First fic: Isla del Encanto (AU)

[TareBearRS]

I wonder what is wrong with Tara, is she suddenly hyper sensitive of her surroundings?



Whatever it is i hope they find out soon so they can cure it if necessary.



Renate

[onyxsundrops]

Hey,

Okay, so I know you're wondering about Tara, as far as the hypersensitivity and so on...and the answer is (soon) . I know...I should start giving more hints, but they wouldn't be very subtle and I'd probably give away the entire thing. And where's the fun in that?



I just got back into town and I have at least half of the update finished. If I don't finish by tonight, I'll definitely update tomorrow morning(tues).

Yvonne

[tstcloud]

Is Tara the new slayer?

[bluewillowwitch]

That was so cool! I can't wait to see why smell is so strong or what is going to do about it. I Love this fic.





bluewillowwitch

--------------------------------------------

"Fate keeps on happening."--Anita Loos

[onyxsundrops]

Note: I don’t know why, but I’m not too happy with this update...so I guess you can say it’s filler, though some parts are important.

****



“It could’ve been something you ate,” Willow said, after hearing Tara’s description of what she experienced.



“I don’t think you can get ESP from eating a tuna salad,” Tara countered.



“It’s not ESP...that’s when-,” Willow stopped explaining when she saw the look on Tara’s face. It was clear that the blonde wasn’t happy. “Okay, um, maybe...maybe it’s just a temporary thing. What do you smell now?”



“Nothing new,” Tara spoke without a trace of stutter. Hoping that whatever had happened, was just temporary, like Willow had said.



“Oh!” Willow finished the last button on her jeans, “Let’s try an experiment.” Without another word, she walked to her bathroom. Pulling a bag from under the sink as she searched through the open cabinet, she nearly dropped the object in her hand when Tara’s voice echoed into the small room.



“Willow, why do you have garlic in your bathroom?”



The redhead peeked from the door, “You know...vampires...garlic,” she smiled sheepishly, “B-but that’s not the point. The point is, you knew what it was before I even opened the bag.” She thought for a moment, “It’s a strong smell...you could be sensitive to strong smells,” she finished with an unsure shrug.



Tara sighed loudly before dropping her head in her hands. “I don’t like this,” she muttered.



“Well, maybe it’s not such a bad thing,” the redhead tried to reassure her girlfriend.



“Yeah,” Tara snorted, “being able to smell someone’s bad breath from ten feet away, is a good thing.” Willow covered her mouth, slightly offended. “Not you, sweetie,” the blonde sighed in frustration, “I just don’t u-understand why this is happening to me,” she slumped as tears threatened to break free. Willow reached forward and pulled her lover into her arms.



“We should talk to the others or Giles...he might know something.” Tara nodded against the crook of Willow’s neck. “Willow?” Tara’s breath tickled the redhead’s skin. “Yeah?” Willow’s lips connected with blonde strands. “Can we shower first?” Tara giggled softly, trying to relieve some of the tension.



****



As she knocked on the door, Willow once again checked the address that was scribbled across the piece of paper. “Are you sure this is it?” She asked, turning to Tara. As the blonde nodded, she moved to knock again when the door swung open.



“Faith?”



“Hey,” Faith opened the door wider, motioning for the girls to come in. The brunette briefly stared at Tara, before turning back to Willow.



“What are you doing here?”



“Oh...I got evicted, so I’m crashing with Buffy for a while or at least until her mom comes back,” Faith shrugged as she flopped down in her chair.



“W-where is Buffy?” Tara joined Willow on the couch.



“She’s calling the others, she thought that everyone should be here. Did you already talk to Giles?”



“Yeah,” Willow automatically reached for her lover’s hand. “I gave him Buffy’s address and he said he’d come by during his break.”



Faith stared at Tara again, making the blonde shift in her seat. “Okay, I gotta ask.” She continued staring, “Buffy didn’t tell me everything...just that you had a problem. So what’s up?” She asked, waving her hand over her face.



Tara looked to Willow, hoping that the redhead would explain. “Tara can smell,” her answer was weak.



“Can’t we all?” Faith looked at the girls that sat across from her.



“I mean strong scents, she can smell things that are really...smelly,” the redhead sighed in defeat, “it’s hard to explain. We don’t even know what’s happening.”



The answer seemed to satisfy Faith, at least for now. “So...a clothespin? Doesn’t that hurt?” She asked, pointing to Tara’s nose.



The blonde ducked her head self-consciously, “We taped cotton to the end, so it wouldn’t hurt as much,” Willow noticed Tara’s discomfort and wrapped her arm around her waist. The girls sat in silence, lost in their own worlds until someone knocked on the door.



“That should be Xander,” Buffy walked into the room with a tray full of drinks. Faith let Xander and Anya in, but when she moved to close the door, a foot wedged between the crack. Pulling the door back open, she sighed realizing who it was.



“Aren’t you going to invite us in?” Spike smirked. Faith pulled the door open wider, letting both the men enter. At first, Giles felt a little uncomfortable visiting a student’s home, but knew that the location would provide more privacy.



“Swanky place you got here.” Running his hands over the pictures atop the fireplace, Spike physically admired the decorations before finding a seat.



“Uh, thanks,” Buffy noticed that he had taken the last seat, and she walked off to the dining room for more chairs. Once they were all settled, Giles was the first to break the ice.



“So what seems to be the problem?” He asked, getting straight to the point. Sensing Tara’s nervousness, Willow explained the situation, as best she could.



“Well, that is rather odd. And this has never happened before?” He directed the question to the quiet blonde.



“N-no,” Tara said as her eyes lit up, “do you k-know what it is?”



“No, I don’t...but I have several books in my office, which might explain a little about what’s happening to you.” Checking his watch, Giles went on, “I better go,” he gathered his belongings, turning back as he stood at the door, “I’ll call if I find anything of importance.” After exchanging good-byes with the rest of the group, Giles left.



“Shouldn’t you be going with Daddy?” Faith smirked at Spike. The young man swallowed his remark, and followed his father to their car. Closing the door with a satisfied grin, Faith joined the others, “So what do we do?”



“I don’t think there’s anything we can do,” Buffy looked sympathetically at Tara, “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if Giles can find a cure or something.”



“Can you smell me? Oh, wait!” Anya jumped from her chair and ran to the back of the room, “okay, now.”



“Anya...,” Xander warned.



“No, I paid a lot of money for this perfume and I want to know if it’s working,” the blonde turned back to Tara, “Well.”



“Anya, this isn’t a sideshow,” Willow shouted, “how would you feel if it happened to you?” Willow thought she’d made her point when Anya stopped to think, “Actually, it could be kinda fun.”



“Fun?” Willow’s temper was building, “How is this fun?” She asked while pointing back at Tara. “C’mon Anya, how’s it fun?” She rose and walked toward Anya, challenging her theory. As the argument grew, Tara sunk further into the couch, willing herself to disappear. She saw that no one was going to stop the two bickering girls, so she found her own approach. Her departure went unnoticed by the group, as Tara made her way back to campus.



****



“It’s already starting,” the woman confirmed. She moved to stand by the throne, but scurried onto the floor when her master glared at her.



“Good,” he made no attempt to hide his smile. After all, he’d been waiting more than a year for this day.



“When the moon is full, the transition will be complete,” the woman frowned, “Unless she-.”



“She won’t,” the man barked, his features briefly shifted into its demonic form, but quickly returned to normal. “Soon, she’ll stop fighting it...and embrace it! They always do,” he pointedly looked at his assistant.



A year ago, she had been having the same symptoms and finally, just like all women, she gave into him. He smiled as he remembered the day. It wasn’t that hard, in fact, it was too easy. He had learned enough from his mother and her dabbling, and when he came across the spell, he figured he'd get back at everyone who’s ever hurt him. By turning them into the exact same thing he was, he would get his revenge. First it was his father, who in his old age, couldn’t handle the transition and perished. Then friends and now...family. He cursed the fact that his mother had died before he had been turned, but reveled in the thought of knowing that he still had his sister.

[Stroke of Luck]

Okay I am still curious but I want to know what happens next



And Donny what makes Donny here



More soon please



Cu

SoL/Natti



There are two kinds of tears, tears for those who leave you, and tears for those you never let go - Gabrielle/The Quest

[bluewillowwitch]

,

Ok first off, I loved the update! Secondly, I want more. . You can't just leave a girl here. What is turning into? Will and the others be able to stop it? I need details. I can't wait for the next update. PLEASE, SOON!!!!





bluewillowwitch

---------------------------------------

"Fate keeps on happening."--Anita Loos

[barnabasvamp]

If this was just filler, I'll be most interested to see the next update!

BV

"When choosing between two evils, I always like to take the one I've never tried before"-Mae West

[onyxsundrops]

Update

Note: I honestly didn’t think part seven had a cliffhanger, so I didn’t warn you...but this part does. God, I’m such a tease.

****



“Oh, well bring on the pity party...poor Anya hasn’t had sex in two hours,” Willow yelled sarcastically. The argument had evolved from Tara’s unfortunate situation, to Anya complaining about how much time is taken out of her day to spend with the others...valuable time, which could be used between her and Xander.



“Don’t get mad at me because you aren’t getting any,” Anya shot back. Buffy, Faith and Xander just sat back and listened to the heated words, with mixed feelings. Buffy prayed that neither girl would take their squabbling to the next level and throw a punch, while Faith thought it was becoming more comical than dangerous. Xander, however, cursed himself, knowing he’d have to hear the continuation of Anya’s rant, on the way back to his place.



“Oh, I get plenty! Right...,” Willow turned back, staring at the empty couch, “Tara?” She looked around the room, then saw that the front door was ajar and glared back at Anya, “Where is she?”



“How am I supposed to know?”



“You said something...you upset her!” Willow accused.



“Me?”



“Guys?” Buffy tried to interrupt, but was ignored. “Yeah, you! You were making fun of her, that’s why she left,” Willow continued to throw out her accusations.



“What!” Anya stared at the redhead, incredulously. Her mind reeled, it wasn’t her fault Tara had left, but that didn’t stop Willow from accusing her. Her jaw set as her disbelief gave way to more anger. “You-.”



“Shut up!” Buffy yelled from the top of her lungs, cutting off Willow’s words. When the room fell silent, besides some low grumbling from both girls, Buffy went on, “Willow, where do you think Tara ran off to?”



“She could’ve gone back to her dorm, or for a walk...I don’t know,” the redhead sighed in frustration. If only she hadn’t gotten into it with Anya, Tara never would’ve left...or she would’ve at least noticed her absence before now.



“Go back to her room, I’m sure that’s the first place she’ll go,” Buffy glared at Anya when the girl started to speak, “she probably got tried of you two constantly bickering. Hell, if this wasn’t my house, I would’ve left too.” She looked around the room, “Tara’s your friend...your girlfriend, and she needs our help. And if you two would just stop acting like bratty children, we might be able to do just that!” Anya and Willow looked down in shame, “Now...go home,” when it appeared that Buffy’s outburst had subsided, they all scurried toward the door, “Faith.” “Oh, right,” the brunette nodded and sat back down.



****



“I’m hungry,” the whine echoed through the warehouse. Beth began to sift through the pile of corpses, and half-dead humans. The ones who hadn’t been completely drained were still edible, but Beth preferred warm blood to cold.



“If you’re hungry, go get something to eat,” Donny spoke through gritted teeth. His cousin’s whining was making his head pound with the sudden urge to stake her. But he needed her, at least until Tara came around to his way of thinking.



“The sun’s out,” she looked at her cousin, as if he were insane...which in his case, was probably true. “Then close your mouth, before I do it for you!” The other vampires in the warehouse, shifted from side to side, feeling the same hunger pains but unwilling to voice their needs.



“What do we do...about Tara?” Beth changed the subject. Frowning as she picked up one of the partially dead humans, she grimaced in disgust before sucking vigorously on the open vein.



“We wait!” An evil smile crossed Donny’s face, “Sooner or later, she’ll think she’s crazy...start losing her mind. You remember the feeling,” he watched Beth continue to suck, tearing through the flesh, “Every phase is strong at first. Powerful senses. Vision. Sound. Smell. But gradually, the intensity dies down, especially as the transition progresses.” Beth let the body fall, then moved to sit before the throne. The other vampires saw their chance, and scrambled toward the pile.



“Hopefully, she won’t take matters into her own hands, like your pathetic mother,” Donny went on with a hint of bitterness, “but no, Tara wouldn’t kill herself. She’s too good for that...always has been.” He shook his head of childhood jealousy and grinned in satisfaction, “But either way, I still win.” Beth looked up at him in awe, and he loved the power he held over her. There was only one way his dear old sister, or anyone for that matter, could defeat him, and that wouldn’t happen in a million years. “So,” he once again admired his authority, when the other vampires stopped to listen, “right now...we wait, and tonight...we hunt.”



****



Fed up with the stares, Tara removed the clothespin from her nose as she walked back to campus. She had expected every stench within twenty feet of her, to rush in once she inhaled but nothing happened. The blonde could still smell things that were at least a few feet away, but the potency wasn’t as strong as before. Smiling, and adding a little skip for emphasis, Tara continued walking home. She considered going back to Buffy’s house to explain the new development, but thought against it. Besides, things were a little heated between Willow and Anya when she left, and she didn’t want to walk back into the middle of it. She had rarely seen Willow get angry, but in the few times that she had, it had taken several hours to calm her girlfriend down.



Tara inwardly shuddered as she entered the campus. Seeing Willow lose her temper, reminded her of her life back home. Her father wasn’t the kindest man, at least not to her, and her brother was worse in comparison. After her mother died, her brother had run away and her father sunk lower into the bottle. Sent away to live with her aunt until she was eighteen, Tara learned to fend for herself. She had never been a wild child, instead she chose to stay quiet and reserved, like her mother. Tara smiled sadly as she made her way up the stairs to her room.



When her aunt died a year later, her cousin Beth had disappeared soon after. The estate was sold because of her father’s debts, so needless to say, Tara was relieved when she was offered a full scholarship to Hudson. Willow rarely asked her about her family and she was grateful for it, but the times when she had, Tara filled her in a little, but always made sure to leave gaps in the story. She feared that Willow would love her less, and stay with her because of pity. When she reached her door, Tara cleared her mind of the negative thoughts before entering.



****



Red tresses bobbed as Willow sprinted across campus, dodging trees and students, she finally made it to Tara’s dorm. She stopped for a second, to catch her breath, before running up the stairs. The hall was bursting with sound, when Willow knocked on Tara’s door for the second time. But once again, there was no answer. Twisting the handle, Willow pushed the door open and stepped into the darkened room.



She frowned, wondering why Tara had the blinds closed but suddenly didn’t care anymore, when she saw the blonde sitting on the floor in front of her bed.



“I’m sorry, Tara,” Willow stepped closer and noticed that she was crying, “I didn’t mean to yell at Anya...it’s just that sometimes she can be such a....,” the redhead stopped and sighed. Kneeling in front of her lover, she took Tara’s hands, but the blonde still didn’t look up. “Tara, please look at me...I’m sorry,” she brushed the hair from Tara’s face, “I want to see those beautiful eyes...please.”



Tara didn’t say a word as she looked up into Willow’s green eyes. “What the...,” the redhead released her hands and backed up as she stared down at Tara in disbelief, “W-what’s wrong with your...,” her words were cut short as she tripped and stumbled back, hitting her head against the desk. Tara’s tear-stained face was the last thing she saw before she blacked out.

[Washi]

That, that was evil!

Please, more soon!

---------



"See? I've mastered this tact crap." Anya in Tears Of The Goddess by Lisa

[barnabasvamp]

Definitely a tease!



We know how much you love doing this to us!



BV

"When choosing between two evils, I always like to take the one I've never tried before"-Mae West

[Stroke of Luck]

Oh well that was a bad bad cliffhanger



But damn that update was good. Hey you update really soon dont you. I wanna know what Willow saw. Is Tara a Vampire too????



Cu

SoL/Natti



There are two kinds of tears, tears for those who leave you, and tears for those you never let go - Gabrielle/The Quest

[bluewillowwitch]

,

That's so mean. I can't wait to see what happens. Cliffhangers suck. Great fic!





bluewillowwitch

--------------------------------------

"Fate keeps on happening."--Anita Loos

[onyxsundrops]

Hey,



Washi- I know it was evil...but personally, I'm not an evil person no really, I'm not! More soon, promise!



Barnabasvamp- You think so little of me, to believe that I'd leave you hangin' on purpose? I wouldn't do that...



Stroke of Luck- Impatience, impatience...you'll find out what Willow saw, soon. And as for the question of Tara being a vampire...Um, see, uh, what had happened was...



Bluewillowwitch-I know cliffhangers suck, but they're so fun to write! ...No but seriously, half the time I don't do it intentionally...not all the time...okay, maybe a little... damn, I'm caught!



Update tomorrow(sat.)

Yvonne

[Stroke of Luck]

Hi Yvonne



I just wanna say: YOU ARE SUCH A TEASER



And I am still waiting for that UPDATE



Cu

SoL/Natti



There are two kinds of tears, tears for those who leave you, and tears for those you never let go - Gabrielle/The Quest

[Twiglet1]

Oh my Gosh, you're stories are amazing!

I've just spent the last three hours reading your stuf, it's brilliant, you write the characters so well.

I can't wait for an update1

[onyxsundrops]

Stroke of Luck- Teaser? Well, I’ve been called worse, so I’ll take that as a compliment.



Twiglet1- Thanks for the comments, I’m really glad you like the story.



And now the update *No cliffhanger...but then again, I guess it just depends on how you read into it* Angst warning.

****



“Throw some water on her....hot,” Anya suggested as the others looked at her, “lukewarm,” they continued to stare, “okay, cold,” she huffed dramatically.



“Anya, you didn’t have to come,” Buffy pointed out, “you’ve already made it quite clear that all we do is waste your time.”



Anya merely shrugged, “I know...and you do! But Tara is my friend, and I’m here for her...not the redhead down there, laying in her own drool.” Willow had been moved to the bed, and had yet to regain consciousness. Tara sat quietly in one of the corner chairs, lost in her own thoughts with her eyes glued on her lover.



She hadn’t said much since her panicked call to Buffy, and had donned some dark shades so the others wouldn’t see her eyes. The blonde had explained to Buffy that Willow had fallen and hit her head, but she didn’t explain the reason. The others seemed oblivious to the darkness of the room, but had cast a few questioning glances toward Tara’s choice of eye wear. And though they noticed, they hadn’t mentioned it, for fear of making the already shy wiccan more uncomfortable. Even Anya showed a little tact.



At the mention of Tara’s name, Buffy turned to the blonde, having forgot that she was in the room. “Hey,” Tara’s gaze moved to Buffy, “are you okay?” Tara nodded, then turned back to Willow. Buffy was surprised by the way she was so easily brushed off. Tara was always friendly to her and everyone else...sure she hardly spoke unless directly addressed, but even then she’d at least stutter a response. She determined Tara’s behavior as the result of Willow being hurt, and turned back to the bed.



The redhead stirred, whispering softly as she began to awaken. “Tara,” she whispered again, her eyes slowly opened and she winced in pain. Tara heard her name, but remained seated, not wanting Willow to look at her. And though she tried her best not to call out, her heart betrayed her, and she finally broke, “I-I’m h-here.”



The ice-pack fell to the pillow when Willow pulled herself up into sitting position. Her eyes searched the room, finally landing on her girlfriend’s figure, “Tara?” Willow frowned when she couldn’t see her lover’s eyes through the glasses, and knew that she hadn’t been dreaming. Shaking off the sudden head-rush, she crawled from the bed and toward her lover, noticing the way Tara visibly shook as she got closer. The others continued to look on in confusion, as Willow reached for the glasses, but hesitated. “D-don’t,” Tara pleaded, backing herself further into the chair.



“I have to see...,” Willow bit her lip and pulled the shades from Tara’s face. She had the urge to flinch back, but stayed rooted in her spot.



“Whoa!” Xander jumped back behind Anya, “That’s freaky!” Tara tried to lower her head, but Willow’s hands caressing her cheek, prevented her. The redhead closely searched the tint of Tara’s glossy eyes...the swirling colors changed every second, from blue to yellow to gray, and then the different hues would momentarily merge, making Tara’s eyes seem translucent.



“What happened?” Willow asked, still searching Tara’s eyes as if she would find the answer. Tara grabbed the glasses that had been placed on her thigh, and covered the glowing pools, “I’m s-sure they’ll g-go b-back.” She removed Willow’s hands from her face and stood up, moving away from her bewildered girlfriend. Shaking off the hurt from Tara’s distant behavior, Willow noticed that she still hadn’t answered the question. “What happened?” She repeated, more firmly.



“I don’t know!” Tara hissed, immediately regretting her forceful tone. She sighed softly, “W-when I got home, everything was so b-bright...that’s when I l-looked in the mirror.”



“Was it like this after you left Buffy’s house?” Tara shook her head no, “How could this just happen...I don’t get it,” Willow was speaking more to herself than Tara.



“Well, isn’t it obvious,” Anya said. From the blank looks she received, Anya went on, “She’s a demon.”



“What!” The chorus went around the room.



“Oh c’mon...the excellent smell, glowing eyes. I’ve watched enough TV to know what I’m talking about,” she said matter of factly, “either that, or it’s a spell. This is the kind of mojo, people use to get revenge...so who’d you spurn?” Anya rubbed her hands together, eager for some juicy gossip.



“Someone please get her out of here,” Willow glared at Anya. “It was probably you,” Anya said, not knowing when to call it quits, as Faith practically dragged her into the hallway. Willow ignored the comment, and fixed her gaze on Tara. Xander and Buffy took the hint, and stepped into the hall, closing the door behind them.



“Tara, please talk to me,” the plead was barely a whisper. Willow sat on the opposite side of the bed, not knowing if Tara wanted to be touched.



“I d-don’t know what to say,” the blonde fiddled with a loose string from the blanket, “m-maybe she’s right.”



“Who? Anya...the girl who gets all of her information from cheesy horror movies?” Willow scooted closer to Tara, “I mean, yeah sometimes she’s right, but not this time because there is no way in hell, you’re a demon...I’d know if you were.”



“Would you?” Tara challenged, removing her glasses, “Because I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this isn’t normal!”



Willow was caught off guard by the sudden change in Tara’s attitude. “Yes,” she answered firmly, “I know you, and you aren’t a demon.”



“Right! Because you know everything about me...every single detail,” Tara laughed bitterly. She didn’t know where the venom in her words came from, but she felt as if she couldn’t stop them. “What’s it been? Two months?”



“Well, every time I bring anything up, you always change the subject,” Willow was getting angry. She didn’t know why Tara was acting like this. They never fought...they never had a reason. “Maybe it’s because there’s something you don’t want me to know.”



The words struck a cord with Tara, but she tried to hide it and focused on her anger. Her eyes flashed, “Whatever!” She inwardly chastised herself for such a weak response.



“Whatever,” Willow repeated. She stood from the bed, as hot tears burned the corner of her eyes. “So why don’t you ever tell me about your family, or where you came from?”



“Oh yeah, because you’ve been so forthright about your life,” the blonde shot back, sarcastically. She also stood up, growing angry at the way Willow loomed over her, as if the redhead were trying to intimidate her.



“You know what? I don’t know you at all...and I’m not even sure I want to,” Willow yelled.



“Well, that makes two of us! So go...run back to your little computer and all those other gadgets you use, so you can make yourself think you’re important. Because I certainly don’t!”



Willow shook her head in disgust and stormed from the room, slamming the door shut. Without a word, she walked past the group and out the dorm. The others, who had heard parts of the argument, remained in the hallway, unsure of what to do.



“Well, I wasn’t expecting that,” Buffy frowned, “I’ll go after Willow.” Anya nodded and was about to knock on Tara’s door, when Faith stopped her, “I don’ think that’s a good idea. We should let them cool down first.” Heeding the brunette’s words, and not wanting to be on the receiving end of the Willow or Tara’s fury, the group broke up and headed their separate ways.



Tara hesitated before opening the door, only to see an empty hallway. What was she expecting? Willow to be standing there, ready to apologize? Or had Willow expected her to chase after her? Was she supposed to feel guilty about her heated words, or Willow’s angry departure? She thought she would...but somehow, she didn’t...couldn’t. She continued to dwell in her thoughts as she stood in the open doorway, until she noticed someone looking at her. Her eyes glowed as she shot the young woman a dangerous glare, and slammed the door shut.



****



There was still a week before the full moon, but Donny could already feel the changes in Tara. He had to admit, it was happening faster than he thought, but that didn’t stop him from taking pleasure in feeling his sister’s turmoil. Whenever he used the spell, it opened a bond with all of the vampires he sired, but this by far, was the strongest. He had sent his human minions to spy on his sister and her friends during the day, and was pleased to know that they were all clueless as to what was happening before their eyes. Tara had already exhibited two keen senses, and the rest would follow soon...especially the hunger. Now, it was only a matter of time before the blonde came into her full powers. And then they would be in for one hell of a surprise.

[Washi]

Ok, this is getting weirder and weirder. I hate Willow and Tara fighting. The eye-colors thingy was certainly weird. But, the thing that shocked me the worse was the venom in their words. I've been in this kind of situation, without of course the weird eye thingy, and I acted like Willow. At first, I tried to be gentle and loving and soothing, but then, it's normal to let anger take over. This line of Tara's really must've hurt:

Quote:

---

So go...run back to your little computer and all those other gadgets you use, so you can make yourself think you’re important. Because I certainly don’t!

---

I mean, mean much? That's worse than getting slapped. That is seriously harsh.



I'll stop with my mini-rant because I know you're gonna make things right. I trust you. Great update! More, pwease?

---------



"See? I've mastered this tact crap." Anya in Tears Of The Goddess by Lisa

[onyxsundrops]

Washi

Quote:

---

I mean, mean much? That's worse than getting slapped. That is seriously harsh. I'll stop with my mini-rant because I know you're gonna make things right. I trust you.

---

When I originally started editing that part of the argument, that line about the computer hadn't been there...I added it at the last minute. It was mean and after re-reading it, I kinda felt the sting, too. And at first, I thought it wasn't needed, but then I realized that it was. So I kept it, mainly to show a little of what Tara's going through..as far as the conflicted emotions and so on. I'm glad that you trust me enough to make it better, because I will. But as all things go, sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. Hopefully, the next update will explain more about what's happening.



Thanks for the comment

Yvonne

[nika]

Woah! Those were some pretty strong words and the bitterness factor has me thinking a bad lemon is sweet. I hope they work things out soon.

[Stroke of Luck]

I hate to see them fighting. There was not even a good reason for that......



Okay I hope they get back togehter and talk about their fears etc. Tara needs her girlfriend and her friends.. If she is alone, I dont think she will survive.



Great update but those angst parts are not really good for me



Cu

SoL/Natti



There are two kinds of tears, tears for those who leave you, and tears for those you never let go - Gabrielle/The Quest

[onyxsundrops]

Nika

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the bitterness factor has me thinking a bad lemon is sweet.

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Stroke of Luck

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There was not even a good reason for that......

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I agree with you both. I think what shocked people the most was that it was so out-of-the-blue...starting from something small and trivial and escalating. Most fights don't have a good reason, you just throw out words, trying to make the other person feel worse than you do... regardless of the consequences. Or you use your own insecurities against the other person. Either way .



I think the problem with the show was that, whenever the girls fought, they never had a chance to sit down and talk about it. First with Glory, the forget spell, etc. (Okay, why am I still talking about this?) Anyway, I will make everything better...just give me time.



Yvonne

[onyxsundrops]

Update

Note: The song I used is called Farther Away, by Evanescence. I only used the last three verses.

****



Willow woke with a tinge of dizziness, automatically feeling for the comforting presence she always felt beside her. But the presence was gone. She clutched the empty pillow as images and words came flooding back into her mind.



Tara. The blonde had been so distant...and cold. The very memory of her words, made the redhead’s soul ache as she tried to understand. What went wrong? Was it her? She couldn’t help but think that it was her fault. That if she had never brought up Tara’s family, it would’ve been different. Tara would be laying next to her right now. Her eyes sparkling in the early sun, as she bit her lip in embarrassment, realizing she’d been snoring.



Willow allowed herself a faint smile, but it disappeared just as quickly as it came. Smelling the material, stained with her lover’s scent, she choked back a sob and rose from the bed. The ghost of her tears, left trails of white lines down her cheeks and she felt alone...a feeling which had become foreign to her over the past few months.



Willow glanced at the clock, wondering what Tara was doing, and if the blonde was thinking about her. She knew she had English Lit. in twenty minutes, but didn’t think she could take hearing the teacher lecture about love and Shakespeare, when she was so miserable. So instead, she dragged herself to the radio and push play, listening to the soft vocals as she got lost in her thoughts.



****



“Buffy! Faith!” Hearing their names being yelled, both girls turned to see Spike, and an out of breath Giles, jogging toward her. They had just finished one of the morning classes that they shared and were on their way to lunch.



“What’s up?” Faith asked, once they were close enough.



“I think I might’ve found something,” Giles explained. He composed himself, so he wouldn’t look as if he’d just run marathon, and went on, “I found some references to a few spells, which might explain what’s happening to Tara.”



“Anya said something about a spell,” Buffy frowned, “but we didn’t have a chance to figure it out.”



“Why not?” Spike asked.



“Willow and Tara, kinda got into it,” Buffy rolled her eyes when Spike smirked, “not that, you idiot. They had a fight.”



“What about?” Giles looked concerned.



“Family secrets, demons...I don’t know,” Faith shrugged, “all I know is that it ended with slamming doors and a very pissed off Willow.”



“Demons?” Giles asked.



“Anya thought Tara was a demon, because of her eyes,” Faith explained.



“Her eyes?”



“Oh...we didn’t tell you about that, did we?” Buffy smiled sheepishly, “Maybe we should talk about this somewhere more private,” she said, noticing more students pouring into the hallway.



The four of them made their way out to one of the vacant tables in the courtyard. When Buffy began to explain what happened, Giles’ frown deepened. He had bookmarked several passages on the various forms of hypersensitivity, and began flipping through the pages.



“...then everything just went downhill from there,” Buffy finished her recount of yesterday’s events. “So...,” she paused, waiting for Giles to fill in the rest.



“There is some reference to a spell, which involves some of the same symptoms that Tara’s experiencing,” the older man paused, shaking his head, “but it’s impossible.”



“Uh, Hellmouth. Vampires. Nothing’s impossible,” Buffy countered.



“Quite right. But this spell has been lost for decades,” he continued to frown as he stared at the book.



“Dad...,” hearing his son’s voice, broke him out of his reverie.



“Oh, right. The spell is called, haud animus...loosely translated, ‘soulless’. It’s the process by which a normal human being is literally turned into a demon...more specifically, a vampire, thus losing their soul in the process. Once the spell is performed, the cursed individual goes through a series of changes, which range from mild to severe, until the transition is complete.”



“Hold on, so someone put a spell on Tara and now she’s turning into a vampire?” Faith asked, wanting to be sure she heard Giles correctly.



“I’m afraid so,” the older man sighed, not wanting to believe his own revelation.



“Wait, how do we know it’s a spell?”



“All of the signs point to sorcery,” Giles said, “however, if it’s not the spell, then we’re right back where we began.”



“Okay, so assuming it is the spell. Who would want to do that? And why?” Buffy continued to probe.



“Someone she knows, any enemy perhaps.”



“Well then, how do we stop it...the transition?” Buffy asked, “What’s the book say,” she peered over Giles’ shoulder to scan the page.



“This book is only a copy. Specific information on how to reverse the spell and its effects, wouldn’t be in here. Only the original book in which the spell came from, can give you that answer.” Giles paused, cleaning his glasses as he went on, “I suggest we find the others as quickly as possible. We don’t know how far along Tara is, or how long she has left. And we still need to find the spell-caster, before it’s too late.”



“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do,” Buffy began, “Faith, see if you can find Tara, while I look for Willow. Giles, you and Spike see if you can get a hold of Xander and Anya. They’ll probably be together, so you might wanna call or stop by Xander’s dorm, first.” Nodding to show that they all understood and agreed, the group split up.



****



Willow was curled up against the bed, as she listened to the rest of the song’s lyrics:



I’m numb to you - numb and deaf and blind.

You give me all but the reason why.

I reach but I feel only air at night.

Not you, not love, just nothing.

I run to you,

Call out your name,

I see you there, farther away.



Try to forget you,

But without you I feel nothing.

Don't leave me here, by myself.

I can't breathe.

I run to you,

Call out your name,

I see you there, farther away.



I run to you,

Call out your name,

I see you there, farther away,

Farther away,

Farther away,

Farther away,

Farther away,

Farther away.



Willow was about to switch the song to repeat, when she heard a knock at the door. She thought about not answering, not wanting anyone to see her looking miserable and depressed, but she suddenly didn’t care. It was probably her neighbor, anyway. They shared a class together, but he missed the first day and had asked to borrow her notes.



She grabbed the pile from her desk, hoping he wouldn’t ask questions, and went to answer the door. She swung the door back, and almost collapsed when she saw Tara’s sad blue eyes staring back at her.

[Washi]

Oh, come on! You so can't stop there! That's... cruel again! You are cruel!

I'm, of course, kidding, but please, more soon.

The update rocks!

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"See? I've mastered this tact crap." Anya in Tears Of The Goddess by Lisa

[onyxsundrops]

Hey

Washi-I know, I know . I'll update soon. It's finals week ,and I gotta make up for a semester of slacking , but hopefully I'll be able to post tomorrow night.

Yvonne

[nika]

You are cliffhanger meanie! Update soon, pleeease... with a couple of naked wiccans on top? *batting eye lashes*

[bluewillowwitch]

onyxsundrop,

OMG! I just the last two updates. I the them! I can't wait to more. I hope and are going to be alright! Just so you know these cliffhangers are just evil! I hope you have an update soon!







bluewillowwitch

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"Fate keeps on happening."--Anita Loos

[Stroke of Luck]

OH man I get the thought that all Kittens are big teasers



Oh I hope you update really soon!! I want to know what happens next to Tara.... she is just a poor girl sometimes.... But I hope you will make it up to her, because she deseves it



Oh and the update was GREAT I hope the next one follows soon



Cu

SoL/Natti



There are two kinds of tears, tears for those who leave you, and tears for those you never let go - Gabrielle/The Quest

[onyxsundrops]

Update

Finals are officially over , (thanks every deity I can think of) and here’s the update, though it’s kinda late. Speaking of which, I’m late for my brother’s 21st birthday party (and for some reason, Alice in Wonderland, just popped into my head) anyway, I hope you like the update. No cliffhanger...I think.

****



Willow stepped aside without a word, too afraid her emotions would betray her if she tried to speak. Hesitantly, Tara entered, also too afraid to speak. Looking everywhere but at each other, the two sat in silence, not knowing where to begin or how.



After several short glances at Willow, who sat in the chair across from her, Tara finally spoke, “I’m sorry,” she spoke slowly, fighting back her nervous stutter, “I didn’t mean what I said, “she looked up at Willow, who remained quiet. Her words trembled and she swallowed hard, “I-I don’t know what’s h-happening to me. I just know that I need you. I’m sorry, oh god, I’m so sorry Willow.”



Large tears streamed down her face and still...Willow was silent. But she stared at the blonde with...what was it? Tara had never seen that look before, and she prayed she would never have to see it again. Hurt, pain, and compassion, all wrapped in one. Willow’s eyes burned into her soul and she felt ashamed, her gaze retreated back to her shaking hands.



“I feel something inside me...and it scares me. And it’s there...growing like a cloud. A dark cloud,” she took a shaking breath, “and then...there’s you...your love. And more questions. Doubts. Fears,” she stopped rambling and finally looked up, “Willow, please say something. Anything.”



After a moment, Willow answered the plea, “Tell me.” Such a simple request. “T-tell you?” Tara frowned. What did Willow want her to say? “I’m sorry,” she repeated for what seemed like the tenth time. The redhead shook her head, “No, I...I want to know what happened. What are you afraid of?”



Tara’s shoulder’s slumped. It was the one thing she had tried to avoid, but Willow was asking and she couldn’t push it aside this time. She wouldn’t. Not anymore. Taking a slow, shuddering breath, she began to tell Willow everything.



****



“I’m bored,” the vampire huffed. She grew tired of playing with her food, and let the girl scurry back to the corner. Beth noticed the pensive look on her cousin’s face. It was a rare look for him, and she was somewhat curious, “What’s wrong?” She asked with a hint of concern. When he didn’t reply, Beth almost repeated her question, but thought otherwise and went back to torturing her meal.



Donny had heard the question, but chose to ignore it. He had bigger problems to worry about, besides his annoying cousin. Through his connection with Tara, he had felt her misery all night and bits of the morning, but then it stopped. And that worried him, though he wouldn’t let the others know. Was she trying to fight it? Fight him? Donny suddenly became queasy when he felt a sense of calmness flow through him. And there was something else he had felt...love? He shuddered, as if it would rid him of his sister’s emotions. Tara was in love...with a girl. His face briefly twisted in disgust, but pulled into a sinister grin when he realized the full extent of his revelation. The spell was going as planned but a little leverage wouldn’t hurt, especially if it was all he needed, to truly break his sister’s spirit.



“Beth!” His voice echoed through the weak interior of the warehouse. As Beth hurried toward him, his mind was already formulating a plan.



****



Three urgent knocks vibrated against the door, startling both girls out of their tight embrace. When the person knocked again, Willow reluctantly pulled apart from Tara to answer the door.



“Hey,” Buffy saw Willow’s eyes, red from crying and hesitated, “how are you feeling?” The redhead nodded numbly, “I came by because we, um, we can’t find Tara.” Sure, add more misery to her day, Buffy thought. Willow pulled the door open wider, revealing the hunched-over figure of Tara on her bed, and Buffy suddenly felt intrusive.



“Could you guys come back later?” Willow asked, seeing Faith walking up the hall behind Buffy. “No problem,” Buffy backed up, feeling uncomfortable, “but it’s really important, so when you guys are ready, we’ll be at Giles’ office.” Willow whispered okay, and closed the door.



“I don’t ever want to do that again,” Buffy muttered. Faith nodded in agreement as both girls headed back to the office.



****



Once Willow closed the door, she returned to her position beside the crying blonde. In the last hour, Tara had revealed her most hidden secrets. From her mother’s death, which shattered her home, to the bruises her father had claimed where given through love. And Willow had listened the whole time, not with pity or reproach, which Tara had unconsciously expected, but with love and solace.



“E-Everything, I’ve ever l-loved...I’ve lost,” Tara mumbled against Willow’s neck, “I c-can’t l-lose you too.”



“I’m not going anywhere,” Willow said, kissing the top of her girlfriend’s head, “by the end of the day, you won’t be able to pry me off with a crowbar,” she chuckled lightly. Tara smiled and moved so she could look into Willow’s eyes. As they stared into the pools of emerald and azure, their lips faintly brushed together before interlocking.



It felt like eternity since they kissed. Since Willow tasted Tara’s lips...honey with splashes of salt from their recent tears. It felt like everything was okay, as if one kiss could erase the pain of Tara’s past. But it wasn’t okay, and Willow knew it. She knew that beyond the contours of their lips, something was happening, something was coming and she was determined to stop it.



Pulling back, Willow’s lips tingled from the sensation as Tara filled the void of loneliness. The blonde smiled, having the same reaction. And after years off holding her breath...her past, it felt good to finally be able to breathe. “We should go find out what Buffy wanted,” Willow said, as the feeling lessened, but refused to disappear. After a few chaste kisses, Willow grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt, and began changing out of her pajamas, while Tara stood in front of the mirror.



“Goddess, I look h-horrible,” she rubbed around her eyes and smoothed down her hair. “You look beautiful,” she smiled at Willow’s reflection in the mirror and images flashed into her mind. Passionate kisses and heavy pants. Sweaty bodies intertwining, while hands roamed. Incense mixed with sweet scents. Soft whispers. “Tara.”



“Tara,” Willow repeated, circling her arms around the blonde’s waist, “are you okay?” “Yeah,” Tara smiled, leaning back into the embrace, “I know we should go, but I really don’t feel like moving,” Willow pouted. Tara turned, kissing the corner of Willow's mouth, causing the redhead to swallow hard when she purred, “later,” and led her out the door.



****



The others were chatting amongst themselves, when they arrived at Giles’ small office. When the older man noticed their clasped hands as they entered, he couldn’t help but smile. He wasn’t aware of the specific details behind their argument, nonetheless, he was glad to see that the couple had worked it out.



“I’m glad you both could make it,” Giles said, earning smiles from both Willow and Tara as they took their seats. A few chairs had been taken from other classrooms, so everyone would have a seat. And though the room was small and a bit cramped, the girls had an even better reason to cling to each other.



“Okay, we’re all here,” Anya said impatiently, “so what’s going on?” Giles had wanted everyone to be present when he explained the spell and despite Anya’s whining, he remained quiet. Mainly because he didn’t want the young woman spilling the information before he had a chance to research further. Sensing it was the right time, all eyes turned to Giles as he began.

[Washi]

Yay for update-y goodness! I hope you have fun at the party, and I hop to read more soon! I thnk that it's great that Tara told Willow about her family. That needed to be said. Again, more, please, soon?

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"See? I've mastered this tact crap." Anya in Tears Of The Goddess by Lisa