"There you are! Look, I'm through being your little clerk, you British Boss! Here is my resignation!", Anya screamed at Giles as he walked into the magic shop.
"So, my name's Alex, what's yours pretty lady?", Xander asked Anya, though she paid no attention to him. Giles took a moment to survey the situation. Things were strange. Had Mesmotto been here? Had he gotten to them?
"Xander what is going on here?", he asked. Xander
acted as if he hadn't heard.
"Xander, I'm talking to you!", Giles said louder, and annoyed. Xander looked at him suddenly.
"Are you talking to me mister?", he asked
"Your name is Xander, isn't it?", Giles asked sarcastically.
"Well, it's ALExander, but I go by Alex, not xander. Who goes by xander? It would be like calling Michael by just 'chael'. 'Hey 'chael', how's it hangin?", Alex joked.
"Oh Dear!", Giles exclaimed, "has either Buffy or Mesmotto been here?", he asked.
"Who are they?", Alex asked. Anya's expression gave her away.
"She has.", Giles deduced, "Anya, she or he, or whomever has hypnotized you. You are not yourself. You must fight it. They must have gotten to Xander too, erased his memory. You must fight it Anya!"
"Are you kidding? Buffy opened my eyes to a whole new world. I have a purpose now. He is too powerful to stop. We will rise with him as he regains his glory in the mortal world. You can't stop us, you shouldn't even try. Actually, you probably won't try. Buffy will catch you. She has power now, she can get inside your head. She went inside mine, and it was wonderful Giles. She'll come for you, then you won't worry about any of this. You'll be like Xander, you'll have a whole new life. Buffy, Willow, Tara, Joyce, myself, none of us will exist to you. You'll forget all about us. It won't hurt a bit. Well, this is probably the last time I'll see you, so ta-ta!", Anya said, as she bolted out the door.

 

"He was totally under my power Master, it felt incredible", Buffy told Mesmotto back at her house, which had been turned into a makeshift base of operations.
"Ahh, the rush of your first seduction. You have done well my pet. What of your watcher?", Mesmotto asked.
"I'm sorry Master, I could not find him. I went to his house, but he was no where to be found. I was going to hunt for him, but...", Buffy became silent, she was obviously ashamed of something.
"What is it? What are you hiding?", Mesmotto asked.
"I had some bad thoughts.", Buffy admitted, sheepishly, "I started thinking that Giles was only trying to protect me. Then I started realizing why he would want to protect me. I realized part of me is still fighting you. I'm so sorry Master."
Mesmotto was worried, this had been a close call.
"You did the right thing my love. Your old habits are hard to break. You need constant re-enforcement. Fear not though, with each session, your will shall submit to me more and more. Now Buffy, I want you to relax and stare at the watch.....", Mesmotto instructed. He knew she was strong, maybe too strong. The others were his forever with just one gaze
into their eyes. She was different. He knew he would have to bring her into trance almost daily. She was the most important though. Her strength would protect him as he reclaimed his past glory. He needed more though. There must be other women with powers that can support him. He needed to find these women, and make them his, Buffy would help him do that.

 

Gile was stunned. How could hehave been so slow to react? Buffy was totally under Mesmotto's power now, as were most of the other women he knew. He needed to figure out what Mesmotto's next move would be. Perhaps he could guess who the netherworld refugee would be after now. Buffy was an obvious target because of her strength. Who else would be of great use to Mesmotto? Who might be as strong a Buffy? Spike? Maybe, but he is male. What females have Buffy's power? Oh no. Faith!

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