take their now customary seats. To try and divert Dawn's attention, Buffy looks over at Tara, "You mentioned getting a reply to one of your applications."

    Tara looks down at the table, "I did. It was from your mum's old art gallery. They thanked me for the application, and suggested I reapply once I finish my degree."

    Buffy smiles at Tara, "Hey, I get that you want to help with the bills, and the run away crockery. I think one of them turned into a cat earlier and ran off while Dawn and I were coming in. But you don't need to, I'd rather you get a handle on your void energy without needing to worry about more than just doing your college degree and…"

    Vhesthine puts her hand on Buffy's, "Honey, I know you mean well. However, what would your reaction be if I suggested I have enough money to support both of us and this house?"

    Buffy huffs, "That's different, I don't want to go into debt for anyone. And it wouldn't be fair on you either, after all, you have your own bills to pay."

    Vhesthine laughs, "Buffy, you'd be amazed at how little you spend when you don't have to buy food. I've got a small apartment on the outskirts of Sunnydale where I keep some clothes and a few keepsakes. I've even got a perpetual lease on it, as I helped finance the build. The only appliances that ever see use are the washing machine and tumble dryer. Why do you think I've been so willing to pay for things?"



    While Buffy is processing that news, Tara opens her mouth to speak only to have Dawn touch her and shake her head. When Tara looks at her questioningly, Dawn writes, 'Don't, this is interesting, and how often do you hear Buff talking about any of this stuff?'



    Buffy opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, before saying, "You know you don't have to, I can handle it."

    Vhesthine takes Buffy's chin and points it at her, "Buffy, I'm doing it because I want to. I know I started staying here to ensure that Dawn was fed. But I like it here, it's like being part of a commune again. The only thing that could possibly make it better is if you were willing to hunt for essence too, not just relying on your own." Vhesthine lifts up her tail and grabs the end with one hand, "I could never live with other succubae, as the matriarch I challenged too my spade. So they'd never treat me as more than an adolescent. Even Dawn has a tiny spade developing already."

    Buffy pulls Vhesthine onto her lap, "How could someone do that to you?"

    Vhesthine gives a self-deprecating laugh, "It's the price of being almost good enough. By tradition, she should have just banished me from the family, and maybe also the commune if she could get enough Matriarchs to agree. But she was the weakest of the Matriarchs, and knew I could challenge her again. So she disgraced me instead. I got her though, I challenged her in front of the Matriarchs, and won. Then I took her tail. I might have been expelled as a disgrace, but she was shamed."

    Buffy pulls her tight against her chest, "Unless something really bad happens between us, you'll always have a home here. Do you want to move in?"

    Vhesthine turns around with a soft giggle and gives Buffy a quick exchange, "I already have silly."

    Buffy blinks, "You have?"

    "I sleep in your bed. We exchange at every chance we have, and I am helping you rear your fledgling. Hopefully one day, we will have fledglings of our own."

    Buffy looks poleaxed at Vhesthine's declaration, "But what about dating, marriage, and all the things that Anya is worried about?"

    Vhesthine gives Buffy a quick exchange, "Does any of that matter to you?"

    "Um, no?"

    "Why would you think it matters to me?"

    Buffy shakes her head, "I don't know, it seemed like you were part of this society."

    "Honey, I belong to this society about as much as you do."

    Looking abashed, Buffy looks over at the other two, "So, um, jobs?"



    Tara looks at Dawn, "You were right. None of the books even mentioned any of that."

    Vhesthine scoffs, and wiggles herself into a more comfortable position on Buffy's lap, "Don't trust any of the books when it comes to demonic society. They are written by humans after all. You would not believe the stories that demons tell of humans. Most of which are false about individuals, while true of humanity as a whole."

    Buffy strokes Vhesthine's side softly, causing her to giggle, "Vhesti, you're not helping. Dawn needs to finish her homework before school."

    Vhesthine slips off of Buffy's lap, and whispers in her ear, "I was serious about the hunting thing."

    Buffy looks alarmed, and whispers back, "But I've never felt like that about anyone. I know what's involved in hunting remember."

    Vhesthine whispers back, "Ewww, icky thoughts. Hunting is only superficially like that, and I don't think you could hunt properly as you're nose blind. But you have a perfect prey that keeps stalking you. Even better, if you go too far. As long as he can still talk, you can feed him a little blood, and he'll be ready to go again the next night."

    "I don't feel comfortable with it, but I'll keep it in mind. But remember, I want to share some of my culture with you too, starting with the Quantum Phase Projector."

    It's Vhesthine's turn to look uncomfortable, "I can barely use the computer at work, and you want me to understand human technology that's thousands of years advanced of that?"

    Buffy smiles and pulls Vhesthine round into a kiss, "Don't worry, I'll start with the basics. QPP's are ancient technology that predate void based technologies by thousands of years."

    "You don't expect me to understand those too, do you?"

    Buffy shakes her head, "I barely understand the concepts behind them, as they make what they call quantum dynamics here, look like Dawn's homework."

    Vhesthine grimaces, "Don't, her homework makes my head hurt."



    Dawn's giggling makes the two of them aware of the fact they probably weren't as quiet as they thought, so they separate completely and take their seats. With a smirk, Dawns asks, "So, is hunting basically the same as having sex?"

    Vhesthine shakes her head, "No, not at all. It's just the simplest method of doing it. I'm sure you've noticed that lust isn't the only emotion that smells nice. You just need to bring the prey to a climax, it doesn't matter what sort. That's when their hold on their own essence is at its weakest. The incubus used the ecstasy caused by channelling a large amount of tainted magic. You could probably feed quite well at an arcade, if you find someone that's obsessed with a game, and they're about to beat it. Athletes, sports players, and the like are equally good if you catch them at just the right time. However, lust is easy to direct and control."



    Tara furrows her brow, "So, why don't more succubus prey on those sorts of people?"

    Vhesthine laughs, "Who says they don't? Don't forget, cheerleaders are a thing in this country. How many of them will crowd around a player that's just scored a touchdown in football?"

    "Oh…"

    Vhesthine leans over and pats Tara's hand, "Don't worry, you're part of the commune. Now, what other jobs are you looking at?"

    Tara groans, "Are you sure I can't get a job at Mikes?"

    Vhesthine shakes her head, "Not on the night shift until Buffy graduates from being an apprentice."

    Tara's head sags, "I've been trying to avoid it, but I think I need to apply to Doublemeat Burgers. However, I've heard really bad things about factory farming, and I've always tried to eat organic since I had the choice."

    Vhesthine shakes her head comfortingly, "Don't worry, the burgers aren't meat. You can check with Aglomal or Surkos if you want. They've both tried their burgers when Andrew or John were buying, but they can't process. Oh, what's that stuff that they keep advertising to humans, and comes with some cereals?"

    Tara frowns, "Sugar, starch, vitamins, fibre?"

    "Fibre, that's it. The others just pass straight through them."

    Buffy frowns, "Why would they even try them?"

    Vhesthine laughs, "Cost, they're cheaper than kittens. I think most demons try human burgers at one point or another. Those that can stomach human food, will usually end up eating about the same amount as Buffy."

    Tara looks somewhat relieved, "Ok, I'll do it."



    It doesn't take long after that for Dawn to finish her homework and get ready for school, with only one reminder about not going as a succubus. Once she's safely on the bus, Buffy starts to lead Tara through the meditation and meaning behind the Vazarin Way.

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Jonathan watches as Warren is bent over his workbench, sparks coming from the thing he's currently working on. Every time he has a moment to think, his thoughts turn to that moment when one of Them claimed Willow as their apprentice. The fact that Buffy was arguing with it without any fear whatsoever also keeps swirling around his mind.



    Hesitantly, Jonathan calls, "Warren, what are we making again?"

    "Cerebral dampener. Now, I'm just about done. Do you have the musk gland?"

    "Uh, yes?"

    "Well give it to Andrew so that he can charge it."

    Jonathan fumbles the plastic bag, almost dropping it, but manages to give it to Andrew. The three of them put on sunglasses as Andrew uses his magic bone to pull the essence out of the gland and into the sphere on the workbench.



    Once they've all finished blinking, Warren picks up the sphere, "With this baby, we can make any woman we desire our willing sex slave. And I know just where to start."

    Jonathan looks at the sphere in trepidation, "Um, guys. I'm not sure about the whole slave bit."

    Warren spins around, "Are you telling me that you're afraid of that two bit Slayer with delusions of mediocracy? Do you really think she could have made something like this? No, she will be like every other woman before us."

    Jonathan can see Andrew nodding along, and he also starts to nod along too, "No! I'm going to the arcade. You two can do what you want, but yes, I'm scared. I'll see you in the morning."

    Andrew calls after him, "Jonathan!"

    But Warren snaps, "Let him go. It just means less of us to share this with."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Buffy frowns as her new cell phone pings while she's carefully positioning the synthetic Corundum in between two small clamps. Cursing slightly, she checks the phone to see that it's a text message from Tara to say that she's not going to be home till late, as Doublemeat Burgers want her to start now.



    Buffy's halfway to the door when she remembers that Dawn's visiting the Penshaw's tonight. Much more calmly, she makes her way up to the reception.

    "Hey Millie."

    The receptionist looks up from her paperwork, "Buffy! I didn't expect you to be here."

    Buffy smiles and shrugs, "I'm working on a project downstairs. I hope it's useful for work, but I don't want to waste anyone's time by working it on the job. Especially if it doesn't work. Anyway, do you think I could use the phone to call home quickly?"

    "Uh, sure, but Vhesthine's probably on her way here already. We usually have a handover before I head home."

    Buffy looks at her dumbly for a moment, before saying, "Oh, right, I should have guessed that. Given that she leaves at the same time I do when I'm picking up Dawn."

    Millie smiles, "Don't worry, I'll let her know you want to talk to her when she gets here."

    Buffy smiles, "Thank you."



    Buffy returns downstairs and starts her measurements again. She's just finished setting up the gem, and has tested that the emitter that she's made lines up perfectly when Vhesthine walks towards her, drawing the eye of all the day workers.

    Once Buffy appears to not be touching anything, Vhesthine says, "Hey Buffy, what are you doing?"

    Buffy looks up sharply, and blinks a couple of times before she registers who spoke. Then a broad smile spreads across her face as she walks around her bench to embrace Vhesthine and have a quick exchange, "I missed you."

    Ignoring the whoops and hollers from the rest of the workshop, Vhesthine smiles, "I missed you too. Now what are you doing?"

    Buffy's smile becomes radiant, "I've just finished positioning the new emitter I made based on Warrens design, and improved based on my history lessons. If I'm right, Warren's emitter and crystal setup would never have worked without this particular diamond, because he's using magic to compensate for his lack of understanding. On the other hand, I'm going to use this koridumi crystal as a refraction medium, however it needs to be completely bonded with the emitter. Once everyone's finished cleaning up, I should have my guides and the original gun setup on clamps so that I can mate the two items."



    Vhesthine shakes her head, "Honestly, I don't think I understood a word you said. I know enough about metal and blacksmithing to get along, but this isn't that."

    From a safe distance behind them, Mike, the human owner of the company, says, "I followed most of it. Girl, let me understand this. You are about to weld a delicate electronic component with a gem using purely science?"



    Vhesthine holds Buffy in place while she overcomes her instincts. Once she's recovered, Buffy nods, "I am. Once I've done that, the second one should be easier to make. With two, the hardest part is going to be making the emitters."



    Mike nods, "So, what would you use this for?"

    The corner of Buffy's mouth twitches down, "Historically, these were used everywhere from hospitals to labs and manufacturing. Bare in mind that this is only the second time I've ever made one of these, and last time the teachers provided both the emitters and the gem."

    Mike urgently waves the small crowd, that's forming, into silence, "Go on."

    Buffy carefully moves a free standing clamp that's got Warren's gun attached to it, "In hospitals they used carefully calibrated versions to make the skin both invisible and porous enough to reach through. If they needed to remove something, they could use a version that had a micro-meter aperture, and change the targets phase so that it will dissipate without disturbing any of the surrounding stuff. In manufacturing, which is what I want to experiment with, they were apparently used in pairs to make two things permeable to each other, but still solid enough to manipulate."



    In an impressed voice, Mike asks, "And they run on electricity?"

    Buffy nods as she sets up a laser liner to brush across the rear surface of the gem, "These ones will. That will limit their aperture to around one inch, but that should be plenty given that they will have very tight tolerances. If I was willing to cut corners on safety, I could make the aperture as large as you want, like the original does. But then most of the utility disappears, unless you want a very dangerous invisibility gun. Ok if you can see the front of the gun, move towards the door until you can't anymore. Firing in 5…4…3…2…1…"



    Buffy pulls and releases the trigger on the gun as quickly as she can. When only the gem and the clamps holding it disappear, she lets out a sigh of relief. Moving to the clamp that she's hot glued the emitter to, she carefully closes the clamp until the front of the emitter is illuminated by the laser light. Moving back to the gun, she changes the dials and, just as quickly, pulls and releases the trigger.



    After unclamping the gem, she then pulls the emitter off the glue and connects it to a transformer using crocodile clips. A defuse beam of yellowish light coming from the gem causes Buffy to cheer and place a piece of paper in front of it, and bring it closer to the gem until it's almost touching. At that point the paper turns invisible where the light is touching. After disconnecting the emitter, she hands both the emitter and paper to Vhesthine. "There you go. Would you mind putting the emitter in the office safe so that nobody can play with it until I have the magnetic lenses and housing finished. As it's more dangerous than the original gun at the moment."



    Before Vhesthine can respond, Buffy leans down and captures her lips into a soul searing exchange. As she comes up for air, she breathes, "Sure, I'll leave a note for Millie."



    It will be half an hour after her shift starts, before Buffy remembers the text message, and is able to arrange for Vhesthine to pick Dawn up from the Penshaw's after work.
     
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    • Episode 11 - part 2
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    • Episode 11 – part 2



    Tara blinks, once, as the orientation video continues to play on an antiquated TV and Video player. Checking her wrist, she curses at the lack of watch on her uniformed arm. Whoever they hired to do the voice over for the safety video could make good money selling sleep aids.



    She jerks as an the extended Doublemeat Burger Palace advert comes on once more. It's cheery and lively pacing a stark contrast to the videos about not putting your hand in the grinder, or always using the guard when slicing chicken, along with graphic pictures of the results. Which somehow manage to seem utterly mundane when coupled with the voice.



    She jumps as the door to the training room opens, and the light switches on. She's not sure if she should be wondering if it's been two hours already, or was it really only two hours?



    "Hello, I'm Manny, the manager. It's not a pun, just coincidence."

    Tara spins around in her chair to see a middle-aged man with a completely unremarkable face. His voice is barely more than a monotone.

    Tara puts on a smile, "Hi, I'm Tara, though you probably already knew that."

    "Indeed, follow me and I'll show you around. It's a shame you can't work full time."

    Tara smiles, "Well, you know. College."



    Manny shows her to the break room first, where there's a guy lounging at the sole table in the room, "This is the break room, and that's Dave. He's a lifer, keep an eye on him and you'll end up like me."

    Tara glances over as Manny taps his "10 year" achievement badge.

    "Gary used to do nights, but he didn't show. Lucky you."

    Tara grimaces, "Yeah, lucky me."



    Manny leads her to the bank of lockers and opens one, "This is your locker."

    Tara's eyes widen when she sees the scarves and personal effects in the locker, "Um, there's someone's stuff in there."

    Manny looks at the locker with barely a hint of curiosity, "They left. Keep the stuff or bin it."



    Making their way back to the entrance of the break room, Manny shows Tara the punch clock and takes a card with her name on, before putting it in the device, "Now you're clocked in. Remember to clock out."



    As she watches Manny put her card in the slot for it, her eye is drawn to a single bracket with multiple cards sticking out, "Um, what's that one for?"

    Manny looks up, "Absent without cause. Your card will stay there for a week before you are removed from payroll."

    Tara shivers, "Why so many cards though?"

    "New hires, do a shift, never come back."



    What follows in an achingly slow tour of the kitchen and counter area with a description given in a tone that has Tara struggling to keep her attention on Manny and not letting her thoughts wander. Something that's made worse when she sees a spark of void energy jump from her nose to the lip of her hat. Having a quick look around, she sees nothing amiss.



    "…you will be working with Robbie for the next couple of days."

    Tara's attention snaps back to Manny as she realises she's just missed the explanation of the till, "Oh, uh, sure."

    Manny nods slowly, "Have a good shift. I hope to see you back here tomorrow."

    "I'll be here." Tara turns to Robbie, it says so on his shirt, "Hi, uh, I'm working with you this evening?"

    Robbie looks at her with a dead eyed look, "You are. This is the till, it has pictures of each of the menu items on it." He looks up towards an old lady with a silver-haired wig, "This is Agnes, she's a regular. Watch me."



    As Agnes approaches the counter, Robbie says, in a voice void of any enthusiasm, "Welcome to Doublemeat Burger Palace. May I take your order."

    Agnes smiles at Robbie, "Can I have a doublemeat medley, a small sprite, and a cherry pie?"

    With practiced motions, Robbie presses the buttons for the order, and then presses another button that causes the till to open, "See, it's simple. Just punch in the order and then press this button once it's finished. Now, fill this cup."



    A couple of customers later, Robbie says, "This is the Roberts family, they're another regular. Why don't you take this one?"

    Tara plants a smile on her face as they arrive, and tries to listen to the father. However one of the kids loudly shouts, "Dad, Dad, her hat's looking about. Can I have a hat like that. Please?"

    Finally the father looks down, "Timmy, be quiet otherwise you won't get your nuggets." Looking back at Tara he continues, "Sorry about that. Do you know if they'll be selling hats like yours on the website?"

    Tara looks alarmed as her eyes try to see past the cap, "I'm sorry, this is just a prototype, I don't think I was supposed to be given this one."

    The father shrugs, "Ah well."

    Tara smiles, "I'm sorry, would you be able to repeat your order. Only I've just started here, and I'm still getting used to stuff."



    Once the order has been served, Tara stretches up to Robbie, "Robbie, I'm just going to powder my nose."

    Robbie nods mechanically, "Don't take too long, as they take the time out of your break."

    Tara nods and flees to the rest room, where she shuts the door and tries to pull the void around her quickly. Five minutes later, she's actually used the rest room for its intended purpose, dispelled the hat, and mostly drained her void reserves, for the moment.



    Returning to the front, she somehow manages to make it through the rest of her first shift, as well as eat an entire Medley.



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Willow's sitting at the small desk in her dorm room trying to work on her college assignments instead of the advanced magical principles that Razial has been having her make notes on while he's been trying to analyse Buffy's void magic. Most of it is going over her head, but it is an approach to magic that is closer to her geeky origins than the form of magic she practices.



    Looking back down at her work, she sees that she's started writing the formula for a magical prism in the margins of her coursework. While useful for separating out the sources of magic in an area, it has nothing to do with Object Orientated design principles, and use case diagrams.



    She's about to copy the formula out into her magical notebook when the door opens behind her. Slamming her hand over the formula, she turns around in the chair to see Amy. "Amy, what are you doing here?"

    Amy smiles at her, "Can't I drop in to see a friend?"

    Willow narrows her eyes, "Friends don't take friends to places like Rack's."

    Amy scoffs, "Oh, please. I could tell you enjoyed it. Don't tell me you've been cutting down."

    "So what if I have?"

    "What did they do? Spin you some sob story about how you're addicted to magic? How you shouldn't use as much as you have been?"

    Willow wanted to say it's because of her apprenticeship, or the money she makes charging crystals, or any number of things. Instead, she says, "It's none of your business."



    Amy smiles widely, "Sure it isn't." a muttered spell sends a green light into Willow's chest, "There, a gift from me. Now you can do magic and truthfully tell people it wasn't yours. Oh, and catch, first one's free, it will keep you going when you hit your downer."

    Willow looks surprised when a quartz crystal lands in her lap, then she starts to laugh hysterically as she recognises it as one of her failures.



    With a smile, Amy leaves, closing the door behind her.



    Willows laugh quickly turns into pained gasps as the magic inside her starts to try to find its own way out, and coming into conflict with her contract. As she collapses to the floor, she sweeps her notebooks off the desk and on top of herself. Clutching her chest, Willow croaks out, "Stipo" before lying, gasping on the floor as the magic inside her has a small outlet while it takes her notebooks and papers and packs them neatly into her backpack. Grabbing the bag by a strap, Willow crawls over to the door and uses the handle to pull herself to her feet. A strangled spell sees her dressed for leaving her room, and gives her enough reprieve from the pain to open the door and stagger down the hallway.



    When she reaches the stairs, the almost drunken high from the magic combined with the pain in her chest sees her almost stumble into the stairwell before she manages to lurch past it, and grab the rail. Leaning heavily against the wall, she inches past the stairwell to the elevator and punches the button down.



    Collapsing into the lift, she mutters, "Detergeo" followed by "Purifico", leaving the elevator clean than it's been since it was first installed. With the brief cessation in pain, Willow lifts herself up enough to press the 1st floor button, before collapsing against the door. An interminable time later, the doors open again, and Willow collapses to the floor, looking at the back of the lift, Willow spots her backpack. Weakly, she stretches out her hand, and it levitates over to her and the pain in her chest subsides to only being overloaded with magic, rather than both overloaded and not being able to use it.



    With the reduced pain, Willow drunkenly climbs the door to the elevator, and staggers drunkenly out of the dorm building to the nearby payphone. Once she gets to the phone, she leans heavily against it as she fumbles her purse out of her bag along with a couple of quarters. Blinking owlishly, she shakes her head to clear her vision enough to get the card for Mikes Machining. As she tries to read the number, she collapses against the pillar, with great pain filled sobs.



    As she's laying there, a young man walks over and crouches down next to her, "Hey, are you ok?"

    Willow feebly lifts up the card, "Call, help. Please."

    The man smiles at her, "Sure, I'll do that."



    Picking up her wallet, the man dials Mikes machining while looking at her student ID, "Oh, hey. I found a Willow Rosenburg leaning against a payphone outside Sunset Dorm. She looks like she's in lots of pain."

    Willow groans out, "Amy, slipped, overload."



    The man interrupts whoever's on the other end, "One mo, she just said something. Amy, slipped, overload. Oh shit, I think someone slipped her some drugs and she's OD'ing. Sure, there's a bench right next to the phone, I'll help her onto it… Um, a backpack and her wallet with like a couple of dollars worth of quarters in it."

    As the man hangs up, and helps Willow onto the bench, she can't shake the feeling that there was over $100 in her wallet as it's rent day tomorrow.



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    Buffy looks up as the forge turns off, and the whole workshop goes silent except for the sound of Ir'in on the gas welder. Taking off her hearing protection she looks around, and sees Vhesthine by the emergency cut off button.



    As the others are taking off their own hearing protection, Vhesthine calls out, "Roselyn, Buffy, one of our own is in trouble. I need you two to pick them up."

    As Roselyn turns around, Vhesthine throws her her purse, "I'll walk you both to your car."



    Concerned, Buffy hurries over as Vhesthine quickly walks out the door, with Roselyn jogging to keep up, "Vhesthine, what's happened?"

    "Willow's in trouble. Bad enough that a man phoned on her behalf. She said three words, Amy, slipped, and overload."

    Buffy frowns as they reach Roselyn's car, "What does that mean?"

    Vhesthine gives Buffy an actual kiss, "Buffy, it means that you may need to feed from her. When you do, if you feel resistance, then that's her essence. If she's suffering from magical overload, then what you're looking for will probably taste oily and disgusting."

    "Vhesthine, why don't you go?"

    Vhesthine looks at Buffy sadly, "Because then there'd be two people suffering overload. I don't have a way of using large amounts of magical power. Also, once I'm dead, that's it, I'm gone for good."

    Roselyn calls from the drivers door, "I'll get her there, you just make sure we've got somewhere to put Willow when we get back."



    For Buffy, the short five minute journey to the university dorms seems to go by in the blink of an eye, as the enormity of what she'd been asked to do weighs on her mind and thoughts. All of those thoughts go out of her mind the instant she sees Willow clutching her head and gasping for breath on the bench, sweat pouring from her face.



    Pushing open the car door before Roselyn's even stopped, Buffy pays no heed to pretending to have human limits as she bounds over to Willow, and picks her up gently. She then makes her way back to the car, and opens the rear door, before shuffling in on to the bench seat back first so that Willow can lie on top of her, face to face.

    When her head touches the far door, Buffy brings her feet up onto the seat and manoeuvres Willow so that she can kiss her.

    "Just so you know, this doesn't mean we're dating or anything."

    Willow lets out a pained laugh and Buffy closes her mouth over Willows.



    She's not sure when in the journey it happens, but at some point something about the exchanges that Buffy's been doing with Vhesthine clicks, and she gets a flood of strawberry flavoured milkshake tingling through her body. It feels so much better than feeding or being fed by Vhesthine, but also less intimate, as though there's something fundamental that's missing.

    It's only when Willow gives a pleasure filled moan that Buffy realises she's taking too much, and immediately feeds the strawberry milkshake essence back into Willow, along with some of her own reserves. The creak of the handbrake pulls Buffy out of her latest attempt to find something that isn't strawberry flavoured, and Roselyn opens the door by her head.



    "Come on, we need to get her inside. Pass her up and I'll carry her if you can get the doors."



    A couple of minutes later, Willow is laid out on the couch-chairs that have been placed side by side. Vhesthine's standing beside her with Buffy and Roselyn, "How did you get on Buffy?"

    Buffy shakes her head, "She tastes like strawberry milkshake, but I couldn't find anything that tasted bad."

    Vhesthine leans over and feeds very lightly on Willow before grimacing, "The pain has made her hold on her own essence too loose. Roselyn, you don't have to be here."

    Roselyn shakes her head, "Look, I know she works with the boss, but I ain't going to let her go just because I'm squeamish around magic."

    Vhesthine nods and takes a deep breath, "There is a spell we can use. I'll demonstrate it, but, Roselyn, you'll need to do the spell and let Buffy feed on you."

    Roselyn looks at Buffy, "I didn't know you were a succubus too."

    Vhesthine shakes her head, "She isn't, we'll talk about it after Willow's safe."

    Roselyn nods, so Vhesthine rips open Willow's top, and places her bare hand on the skin between Willow's breath, "You must repeat exactly what I say, and how I say it. Píngzhe dàdì de lìliàng, wǒ jiāng nǐ de mófǎ jù wéi jǐ yǒu." As she speaks, green sparks pull up from Willow's chest and dance around Vhesthine's hand, before racing up her arm and settling into her skin. With great effort, Vhesthine wrenches her hand away from Willows chest, and tips back, breathing heavily.



    Willow's breathing and whimpers of pain become less laboured, but not so much that she regains coherency. As Vhesthine gets her breath back, Buffy pulls her up into a hug, before leaning back to look at her pitch-black eyes.

    "Vhesti, are you ok?"

    Vhesthine jumps at Buffy and tries to feed off her. As Buffy pushes her back, Vhesthine lands on the floor, "So good, so good. I need. Need, need, need."

    Buffy looks at Vhesthine critically, "Roselyn, I need you to get some of the quartz sand we use for moldings, and meet me outside. We need to fix whatever's happening to Vhesthine, and then she can talk you through whatever she did to Willow."

    Roselyn looks at Vhesthine with a shudder, "You want me to do that to myself?"

    Buffy shakes her head, "I think that the idea is that you take enough to turn your eyes black, and then I take it from you."



    As she's looking at Roselyn, Razial's office door finally twigs something inside her, and she slaps her hand against her head, "We are so stupid. Give me a moment."



    Walking smartly across the reception, she raps her knuckles on Razial's door. A couple of minutes later, an annoyed Razial answers the door, "I thought I said I wasn't to be disturbed."

    Buffy smiles sweetly and points at Willow, "Your apprentice needs help."

    Razial growls at Buffy, who continues to look unimpressed. Eventually he says, "Fine, but you need to fill a few crystals for me."

    Buffy shrugs, "Sure, you'll need to teach me how though."

    Razial just growls at her, before he picks up Willow and slings her over his shoulder. As Razial does so, Roselyn takes her life in her hands by asking, "Hey Boss man. Could I learn magic?"

    Razial turns around slowly and looks at her critically, "No. But if you signed a contract to work for me for the next 50 years doing what you're already doing, I could turn you into a succubus."

    Roselyn looks down at Vhesthine, "Um, I'd have to talk to Tazar first."

    "He could be changed too, for another 25 years."

    Roselyn swallows hard, "I'll talk to Tazar."

    Razial just disappears in a flash of fire and Roselyn turns to Buffy, "Um, what did I just do?"

    Buffy just picks Vhesthine up off the floor, and immediately has to wrestle her to keep her away from her lips, or tearing her clothes off. Ignoring the damp spot where Vhesthine was kneeling, Buffy struggles towards the door, "Roselyn, the door please."



    It takes the two of them 10 minutes to get Vhesthine across the road into one of the many abandoned warehouses in the area. It then takes them 3 tries to get a quartz circle laid out around Vhesthine, as she keeps trying to grab them when they get too close.



    Once the circle is complete, Buffy kneels down just close enough to touch the circle, "Roselyn, Tara's been teaching me a little magic, so while I'm sure I can do this. You should probably head back to the workshop in case I do something wrong."

    Roselyn moves back to the door of the warehouse, before turning around to watch.

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    Buffy leans forward and pushes void energy into the circle and starts to cycle it the way she remembers Tara doing for Willow and then Dawn. Then the green energy starts to come out of Vhesthine's mouth and Buffy's suddenly back on Praghasa watching Ballas drawing the last of the power out of the Lotus.

    Helplessly she watches as the Lotus starts to scream, while behind her a void portal starts to form. Ballas' cruel laughter rings in her ears as the void starts to pull the Lotus towards it, her outer chassis falling away first when her fingers gain purchase on the ground.



    Suddenly, free of her fear, she lunges forward and grabs the Lotus's hand and reaching for her warframes hand behind her. Feeling like she's missed the grab by millimeters, she braces herself against the pull of the void, and tries to pull the Lotus to her, "I'm not letting you go, not again."



    One of the sentients flies into her back, obviously thrown by Ballas. Whatever the reason, it does it's job, as Buffy loses her footing and all three of them tumble through the portal into the void.

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    Mrs Penshaw smiles up at Dawn, "Dawn, it's good to see you. You don't come around nearly enough anymore. Come, come, we are making burritos today. Maria has her boyfriend round, so we're going to be making much for everyone."

    Dawn swallows hard at that news, and puts on a smile while she follows Mrs Penshaw into the kitchen where Janice is already chopping salad vegetables and grating cheese to go into the burritos.



    Mrs Penshaw leads her over to her spice cupboard, "You can make the spice mix for the mince with me. It's the secret of the best burritos. First of all, find the spices that you want to use. Then we'll mix them together to make the mix."

    Dawn nods, and carefully opens each of the jars, and takes a sniff. Trying to block out the smell of boredom from Janice, and the smell of happy patience from Mrs Penshaw, Dawn picks out only the spices that she can actually smell.



    Mrs Penshaw has a massive smile when she exclaims, "Well done, tonight we will be having a fragrant meal, with some sweetness. Though I would suggest putting these two back, as they won't go together as well as you'd think from their scents."

    Reaching up into the cupboard, she pulls down an empty jar, and a marker, before writing 'Dawn's burrito mix' on the side, "Now you take these spices, and you grind them in the pestle and mortar until they are a fine powder. Start with a little of each, and then add a touch more if you think it's needed."



    With a worried smile, Dawn copies the method that she's shown for grinding the spices into powder, having to be careful not to put too much force into it.



    It's a couple of hours later when Maria and her boyfriend come down for dinner that Dawn's self-control is really tested. Not only does she need to eat human food for the first time in almost a month, but the overpowering smell of lust and infatuation keeps distracting her.
     
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    • Episode 11 - part 3
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    • Episode 11 – part 3



    Vhesthine groans as she wakes up on the floor of her apartment with the setting sun shining straight through her windows and onto her face. With a groan, she pushes herself onto her front, and then onto her hands and knees. Her wings spreading out automatically to stabilise her. Staggering to her feet, she lurches over to the sink and downs a glass of water to distract from the gnawing hunger she's feeling. Whatever's going on, she's been gone at least a week.



    Swaying over to the land line, she picks up the phone and dials Mikes Machining, hoping that it isn't a Saturday. The phone rings a couple of times before she answers the phone with "Mikes Machining, I'm sorry, we're closed to the public now."



    Desperately, Vhesthine slams the phone down, accidentally crushing the handset at the same time. What's going on? How could she have just answered the phone?



    She desperately needs something to eat, and it's too early for her normal hangouts. She smiles as she takes on her human form. A simple glamour, and she should be able to get Spike going.



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    Roselyn groans as she wakes up in bed, her last memory before this being dragged towards Buffy and Vhesthine when something went really wrong, and some sort of portal opened up. Those thoughts go out of the window as her partner comes into the bedroom and sniffs twice, before launching himself at her jugular. With practiced instincts, Roselyn grabs his horns to redirect him to her mouth, and also redirect his hunger to a different taste of the flesh.



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    "Hello sleeping beauty." Are the first words Buffy hears as she wakes up. Opening her eyes, she finds herself in a virtually bare bed in a crypt.

    "You know, if you wanted me so bad, you just had to ask. Falling asleep outside my crypt was a bloody stupid thing to do." Buffy props herself up on her elbows to look at Spike. Idly noting her own lack of clothes.

    "What makes you think I did that because I wanted you?"

    "Why else would you turn up without a stitch of clothing, and no signs of a fight?" Buffy stares at him, "Alright, alright, without a stitch of clothing covering your modesty. Your rags are on the dresser over there."

    "So, your idea of seducing me is to, what, put me on your bed and?"

    Spike shakes his head, "Well what did you expect me to do, grab you a strawberry bloody milkshake and a bag of fries?"

    Buffy licks her lips at the idea of strawberry milkshake, an image of Willow's face clear in her mind, "Mmm, now that you mention it, strawberry milkshake is delicious, but maybe you'll be a good substitute."

    Spike backs up in his chair as Buffy's eyes start to glow a mix of deep red and green, somehow not mixing, "Slayer, what's going on?"



    Lurching out of his chair, Spike is still too slow to stop Buffy from latching onto his mouth. As she kisses him, it's like she's got a direct connection to his bits, and she leans back with a sultry smile that has no business being on that face, "Mmm, cigar smoke and whiskey. More!"



    Sometime later, Spike hears someone coming down the stairs through his haze of lust and exhaustion, "Help! She's insatiable!"

    To his dismay, Vhesthine walks through the door and stops, looking at Spike and Buffy, "Buffy, how could you!? Did you leave any for me?"

    When Buffy turns around, Vhesthine looks at her glowing eyes with concern, however, that concern is quickly erased when she saunters over, and says, "No." Before feeding her whiskey and cigar smoke, along with a healthy dose of magic and succubus essence.



    As the edge is taken off her hunger, Vhesthine looks into Buffy's eyes, "Willow?"

    Buffy smiles, "Razial has her. Let's go hunting."

    Vhesthine blinks, "Buffy, what happened?"

    Buffy feeds Vhesthine a bit more of Spike's essence, then pouts, her words coming through a little less needy, "Can't we talk about this after hunting?"

    Vhesthine shakes her head, "No Buffy, I need to know now. And you need to give Spike some of your blood, otherwise he'll die."

    Spike lifts his head a little more, "While it's turning me on watching you two like that, though little Spike seems to disagree, what's this about dying?"

    Buffy looks hopeful, "Can we go hunting once I've fed Spike?"

    "Almost, first we go home and get you some clothes that won't get you arrested."

    Buffy smiles, "Sounds good to me."



    Buffy looks around for her clothes, and pulls out her dagger, before emptying out an ashtray and filling it with blood and placing it by Spikes head. With a giant smile, Buffy turns back to Vhesthine, "I've fed Spike, let's go."

    Vhesthine looks at Buffy's bleeding forearm, "Buffy, your arm."

    Buffy looks down at it, "It doesn't hurt, so I'll be fine. Let's go hunting, he was nice, but I want something sweeter."



    Vhesthine huffs in frustration, and starts to help Buffy get dressed, and tie her clothes up to provide at least some modesty. One strip of clothing, she uses to bandage the cut on Buffy's arm, "Come on, let's get home."

    "Sure. Hey, didn't you say that Vampires are great for hunting because they don't have a soul?"

    Vhesthine sighs, "Yes, I did." Before tugging Buffy along with her.

    "Maybe we should use Spike to teach Dawn how to hunt…"



    As the voices of the two women move out of earshot, Spike turns his head and desperately tries to lap at the blood in his ashtray.



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    As Buffy and Vhesthine are walking home, hand in hand, Vhesthine says, "Buffy, I need to know. What happened after you got back with Willow."

    Buffy smiles, "You tried to show Roselyn how to take the magic from Willow. Took too much, so I did a cleansing ritual on you, and we got sucked into a void portal."

    Vhesthine smiles encouragingly, "That's great, have you ever done a cleansing ritual before?"

    Buffy shakes her head, "No, but I saw Tara do it twice. It was easy."

    Vhesthine pauses to give Buffy a quick exchange, before continuing to walk, "Oh, which process did you use?"

    Buffy smiles, "The one where you push energy into the circle through the quartz and then cycle it around and around."

    Vhesthine's eyes widen, "When you say cycle it around and around?"

    Buffy nods, "Yep, bring it back to me, and then push it back through the quartz. Of course, I don't remember much after that first cycle, as you turned into the Lotus, and I watched Ballas steal the last of your energy again."



    Vhesthine stops and takes both of Buffy's hands, "Buffy, I think you are suffering from magical overload."

    Buffy shakes her head, "But I feel great."

    Vhesthine nods, "It does that. It's why Willow kept using magic, do you remember?"

    "But I don't want to use magic, I just want to go hunting with you."

    "I know you do, but that the taint from my original dimension inside you. The taint of magic from here is why you don't care about it. It leaves you feeling on top of the world."

    Buffy shakes her head and pulls one hand away, before heading for the house, "I'm fine. Come on, let's get changed so that we can go hunting."



    Once they're closer to the house, Vhesthine says, "Buffy, I phoned work when I woke up. But I answered."

    Buffy shrugs, "Probably just a paradox. Don't worry about it, void travel does that sometimes."

    "But what if we come in contact with each other?"

    "Did you? I think you'd remember that, unless that was the start of the loop of course."

    "What!?"

    "So, Eternalism is the philosophical theory that allows time travel, and it says that once a paradox starts it's always been true. So, if we went to the office and met ourselves, that would now have always been true that we met ourselves."

    "I think I follow."

    Buffy smiles, "Don't worry about it, if you don't remember it happening, then you're the first person in the loop. Otherwise you're part of the paradox, congratulations the universe hasn't ended. Now, we're home now so let's get ready to go."



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    Tara's eyes open in surprise when Vhesthine drags Buffy through the doors to the store at just before 9pm. Her jaw drops when she realises that Buffy has taken most of her clothes from Vhesthine's wardrobe, with a wrap around skirt showing off her leg, and the halter top becoming visible when her coat rises at the back. When Buffy starts looking around at the various men in the place, her eyebrows rise. Even more so when it's Buffy that's sat down at a table while Vhesthine walks up to the till with a note in hand.

    "Doublemeat Burger Palace, how may I help you?"

    Vhesthine smiles, "Hey Tara, can I have a nuggets, fries, and two large sprites please. Oh, and a cleansing ritual whenever you're free."

    Tara hisses, "What?"

    "You remember what Willow was like before you did her ritual? Buffy's like that, except most of her taint is from me, after she tried a cleansing ritual earlier. Also, do you know what the time is?"

    "You do know this is my first shift don't you? And it's almost 9, there's a clock above the door to the toilets."

    Vhesthine sighs, "Believe me, I know, and I am glad it is as apparently time travel is a thing you can do accidentally now. Spike persuaded her to let him… When I found her, she'd already drained him and wanted to go hunting with me. She has no control at the moment, so unless you want her to leave a trail of corpses, we need that cleansing ritual."

    "Buffy's just spotted Robbie cleaning the floor."

    Vhesthine puts the $20 on the counter, "Keep the change, could you bring our food and drinks over please?"

    Tara nods, "Sure, I'll also talk to Manny about getting an extra break."

    Vhesthine just gives her a thumbs up as she moves to intercept Buffy, and guide her back to the table.



    Once she's taken the food and drinks to Buffy and Vhesthine, Tara dodges Buffy's questing hand, and walks over to Robbie, "Hey Robbie, um, could you look after the till for a moment, I need to ask Manny something."

    Robbie nods, "Sure, I need to put this away first."

    Tara smiles, "Thanks."



    Once Robbie has taken over the till again, Tara makes her way around the store until she finds Manny in the interview room doing paperwork. Knocking on the door, she pokes her head in, "Um Manny? I know this is my first shift, but a couple of friends have arrived and need help. Would I be able to take a second 30 minute break if I stay late to help clean up or something?"

    Tara's almost ready to leave dejectedly when Manny looks up, "At least you asked. Most just disappear. Remember to clock out when you leave."

    Tara nods, "Thank you." Then grabs her coat and clocks out, before heading to Vhesthine and Buffy.



    Walking up to Vhesthine, Tara smiles, "I've got half an hour. Hopefully you have the sand already."

    Vhesthine nods, "I picked up a small bag on the way out."

    Buffy looks up from her soda, "What do we need sand for?"

    "To put you through a cleansing ritual."

    Buffy shakes her head, "I told you, I'm fine. I just want to go hunting with you." She sways slightly as she walks, as though she's already had a few drinks.

    Tara looks at her, "Has she been like this long?"

    Vhesthine nods, "Since I found her at Spike's crypt."



    Tara leads the two of them to an alleyway nearby, and uses a spell to clear the floor of dirt and debris, "Buffy, I need you to kneel here the way you've been teaching me."

    Buffy whines, "I don't want to, I want to go hunting."

    Vhesthine smiles at her, "It's ok, Tara wants to show you how to do a cleansing properly. That way you can help me if I eat too much."

    Buffy huffs as she sinks to her knees, "Ok. Fine. But I did it earlier and it worked out fine, if you ignore the void portal and hallucinations."

    Tara kneels down in front of Buffy, and nods the way you might nod to a young child that's proud of the mess they've made while Vhesthine draws the sand circle.



    "Now Buffy, I'm about to push void energy into the circle. But the hard part is preventing the energy from leaving the circle once it's in there. Once there's enough energy that I can bring it down to the sand, like a big ring donut, I'll stop pushing energy in and only control the energy that's inside the circle."

    Buffy looks at her, "Oh, I didn't do that, I AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHH!"



    Buffy's sentence cuts off as Tara completes the loop and the energy starts to flow through the quartz sand. Once the magic starts flowing clear, Tara lets go of the power but the circle continues to spin, and begins to pick up sand from the edge of the circle.

    "Vhesthine, that's not supposed to happen!"

    Vhesthine shouts over the sound the sand is starting to make, "It does for some demons, you need to break the circle."

    "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"

    "Less dangerous than leaving it, it's feeding off of Buffy's energy now, and when it runs out it will release it in an instant. The sooner you do it the less dangerous it will be!"



    As Tara looks around for a stick or something, a tear starts to open in the air. Panicking, Tara lunges for the circle and pushes her hand clear through the sand. Tara and Vhesthine are both thrown clear down the alleyway in different directions, while Buffy lands on the floor. A moment later Buffy says, "Ow, void that hurt." Spotting the bandage on her arm, Buffy pulls it back slightly, "When did I do this, and why hasn't it heal… Vhesthine!"



    Looking around wildly, Buffy hurries over to Vhesthine body and sighs in relief when she can see her breathing. Gently picking her up, she carries her back to the clear area of the Alleyway where she sees Tara lying against another wall, out cold. After bringing Tara to lie next to Vhesthine, Buffy kneels down in meditation and quickly seeks the structure and forms of the Vazarin way, she hurries through the process of bringing her mind into the way. As she opens her eyes, she activates Squad Regen and watches her two friends critically, not even paying attention to the wound on her arm disappearing as if it never was.



    As Vhesthine's eyes flicker open, Buffy's eyes dampen and she leans over to hug her, "You're alright, I thought I'd lost you."

    Vhesthine smiles up at Buffy, "Do you still want to go hunting?"

    Buffy shudders, before her shoulders firm up, and she takes a deep breath, "Not really, but if you want me to join you on a day we're not picking Dawn up from her friends." Buffy takes another couple of breaths, "I will join you on one condition."

    Vhesthine smiles, and Tara's voice croaks, "You don't let her get like that again."

    Buffy laughs, "You put the words right in my mouth."

    Tara thumps Buffy on the arm, "That's not the saying, and you know it." She then looks down at her clothes, "They're going to kill me, this was a brand new uniform."

    Buffy shakes her head, "Are you or are you not a witch who struggles with finding ways to use enough void energy not to explode?"

    Tara gives Buffy a dirty look before casting repair and cleaning spells on herself, "There! Happy now? I'm trying to avoid relying on this for mundane things, as I'm just as likely to become dependent on it as Willow did, even if I don't suffer from magical overload the same way."

    Buffy nods, "Thank you for your help. And I'm so sorry you saw me like that."

    Tara looks Buffy up and down, "I don't know, now you're yourself again, I think you look good in that."

    Buffy buries her head in Vhesthine's shoulder to hide as Tara laughs and heads back to work.



    Once Tara's gone, Buffy looks seriously into Vhesthine's eyes, "How hungry are you?"

    Vhesthine looks at a wall, "I'll be fine."

    "Vhesti, talk to me. How are you doing, considering that we need to feed Dawn later."

    "How do you do that?"

    Buffy sighs, "Just because I can't smell how hungry you are, doesn't mean I don't have eyes, or hands. You're cold Vhesthine, and you're never cold."

    Softly Vhesthine says, "I was starving when I woke up. Like I hadn't eaten in over a week, considering that we've been feeding Dawn."

    Buffy nods and grasps her face to pull her into a kiss. Then she pushes as much essence as she can into Vhesthine, until she starts feeling lightheaded.

    "Buffy! You can't do that, you need that essence yourself."

    Buffy shakes her head, and leans against Vhesthine, "I'll grab a couple of burgers on my way home. I'll be fine. Sides, I've got a couple of bars of chocolate in my purse at work."

    "Let me at least give you some essence back."

    Buffy shakes her head, "Nope, you don't generate your own, I do. So I win, just get us back to Mikes."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Jonathan looks up from the pinball game that he's currently trying to beat Warrens high score on, "Go away Andrew."

    "Jonathan, we really need your help."

    "Andrew, I told you I'm not getting involved with that cerebral thingy."

    "But something went wrong."

    "Damn it Andrew, I almost beat Warren's score. Now I have to start again."

    "Jonathan, we just need you to summon some demons to confuse Buffy."

    Jonathan throws his hands in the air, "Ok, fine. But if I get any hint this is to do with that orb, I'm gone."

    Andrew holds up his hand, "I swear that we just need you to summon some demons."

    "Well, lead on then."
     
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    • Episode 11 - part 4
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    • Episode 11 – part 4



    As Buffy and Vhesthine get closer to Mikes, a pillar of light streaks up into the sky from across the road, and Buffy chuckles. "I guess we know we didn't meet each other then."

    Vhesthine huffs, "I didn't realise it was so late when this happened, Willow called me sometime around seven or eight."

    "Come on, I need something to eat, and all my stuff's inside."



    As they enter the workshop, Andrew looks up from where they've almost got all the equipment checked and re-calibrated after the earlier emergency stop, "They're back!"



    Soon enough, John and Andrew are crowding around Buffy and Vhesthine, while Aglomal and Surkos are lingering nearby to find out if anything interesting happened. True to his species, Ir'in is still plodding away on his own work.

    John demands, "Well, how's Willow? Will we need to walk on eggshells around the boss for a few weeks?"

    Buffy smiles, "We managed to help her a little before I got the boss to take care of her, so she'll be back when she gets back."

    Everyone heaves a sigh of relief, especially the demons, Aglomal grunts, "That's good, I don't have to prepare my wives for my potential death."

    Buffy looks surprised, "Wives? How do you survive on the kittens you earn?"

    Vhesthine hisses, "Buffy, that's a very personal question."

    Aglomal tilts his head in a way that mean's 'it's ok' for his species, "We do not eat Kittens, we use them for trade. Though sometimes they are a nice delicacy. My wives make art, and so I work to get away from the demands of housework."

    Buffy nods even though she's not sure of what that means in human terms.



    The two of them are about to head upstairs when John looks around, "Where's Roselyn?"

    Vhesthine shifts uncomfortably, while Buffy just rips the bandage off, "She got caught up in the cleansing ritual I did on Vhesthine when it went wrong, so we don't know when she came back, or even if she's come back yet. I was apparently sleeping outside when I was found sometime after sunset, so it's probable she woke up at the same time."

    Andrew asks, "What, did you time travel?"

    Surkos groans, "Don't start, otherwise it will end up like talking to a Rwasundi demon until they think you're trying to insult them and try to kill you."

    Buffy frowns, "Eternalism isn't that hard to understand. I mean, sure there are Archimedeans who have spent centuries discussing the finer points of it. However, we all learnt and understood the basics before I was 19."

    Vhesthine gives Buffy a very quick exchange, "Buffy dear, humans don't have the ability to learn the way you did."

    Andrew and John both gasp, "You're not human?"

    Aglomal groans, "What? Like it wasn't obvious? Come on you two, have you ever seen any human pick up metal working as fast as Buffy has? Or, how about the way she sometimes has to think for a second before she reacts to what you say."

    Buffy coughs uncomfortably, "Right, I'm going upstairs to raid my snack supply. You can ask me about my humanity another day."



    Once upstairs, Vhesthine phones Roselyn while Buffy is raiding her snack supply.



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Roselyn groans as she rolls over in the bed when the phone goes, "Hello?"

    There's clear relief in Vhesthine's voice as she says, "You're alive, that's great."

    Roselyn groans again, "I am, though it was a close run thing. Tanzar hadn't fed, and you know what they're like."

    Roselyn can hear the smile in Vhesthine's voice as she says, "Not personally, no."

    "Yeah, well. Hunger, sex, and violence are so closely linked in their species that their mates need to know how to turn it away from hunger."

    "I don't understand why you're still with him."

    Roselyn smiles, "He's got a wonderful personality when he's fed, and, well, I'm a masochist. So, sex and violence get's very confused in my mind." Vhesthine hums in understanding, "While you're on the phone. I won't be in for a few days as I can't feel my legs yet. Though I can still wiggle my toes, so it's not too bad."

    "You do remember that we don't do sick pay."

    Roselyn looks up at the ceiling as she falls onto her back, "I remember, but I couldn't lift a teacup, let alone my work. Tanzar's gone hunting, so I'm not going to starve. Even if I might wish I could when he shares his kill with me."

    "Look, if you can get into the workshop tomorrow, Buffy can heal you right up."

    "Wow, you're being awfully kind considering I'm human."

    "To use a human phrase, Buffy has been good for me. In more than one way."

    "Hmm, don't go forgetting the bitch queen sex goddess thing you had going on though. As we need that for some of our customers."

    "Don't worry, I haven't."



    Roselyn's silent for a few seconds, and when the phone isn't hung up, she ventures, "Vhesthine, Razial said I couldn't learn magic. But he could turn me into a succubus."

    Neutrally, Vhesthine says, "I see. Dawn's coming in tomorrow. Talk to her about her experiences during your break."

    That's when the click brr comes, and Roselyn says, "I guess she didn't want to talk about that."



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    After Buffy and Vhesthine leave work, Vhesthine drives round to the Penshaw's to pick Dawn up.



    Vhesthine smiles up at Mrs Penshaw as she opens the door, "Good evening, I hope Dawn wasn't any trouble."

    Mrs Penshaw smiles, "It was no trouble, though I can see why you've been feeding her before she gets here. The poor girl must be going through a growth spurt."

    From inside the house comes a cry of "Vhesthine!" and Mrs Penshaw laughs.

    Vhesthine smiles, "Yes, she's reached that age. Thank you for feeding her."

    Mrs Penshaw waves her hand, "It was no problem, I let her choose the spices for the burrito's. She picked an odd, but fragrant combination. I think everyone agreed that it was the nicest smelling meal we've had, even if she used too much chilli, and the flavour balance was off."

    Vhesthine steps back to brace herself as Dawn launches into her and hugs her, "Vhesthine, you came."

    Vhesthine smiles as she deftly turns the attempted feeding into air kisses on the cheeks, "The car's unlocked, I'll be there in a few minutes."

    "Aww, but I…" Dawn trails off as Vhesthine smiles up at Janice in the doorway.

    "Dawn, say goodbye to your friend."

    Reluctantly, Dawn lets go and gives Janice a similar hug, "Thanks for inviting me over."



    Mrs Penshaw chuckles good naturedly, "Dawn seems to be so much happier since you turned up. Don't you listen to the likes of that Miss Kroeger from social services. If your relationship with Miss Summers can take a girl as lost as Dawn was, and help her blossom into this, then you must be doing something right."

    Vhesthine smiles, "Thank you. I need to get trouble here home as she has an early day tomorrow."

    Mrs Penshaw smiles, "Don't let me keep you, as I'd still be talking at midnight. Have a good evening yourself, what's left of it anyway."



    Once she gets in the car, Dawn almost launches herself across the divider to grab her, and Vhesthine snaps, "Seat belt Dawn. You can wait a couple more minutes."

    Dawn whines, "But I'm so hungry."

    Vhesthine puts her own seat belt on, "I know you are Dawn. But your friend is still watching, now wave to them and take your seat."

    Dawn pouts as she waves out the window and reluctantly takes her seat. Vhesthine waves too before she starts the car and the internal light switches off.



    Less than a minute later, she pulls over around the corner and looks at Dawn in the darkness, "Dawn, I'm going to give you a little bit to tide you over. For more, you'll need to wait until we get home."

    Dawn nods eagerly, "I understand."

    As they both lean over, and Vhesthine feeds Dawn a little. Dawn squirms on the seat and moans loudly. Pulling back, Vhesthine looks at Dawn critically, "Dawn, how long has that been happening?"

    Dawn looks down at the armrest and mumbles, "About a week."

    "Dawn, why didn't you tell us?"

    "Because I didn't want you to stop feeding me, and send me hunting."

    Vhesthine starts the car and begins the drive home, "Dawn, we wouldn't do that to you. All it means is that you're becoming a juvenile succubus. It changes the way I'm going to treat you slightly, as you need to start learning restraint. Especially as your instinct to feed rather than be fed is going to start getting stronger. If we were living in a commune, I'd also be starting to bring home the occasional prey, so that you could practice feeding in a safe place. Don't forget that we are a communal species. It's why so many of us choose to serve powerful humans."

    "Buffy said that I have to become human again."

    "I know she did, she spoke to me first. I understand why she's doing it, as we can't protect you the way we could if this was a commune. But I believe she told you that you could work to become a succubus again."

    Dawn nods morosely, "Yeah, I know. But even if tonight sucked, I think I still prefer being a succubus over being human. I can smell how much Buffy loves me, same with you and Tara. School has been a lot less confusing since I started going as a succubus. I feel more confident and attractive too. What's not to like?"

    Vhesthine sighs, "Having to rely on having compatible humans around. Needing to kill humans to survive until you learn sufficient self-control. Being alone in both the demon and human worlds. Being seen purely as a creature of lust and seduction. There are many reasons why someone would choose not to be a succubus."

    Dawn frowns as they pull into the driveway, "What do you mean by being alone?"

    Vhesthine turns in her seat to face Dawn, "Dawn, I am superhumanly strong, but amongst other demon species, I am so weak I have to use weapons. Humans are prey to me, and so much weaker than me too. My only strength amongst demons is my above average talent for magic. Something that I only had the opportunity to learn properly after I came to the human world. I can't have a meaningful relationship with non-succubae because if I lose control once, I will either kill them, or they will kill me in retaliation."

    "But what about Buffy?"

    "Do you know why I fed Buffy the first time?"

    Dawn shakes her head, "I think you've told me before, but I don't remember."

    Dawn shrinks back from the intensity in Vhesthine's gaze and voice as she says, "She had never smelt of lust around me. Not once. At the time, she stunk of anger and fear, and I was afraid that if I didn't do something she would kill me. So I used the only ability I have to affect someone's emotions. I fed her some of my essence."

    Dawn looks down at her hands to avoid Vhesthine's eyes, "But being a succubus feels so good and right."

    Vhesthine deliberately relaxes back into her seat, "It is. And there's nothing wrong with feeling like that. But you need to understand that Buffy is unique, and very much not human. Oh her body is very much human if you ignore the Slayer thing. But her mind and soul? They're not human. Did you know I've accidentally drained her twice, and the only thing she said about it was to complain about how hard it is to sneak home naked?"

    "Why would she need to sneak home nak…ed… Ew, I did not need to know that. No, nope, nine."

    Vhesthine chuckles and strokes the back of her hand down Dawn's cheek, "Dawn, if you remain a succubus, you will learn far more about the in's and out's of sex with humans than your human upbringing would ever be comfortable with. You will be watching me seduce a victim, have sex with them, and feed lightly. Then I'll be watching you do the same thing, and giving you tips. Granted, this wouldn't be for a few years yet, and you'd be learning to start and stop feeding the same way we feed you to start with. Also remember that only a month ago you were asking to come and watch me hunt."

    Dawn loses control of her human form as she brings her wings over her head in embarrassment. Vhesthine gently strokes one of the fingers of a wing, "This is another reason why we would be doing just that. You cannot lose control of your human form, ever. As an adult succubus you need to be able to sleep as a human, and feed as a human. You must learn how to appear weaker than you are, so that Demons will treat you like a human. At the same time you must learn to be as vicious as the worst of them, to use every opportunity to kill your opponent before they can bring their greater strength to bear. You also need to learn what demons to steer clear of even with all of that, because they will either enslave you, and feed you only enough to live while they slake their carnal urges on your body."

    Dawn peers over her wing, "Vhesthine, you're scaring me."



    Vhesthine nods, "Good, because you haven't grown up knowing these things. At the hairdressers and spa, I hear human women occasionally talking in hushed voices about the conversations they've had to have with their daughters. About places they shouldn't visit, on how to spot a predator, where to hit a man to give them time to run, the dangers of drinking too much, or leaving their drink unattended. Every single one of them sounds as hurt as I feel having to tell you this. I wish you didn't need to know this stuff, that I could let you grow up as a woman or succubus without fear that your ignorance wouldn't get you hurt or killed later in life. I think all mothers and matriarchs do. Anyway, we should get inside, and then I can feed you a bit more."

    Dawn nods, "But I'm still so hungry."

    "I know, but I need to hunt as something happened and it's like I've only had one moderate meal in at least a week."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Buffy gets to the Doublemeat Burger Palace just before it closes for the night, it been a weekday.



    As she walks up to the counter, she can see Tara standing there disconsolately, "Hey Tara."

    Tara looks up from her thousand yard stare, "Oh, hey Buffy. What can I get you?"

    "Can I have two medley meals and four medley burgers to go please?"

    Tara looks behind her, "Uh, we've shut down the grills and fryer already, I can do four medley burgers, and we have one portion of fries. We still have a portion of nuggets, one classic burger, and one cheese burger."

    Buffy smiles, "I'll take all of those then. Are you alright?"

    Tara nods, "I'm fine, I've just been on the till for the last hour while everyone else cleans down their stations before leaving. Manny's going to close the store in a few minutes, and then I'm cleaning down the service counter and the public areas of the restaurant."

    Buffy smiles, "Don't forget you can cheat, and use up some of your void energy."

    Tara smiles, "Not out here I can't, security cameras."

    Buffy shrugs, "Do the toilets first."



    Tara hands over the paper bag with Buffy's order, "I'll think about it. Enjoy your meal, and don't forget the seating area is closed now."

    Buffy nods, "Thank you, I'm going to swing round to the south cemetery first, so that I can bin my rubbish when I cross back to the north side."

    Tara smiles, "I'll see you when I get home then."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Buffy hums happily when she gets past the northeast cemetery, and into the woods. The large amount of food having restored most of the reserves she fed Vhesthine earlier.



    As she's walking along the ridge of the woods, three cloaked figures appear out of nowhere and start screaming at her. Their skin showing clear ridges, while their eyes were pearlescent black.

    Unimpressed, Buffy puts her hands on her hips, "Look, I'm sorry I don't speak your language. I do speak plenty of others, though the only language on this world that I know is English."

    The one in front of her raises it's arms threateningly, so Buffy shakes her head, "Look, I'm here for the same reason you are. If you want a fight, I want a fight. If you want to kill me, I want to kill you."

    While she's talking a young woman runs screaming in between them, before collapsing to one side. As if that's a trigger, the three demons start to attack Buffy. Only for Spike to jump on the back of the one on the left.



    With her right hand, Buffy draws her dagger at the same time as she lowers her left hand, "Spike, would you just get out of here. You almost got yourself killed."

    As she dodges to one side of a badly telegraphed punch, she has to throw herself backwards as Spike throws a quick jab at the place one of the demons was a second before hand.

    Stabbing out, Buffy catches one of the demons in the shoulder, "Spike, I mean it!"

    Confused, Spike replies, "Mean what?"

    Stabbing out with her dagger, the demon she's facing moves to one side, and she hears a scream from the civilian as her dagger neatly goes through the demons cloak.



    Cursing, Buffy raises her left hand, and Spike lets go of the demon he's fighting only to get hit in the back, "Right fine, I'm going."

    Buffy rolls her eyes as she activates void snare, and the three demons are pulled together. Quickly dispatching each one with her dagger, she ignores Spike as he curses her for almost stabbing her.



    As whatever effect they're causing ends, Spike whirls around at Buffy, "What the hell was that?"

    Buffy turns back to him, "That, using words you might understand, was time fuckery as bad as any I've experienced or caused when fighting Protea, or as Protea depending. At least they weren't reversing time as well. That was annoying when I had to face that, as I had to make her suffer acausal damage."

    "You lost me after time fuckery love, I want to know why you almost stabbed me."

    "Spike, I didn't almost stab you, I had to abort a dodge when you tried to attack a demon that had already moved. Same as the civilian ran through the fight, probably because she didn't know it had moved there. Now, which way did she go?"

    "Why are you asking me?"

    "Because I was too busy fighting the demons and also keeping you alive. Why did you even jump in? I almost had them handled."

    Spike runs after her as Buffy heads down the hill, "You're having a go at me for trying to help you?"

    "Yes I'm having a go at you. Because of you, that fight lasted far longer than it had to, and a civilian may be dead."

    "Why are you blaming me for that?"

    Buffy crouches down beside a young woman that's lying motionless on the floor while activating Mending Soul, she then touches the young woman before briefly glowing golden, "Because, rather than help me find her, you've been confronting me. You prevented me from using my beam attack, and your involvement actively made the fight last longer. Also, this person is dead. But there's no blood, so she wasn't stabbed and bled out."

    "What the hell are you talking about?"

    Buffy ignores him as she pulls out her cell phone and dials 911.

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Before the fight takes place, in a nearby black van, Jonathan puts down his didgeridoo tiredly, "It's done, I've sent them after Buffy."

    Warren smiles, "Great, Andrew, you're up."

    Jonathan frowns as Andrew transforms into a slightly familiar young woman, "Andrew, what are you doing?"

    "Making Buffy think she killed her."

    Jonathan jumps out of the back door of the van and looks back at the two of them aghast, "You're using me to help you cover up a murder? Nope, nadda, not happening, I'm out. You are not pitting me against her, or her fucking boss."

    Andrew looks back at Warren, "What are we going to do?"

    Warren looks at Andrew, "First of all, you have to catch up with them and make Buffy think she hit you. Then we can think about Jonathan once that's done and she's found the body."



    A few minutes later, Andrew clambers back into the van holding her side, "She stabbed me, she fucking stabbed me!"

    As Andrew releases the transformation spell, the stab wound slowly disappears, and Warren sneers, "Oh shut up you big baby."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Closing her phone and putting it away, Buffy stands up and cleans her dagger off with a Doublemeat napkin, "What were you doing here anyway?"

    Spike scoffs, "What, a guy can't hang around near his home now?"

    Buffy puts her hands on her hips and stares at him, "Spike, this is you we're talking about. You've been stalking me since October."

    Spike invades Buffy's space, "And it's obviously worked. I knew you wanted me, and look at what you did earlier. Didn't you say I tasted of whiskey?"

    "Spike, I was high on magic, and you really believe that I wanted it?"

    "Well, with the way you kept going, even after little Spike gave up on me."

    Buffy laughs, "Oh, Spike, as if you could ever be more than a happy meal on legs. Especially without a soul so we don't have to be careful. A little bit of bouncy bouncy and you're ready to pop, and slurp down like a cheap drink from a liquor store."

    Spike grabs her roughly and presses his mouth to her lips, before leaning back and saying, "Like you're not asking for it, dressed like that. What happened to your jeans? Too confining for you?"

    Buffy pushes him away roughly, "The police will be here soon."

    Spike laughs, "At night, in the woods? It will be at least 30 minutes, if they don't wait until daybreak. So, no need to be shy."

    Buffy narrows her eyes angrily, "Is that so?"

    Spike nods, "Plenty of time for a quicky."

    Buffy give a smile that has no hint of love, lust, or desire in it, "If you're sure."

    Spike leans back and undoes his fly, "What do you think love?"

    Buffy's smile turns cruel, "I think you asked for this." Then she kisses him and feeds him a wisp of essence, with the accompanying moan from Spike. Taking Little Spike in her hand, she carefully alternates between trying to feed, and feeding Spike small amounts of essence until he twitches and she's able to drink long and deeply of his essence.



    Once she's unable to draw anymore out of him, she gives him a satisfied smile and stands up, "You're right, there was plenty of time for a quicky."

    As she walks over to her purse, Spike calls after her, "Buffy, I can't move, you have to help me out here!"

    Reaching into her purse, Buffy pulls out the crumpled carboard cup that held her second sprite, that she was going to throw away at home. After putting her hand inside to open it up again, she uses her dagger to slice open her forearm, and allow half a cup of blood to pool in the bottom of the paper cup. The straw and plastic lid complete the container, and she chucks it on the floor near Spike.



    Turning to walk away, she looks over her shoulder, "There you go Spike, and don't say I never give you anything. Oh, and you were delicious."

    Spike shouts after her, "See, I knew you liked me!"

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Once Manny locks the doors, he turns back to Tara, and in his monotone says, "Thank you for staying. I'm going to clean up the Grinder and then do some work in the office. I'll call you once I'm finished."

    Tara nods, before making her way to get the cleaning supplies, and head into the toilets. Deciding to start with the mens, Tara gags as she opens the door. A muttered spell clears the air so that she can breath without trying to choke. Walking in, she turns around to look at the back of the door, to see that the sheet that's supposed to be replaced every week is not only full, but has been for at least a month. Bracing herself, she casts cleaning spells at the floor, walls, and ceiling, to reveal white tiles under the yellow of cigarette smoke that coated every surface. As she makes her way past the single sink, that has limescale caking the plug hole, the asthmatic electric hand dryer, and the metal urinal that takes up half of the wall opposite the cubicles; she discovers the first of the two cubicles, with swollen cigarette butts floating in the water. Investigating the second cubicle reveals it to be full of paper and a brown substance she really doesn't want to concentrate on.



    Deciding that, despite her misgivings, Buffy was probably right to suggest using magic. Tara moves to the centre of the room and starts to sketch out a sigil with magic while chanting a spell for purity, cleanliness, and a general purging of bad energies. As she finishes the spell, she leaves the mens and walks into the women's while the spell does its job.

    In the women's the situation seems better on the surface, the place doesn't stink and the walls and floor look clean, until she realises that the yellow colour running around the top of the walls, and the ceiling, isn't a design choice, it's just as high as whoever did this job before her could reach. Checking the back of the door, she can see this toilet was last cleaned two weeks ago.

    Frowning, she stares at the second sheet of paper below the cleaning sign off. Then it dawns on her that it's the name that appears on many of the sanitary bins, and they haven't been for around a month, where prior to that, they came every week. Swallowing hard, Tara decides to forgo looking in the cubicles and straight to using magic to clean and purify the toilets. With both spells doing their work, Tara begins practicing pulling the void around her.



    Half an hour later, both spells have finished, and Tara is starting to get concerned that Manny hasn't come to find her. Making her way out of the toilets, she heads towards the back and is about to call out when she hears something clattering. Looking behind her, she realises that her only way out of the store is either through the locked doors, or it's through the back doors.



    Having been around the scoobie gang for far too long, Tara casts around for something she could use as a weapon, until her eyes settle on the knife they use for slicing the tomatoes, lettuce, and onions. Cautiously making her way through the door between the kitchen and the back areas of the restaurant, she's surprised when something sprays her in the face.



    Spinning around, she woosily leans against the doorframe. As she does, the old lady from earlier smiles at her as a snake head slithers out of the top of her skull, "Oh my, I have a double treat tonight. And you're so young and tender."

    Tara slowly lifts the knife as the lady casually reaches down and takes it from her, "Don't worry, it's just the poison slowly paralysing you. Normally, I like my meals to marinade in Doublemeat Burgers for a couple of weeks, but I can't pass it up when one drops into my lap now can I."



    Tara raises her hand and begins the chant for a spell to immobilise the demon, when its snakelike head darts out and rips out her throat. As Tara slowly collapses to floor, the demon wags its finger, "Uh huh, no magic. Now look what you've made me do, so much more cleaning up. I usually prefer to drink your blood first before I start to eat you."



    As Tara falls to her side, her vision greying due to blood loss, she spots the knife on the floor behind the demon. Using her oldest magical skill, she pulls the blade towards her with telekinesis and slams it into the things neck, nearly completely severing it from the body. As it thrashes around in its death throes, Tara's last thought is, 'at least I took you with me!'

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Tara gasps as she wakes up in her bed at Buffy's house, her hands flying to her throat. Eyes wide with panic, she falls out of the bed and staggers through the door into the hall, where Vhesthine finds her as she walks out of Buffy's bedroom, naked.

    "Tara, you're home?"

    With wild eyes, Tara gasps, "Snake lady, throat, I died."

    From inside the bedroom, Buffy calls, "It's ok Tara, you just died. I'm just coming."



    A couple of minutes later, Tara is being held by both Buffy and Vhesthine on their bed as she chokes out the story of her last 5 minutes. As she finishes, Buffy looks up at Vhesthine, "Would giving her essence help her the way it did me?"

    Vhesthine nods, "It should do, I'll do it."

    Tara is barely able to understand what's happening through her distress and panic, so when the taste of something indescribable, followed by a feeling of warmth usually associated with Willow floods through her body, she's entirely unprepared for it.

    Touching her lips, she looks at Vhesthine in wonder, "What was that?"

    Buffy draws her attention by saying, "Worry about that later. Vhesthine, grab your cell phone and call 911, you were driving to pick Tara up from work when she ran in front of you. It's taken this long to calm her down enough to understand her, then hand over the phone to Tara. Tara, you're sure it's dead?"

    Tara nods trying to come to terms with her sudden change in emotions, "I-I am."



    While Vhesthine's talking on the phone, Tara can feel the brief emotional high already starting to recede, and she starts to shake from the effects of adrenaline and cortisol in her body. By the time the phone is passed to her, she doesn't need to fake the quaver in her voice, "Hello?... Yes, Tara McLay. I started at Doublemeat Burger Palace today… I-I'd just finished cleaning the toilets… I don't know what I saw, but I threw one of the knives at it and ran… I-I live with her… 1630 Revello Drive… Oh goddess, I'm going to be sick." Vhesthine calmly hands Tara a towel to vomit onto, while Buffy strokes her hair.

    Vhesthine speaks into the phone, "This is Vhesthine, I've just pulled over, and Tara is leaning out of the door… Buffy and I visited earlier when she told us she was working late… Yes, her manager was supposed to be there too… I'll bring her by in the next couple of days… Thank you I'll let her know… Goodbye."



    Once she hangs up, Vhesthine sags onto the bed next to Tara and Buffy, "Tara, you did well tonight. Nothing that you knew then could have allowed you to do any better than you did. And you made sure that that thing couldn't kill anymore innocents."

    Buffy hugs Tara from behind, "Let's go downstairs and make you a hot chocolate while I put the towel on to wash. We won't leave you alone tonight, or tomorrow if you need us."

    Tara bursts into tears and Vhesthine grabs the corners of the towel as Tara turns to hug Buffy and cry into her shoulder.



    Over the next hour, either Buffy or Vhesthine are holding her while she cries and sips her hot chocolate. Then, somehow, she ends up in her bed sandwiched between both of them, and using one of Vhesthine's wings as a blanket.

    [An: for reference, this is the temporal ability of Protea in game Temporal Anchor and some of the in-game theories of time Theories of Time]
     
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    • Episode 12 - part 1
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    • Episode 12



    Mike looks at the emitter that Buffy has put in the company safe as it sits on the desk. Behind the desk Razial sits back and raps his fingers on the arm of the chair.

    Mike looks up, "Any magic?"

    Razial shakes his head, "No, I do not understand how this works."

    Mike sighs, "Buffy does though. But she needed the original weapon to make this."

    "And you just plug it into electricity, and it works?"

    Mike nods, "I was there when she tested it with one of the transformers we use in the shop."

    "Why did you need my advice?"

    Mike smiles, "Because, Buffy could make us a lot of money."

    Razial leans forward, "How?"

    "We patent every single component that she makes herself, and then patent the finished product. All in her name. It will cost us around $3,000 to do it in the major countries around the world, and we can then cover the rest once we start selling them. If we ask nicely, and offer a modest 1% of each device we sell, I'm sure she'll let us have the exclusive licence to manufacture these devices. As it's completely mundane, we can even set up a factory somewhere like Mexico or the Philippines. Then for the next 25 years, we control the production of the device that will revolutionise manufacturing at least as much as the industrial revolution did."



    Razial grunts, "Won't they just take this for themselves? Or make their own devices?"

    Mike gives a predatory smile, "That's just it, they can't make this emitter without one of these emitters. I sent a letter to a professor at MIT asking if it was possible to put something inside a sapphire without drilling it. They sent back a rather rude letter back saying that it wasn't possible for this that or another reason. Scientists haven't even started to think about how this can be done. But here, we'll have actual proof that it can be done. Proof that anyone can make if they have one of Buffy's finished devices."

    Razial nods, "Do it."



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Xander winces as Anya calls from the bedroom, "Xander Harris, you will undo this right now! I can't run the Magic Box like this!"

    With a light snigger, he starts to get his bag together to leave for work. As he sits up, a demon appears out of midair wearing a black cloak, and a purple flower print top. His eyes are drawn up to her face, framed as it is by her curly hair, as she intones, "I have been called and vengeance shall I wreak! Cower, masculine one. Tremble as you face my wrath."

    Xander leans back and calls back to the bedroom, "Anya, I'll undo it. But don't you think calling a vengeance demon is a bit much for a bit of fun?"

    Anya storms into the living room, "A bit much! A bit mu…"

    The demon turns to her, "I am here to rip this male into tiny pieces, how many do you wish him to be in."

    Anya blinks a few times as the face looks so familiar, suddenly she exclaims, "Halfrek?"

    Letting her voice drop back to more human tones, Halfrek sounds surprised, "Anyanka?"

    "Halfrek! I expected you weeks ago!" Anya throws her arms in the air, and waddle dances towards her.

    Halfrek embraces Anya in a hug, "Sorry, I had an urgent job at an orphanage in Russia. Now, about the male."

    Anya laughs, "I didn't call you to smite him, I called you because I'm going to marry him."

    "Oh, wonderful, you must tell me all about it."

    Xander pushes himself off the couch, "Well, I guess that's my cue to head to work then."

    Anya grabs his arm, "Oh no you don't mister. Not until you've undone what you did to my panties."



    Xander mutters a couple of words before he leaves.

    As the door closes, Halfrek settles down on a chair, "Really Anyanka, what do you see in him? He has those massive things on the side of his body."

    Anya sits down with Halfrek with a lusty sigh, "Tentacles, definitely the tentacles. He's also funny, most of the time anyway. He runs his own company, what's not to like?"

    Halfrek looks surprised, "Tentacles, really? Where does he hide them?"

    Anya sighs dreamily, "That's just his human form. He's so much more now, even if his brother is a bad influence on him."

    Halfrek shakes her head, "I'd never have guessed, he moves so naturally. He even reacted like a human when I arrived."

    Anya smiles in remembrance, "It was amazing. There we were, in the Bronze. We've arrived just in time to see the big bad declare that Dawn didn't summon it, and then it vanishes. That's when Giles turned around and said, 'If it wasn't dawn, then it must have been one of us'. Then Xander puts his hand up and says in the corniest accent that you can imagine, "What? I didn't know it was going to be like this. I thought it was just going to be some singing and dancing, and give us a happy ending.'"

    Halfrek nods, "I like his style, death and mayhem just to prove his love for you."

    Anya nods enthusiastically, "Exactly, then Buffy, the Slayer, just appears on the stage with the demon, and stalks down the stairs staring daggers at Xander. Once she's finished making him feel so small, she hands him to the big bad, and tells him to take him to hell and turn him into a demon."

    Halfrek nods, "Sounds like a woman after my own heart."

    Anya's face falls, "Yeah, well, it's not all great, she's in love with a slut."

    Halfrek's face falls, "You don't mean one of them?"

    Anya nods, "Precisely, one of those 'can't keep a guy for more than 5 minutes' succubus."

    "Oh, my, god. What are you going to do?"

    Anya shakes her head, "Well, Spikes out. Not just for being a vampire. But there's a cute single guy on Xander's crew, and it's Buffy's birthday soon. So I was thinking I'd invite him along, and introduce them."

    Halfrek shudders, "Eww, but I guess a human's better than one of those. Are you ever going to tell her about what they do?"

    Anya shakes her head, "What do you think? She hurt the big bad badly, and at the moment I'm a friend. I'd really rather stay in the friendzone thank you very much. Thinking about it, as you're here now, I'll ask Willow if it would be ok to invite you round."

    "Yes, yes, now what's this about a wedding?"

    Anya squees, "Well, we haven't set a date yet, as Buffy pointed out that we don't exactly need to worry about human timescales here. At least not now anyway…"



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​



    Willow looks stunned as Tara kisses her, "Tara, are you sure?"

    Tara nods, "I am, and I've been talking to Buffy too. We're both worried that Amy will try something, so she's agreed that you can live at home with us. Even if we don't work out, we'll sort out the basement so that you have a comfortable bedroom."

    Willow slumps back as her brain tries to process what she's just been told, her eyes darting around the park and the across the lake they're sitting beside.

    "But we've barely seen each other." She eventually gets out, before covering her mouth, "I didn't mean it like that."

    Tara smiles, "I know you didn't dork. I think it's because we've been busy growing up. We've all got jobs, I help to look after Dawn when I'm not working. And we've both got our own College work too."

    Willow looks down, "I know, and I've been getting so caught up in magical research too. You know, the sort that works regardless of the caster. Not the sort that we practiced together. Did you know that most of those old spells are actually magical catalysts, and the real spell is imbued in the pages of the spell. That's why they seem to have such a large effect for so few words, and only a little magic from the caster."

    Tara nods, "I guess that explains why Giles had a sign saying, 'Xander, don't speak Latin around the books!'"

    Willow giggles, "You saw that? I thought it'd got taken down before you did."

    Tara smiles, "Nope, it didn't. I miss this."

    Willow frowns, "What, talking about magic?"

    Tara laughs, "No silly, just being together and talking about anything that interests us. Vhesthine and Buffy have started doing it too, now Dawn's human again."

    "What about Spike, I heard that Buffy was interested in him."

    Tara smiles as she shakes her head, "No, it's more like one of those guys who try to chat us up at the Bronze, and won't believe that we're actually in a relationship. Especially if we made the mistake at looking at him ever."

    Willow winces, "Oh, would this be a bad time to mention I told him about the birthday party?"

    Tara shrugs, "They'll probably just treat him they way they normally do."

    Willow looks confused, "What do you mean?"

    "Happy meal on legs, doorstep deliver, takeaway, you know the sort of things that we've heard him saying about humans, ever since he got that chip in his head."



    Willow smiles, "Speaking of, how's your job going?"

    Tara's eyes go distant as she looks over the lake, "It's better now, despite my first night there. The new boss was very understanding when it took me a week to build up the courage to go back to work, after the police allowed them to reopen that is. The first couple of days, they sent Dawn to keep me company with $50 so that she always had a drink or something. I think Janice turned up too for a couple of hours."

    Willow looks at Tara with a worried look, "What was so bad about your first shift? We've faced vampires and demons together, and they never affected you like that."

    Tara looks at Willow with raw fear in her eyes, "I died Willow, I had my throat torn out, and I died. I managed to kill it, according to the police anyway. But I remember my vision going grey, and feeling so cold. I couldn't sleep alone for a week, and I'm still having nightmares about it." Slightly more abashed, she adds, "Um, and I might have developed a thing for wings…"

    Willow leans in to hug Tara as she stares out over the water, "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

    Tara swallows, "I did, I told Buffy and Vhesthine. Dawn knows too, as she's slept with me to keep the nightmares away."

    Softly, Willow says, "Why didn't you tell me?"

    Tara looks at her, "And say what? 'Oh, hey Willow, you remember the resurrection that we did, and when you thought I'd been hurt by the magical ghost thing. Well, I actually made a deal with an eldritch entity from beyond any of the known planes. Since then I've been dreaming of Buffy's home, and hey, I also can't die.'"

    Willow looks hurt, "Well, no, not like that. But you could have said something."

    Tara kisses Willow on the cheek and takes her hands, "Willow, you were struggling with overuse of magic. Then you were starting your apprenticeship, and struggling with not being able to use magic. Then we weren't together, and it's not something you really want to talk about. Does that make sense?"

    "So, why did you talk with Buffy about it?"

    Tara looks down at her hands, "Because she shared first. Do you have any idea how bad she had it there? Objectively, her life here is infinitely better than it was there. But, she's the still the same Buffy she was when she died here the first time. She was defending people no matter the cost to herself. But she didn't have friends, she was so lonely that she didn't know what lonely was." She laughs, and waves her hand to conjure a parasol to protect them from the sun, "It's funny how it's worked out isn't it. I've always cautioned restraint, and only using magic for learning or deliberate things. While you wanted to explore it and use it for everything. But, now I have to use it for everything, and you can't use it for much."

    "Aren't you worried about becoming dependent on it, the way I did?"

    Tara shakes her head, "Would you ask the spring on a mounting if it was worried about becoming dependent on water? I can't use magic anymore. This energy inside me, it's not magic. If you get too much in one place, it forms a tear into the void to dissipate away quicker. I can't summon anything anymore, I've tried. But I've seen Buffy resurrect a rabbit that had just had it's throat slit. But that only works if you get to them in seconds."



    Willow closes her mouth with a snap, "Changing the subject. Does Buffy know about her birthday party?"

    Tara forces a chuckle, "Honestly, I don't think she even understands why a birthday is even important."

    "Oh, right."



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​



    Janice looks up from her homework, "Can I go to the Bronze with Dawn later?"

    Her mother looks up, "No, or have you forgotten Halloween already?"

    "But Mum, that…"

    "Don't talk back to me like that young lady. You almost got seriously hurt because you lied to me. If it wasn't for that nice Mr Giles I don't know what we'd have done. Maybe we'd have needed to bury one of our daughters, just because she couldn't listen to her mother. Now don't you have homework to finish if you want to spend the night there on Saturday for Buffy's birthday party?"

    Janice looks back at her homework, "Yes mum."
     
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    • Episode 12 - part 2
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    • Episode 12 – part 2



    Vhesthine puts her hands on her hips, "Buffy, you will put that soldering iron down right now."

    Buffy looks up from where she's about to start soldering a timing chip onto the board she's working on, "But, it's so close."

    "Buffy, I know this is a part of home that you are bringing here. But you are neglecting your other responsibilities. Or had you forgotten that you need to pick Dawn up from school today?"

    Buffy frowns, "I thought she was with Anya today."

    "That was yesterday. They've both taken the day off to go to a wedding show in LA today."

    "But it will only take…"

    Vhesthine unplugs the soldering iron at the wall, "No, Buffy, it won't only take a few minutes. You almost missed work yesterday."

    Buffy puts the soldering iron down with a sigh, "I'm sorry, it's just…"

    Vhesthine gives Buffy a kiss with a brief exchange, "I know. I was the same with Dawn while she was a succubus remember."

    Buffy smiles and pulls Vhesthine into her lap, "Says the sexy succubus who has started to have her own Dawn time. You're teaching her magic, aren't you."

    Vhesthine nods, "I am, do you mind?"

    Buffy smiles and kisses her, "Of course not. As long as you are also teaching her restraint."

    Vhesthine smiles, "Of course, though, I think your own lessons are having a better effect for that."

    Buffy nods, "She's doing something, with the Vazarin Way, that's for sure. But it's not void energy."

    Vhesthine nods, "See. Now we both need to get going if we're not going to be late."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    As they're both walking up to Mikes, Dawn asks Buffy in Orokin, "Buffy, why can't I get the Vazarin Way to work?"

    Buffy smiles, "Let me ask you a question instead. When are you trying to use it?"

    "When we're having out sister time."

    "When am I using it?"

    "All the time, except… Oh… Right, now I feel stupid."

    Buffy hugs Dawn, "Don't feel like that, as it's often the simplest lessons that evade us for the longest. That doesn't make us stupid, it just means we were overthinking something. How are your magic lessons going?"

    Dawn looks down, "It's hard. Vhesthine has me learning about all the different dimensions, and not just the hell dimensions. Did you know they have prisms to split out all of the different colours that the dimensions use?"

    Buffy shrugs, "I didn't, but it makes sense. It seems to me that many demonic species treat magic more like a science than humans do. Given what was happening to Willow, I'm not that surprised. It would be like playing with N dimensional phasic shifts without the proper equipment."

    Dawn looks confused, "Huh? I don't understand."

    "Oh, it's the scientific principles that the emitter works on. If you just wire up the emitter and pump power into it, you could disrupt maybe two meters of space, including the emitter. Shifting it 90 degrees along the 4th dimensional axis. At that point, everything would be irretrievable without knowing exactly which 90 degrees it shifted across."

    "Um, isn't time the 4th dimension?"

    Buffy ruffles Dawn's hair with a laugh, "No, it's an emergent property of the universe working. It just makes a lot of 3 dimensional science easier if you treat it as a dimension. But, up at around 11 dimensions, treating it that way becomes actively detrimental to investigating it properly."

    "How did they even start working with those sorts of…"

    Buffy laughs again, "No idea. The acid wars wiped out all of the history and records that was on the home world. That's when we started colonising the solar system. A few more wars over archaeological treasures put paid to those too. Legends say, that's when the Archimedeans came into being. Anyway, we're here, so no more ancient history lessons for you."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    As the two of them walk through the door to Mikes, with Dawn going first, a chorus of "Surprise!" has Buffy yanking Dawn back out the door at the same time Dawn spins to grab Buffy's left hand.



    "Buffy, Buffy! They're celebrating your birthday."

    After a few minutes of talking Buffy down, they both enter the workshop again.

    A shivering Buffy looks at her co-workers, "I'm sorry about that, I don't react well to surprises without my implants."

    Roselyn scoffs, "Buffy, you must be the most dense intelligent person I know. That excuse wore thin a month ago, and whatever that shit was with the portal laid it to rest. You're never going to get your implants back, that means doing what every other human, or demon that can pass as human, has to do. Get therapy!"

    Buffy steps back as though slapped, "But…"

    "There's nothing wrong with me? If Dawn wasn't here, how many of us would be dead now?"

    Buffy looks at the floor as though it's the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. As there's a moment of silence while Buffy digests that, Buffy can hear Vhesthine controlling her language into her ultra professional tone. There seems to be a human male arguing with her.

    Looking up, Buffy frowns, "What's going on upstairs?"

    Ir'in shrugs, "Don't know, don't care. The boss is in, so Vhesthine has all the backup she needs."

    Buffy turns away to go up the stairs, only for Dawn to tug her back, "Buffy, your girlfriend has handled herself for years before you came along. But your co-workers have something to give you."

    Buffy spins back, a hysterical, and vulnerable tone in her voice, "What?"

    Aglomal and Surkos both hold out a brown cardboard box each, and Andrew carefully claps her on the shoulder, "It's not exactly cake or fun stuff. But we all chipped in, and these are for you."

    With a practiced motion, Buffy pulls out her dagger, opens both boxes, and sheathes it again, almost faster than the eye can see. When she takes a pamphlet out of the larger of the two boxes, she sinks to the floor with a thump as she stares at the front page.



    Welcome to Dark Side of Sunnydale

    Home of The Slayer and The Hellmouth



    There are a few rules you need to be aware of before you go on your murderous rampage.

    1) No Eating civilians

    2) No Enslaving civilians

    3) No Hurting civilians

    4) No Kidnapping civilians

    5) No Killing civilians



    If you have specific dietary requirements that could be seen to contravene any of the above, check the contact details on the rear of the pamphlet.



    With shaking fingers, she opens the front cover and reads the rest of the tri-folded pamphlet, where it emphasizes that being human does not exempt you from these rules. That summoning a demon, or enslaving a civilian, makes you responsible for any actions they make while they are under your command.



    As her eyesight begins to blur, she wipes the water out of them, and turns to the back where there are details a magical addiction meeting, run by Willow and Tara, her own details as the Slayer, and Willy's bar.



    Looking up, Buffy manages to get out "Thanks everyone." Before booted feet come down the stairs. Looking up and behind, she sees a man, dressed in black, with a large scar running over his left eye.

    "Buffy." The man says in a voice that almost seems familiar.

    Buffy nods, "I am. You seem familiar."

    "I'm Riley, your ex?"

    Buffy's eyes widen in recognition, "Oh, I thought you were shorter. Buffy Summers spent a lot of time writing about how she looked down into your eyes while she kissed you."

    Riley shifts uncomfortably, "Yes, well. Look, I need your help."

    "Oh? The big bad human supremacist needs help from little old me? What, not killed enough innocent succubae."

    Riley hotly answers, "We didn't kill any innocent succubae, they're demons. And they were alive when we let them go."

    "And doomed to starve, or kill demons to survive. Which would have got them killed. Congratulations, you are the first recipient of my pamphlets, and whatever is in the other box. Don't think being human will give you a pass. You are part of the dark side, and will abide by my rules while you're here."



    Riley tucks the pamphlet into his jacket, "Look, I really need your help, otherwise people will die."

    "You're not giving me any information here. I do not go on any missions without intel. That stopped when I got my memories back the first time."

    Riley growls, "I don't have time for this, that thing could be killing people now."

    "Then, why are you here? Or even better, why haven't you said what you're after?"

    Riley hits a wall, "Fine, you want to be difficult, it's a Suvolte demon. They're killing machines, and they lay eggs."

    Buffy smiles, "That wasn't so hard was it. Anyone know anything about those?"

    Roselyn nods, "My partner thinks their eggs are a delicacy. He got two from the Doctor for a kitten. Ate both of them too."

    Algomel shudders and seems to become bigger out of nervousness, "They're bad news. That's what they are. Bipedal, and pure instinct. Some idiots are always smuggling an egg out of their home hell. This needs to go upstairs, as it's likely to be a vacation until it's dead."



    Riley reaches out to grab Buffy's shoulder, only to recoil at an angry spitting and hissing from a cat that's close to the size of a Maine coon, "What the fuck is that?"

    Buffy smiles down at Emo, "He's Dawn's Emotional Support Cat, he's so cute, don't you think? And suitably protective too. I want to get a queen so that we can start breeding them once he's full grown."



    Riley growls, "Look, are you going to help me with this demon?"

    Buffy shakes her head, "Nope, I'm more interested in this Doctor person, so I'll be tracking him down to make sure the current eggs are destroyed or accounted for. Now, if you don't mind, I need to go and talk to my girlfriend about your conduct and what you're hunting."

    Riley looks taken aback, "You're dating that thing?"

    Buffy smoothly stands up and stalks towards Riley, "Riley, unless you want me to start asking pointed questions about your past exploits in this city, you will refrain from calling her a thing. While female isn't an accurate description of their species, it is what they generally prefer to be considered as by humans. If you don't leave your humanocentric views outside of town, I will kill you."



    Buffy turns around and starts walking up the stairs. Halfway up, she turns back, "Oh, and it's my birthday party tomorrow night. So you're invited, presuming you survive that long."



    As Buffy disappears through the door, Riley mutters, "What happened to her?"

    Dawn smiles, "She got Awesome. Here, have a few more pamphlets and cards."

    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Willow sits in front of Razial's desk somewhat nervously, because this isn't their usual pattern. Normally, they'd have started their discussions on magical theory and practice, before she retreated to her table to start filling crystals. She usually manages two or three mid-grade a night, and she's come close to a top grade once. She's been trying to get better at making the mid-grade crystals, but it doesn't matter what she does, by the second or third circle, her magic is too polluted to do more.



    She's pulled out of her thoughts when Razial puts a necklace with a resin pendant on the desk, "Apprentice. It was most distressing when you were discommoded by excess of magic the other month. It cost me valuable days of research and trade because you were too far gone to recognise my presence and use up the magic yourself. Fortunately, my research into The Slayer's unique power has finally yielded a result I can use. My apologies that it took so long to find a solution, however my receptionist has rather too much self-control during her climax for me to gather the requisite data any faster."

    Willow's eyebrows scrunch together, "Um, what do you mean by that?"





    Razial cocks his head, "I believed it would be self-evident. She doesn't kill Buffy nearly often enough for my recording rituals to gather enough information over a short period of time. However, I have discovered the mechanism that The Slayers 'Oro' transports her body upon death and duplicated it in this necklace."

    Willow looks at it sceptically, "Um."

    Razial waves her off, "Don't worry, it's been tested thousands of times, just don't take a deadly injury to your head and you'll fine. You can also break it, and it will act as though you died. Don't do it frivolously otherwise I will ensure you learn how much work goes into making one. Oh, and never tell anyone what it does, as it won't do you any good if it's removed before you are mortally injured."

    While Willow is fumbling to put the necklace on, Vhesthine knocks on the door and pokes her head in.

    "I'm sorry to bother you Razial. That government idiot that refused to say why they wanted Buffy. Turns out they're hunting a Suvolte demon that has already laid eggs."

    Razial looks up, "You're sure?"

    Vhesthine nods, "Roselyn's partner bought a couple for a kitten."

    Razial nods, "We're closing early, do the ring around. Oh, and let The Slayer know that if she can freeze a couple of eggs before they're too close to hatching, I'll pay her for them. As they are quite the delicacy."

    Wisely, Vhesthine's expression doesn't change as she just nods and withdraws from the office.



    As Willow finishes putting the necklace on, Razial mutters a spell, and the necklace feels like it shrinks under her fingers, "There, now I don't need to worry about you taking it off accidentally. Come, we will finish this evening in my workshop. I understand you have a celebration to attend tomorrow evening, so we will be working overnight to give you time to attend."
     
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    • Episode 12 - part 3
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    • Episode 12 – part 3



    Buffy sits uncomfortably in Roselyn's car as Roselyn drives them to her home, "Buffy, this is important. Tazin should have eaten already. But if he hasn't, he's likely to attack us immediately. If that happens, let me handle him, and go around to the back of the house. We have a brick curing building there, and there should be a haunch of deer hanging in there. Grab it and bring it back to me."

    Buffy nods uncertainly, "Um, sure? But why would I need to do that?"

    "Tazin's species has three overriding instincts, the three F's. Fight, Fuck, and Feed. If you know how, you can turn one of them to another."

    "So, what will you be doing while I… Oh… So, why don't I just fight him?"

    "That's my next point, if he doesn't immediately attack. Don't get too close to me, as I'm his mate, and he might see you as trying to take me away from him. If he still attacks, he probably just needs a fight and hopefully he'll be able to give you some warning. I can turn that too, but the fighting would be quicker."



    Buffy groans, "Why are you with him again? Wait, you already told me. You love each other, and you're a masochist. Why is he with you?"

    Roselyn smiles, "I don't try to kill and eat him when I climax."

    "Wait! Like that mantis lady that Buffy Summers met a year or so ago?"

    "Sort of, but not quite. His species lays eggs in the male corpse, after the female eats his guts and head. Their secondary brain in the base of the tail will keep the body breathing and moving long enough for the eggs to hatch and consume the corpse."

    "Void, no wonder he's with you. What happens if the male wins?"

    Roselyn looks at the road for a couple of seconds, before softly saying, "They don't. If the female is able to initiate sex, that's it. The male is dead. Remember I said that their three hungers were linked? If you satiate one of them, the other two are suppressed for a while, and they can't even summon the energy to defend themselves. He told me that it's not uncommon for a group of males to fight and leave the one who has their fill of fighting first to the female while the others run." Roselyn takes a deep breath, and the knuckles on her hands whiten as she grips the steering wheel, "You know, I've had my job at Mikes for around 5 years. It's the longest I've even been able to hold down a job with Tazin. Before that, we were on the east coast, and a female caught his scent. He was terrified, and that scares me. I bought the first plane tickets to the west coast I could, and we moved here in the hope the Hellmouth would hide his scent."

    "Does he pass for human then?"

    Roselyn laughs, "Not at all, but this was before 9/11 and we'd already got him an American identity. He does web design from home. A long leather coat, with a floppy hood, and gloves, and he looks like Aragorn from the animated adaption of the Hobbit. Or any number of other dark and mysterious men from Disney classics."

    "Are you going to tell him about the offer at work?"

    Roselyn pulls into her street, parks on the street outside her house, where she looks down, "I don't know. 75 years is a long time. And there's lots of rumors about succubae. Not that I have anything against you and Vhesthine, you understand."

    Buffy sighs, "Do most of the rumors paint them as seductresses and sycophants who will attach themselves to the most powerful male in a group, sleeping their way up, and leaving a trail of dead bodies in their wake?"

    Roselyn grips the steering wheel again, "Yes, damn it. Yes, those sorts of rumors."

    Buffy looks out into the darkness, "They're true, you know. Every single one of them. What you don't have is the full story. Most of those are courtesan succubae, the weaker sex you could say. Though Vhesthine calls them a sub-species. Succubae are already individually weaker than other demons, much like humans really. But they live in communes made of multiple families. Apart from those that were summoned, every single Succubus outside their own hell has been banished from their commune with no chance of joining another commune. There's so much about their society that most people don't know, or care to know."

    "How did your relationship start?"

    "Fear, misunderstanding, and acceptance. When she fed me the first time, she was afraid that I was going to go on a rampage and kill her and everyone else. I'm sure you know the rest, or you can imagine it."

    Looking confused, Roselyn asks, "Why are you telling me this?"

    "For the same reason I haven't told Vhesthine about your question. I want you to be able to make a fair choice. Also consider, that while Succubae aren't immortal, they do live for around 900 years. Also, while they don't have to kill to feed, it's a skill they have to practice so that they can stop eating. Anyway, we should stop sitting here, and go in."

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    Riley jogs through the darkened streets of Sunnydale, the journey bringing back memories. Most of them unpleasant. Pulling out an earphone, he attaches it to his ear, "Coco, do you read me?"

    "Loud and clear Patch. Status on the asset?"

    "Negative on the asset. Quarry is confirmed to have spawned."

    "We thought that was the case. Track and trace is still live."

    "Asset has a lead on the eggs."

    "Patch, lead with that next time. Did you even brief the asset properly?"

    "Negative, she was in mixed company."

    "God damn it Patch, they're not our enemy. The killers are our enemies, same as always."

    "They're all killers Coco, do you have any idea how little it takes for them to turn?"

    "Riley, that's not our job. We track the killers and make sure they can't keep killing. We have enough going on to worry about the ones that aren't killing. Now, what's the lead?"

    "One of her coworkers partner bought a couple to eat."

    "Well, why aren't you following that up then?"

    "They kicked me out."

    "God damn it Riley, if those things hatch because you burned bridges between us and the only people who know where the eggs are. Husband or not, I'm reporting your arse. I don't suppose they gave you some way to get in contact."

    "Negative."

    "Fine. If Walsh was still alive I'd put a bullet in her myself. Track and trace is still a go until we get confirmation the eggs have been found and destroyed. Over and out."

    With a huff, Riley carries on his search. She's been on his case since Honduras, when they narrowly missed the last nest before it hatched, and this one escaped.

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    "Vhesthine, are these demons really that bad?"

    Vhesthine glances over at Dawn from the drivers seat of her car, "Like most things, that depends on where they are. In their home hell, no, not really. In the bosses hell, no not at all. In my home hell, very much so, same as here on Earth. They're growth cycle is driven by the availability of food, not time. So, they could grow to maturity in as little as a month, or as much as a year. However, their eggs will generally hatch in at most a week. That's it, and then you have 30 little demons eager to eat everything in sight that is weaker than them. If it's organic, they'll eat it. If left unchecked, within 3 months Sunnydale would be a wasteland and they'd be a plague of them spreading out looking for safe and secure places to nest. I don't know anymore than that, as the why's and wherefores of that sort of threat aren't important to a matriarch, just that they are a threat, and how much of one they are. Oh, there is one thing, they can't be seduced, so if you meet one run or kill it. There is no middle ground."

    Dawn nods confidently, "Buffy will stop it."

    Vhesthine smiles, "I have no doubt of that. I'm more worried about how many people will die between now and then. Especially as you and I are both people."

    Dawn swallows, "I wish you hadn't added that last bit."

    "Dawn, you are my juvenile, I will not spare you details that may save your conscience now only to kill you later."

    "So, what are we doing then?"

    "First, we are going home and packing bags for a few days away for us and Tara. Then we are going to Doublemeat to look out for Tara. While I'm driving, you're going to call Anya and Xander and tell them to find a motel for the night."

    Dawn looks at Vhesthine, "Shouldn't we be out there looking for it?"

    Vhesthine pulls over for a second, to look Dawn in the eye, "Dawn, do you think you could kill it if it found you? Could you beat a Vampire without a stake?"

    Shivering, Dawn shakes her head, "But we should still be doing something."

    Vhesthine nods, "And we are. We are preparing for the worst. Going to protect our friend, and after that, we'll see what happens."

    "But what about Spike?"

    Vhesthine frowns, "Who? Takeout?"

    "Why do you both keep calling him that?"

    Vhesthine starts driving again, "Because he wouldn't take no for an answer. And his response to finding Buffy unconscious outside, was to strip her naked and place her on his bed. Then imply, to the point of almost being explicit, that she owed him sex because she likes to look pretty, and must be leading him on. She now uses him to supplement my hunting so we have more time together, apparently she hasn't needed to feed him blood afterwards for nearly a month."



    While Dawn struggles through that, the two of them get home and pack their bags. On the way to Doublemeat, Dawn says, "But, shouldn't Buffy be flattered by his attention? I mean, she dated Angel and Riley, and she had a boyfriend before we moved here." As Vhesthine starts to pull over again, Dawn quickly adds, "At least that's the way the older girls talk about it."

    As Vhesthine speeds up again, Dawn lets out a sigh of relief, "Dawn. Do you think Tara should be flattered by the attention of a male?"

    Dawn scoffs, "No, she's a lesbian. That's different… Isn't it?"

    "Dawn… Nobody should ever be able to tell you how to feel about another persons attention. Ever. They can give advice, personal experience, and warnings. But it is your feelings about the person that matter, not theirs. The males I admire the most are the ones that respect other peoples opinions, especially females. The ones who may ask once, but won't push it or try to chat you up. I have taken a few males like that under my wing in my century on this Earth. With the right persuasion, they blossomed from being the awkward young men they were, into someone that genuinely enjoys the company of women for just that, company. Treating their opinions and knowledge as valuable in and of itself. Not all of them found their own female by the time we parted ways. And one of them was attracted to males."

    Dawn frowns, "But isn't that the same thing you were warning me about?"

    Vhesthine smiles, "Some would say it is. The difference is consent. I wasn't imposing my opinions on those young males."

    Dawn stutters for a moment and covers herself by asking, "Did you. You know…"

    Vhesthine laughs, "Feed? Dawn, I know you're human again for the moment. But you shouldn't be bashful about things like that. And yes, I did feed on them. Even killed a couple when they became too possessive, and wouldn't believe that they couldn't satisfy my needs. Do I regret those deaths? Not at all."

    "Didn't you say that you didn't care about males, as they were just prey?"

    Vhesthine laughs, "Dawn, there's a difference between caring about an individual and improving the quality of the herd. I would rather feed from those who don't look at me like a prize to be possessed. But, those who do look at the female form like that are far quicker and easier to find. Which is strange considering the number of vampires in this city. When you're older, I hope you'll never have to understand what I mean."



    The rest of the drive to Doublemeat passes quietly as Dawn thinks about the conversation.

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    "Slayer! You may be here to kill me, but I'll take you with me!"

    That's all the warning Buffy gets as she finds herself leaping over a charging demon. Her left hand coming up to shoot it when a civilian gets in the way, "No Buffy, he just needs to fight it out. Please."



    Buffy tackles the civilian out of the way as the infested charges at her again, resigning herself to a close combat fight without her warframe. A punishing rake across the ribs is met with an equally punishing kick to the thigh, though a bare moments thought activates void regen, and a second activates a guardian shell around both her and the civilian. Enough protection to keep them safe, but not enough to be firing void beams around when they could cross the line of fire.



    As she slides along the floor underneath a lunging claw, she punches up with her own attack while trying to remember what her mission was. Another brief flurry of blows, and she's finally got it's measure, and fires a void snare slap bang into it's chest. As she steps back, and crouches down for a clear line of fire, the civilian runs into her line of fire shouting something about 'alive'. Stupid capture missions without the proper equipment.



    A few minutes later, Buffy comes back to herself standing over a mewling demon that is bloody and bruised. Her own clothes tell of how hard the fight was for her, even if the blood stains don't translate to visible wounds.

    "Um, are you ok?"

    Whatever she was expecting from Roselyn's mate, it certainly wasn't an urbane New York accent, "Now that I am no longer in fear of death, I am more than ok. I haven't had a fight like that since we left New York. You must be Buffy, Roselyn's co-worker. Did you know you smell of the Doctor, or maybe the Doctor smells of you."

    "Um?"

    Roselyn steps into view and crouches down to stroke Tazin's horns, "Tazin Honey, I think she might be confused about your sudden switch in personality."

    Tazin nods, "Understandable, would you help me up? As I can't feel my legs. Anyway, I was fortunate enough to stumble through a portal to New York at around 10 years of age. Just old enough for my personality to be coming through, but not so old that rumors of my existence was drawing… What's the polite term for them again…"

    Roselyn interrupts, "Bitches. Just call them bitches like I do."

    "Yes, well, I'm sure the slayer isn't interested in my story."

    Buffy shakes her head, "Actually, this slayer very much is interested in your story. But she needs to know where the Suvolte demon eggs are before they hatch."

    Tazin shakes his head before glancing at Buffy's crotch, "I don't know. All I can tell you is that he's a vampire, and he smells of you, and you smell of him."

    Buffy mulls that over for a moment, "Wait, Takeout is the Doctor? Really?"

    "Takeout?"

    Buffy nods, "About so tall, British accent, short, white, waxed hair, ego the size of a planet."

    Tazin nods, "You'll have to tell me about that nickname sometime."

    Buffy laughs, "Come to my birthday party tomorrow, I'm sure they'll be time to just chat. I need to go and talk to a vampire about the perils of responsible pet ownership, and accountability."
     
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    • Episode 12 - part 4
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    • Episode 12 – part 4


    Briefly, Buffy regrets not asking Roselyn to give her a lift to Spikes cemetery. A thought that is quickly quashed as her feet eat up the distance at an economical run. She pays no mind that she's effortlessly running a 4 minute mile, and she's going to be keeping it up for nearly 15 minutes to get from the suburb that Roselyn lives in into Sunnydale proper, and the cemetery itself.



    As she's running, she seriously considers whether she's badly overestimated Takeout… Spike's basic intelligence. Not even the most greedy Corpus ever kept product that might kill them. Even Alad V, and he was more Mad Scientist than Greedy. Of course, that didn't extend to necessarily paying their staff enough to ensure proper containment, or one of their competitors paying for some sabotage, or even just a random Grineer raid, rendering those precautions and safety measures inoperable. Belatedly, she remembers her phone and calls Vhesthine.

    "Vhesthine. It's Takeout."

    Vhesthine answers, "I'll let Dawn know. Do what you need to do, I have the car and bags at doublemeat."

    In the background, Buffy can hear Dawn saying, "Takeout… Takeout… Buffy, don't. Don't kill Spike."

    Buffy sighs, and slows down for a few paces, "Let Dawn know that I'm not going there to kill him. I'm going there to get him to destroy the eggs. If he dies…"

    Vhesthine's soft voice says, "I'll explain it to her. Go and do what you have to do."

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    "Take the shot!" Coco says just before she takes a blow to the ribs that sends her flying with a loud crack. The loud retort of an elephant rifle round being discharged at close range leaves her unable to tell whether her disorientation is from the blow or the gunshot. Drunkenly, she tries to push herself to her feet in case it's not dead.



    As Riley walks over and helps her up with his good arm, she relaxes for a moment, "Are you good to go?"

    Riley nods, "Yeah, just need help with the splint for my wrist. Damn last resort pistols."

    Coco slaps him on the shoulder, "That's why it's a last resort. Come on, lets get that done and see why it stopped at the bottom of a dam of all places."



    After a few minutes of carefully searching the monitoring station for the dam, Riley lets out a low whistle, "Well, track and trace worked. But someone got here ahead of us."

    Coco joins him in a cool, dark, room inside the dam before shaking her head at the corpses of the monitoring staff. Moving forward, she winces as she starts to check them over. Meanwhile, Riley starts to canvas the room, looking for any eggs.



    Coco is about to call Riley to turn one of the corpses over when a sharp whistle pierces the air. Standing up, she makes her way over to what he's looking at and gasps. Kneeling down, she carefully draws her dagger, before plunging it through the quivering egg sac. Now sure it's dead, she carefully cuts it open and looks at it critically. "It was, at the most, an hour away from hatching. Check to see if there's anymore here, and contact the asset. She needs to know what she could be walking into."



    She's investigating the neck of one of the corpses when Riley calls over, "There's no answer at her house, or her registered place of work."

    "Riley, I hope to god that you at least gave her your number!"

    Riley spins around, "No I didn't! You know why? It's because I didn't recognise the person staring out of those eyes! She didn't recognise me either until I said my name! I dated her for nearly a year, and, we-we could have got married if… But no, instead of being happy to see me, she starts accusing me of killing innocent succubae and shoves a pamphlet at me."

    Struggling to her feet, Coco makes her way over to Riley and pulls him into a gentle hug, "Riley, it's alright to feel like that. But as your SO you need to tell me before it becomes a problem, not when we're neck deep in shit and about to step off a ledge. Also Riley, as your so, as your wife, I need you to tell me about these things before I find out at the worst possible moment. Now give me the Damned pamphlet and call in backup soldier. Once we have the bagmen coming to look over the corpses, check every single room for any other eggs that were missed. I do not want to die because you couldn't do your job soldier. Do you understand!?"

    Riley snaps to attention and throws a salute, "Yes Sir, Ma'am!"

    He then takes the pamphlet from the pocket he placed it in and hands it over.

    It doesn't take Coco long to flip the pamphlet over and spot the contact details on the back, including a place they could have sent a backup team.

    Dialling the number for the Slayer, it rings for 3 rings before a woman picks it up, "Slayer, please hold I'm a tad busy."

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    Buffy isn't gentle as she slams into the door to Spikes crypt, the force of her kick shattering the concealed lever with a crash. She doesn't even pause as she void slings down the stairs and kicks the inner door off the hinges, "Takeout! Spike!"



    Hearing movement from the back she void slings towards the back.



    Spike winces as he hears a crash from the front of the crypt. He looks back at the ladder up to the main crypt and considers if it's worth trying to run the tunnels. Deciding it's unlikely to be the loan shark, he turns back to the baskets of beautiful little kittens that are his ticket to freedom. After checking that they're all there, and the sound of Buffy calling that horrible nickname, he starts to head for the ladder.



    As his head appears at the top of the ladder, Buffy's face appears in front of him.

    "Hi Spike. Or should I say Doctor."

    "Hey. I don't talk about your day job, so don't pry into mine."

    "I won't if you can honestly tell me that you aren't trading in anything that could endanger the civilians of the city if it was improperly stored."

    "I'll let you know, I always properly store all of my merchandise."

    Spike backs away, as Buffy's smile turns vicious, "So you would know the correct storage method for Suvolte demon eggs then."

    Spike swallows hard, "I might, if I had any. But I don't."



    Buffy lifts her left hand, sparks of void energy dancing over her fingers, "And I might have to kill you if I found out you lied. But, of course, you wouldn't do that to me would you. And if I had a look around down there, I wouldn't find any Suvolte eggs or hatchlings at all."

    "Now Buffy, let's not be hasty. There's a good market for them, and it's a harmless enterprise."

    "Spike, tell me you at least have a solid door between them and freedom." When Spike says nothing, she shouts "Destroy them! Destroy them all now."

    "Buffy, it's my way out of debt, you can't."

    Buffy growls, "Spike, they are dangerous enough that work has declared a vacation day. So, either take responsibility for your actions and start destroying those eggs. Or I will just shoot you now and do it myself. Those are your only two options. I will handle any that get past you."

    Spike seriously considers attacking Buffy to give him time to run, when the tell-tale flicker of her barrier appears. Most notably, only around her.



    As he backs down the stairs, he desperately calls back, "Look, I really thought we had something here. I know I'm just your bit on the side. But there's some real affection there."



    Buffy barks a laugh as she renews the barrier, this time around both of them, "Only in your dreams. That's why you're called Takeout. You mean as much to me as Remio's means to Dawn. That's her favourite pizza delivery, if you didn't know." Even as she leans over the hole to keep an eye on anything that might be trying to escape.



    While she's cursing the fact the hole seems to descend into a small room with multiple exits, Spike's muffled expletive echoing from one of the exits has her chuckling for a brief moment before he screams. Leaping down into the room, it takes Buffy a moment to orientate to the screams. A task that's made moot when a mouse made of teeth leaps at her from the same direction as the scream.



    While she's fending off the attack, her phone rings, distracting her for a second as she marvels that it has signal down here. A blast of void energy tracing a path after the creature accompanies her voice as she answers, "Slayer, please hold, I'm a tad busy."

    The voice at the other end calls "We found an egg, the others will hatch in at most an hour."

    "Thanks for the warning, but you're 5 minutes too late. Give me a call later and we'll catch up." Her hopes that it was just the one that Spike missed are dashed when another three swiftly follow before she's recovered enough energy to use a void snare.



    Drawing her dagger, she steps into the mouth of the corridor to contain the oncoming demons. Choosing to reserve her void energy for healing and capture rather than killing to eliminate the risk they might get past her, she grabs one with her hand, and slices it in half with her dagger.



    At the end of five minutes of frantic fighting, where Buffy has to repeatedly choose between corralling the increasingly deadly demonic spawn, killing them, or taking a potentially deadly hit. She passes the remains of several kitten baskets that have been torn open. As she passes into a small dug out cave, she kicks up a cloud of dust, and crouches down while she clears her eyes and nose carefully. When nothing attacks her, she surveys the room and spots some old, ragged blankets dotted haphazardly around the room, with the remains of egg sacs on them. A fallen axe lies beside one. Interspersed between them are large blocks of fishmongers ice, to keep the room cold, but not freezing.



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    Buffy tiredly pulls out her phone and calls Dawn once she's finished accounting for every egg sac in the room, comparing them to the corpses outside. A task made more difficult by her used of the void blast.

    "Buffy!"

    Buffy sighs heavily in relief, "It's done Dawn, all of the eggs Spike had have been destroyed."

    "What about Spike?"

    "Dawn, can we talk about this at home?"

    "I want to know about Spike!"

    "I know you do Honey, I just don't want to tell you over the phone. It's something I should share in person."

    "He's dead, isn't he."

    "Dawn…"

    "How could you… How could you?"

    "Dawn… Dawn…"

    "Buffy, it's Vhesthine. I'll get her home."



    As the call disconnects, Buffy sinks to her knees and cries. An unknown amount of time later, a pair of comforting arms curl around her back while she recognises Dawn's feet walking around in shocked silence. Confused, she looks up to see Dawn's slack mouthed expression and, over her shoulder, Vhesthine's concerned expression.



    Confused, Buffy looks around, "Why am I like this? I shouldn't be like this."

    Vhesthine croons into her ear, "Shh, it's ok. It's your human side coming out."

    "But, but, I'm Tenno. Tenno are…"

    "Also human. Your people forgot that, but you can't afford to forget that. You no longer have the technology that set you apart from the rest of your species."



    Dawn turns around with a lost and horrified expression, "Buffy… This is… What happened?"

    Buffy slowly looks around the egg storage area with dead, tear filled, eyes, "Containment. This is what the result of containment looks like. I knowingly sent Spike to his death because he couldn't have handled containment. I think he was using that axe when he died. If I'd have been here instead, I'd have died too, then he would when he tried to contain them. Assuming he didn't run. It's like praxis 4 all over again. People died because of the decisions I made to act as containment because nobody else was equipped to handle that."



    Dawn collapses to the floor, "But your shield. That could have saved him."

    Buffy shakes her head, "It only protects from the direction you're looking at. Same as the void snare, it has a limited range, and if I missed even one, containment would have failed."

    Dawn hits Buffy, "There must have been something… anything you could have done."



    As Dawn devolves into grief and anger filled hitting and ranting, Buffy just kneels there and takes it until Vhesthine's had enough and forcefully feeds Dawn a little essence to help level out her emotions.



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    "How's she doing?" Is that the voice from the phone?

    "Physically, well she's always fine. Mentally, I've given her some essence. But this is the first time she's faced something like this since… and it's been compounded with all the other times she's had to do the same thing." That's Vhesthine, and no it's not, I just can't switch off my emotions and deal with it properly.

    "It can't be worse than when she killed Angel." Anya?

    "Anya, this isn't the same thing. We were all there with her when she had to do that. This time she was alone." Understanding from Xander? When did that happen?

    "Yes, Lt Finn is going to face disciplinary action for failing to report potential intelligence. If he had, we'd have at least had some assets in the area to provide backup." It's that phone voice again.



    Would that have changed things?



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    Buffy points at a faceless operative, "You, go with Spike and help him with the eggs. Watch each other's backs and stay alive. The rest of you are on Secondary containment. I'm on primary containment."



    Later, she makes her way into the room less beaten up, and with an operative for backup while the others scour the crypt for any stragglers. There she looks down at the pile of dust and the barely recognisable body of the operative she sent to assist.



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    No, it wouldn't. It would just increase the number of people she got killed getting the job done.



    "Can't she just get up? This is supposed to be her birthday party after all. And let's face it, we've all caused our own share of death and mayhem. Isn't that right Halfrek?" Anya again.

    "Indeed, such is the plight due to all those who abuse children." That must be Halfrek, "In fact, there are many here who are calling out for help."



    Buffy's eyes flick open, and she pushes herself out of bed. Staggering slightly, as her head swims a little from getting up so fast, she makes her way to her bedroom door oblivious to the fact she's naked, "Halfrek, you need to read my pamphlet. No Killing, eating, enslaving, hurting, or kidnapping of civilians. Or you face me, and I will kill you."

    As everyone else gasps at her appearance, Halfrek just looks at her, "Why? I am just a Justice demon, fulfilling wishes."

    Buffy stalks forward, "Who gets to decide which wishes to fulfil? Who gets to decide how they're fulfilled? I read up on Vengeance demons when I found out Anya used to be one, and the answer to both of those is you. Don't try to pretty it up in your mind, it is vengeance plain and simple."

    "And how would you know?"

    "Because I've been there. I've been used as a tool of vengeance, and as a tool of justice. And, you know what? Vengeance never leaves the system a better place. Sometimes justice is fast enough that it does."

    Halfrek sneers, "You? A slip of a human who can't be more than 20, thinks they've seen what it means to impart justice for those who can't get justice for themselves."

    "Try 700 years of lived experience bitch. I have seen things that you cannot comprehend. Cruelty on a scale that you just cannot comprehend. I have been used as a weapon, as a tool, and as a free agent. What about you? What have you experienced?"

    "I was a whipping girl, my parents were servants and they allowed me to be used by the Lords daughter as her surrogate and 'playmate'. When she was bad, I was punished. When she was ill, I was examined. When she was angry, I was her target. And I got them, I got them all. And since then, I've helped countless children get their own."

    "I heard you speak of three victims in that story, what of the other two. Did they get 'justice'?"

    Halfrek sneers, "Who? My parents who let it happen? They died with the rest."

    "You poor, deluded, ignorant little girl. I was used in an illegal experiment, had my mind wiped and was turned into a weapon with literally no choice about what was right and what was wrong. But the Lotus rescued us and tried to care for us, and taught us the best she could. And we tried to be better. We failed too many times, especially in the beginning, as she was never Human, and we didn't remember being human. But we learnt from our mistakes and tried to make the system a better place. You have the power to grant justice for those children, to pick which wish to grant, and how to grant it. Yet you leave the world a worse place than before."

    Halfrek steps into Buffy's space, "You call me deluded and ignorant, and then show your own ignorance in turn. Do you really think we choose which wishes to grant? We are compelled to seek out their wish, and grant it."

    "What if Dawn was the same lonely girl she was when I got here? And she wished people wouldn't leave her alone?"

    Halfrek snorts, "Simple, trap you all in the house with her."

    "That's not justice, that's vengeance. That just leaves dead bodies. You could have made it so that they feel her loneliness and abandonment. Then when she feels less lonely and abandoned, so do they."

    "Ha, as if it's always that easy. What about a child that's starved and wishes their abusers were dead?"

    Buffy shrugs, "Stop them from being able to get any nutrition from food, or drop their starved bodied outside a hospital. Not much you can do with that wish except try to make things better for the child. But you've made your point, and I will check the wording of your wishes before passing judgement. But you need to promise to think about how you can use the wish to make their lives better while you're in Sunnydale."

    Halfrek steps back in surprise, "What? Just like that?"

    Buffy shrugs, "Yes, just like that. I get that demons don't always get to control what they do. I'm not going to hold you any more responsible for a wish like that, than I would a demon that was summoned to kill someone. What I will do is hold you responsible for what you do that is inside your control."

    Incredulously, Halfrek asks, "Really? And what about demons that need to kill on a regular basis in order to maintain their sanity?"

    Buffy shrugs again, "As long as it's not too frequently, I can accommodate that. Probably roll it into the fight club I need to set up."



    Halfrek looks around at the other people crowded in the hallway, "Is she for real?"

    Vhesthine nods, "She is, it's why she's my girlfriend."

    The phone girl doesn't even look up from the notes she's been rapidly scribbling down on a notebook she got from somewhere.

    Anya and Xander look at each other and shrug, with Xander saying, "I don't know. But she punished me instead of killing Sweet. Best thing that's ever happened to me after meeting Anya."



    Buffy looks over at Vhesthine, "How's Dawn?"

    Vhesthine looks down, "She's in her bedroom, she hasn't come out since last night. Janice is in there with her at the moment."

    Buffy pulls her into a hug, "Did anyone stay with her?"

    Vhesthine nods, "Tara did."

    Buffy lifts Vhesthine's chin and gives her a long exchange, "Vhesti, you did nothing wrong. I shouldn't be falling apart like this."

    Phone girl shouts, "That's bullshit. I've seen the carnage down there. You held containment with only a knife, and what? Spells? I'm not surprised you fell apart. You're human, and the amount of magic you must have used would have knocked anyone senseless unless they were used to it. And you're showing none of the signs of regular magical overuse."

    Buffy turns to the girl, "And you are?"

    "Major Sam Finn of the UN PN task force, Riley's wife and SO… Senior Officer."

    "Sam, I'm not human, and I didn't use magic. Anyway, why are you here?"

    Vhesthine puts her hand on Buffy's shoulder, "Buffy, she's right. In the ways that matter right now, you are human. What you are is on top of that. Why don't you talk to Dawn and I'll explain things to Sam. Ok?"

    Buffy nods sullenly, before opening the door to Dawn's room.



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    Janice turns around when she sees Dawn's puffy eyes first light up, and then her expression closes down. She can't help the gasp she makes when she sees Dawn's older sister standing naked by the door as it clicks closed.

    Dawn grabs a pillow and throws it at Buffy, "Go away, I don't want to talk to you."



    Buffy deftly catches the pillow before walking forward and using it to cushion her knees as she kneels beside the bed, "No, I don't imagine you do. But you need to at least listen to what I have to say."

    Janice blushes as she looks at Buffy, "Um, I can go if you want Mrs Summers."

    Buffy turns to Janice, "Call me Buffy, and no, stay. You live in this city too." Turning back to Dawn she says gently, "Dawn. Despite what you may think, and what I probably said last night. I did not personally kill Spike. I was tempted, and I got him killed. But he died trying to do the right thing. What do you think would have happened if I went in there myself?"



    "You'd have kicked ass, and destroyed them all before they could escape."

    Buffy looks down, "That's what I thought. Dawn, even if I had an Igris… A Flame Thrower, I couldn't have guaranteed being able to destroy all of them before some got past me. Someone needed to handle containment, as that was the more important job compared to initial elimination."



    Janice's voice quavers, "Um, Mrs Summers. What are you talking about?"

    Buffy closes her eyes for a moment as she draws on her memories as Buffy Summers to find something Janice may understand, "Janice, do you know what Locust's are?"

    Janice nods, "They're the insects that come in plagues and eat all the crops."

    Buffy nods, "Imagine a demon like that, except it is as tall as your father, and thinks anything organic is food. Fortunately it can't fly, but it does have claws and large teeth. They also mature in as little as a couple of months, and will lay lots of eggs as soon as they can find a secure place to store them. That's what was in Sunnydale, and the eggs were in Spikes home."

    "Demons?"

    "Janice, you were almost killed by a vampire on Halloween, are other demons really that much of a stretch?"

    Janice shakes her head, "No, the hospital said I was just lightheaded from the drugs they slipped me before…"

    Janice trails off as Buffy pulls the void around her, and turns invisible, "Any other questions? I could ask Vhesthine to show you, her wings."

    Slightly hysterically Janice asks, "Dawn, what happened to Mrs Summers?"

    In a slightly exasperated tone, Dawn huffs, "Buffy, stop that, you're freaking my friend out."



    Buffy reappears with a slight, sad, smile, "At least you're annoyed at me for a different reason. Yes Janice, demons exist. From the sociable to the animalistic. This was one of the latter. If even one had escaped, it would have kept killing until something killed it. If that took too long, it would lay eggs, and then they'd been dozens more killing until something killed them.

    "Dawn, how many times have you managed to accidentally hit me during training?"

    Dawn looks down at the mattress and mumbles something.

    Gently Buffy says, "Dawn, I didn't hear that."

    Dawn looks up again, "I thought you were clear of the target, I didn't mean to shoot you."

    Buffy nods, "I know, and I should have taught you better. But I've never taught anyone like this before, so I didn't. But the point is, I can't be aware of everything around me. I'm well trained enough that it can seem like I am sometimes. But one lucky hit and, that's it, I'm dead. Do you understand?"

    Dawn nods sadly, "I know, but Spike's dead."

    Buffy nods sadly, "I know he is, and I'm sorry. But I was the only person there that could reasonably hold containment if something went wrong. And, to borrow an American phrase, you always hope to god that nothing is going to go wrong. Can you imagine what could have happened if Spike and I had gone in together, and one of us was killed?"

    Dawn shakes her head vehemently, "I don't want to."

    Buffy nods, "And I hope you never have to. I hope you're never in a position where you have to find out either. Dawn, it's ok to grieve Spike, he was your friend and he helped take care of you while I was gone. It's also ok to blame me for my decisions. Lotus knows, I do. But don't accuse me of not making the best decisions I could at the time with the information I had. I knew that if the eggs hatched, whoever was in there would almost certainly die. But Spike can't use void snare, or void beam. He can't heal himself and others, and he can't pull the void around him. So if I died, it would take me a few minutes to get back to the crypt. At which point, Spike will have either died or fled. Either way, we'd have an unknown number of demons making their way into Sunnydale. So I placed myself as containment, where I couldn't be caught by surprise as eggs hatched in my blind spot. If everything went well, he'd have killed all of them. They didn't, but I think he got five before they started hatching."

    "But you could have been closer."

    Buffy nods gravely, "I know. I know that now. But that was the first time I've been in that part of his home. I had no idea what it was like down there. Only the fact that there seemed to only be one way out. But again, if I had time to scout properly, Spike would have had time to kill them all. As it stands, we still got lucky that the cave his ladder went into was also the chokepoint for the whole cave system."



    Dawn starts to cry, "I hate you, I hate you." While Janice looks embarrassed on her behalf.



    As Buffy pulls Dawn down into a hug, Janice asks, "Was that true?"

    Buffy nods, "It was, I think she needs someone her own age she can talk about shit like this with."

    "Why me?"

    Buffy smiles, "You're her best friend. Before Buffy Summers moved here, she didn't have anyone to talk to, and it almost drove her crazy. But Willow and Xander made friends with her, and then the others joined over time. It made it easier for her to handle everything."



    ═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════​

    As Buffy comes downstairs a short while later, Vhesthine hands her a glass of fruit juice, "How are you doing?"

    Buffy smiles, "I'm f…" before her shoulders sag slightly, "I don't know. It's not supposed to be like this."

    Vhesthine kisses Buffy on the cheek, "We can talk about what you're feeling later. You should go and mingle before the uninitiated freak out."

    Buffy looks confused, "Huh?"

    Vhesthine smiles, and indicates the dining area, "Tara brought a couple of new friends. Anya and Xander invited a friend, presumably one that might sway you from me considering the photo's of Angel and Riley in the photo album. Willow brought a friend, though she at least seems to be a little familiar with this side of life. A demon called Clem turned up with a bottle of wine saying Spike invited him, but he can't find Spike. He seems nervous. Then there's Roselyn and her partner. Finally, you've got Riley, Sam, and Halfrek."

    Buffy nods, "So, not too many people then." Under her breath she mutters, "You can do this Buffy, you've been around this many people before."



    As she steps away from Vhesthine towards the lounge, Riley catches her elbow, and she decks him. The lounge goes quiet, until Tazin laughs from the couch, "That was a good punch. He should know better than to approach a demon like her unannounced."

    Roselyn slaps Tazin's leg, "Buffy's not a demon."

    Tazin shakes his head, "She sure fights like one though."

    From the floor Riley rubs his jaw, "I guess I was asking for that. I just wanted to ask if we could debrief you."

    Buffy nods as she activates squad regen, "Tomorrow. Where's Sam?"

    "I think she's cornered Halfrek, Anya, and Xander somewhere. She said something about new intel on different species of demon when she took my notepad."

    Buffy nods, before going to say hello to all the people she already knows. That done, she steels herself, and heads through to the kitchen where Willow and Tara are entertaining most of the other guests.



    Backing out back into the study, she grabs a handful of pamphlets, and walks back in before spilling them across the table. It's her birthday party, and she'll be damned if she's going to hide herself or her friends just because there are people who are ignorant of that side of things.
     
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