Title: Yours Always
Author: Jixer
E-mail: jixers@yahoo.com
Feedback: Please. Bouquets and brickbats welcome
Distribution: Any free fanfiction site
Spoilers: Season 5 at most, with a brief scene from Season 6.
Rating: PG-13 to R.
Pairing: W/T
Disclaimer: All characters of BtVS are owned by Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon. All I own are tattered books, the love of a good woman, and a few pots of tomato plants that are actually now putting out tomatoes.
Yours Always
“NOOO!”
Madeleine Maclay looked at the image again. A girl that looked so much like her lay still on the floor, a ragged bloody hole where a young heart should be.
“No,” she whispered this time.
“It was a true casting,” a cultured female voice said smoothly. “That is the fate of the life you carry in you, witch.”
Madeleine felt the slightest movement in her womb. She tried to calm herself and not stress the unborn girl she carried. She clutched the book of shadows started by her grandmother and the Bible both. There was a Star of David as well, made of silver. Madeleine didn’t known why, but it seemed a good idea to bring it also to this glade on the night of the new moon.
“There is a way she can live,” the woman in the business suit said firmly. “Drop those useless things and bind her to me this night.”
Now Tara (after her grandmother) was a bit older and walked on an expensive carpet down a hall full of people in expensive suits like her own. She was speaking into a tiny thing that looked like a phone as she walked briskly along. A discrete bangle of small blood red rubies and gold showed at the base of her elegant throat. Madeleine concentrated and finally heard the end of Tara’s conversation.
“...or I’ll have to slaughter one of the three children you have left, understand? Fine, have it signed in blood on my desk in three business days…”
“Never!” the witch hissed and closed her hands on the three objects in her hands. “She’ll follow what’s right. I won’t let it take her! I bind Tara Maclay to the Light!”
Then Madeleine was alone in the night.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Tara,” she cried.
Madeleine didn’t know how long she cried, but her eyes felt raw when she knew she wasn’t alone. She looked up and saw an old man. She looked again with her inner sight. The old man’s eyes now reflected the night sky above her. She looked into those eyes and felt both peace and disquiet.
“You heard?” she asked timidly.
“I hear most everything,” he said gently. “From all parts, here and yonder.”
“Can you help her?” Madeleine asked with a voice raw from her crying. “I don’t want her to die.”
“Everything passes, sister,” the old man said sadly. “You want me to call her back?”
“No!” Madeleine snapped. “Our blood, our magic will never serve evil. Not even when that happens.”
“Even if it means she dies?” the old man asked softly.
“We serve the Light,” Madeleine said shakily.
“Her heart will be torn,” he said more ominously.
“We serve the Light!” she shouted.
“She’ll be a broken thing, cold and alone!” he said in a voice that made the trees groan as his eyes flashed with power she needed no talent to see. They were the only light in the glade.
“We serve the Light!” Madeleine screamed into the darkness as the child inside her seemed to shudder.
Then the night with all its stars was back. Madeleine marveled at all of the light. The old man leaned forward and touched her belly. Tara quieted down as her mother felt a wave of peace. The old one took the Star of David in his palm and smiled sadly. He traced two interlocking triangles on the silverwork with his finger.
“Three times two,” he said nodding. “It will be by three her days are measured, and they will be full.”
Madeleine looked at him with hope but couldn’t find words to speak the torrent of questions in her mind.
“We accept the binding,” he said with a smile. “Now get yourself home, Ma’am. There’s gonna be a right hard rain tonight.”
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Tara Maclay stumbled along the road back to her home. The light from the three quarter moon helped but the beer and the awful, burning whisky from the roadhouse were taking a toll. The drinks hadn’t helped. The throbbing ache of her mother’s loss still hurt as much as ever. Perhaps it was worse now, because the last dress she had from her mother’s hands now reeked of smoke. Her mother never smoked and couldn’t abide it around her children. She hadn’t wanted them drinking either, Tara remembered vividly.
“I’m sssorry, Momma,” Tara said with a slur as she stumbled again.
Then there were bright lights and the roar of an engine. Tara staggered off the road. There was a screech of tires and she saw a pickup with a dozen lights slam to a stop near her. She’d seen it earlier that night in the parking lot of the roadhouse. The chromed and jacked up behemoth spewed out a trio of men.
“You Goddamn lezzie bitch!” one man bellowed. “I’ll teach you to kiss my girl!”
Tara ran into the Johnson’s woodlot. She heard her pursuers close behind. Ahead there was the tinkle of the shallow creek that wandered through the woodlot. Tara ran that way, her thinking marred by the same booze that seemed to want to leave now. She felt the bank give way and tumbled forward. Suddenly her neck hurt and the night went black.
--------------------------------------------
Clyde Howard slipped as he ran towards the last place he’d seen Donnie’s queer sister. The half dozen beers from the roadhouse both gave him the courage to avenge himself and made it hard to track the girl. He looked down with the flashlight to see where he was going and saw a bare foot. He panned the light up the girl’s body and froze. No one could live with their face in the creek and their head lolling like that in the weak current. He turned her over and saw the vacant stare that looked at things he had no wish to see. He rolled her over and touched her throat like they did on TV.
“Oh God!” Tommy whispered in fright behind him. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything!” Clyde wailed. “I found her like this!”
“Found her after you chased her!” Billy said in a panic. “Is she really dead?”
With that he leaned down like they taught you in CPR class and touched her neck looking for the carotid artery. The protrusion of bone, the slack eyes in the glare of the flashlights and the lack of breathing made him wet his pants.
“She’s dead!” he said clamboring back out of the creek.
The three turned away and looked at each other, none of them ready to speak. There was a cough behind them and Tara sat up and rubbed her neck. The three screamed as one and ran through the dark for the truck. Clyde threw open the door and made the truck roar to life as Tommy and Billy fought for the single door on the passenger side. Billy won and Tommy leapt into the truck’s bed just as Clyde through it into gear and pressed on the gas.
-----------------------------------------------
Tara woke up and rubbed her neck. She was cold, muddy and dirty. Her head hurt and now she knew she had just seconds to get upright and bend over. Her head screamed as she threw up violently. She started to cry as she picked her way through the dark woodlot. She’d ruined the dress her mother had taken so much care with. She really was a bad person.
She walked back to her house as the sirens started to wail in the distance.
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Nothing was right. She couldn’t do anything that was right because she was dirty and nothing had been checked. She never did…a small furry black and white face swam past her memory. That was a good thing. Cats were good. She smiled broadly.
“They kill mice,” she said proudly.
Then there was more mud and the wet cold from the woodlot that she should never have been in. She tried to explain to her mother about the dress. Then someone was taking her away from the only thing that felt right.
“Don’t!” she cried out. “Please don’t with that treachery!”
She was sitting now. She was in the school and all the kids were pointing at her. She felt something on her lap and looked down at the black and white kitten. She tried to explain how she was dirty. Then there were no more children and her mother looked down at her.
“I told the cat,” Willow heard her say. “And now I beg my mother sitting all alone.”
Then Tara was being taken away from the only good thing she could feel. She reached back for it even if she didn’t deserve…Willow.
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“I…owe…you…pain,” Willow snarled at her.
Suddenly lightning leapt from the slim redhead’s hand. There was a brief feeling of sharp, burning pain in her shoulders. This was wrong. Tara could see Willow, and yet she knew she wasn’t here. She was trapped, along with dozens of others.
Tara was aware that words were being spoken. Dimly she knew glass was shattering near her. Tara ignored that and found herself miles away. She reached out and felt herself shift. She could escape.
“Now this is weak,” Glory said petulantly. She reached for Willow and lifted her into a sitting position with a mad smile.
Tara could feel the anger and gloating pride swell up. She looked back from herself into the mad dungeon where the others pleaded and saw Willow, bleeding, in the hell god’s grasp.
“No!” she called out in the hospital bed.
Tara reached beside her and pulled out a writhing man in agony as she watched helplessly. She tried to find something to help Willow as she took another wretch and tossed him free of the filthy confines and to a clean hospital bed.
“And so are yooooouuuarrrgg!!” Glory said as a smirk became a screaming rictus of agony.
“Will!” Buffy called out as she leapt through the wrecked doorway.
“Witch! Leave them alone!” Glory pleaded as she clutched her head and swayed. “I need them!”
“Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it,” Buffy said grimly.
“But I’m not, I mean, really not,” Willow tried to explain.
“The witch has hurt Glorificus!” a minion called out. “Seize her!”
A trio of scabby forms in ragged cloaks leapt towards Willow. Buffy kicked one out of the way and threw another into his partner in grime.
“Not that witch, you idiots!” Glory shouted as she stood up with sweat pouring from her face. “The. One. In. My…HEAD!!”
“Tara,” Willow whispered.
“Go Tara!” Buffy said in a cheerleader’s voice.
Tara could feel the currents of power around her. Somehow freeing the captives was weakening Glory. Willow would be safe if she got all of them out, she hoped. It was filthy in here, but she kept at it, pulling people out now that were at home, with worried families around them. She heard a distant call and looked out the cracked windows of the dungeon to see Buffy holding a swaying Willow.
“Get her out of h-h-here!” Tara called out.
“Get her out of h-h-here!” Buffy heard Glory say. Then the hell god’s eyes opened and they were filled with a mad rage.
“I’ll kill your girlfriend!” she screamed as she leapt. The leap ended suddenly as Glory fell to the floor and convulsed with a god’s power and speed. A minion that leapt to help was torn to bits in a spray of blood and bile. The rest of the minions looked on in horror.
Buffy was about to pick up Willow and run when the figure on the floor changed. The sweat-streaked form of Ben lay there in the ruins of Glory’s dress. The left side of his face drooped as he met her eyes.
“Urrun,” he croaked. “Sssorryy.”
“Ben is Glory,” Willow said shaking her head.
“But how?” Buffy asked horrified.
There were only a few forms left in here. One was crying about her children. Tara guided her out. The others were hard to see. She called on the Light and a tiny blue flower of light showed shadows caught in heavy chains.
On the floor of the penthouse Ben slipped into Glory’s form again. She arched off the floor and let out a scream that drove Buffy to her knees. Then the hell god slumped for a moment. The minions picked themselves up as well.
“Find the witch who poisoned the Beauteous One!” called out one minion. “Kill her!”
“No one gets left behind,” Tara said with steel in her voice. She reached out for the last forms. She entwined her hands in the shadows and called them to follow her. They did, and as they did she felt them drift away. A man paused and asked her to look in on his daughters. Then they were gone and Tara felt the coldness of death in their passing. She fell into herself in the hospital bed and started to cry.
Glory started to convulse again, more strongly that before. The floorboards broke and then the floor itself gave way. Her movements became more erratic and she smashed into walls. The roof groaned as Buffy pulled Willow out and toward the stairs as tenants screamed about an earthquake. The small minions were at the wrecked door when Willow stiffened in Buffy’s arms.
“Thicken!” the witch commanded.
Then Willow slumped in Buffy’s arms. The Slayer raced down the stairs with her precious load. She kicked open the door of the complex and ran outside with her friend. Willow shuddered as Buffy laid her on the grass of the nearby park.
“We’re safe,” Buffy assured her.
Behind them there was another scream. This was the hunting cry of a mad animal. Buffy looked at the building and the broken ruin its top floor. She saw Glory, naked and smeared with dust and the blood of her follower leap into the air a dozen feet above the crumbling top floor. She was a predator in perfect form as she started. Then Glory screamed in terror as she became Ben. Ben’s form was completely limp. The burst blood vessels in his brain had made him a prisoner in a body dying around him. Unable to move he landed head first on the pavement. Buffy cradled Willow so she couldn’t see the impact.
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“We’re doomed!” Jorx said with a quiver in his voice. “They will come and they will look for us!”
“Hold your tongue!” Flanx snapped. “Or someone will do it for you. We will go to the Wise One.
“Then we’ll kill the witch?” Janx asked angrily.
“It won’t stop there,” Flanx promised.
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“I’ve got to get to Tara,” Willow said as she staggered to her feet.
“She’s at the hospital,” Buffy said looking at the blood streak on Willow’s face. “Let’s go.”
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“Oh my God!” Dawn shouted as she dropped her cards.
“What?” Spike said looking behind him and grabbing for an axe.
“Ben is Glory!” Dawn said in frightened voice. “I just remembered! I saw him change at the hospital!”
“Where the witches sent the skanky god on a one way trip?” Spike asked.
“Yes!”
“Shit! Grab your coat, platelet.”
They hurried out of the crypt and out into the night. A vampire loomed up. Spike didn’t break stride as he tossed a stake through his fellow demon’s heart. Another vampire waved quickly.
“This is a bad time, I can see that,” he said as he turned and then ran away.
“We should go to the hospital,” Dawn said as they came to the gates of the cemetery. “He might hurt Tara.”
“Wrong,” Spike snapped. “She’s got nurses watching over her. We go to the bitch’s lair.”
“Spike, Buffy went after Willow,” Dawn said urgently. “They’ll be fine. Better than you if you drag me over even close to Glory’s place, which is this way, I guess, and Buffy finds out.”
Spike stopped suddenly and looked at Dawn. “Good point,” he said. Then he grabbed the shoulder of Dawn’s coat and hurried her towards the hospital.
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“Hello?” Giles coughed as he picked up the phone.
“Giles, what’s the matter?” Buffy asked worriedly.
“Bloody microwave burned the popcorn bag,” Giles groused.
“No amulets caught fire or anything?” Buffy asked.
“No, why?” Giles asked carefully.
“Ben was Glory, and Ben’s dead,” Buffy said in a rush.
“How?” Giles asked. “When?”
“Just about five minutes ago,” Buffy explained. “I don’t know how Tara did it, but she did something.”
“Have you called the hospital?” Giles asked suddenly afraid. “If anything’s happened to Tara Willow will…well-”
“I know,” Buffy sighed. “We can’t get through. All their lines are busy. Can you pick us up? We’re at the Starbuck’s but not even a venti mocha is going to make Will steady right now.”
“Damn it!” he snapped. “She went after Glory! I should have seen that coming.”
“Me too,” Buffy sighed. “My sister and Spike had to tell me what I should have seen.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” Giles promised.
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Doc opened the door with a sword in his hand. He looked at the bedraggled remnants of Glory’s followers as half a dozen robed figures hurried inside.
“What happened?” he demanded. “The candle of Veltrune burst into flame and burned into nothing, which was some trick since it was in my fish tank. I’ve got six boiled tetras now.”
“The Most Beautiful One, she who is Wondrous Madness-” Flanx said weeping.
“Glorificus is…?” Doc whispered.
“Her vessel’s brains are shattered upon the streets of this horrid little town,” Jorx wailed. “Wise One, what do we do?”
“The impossible has happened,” Doc said suddenly exhausted. “The Two shall come, to destroy the Key so it can never be used again.
“What of us?” a small demon asked.
“They will destroy all who followed her Magnificence, Slook,” Doc said with a frown. “All who sided with the rebellious god will be hunted down. What forces do we have?”
“These and a few more demons,” Flanx said angrily. “My own brother ran off to save his warty hide.”
“It won’t do them any good,” Doc snapped. “The Two will simply destroy this world to make sure their power is safe. But we will balance the books before then.”
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“Dawn, what are you doing here?” Buffy demanded as they climbed out of Giles’ car.
“It’s important, Slayer,” Spike said quickly.
“Willow!” Dawn said as she wrapped the witch in a hug. “Oh my God! You’re hurt!”
“That happens when you go after something too dangerous for you,” Buffy said in a lecturing tone.
“Right, logic girl,” Willow said with a snort. “Ow. I think my hair hurts. Have you seen Tara?”
“They won’t let us back there,” Dawn scowled. “I’m a minor and Spike’s not on the visitor list. But there’s been a lot of people taking patients home. I heard one of the doctors say they needed the beds for some borderline out-patients.”
“I’ve got to get back there,” Willow said and started off with a bit of a weave to her walk.
“We’ll get you back there,” Buffy said taking her friend’s arm. “Won’t we Giles?”
“Quite,” Giles said taking the other arm.
“You might want to wipe off the blood,” Spike said quietly.
“I’m sorry, Spike, that was rude of me,” Willow said as she daubed at her face.
“It’s all right, red,” Spike shrugged. “Go check on your bird. And where do you think you’re going?” Spike asked as he took Dawn’s collar.
“Nowhere now,” Dawn glowered. “Thanks to you.”
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Tara knew Willow was near. She looked to the door with anticipation until the other half of her soul walked in. Tara’s eyes grew wide as saw how tired and unstable Willow still was.
“Tara,” Willow breathed. It was a name and a prayer of thanks all in one as she saw the clear blue eyes recognize her.
“Willow, she hurt you,” Tara said tracing the faint red marks still on Willow’s collar.
“No, it’s nothing,” Willow assured her. “She’ll never hurt anyone again. You saw to that.”
“She’s gone?” Tara asked hopefully. “She’s out of danger? You’re okay?”
“Yes, yes and yes,” Willow said smiling through sudden tears.
“Can I go home?” Tara asked in a small voice.
“Buffy wants us to stay at her place for a couple of days,” Willow said quickly. “Is that okay?”
“Will you be there?” Tara asked hopefully.
“Always,” Willow promised.
“Then it’s home,” Tara said smiling through her own tears.
--------------------------------------------
“I really can’t say this is a good idea,” the intern said worriedly. “Of all the patients Miss Maclay actually has injuries.”
“You need the bed space,” Giles said firmly. “We will keep a very close eye on her.”
“Are you family?” the doctor asked.
“Yes,” Buffy said truthfully.
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Willow looked at Tara carefully. The dressing on her hand seemed to be clean and dry. There was a small glass of water, cold but not too cold, by her side on the end table next to the chair. Willow looked at Dawn who nodded. The teen stood up and fluffed the pillow behind Tara’s head in the chair as Willow straightened her blanket.
“Umm, guys?” Tara said tiredly.
“Give her a bit of space,” Anya said rolling her eyes. “It’s been all of three minutes since you bothered her last time.”
“They said keep a close eye on her,” Willow snapped.
“Honey, Dawn, I’m fine,” Tara said soothingly.
“Okay, for those of us who came in on the short bus, Glory is Ben when she’s not being all bitch-goddess, Ben is dead, and the scary scabby hobbits have all run off?” Xander asked rubbing his head.
“That would be the outline, yes,” Giles said evenly.
“And we don’t know how Tara did it?” Xander asked. “But she did do it, right?”
“That’s the plot of the movie so far,” Buffy replied. “I’d just like to know how she did it just in case there are more crazy gods out there.”
“Maybe she’s an angel,” Dawn gushed.
“She sings nicely, and she’s good, but she’s not one of those prissy, androgynous, sexless, Birkenstock wearing, holier than thou-” Anya said with growing heat. “Sorry. I’ve got angel issues.”
“We’ll take that as a given, and move on,” Giles said quickly.
“Sexless?” Willow asked with a slight grin.
“Oh very-okay, yes,” Anya replied quickly.
“Not an angel,” Willow said with a small smile.
“As I said, moving on,” Giles said sternly. “I’d like to get some information before we proceed. I think we should consider Glory out of commission for a while, but until we’re sure I want everyone to be careful.”
“Dawn doesn’t go anywhere without an escort,” Buffy said firmly. “Will, can you do a spell on her for protection?”
“I’m kind of tapped out,” Willow said with a hint of embarrassment.
“I could layer a spell,” Tara said hesitantly.
“You need to conserve your strength,” Willow said quickly. “Besides, Giles knows some spells to help heal your hand.”
Buffy saw Dawn go pale as she looked at the wrapped hand in Tara’s lap.
“It’s not your fault,” she said to her sister quietly.
“It doesn’t hurt love,” Tara said gently. “Really. And I can do this spell so you can add to it when you’re stronger.”
“All right, but I’m taking you to bed after this,” Willow said firmly. “Questions can wait.”
“Doesn’t she need sleep?” Anya asked in a worried tone.
“She’ll get sleep!” Willow replied forcefully. Then she saw Anya wink at Tara.
“Right!” Xander said uncomfortably. “How about research first thing in the morning.”
“You have to be at the Havelock project tomorrow,” Anya said crossly.
“I’ll help!” Dawn piped.
“No you won’t,” Buffy said just as quickly.
“I’ll be there,” Tara said. “I can’t go back to class on these medications anyway.”
“I’ll bring you notes,” Willow said quickly. “I’ll get them when I pick mine up.”
“You have class, honey,” Tara said touching Willow’s hand.
“Something more important has come up,” Willow said firmly. “Consider my foot down.”
“Very well, I’ll meet you in the morning,” Giles said standing. What do you need for Dawn’s spell?”
“This one’s simple,” Tara said leaning forward. “I’ll need something silver.”
“I’d let you have my earrings but my silver pair is missing,” Anya said.
Tara was looking at Dawn at that moment and wondered why the girl’s eyes widened and looked towards Anya in a furtive way.
“Here,” Willow said taking off a ring. “Buffy gave it to me.”
“Really? Tara said with a theatrical archness.
“Three years ago,” Buffy said quickly. “And remember, Willow has frog issues.”
Tara smiled and placed the ring on Dawn’s finger. She felt her own power stir. The ring seemed ready for a spell. Tara touched it, but it was only the nature of the object.
“Distract, delay, dazzle,” Tara intoned.
“All guardians of maidens fair,
keep she who bears this
from evil’s snare.”
Dawn felt the ring turn cool for a moment. She looked at it carefully.
“Will this keep me out of detention?” Dawn asked excitedly.
“No,” Tara said shaking her head and holding back a giggle.
“Doesn’t protect you from big sisters either,” Buffy said. “Time for bed.”
Dawn was about to protest the cruel oppression of little sisters when a very large yawn pounced with no warning. She just nodded and went upstairs.
“Very well casted,” Giles said with real admiration.
“Thank you,” Tara said with a blush.
“Now you two need to get some sleep,” The Watcher added.
“Come on love,” Willow said helping Tara to her feet.
“Take care of yourself,” Anya said suddenly as she hugged Tara hard. “You have my number, right?”
“Speed dial and address book both,” Tara assured her.
“You going to be okay here tonight?” Xander asked looking at both of the tired young women.
“We’ll be okay, Xan,” Willow said with a smile.
Buffy saw them out and then turned back to Willow and Tara. She seemed to be wrestling with something. Finally she hugged Tara carefully.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “For Dawn and everything.”
“It’s w-what families do,” Tara said hoping it was the right thing. Buffy’s smile seemed to mean she’d said the right words.
“If you guys don’t mind you can use Mom’s room,” Buffy said softly. “I haven’t been in there too much and…”
“It’ll be fine,” Tara said touching Buffy’s shoulder.
“As long as there’s a place to sleep,” Willow said gently.
The three of them went upstairs. Buffy hurried to her room before Willow and Tara opened what had been Joyce’s room. Tara looked around the room as Willow turned on the light. It was a touch dusty and there was a small rumpled section on the blanket.
“About Buffy sized,” Willow said sadly. “Oh, wait, I need to do the dressing.”
“It doesn’t hurt,” Tara said softly. And it s-seems clean.”
“I have to do this by the rules or the girl friend police will come and take you away,” Willow explained.
“I’d go on the lam with you,” Tara giggled as Willow unwrapped her hand.
Tara looked at Willow as she stopped and stared at her hand. Tara lifted it into the light, fearing the worst. Instead she saw nothing but healthy skin. She flexed her fingers.
“Don’t!” Willow exclaimed. “The bones…are just fine, aren’t they?”
“Yes,” Tara said swallowing nervously. “How…”
“I don’t know,” Willow said kissing her hand gently. “Right now I’d accept that you’re an angel.”
“I wouldn’t,” Tara smiled shyly.
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In a dimension where the sky itself shrieked in pain two beings divested themselves of their armor in a ritual of greeting as formal as a tea ceremony. On the plains below them well-regimented figures followed a precise pattern of torments in the most efficient manner possible. Demons in uniforms with rank and specialty badges guided their assigned souls with the same exact number of strokes from the whips of fire as the souls’ brand indicated. Both hell gods enjoyed a brief moment of pride and then got down to business.
“The chaotic one is dead,” Ordino said evenly.
“How?” Accuratio asked politely.
“Her shell was destroyed,” Ordino replied.
“Is that all we know?” Accuratio inquired.
“More information will be gathered,” Ordino answered.
“And the Key was not used?” Accuratio asked carefully.
“It still exists,” Ordino said with a frown. “It and her followers must be destroyed. Order must be maintained.”
“At all costs,” his fellow hell god agreed.
To Be Continued, if you want.
Edited by: maudmac
at: 10/2/03 9:19 pm
worthy
