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The worst thing that Sarah noticed when she slowly came to that it had not been all a bad dream. She was still in Sunnydale, still trapped in a universe where she didn't belong. To make matters worse she was lying on damp cold grass.
Rising to her feet wasn't hard but wasn't comfortable either. There was a crack that sounded in her neck, something she swore couldn't be healthy. She craned her neck to see Buffy lying near her. While Sarah's fall (had it been a fall?) had been broken by grass, Buffy appeared to have struck a tree, obviously fairly hard. There was a gash on the Slayer's ribs and her arms seemed to be twisted at an unnatural angle. Cautiously avoiding touching the arm, Sarah grabbed a cloth and pressed it against the flow of the bleed which, though while not serious, couldn't be healthy.
"Buffy?" Sarah asked quietly. "Buffy? Can you hear me?"
The Slayer groaned and turned her head slightly. "Sarah?" she blinked her eyes. "What happened?"
"I'm.. not exactly sure. But we're in trouble. You're bleeding."
"Oh." Buffy seemed almost casually. "Happens all the time." with her good arm she took the cloth and pressed it to her side.
"And I think your arm is broken."
"Not broken." Buffy corrected her actress counterpart. "Dislocated."
"Okay then.. We should try and find the others."
Buffy rammed her shoulder against a tree. "GODAMNIT!" her scream of pain echoed through the night.
"Or," Sarah marveled at the sheer guts of the girl, "we could wait for them to come to us."
Buffy nodded, cradling, then testing her relocated limb. It wasn't in top condition but it would heal. That was part of being a Slayer.
"Are you okay?"
The identical blondes turned to see the two younger Halliwell sisters walking towards them. "Okay enough." Buffy grimaced. "You don't have healing powers do you?"
"No, that would be Leo." Piper said with a tinge of awkwardness.
"I can fix it." said Alyson, approaching with Xander hobbling slightly beside her. "But it will drain some of your life force."
"It's draining my life force anyway." Buffy pointed out.
Alyson nodded and knelt down, gently placing her hand against the wound and focusing her magic.
"More casualties." Sarah pointed out.
Angel approached them, carrying Giles on his back and with Willow in tow. The Watcher appeared to be conscious, but like Buffy he was injured, a nasty looking break in his leg visible even in the dim light.
"I'll get to you next." Alyson turned to look at him.
Giles nodded as Angel set him down against the tree.
"So G-Man." Xander tried to undershow the pain in his leg, which was nothing more than a bruise. "What happened in there." The youth pointed to the tunnel below ground where now a large crater resided.
"The witches cast the spell." Giles stated plainly. "Yeatril broke out and this was the effect."
"I doubt it." Angel argued. "If this demon is supposed to warp reality then.. well I think things are going to get worse."
"They will." Sarah sighed. "I've seen it. I just wish I could make more sense of the vision."
"Yeah. You get that." Phoebe sighed. "Hold on, if we all got blasted out of there then where's Prue and the other two?"
"Yeatril may still have need for them." Giles groaned as Alyson touched his leg.
"I've got to reset this."
"Yes I thought you might."
"On the count of three?"
"Right." Giles set his jaw. "One.."
Alyson pushed the bone back into place. Giles growled and shook slightly but refused to scream. "Sorry." Alyson placed her hands and began to heal the injury as best she could. "It's supposed to hurt less if it's a surprise."
"Yes well." Giles puffed. "I think the jury's still out on that one."
"So." Willow looked about at her companions. "What's next?"
"Well.." Sarah considered for a second. "Where's Rachael?"
******
Trapped in a seething mass of chaos, Rachel Leigh Cook, Guardian of Balance, struggled to remain on her feet. The world about her swirl with thousands of colors, perspectives fading and reappearing elsewhere, the fabric of space seeming to fold in on itself. Sound seemed to echo from a hundred sources, whispers and screams all part of one symphony of discord.
Even gravity seemed to fluctuate, threatening to lift her off her feet one second and crush her to the ground the next.
She strained, keeping her magic about her, maintaining a small pocket of order to keep her sane. She knew where she was, if indeed the place could be anything at all. This place was the heart of chaos, the front line station for Yeatril's invasion of all worlds. Even a creature such as the Chaos Demon had limits. It had almost stretched it's time limits to the end point in it's taking of the three witches.
A mere minute more would have meant a loss of control. But now he was through, stable though weak. That didn't matter, for his strength was already growing once again, his presence stretching across thousands of worlds, ripping down borders between reality. Now he was in the world, his hold on the witches was strong once again. In the end he would have little need for any of them but for the time they served as a potential resource. If nothing else they were amusing playthings. And the Guardian of Balance, so desperate to stop him, was now helpless, his prisoner to do with as he wished. She had no place in the chaos, and had he the inclination her might have been able to destroy here there and then. But it was not the way of chaos to merely eradicate. It was the way of chaos to pervert and reform. He would break the Guardian, bend her to his cause. That would be a true victory, to transform balance into chaos.
No mortal mind could withstand the perpetual assault of chaos. Given time Rachael would lose her mind and then she would be his. She stood, eyes closed, sweat dripping from her brow. Order had to be maintained.
******
"No way around, no way through." Angel ran his hand over the smooth, magical barrier.
"There has to be." Sarah gritted her teeth. "There has to be damn it!" she struck her fist against the wall. "They're in there, Katie and Rachael are in there and the others and that Demon. How to we stop the damn thing if we can't get near it?"
Angel chuckled.
"What?" Sarah inquired defensively.
"I'm sorry... I just... For a moment there you looked and sounded just like..."
"Just like Buffy." Sarah finished. As she did the smile faded from Angels face. She put he hand on his shoulder. "Look.. I know.. actually I don't know what it must feel like. But I know what it is. I know the history, I know the temptation. But.. I also know that you'll find an answer."
Angel absorbed her words and nodded. "Assuming that we live that long."
"Yeah." Sarah bit her lip. "Well let's hoped some of the other groups did better."
"Nothing." Alyson kicked a rock in anger. No way into that place thanks to some magical barrier that I can't even begin to define."
"It's a chaos barrier." Giles pointed out. His leg had been mostly fixed but he still was using a makeshift crutch. Alyson's magic had it's limits and Giles was no quick healing Slayer. "A barrier created by the demon, fortifying it's place in this world."
"Well. If it's trapped in there we're safe." Piper rationalized.
"For the time yes. But the barrier will kept extending as the demon gets stronger. Once he gets strong enough, he'll bring that barrier down. Then we'll have a chance to fight him and his slaves, if we can figure out how. Personally I don't like the concept."
"So what's stopping him from attacking us right now?" Phoebe looked to the Watcher.
"At a guess? Two things. Firstly, he's weak from controlling the others before he came through. and the second thing stopping him is," he took a deep sigh, "Rachael."
******
Were her jaw not so tightly clenched, Rachael would have been screaming. Instead, rather than let the energy out, she changeling it inwards, trying to hold on to something rational. The barrier of order she placed about herself was becoming increasingly fragile. Now, in addition to light and sound she could feel tactile sensations breaking through to her skin. Searing heat, freezing cold, blinding pain, delirious pleasure. All these feelings she tried to blot out, keeping her focus, maintaining her center.
She was naked, her clothes, a sign of order, ripped from her by the forces of chaos. She didn't let the fact bother her, for modesty was of no use to her here. Even within the confines of her reality she could feel the sweat streaming over her body, coating her from head to foot. Her tangled fringe, heaving breasts, clenched fists, all were covered in a slick oil of perspiration, testament to the struggle she was facing on a mental and physical level.
She grunted slightly as wave after wave of pleasurable bursts washed over her. It was worse than chaos. It was chaos with intent, with purpose. It was a conscious effort to damage her reason, to shatter her will. She couldn't let that happen.
A million white hot needles pierced her skin. This time she did scream. But still she held on.
******
As much as they wanted to return to the warmth and shelter of the Library, or even better, their own beds, no one did.
Willow was able to start a small fire and with the help of Buffy and Angel collecting wood from the nearby bush, they made a fair generator of warmth which they all huddled around, discussing what they could do next.
"We can prepare." Giles nodded, drawing his jacket in tightly about his body. "We need to find out everything we can about Yeatril, weaknesses, strengths, history, anything we can."
"I thought we already did that?" Buffy asked, Angels jacket keeping her a little warmer and his body close to hers, offering more comfort than more comfort than actual warmth.
"We did. But we lacked one particular source of information."
"This." Piper brought out The Book of Shadows and placed it on the ground. She and Phoebe huddled together under a blanket, the Sunnydale night a little more chilling than their outfits catered for. "If he isn't in here then we're in big trouble."
"So," Xander looked at the large book, is there and index?" she was sitting next to Willow, tempted to hold her just for warmth an comfort but knowing that they couldn't do that again, not after the past they had experienced.
"We wish there was an index." Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Usually you just turn the pages and.... there we go."
The page fell open on the heading Yeatril. Giles shuffled over next to the sisters.
"Yeatril.. high demon.. banished.. blah blah blah... Oh dear.."
"I'm getting really sick of oh dears." Sarah sighed.
"The barriers is utterly impenetrable, similar to the barriers between worlds. Physical matter cannot pass into out though it can exit. Once it comes down, Yeatril will be vulnerable, if that world can be applied to a Chaos Demon. His hold on this world, on both worlds, will become stronger. God knows what chaos is already being caused in your world."
Sarah shivered slightly at the thought. "And I imagine that you don't have quite the world saving heroes that fiction does."
"You'd be surprised." Alyson commented though wouldn't elaborate.
"Well I don't know what else to do. There's nothing more in the book. We could attempt to rescue those in his thrall but we have no means of getting to them."
"I guess we just have to make sure our stakes are sharpened." Buffy flexed her wrist. "Proverbially speaking."
******
Somewhere, deep down in the depths of a mind that was supposed to belong to her, Katie Holmes was trapped, bound to a chair. It was the same chair which had held the soul of Catherina Hume for centuries, the same chair which had tormented untold numbers of women, trapping their sexual delight in its timbers. The chair that had given Katie her powers. It was not the real chair of course, merely a spiritual representation, a dream chair. The real antique rested in a basement beneath an old mansion at Ratterson Creek. It was as harmless now as any other seat, it's spirits and power contained in the body of a young actress.
But Catherina Hume was in control now and once again Katie was manacled to the chair by metal bands, naked and helpless. She knew it was a dream, an illusion created to keep her repressed, deep down inside her mind, just as the chair had been deep down in the earth. She had no idea what Catherina was doing, no sense outside the tiny cubicle represented to her. The demon that had ensnared Catherina and locked Katie away was no doubt working his plans.
There was nothing she could do to stop him. Not only was she trapped but the chair was working it's sinister magic once more.
Sex.
Raw sex bombarded her soul, making it hard for her to keep focus, to remember what had happened. Sweat ran down her body, sliding against the wood, caressing her flesh. There were only two saving graces of her situation.
The first what that she knew it was nothing more than an illusion.
The second was that the ministrations of the chair were at a set level, not escalating as they had done on the real chair.
It meant that Katie could hold out, though there was no denying the pleasure she felt, the constant throb of delight that ran through her, keeping her nipples erect, her thighs damp. It was a constant, never ceasing pulse flowing through her, delighting her nerves.
The treatment was not here to break her, merely to keep her restrained. It was working and as much as Katie held on, maintaining her will and her sanity, she was not getting any closer to escape. But she would escape. She was sure of it, even in the throws of sexual delight. And when she escaped, someone was going to pay.
******
"Can't sleep?"
Xander looked over his shoulder to see Alyson walking over to his spot leaning against a tree. Buffy and the Halliwell’s had been persuaded to go on a supply run and he at least had a blanket but it was still hardly comfortable.
"Well I figured we probably got all the rest we needed when we were knocked out."
The redhead smiled and sat down next to him. "How are you doing?"
"Um.. Okay.. I mean, that's twice now I've been involved in virtual rape in two days. It's not easy to deal with."
"No. It's not. I.. when it happened to me. afterwards. I had a choice. I was offered the chance to forget everything, all the fear, all the violation.. but I would have lost my magic as well. Sometimes.. when I'm alone at night and there's a noise or something... I wish I had forgotten it all. But in a way.. It makes me more human to remember, to deal with that. I'm a stronger person because of what I've been through. You will be too."
"Maybe.." he whispered then chuckled slightly.
"What's so funny?"
"I was just thinking, I've had sex twice in my life. Both times it was with girls who pretty much overpowered me. I hate to think it's a trend."
"You and Cordellia never.."
"No. Shouldn't you know that?"
"PG -13 remember. And it was never mentioned how far you and here went."
"Oh.. Okay. Well anyway, I have a pretty painful history. I'd be amazed if I ever sleep again."
"Give me your hand."
"What?"
"Palm reading. Give me your hand."
Xander did so, feeling the warmth of Alyson's hand against his. He couldn't help but steal a peak at her face, so much like Willow yet with such a different soul behind those eyes. "What do you see?"
"I see a future.. I see you finding a girl that will make you happy, one who will be your equal. And.. I see..."
"Ow!" Xander winced as a small needle pricked his finger. "What did you do that.. for....." Xander slumped as the spell took effect.
"And I see you getting a good nights sleep." she smiled and pulled his blanket up. For a moment she reflected then nodded her head. Magic was worth it.
******
"Do you think I could have been like that?" Buffy asked Angel as they sat, looking over at a slumbering Sarah Michelle Cellar.
"How do you mean?"
"Like, if I'd never been a Slayer. I could have been an actress. I mean obviously I have the looks."
"You regret being a Slayer."
"Well. On a personal level. I mean I'd hate to think how many people would have been eaten if I was like her but.. Well you know what I mean. It would have been nice to have lived a normal life."
"I know what you mean."
"I know you do. In the morning we're going to have to do something."
"Well you are. I wish I could help but.."
"I know. Not without SPF 1000. Still.. This.. This is big. I mean universe big. Universes! If we stuff up here then.. Well I don't know."
"Don't worry Buffy. Or try not to. I know you, you're a fighter. You won't give up until this thing is over. None of them will, you can see that in their hearts. Even Sarah. I think she has more strength than she knows. We'll win Buffy... Buffy?"
The Slayer was already asleep.
******
Rachael couldn't breathe.
Her lung screamed for more air and it was all she could do to block out the pain. From time to time she sucked in a breath, the air around her shimmering hot, icy cold or stinging smoke. Most of her barriers had dissolved now, leaving her vulnerable to the chaos around her. Her eyes hurt, in fact there was scarcely a part of her body that didn't hurt, either aching or stinging. Itches, scratches and lashes struck at her sweat soaked skin, no inch of flesh defended. Infinite screams wailed in her mind, their number ever growing.
The only magical barrier she had remaining was about her mind and that was crumbling slowly under the assault on her senses. Scents filled her nostrils, sweet roses one second and rotting bodies the next. It was too much for a human to bear. But Rachael wasn't human, not totally. And she could hold out just a little longer.
Just a little.
******
Morning came. Or rather, the time arrived when morning should have been there.
Phoebe awoke, cracking her neck, the result of sleeping in the back seat of a car all night. "Piper?"
"Hmm? What?" came a sleepy voice from the front seat.
"What time is it?"
"It's..7.30."
"What? Shouldn't it be light?"
She looked out the window. It was still night, the stars shining in the black sky. Piper rubbed her neck as she awoke.
Well time isn't frozen because the clocks work. Only the sun isn't up."
"Well I think it's time to raise the others."
"Why. It's not like we can do anything."
"We can try. Maybe we'll find some more writing on this demon."
"The Book of Shadows is the best book we know."
"Piper, that's in our universe. Maybe there's something here."
"Okay. We'll try." She exited the car and honked the horn once. The group roused from around the campfire sitting up slowly.
"What time is it?" Willow yawned.
"Breakfast." Xander pointed out, feeling his stomach rumble.
"It's 7.35." Giles pointed out. "Which means that the sun isn't going to be rising today.
"Yeah variety." Xander mock cheered.
"Endless night?" Alyson asked nervously.
"Something like that. And we're no closer to discovering what we can do to stop this thing."
"We can wait and hope and read." Buffy noted. "And keep look out for sunrise. Angel might have to get under cover fast."
"I'll keep a blanket handy." Angel quipped.
"What about the three witches inside there?" Willow asked.
"No way to get to them." Giles replied
"Not physically. What about mentally? Or magically. Like Astral projection and stuff."
"Prue could do that." Piper sighed. "Only Prue is in there not out here."
"And we don't know what kind of spell Yeatril has them under or how he converted them." Buffy added.
"We know one of them." Xander offered meekly. "I know how he got Katie. I was there."
There was silence for a few seconds, broken by Alyson. "Well It's a shot. I say we go for it."
No one agreed. But no one disagreed either.
******
Rachael's battle was being fought in ten second bouts. If she could hold on to her sanity for ten more seconds then she could make it. Just ten more seconds, she counted them down in her head. Then another ten. The small division was all that held her together, the logic of counting. But even that was becoming hard. It was hard to think hard to reason. Her mind was slipping away and there seemed to be nothing she could do about it. Thousands of screams rang in her mind and she knew that one of them was hers.
Screaming to surrender.
To give up on order, to submit to the chaos around her. Rachael opened her eyes, gaping at the seething mass of insanity that engulfed her. There was no logic, no reason. "One..." she gasped.
onethreetwofourhundredsixoneninesevenfivetwofoureightseventwelvefive six
"Two..." she strained at the sight of pure chaos.
fivetwofoureightseventwelvefive sixtwofourhundredsixoneonethreeseventwelve
"Two...." she whimpered again.
Something moved.
Amidst the chaos there was movement, clear, unaltered movement. Black, always black, not changing between so many colors. Shape. It had shape. A cat. A black cat. Rachael felt claws slice through the skin of her shoulder. Real pain. Real, constant, ordered pain. She let out a scream, gulping in laughter as she did, the pain giving her strength, propelling her legs. Through the chaos she followed the sprinting black cat, pushing forward until.....
Rachael tumbled forward, crashing to the cold ground of the Sunnydale cemetery. Real cold, pressing against her real naked flesh. She gasped in breaths of the cold air, ignoring the pain it gave her lungs. She had escaped the chaos. All thanks to a cat.
"Thank you.." she coughed to the black cat that stood beside her.
"Don't mention it." Salem shrugged as best a cat could.
Rachael pulled herself to her knees, the cold becoming less pleasant than it had been. Her powers were all but gone and though they would recover in time she needed help now. She grabbed at the ground in front of a tombstone, ripping up the shadow and wrapping it over her shoulders. Salem's eyes went as wide as a cats could.
"Now there a trick I don't know."
"It's not a witch thing. It's a changeling thing."
She rose to her feet, her legs feeling like jelly beneath her, and began to stagger, not knowing where she was going, only knowing she had to keep moving. Had to keep.. moving....
"Well A few of us could give that a try right?" Xander stood up, ready to latch onto any idea he could. "Maybe there's some way we can get Katie free."
"I agree." Alyson supported him. "we have to everything we can before that thing gets out. He's getting more powerful by the second."
"Tell me about it." came a voice from outside the fire.
"Salem!" Piper turned to the cat.
"Don't tell me. You all forgot about the cat." he sighed. "Look I need some help here. Volunteers?"
Giles and Buffy rose and followed the cat across the graveyard. It was clear when they had reached what the cat was talking about. Wet, bedraggled and naked save for a black blanket, Rachael Leigh Cook, Guardian of Balance lay motionless on the ground. A victim of the war between Chaos and Order.
So far, Chaos was winning.
THE END??
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