Xander balked at sharing the Mansion with Angel and Spike until Willow insisted their plan wouldn’t work without him. He looked at her puttering about in the small kitchen making their dinner. It smelt delicious! His head rang with the banging of the blacksmiths hammer, wielded by Angel in the courtyard. His gameface lit with satanic resolve as the hooks slowly began to take shape. He plunged the glowing metal into the bucket of water by the furnace, stepping back to avoid the lethal steam. That was the last one; there were four in all, one for each of Mary’s limbs. He smiled with satisfaction. Buffy died in seconds, Mary, if they were lucky would last at least a day.

"Xander!" Willow called. "Dinner!" She put the pot on the table, extricating her hands from the pot holders.

"What’s in it?" He sniffed appreciatively, holding out his plate to the ladle.

"Everything that does you good, nothing that does you harm." She smiled and sat down with her plate. Spike sat down opposite Xander and toyed with a spoon.

"You clear on what’s going to happen then?" Willow glared at Spike, he sighed and left the table, without saying anything more.

"What did he mean by that?" Xander gazed at Willow, she couldn’t meet his eyes. "What’s going to happen?"

"I’ll tell you after you’ve eaten Xander…" She shovelled a spoon of the stew into her mouth to prevent him from asking any more questions.

Xander was so glad Willow hadn’t told him about the plan over dinner! He and Spike had to act friendly; how friendly was yet to be determined. He shuddered at the thought. Angel, Willow, Spike and he were going to be a ’family’, for Mary’s benefit. They were going to invite Mary to the mansion, overpower, and torture her for murdering Buffy. And who had planned this venture? Willow!

Spike paced in front of him. Xander sat hunched in the chair. Spike had interrogated him for three hours. The vampire muttered Xander’s answers under his breath committing them to memory. They had so little time to prepare! He glanced at the adjoining room where his Sire was doing the same to Willow. Only she looked sweeter. He stopped pacing and studied Xander. He didn’t look like any member of any family he remembered. From the information he’d managed to drag from the boy he didn’t belong anywhere. Perhaps that’s what made him so effective as part of Team Slayer!

"Xander, anything you want to ask me?" Xander looked up and took a breath, his ordeal over. He shook his head. He just wanted to get some sleep.

"For fucks’ sake!" Spike exploded. "Don’t you know what’s at stake, boy? If you don’t know how to act round me, she’ll kill you. Slowly!"

Xander wracked his brains for questions after that. Gradually after half an hour the tension had passed Spike lay on the floor at his feet recounting fascinating adventures of his youth. Xander didn’t want him to stop.

"See, most important thing to remember is, I protect you. She’ll expect you to be scared of her. You’ve got to have confidence in me. She’ll sense that too. Ownership, understand? Now get some sleep." He placed a tender kiss on Xander’s forehead as he left.

"Night, Mom." Xander’s response came unbidden from his lips. Spike hesitated his back stiffening, then after a beat, he strode out of the room with a shake of his head.

Xander looked around and gasped. Leaping from the chair he staggered down the steps from the raised dais. He had been sitting in the same chair in the same place where Giles had been tortured at Angelus’ hands. He sank down on the steps remembering his friend’s ashen face and broken body. He shut his eyes and rested his head against the rough stone wall.

The faint waft of flowers and rustle of silk told him Willow was beside him. Her scent had changed over the years he’d known her, baby powder; bubble gum; soapy; now floral and sexy. He had to admit it, Willow had grown up; she was adult enough to organise a torture he thought bitterly.

"What are you thinking?" Willow’s soft voice intruded on his musings.

Xander looked at Willow, with her long Empire line gown and elaborately braided wig she looked like a Napoleonic lady. Her sneakers peeping from beneath her dress shattered the illusion. She turned her head to study his face in profile.

"Giles. I was thinking of Giles. Where is he now, Will? He should be here! So you wouldn’t be thinking of torturing someone. It’s not your job Willow. Let Dead-boy and Spike handle it!"

"Xander, Mary isn’t “someone,” she’s a “something”. She killed our Buffy! Spike’s told me she has no minions. She uses those she sires as assassins to kill Slayers. She’s a rogue…a real Bitch!" Xander studied Willow’s face unsure whether he liked the sudden change in her attitude.

"Are you sure, Willow?" He clasped her hands in his wishing his Willow to return.

"Yes!" She affirmed vehemently, her eyes cold. "You didn’t see how Giles fought to prevent Buffy’s death and what that struggle did to his mind. I did. I expect you to play your part, Xander. Mary must suspect nothing, understand?" He nodded.

"What do you have planned for her?" He asked dreading her answer.

Willow’s eyes gleamed with evil mischief, she smiled and tossed her pretty head.

"Well, I thought I’d use Holy water, but in an IV. I mean, if it burns on the outside. It should be spectacular inside the body. Burning drip by drip by drip." She hugged her knees smiling brightly. Xander swallowed hard revolted by her enthusiasm for torture. "I really want to do this Xander. Don’t you think Giles would want to have revenge on the vampire that killed Buffy? Or perhaps you don’t have the stomach for it?" She challenged venomously.

"I’ll be there, Willow. I just don’t think Giles would approve of you taking such an active part…"

"How the fuck do you know? Everybody else ignored him ’cept me! I Put him to sleep Xander!" She screamed. "So he couldn’t save her I’ve got to do something!" She sobbed desperately. She wiped her tears away viciously and got up to leave.

"Hey, Willow," she hesitated, looking back at him. "Nice sneakers." She smiled. He held on to that image of Willow while he went back to his brooding melancholy.

Mary walked into the mansion courtyard, her nostrils flaring. She smelled humans here. She scoured the doorways and hiding places for her meal.

"Lady Mary," Angel gushed, sweeping towards the ancient vampire he clasped her hand in his own, brushing her delicate knuckle’s with his lips in a courtier’s greeting. "You do us a great honour."

Spike hovered in the shadows his Sire’s fawning sickened him. Just knock her on the head so we can get to the fun stuff! Xander stayed behind Spike trying to peep round him.

"Will you stop fidgeting!" Spike hissed. "Angel’s just about to introduce Willow," Spike grinned at Xander. "It’ll blow her mind!" He chortled.

"Why?" Xander asked in a whisper.

"Because Willow’s the image of the Slayer who tried to Slay Mary. Angel has seen to it that Willow knows everything there is to know about her. She will become that Slayer tonight. It should be quite a show. Its time…Now." Spike stepped from the shadow’s with Xander on his heels. He approached Angel and Mary with carefully measured ease, fixing a smile on his lips he too greeted the vampire warmly.

"Lady Mary, so good of you to come. May I introduce Xander?" Spike stepped to one side. Xander kept his face serene but was totally unprepared for the vampire’s disfigurement. No wonder she hated all Slayers! He took a step toward her and surprised Spike by offering his wrist inviting her bite. Spike shifted involuntarily. By the Gods he’s got guts! Mary inspected his wrist and with a flick of her hand waved it away. Obviously his blood was not to her taste. Spike grabbed Xander back; he hoped not too eagerly. Xander offered his wrist to Spike. Xander’s eyes conveyed one word. Ownership. Spike caught on at last. The boy really had been listening! He bent his head nipped his flesh, licked a few drops and released his hand slowly. He felt the boy’s relief as Mary drifted past them. Angel’s turn.

Willow appeared at the top of the stairs. This was her big entrance, I hope I don’t trip, she prayed. Angel, Spike and Xander looked toward Willow. Their gaze forced Mary to look in the same direction. Willow glided down the stairs. Angel let his studied gaze fall on Mary he wanted to memorise her horrified look. Terror alternated with disbelief as she stared at Willow descending the stairs. Willow took Angel’s arm and he lead her to Mary. The vampire backed away, shaking her head. Willow smiled serenely extending her pale hand, then Willow’s expression changed as she whipped her fist back, her eyes burned ready to stake the bitch. Angel dragged her screeching, away. She’d lost it! Mary panted with unnecessary breath in the centre of the courtyard.

Spike whirled a strange contraption above his head he aimed it at Mary. The Bola wrapped around her, the hooks thudding into her flesh making her scream and writhe in agony. The wounds gently smoked with an unholy fire.

"Not exactly as planned but it worked out OK.." He shrugged. "Xander, grab her feet." The vampire struggled and wailed all the way to the dungeon. Angel held Willow securely and finally managed to pry the stake from her grasp. She sobbed into his chest.

"I’m sorry…" She sniffled, tears dripping on her dress. She felt so wretched. Angel gave her a handkerchief.

"Willow, I know how you feel…Really, you forgot everything in the lust for revenge. That’s blood lust, Willow. For a second you knew what it was to be a vampire. Do you still want to watch?" She nodded.

"C’mon. Spike an’ I are gonna have fun!" His eyes gleamed. He held her hand and they walked towards the stairs that lead to the dungeon.

Spike released the hooks one at a time. Mary lay helpless on the rack. Being without minions she had no hope of rescue. She paid now for her centuries of isolation. She didn’t know these vampires, all she had done was kill a Slayer. That’s all. She couldn’t understand why they were making such a fuss!

"My name’s…" Spike held the hook aloft, gripping her arm with one hand and positioning it over the arm rest. He drove the hook into her wrist fixing it to the stout oak board. "Spike!" He walked round the table and released the second hook from her knee. He pulled her leg straight and drove the hook through her left foot. He breathed in the putrid scent of her burning flesh. It had been so long!

"I’ll be your torturer for this evening…" Xander freed the next hook and held it out to Spike. He smiled at the boy. "Thanks pet." Xander blushed. Spike couldn’t find the last hook. He tapped his nails on the rack then he realised. He reached under Mary’s body and wrenched the last hook from her back. He hammered this one into her other foot. Xander flinched with each blow. Mary howled and writhed her shattered game face phasing back and forth with pain and terror.

Willow appeared with Angel. Spike looked up from his work. She was a distraction he could do without! He couldn’t work with her here. Willow went to a small cupboard and collected her equipment.

"Thank you William, I’ll take it from here." Willow busied herself setting up the drip and sliding the I.V. into Mary’s vein. The vamp’s head turned straining to bite her. Willow bent over her studying her. She caressed the vampire’s scarred face, smiling brightly she said. "I’m giving you a special beauty treatment Mary; it’s SO to die for!"

She checked the connections and started the drip. Mary twitched and hissed as the drips of Holy water mixed with her stolen blood. Willow withdrew to the side of the room. Spike stared at Mary; This was no fun! Where was the screaming? Then, abruptly Mary jerked and an unearthly scream of the damned spewed from her throat. That was more like it! He grinned and applauded.

The Holy water dripped into Mary staining her veins crimson then cinder-black. It seeped into her tissues searing her flesh, causing her skin to split into bubbling eruptions. The deadly liquid pooled in her joints darkening each junction to charcoal grey.

Soon the original site for the IV crumbled. So Willow shifted it to the opposite arm. Spike danced about her, complimenting her on exquisite taste for torment. Willow smiled wanly. Only Angel knew what it cost her to endure her own “torment.” Willow wavered in her resolve clutching the rack. Angel steadied her disguising her weakness by whirling her round in a merry dance to the new IV site. The drip started anew; forging its volcanic flaming path to throat and thorax, liver and lungs.

Spike adjusted the rack to crank up the volume of Mary’s groans, as her joints cracked open a putrid odour filled the air, Willow gagged; Xander raced for the stairs unable to stand anymore. Willow remained.

Angel had nothing but admiration for her; Spike would have joyfully married her! Near exhaustion, Willow waited until she was sure that Mary’s body was beyond ’bloods’ repair. Then she arose, her emerald eyes burning with an unholy fire. She leaned over the shattered visage of Lady Mary.

"You, cheated my stake! You, killed my friend!" She spat venomously. She held her hand over Mary’s heart, green ribbons of witch-fire strangling the organ in her chest. "You, drove him mad! For that, I will see you dust. I have had my fill of you, you bitch! Send Satan my greetings. Tell him I sent you!" She smiled the ancient Slayers smile, then, she stepped back from the rack and dropped like a stone.

Angel smoothed Willow’s hair, as he lifted her from the floor and took her upstairs. Xander was in the kitchen retching, when he spied Angel with Willow. He laid her gently on the couch and kissed her lips lightly.

"Good night, little vamp." He whispered, hesitating he inclined his head slightly. "Night Xander." He walked back to the dungeon. He had work to finish.

Xander shared the couch with Willow; he slept at the opposite end and had nightmares. He heard the cranking of machinery followed by haunted screams. Finally near dawn an agonised wail cut short woke him. He shot from the couch in search of a stake. Angel and Spike came from the dungeon. They froze when they saw Xander; they didn’t expect him to be awake.

"She?…" Xander queried, his chest heaving with fear and anticipation.

The two vampires’ nodded as one. Xander sank to the couch not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Willow yawned awake; she looked so dewy-fresh this morning. It was hard to believe that she helped to torture a vampire to death the night before. Xander held his head in his hands. What were they to do now? Willow’s arm snaked round his shoulder. He clutched her to him and sobbed… She rocked him gently, her own tears silently spilling down her cheeks.

End of Pt.7

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