Part Twenty-Nine: Delaying tactics
Amy fell back exhausted as Oz disappeared into the portal. She’d never channeled that much energy through her body before. She could still feel lightning pulsating through her blood. Her throat was parched—it felt like there was no water left inside her body, that she was just flesh containing a void that stretched out into infinity. She closed her eyes for a second, then opened them, and saw the diamonds embedded in the walls sparkle like stars.
“Wow,” she muttered. “It’s like staring into the Milky Way from space.”
On her sides, Ethan and Giles were, likewise, haggard from the exertion—their gaunt bodies shivering in the preternatural chill that had fallen on the temple.
“We sent him into a pocket in time,” said Giles, rhetorically. “Into an endless war. Dear God…”
“Oh, don’t over-dramatize, you old ham,” said Ethan, who had turned dangerously pale after the spell, and looked set to collapse. “He can’t die there. That’s the whole point of the place. Besides, you’ve sent soldiers off to die before.”
Giles lurched forward, his fist careening toward Ethan’s face. Suddenly, Wesley was between them, catching Giles’ wrist in his hand. Amy hadn’t seen him move.
“Rayne’s a berk,” said Wesley, his voice low and gravelly, “But we need him. We still have two very large spells to work.”
Amy didn’t know much about Wesley—she was a rat when he was in Sunnydale—but from what she’d gathered, he and Giles had an uneasy relationship, and were none too fond of each other. Wesley had been sent to replace him at one point, and inadvertently had released that Faith woman, who nearly killed Angel. She knew Buffy left the Council over that. She knew he died, but she didn’t really know the details.
He looked strangely composed, not worn like the rest of them, but there was a mania about him, a wildness in his eyes that put her ill at ease. Maybe that just came from being dead. Or maybe, she thought, the stakes were really that high for him. She very much wanted to run away from here, but she was in too deep.
She stood near Giles—she didn’t have an easy relationship with him, either, but she knew he was trustworthy. She wished Oz were here, or even Justine.
“We have work to do,” said Wesley, looking up at the glittering diamonds. “The pieces are all in place, we just need …”
There was a tremor, and the walls began to vibrate. As one, the quartet turned as the doors blew open, as though forced by a hurricane. Amy’s teeth began to chatter in fear as Willow’s lithe silhouette appeared in the doorway.
“Naughty, naughty,” she said, a wicked smile pulled across her face. “You shouldn’t play games in dangerous places.”
Giles began to start forward, reaching to the girl, but was blasted back against the wall.
“Rupert,” said Willow. “Good to see you. I was hoping we’d have a chance to talk.”
With a wave of her hand, the floor exploded, staggering Amy and Ethan backward.
“You see, Rupert,” said Willow. “The last time we spoke, you called me a ‘rank, arrogant amateur.’”
Wesley had appeared behind Willow, attempting to slam down the butt of a pistol on her head, but there was a crackle of electricity from her body that ripped through him, forcing him backward. She glided forward, her feet not touching the ground.
“Well guess what, Rupert,” said Willow. “I’ve turned pro.”
Dark energy erupted from her hands, and Giles screamed in anguish. Without thinking, Amy cast a shield that blocked her attack. Willow turned toward her and smiled.
“Amy, babe,” she said. “How are you doing? Feels like it’s been ages.”
Willow,” said Amy, spitting out the words as fear constricted her throat.
“Still on the soft stuff I see,” said Willow, smirking. “Gonna have to move you up to something harder.”
“Willow,” said Amy. “Look, I know we’ve had problems…”
“Problems”” said Willow. “No, Amy. You were the only one who was right. We’re way cooler than these losers. We’ve got power that they can’t dream of. We should use it.”
Amy was (continued...)
( continues...) visualizing sigils in her mind. Warding spells. Hexes. “How did Buffy beat her the last time?” she thought, and then she remembered—Buffy didn’t. “
“Willow,” said Amy, steadying herself. “Will … It’s not like that. Look, I was weak. I came back in a bad place.”
“You’re in a bad place now,” said Willow. “But, hey! We can let it slide. Come work for us. The offer’s open to all of you.”
Willow looked at Giles.
“All of you except one.”
Fire erupted from her fingertips at Giles, but Amy cast another shield, intercepting it.
“Getting a little burned out on that trick,” said Willow.
“Willow,” said Giles, rising. “I know you don’t remember, but we’ve already been through this. You’re fueled by rage right now, drawing from impure forces.”
Amy thought she saw Giles glance at her for a moment, before a wave of Willow’s hand sent him flying into the air, then dropping him hard to the floor.
“What goes up,” said Willow, amused, returning her attention to Amy. Amy could see Ethan was cowering in the corner, and Wesley … Where was Wesley?
“You wouldn’t believe the stuff I’m drawing power from right now, Amy,” said Willow. “C’mon, we both know you want it.”
A desperate plan began to form in Amy’s head. She took a deep breath, and lowered all her wards and shields.
“You’re right,” said Amy. “I do.”
“Amy!” shouted Giles. There was blood trickling from his mouth.
Amy walked toward Willow, offering her outstretched palm. Willow took Amy’s hand in her own, and a sickly fever crawled over her. Amy’s heart raced as the current between them escalated. Amy’s eyes turned jet black.
“Dear God,” said Giles.
Wordlessly, Amy began to visualize the aura containing them, and extended it outward, drawing energy from everywhere around her. Giles and Ethan began to visibly weaken. Wesley began to appear in the shadows, a pistol in his hand, ready to fire a bullet into the back of Willow’s head. It wouldn’t work. He doesn’t know how she was beaten before. But she did. She remembered …
And in that instant, Amy began to visualize a field of stars, stretching out into infinity. She reached her mind to touch the slivers of souls from thousands upon thousands of dead gods, a power so staggering that both young women screamed.
Amy could see a thousand panoramas before her, from a thousand worlds. Every mind that every god ever had touched stood out before her, and still she drew more power.
She and Willow seemed fused now, and Amy realized that they’d both been screaming for so long that sound was no longer escaping their mouths. Their screams were now hoarse and silent. Their screams stretched into infinity.
