By Alex
Rating
– Pg – 13 to R in some places.
Pairing
– Buffy/Willow and several other peripheral pairings that aren't on the show.
So there phffttt.. ]:-P
Thanks
– Thanks to my beta Cheryl Hill, she's done the best she could with what I gave
her and she has a fabulous first name. Great work!!!
Feedback
– Please send me some I'm an incurable feedback junkie and I'd perish without
it (I'd beg but the neighbors got that special ordinance passed and besides
it's just too ugly to watch) any and all comments or suggestions to: keeper444@webtv.net
<>thoughts<>
***flashbacks***
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Willow opened her compelling emerald green eyes and noticed she was still alone. Since her beloved wife hadn't awakened her Willow wondered what had.
Feeling a tingling sensation at the back of her mind the young Sorceress open her mind and was suddenly enveloped in joyous unencumbered exuberant emotions. Her conscious mind was flooded with thoughts of freedom, family, wilderness, the clean scent of the outdoors, the joy of the hunt, and the thrill of the kill.
"Huh? The kill?" Willow muttered as she sat up in the bed "where in Goddess' name did that one come from?"
The witch focused the thoughts she was getting from her soulmate and realized that there were two separate sets of thoughts, one verbal, the other visual. She laid back, her hands laced together behind her head, and sighed happily enjoying the exhilarating sensations coming from Buffy and their newly bonded packmate, Nightrunner.
She saw them meet up with Morrigan and she had to chuckle at Nightrunner's disapproval of the prime alpha's intention to remain awake. Then both Nightrunner and the witch caught Buffy's other thoughts. The wolf may have approved but the witch was overjoyed. Not only about Buffy's plans but that her mate found her so desirable even after a year.
Her mother had always told her that familiarity bred contempt, boy was her mother wrong when it came to Willow's wife (she usually was), apparently the more Buffy was with Willow the more she wanted her.
She was unable to keep from laughing when she caught Nightrunner's approving of the Slayer's intention of "rolling around" with her mate.
The 'rolling around" thought that cracked Willow up. Not only did the wolf know that their missing packmate was listening she promised Willow that she would see to it that they weren't disturbed while they were "Rolling around".
With a heartfelt thanks Willow broke off the links and leapt from the bed to prepare for her lover's arrival.
================
When Buffy and Morrigan separated the petit blonde quickly headed for the French doors that led to her and Willow's rooms.
She noticed Nightrunner laying by the door with a big canine grin on her face.
"What are you smiling at?" the slayer asked partially out of curiosity and wasn't surprised when her own thoughts were reflected back to her. "That's what I get for asking Super Snooper the Canine Wonder Eavesdropper."
Laughing at the wolf's indignant reply about loud thinking two leggers she went into her rooms to find the object of her not so innocent thoughts, her mind full of visions of her incredibly gorgeous wife in various stages of undress and a myriad of provocative positions.
She went directly to the oversized bed hoping to catch her lover still asleep. She pounced on the bed, it was an incredibly good pounce, but it was wasted because the huge sleeping area was empty. She did notice that not only were her normal daily clothes laid out but there was also a beautiful cobalt blue dress laid out for Willow as well.
Buffy checked out the dress that had been brought for her wife, the design was one that Willow and Brigit had come up with, there were dozens of hidden pockets and pouches sewn into the beautiful garment.
Once they had settled on a design that was even more beautiful on the young witch than it was practical, the design was turned over to the Druids and within a day there was several of the dresses in their closet all in different colors and each with it's own silver and gold trim.
Buffy thought back to the first time she'd seen her lover in one of the dresses, and was reminded of her intentions.
"My darling wife is such a babe and such a chick sometimes." the Slayer said to herself as she looked over her own clothes, there was as usual the black leather pants and sleeveless jerkin along with the knee-high heavy soled boots also black, there was also her weapons belt with it's two long dirks (known as the fangs of Erin) she laughed again, "Geez a little on the butch side I guess. Ha little Buffy the ice princess of Sunnydale, a knife wielding, black leather wearing, bad ass, vamp slaying, Butch. Who da thunk it....Snyder probably."
The Slayer had to laugh at herself and the out dated stereotypes she'd grown up with, sometimes she couldn't believe that Hank and Joyce Summers little girl was the same person she saw every day in the mirror.
The thought of her father and the last message she'd received from him just before her joining with Willow made her frown and her eyes still felt the sting of tears when she thought of him.
Her quickly saddening mood was brightened when she heard the sounds of splashing water coming from the bathroom. An evil smirk came to her face and the rearoused young woman began removing her jogging clothes.
<>Oh yeah, gotta be bath time,<> she thought as she peeled off the small nylon jogging shorts<>and what luck my favorite bath toy is already in the tub<>
Pictures of her Wills in a bathtub wearing only bubbles and writhing under her touch filled the Slayer's libido driven imagination, driving all sad thoughts of her family problems from her mind.
Thinking to surprise her wife Buffy slipped silently into the bathroom after she'd removed all her clothes, instead the Slayer was frozen in place by the most perfect vision of feminine beauty that she or anyone else had ever seen.
Her wife was laid back in the big sunken tub her dark red hair fanning out on top of the water contrasting her pixyish face that had the most serene look on it. Her body was totally revealed framed by the bubbles her magnificent alabaster skinned body with it's perfect soft curves begged to be held and loved. The only break in the alabaster perfection was the shining red curls at the apex of her thighs, it was like a Michelangelo sculpture, Buffy was lost in the vision.
Her trance was broken only to become entangled in the gaze of the lust darkened emerald green eyes that were looking straight into her soul.
Until then Buffy hadn't even realized that Willow even knew she was there.
"By the Gods Wills!" Buffy exclaimed her voice rasping from the explosion of lust that the sight presented her. "You are quite simply the most magnificent creature
the Goddess ever put on Earth or anywhere else for that matter."
Hearing her lover's impassioned words Willow blushed from her head to her toes, making her even more beautiful in the Slayer's eyes.
Willow shifted her body so that she was sitting up. She looked up at the woman she loved more than life itself and let her eyes take in the wondrous sight while her lover was trying to regain her composure, she tried to swallow so she could speak but was having a hard time getting past the lump in her throat that appeared at the instant her wife entered the room.
Recovering quickly, the witch's burning green eyes boldly raked up and down over the blonde's perfectly tanned, muscular body. Her tongue flicked out to wet suddenly very dry lips, that ached to touch and taste the flesh of the amazingly gorgeous naked woman doing the deer in the headlights impersonation not three feet in front of her.
Finding her own self control and smiling wolfishly Willow found her voice.
"Ya' gonna stand there all day," the redhead said waggling her eyebrows and doing a fairly good Morrigan impersonation "or are ya' gonna get yerself into this lovely tub so I can scrub yer back fer ya', Slayer darlin'."
The tension broken for a moment by her lover's playful mood, Buffy laughed brightly and joined Willow in the bubble filled tub slowly easing herself into the steaming water. The redhead let her lover relax in the water for a moment while she leaned back and picked up the lightly herbal-scented soap, working it in her hands building up a lather.
"Come here sweetheart, and let me wash your back." the beautiful witch purred "Can't get you *all* clean all the way over there, now can I?"
"As you wish, my love," The blonde replied her voice still barely above a rasping whisper as she positioned herself between her wife's legs. "I'm yours to command, my Goddess."
"I think you've been hanging around Morrigan too much my dear." Willow quipped as she began running her soapy hands over her lover's back "Her blarney is beginning to rub off on you."
As the redhead began rubbing her hands over the silky soft skin of her mates' back, marvelling at the way her battle and training hardened muscles flexed and relaxed just beneath the velvety skin. Her fingertips were registering the irregularities in texture that marked the many scars on Buffy's otherwise flawless skin.
She closed her eyes and in her mind the Sorceress relived the stories of each and every single one of those scars having lived through them all with Buffy through their years together.
"Oh you are sooo good to me my angel." Buffy moaned in pleasure brought on by her lovers’ generous attention to her back, then a stray melancholy thought wondered into her mind, "You know I really never have been good enough to be with you Willow. I've failed you so many times."
The Slayer's voice was calm and steady, but Willow could easily hear the agony in those words, she wasn't sure where this sudden depression came from, and the tears fell freely but without a sound.
"I pray every day that I don't fail you," Buffy continued, her bitter hot tears falling into the bath water "and those that depend on me, I wont...I can't fail you, my love. But sometimes it's so hard and I'm afraid I'll let you down that one time too many and then...."
Unable to continue, Buffy collapsed back onto her lover, whose arms instantly wrapped around the tiny blonde as all her fears and nightmares that churned just below the surface turned into a torrent of tears that fell uncontrolled from her hazel eyes.
Knowing her lover well enough to know all about these sudden bouts of doubts and depression, it was the nature of her being to lack a certain amount of self confidence, that made her need the constant love and support that only Willow could provide, and that drew the compassionate young Wyccan to her.
No matter how self assured the seemingly powerful woman acted, only Willow knew the frightened little girl that lived just barely hidden under the brave warrior facade.
As quickly as it appeared the crying jag was over and Buffy was leaning back and tilting her head so she could reach Willow's soft, moist, inviting, irresistible lips.
Taking the hint and knowing just what her lover needed and much to Buffy's delight the witch began slowly rubbing her soapy slick hands over Buffy's sensitive breasts. She could feel her mates small pink nipples harden against her palms and when Buffy moaned softly with arousal and arched into the redhead's hands urging her to pay even more attention to the tender mounds of firm pliable flesh.
Willow began kneading her lover's breasts, steadily increasing the pressure until Buffy was unable to control her building arousal as the fires in her belly became raging infernos.
Willow stopped only long enough to take each rock hard nipple between the thumb and forefinger of each hand and began lightly pinching rolling and pulling at the tender morsels, increasing Buffy's passions to greater heights.
"Oh my sweet Goddess please more Wills," Buffy groaned in the sweetest agony known. "Please lover please, it's sooooo goood."
"Listen to me sweetheart." the redhead whispered into her lover's ear "You are not responsible for everyone that is made the target of some evil nastiness that squirms though the Hellmouth. There is no way you can stop things that are beyond your control. So stop blaming yourself because some people are too stupid not to face demons and vampires unprepared, or that are just unlucky enough to be at that wrong place at the wrong time."
"I know Wills, at least in my head I know you're right, but" Buffy sighed and leaned back into her lover's welcoming body "in my heart I can't stop myself from wishing I'd been just that tiny bit quicker. I see their faces every time I relax enough to sleep, only you have been able to chase the nightmares away. When I fall asleep in your arms, the only visions I have are of you and the gentle, compassionate, loving way you treat me. For that and oh so much more, I will always love you with everything I am for the rest of my miserable, unworthy life."
The whole time Buffy was talking, Willow's soapy hands slid freely over her lover's body working their way down and across the Slayer's washboard abdomen, slowly moving in slow lazy circles. Savouring the feel of the rock hard muscles rippling under the satin soft skin.
There too the redhead could feel the outline of the scars left by the Slayer's calling. Silent tears fell from the Willow's brilliant green eyes as she recalled how many times her lover had narrowly escaped death.
A grateful smile came to her face contrasting the tears, she also recalled how the 'Wyccan witch Willow' became 'Willow the Great Sorceress' and in becoming that,
how she was now able to not only assist Buffy, able to fight at her side now she was also capable to protect and defend her lover instead of Buffy always having to protect her. They were finally true equals.
Buffy let out a low aroused moan that brought Willow back to the present where the redhead realized it was time for this equal to give the other half of the complex equation the pleasure she so richly deserved.
Buffy's lover leaned down and began kissing and nibbling at the blonde's neck and ear while she let her hand slip down to circle the Slayer's navel, Buffy was extremely aroused when her lover let her fingers slide in and out of her belly-button. The same thing never did a thing for Willow so she just thought of it as a Buffy thing.
"Oh, Willow my love," the Slayer groaned, her voice thick with lust "No one does what you do to me, only you can make me feel the way you do. Please...never leave me."
Willow was stunned momentarily at her lover's request.
<>Now where did that come from<> the witch thought, her mind reeling in confusion <>We're even married and she's STILL worried that I might...die!!! Oh Goddess, how could I be so dense? She's afraid I'll die<>
This epiphany threw the young redhead but to her credit Willow never stopped moving her hands even a moment, so that Buffy wasn't even sure she'd spoke out loud.
The Slayer had never meant for her lover to ever hear the usually silent almost prayer that the blonde made every time she was with her beloved Willow. It was Buffy's way of beseeching the Goddess or whatever deity listened to a Slayer's prayers that they would let Buffy die before anything happened to the redheaded witch that was her reason for existence.
Buffy knew that if something ever happened to the woman that held her heart and soul, her life would be a hollow meaningless living Hell of unbearable pain until she was mercifully allowed to rejoin her Wills on the other side.
"Buffy...love," Willow whispered into her lover's ear "You know that no matter what I will never leave you. Not even death could keep me from your side."
As if the words being whispered in her ear were attached directly to her lover's fingers that were entering her multiplying the sensations into infinite pleasure, filling the blonde's senses until nothing existed in the universe but the Slayer and her eternal lover the Sorceress.
"We are forever my love." the other half of Buffy's soul whispered fiercely into her sensitive ear "Our souls are intertwined and inseparable floating through time,
finding each other lifetime after lifetime...always two as one until the end of infinity."
As Willow spoke her poetic words of love and devotion her fingers continued thrusting in and out of Buffy's center driving her nearly insane with desire.
"More, Wills honey please more," the blonde moaned as she rode the razor's edge between pure ecstasy and pure torture. Come on Wills I need more fill me up lover pleeeease."
Willow's own desire was fuelled to higher planes by her lover's quiet desperate pleas for more stimulation as if acting on it's own accord the redhead's body began grinding her center into Buffy's tight muscular rear.
At her lover's insistence Willow added a third finger to the two already pumping into Buffy's burning core and began using her thumb to tease the blonde's hyper-sensitive bundle of nerves at the apex of her wet hot slit. Electric jolts of intense pleasure seared along the Slayer's enhanced nervous system exploding into her brain blanking out all rational thought, focusing her entire being on reaching the heights of her pleasure, hers and Willow's.
"Oh Gods Wills...yes!!" Buffy cried out with joyous abandon, "Go my love...give it to me...yes harder...pleeeease...don't...stop!"
“Do you like this sweetheart?" Willow asked then slipped in to her best Morrigan impersonation ""Are ya' wantin' me ta give ya' more, my darlin' girl?"
Willow was pumping her fingers into her lover, going even faster at Buffy's request driving the young woman's desires even higher than before. The Slayer's hips were bucking in rhythm with her witch lovers thrusts causing her backside to grind into Willow's sex causing the most exquisite friction against the redhead's swollen clit.
Buffy was holding on to the sides of the tub so tightly her knuckles were turning white, she could feel the juices of her lover's arousal coating her skin where her backside was making contact with Willow's overheated flesh as the gorgeous redhead too soared toward her climax.
"Ah...oh..yes.Wills-I'm-gonna-I-can't-stop" Buffy sputtered out as she reached the very edge of her endurance then launched into the bottomless abyss of her orgasm "Yessssssss-Willsss-that'sss-it-I'm-m-m... OH YESSSsssss-I'm cummmmingggg!"
Willow bit down on her lover's neck just as the blonde went crashing into crazy, spinning, mind boggling, blissful, ecstasy. Every muscle in the Slayer's body went ridged in convulsions of almost unendurable pleasure.
The spasms caused Buffy's tight rear to push nearly painfully hard into Willow's groin generating enough friction to send the young witch roaring into her own climax.
The two lovers collapsed against each other in a contented mass of quivering sated flesh. They remained that way for a while both trying to get their breathing and hearts back under control and allowing their orgasm shattered minds to regroup and begin thinking rationally once again.
The old mansion trembled at the roar of the darkman's
anger. Without a thought he struck and hit the cowering demon
with a backhand that sent him flying across the room, and ended up
slamming into a wall so hard he went all the way through it.
The
dark scaled demon tried to stand but too many of his nearly
unbreakable bones had been broken by the tall human-looking creature that
was standing over him.
If
the creature had looked angry it might have frightened the demon, but
the casual unconcerned look on the creature's face sent the
minion into a terrified panic.
"You
fool," the man hissed quietly "I
ordered you to watch them, not to have your incompetent thugs
beat them nearly to death."
He
kicked the injured demon, who once more went flying across the room, to
crash into another wall. The demon's black blood was being splattered over
the floors, and walls, some had even made it to the ceiling, nearly every
bone in his body was shattered, and several of his organs were
ruptured.
"Please
master...please...forgive... this...unworthy...beast," the slowly dying
hell spawn plead, his sibilant voice nearly inaudible to human ears
"I-I...only...thought...to..."
The
demon was silenced when the tall thin man-like creature kicked him again,
this time the broken beast came to a stop bent backwards over a stone
altar.
"That's
just it you idiot," his master snarled as he lifted the
huge Demon over his head. "You
weren't created to think,
you were created by ME, to follow MY orders.
Since you can't do that, you are of no use to me."
With
a satisfied roar the dark prince slammed the demon across the
altar, bending him backwards over the stone surface, he hit so hard
that every remaining bone and organ left in his body, was
shattered, black blood flowing from every orifice.
The
now deceased demon's human minions were cowering in
the shadows, hoping that the enraged master wouldn't decide to
vent his rage on them, two of them fainted when the dark prince turned with a
flourish and pointed in their direction.
"I
want three of you useless carrion to get over here." He ordered.
"I have a mission for you."
Three
of the more intelligent young men separated from the larger group and
carefully made their way over to face the master.
"You
will go to the hospital and keep an eye on the two young ones,
you fools put there." he explained the contempt dripping from every word
"Do not, I repeat NOT, go near them or disturb any that come to see
them. You will watch them and report to me every guest, visitor, nurse,
orderly, and doctor, that enters and leaves their rooms. Is that
clear?"
"Crystal"
the larger of the men answered.
"Good
now go," the dark man said, "Oh and gentlemen, do not fail me
again."
The
three men nodded, and left, just as quickly as they could, once they were out
of the room the master turned to the several vampires, that
had been lounging around the room and gave them the most chilling
smile any of them had ever seen, even they shivered at that look.
"You
can have the rest." he told the vampires "They are of no use to
me."
The
terrified screams of the dead and dying echoed through the
mansion and out, to fade in the cold dark of the night unheard by any
human...that cared.
=====================
The
dark aristocratic man was sitting at the large teakwood desk, that his
servant and friend, Victor, found to replace the one he'd shattered,
several weeks before.
He
looked up from the reports his other minions had sent him and saw his
friend and long time servant enter with a pitcher and some silver mugs on
a tray.
"What
have you there, Victor my old friend?" the Dark man spoke smiling at
the one human he knew he could trust implicitly. "Perhaps something
to amuse my palate or maybe an old family recipe."
The
servant, whose family had served the dark prince faithfully, and with
unwavering loyalty, for generations, smiled at his masters' humor.
"It
is your favorite my prince." the stocky man answered in his thick,
almost indecipherable, middle European accent "The essence of these
New Worlders seems to agree with you my prince. I just wish they had
more, in the way of our foods, and spices but never the less I
was able to come up with a decent pitcher of plasma and chocolate as
you like it my prince. Please drink while it is still warm."
"Ah
Victor you are so good to me." Dracula sighed as he took a long drink
of the satisfying concoction "Yes Victor very good but you are right,
I do so prefer
the
Swiss chocolate to this, but it is very tasty. Something about those that
dwell in this marvelous country, their essence is more robust,
more...invigorating
than
the tired blood of the old World. Won't you join me my friend? I know you have
developed a taste for it in the Old Country. I think you will find this
far better than you've had before."
"Thank
you my prince, you are most kind." Victor answered as he sat down
across the desk from his prince and poured himself a large mug of the
steaming drink.
"Have
you any news of our quest, or has our beloved future princess still eluded
those weak minded fools that serve you? It is a sorry lot yet they are
supposedly
the
best to be had."
Dracula
sighed and sat back down behind the massive desk.
"No
they have been unable to locate the Chosen One or her Sorceress, and
without them, I can not find my Elisabeta." Dracula complained to the
only human
alive
to ever understand his need to search for his eternal beloved "The boundaries placed upon
me, by The Powers are ridiculous, and if I could I would get
right to the purpose of my visit to this quaint little hamlet."
"At
least we know that crazed Hell spawned bitch didn't lie to us,"
Victor said trying to cheer up his master if the Chosen One is here than
so too is your beloved."
Dracula
smiled sadly at his servant, grateful for the attempt.
"Worry
not my Prince." Victor continued, the sincerity in his voice
a product of his unwavering devotion to the dark Prince "We will find
your beloved princess,
and
no power on this Earth shall keep her from you, I would give my life to
make it so."
"I
know Victor," the ancient being assured his servant and loyal
follower "Your loyalty and commitment, has never been questioned, and
never will be, but it has been hours since those fools attacked the Chosen
One's friends, and still neither one has wakened, and there has been no
sign of either her or her Sorceress.
Where
are they, and why do I get the feeling that an old enemy is responsible
for my failures so far? Surly old Lugh, and his two accolades, have
passed from this realm by now. I have heard nothing of them since
that damned Van Helsing destroyed my Elisabeta's incarnation, and her
lover, over a hundred years ago. I'm sure you've heard stories ,Victor, I
believe it was your father with me then."
"No
my Prince, it was my grandsire, but I remember when he spoke of it,"
Victor reminisced sadly "It broke his heart that he wasn't able to
serve you better then, and I swore to him that I would do whatever was
necessary to see that you were reunited with your beloved. I am only
grateful for the years added to my life in your service that has allowed
me to see the return of your Princess. I swear to you my prince that my
family will not fail you now...or ever again."
=====================
The
doctor sat down heavily in one of the chairs near the
three obviously distraught adults.
Ever
since she had interned at Sunnydale Memorial Dr. Cheryl O'Bryan had
known something wasn't right.
During
her pre-med undergraduate days at USC she had heard rumors about the large
numbers of unexplained traumatic deaths in the area. It had been a major factor
in her decision to apply to the medical school at UC Sunnydale.
All
through Medical school it had become obvious to the intelligent young
woman that some very strange things were going on in the picturesque little
town.
Once
she'd entered residency and declared her speciality as a trauma surgeon,
Cheryl had kept a private diary of all the unusual injuries, she had
personally
handled
over the years.
Now
combining the years in residency, as an attending and now as head of
Trauma surgery at SDM she had amassed a huge filing cabinet full of evidence of
the intentional ignorance and denial among the citizens of Sunnydale.
Also
of the conspiracy of silence, and deceit by the cities officials, from the
Mayor's office, all the way down to the police, and firefighters, along with
every other civil servant in government service here.
Even
Cheryl had felt herself falling into the same rut of denial and ignoring the
facts, that she saw every day, then one day about a year ago, a very pretty
young college coed was brought in with severe traumatic injuries.Her case
had brought back all Cheryl's suspicions
The
doctor had spent several hours working on the badly damaged young blonde,
tying off severed veins and arteries, along with reattaching tendons, setting
broken bones, and repairing damaged organs. It had taken some of her finest
work just saving the young woman's life.
When
Cheryl had come out into this very room as a matter of fact and met the young
woman's family, it had been an all too familiar scene, much like
this one.
The
tired surgeon closed her eyes trying to recall that night, she
remembered meeting a very upset, very pretty redhead, and all the
people trying to comfort
and
console worried young woman.
She
also remembered the hope and fierce protectiveness in those
intense green eyes.
For
some reason, Cheryl had almost expected to find that redhead here to greet
her when she came out. The doctor recalled
the reason she remembered that case
over the
hundreds of others, despite all her warnings of a long slow recovery, and
the long incredibly painful therapy the athletic woman was facing before
the blonde would be back to normal.
They
all just gave her a condescending smile, and told her that, now that
they were sure the blonde would live, that her recovery would be
a lot quicker then the doctor anticipated, that the petit woman was going to
leave the hospital under her own power.
The
doctor was sure that the people were being way to optimistic, and they were
headed for a big disappointment, but within a week the blonde
walked out
like
nothing had ever happened.
Now
here she was again, only the redhead and the blonde were gone. Now it was
a striking older woman with dark blonde hair being held by a taller stoic
man
with
compassionate blue eyes behind those wire frame glasses that
were fashionable several years ago, but the one that held her attention,
was the smallish olive skinned man with midnight black hair that hung to
his shoulders framing the patrician featured face and the most intense
dark brown eyes Cheryl had ever seen, waiting for news and on her table, had
been a beautiful brunette, brought in with the nice looking young man that
her chief resident had spent two hours treating.
She
looked up at the two older people looking at her with that distraught
parent look she'd seen so often. Somehow deep inside Cheryl felt certain
that judging from the haunted look in all of their eyes these people held
the key to solving the mystery that was Sunnydale.
"W-what
is the rest?" the woman asked, "What else do we need to know?
Whatever is necessary to take care of them do
it.
Xander..ah...Officer
Harris, is covered through the Police department, and Rupert Giles and, I
are financially responsible for Cordelia Chase. So you just do what
needs
to be done, ok?"
"That's
not the problem Ms. ah..." the doctor began.
"Summers,
Joyce Summers." the woman said, "Call me Joyce."
"Ok...ah...Joyce"
the doctor resumed "as I was saying, Finances are not the problem, the
hospital has already been in contact with the insurance carrier, and Officer
Harris had both himself and Ms. Chase on his coverage. No, it's the true
nature of their injuries, the obvious wounds were serious, and the blood
loss was severe, the two caused some initial concern, but once we began
replacing the blood, and repairing the peripheral damage, it wasn't as serious
as we'd first thought. These wounds, while dangerous, were easily
taken care of. The real danger are the multiple head wounds, we've run
all the tests, including an EEG, several times to be sure of
our results. All indications are that while Ms. Chase is
unconscious still, and will probably remain so for enough time to allow
her body to begin to heal and recuperate, her prognosis is actually quite
encouraging."
"That's
marvelous doctor!" the man said quietly "Giles by the
way, everyone just calls me Giles."
"Thank
you, I suppose I really should follow suit" the surgeon said shaking
the offered hand, "I'm Dr. O'Bryan, Cheryl O'Bryan. I'm Chief of
Trauma Surgery
here
at good old SDM. I do believe we've met before."
"I'm
sure you have met my friends." the dark mysterious man added reaching out
his hand feeling himself strangely compelled to become acquainted with
this tired over worked but incredibly beautiful black haired, green eyed
woman. "My name is Jeffery Fallon, Dr. Jeffery Fallon, I'm an
Oxford Fellow and researcher of exotic diseases and their unconventional
treatments."
The
surgeon looked into those dark knowledgeable eyes and was instantly
intrigued by this enigmatic stranger. There was an aura of honest
sincerity about him that made her determined to know him better, much
better.
She
shook his hand and gave him one of her rare but dazzling smiles. She
was about to engage him further about his research when
she remembered why she was there.
"I'm
sorry, but...um...if I may." Cheryl said a little off balance from
her sudden feelings for the mysterious Dr. Fallon, "I am
very encouraged by Ms. Chase prognosis, but her companion Officer Harris,
however, is not as positive I'm afraid.
"What's
wrong with Xander?" Joyce demanded her concern putting her into all out
aggressive protective maternal mode, these were her "kids" and she
was determined to see to their well being. "What are you doing for
him? I want you to consult with Jeffery...er...Dr. Fallon on this, he has a lot
of experience with unusual health problems."
Before
the surgeon could raise any possible objection she looked into the
concerned motherly eyes and a secret knowledge passed between them.
"Jeffery
is my daughter Buffy's doctor." Joyce said quietly letting her real
message be carried by her gaze into the doctor's intense green eyes.
"I
see," Cheryl said thoughtfully giving the shorter man an appraising
look "the young man in question has slipped into a deep coma. From
the evidence provided
by
all the injuries, he has taken to his skull I'm amazed he was able to walk
as far as he did let alone carry Ms. Chase the distance indicated. He is
truly an amazing individual. Then again I'm becoming aware that
everyone associated with your daughter seem to be amazing individuals.
Some day we will have to have a long discussion about your places in the
scheme of things in our happy little community, but for now if Dr.
Fallon will come, with me, I will get you registered and see to it that
you are given leave to practice at SDM. I'm looking forward to
doing some very interesting work with you, doctor."
"As
do I doctor." the dark man's old fashioned European up bringing showed as
he gave a slight bow to the beautiful woman. A sly smile crossed his face,
when
his dark almost black eyes met the woman's burning green ones.
"Yes
doctor." Jeffery said in his soft middle European accent
"very interesting work indeed."
The
surgeon gave Joyce, and Giles the number of the room where Cordelia would
be taken then asked Jeffery to follow her down the hall to where Xander
lay in a coma. The dark man examined the boy then they went to her office
to compare notes on their mutual patient and to fill out the paperwork
that would give Jeffery full access to the hospital facilities.
=================
During
the next few weeks Cheryl was even able to arrange for Jeffery to have his
own laboratory space for his research, and to work on Xander's case.
There
were many late night discussions and Cheryl was beginning to think she'd gone
back to school, but as she learned more of the facts she began to realize
that
she'd known the truth all along and before too long the Scoobies had a new
member.
Joyce
spent every night sitting next to Cordelia's bed seeing to the young woman's
every need, and trying to sooth her troubled sleep.
Whatever visions
were plaguing her mind were causing the brunette to fight and call out in her
sleep.
"No
I can't" Cordelia cried out in her fevered sleep "It can't be,
that's not possible!"
Joyce
smoothed the young woman's furrowed brow, with a gentle touch.
"Hush
now sweetheart." the motherly woman whispered to the sleeping girl
"I'm here for you dear you're safe with me."
Buffy's
mother hoped that she was right and that whatever was tormenting the young
woman would release her soon.
===============
The
corridor she was in was dimly lit and a strange fog was rising from the floor.
Cordelia was lost, and confused, she had no idea how long she'd been here
or even how she got here but for some reason she knew that she was here for a
purpose.
She
looked down the long dimly lit corridor, a doorway at the far end was brightly
lit and the light spilling out was what illuminated the corridor. In
desperation Cordelia called out hoping for an answer, but for some reason
fearing the answer she might receive. It wasn't much, but it was enough that
the one time prom-Queen could make out the pictures that lined the walls of the
corridor.
When
Cordelia came close enough to clearly see the first picture, she
was amazed to see that it was a scene from her life. As she slowly made
her way down the long, seemingly endless hall, she came to other pictures each
one a tableau from her own life.
From
her childhood, the lonely nights of being ignored by her parents except to be
used as a show piece like some blue ribbon animal trotted out to show people
what
wonderful parents they were. Being raised by a succession of nannies. Time
spent trying to please her parents, to impress them by, cultivating all
the "right" friends, being included in all
the "proper" groups, and clubs, joining only the
"accepted" school activities, but never feeling as if she belonged,
practicing nd perfecting that "better than you" condescending
attitude, that would keep everyone away, so they couldn't hurt her.
They
weren't all bad memories, there were pictures of the times when Cordelia felt
she belonged, the times where she actually had a purpose, times when she was
almost happy, almost content, just short of the life she truly wanted, One such
scene showed her sitting at a library table in the old high school,
she stopped and studied it closely. Taking a moment to recall the deep
warm feeling of being accepted as Cordelia not anything else, she didn't have
to be someone's daughter
or
girlfriend, or the first place snob, deep inside she had always hated being all
those things, but they were what was expected of her, until she was a Scoobie.
She
was sure none of the others had any idea how precious that time was for her.
How when her father had turned out to be a thief and her mother, just another
society drunk, the other so called friends had deserted her, but the Scoobies
were always there for her.
Always
a kind word or even a hi, there was never any pity either, and that endeared
them to her even more. She looked at the picture and smiled at the memories it
invoked. There was Buffy training with Giles and Faith, Buffy checking out
Willow when she thought no one saw, and Willow staring over her computer
monitor at Buffy when she was sure she was hidden Cordelia had always secretly
they were so cute thinking they were so clever, and had kept their feelings for
each other such a deep dark secret, when in reality it was written all over
their faces and everyone already knew,
There
was Xander sitting next to her, his nose deep in some book, and probably
thinking one of those bad jokes, she sighed as she thought of how much he loved
her and wished she was able to return it.
Then
there she was, the great and powerful Cordelia Evangeline Chase, Queen of all
she surveyed, and of course her eyes
were locked on...Faith?
Yes
the picture and her eyes didn't lie, her eyes were glued to the
sweating swaying form of the "dark" Slayer, watching her every
move as the younger girl,
twisted
and lunged in the complex movements of her practice duel with Buffy.
Then
another memory came unbidden to mind, Cordelia began remembering the raging
inferno that was ignited in her belly every time she had watched Faith working
out.
As
if she'd been suffering from selective amnesia, Cordelia began remembering, how
much she had wanted to be taken by the dark Slayer, and how often she had ached
to take Faith in her arms to comfort and hold her, to protect her from all the
horrors that had assailed the troubled young woman.
A
thousand memories flooded her mind, all with reminders of the feelings she'd
kept hidden closest to her heart. The memories of the one all consuming love of
her life, and how she'd let it slip away without her ever even trying to acknowledge
it or even approach the one she loved.
Then
came the guilt again, but not because she had secretly loved Faith, but guilt
because she hadn't done anything to show the Slayer how she truly felt.
Once
again Cordelia wondered how different things might have been if she had just
been brave enough to reach out and take Faith's hand and tell her she wasn't
alone.
It
was like a knife in her chest. She forced herself through the pain and moved on
to other pictures fromthat time.
This
brought back memories of other times with the wild untamable Slayer. She
remembered how not really upset she was when her relationship with Xander
didn't work out, but how fast her life went down hill after that.
In
truth now that she thought about it her life actually began
that slide about the same time that Faith joined forces with the
Mayor.Cordelia was suddenly struck by a life altering, mind numbing,
earth shattering epiphany, was that it?
Was
her life supposed to be tied to that wild demented woman laying in a coma
in the prison ward of SDM? Could that have been her path, her destiny?
Maybe that was the reason her life had been such a mess ever since. Maybe this
attack was a blessing maybe she was supposed to have died instead of trying to
live the lie she was living now. In her mind Cordelia was beginning to believe
that if she was lucky she would die and save everybody from being ruined by her
being still alive after Faith was gone.
With
that in mind the beautiful brunette stepped through the doorway into the
brightly-lit room on the other side. It was a brightly lit
opulently furnished room done in a kind of Arabian Nights harem theme,
lots of colorful wall hangings and bright fabrics on the huge soft pillows
that were thrown haphazardly around the room.
In
truth she was hoping that by entering this room, she would finally be leaving
the world behind, so that never again would someone be able to break her heart
like Kate had.
Cordelia
looked around the room looking for the Angel, or demon that would lead her to
her place in the after life. Then came the sight that took her breath away.
Lounging
on a pile of those pillows was the most incredibly gorgeous, radiantly
beautiful woman, that Cordelia had ever laid eyes on.
"Hello sweety," the woman said brightly, her voice
filled the air, like the sweet ringing of a thousand tiny silver bells,
"I was wondering if you'd ever get here, it's good to finally see you
Cordy!”
The two young lovers lay back in the tub basking in the after glow of their recent encounter, both with very satisfied grins. Willow once again thanked the Goddess that the spell the Druids used to make the water hot, lasted until the tub was drained, but they still hadn't managed to cure the "pruning effect" as Buffy called it.
The two lovers suffered from the syndrome quite often given their affinity for making love in the shower or the tub; whichever one lover could catch the other in.
"Hey, sweetheart," Willow whispered softly into her lover's ear, enjoying the shivers that shot through Buffy's body as the redhead's warm breath washed over the sensitive organ. "I really think it's time we got out of here. We're both getting all...pruney."
"Don't wanna move," the Slayer mumbled more exhausted by their love making than by her early morning 5 mile run. "Water's warm, you feel good, like it right here, no need to get up."
Willow smiled at her lover's hedonistic tendencies, but persisted knowing that Morrigan and Brigit were waiting for them to eat breakfast...well...closer to lunch.
<>Time flies where you're making love to the most beautiful woman in the world<> Willow thought forgetting to block her thoughts.
"Well thank you love," Buffy said as she leaned back and gave her Wills a kiss on the chin. "but I'd have to argue that 'most beautiful in the world' thing, at least as long as you're here too."
Willow blushed bright red when she realized she had just sent that thought out instead of keeping it to herself.
"You know you are really cute in that shade of red," Buffy teased her lover "it really goes well with that gorgeous red hair."
"Thank you, I think." Willow said to the left handed compliment "but if we don't hurry Morrigan's gonna come hunting us and I don't need that much embarrassment again. Besides I'm hungry."
As if on cue Willow's stomach growled loudly protesting the serious lack of food since waking up.
"Oh alright," Buffy said with mock indignation "If you're gonna gang up on me, I guess we'd better get up and feed that monster before it attacks us all."
Buffy stood up, an evil smile crossed her lips when she heard Willow gasp, knowing exactly why and what had caused it.
No matter when her beloved witch saw Buffy's naked body especially wet, it took her breath away.
"You are the most beautiful creature the Goddess ever created," Willow said breathlessly "and you're all mine. I'm the luckiest woman in this or any other Realm because my Slayer loves me."
The Sorceress was unable to take her eyes off her lover's magnificently sculpted muscular body. The tip of Willow's pink tongue kept flicking out to wet her suddenly very dry lips. Seeing the effect that just the sight of her own body was doing to her soulmate sent the Slayer's own arousal soaring to new heights.
"No my love you're only the second most fortunate woman." The blonde said earnestly as she took her wife's hand and helped her to stand.
The Slayer's intense hazel eyes shining with the reflection of the raging fires of her love for this incredibly beautiful, stunning woman whose green eyes were leaving burning trails as they boldly raked up and down devouring Buffy's body with her intensely loving and lustful looks. "I am the luckiest my love because the most wonderful caring and sexiest woman in the universe has agreed to be at my side throughout our lives and for the eternity that follows, always together."
The two women were drawn into each other's embrace, their bodies and souls melding into one.
Dracula was beside himself with frustration, not only had the Slayer and her Sorceress failed to make an appearance at the hospital, but now he could feel the presence of another supernatural entity.
He'd noted when the sudden entrance of the other had sent ripples through the realm's aura, he knew who she was the moment he sensed her presence and while she was definitely his equal in power their kind seldom clashed since their missions hardly ever crossed and since it was obvious to him why the High Princess was there Dracula felt no alarm at her presence.
However the new entity he could feel was a very powerful and highly unpredictable intrusion into his world that he was worried would come to interfere with his plan.
The Goddess had crossed his path before and they had parted without any resolution to their conflict. He knew that she had extreme limits over what she was allowed to wield power over but he also knew if his goals in any way crossed hers' the ensuing power struggle could very well destroy this realm. It was a risk he was willing to take if it gained him his beloved's soul back.
He had not existed over these long millennium without learning a trick or two of his own, and he knew if he could find his Elisabeta and bind her soul to his that no matter what happened to this realm she would be with him wherever he went, and with time and the proper training the two of them would be a formidable force no matter what realm they were in.
It had long been his goal after he and the beautiful and loving young Hunyadi princess had met that she would be his mate through eternity. Only circumstances and superstition had kept them apart but he was determined that this time would be different.
First, however, the ancient being, now known as Dracula would have to find the reason the Goddess of Love was here and how her mission crossed his.
Giles checked in with Joyce to see if there had been any change in Cordelia's condition and was disappointed to find that the young woman was still unconscious and out of their reach.
While he was there letting his fiancé take some time out to get a shower and something decent to eat, he heard something disturbing.
Cordelia had one of her spells of thrashing about and mumbling. When the former watcher went to her side to try to comfort her he was able to make out a name she was saying over and over, and the mere mention of this name sent chills of fear down his spine.
Giles was finally able to calm the young woman down or at least she stopped thrashing about for a while. He then sat back trying to figure out what this person had to do with this naive young woman and how she could reach out even through a coma to vex him once again.
The one thing Giles knew for sure was that it was time for him and Jeffery to have a long talk about another patient that was in this hospital and what they could do to keep her right where she was.
Little did he know that his feelings and plans were known to another and this one had the power to put a stop to any plots the mortal Watcher and his allies could possibly hatch to thwart her mission in this realm.
She could bring his very existence to an end if she so desired and would have to answer to no one for it, and he wouldn't be the first to meet that fate.
===================
The dark haired woman looked in awe at the incredibly beautiful woman that was smiling brightly at her and greeted her like they were old friends.
"W-who are y-you?" Cordelia asked completely confused by the surroundings and circumstances in which she found herself. "Where am I? Why am I...?"
Cordelia's questions were cut off by the black haired beauty holding up her finely sculpted hand.
"Come on now sweety," the woman said with a good natured chuckle, "Even a Goddess can only answer one question at a time, little Cordy. Sooo which is it Who? What? Where? Why?"
The one time society princess stared at this exotically beautiful woman with the sparkling eyes and friendly dazzling smile. None of this made any sense to Cordelia, normally she would have been frightened or at the very least furious at the woman for bringing her here without her consent, but for some reason she found it impossible to be mad at this woman. In fact the ex Prom Queen found it impossible not to like her but she did make Cordelia very nervous.
Mainly because the closer this woman was the more intensely Cordelia felt things. Things she hadn't felt since leaving LA along with the pain and anguish those feelings brought with them. Tears came unbidden to Cordelia's eyes and for the first time the woman's featured were saddened.
The compassionate woman reached an alabaster-skinned hand and gently caressed the weeping young woman's cheek with her long slender soft fingers. Unable to help herself Cordelia responded by leaning into the gentle touch.
"I know sweetheart," the woman cooed softly, her voice filled with empathy for the agony that tortured the young woman's tender spirit. "You were hurt so cruelly and so badly, it just wasn't fair. There was no excuse for her to treat one of such a tender soul in the way she did, and she will regret her actions soon I assure you."
The womans' violet eyes bore deeply into Cordelia's as if searching her soul for a defect.
"Okay honey, time for a little reality check here," the woman said, her voice carrying a deep concern and a touch of disappointment that affected Cordelia for some unknown reason. "Aren't you doing the same thing to poor lovable little Xander?"
Cordelia jerked her head back away from the tender caresses and her pain was replaced by indignant anger as the woman's accusation struck a nerve.
"Don't you dare compare Xander and my relationship and what happened to me in LA." the outraged Cordelia snarled. "I would never play with Xander's emotional and sexual identity then dump him just for the fun of it. Just so I could laugh in his face and humiliate him in front of my friends so I could enjoy the hurt I caused him."
She stopped just long enough to catch her breath and began again before the woman could speak.
"No, I promised him I would marry him," she announced in full Queen C mode "and I will keep my promise. I don't need to love someone to marry them, Hell, it worked for my mother."
The raven haired woman cringed as if burned by the acidic and venomous tone in Cordelia's voice, as she gave voice to the dark rage and pain that had been festering in her soul ever since that last night at Kate's and her apartment.
The cold rejection in the eyes of the woman she believed she loved and that loved her back, and the way her heart and soul shriveled as the mean spirited laughter filled the room laughing at her innocence as it died a slow horrible death.
Suddenly the strange raven haired woman's eyes flashed and without warning the woman was projecting a presence that over powered everyone and everything even an enraged Queen C. For the first time Cordelia got the feeling she might be in trouble.
Cordelia took a step back a step as fear of this powerful entity gripped her mind, the Goddess in her full anger was a terrifying sight to behold.
"Oh yes it worked out so well for your mother. When she denied both her destiny and herself, not to mention me," the woman never raised her voice but the power and forceful nature of this aspect of the Goddess was so clear that even the enraged and sarcastic Cordelia knew to back off. "Just what part of your mother's pitiful and empty life did you admire most Miss Cordelia Evangeline Chase? Tell me, I want to know, was it the stunted emotional growth, the long loveless life, the low self esteem, the cold uncaring husband, the superficial friends that deserted her at the first sign of trouble?"
It was obvious that the Goddess was just warming up and that she knew Cordelia's mother very well.
"Come on Cordelia you're so worldly and all knowing when it comes to love and destiny, tell me?" the raven haired enraged and offended deity continued, "was it the pills, the booze, the long string of totally loveless affairs, the unreasoning fear of sex, the self loathing, or maybe it was when she got to watch the one person in
this life she truly loved, the one person that loved her unconditionally no matter how badly your mother's prejudice based rejection hurt her, shrivel up and die. She watched that person die young and alone knowing that her soulmate refused their love in favor of superficial acceptance of the upper crust of Sunnydale's society, and in doing so, she consigned that loving, caring, person, that truly bright and beautiful soul to an early death. Is that what you want Cordelia? To live the rest of your life consumed with guilt and regret?"
The woman didn't give the frightened and confused young woman a chance to answer. She wanted Cordelia to understand the consequences of the actions she was considering.
"How 'bout it my dear a loveless life of endless regret and the pain of the guilt?" the Goddess asked, her tone becoming stern as her patience were becoming exhausted with the opinion motivated young and foolish woman in front of her. "Because if it is sweety you can move on by yourself, you cannot have my little Alexander Harris, fore he is mine too. That handsome and compassionate young man is destined for his one true soulmate, not you. Even though I must follow certain rules and I can't force someone to accept and embrace their destiny. However I can stop them from interfering in the destiny of another. Your choice sweety. Come back when you have decided."
Cordelia suddenly was back in her pain-wracked body. In her semi-conscious state the one time beauty queen could sense another presence in the room but she was unable to tell who it was. She wondered who it might be but soon forgot that line of thought as the revelations given her by the woman became clear in her mind.
First of all she wanted to know just exactly who that woman was, and what she meant about Xander having a destiny that didn't include her.Her mind reeled at the concept, how could his future not include her.
Cordelia felt another person come into her room, she could hear the second person speaking to the one that had already been there, but she couldn't understand what they were saying.
She felt the second presence come to her bedside and stand there. Suddenly there was a stinging sensation in her right arm then a comforting numbness was spreading through her body.
She remembered worrying about what they were doing to her.
Then..nothing
======================
The young woman fought against the hold on her mind, but even without thought her limbs began stretching and moving rebuilding the ravages that atrophy and time had visited upon her body.
She had spend hours in the temple of the Goddess of Love being shown the truths of her life, and how from the moment of birth forces of the Dark had led her to turn down the wrong path. How once she was firmly on that path she was led further and further away from what was supposed to be.
Now the Goddess promised her another chance, there was a mate to her soul out there and with the help of this destined lover she would be able to find her way back. To make amends for her past transgressions.
The Goddess even promised that eventually the Chosen One and her Great Sorceress would find it in their hearts to forgive and accept her as a friend.
She listened to the slow steady beep of the machines, but it wasn't long before she felt the gentle and welcomed sleep of the Goddess coming over her mind and she soon found herself in the familiar halls of the Goddess.
As before there were the pictures of her life but this time was different, there were pictures of another's life along side hers. This was the Goddess’ promise; the incredibly beautiful woman had told her that the person that was the mate of her soul was reluctant to face what destiny had in store for her. That in reality the being was already attracted to her but was afraid because they too were female.
The Goddess promised to allow their astral forms to meet, and to let her convince her soulmate that she of all people meant her no harm and that they belonged together. The Goddess also told her that she knew the mate of her soul already had deep feelings for the woman but had kept them hidden before.
To say the least she was surprised when she saw that the pictures beside her own were of the quintessential cheerleader/prom queen and upper class snob Cordelia Chase.
The Goddess was suddenly standing in front of her, smiling a greeting that warmed her tired and battered soul.
"Glad you made it back sweety." the deity said brightly "You are really going to have your work cut out for you babe. That girl of yours is truly a hard head, and she has all your narrow minded societies prejudices and phobias pounded into her head so hard and deep she even fights her own body and soul. I can't tell you how to
win her heart but I'll bring the two of you together and you can just wing it. Hey kid, you're nothing if not resourceful, right? Once I have put you both in the astral plane you will be safe there under my protection but everything else is up to the two of you and your powers of persuasion. Remember no matter what happens you can not force her to love you."
"Just get us together and I swear I'll do my best," the young woman said "but what happens if she doesn't want me or she can't make herself trust me? You know they all have every reason to hate me."
"True, you were quite the wild child, sweety," the Goddess agreed, "but you were led astray and I trust that you can make them understand, just be yourself, your TRUE self and they will see the truth of your words in your eyes and the sincerity of your heart in your voice and eventually they will come to understand the true circumstances behind your behavior. First convince the one you already love and that already loves you and the rest will eventually see your true worth and learn to trust you once again."
"I'll try, that's all I can do" the young woman said softly, "I have tried to get them all to like me it's a long time dream of mine, but are you sure she's supposed to be with me? I mean she was always after the football team, not the field hockey team."
The Goddess laughed at the youngsters' remark, filling the air with the sweet sounds of a small stream in spring.
"To be sure she is ready as she'll ever be sweety" the Goddess laughed reassuringly then became very serious. "I want you to be very careful with her young one. She made the mistake of trusting someone that was unworthy of her love and they hurt her very badly. Her wounds are still fresh in her mind raw open and she still bleeds in her heart. She needs you just as badly as you need her, but she doesn't grasp the idea that you are the only one that can truly heal her wounded heart and soul. Be gentle, young one, be very gentle, but be persistent, for she will not survive without you and while you can go on without her your life will be a lonely and hollow existence."
"I'm not sure about this Goddess," the young woman said her insecurities rising, "but I know better than to doubt you. It's just that I was so horrible to them I even tried to kill them and now I learn I almost killed my soulmate. It's funny but when I look back on it, when those plans went wrong it was as if I was trying to fail."
The Goddess placed a comforting arm around the young woman's shoulders and gave her a hug.
“Your heart was guiding you my dear,” the Goddess said softly confirming what the young woman had known all along, that her love for the entire group wouldn't allow her to harm them. “We don't have time to dwell on that now sweety. Your soulmate needs you desperately and you need her. There is a hole in your soul little one, and I can see the pain you hold close to armor your heart. I know that everyone and everything you have ever loved and trusted have either hurt you or left you or both. Give her a chance little one, give both of yourselves a chance, together the two of you will be as magnificent as a star streaking through the heavens.”
It was hard for her to believe what the Goddess was telling her but she trusted this benevolent woman and had been a guest in the Goddess' realm enough to know that she knew what she was talking about and she had the power to back it up.
“It's time to end this discussion my dear” the Goddess said, her voice barely above a whisper, “close those big brown eyes and wait for me.”
She followed the Goddess' orders and felt the soft touch of the woman on her forehead; she felt a second of disorientation then the euphoric bliss that always accompanied the Goddess powers. She knew she'd arrived but she kept her eyes closed fearing what might happen next.
A voice reached her ears that went straight to her heart. It was a voice she hadn't heard in a long time and a single word caused her heart to pound in her chest so hard she was sure it would burst through any second, and all the voice had to say was...
“Faith?”