Reminding the Fallen
by zenithar
Chapter 23
[reviews]
Author's Note: Once again thanks to Rebelrsr for help on the fic, couldn't do it with out you. Slightly longer than my usual chapters, you'll find out why at the end. ^_^
The entire Scooby Gang was still gathered around the Summers' living room after the evidence of the Council's betrayal was revealed. With Giles confirmation of the Council's hand in her turning, no one felt a bit of remorse over their deaths - having Serenity do it was poetic justice. There was no time for rejoicing though, because the gang now had a new threat almost upon them.
"Well, this is all grand and good, Watcher, but what do you have in the way of plans concerning Serenity?" Spike asked.
Nodding his head, Giles went over to a single book he had brought from England. Well, calling it a book wouldn't really do it justice. It was a huge tome that was slightly thicker than a dictionary and twice as tall. All in all, it looked like an old antique bible. Holding the musty tome, the Watcher opened it and began flipping through the pages. "This is the Apocrypha of the Legion. It contains detailed schematics of powerful and ancient weapons, and more than a few ways to augment demons into more deadly soldiers," the old man said distractedly. "It was created by demons that were intent on creating the ultimate race, and destroying those that they considered inferior. Their name has long since been forgotten, but many of their tools still remain."
"The one I am looking for," Giles said as he removed his glasses with one hand, and rubbed the bridge of his nose and then reset them before going back to turning pages, "is a scythe that was said to grant the wielder amazing strength. It may be dangerous to use, and may take time in finding, but if Buffy were to go up against her sire with nothing more than what she has now, it would be suicide."
"You're talking about the Harvester of the Dead, aren't you?" Willow asked.
Surprise and shock showed on the old man's face. "Why, yes, I did. Um... how did you know?"
"Because, I used it to kill the First, and I died with it when I fought my sire," Buffy said. "It wasn't enough to kill her then, so I don't think it would help now. Plus, using it removes my conscience, something I'd really not like to have happen with the demon within me."
"Well, yes, the lack of a conscience would cause some problems, but I had hoped Willow would be able to remove or nullify the negative effect of the scythe," Giles argued. "With the Apocrypha at our disposal, you should," the Watcher said while looking at the redhead, "be able to discover a way for Buffy to use the weapon without consequence." Finally flipping to the page he desired, Giles offered the book to Willow.
"Ok, saying that we get B a power boost from the scythe, what are the rest of us going to be doing?" Faith asked.
"We would be giving Buffy support. Serenity will not be alone; in fact, she will more than likely have many of her servants with her," the Watcher informed the group. "We cannot have them interfering with the fight between Buffy and her sire. Until the battle, however, I suggest that we all start searching for possible ways to cancel out the negative affects of the Harvester."
The gang decided that was the best course of action and got started looking through any all material relating to the scythe and possible ways of 'purifying' the weapon. While everyone was going through the few books that were at the Summers' home, Willow focused her attention on the Apocrypha and the schematics to the Harvester. It wasn't until several hours later that Willow had an epiphany. The way to deal with the evil magic permeating the weapon was to ground it like any other stray energy. The scythe's magic was actually a little unstable, being at times in full force in the presence of blood, while at other times doing very little. However, the magic that removed the wielder's conscience was always there. That meant a more direct approach would be needed to deal with it.
Getting up from where she was sitting, Willow placed the large tome on the coffee table and moved over to the spellbooks. Sifting through them until she found the one she was after, she flipped it open. Reading until her eyes caught sight of the spell she was looking for, the redhead looked at its effects. For Willow to negate the conscience block, she would need to use a spell that could be considered a form of telekinesis. It would allow her project her own conscience and mind into a body that lacked one or the other. Basically, it was a type of mind control, something she would have preferred to leave alone but she could think of nothing else that would work. "Guys, I got it," the redhead exclaimed.
The action about the room stopped as everyone waited for Willow to explain. Seeing she had everyone's attention, the redhead began, "When I was looking at the designs of the Harvester, I noticed the magic in it is unstable, like it doesn't know if it should be pouring power out or keeping it in. Which got me to thinking about what witches usually do with unstable magical energies, which is grounding them." The witch got up and began pacing as her mind worked to fill in all the details. "But, because the scythe has so much dark mojo in it, I wouldn't be able to ground it just anywhere; it would have to be on hallowed ground. If we can purify the scythe, it would have less of a chance of corrupting Buffy."
"That's great and all, Will, but there's still the finicky little detail of it removing my conscience. Remember the thing that keeps me from draining everyone here dry?" Buffy pointed out.
"Yes, Buffy raises a valid point. Did you find a way to counter that effect?" the old Watcher asked Willow.
Nodding her head slowly, the redhead said, "I have but I really don't like it. I would be using a spell that's similar to mind control, but it would allow me to give Buffy a conscience."
"So you would be controlling me, making me do stuff?" Buffy asked.
"No, I would only be able to act like a voice in your head, offering suggestions on what you should do. It's sorta hard to explain."
Buffy appeared to think over what Willow had just said and finally nodded. "I could deal with that, but only because it's you, Will."
A small smile grew on Willow's face at Buffy's words. "Ok, then. I need some supplies from the Magic Box, and a place where we can perform the purification."
Spike said he would make a quick dash into the sewers and ask the demons if there were any holy places they tended to avoid. Xander, Anya, and Giles would go to the Magic Box for the required items for the coming spells. While they were all getting things prepared, the Slayers and their girls were going to take one day to unwind.
Buffy and Willow were in the master bedroom with their lips locked together letting cold flesh meet warm as they sat on the bed. After a low moan seeped from Willow, the blonde broke away. "As much as I want to continue this right now, I'd rather take a shower before we get started," Buffy said. "I did just get done with patrol."
Willow just looked at her quizzically. "I didn't even think vampires could sweat."
"They can't, but they can get demon bits on them," the vampire said with a 'yuck' face.
"Oh, good point," the Wiccan conceded. "Hurry back though, not sure how long I can wait," Willow said in a playful tone.
"Your wish is my command," Buffy said with a mock bow. Giggling, she ran out of the bedroom, dodging the pillows the redhead threw at her.
Willow continued to sit on the bed for a few more minutes, and she still had yet to hear the shower start. Letting her curiosity get the better of her, the redhead left the room and headed for the bathroom. Sneaking over to the door, she checked if it was locked. Finding it open, she pushed it just enough to peek inside. What greeted her sight was the pale back of her lover standing in front of the mirror, just staring into it. Willow tried looking into the mirror to catch a look at what was on the blonde's face only to see... nothing. Then it hit her. Buffy had lost her reflection and it was probably sinking in. Walking into the room and closing the door behind her, Willow went to her troubled lover and embraced her from behind, snaking her arms around the vampire's waist and pressing into her back. "What's wrong, baby?" the redhead asked as she put her head on the smaller woman's shoulder.
Instead of speaking immediately, the blonde continued to look into the mirror as though she were seeking answers. Willow admitted it was a little unsettling to see herself in the mirror wrapped snugly around nothing. Her mental wanderings ended when the vampire finally spoke, "Everything is going to have to change: the way I live, how I do things... everything." Buffy paused again. "I mean, I got I was a vampire, but what didn't set in was that I'm going to have to learn to really live as one. What's worse though is I won't be able to do everything with you," the vampire said in a quite and pained voice. Looking down at her feet she said one more thing dejectedly, "Not being able to cry sucks."
"If you want, I could cry for both of us, but that would get us nowhere. Nothing has to change, Buffy. You can still get up when you use to and go out and slay. The only thing that's really changed is you can't leave during the day," the redhead said, trying to comfort the small blonde. "And as for doing everything with me," she tilted her head to kiss the vampire's cheek then moved to whisper in her ear, "you can still do a lot with me," taking the soft lobe in her mouth, "and I a lot with you."
The sudden attention on her ear caused Buffy to moan and lean back into Willow. With the vampire's cooler flesh being pressed against the witche's clothing, her excitement became obvious. Continuing to nibble on the blonde woman's ear she said, "Baby, didn't you come in here to take a shower?" Her only response was a mumbled noise.
Breaking contact Willow looked into the mirror where Buffy's face should have been. "Come on, let's get you into there."
Pushing Buffy into the shower, the redhead left to get some towels. When she got back, the vampire was under the spray of the water and the witch could only stare at the sight. Almost rendered incapable of thought at the sight before her, Willow quietly put the towels down.
Buffy was in the process of lathering soap across her body when she felt two hands on her shoulders, turning her around. Willow was standing just as bare as she was as she leaned in to place a gentle kiss on the blonde's lips. Humming her appreciation of the gift, Buffy asked, "Not that I'm against this, but why are you here?"
Looking into the Slayer's eyes, Willow responded, "Thought it would help with the washing." At the upraised eyebrow Willow knew she had to say the rest, "And I was jealous of the water. I wanted to be running all down your body," the redhead finished with a pout.
Laughing Buffy pulled Willow close enough so their curves melted into one another's. "Perfectly good reasons, Will. But you do know we need to get actual washing done here, right?"
Willow only nodded slightly as her senses were overloaded from the contact. After taking a deep breath, she was able to control herself a little better. "Yeah, and this way we can reach each other's backs easily," the redhead said with a lecherous smile.
Humming her agreement, the vampire said, "I'm likin' this plan, Will. Mind washing me first?"
"Not at all." The redhead leaned into the kiss pushing the two of them under the water. Letting the water flow over them as they let their desire for one another build, both had their hands running across the nude forms before them. Moaning into the caresses, Willow started trailing her kisses along Buffy's jaw as her hands pinched and petted the blonde's smaller breasts. Reaching the vampire's neck, the Wiccan bit the nonexistent pulse point, causing Buffy to vamp out from the pleasure. Sucking on the point, not hard enough to draw blood, the witch worked on leaving a hickey that would last, even with the Slayer's accelerated healing.
Finally releasing the bit of flesh, Willow moved further down the vampire's pale body. By now, the two had Buffy's back pressed against the shower wall. All the while Willow was showing the Slayer's body with affection, her own hands had not been idle. Tracing invisible patterns over the redhead's back with her right hand, her left slid down Willow's side to rest of her rear. Slowly, Buffy's patience faded and her hands drifted to Will's shoulders and gently pushed down, urging her lover to go lower. Getting the hint, the redhead left Buffy's shoulder area and drifted towards her perfect breasts. Capturing the left in her mouth she lavished its hardened tip with her tongue, receiving growls and moans of ecstasy from the woman in front of her. The witche's hands slid further yet to pale Slayer's thighs, playfully torturing her by barely grazing over the insides of them. Several delicious shivers ran through the vampire, making Willow grin around the tip in her mouth. Finishing with the mound in her mouth, the redhead moved to its twin. Being slightly rougher, Willow bit down softly on the breast. Buffy arched into the touch letting her hands scratch and leave white lines across the Wiccan's back.
Feeling she had done a good enough job on Buffy's breasts, Willow kissed her way between the breasts. Then slowly, painfully, she went down the vampire's muscled belly till the redhead was on her knees in front of the Slayer's core. Choosing to tease her lover, Willow let her lips dance around the blonde's clean shaven center. Buffy muttered out, "Will, come on, don't tease me."
Turning her head up to offer a smile that even the Slayer's demon swore was evil, she looked into golden eyes. "You know you love it." Buffy's only response was to groan and let her head fall back against the wall. Taking that as her cue to continue, the redhead got back to work. Trailing her lips ever closer the vampire's nether ones, the blonde began shaking in expectation. Hoping to not disappoint, Willow kissed Buffy's core. Gently slipping her tongue out, she pushed into the cool vampire. Softly caressing Buffy from the inside, she heard the blonde's growls get louder. Beginning to thrust deeper with her tongue, the Slayer started rocking in tandem with each movement. Pleased that everything was still going right, Willow started varying things, like where her hands traveled, the depths of her strokes, and the speed. Each earned a different and unique response that the redhead tried to memorize and cause again and again. Constantly bringing the vampire ever closer to the edge, the Witch did all she could to keep her from slipping into sweet bliss. Finally choosing to end her lover's torment, Willow took the blonde's pearl between her teeth and sucked.
The result was nearly instantaneous. Buffy threw her head back and let out a roar that could have easily matched a lioness', while Willow's mouth was filled with her immortal lover's juices. Sinking to the floor, the Slayer looked into Willow's eyes with such a deep love the redhead thought of nothing else and cuddled closer, resting her head on the vampire's shoulder. The water continued falling over them as Buffy moved a hand to push away dampened hair from the Witch's face. "You would have thought that after being killed so many times and seeing what I've seen, I wouldn't be able to love anymore."
Shaking her head, Willow said, "If anything, it's taught you how to love more." And with that she placed one more kiss on the vampire's lips.