Vengeance has its Price

by Kylia

SPOILERS: Something Blue
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Something new; Warning: This will be a bit unfavorable to everyone except my beloved W/S. This doesn't mean I hate everyone else. Just an idea that popped into my head. Had to be written. This is a companion piece of sorts to "Cease".
DEDICATION: Lorna; My Girls, Cotti.

Willow stood there, in shock. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Oz, with not one, but two groupies. Doing things even Spike would be embarrassed to do in public.

She was rooted in place. Her body couldn't move. Her mind was on overload. Replaying everything Oz had told her since he returned two months ago. Every lie that left his lips etched inside her brain for an eternity. She wanted to run, to hide, but she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction. Instead she cleared her thoughts and knocked loudly on the door, alerting him to her presence.

"Willow? Oh God, Willow." Oz groaned as he saw her standing in the doorway to the apartment he shared with Devon. He stood up, pushing one of the girls off of him. He walked towards Willow, oblivious to his nakedness.

Willow held her hand up. "Stop. Don't even bother. I don't care." Her voice was hard, masking the pain she was in at that moment. She turned to leave and then stopped. "How long? How long have you left me to come home to this?" She asked, with only a slight tremor.

"Willow, I…"

"How long?" She snapped, feeling her anger rise at her ignorance. She had let him back into her life. Back into her heart, and her bed. And he betrayed her.

"Always." His voice was a quiet whisper.

She turned to look at him, her green eyes flaring angrily. "Always? Even before. Before you left?" She asked incredulously. Her ignorance had no limits it seemed.

"Yes." His voice was cracked at the admission.

Willow walked out of the building and ran home to lose herself in her pain. She hurt so much. How could she have been so stupid? So blind? Spike had warned her, but she hadn't listened, believing he just wanted to hurt her. But he was right. He had been honest.

"Bloody Hell! Tell me again why I have to be here?" Spike snarled. Research. He hated it. Well, to be perfectly honest he hated everything about Sunnyhell. Except for Red. She was the one exception. The spirited little firecracker in his bleak existence. Well, she had been before the wolf came back.
If he had his teeth back, he would have ripped the boy apart for just thinking about touching his redhead. But he didn't, so instead he had to stand by and watch as the bloody wolf chased anything in a skirt. He could smell the foul stench of his whores. They covered the wolf like a bad suit. Spike had tried to warn Willow when Oz first came back, but she wouldn't listen. She wanted so badly for things to go back the way they had been that she ignored his advice. She took the wolf back into her life, and into her bed.
Oz had been back for two months, and he saw Willow dying a slow death. She was unhappy. But she wanted to make things work, so she stuck it out. She pretended that she was happy, and that everything was perfect. It wasn't.

"Because I said so." Buffy's voice brought Spike out of his thoughts. "You do what I say you do. If I say you research, then you research." Buffy told him snidely, pulling a stake out of her pocket.

"Watch it, Slayer." He growled, "I won't always have this implant."

"Ooh, I'm scared." Buffy taunted. "The big bad vamps gonna get me."

"That's it, I've had it!" Spike snarled as he stalked towards Buffy.

He hadn't gotten very far when his head exploded. At least that's what it felt like. Like someone had set a series of small bombs off in his head. The room was shaking, or was that him. His vision started to blur. He clutched at his head, willing the pain to stop. Then he fell to the floor, and everything went black.

He was only out for a second or two, but it felt like an eternity. The pain was incapacitating. His vision was distorted, and his hearing was muffled. He could barely make out some asinine comment the moron had made. Then his head started to clear. His vision righted itself. He stood up carefully and looked around the room.

"Well, Deadboy, looks like you don't stand very well. Who taught you how to walk?" Xander said in between laughing hysterically.

Spike walked calmly over to Xander. He was going to teach that boy a lesson, headache be damned! When he reached the boy, he pushed him against the front door, and hit him squarely in the jaw with the back of his hand. He braced himself for the pain. It never came. He looked strangely at Xander, and then, as if testing his theory, he slowly brought his fist to the boys nose. Hearing him squeal in pain, Spike laughed and turned around to face the room.

"Marvelous! Bloody Marvelous!"

Willow sat on her bed, replaying the night's events. She was shuffling somewhere between anger and soul gripping pain as she thought about how she had wasted the last two months of her life. She had been unhappy, and felt guilty because she didn't have the same feelings for him as she used to. She tried to rekindle their love, but it had withered and died. And now she found out, that he had never really loved her. It had all been a lie. Spike had been right.

She sat up as she heard Buffy enter the room. Buffy flopped down on the bed exhaustedly and then turned to Willow.

"I saw Oz." She told her quietly.

Willow averted her eyes from her friend. "And?" She asked, unsure of what Oz would have told her.

Buffy walked over and sat next to Willow on her bed. "I think you should listen to him. Let him explain. He loves you."

Willow looked incredulously at her friend. "Buffy, he cheated on me. You can't really expect me to take him back."

"Why not? Everyone makes mistakes. He didn't mean it. It's not like before. They never meant anything."

Willow stood up at the meaning to her friends words sunk in. "Before? You knew about before? And you never told me?" She asked, feeling her anger rise.

"Willow, Xander and I… We didn't want to hurt you." Buffy explained.

"Xander? He knew too? Since when?"

"Well… I don't know… Willow it isn't what you think." Buffy told her.

Willow turned to Buffy, her green eyes lighting angrily. "When did you know, Buffy? Tell me." Her voice was calm, belying the rage that was building at the realization that her friends had known and never told her.

"Well…" Buffy hesitated. "Since… since that incident with Amy's botched spell. He was hurt, and well... things just happened." She explained.

Willow grabbed her jacket and headed towards the door before she said something she would regret.

"Wills, where are you going? It isn't safe out there."

Willow stopped just as she reached the door. "It isn't safe in here."

Spike let the body drop to the floor and grinned. It was his fifth kill of the evening. It felt great. He didn't know what happened, but somehow the implant had malfunctioned, and he was back. After he had knocked the moron out he left the watcher's house, not in the mood to listen to them prattle on. They had been so stunned that they had let him leave without so much as a good riddance.

He wondered how long it would be before the Slayer regained her senses and came after him again. It was a pity. She had been a worthy adversary. Oh well, he'd find another.

Spike stopped when he heard footsteps walking through the park. He chuckled to himself, thinking it was another victim. He hid in the shadows and watched at the figure came into view. It was the witch, and she was pacing around in circles, oblivious to the dangers surrounding her.

"Willow?" He asked as he came out from behind a group of trees.

"Spike." Willow turned and faced the vampire. "What are you doing here? Did you come to gloat? Tell me 'I told you so'? She asked with bitterness.

"Pet? What's wrong?' He asked growing concerned. He had never seen her so agitated.

She turned on him, her eyes blazing. "Did you know too? Is that why you warned me?" She laughed hollowly. "Did you and Buffy have a good laugh at how stupid I was? How everyone knew he was screwing around. Everyone but me."

"Oz" The vampire growled. "This is about the wolf."

"Yes." Willow collapsed onto the ground, a wave of pain racking her body. She sobbed deeply as Spike bent over her and lifted her off of the ground.

"Shh, pet. He isn't worth it." He doesn't deserve your tears." He told her as he walked her over to a park bench.

She looked up at him, as a few stray tears streaked down her face. "I feel so awful. I'm such a fool." She whispered in between sniffles.

Willow lapsed into silence, as she thought about all she had learned in the past twenty-four hours. Her entire life had been turned upside down. She sat quietly for the longest moments, wanting to curl up in a little ball and die.

"So what now?" Spike broke the silence. "You go back to moping around crying for your lost love?" He asked.

Willow looked up at him sharply. "What do you suggest I do?"

"Get even. Vengeance is the sweetest form of comfort. Make them pay for their betrayal… with their blood."

Willow looked at the vampire and noticed something different about him for the first time. "You got your bite back." She stated, not entirely sure if her assumption was correct. When he grinned widely at her she knew it was.

"What's next?" She asked quietly, "You kill me?"

Spike chuckled. "No luv. Next we get revenge."

Willow stared into the blue eyes of the blond vampire and found that she wasn't as repulsed by his idea for revenge as she thought she would be. She smiled.

D'Hofferyn watched the witch and the vampire in amusement. He had kept tabs on the girl. She showed promise. He knew it was only a matter of time before she would take him up on his offer. It looked like that time had come.

Willow walked down the hall quietly. It was nearly noon and most everyone had already left the dorms. She had purposely stayed away the previous night. She had no desire to listen to anymore of Buffy's lies.

After leaving Spike at sunrise, Willow had found herself walking to Xander's house before she remembered that he had also known about Oz's betrayal. Him and Buffy were just as guilty as Oz, if not more so. They had lied to her. Kept Oz's dirty little secret. She felt the anger rise in her as she thought of all the times they must have lied to her. The times when Oz had cancelled a date telling her that he had to practice. The times when Buffy and Xander would go the bronze while Willow was stuck studying or researching.

Willow crept silently into the dorm room, hoping that Buffy had left already. When she looked around and found that she was alone, she sighed deeply. She flopped onto her bed, and let the emotions she had not allowed herself to feel bubble to the surface.

She was alone. Everyone had lied to her. They had aided Oz in his treachery. Now that she knew the truth, bits and pieces of the past came back to her. Times when Buffy had avoided her questions. Times when she had ignored the strange glances Xander and Buffy had shared. At the time she had chalked it up to her over active imagination. Now she knew what she hadn't wanted to believe before.

Her heart ached at the realization that she was alone. Everyone around her had betrayed her. Except for Spike. He had never lied to her. He had tried to warn her. And last night when she had shown up in the part, a mass of quivering emotions, he hadn't laughed at her distress. He didn't smirk and tell her 'I told you so'. Instead he told her to get mad. Get even. Seek revenge. She smiled softly as she thought of all of the things he had incited her to do. Some of them did sound appealing.

She groaned as she stood up. She was not going to sit alone in her dorm room and think about how bad her life had gotten. She was going to do something. She wasn't sure what, but she knew that in time it would come to her.

Spike paced angrily around his apartment. He had given up the crypt shortly after the commandos had invaded it. He had decided the demon girl was right. He would be better getting a place with electricity and running water.

Willow had helped him find a place suitable. She even helped him to cover the few windows with heavy drapes. He smiled slightly at the thought of the little witch. He wanted her. He had admitted that to himself when the wolf returned. He had been angry beyond words when the wolf returned and insinuated himself back into his redhead's life. She took him back because that was what was expected of her. The Slayer and the moron convinced her that Oz still loved her and that she should forgive him.

Spike growled at the thought of Willow's friend's betrayal. He had known that the wolf was cheating on his witch. He could smell it on him. What he hadn't known was that it wasn't just this time. He had cheated on her before the she-wolf. What made it worse, for Willow, was that her friends had known. They had let her believe the lies that the wolf told. That had helped her swallow their betrayal

Spike seethed at the pain he knew Willow was in. He had tried to convince her to take revenge, and he thought it was working. He saw the sparkle in her eyes as he told her what they deserved.

He didn't know if his witch was strong enough to actually follow through on any of his ideas, but if she wasn't, it didn't matter. Spike would make certain that their betrayal would not go unpunished.

D'Hofferyn watched the witch and the vampire with a smile. He knew that their anger was growing, and with it, their desire for revenge. He had been right about the girl. She had power. More than even Anyanka had had before he elevated her. If she accepted his offer, she would strike fear into all who would dare to betray another.

He laughed as he imagined the terror that was soon to follow.

Willow let her thoughts drift as she looked through her closet for something to where. She was about to pull out one of her long flowing skirts and a fuzzy sweater when she thought better of it.

"No." She said aloud. "That's part of the old Willow. The one who allowed this betrayal to happen. No more." She told herself firmly as she searched through her closet to find something suitable for the new Willow.

Spike growled in frustration. It was only four o'clock. He couldn't wait for the sunset. He wanted to find the wolf and show him exactly how he had earned his nickname. The thought of the wolf's battered and bloodied body brought a wave of anticipation through him.

It had been too long since he had tortured someone. It was long overdue. The incident with his sire hadn't counted since he hadn't been the one to inflict the pain. He wondered briefly how the pouf would react to the news of Willow's betrayal. But then pushed the thought away. He knew that his sire would be almost as angry as he was. There were a lot of things that had changed about Peaches, but one thing that hadn't was his loyalty.

He would probably add a few ideas of his own to Spike's list of possible scenarios. Not that it mattered. Angel didn't know, and probably wouldn't. He was in Los Angeles shacking up with the ditz. A thought that amused Spike to no end. Although she was a definite improvement over the Slayer.

Spike lay down on his bed and closed his eyes. He would try and get some rest before the sun went down. He would need his strength later. Tonight was a full moon. He chuckled at he thought of what the night would bring, and drifted off to sleep with visions of death dancing in his head.

Willow had found what she was looking for. An outfit Cordelia had bought for her for her birthday earlier in the year. She had never worn it, thinking it wasn't something she would be seen in public wearing. But that was before. She looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a black leather mini-dress, which hugged her small frame. She wore a burgundy jacket over her sleeveless shoulders. After she had laced up her boots she looked at herself in the mirror. "Not bad." She said to her reflection. "Now, for some jewelry." She walked over to her small jewelry box and opened it, searching for something to wear. She didn't find anything suitable; she lifted the top compartment and peered inside. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the talisman she had gotten from D'Hofferyn six months ago, when he had offered to make her a demon. She thought back to his offer and smiled. Maybe that had not been such a bad idea.

Willow pulled the talisman out, her search for jewelry forgotten. She held the talisman firmly in her grasp as she closed her eyes and spoke the chant aloud.
When she opened her eyes she was no longer in her dorm room. Instead, Willow found herself back in the dark place where she had met the demon before.

"Hello?" She called out into the darkness.

"You have changed your mind?" D'Hofferyn's voice came out of the silence behind her.

She turned around to face him. "Yes." There was no fear in her voice. No doubt.

"Excellent. Then it is done." The demon waved his hands and Willow felt a force of power go through her body.

It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. It was like it was taken root in her very soul. When the feeling seemed to dissipate a little she looked up at the demon questioningly. "Is that it?" She asked.

The demon chuckled. "No. First there will be a test. If you pass, you will be granted your immortality."

"A test?" She asked, suddenly very eager to prove herself. "What will I have to do?"

"That is up to you." He spoke quietly. "You will know when it is time." He waved his hands once more and Willow found herself back in her dorm room.

She looked out the window and discovered the sun was setting. She left the building in a run. She wanted to get to Spike before he left. She knew his first thought, after dinner, would be to seek revenge on those who had hurt her, and she wanted in on the fun.

She laughed wickedly as she thought about what lay ahead for her friends.

Willow arrived at Spike’s house just as the last rays of the sun crept beyond the horizon. She was about to knock on the door, when it was thrust opened. Spike stared at her for a moment in shock. She looked good enough to eat in a leather dress. He let his eyes wander over her enticing form.

"Willow?" He asked. "What’s wrong, Luv?"

Willow smiled at him as she caught her breath. "Nothing. I just didn’t want to miss out on the fun."

Spike stepped out into the night and took a closer look at his witch. There was something different about her. She smelled different.

"You’re a bloody demon!" Spike took a step back, unsure if what he smelled on her was what he thought it was.

She grinned wickedly. "Yes, I believe I am." She grabbed his arm and pulled him off of his porch. "Come on, we have some people to punish."

Oz left his apartment and headed towards the dorms. He needed to speak with Willow. He needed to make her understand. He loved her. It was always her. When he reached her room, he knocked softly on the door. After a moment, he knocked again. When there was still no answer, he turned to leave, and came face to face with a girl he recognized as living down the hall. She was pretty. He had thought about asking her out, but was afraid Willow would find out.

"Marie?" He asked. When she nodded, he continued. "Where’s Willow."

Marie smiled. "Gone. She left about an hour ago. But Buffy’s in the shower, if you want to wait. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind."

"Thanks." Oz nodded and entered their dorm room. He sat down on Willow’s bed to wait. He was glad that he would get a chance to talk to Buffy again before he saw Willow. Buffy understood the situation. She would help him fix things with Willow. She would help Willow understand. He had only done it because he loved her.

Spike looked over at his witch as they walked through the park. He chuckled. A vengeance demon. She was bloody vengeance demon. He couldn’t believe his luck.

"So, where to?" He asked, unsure of what it was she had planned.

"Well, you need to eat. Don’t you?" She asked cautiously.

Spike looked at Willow strangely for a moment, wondering if she knew exactly what it was she was suggesting. "You don’t mind?"

Willow shrugged. "It’s who you are. Why should I mind?"

Spike grinned. "Okay, dinner first. Then what?"

"Xander. I want to start with him."

"What about Oz?" Spike was curious why the moron would be first.

Willow’s eyes took on an evil glint. "Save the best for last."

Buffy walked into her dorm room and stopped short at the sight of Oz sitting quietly on Willow’s bed.

"Oz? What are you doing here?" She looked around the room quickly, making sure Willow wasn’t around.

"I came to see Willow. I need to make her understand."

Buffy nodded and sat down next to him. "I tried to explain it to her, but she was really upset." She put her hand on his arm and squeezed lightly. "But she’s Willow. She’ll realize you did it for her."

Oz looked at Buffy and smiled slightly. He found himself mesmerized by her lips. And tried to remember what they tasted like. It had been so long since he had been intimate with her. Before he realized what he was doing, Oz reached forward and captured Buffy’s lips with his own.

She responded to the kiss, but then pushed herself away. "Oz. I can’t. If Willow walked in… She would never understand this." She lowered her voce. "If she ever found out…"

Oz nodded. "I know. She never will. I’m sorry."

Buffy stood up. "Maybe you should go see if you can find her. "

"Where do you think she would go?"

"Well," Buffy thought about his question for a moment, an unpleasant thought forming in her mind. "IF she isn’t at Giles’ or the Library, the only place I can think of would be Spikes. They’re friends. Sort of."

Oz leapt off of the bed, anger filling him. "How dare she go to him? Who the hell does she think she is?" HE headed towards the door, but then stopped and turned around to face the Slayer.

"Thanks. For everything."

Buffy smiled easily, and then asked the question that had been on her mind. "What are you going to do?"

Oz’s body tensed. "Find her. And if she’s with that… that vampire. I will kill him!"

"Be careful." Buffy whispered. She thought about telling him that the implant no longer worked, but thought better of it. She hoped Oz would kill the undead psycho. It would save her the trouble. She also knew that Oz would be more cautious if he knew that Spike wasn’t ‘neutered’ anymore. Oz’s current aggression would only work in his favor.

After Spike had made quick work of his evening meal, he and Willow headed towards Xander’s house. As the approached the house, she smiled.

"What is it, pet?" He asked as he noticed the familiar grin grace her features.

""It’s showtime." She knocked on the door, which led to the basement once, and then entered. Spike followed her, curious to see what it was she had planned.

When they came down the stairs, Spike noticed that Xander wasn’t there, but Anya was. "He isn’t here, Luv."

"I know." She brushed past him and entered the room.

Anya was sitting flipping through a magazine looking bored. She looked up when Willow entered. A slow smile spreading across her face.

"Willow. You changed your mind." She took in her friend approvingly, "Vengeance looks good on you."

"You knew? About the offer, I mean?" Willow asked curiously.

Anya laughed. "Why else would D’Hofferyn take you. He told me you would come around. Looks like he was right." She turned to look at Spike leaning up against the ear wall. "Why are you here?"

"For you, of course." Willow smiled, her green eyes sparkling dangerously. "Are you going to come willingly… or do we get to play?"

Willow stared expectantly at the former demon. "So, what's it gonna be?"

Anya smiled sinisterly at Willow. "What exactly do you want me to do?" She turned to Spike and smiled a little. "I always knew you'd be wicked together."

Spike chuckled. "You always were observant." He turned to Willow, "So pet, What exactly do you have planned?"

Willow laughed. "Just a little lesson on the merits of telling the truth." She giggled. "Xander really should know better." She turned a serious expression towards Anya. "I'm not exactly sure how far his deception reaches. If his betrayal is as deep as Buffy made it sound, I won't spare him."

Anya looked deep into Willow's green eyes, and seeing past the hint of evil, she saw the pain still buried there. She knew that those that betrayed her friend deserved whatever they got. She just hoped that Xander wasn't among them.

"I understand." Anya nodded. "Where would you like to start?"

Willow turned and walked around the room, weighing her options. "We'll go and see Giles tomorrow night. I have a plan for Xander's lesson. But first," She turned towards Anya, "I need to know how far deep he's involved in this."

Anya looked carefully at the new demon, understanding what it was she was asking. "I'll find out." She looked questioningly at Willow as another thought struck her. "What exactly happened?"

Spike watched as Willow's brow creased at the question. Her memories were flooding her. He turned to Anya and sat down on the couch. "Let me tell you a little story…"

Oz was furious. He had spent the better part of the day looking for Willow. He had checked the library, Giles house and eventually Spike's. He hadn't gone inside, afraid of what would happen if he did. He knew she wasn't there. He could smell her in the air, but it was a subtle smell, telling him only that she had been there, but wasn't anymore.

As sundown approached he was forced to return home. It was the night before a full moon, and he would need to chain himself up. He entered his house, half-hoping he'd find her there, waiting for him. Only half because he still wasn't sure what it was he would say to her. What she would believe. Whatever he told her, it wouldn't be the truth. That was too dangerous. If she knew the full scope of his transgressions, she would never come back to him. That was something he didn't want to think about.

He thanked God for not the first time that Buffy was there to help him sort out this mess. That and that Xander's knowledge was extremely limited. Xander had only recently found out about Oz's extra-curricular activities. He had only agreed to keep Oz's secret because Buffy had convinced him that the truth would shatter Willow. He hadn't liked it and had even gone so far as to say that he wished his girlfriend still had her powers. That had shocked him. Xander, by nature, wasn't a vindictive person, except where it came to Angel, but that was understandable.

But the strain in Xander's voice as he acknowledged his agreement to keep their secret was painful. He had almost wished that the lies he had told Xander about it being over were true. Almost. But then he would remember. Remember nights he had spent away from Willow. Nights with girls who didn't know, or care that he was a werewolf. Nights he had enjoyed beyond comprehension. Nights he wasn't ready to give up.

Oz sighed heavily as he climbed into his cage in the basement, and locked himself up. The change was coming. He could feel it. He would worry about making Willow understand later. Tonight, he would let the animal loose. Tonight he wouldn't hide behind the mask of a human being.

"Hey, Buff. Have you seen Wills?" Xander asked as he flopped down on Giles' couch. He tried to ignore the feeling at the back of his mind as Buffy winced at the question.

Giles' cut off her answer as he walked in from the kitchen. "Oz was here earlier looking for her. " He told them absently as he sat down at his desk and opened a rusty book.

Xander watched Buffy closely as she avoided his eyes. "Buff? What's going on?" He asked quietly, sensing that whatever was bothering the Slayer wasn't something the watcher should hear about.

Buffy looked up at him slowly. "It's Willow. And Oz. She caught him." Her voice was quiet as she watched Xander think over what she had said.

It took him a moment to realize what it was Willow had caught Oz doing. Once he did, his eyes widened in shock. "What happened?' He asked, fearing for his friend's state of mind.

"It wasn't pretty." Buffy whispered.

Xander stood up, fear gripping him. He walked towards the door, stopping just before he reached it. "I knew this would happen. This was a bad idea."

"Why are you so worried? It's not like she's gonna hurt him or something. She'll get over it, and forgive him, and then everything can go back to normal."

Xander stared at her incredulously, pleased for once that Giles was oblivious to everything around him. He took a step closer to the Slayer. "It's not him I'm worried about."

"You're worried about Willow? Why?"

Xander looked at Buffy as if she had sprouted another head. He pointed towards the opened window, through which you could see the darkened sky and a small sliver of the almost full moon. "In case you have forgotten, Oz is a werewolf. If she is with him, and he's unchained…" He let the thought fall, not wanting to voice the rest of that thought.
He turned and walked out of the house, wishing for the hundredth time since he had been included in Oz's dirty little secret that he had more backbone. Anya was right. Men were bastards.

D'Hofferyn watched the drama unfolding with amusement. The new addition to his flock was proving to be more than he had ever dreamed. He saw the delicious thoughts that wove their way through her mind. Her inclusion of Anyanka was a brilliant, if unexpected move. She had chosen wisely in her desire to find the truth. Vengeance would be hers. She would pass the test, and claim retribution for millennia to come. He chuckled as he imagined the chaos.

Xander practically ran to Willow's dorm after leaving Giles' house. He was consumed by an unmistakable fear that something had happened to his oldest friend. He knew she was hurting and he was partly to blame. Sure, he hadn't been directly involved in what had happened between Oz and… whoever, but he had still known. He had walked in on a tense situation a couple of weeks previous. He had gone to the bronze looking for Buffy and had instead found Oz and a girl he didn't recognize… liplocked. His first impulse had been to tear the boy apart. He was cheating on Willow. His Willow. And after everything she had been through. She had forgiven the werewolf for what had happened with Veruca, and now here he was, betraying her trust. Again.
His second impulse was to run and find Willow. To tell her was a jerk her boyfriend was. To comfort her while she cried. But then Buffy had shown up with Riley, and recognizing the awkward situation for what it was, Buffy had talked Xander into keeping his mouth shut.
Now, imagining the pain Willow must be in, he cursed himself for his weakness. She should have listened to Buffy, but he had and now the truth was out, and Willow was in pain. Maybe in trouble.

When he reached the dorm room, he burst in, not bothering to knock. Empty. He wasn't sure if he should be worried, or relieved. Deciding on worried, Xander left to go to Oz's house. He really hoped his friend wasn't there. There was no telling what could happen if Willow had confronted the werewolf just before a full moon.

He entered the house cautiously, listening to see if he could hear the sounds of a struggle. He heard growling and howling, and ran to the basement. Tossing his fears aside, Xander thrust opened the door, and found Oz, in werewolf form, chained in his cage. He was alone. No she-wolves, and no willow. Be breathed a sigh of relief.

Realizing Willow was probably not in any danger, Xander decided to return home. Anya was probably waiting for him, and she always got cranky when he was late. He knew it was time to tell her the truth about what had happened with Oz. He had refrained from telling her, knowing how she felt about infidelity, but he also knew that Oz deserved whatever he got.

Willow smiled as she watched Spike playing with his food. She couldn't believe how much she had changed. Was it only yesterday that she had found Oz with his whores? And now here she was, watching in amusement as a vampire drained the life out of an ignorant coed in the middle of the park. The vampire who had tried to kill her numerous times. The same vampire she was madly in love with.
She hadn't allowed herself to acknowledge it. But it was true. She had fallen in love with him during Oz's absence. When Oz returned, she tried to go back to the way things were, but it was too late. Too much had happened. Too much had changed.
It wasn't until she had found Oz with his groupies that she had realized that some of her anger was directed at herself. Because she had allowed herself to fall back into a relationship she no longer desired, with a person she no longer loved. But despite all of that, Willow had remained faithful, feeling guilty enough for her betraying thoughts of Spike.
When she learned of his infidelity, she was almost relieved. She had an excuse. That relief turned to anger when she realized how far his lies had stretched. The depths to which he had gone. The people who had helped him. She seethed, and for the first time understood Spike's lust for the kill.
She wanted Oz to pay for what he had done. She wanted Buffy to know the sting of betrayal. The only thing worse would have been if they had slept with each other. That would have been the ultimate betrayal. As it was, their actions wounded her deeply. She knew that what she had planned for them would scar them more than death ever could.

"Luv? Willow?" Spike's voice brought Willow out of her inner thoughts. S he turned to him and the concern in his blue eyes told her he must have been speaking to her for a few minutes.

"Sorry. I was… thinking." She grinned at him. "Ready? Did you get enough to eat?" She asked.

Spike chuckled. "Plenty, although that last guy left a bad taste in my mouth. Remind me to leave the frat guys alone. Their stale."

Willow laughed as they headed out of the park towards the campus.

"What now?" Spike asked, enjoying the change in his Willow. Revenge looked good on her. He hoped she wouldn't change once she had finished with her friends. He fancied spending eternity with his witch.

Willow's gaze never faltered from the path before her as they headed near one of the fraternities. "Now? We play." She smiled wickedly.

Riley groaned as he flopped down on his bed. He was exhausted. He had spent a tiring evening patrolling with Graham and Forrest. There had been a small group of hostile's who had broken out of quarantine and it had taken a good portion of the night to recapture them.

Lying back on the bed, he sighed. He really wanted to go see Buffy. He had missed her. Despite his exhaustion, he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep without going to see her. He climbed off of the bed wearily and headed out of the door.

Once outside, Riley hesitated. He wasn't sure where she would be. Whether she was at her dorm, or at Giles house. Realizing how late it was, he decided to check the dorm first.
He knocked on her door once, and opened the door when he heard Willow's voice inviting him in. He briefly wondered how a girl with as much knowledge as her, would invite someone in without first knowing who it was.

Riley never got a chance to analyze that question. As soon as he had entered the room and shut the door behind him, he felt himself being grabbed from behind. He struggled to get free, but was met with a force stronger than he.
After a moment, Riley quit struggling. He heard the soft scuffling of a pair of boots. He tried to turn his head slightly to see who was there.

"Willow?" He asked incredulously. She looked different, but he had no doubt it was her. "What's going on?" She choked through the grip on his throat. He couldn't see who held him, but he noticed with dread that their hands were cold. Unnaturally cold.

Willow stared intently at the commando. "We're going to play a little game." She told him, her lips quirking into an evil smile. "It's called watch Buffy squirm."

Xander looked cautiously at his girlfriend for a moment. He had just finished telling her about Oz, and his involvement in the wolf's betrayal. He was unsure how Anya would react. She had spent far too many centuries seeking vengeance for the same type of betrayal for her to have no reaction at all. But that's just what had happened. Or so it seemed.

"Anya?" Xander asked, trying to read her expressionless face.

Anya tried not to smile as she realized Xander hadn't been involved in Willow's betrayal. Not really. She shrugged. "Well, it's her own fault. She never should have taken the wolf back."

Xander relaxed slightly as he realized that Anya wasn't going to blame him. "Yeah, I guess. But she's hurt." He paused for a second. "Where do you think she would go?"

Anya stifled a chuckle as she remembered Willow's plan. "Well, If I were to lay money, Spike. That's where she'd go."

"Spike?" Xander gasped, not wanted to even form the thought. "Why would she go to him?"

Anya snorted. "Oh, please! The heat between them could melt steel." She looked closely as Xander tried to recall seeing any indication of what she was telling him. She smiled to herself, as she deepened the wound. She didn't want to hurt him, but he had a lesson to learn.
"Besides, if she knows about everything you just told me, she has no one else to turn to. No one she can trust."

"But… But…" Xander tried to think of someone, anyone Willow would have come to before the neutered vamp, who wasn't even neutered anymore. "Giles!" He latched onto the only name that came to mind. "Giles. She'd go to Giles." He nodded, seemingly pleased with his answer to Willow's plight.

Anya rolled her eyes. "The watcher? I doubt it. I still think Spike would be the first person she run to." She watched as another thought came to her boyfriend. She enjoyed the horrified expression that came over Xander's features, if only slightly.

"Spike!" Xander stood up dragging Anya with him; "He's not impotent any more! If he has her he'll kill her… or worse."

Xander ran out of his house, dragging a grinning Anya behind him.

Willow turned to look at her lover. "Well, how do I look?" She asked bringing a hand up to feel the ridges on her forehead.

"Dead." Spike grinned. "And delicious. If you weren't already a demon, I might do this for real."

Willow laughed softly as she waved a hand in front of her face and felt her human face take over her disguise.

"Now, pet, don't forget, you need to be invited in."

Willow nodded. "I got it. Don't be too long." She placed a fierce kiss on kiss cold lips, before pushing him away slightly. "Now, go tend to our guest. He should be waking soon. He'll be hungry." Willow giggled.

"That he will" Spike smiled as he remembered his first taste of death.

He watched as his witch walked towards the watcher's house. He blended into the shadows and headed back to his apartment, and his new creation.

Willow knocked on the door and waited for Giles to open it. She smiled slightly when the watched at her with concern etched on his face.

"Willow, come in." He stood aside letting her enter the room.

Willow smiled as she saw Buffy seated on the couch looking glum. She released some of the control on her power, allowing Buffy to sense her, if only slightly.

"Willow, where have you been? Everyone had been concerned?" Giles asked as he sat down at his desk.

"Everyone?" Willow asked staring pointedly at Buffy. "I think not."

"No, it can't be!" Buffy looked disbeliveingly at Willow, trying to will away the feeling that had come over her the moment Willow entered the apartment.

"What's that, Slayer?" Spike asked as he walked into the apartment, grinning widely. He had been pleased to see that his new childe still slept. He had assigned one of his new minions to watch over the new vampire, while he returned to the watchers to watch the show.

Buffy jumped up, staring dagger's at the blonde vampire. "You did this! I'll kill you."

Spike chuckled and easily sidestepped the angry Slayer. "Not so fast, Slayer, don't you want to clue in the watcher?"

"Giles stood up, "Yes, Buffy, please."

Buffy averted her eyes from her mentor. "She's a vampire. He turned her." She whispered.

Giles looked from Buffy to Willow, finally resting his eyes on Spike. He couldn't believe this was happening. His mind was filled with a thousand questions, but when he opened his mouth, only one popped out.

"Why?"

"Why?" Giles repeated his question.

Willow smiled at him, a small remnant of who she used to be poking through. "Because I asked him to."

Giles sighed heavily. "I don't understand. What would possess you to want to become a vampire?"

Willow turned towards Buffy, allowing her demon's face to show as her eyes glowed golden. "She did. With her lies, and her betrayal."

Giles looked from Willow to Buffy. He was about to ask for an explanation when Xander, followed by Anya came bursting through the door.

Willow turned around, showing her vampire face to Xander.

"Oh, God no!" He wailed. He was stricken down with grief. Then he did the one thing no one expected. He launched himself at Buffy. "You! You did this. You and Oz. With your lies. You turned her into this… this… creature!"

Buffy was taken aback as she pushed Xander away from her. "Me? Spike did this. He is to blame. He turned her, not me." She explained, not understanding why Xander was so upset.

Xander shook his head. "No. If she hadn't felt alone and betrayed by you and oz, and me," He whispered the last part. "She wouldn't have gone to him." He looked at Buffy, "at least admit that."

Buffy took a deep breath. "No." She refused to admit she was to blame. "He turned her. He killed her. Blame him." She pointed accusingly at Spike.

Xander turned his attention to the blonde vampire, and to everyone's shock and amazement, he uttered the two words they never thought they'd hear. "Thank you."

Spike chuckled at the irony. Maybe the moron wasn't so bad after all.

Xander returned his attention to Buffy. "He did what he had to do. His behavior doesn't surprise me. We all knew that the day would come when the implant wouldn't be there. We all knew that he would turn on us. That's expected natural even. But you, Buffy, you betrayed your best friend, and what's worse, I helped you to do it." Xander turned to Willow. "I'm sorry. I should have told you the truth when I found out."

Willow turned to look at Anya who stood and watched the drama unfold, with a small smile quirked on her lips. Willow let her human mask fall into place. "I forgive you."

She turned towards the front door, and grabbed Spikes hand. "Come, Luv. I'm famished."

The two disappeared from the house, leaving a stilled silence in their wake.

"Will someone tell me what the bloody hell just happened here?" Giles snapped.

Anya flopped down on the couch. "Will caught Oz with a couple of his orgasm friends." She turned a hard gaze to Buffy. "She knew about his… activities, and helped him keep them from Willow."

"And Spike?" Giles asked after the information had sunk in enough for him to speak.

Anya smiled. "She had nowhere else to go. No one she could turn to. She went to him, he made her pain go away." She smirked at the Slayer. "And all because of the betrayal of a friend."

Buffy stood up indignantly and glared at the former demon. "I AM NOT to blame for what's happened!"

Anya stood up and stalked towards the slayer, her eyes flashing angrily. "Yes, you are. You think about that when the bodies start piling up. Every person she drains, is on your head. Every victim she turns… their blood is on your hands. An eternity of death just waiting to happen. And all because of you." Anya turned around just as quickly, and sat on the couch, watching as Buffy thought about what she said. It was a lie, but that didn't matter. The truth wouldn't have hurt as much.

Riley awoke with a hunger he had never known before. It was unlike anything he could ever imagine feeling. He stumbled out of bed searching for the one thing that would curb the feeling, which consumed him. Blood.

Willow giggled as they returned to Spikes place. "Did you see the fear in her eyes?" She asked.

"Xapper surprised me." Spike told her.

Willow nodded, "Me too. I'm glad he wasn't really involved. I would really hate to have to kill him."

Willow inhaled deeply. "Riley's awake." She nodded towards the back of the apartment. "He'll be hungry. Why don't you go and find him dinner?"

Spike groaned. "Do I look like a bloody servant?"

Willow cut off any further complaints by placing a deep kiss onto the vampire's lips. When she broke away she grinned. "No, you look like the love of my unlife…" She winked conspiratorially, "If I was actually dead that is." She giggled, and then grew serious. "We can't afford to have anyone see him before its time."

Spike sighed needlessly, knowing she was right. "Fine. But you owe me… and I intend to collect."

Just as he was leaving he heard her response. "Do I get to pick the payment?" He chuckled as he went out to find some dinner for his youngest childe.

Riley entered the living room and growled. His hunger was increasing with each passing second. He could sense someone in the room, but it took a minute for him to place the presence.

"Willow." He all but snarled.

Willow smiled at Riley and motioned for him to sit. "Spike's getting you food."

Riley's eyes flashed golden at the thought of an ending to his hunger. Before he could do anything, he felt a constricting pressure across his throat. He looked up into Willow's sparkling eyes, and acknowledged that it was she who was causing the pain.

Willow smiled as she released the pressure. "Spike is your sire. I am his mate. Obey us… unconditionally, and we'll get along fine."

Riley nodded, accepting their claim on him. An unknown force to obey her drew him. She radiated this strength. A power he feared. He was about to speak when the sound of a heartbeat and the smell of blood sweetened by adrenaline reached his senses.

Spike entered with a young woman. He tossed her to Riley. "Eat up."

Spike and Willow watched in amusement as their creation drained the life out of the frightened girl and tossed her body to the ground.

"Now what, pet?" Spike asked as willow leaned against him.

Willow traced circles along his chest absently and smiled. "Tomorrow Riley can reintroduce himself to Buffy."

Spike chuckled as he imagined the Slayer's reaction the news that Riley was a vampire. "Will you let us kill her?"

Willow laughed at the hopeful tone in his voice. She shook her head. "Death is too easy. She will have to live with her mistakes." She turned towards the door as she heard a knock outside. "They're here." She whispered as she got up to answer the door.

Willow opened the door, with a wide smile on her face. Xander looked a little nervous, but Anya smiled widely, and gave Willow a hug.

"Come in." She said. She turned to Xander; "Cat got your tongue, Xand?"

Xander watched Willow curiously. There was something different about her. She wasn't the same Willow he had always known, but she wasn't the cold, soulless creature he had seen at Giles either. He watched closely as she exchanged a knowing grin with Anya.

"You're not a vampire." It was a question, but it came out as a statement.

Spike laughed. "Xapper's pretty smart… for the moron."

Xander glared at the vampire before taking Willow in his arms, reveling in the warmth of her skin. "You're not a vampire!" He shouted gleefully as he spun her around.

When Xander had set her back down, Willow smiled at her old friend. "No, I'm not a vampire. But, I am a demon."

D'Hofferyn watched Willow's punishment play itself out. He was very pleased with the way things had been going. She was very cunning, and more than a little devious. Her plans were working out better than he could have hoped. She knew how to get inside the heads of her betrayers and hurt them in a way physical pain never could. She was going to be a brilliant addition to his flock.

He watched as Anyanka explained things to the mortal boy. The boy intrigued him. He was human. He had no special powers, no exceptional abilities, but yet, there was something there. He could see something inside the boy, something he could possibly use. Only time would tell.

Buffy walked the darkened streets in a huff. She couldn't believe what had happened. Willow had been turned into a vampire. A creature of the night, whom she was destined to kill. She felt a pain stab at her heart at the thought of having to stake Willow.

Was Anya right? Was she to blame for what had happened? Were the deaths Willow would cause on her head? She could still remember the expressionless look in Willow's eyes, coupled with the hatred Xander had expressed. She had lost everything. Even Giles was disappointed in her.

Buffy stalked towards the fraternity. She needed to go see Riley. He would cheer her up and tell her everything would be okay. When she knocked on the door, Forrest opened it, and stepped aside.

"I haven't seen him since we got back. He might be asleep." Forrest told her as she climbed up the stairs. When she reached the door to Riley's room, she knocked once, and then opened the door, expecting to find him in bed. Instead she was met with an empty room.

"Riley?" She called out to the silence, an irrational fear gripping her as she thought about all of the things that could have happened to him. One particular thought at the forefront of her mind.

Xander looked incredulously from Anya to Willow. "So, let me get this straight. You're not a vampire. You're a demon. A vengeance demon. Like Anya."

Willow shook her head. "Not like Anya." She smiled at Xander's confusion. "Anya was the patron saint of scorned women. My vengeance isn't limited to matters of the heart."

Her explanation was interrupted by a strange look, which had appeared on Xander's face. She realized, without turning around, that Riley had entered the room.

"Riley, I believe you know Xander." Willow said without turning around.

Xander nodded his head, smiling slightly. He leaned forward and whispered in Willow's ear. "I think I'll like him better as a vamp."

Willow giggled at her old friend and winked at Anya. The former demon was correct. Xander was more than she had realized. Much more. She turned a serious look to her friend, "So Xander, would you like to help us play?"

Buffy groaned as her alarm went off. She started to tell Willow to turn it off when she remembered. Willow was gone. She was a vampire. And it was all her fault, or so they had tried to make her believe. And it was working. Everything Anya had told her had haunted her dreams. The Willow she had known, and loved was dead, only to be replaced by a creature that would live to kill. She probably had already. That thought brought her back to her missing boyfriend. She had searched everywhere when she had found his room empty. Every place she had tried had come up empty. She was forced to admit that something had happened to him. He was probably lying dead in some alley, waiting for some unsuspecting person to stumble across his body.
Buffy shivered at the thought as she climbed out of bed and began getting ready for her first class.

Antoinette Pearcy sat in the back of the class and observed. She found the whole thing a bit tiring. If it weren't for her pesky grade point average, she would have begged off classes completely. Psyche was one of the few classes she actually needed to attend to earn credit. Most of the other teaches were allow her to attend only when there was an exam. But not the incredible bitchy Professor Walsh. She insisted on attendance to her incredibly boring lectures. And to make matters worse her favorite student was none other than Buffy the-world-revolves-around-me Summers.

There was something about that girl that seriously got underneath Antoinette's skin. She didn't know how Willow could stand her much less share a room with the twit.
Thinking of the red-haired witch made Antoinette scan the room with her grey eyes. She hadn't seen Willow in almost a week. They had several classes together and often ran into one another outside of school. But not this week.
As she looked around the room, she spotted Buffy enter, and decided to do the implorable, and ask her where her roommate was. She climbed through the aisles until she had reached Buffy's desk.

"Slayer." Antoinette had lived in Sunnydale for a long time and wasn't as ignorant as most.

Buffy spun around at the hissed title. For a moment she thought it was Spike. He was one of only two people who called her that.

"Toni." Buffy ground out as she faced the other.

Antoinette smirked. "Only my friends call me Toni, and you're not one of them."

Buffy narrowed her eyes. "What is it you want, Antoinette?" She spoke the word with a snarl; "I so am not in the mood for you today!"

Antoinette chuckled at the girls' ire. "Where's Red?" When Buffy looked at her with a blank expression, she rolled her eyes. "Willow? Where's Willow? I haven't seen her all week."

Antoinette watched in amusement as Buffy's face changed. Her eyes seemed to cloud over, and it looked like she was going to cry. Just as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone again.

"She's gone." Buffy's voice was flat.

"Gone?" Antoinette asked.

"Yes, dammit, she's gone! Now go… do whatever it is you do!" Buffy snapped not wanting to think about her friends fate.

Antoinette stared at the Slayer in silence for a moment and then shrugged. She turned and walked back to her desk. There was something going on, and she aimed to find out what it was.

Xander lay in bed thinking over everything that had happened in the past week. He turned to Anya, who was staring at him, with a huge grin on her face. He smiled at her, and then returned his attention to the ceiling.

"So, what happens now? Will they kill Buffy? Oz? Takeover the Hellmouth?"

Anya was silent for a long moment. She thought about lying and persuading her boyfriend that they had no such plans, but the truth was she didn't know what Willow was going to do.

"Does it matter?" She asked, wanting to know the answer herself.

Xander looked incredulously at Anya and then thought seriously about her question. He thought about what Buffy's death would mean. What having Spike control the Hellmouth could mean. But then he thought of how Willow would temper the blond vampire. And finally he thought about Buffy and Oz, and what they had done, what they would have continued to do. Xander felt his concern slip away. He turned back to the ceiling. "No, I guess it doesn't."

D'Hofferyn chuckled out loud at the decision the mortal boy had come to. Yes, there was indeed something special about him. He would have to keep an eye on him. With Anyanka by his side, he'd make a fine addition to his flock.

Riley felt it the moment the sun went down. He was itching to leave, to hunt. He had been cooped up far too long. He couldn't wait to see the look on the Slayer's face when she realized he had been embraced. He would relish the moment he told her it was Willow who had sired him. It wasn't true, but that was what he had been told to tell them. And in the few days since he had been turned, he had learned that you did not disobey the mistress. She had power, and she had control. Something he was learning was something he desired greatly. He wanted to prove to the Master and Mistress that he could be trusted. He hoped that when they left, they would find a place for him.

"You may leave now." Willow told him from the doorway. "Don't forget what I told you."

Riley nodded. "She will feel the pain of her betrayal." He left the house quietly, in search of a meal before he went to see Buffy.

Antoinette knocked on the door to the Rosenberg house for the third time. She knew no one was home. The house was dark, and she had stood out here for nearly thirty minutes. She was becoming concerned. Willow had been missing for too long, and she had looked everywhere she thought she might find the redheaded witch. The only place she hadn't looked was with the vampire. The one Willow had fallen in love with. She had seen it long before Willow had. The way she spoke about him. How excited she got when she knew she would be seeing him. The slight disappointment she had sensed when Oz had returned. Antoinette had recognized the signs for what they were. It was only a matter of time before Willow herself admitted it.

Antoinette had a feeling she would find Willow with the vampire, but she didn't know where he lived, and was unwilling to go looking in some of the seedier places in town, at least not without some idea of where she would find him, and if Willow was okay.

She decided to make a pass through the cemetery. Maybe luck would be on her side and she'd run into him. Not that she believed in Luck. Luck was for the weak, the stupid, and the young. She was none of the above.
She didn't fear what went bump in the night. She had been able to hold her own against Sunnydale's supernatural population for close to a decade, and she had no doubt she would continue to do so.

Spike frowned as he hung up the phone.

"What is it?" Willow asked as she returned to the bedroom.

"Peaches. He's disappeared." Spike turned to Willow. "Has Riley gone out?"

Willow nodded. "Disappeared? As in you can't get a hold of him, or Cordelia thinks he's missing?"

"That's just it, Luv. She's gone too." He grabbed her hand and led her to the bed. "That watcher bloke said she's been missing for several days and Angel went after her."

Willow looked up sharply. "He's not…" She trailed off, not wanting to voice her fears.

Spike shook his head. "No. I would feel it, if he were."

Willow nodded, "Well then, we'll worry about them later. Now, we have more important things to discuss."

Spike pushed her gently down across the bed, as he nibble don her bottom lip. "Such as?"

Willow moaned as she felt his hardness pressing into her, and reluctantly pushed him away. "Such as our plans." She smiled slyly. "And Riley. W e need to figure out what to do with him."

Spike groaned and lay back on the bed. "I dunno. I thought we'd just stake him once he wasn't needed anymore."

Willow climbed off of the bed and looked out the window at the moon. "That was the original plan. But he's got potential. Don't you think?" She turned her attention back tot he vampire lying invitingly on the bed. "What would you think about leaving him in charge, while we're away." She took a step closer to the vampire and leaned over him, allowing her breasts to brush against him. "Unless you're staying here. When I leave."

"Never." Spike pulled her on top of him and kissed her passionately.

When she had come up for air, she looked questioningly into his blue eyes. "Well?"

Spike nodded his consent. "Enough talk. Let's get tot he shagging."

After sating his hunger, Riley walked through the cemetery at a leisurely pace. He was hoping to run into Buffy during her patrol. He couldn't wait to tell her the news. She would be so hurt. He chuckled slightly. It wasn't really that he hated the Slayer. Just that he hated what she had helped the wolf do to Willow. Of course it didn't help that his entire being screamed out in protest with the thought of the Slayer. She was an affront to everything he had become. She despised his kind, killed them, for no other reason than because it was her destiny. He recalled what she had said to him shortly after he had found out she was the Slayer. She had told him she couldn't choose another life. That she was stuck with this one. S he spoke as though she had wanted nothing more than to shirk her responsibility. To lose her calling. She hated what she was, and what she could never be. There was some part of himself that found that way of thinking repulsive. She had been handed a great gift. An important responsibility and she hated it. The part of him that remembered what being a member of the Initiative was supposed to be about despised her for the way she saw things. The part of him now controlled by the demon realized what easy prey she would now become. He would have fun, and fulfill the mistress's wishes at the same time.

His inner musings were interrupted by a crunching sound behind him. Her turned around, half expecting to see the Slayer, or one of her friends. Instead he came face to face with Antoinette Pearcy. He stared at her in silence for a moment. There was something about her, which called to him. He had never noticed it before, but it was strong.

"Toni, how nice to see you." He smiled sinisterly, a single thought dominant in his mind.

Antoinette looked at Riley carefully. She had known the man for the better part of three years, but nothing about him had ever seemed memorable in any way. He seemed to her to be more of a waste of space than anything else. His relationship with the Slayer only seemed to confirm that belief.

But yet, here he was. There was something about the way he was looking at her. Something which excited her. She had almost forgotten what she was doing in the cemetery, so consumed by need was she. She shook her head, pulling her gaze away.

"Have you seen Willow?' She asked, looking just to Riley's left.

"Why?"

"She's been missing for several days. I'm worried." Antoinette told him honestly.

Riley smiled, relief flooding him. "She's fine. Just left her not that long ago. She's with the master." Thinking of Willow brought Riley back to the evenings task. He turned and fled the cemetery, in search of his prey.

"The Master?"

Antoinette stared after him a moment, smiling to her self. She suddenly realized what it was about Riley, which had changed. "I'll be damned." She muttered to herself.

Buffy walked through the cemetery lost in her thoughts. She turned sharply when she heard a noise behind her. Nothing. She searched the darkness for something, anything that would tell her where the vampire was hiding. Her spider senses were tingling.

"Come out. I'm not in the mood for games." She shouted into the night.

"Oh, but I have such fun games planned." Riley chuckled as he came out of the shadows.

"Riley?" Buffy asked, confused.

"Slayer." Riley grinned wickedly.

Buffy felt her heart stop. S he recognized the tone in his voice, the evil glint in his eyes. And if that wasn't enough, she could feel the evil that surrounded him. "No," She shook her head. "It can't be."

Riley laughed as he took a step closer. "Oh, but it is."

Buffy paled at the mocking tone in his voice. It brought back memories. She pulled her stake out of her jacket and closed her eyes as she lunged at Riley.

Riley smiled as he easily sidestepped the weapon, grabbing it out of her hands. "Not so easy." He whispered into her ear.

Buffy felt tears stinging her cheeks. She had to know how this had happened. "Who did this?"

Riley's smile grew wider at the pain in her voice. "Willow."

Buffy shook her head in denial. "No, she wouldn't. Couldn't."

"Why Buffy? Because she's your friend? Because she cared for you? Because you trusted her?" He took a menacing step closer. "In case you forgot all those things were true when you betrayed her." He sniffed the air around him and looked at her with a coldness she thought she would never see again in the eyes of a lover.

"You slept with the wolf. She doesn't know about that… yet." He turned to leave her to her tears, turning back after a moment and smirking at her stunned expression. "You and the wolf are in for a world of pain. It'll be quite a ride. You better hold on tight."

Willow groaned as she rolled off of the bed to answer the door. She walked out into the main room and opened the door, scowling.

"Mistress, sorry to bother you, but this woman insisted she see you. She staked a couple of the boys on the hunt." The vampire on the other side of the door looked petrified, which was an interesting, site coming from a member of the walking dead. He stepped aside to reveal Antoinette Pearcy.

Willow smiled widely. "Come in." She allowed Antoinette to enter and then glared at the minion. "Go. Now!"

The minion ran away in barely restrained fear. Antoinette chuckled. "Death looks good on you Red."

Willow laughed. "Yes, I suppose it does." She eyed the girl carefully. "So, what brings you into the lions den?"

Antoinette smiled. "I ran into Riley earlier. Put two and two together."

Willow grinned. "Riley huh? He's delicious, isn't he?" He noticed the way Antoinette's eyes had clouded over slightly at the mention of the former commando.

Antoinette smiled slightly, remember the way Riley had looked at her. "Is he yours?"

Willow's eyes sparkled as an idea came to her. She took a step closer to the girl, whispering, "How do you feel about eternal life?"

Xander awoke to the feeling of a cold chill surrounding him. He blindly felt for the blanket, which he believed must have fallen off. When all he found was the cold air, Xander opened his eyes, to find himself in what looked like some kind of cave.

"Welcome to Arashmahan." D'Hofferyn spoke from just above Xander.

Xander bolted upright and stared at the demon. Despite the situation, Xander wasn't afraid. "Who are you?"

"D'Hofferyn." Xander turned when he heard Anya's voice from behind him. "What do you want?"

D'Hofferyn smiled. "We've decided to return your powers to you."

Anya raised an eyebrow and then turned to her boyfriend. "Any him? What do you want with him?"

D'Hofferyn chuckled. "We've been watching you. Both of you. We feel he would make a fine addition to Arashmahan."

Xander's eyes grew wide. "You… you want to make me a demon?"

Riley returned to Spike's after several hours. After he had left the Slayer, he roamed the streets of Sunnydale, killing randomly, feeding when the urge struck him. He knew the master would be pleased.

He found himself wanting to run into Antoinette again. There was something about her, which had called to him. He hoped to see her again. He knew of Antoinette's dislike for Buffy and couldn't help but wonder what Antoinette would be like as a vampire.

He entered the house, and immediately sought out Willow and Spike. He found them in the living room. Willow smiled when she saw him.

"Did you find the Slayer?" She asked as she stood up.

Riley laughed. "Did I ever. She was a wreck." He turned to Spike for a moment, silently wondering if he should tell willow his new information. Spike nodded, seeming to understand the unspoken question.

"The Slayer… she's with your wolf." He spat out the words.

Willow looked at the young vampire, trying to ascertain if she had heard correctly. Seeing the truth in his eyes, Willow felt a cold rage come over her. Her body began to shake with power, making her body glow a bright green color. After a moment, Willow regained her composure and turned towards the hallway, which led to the bedrooms.

"Come, we have a surprise for you."

"What is your answer then?" D'Hofferyn asked Xander.

Xander stared disbelievingly at the demon. He turned to Anya, a question in his eyes. She smiled slightly, and nodded. Xander faced the demon, with his jaw set, no small amount of determination. "Yes."

D'Hofferyn laughed. "I was right about you." He turned to Anya, "You have chosen well."

With a wave of his hand, he restored Anya to her former glory, and gave Xander what he would need to completely the tasks, which would now be set before him.

"Anyanka, you have pleased the lower beings. You status has been restored."

Anya bowed slightly.

"Now, go. Teach this one. We have been without a vengeance demon of your stature for too long." He waved them away, and the couple found themselves back in Xander's basement.

Xander looked around, examining things. Everything looked the same, but yet different. It took him a minute to realize the room hadn't changed, he had. He could feel an incredible amount of power course through his veins. He looked down and noticed a ring he had never seen adorned his left hand. It glowed slightly as he ran a finger over it.

"Your power source… sort of." Anya told him.

"Sort of?"

Anya nodded. "The power itself is in you, not the ring, but it manifests itself through the stone, helping to focus."

"And id the ring is destroyed?" Xander asked, suddenly not wanting to lose this gift he had just acquired.

"You still have the power. They made some changes since I lost my powers. Our powers are not completely dependent on the stone. If it's lost, or stolen, or even destroyed, we still have the power to get it back." Anya explained.

"And what exactly am I seeking vengeance on?"

"Scorned men, if there is such a thing." She snorted.

Xander thought about what she had said, and then grinned. So, who's first?"

Buffy ran. She didn't know where she was going anymore. Her life had officially turned into a hellish nightmare. She had lost everything. Willow was dead. And if her death hadn't been bad enough, she hadn't stayed dead. She had become the one thing she hated most. A vampire. A creature of the night. And she had destroyed Riley. She had turned him into something evil. Something hideous. Something she couldn't possibly kill.

Buffy felt her tears sliding down her cheeks. She couldn't see straight. She looked around trying to figure out where she had run to. She recognized the street and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Giles. She ran into his apartment, hoping to find some solace, some comfort for a situation she felt she had brought on herself.

"Yes, I'm afraid it is true. No, I'm not sure when it happened." Giles paused in telephone conversation as Buffy entered the apartment. His eyes darkened in concern as he saw the state she was in.

"Angel, I'm sorry, but something has come up." He hung up the phone without a second thought.

"Buffy, what is it? What's happened?"

"It's Riley." She sobbed uncontrollably. "He's a vampire. Willow turned him."

"Oh, dear lord."

Riley stood in shock at the vision before him. He could feel her. She was calling to him. He took a step closer, touching her pale skin with one of his cold hands. Antoinette growled low in her throat and launched herself at him, devouring his cold mouth with her own.

Riley pushed her up against the wall, stripping her of her clothes as they explored each other's bodies.

Willow chuckled as she left the new mates alone.

"You did well, luv." Spike grinned as he led her out of the house. "Where to?"

Willow grinned wickedly. "Oz. I have a little surprise cooked up for him, in the form of some very unpleasant experiments." She cocked her head to the side, in haling the night air. "Do you think the initiative will torture him horribly?"

"Where are we going?" Xander asked as he and Anya left his basement, probably for the last time.

"Wherever we're called." She smiled. "Come, let's say goodbye to Spike and Willow."

The couple walked in silence for several moments. When they entered the cemetery, Xander noted with no small amount of pleasure that the few vampire that were still roaming around, steered clear of them.

"They're afraid of you." Anya told him. It's the power, they can sense it radiating off of you." She smiled.

Xander knocked on Spike's front door forcefully for several minutes until it was swung open with a snarl.

"Riley?" Xander asked as he looked at the half-naked vampire. It looked like Riley, even smelled like him. He pushed past him and entered the house, discovering he no longer felt the fear that used to encompass his life.

"Where are they?" Anya asked, not giving a second thought to the vampire version of the commando.

"They went to take care of the wolf." Antoinette spoke from the doorway, she was only slightly more dressed than riley. The smell of sex was heavy in the air.

"Tell them, we left. We'll see them around sometime." Anya turned and headed towards the door.

"Maybe we can work together." Xander added as he followed his fellow vengeance demon out of the house, and into the night."

Riley closed the door behind them, a strange look on his face. "They smell different."

"Their demons" Antoinette explained. She grinned wickedly as she pulled her mate back to the bedroom, now where were we?"

Oz was in hell. That was the only possible explanation. He didn't know where he was, really, or how he had gotten there. He had woken up in this strange place and the instant his eyes had focused in the bright lights, he knew he would die here. He didn't fear death, only what would happen until then.

He remembered hearing about what had happened to Spike during his capture by the Initiative and although he didn't care much about what had happened to the vampire at the time, he now found himself trying to remember ever sliver of information.

The werewolf knew, without a doubt that that was who had him. But just as that information was blaringly obvious, so was the fact that he couldn't have been captured without help. He didn't know who would have helped them, who would want to.

Riley was the obvious choice. If he had learned of what had happened between the Slayer and himself, no matter how innocent, the commando would not have been happy. However, everything he knew about the Slayer's boyfriend told him that he wouldn't, couldn't do something like this. He just didn't have it in him. He was too nice, to stupid, and too wrapped around Buffy's fingers.

Oz froze as he heard footsteps approaching his… cage. That was the best term he could use to describe where he was, although there were no bars, and no visible ways to get out.

"Is this him?" a female voice asked. It was businesslike and sent a chill down the werewolf's spine.

"Yes Ma'am." This was a second voice, masculine and brusque.

"We don't know where he came from?" The woman asked as she approached the glass separating her from the wolf.

"No ma'am. It's as if he just appeared here… out of no where."

The woman seemed to be thinking this over before she spoke. "And Agent Finn?"

"Still Missing." The masculine voice responded.

"Very well. We can't waste any more time." She sighed. "Take this one to the Lab."

Oz could hear her footsteps receding as his glass cage was opened and two men in lab coats came in followed by a team of soldiers. He felt a wave of fear penetrate his hazy mind. Whatever was about to happen, he knew that he would not survive.

Willow watched her lover play with his food and smiled. So much had changed in such a short time, although she realized that that was always the way. She couldn't bring herself to care about those that had betrayed her. Oz was getting what he deserved. And soon, Buffy would know the truth, and realize what had really happened. She would know the pain her betrayal had caused.

Willow realized that Oz wouldn't live long before the Initiative tested him to death. He would be lucky. Buffy, on the other hand, would have to live here, on the Hellmouth, and deal with its new masters on a regular basis. A master with the face of someone she had loved. Maybe not the all-encompassing love the Slayer had felt for Angel, but love nonetheless. It was a fitting end. There was, of course, the chance that the Slayer would manage to kill either Riley or Antoinette, but it was more than likely that she couldn't bring herself to do it. But even if she succeeded, having to stake her former lover would be its own kind of torture.

As Willow's thoughts swirled in her head, she felt her body drifting. She knew she was moving but had trouble discerning where she was being moved to exactly. Almost instantly, the demon found herself in Arashmahan.

"D'Hofferyn." She smiled.

"Child." He held out a hand for her, and motioned for her to follow him.

Willow followed the demon into another room. There was a portal of sort swirling in mid air. It seemed to be a view port of some sort.

D'Hofferyn pointed through the portal. "Friends of yours?" He asked.

Willow looked through the view port and her eyes grew wide with shock. There was a battle being fought with fists, and swords. That wasn't the surprising part. What shocked her were the participants. Angel and Cordelia and two men she'd never seen were fighting another man, and a demon.

"What's going on?" Willow asked as she tentatively put a hand through the portal. She felt the cool air on the other side before bringing her fingers back to her own side.

"I have been told," D'Hofferyn started, "That they have a… destiny." He said the word with distaste.

Willow looked up and him, a question in her eyes.

"The vampire, the one with a soul, he is your mate's father?"

Willow nodded. "Yes."

D'Hofferyn nodded and waved a hand in front of the portal, causing it to disappear. "You're task is almost completed." He commented turning towards his charge and effectively still any questions she might have been ready to pose.

"We have been pleased with your progress." He smiled broadly. "Handing the wolf over to the mortal's was brilliant. An act of strength of will we admire greatly. That one act has proven your ability to do this job." He placed a hand along her forehead and her body was engulfed in a brief glow, before it dissipated.

Willow could feel the power radiating off of her body.

"Your transformation is complete."

Willow smiled. "Thank you."

D'Hofferyn turned back to where the portal had been. He waved his hand and it appeared once again. This times though the view was different. There was a woman sitting in a circle, summoning a demon through a portal between dimensions.

Willow turned to look questioningly at D'Hofferyn.

"This woman, believes that her love has been taken by another." He told her. "She will summon the demon, Sokesh, to avenge the betrayal." He paused. "The woman is not your concern. Anyanka and Alexander will take care of her and the man in question." He turned back to the portal. "This demon, however, will attempt to upset the balance, and destroy those known as "The Charmed Ones". When he fails, he will commit an act of desperation, resulting in a betrayal that could stretch all the way to Arashmahan."

Willow stared through the portal, wrapping her mind around everything she had been told. "Stop her from summoning the demon. Problem solved."

D'Hofferyn shook his head. "No." He hesitated a moment. What he was about to say wasn't something he normally would have told a demon so young, but he recognized her wisdom and knowledge over what he was about to impart.

"You know of the Powers that Be?" When she nodded he continued. "Because of this woman's interference," He pointed through the view port. "Their chosen warriors will meet up with "The Charmed Ones". It is vital that that meeting take place."

"Now, go. Finish what you must, before you move on, but do it quickly." D'Hofferyn waved his hand away, sending Willow back to the park where she had left Spike.

Willow walked steadily towards Giles house. It was time for her to tell the former watcher the truth. Her and Spike would be leaving soon, and while she wasn't sorry for anything that had happened, she did want to warn Giles about what was coming next.

As she approached the door, the vengeance demon closed her eyes and tried to see inside of the house. She was in no mood to deal with the Slayer. She smiled when she realized the watcher was alone.

A few minutes after knocking, Giles swung the door open. His face paled when he saw her.

"Willow." He croaked, taking a step back into his house.

Willow laughed as she walked inside. She looked around the room briefly. "Am I interrupting anything?" She asked sweetly. A tone of voice that did not go well with the person she had become.

"What do you want?" Giles asked, slightly nervous.

"To talk." She sat down on his couch and patted the space next to her.

Giles sat instead in a nearby chair. "About what?"

Willow sighed. Giles wasn't making this easy. "We're leaving." She told him seriously, pushing aside her desire to play on his concerns.

"Wh… what? When?" Giles stuttered.

Willow laughed. "Tonight. Our work here is done." She paused as she steeled her features. "I wanted to tell you the truth, before I left."

"The truth?" Giles asks, slightly nervous. He couldn't imagine what she was going to tell him.

"I lied." Willow nodded at his confused expression. "I'm not a vampire." She held up a hand to stop his oncoming protest. "But I am a vengeance demon."

Giles sat in stunned silence for a moment. "Like Anya?" He asked after regaining his voice.

"Not exactly. Anyanka is the patron saint of Scorned women. She's called upon to avenge acts of romantic betrayal. I, on the other hand… well let's just say my power isn't so limited."

Giles thought over what she had said and chose not to spend too much time wondering what kind of power she did have exactly, opting instead to question Willow's choice of words. "Is?" He questioned curiously. "You said Anyanka *is* the patron Saint of Scorned women."

"That I did." Willow smiled. "She's gotten her powers back."

"Oh, dear lord." Giles whispered. "Where does that leave Xander?"

Willow pretended to think about the question before replying. "As the patron Saint of scorned men… if there is such a thing." She snorted. "There's more."

*****

Giles was stunned. There just wasn't another word that could explain what he was feeling. Willow had just left after explaining what had happened. He could scarcely believe the lengths to which Willow had gone to escape her pain, and repay what she considered a betrayal.

She was no longer human, no longer something to fight the forces of darkness. S he was herself a force of darkness. And Xander, he had gone with her, become a demon as well.

But it was Riley that was the worst by far. At least Willow and Xander had a choice about what they had become. But not the commando. Willow had chosen his fate for him, and now, all of Sunnydale would have to deal with the repercussions of that act.

Giles only hoped that he was as inept as a vampire as he seemed to be as a person sometimes. Otherwise, the future was going to prove to be trying, at the very least.

Giles also wondered what had happened to Oz. Willow had only told him that she had taken care of him. But the way in which she said it, send a shiver down the ex-watcher's back, even now.

He was glad she would be leaving. He didn't think he had the strength to face, knowing what he now knew, and despite the calm way in which she informed him of the reality of the past few weeks, Giles had no doubt that Willow could and would become quite violent. She had a lot of rage in her. The events surrounding the original 'thy will be done' spell proved that. Although her intent had not been malicious at the time, the anger was still there. And now, it had time to grow and fester, and be strengthened by the power of a demon. She was indeed a dangerous person to have against you.

Willow had asked that Giles refrain from speaking to Angel or Cordelia about what had happened to her, but he couldn't do that, and he thought Willow knew, just as she had made the request that he couldn't hold to it.

As he picked up the phone and dialed, Giles wondered how he was going to get the souled vampire to believe what had happened in Sunnydale. So much had changed, in such a short time.

*****

Riley watched as his Sire eyed him warily. He was unsure what would happen now. He knew the Master and Mistress were leaving him in control of the Hellmouth. They were trusting him to run things in their absence. That fact was pleasing to him, and he refused to even acknowledge the thought of letting them down. He would make them proud. He had time.

"Watch out for the Slayer. She's dangerous." Willow reminded him. "She may be too weak to stake you, but don't underestimate her." She turned to face her mate. "Let's go."

Turning back to the vampire couple, Willow placed a kiss on both Riley and Antoinette's cheeks before turning and heading towards the door. Just before she reached it, she paused.

"I want to know when the next one is called." She spoke firmly, leaving no room for argument, and then she was gone.

Spike grinned. "Give her hell." He smirked before following Willow out.

Once they had left the house, Spike turned to his mate. "Where to?"

"San Francisco." She smiled wickedly.