“You are under the unfortunate delusion that simply because you run away from danger, you have no courage. You’re confusing courage with wisdom.”
~ Unknown
Spike looked at Oz asking, “How long has Buffy been gone for her walk?”
Oz looked at the clock, “Err three hours?”
Just then the door flew open and Willow ran inside shouting on top of her lungs in a panic, “Buffy’s in trouble.”
Oz and Spike looked at Willow who actually looked terribly drained still. Willow explained, “I was just sitting and mediating which helps me regain strength. I figured I’d nap for an hour after mediating but while I was mediating I had a vision. I saw Buffy tied up in a dusty closet being tormented by someone.”
Spike roared loudly, “Who was tormenting her?”
Willow quickly replied, “I could be wrong but it looked like an older Ethan Rayne.”
Oz looked worried, “Halloween costumes, Eyghon demon, chocolate?”
Spike shrugged having heard pieces but not really that familiar with any of those stories since they were before his Scooby time. Spike then roared, “We have to save her. Did you see anything else Red?”
Willow shook her head, “Oz I need to use your phone. We need to call Giles.”
Oz looked at her as Spike roared leaving the room.
Oz turned towards Willow asking quietly, “Did you see something else?”
Willow nodded while admitting in a soft voice so Spike’s enhanced hearing wouldn’t make it out, “Buffy’s pregnant but won’t be for long.”
Spike didn’t hear the conversation and was already down the road picking up speed determined to see if he could still pick up her scent and trail.
Buffy awoke tied to a chair in some sort of dark closet. It was completely silent and she struggled to remove the ropes but noticed in horror she was weakened. Her first thought was the council but she realized, they were all dead and Giles was running the show. Who would know enough about slayers to drug her and then tie her up leaving her in a dark closet?
She growled as she struggled only to have the lights above her flashed on. She tried to see behind her but noticed she couldn’t but she recognized the voice that echoed through the room, “Well well well Slayer. It appears we are all tied up at the moment. Whatever shall we do?”
He then laughed a triumphant laugh as he stopped to stand in front of her but not too close. He smirked, “Bet you wonder why you are seeing me again don’t you slayer? Bet you thought after the Initiative took me you would never again see my lovely face.
“Unfortunately, or Fortunately for me, the Initiative is closed down and deserted in Egypt where I was being held. I was able to cast a spell that made the guards want to release me and I was free. I did some research for a few years, watching how you worked and what you did. Then I got myself a beautiful seer.”
He motioned to the girl who was standing beside him. She was dark skinned with a small glittery star on her forehead. She was barely dressed in black with only a bra-size halter-top and a wrap around very short skirt. She wore high black heels on her feet and walked like she owned the place.
Ethan put a hand on her shoulder and whispered, “Wilda, we should offer our guest some refreshments. Can you be a dear and whip some up?”
Wilda snapped her fingers and in front of Buffy floating was a drink with a straw.
Buffy refused to drink but Ethan said, “There there slayer. You need to keep up what little strength you have. The information I managed to get from Travers before he was killed worked brilliantly. You are as weak as a newborn kitten and from what I gathered from your friends in England, you are all alone in Vegas since Xander and Anya left on their honeymoon and arrived safely in Rome last night. So what will a slayer do with no friends and family to protect her?
“This wonderful elixir works for 3 hours but we only really need an hour. We will do what we came to do and leave you here helpless for the last 2 hours until your strength comes back and you are able to break free. By then though my dear it will be too late. Don’t you wish you had your friends to save you?”
Buffy decided not to mention her friends and loved one who were indeed in Vegas but instead demanded, “What do you want Ethan Rayne?”
Ethan laughed, “I want to test your blood to find out what makes you special. I want to control the slayer power. I want to have my own little slayer at my disposal and you are providing that for me.”
Buffy laughed, “Didn’t you hear? There are hundreds of all over the world now. Killing or destroying me won’t make a bit of a difference. My power is spread out far and wide and into hundreds of little girls across the world. What do you think you can gain from me? I’ll never be at your disposal. I refused to be under the council’s thumb and I’m sure as Hell won’t be under yours. You are pathetic. Just really what do you hope to gain?”
Ethan laughed, “Oh but you misunderstand me slayer. I don’t want anything to do with you. Well nothing to do with you exactly. I just need you and I’ll leave you safe and sound right here in this very room in a few minutes. This has been carefully planned out and will not fail. What I need is inside you right now. It is slowly growing inside of you. It’s just a little dot right now but Wilda assures me that it’s big enough to be moved from your precious belly into Wilda’s without harming it. She has been carefully preparing her stomach for months for this special occasion. I don’t know how you managed it with having your dead boyfriend die and all but somehow you got some action somewhere.
“Good for you, but even better for me. It doesn’t really matter where it came from now does it. It will be my personal little baby slayer for me to train and use at my digression. What slayer, you looked shocked? You didn’t realize you were pregnant? I know I was really surprised too but no worries, with you not knowing you won’t miss it. Oh and in case you were wondering, you can have many more after this. It won’t hurt anything internally and it will be as though it never existed.”
He then turned to Wilda with a grin, “Let’s the ritual begin.”
Wilda poured salt around Buffy and herself and Ethan stepped out of the circle to allow the ceremony to take place.
Buffy screamed, fighting against her ropes to no avail, “You can’t do this!”
Ethan laughed, “Oh but I already have my dear, I already have.”
Wilda’s chanting continued and Buffy started to cry silently. She had no idea she was pregnant and not in a blink of an eye it was being taken from her. She screamed again as she felt herself started to glow, “No, stop this Ethan. Please!”
Ethan continued to cackle while Wilda continued to chant and suddenly Buffy felt empty. She passed out cold.