"Well! Tara! You finally caught up. What kept you?
" Xander asked.
"Mr. Giles needed to talk with me. That's all,
" Tara said, going over to Willow and inter-twining her fingers with Willow's. Willow pulled her hand away sharply. Christopher knew it was because she was feeling guilty. Christopher knew this would intervene. But maybe not. And that scared him even more. The reason being that deep-down Oz had memories of times she had tried to prove to the person that she loved them, even if she didn't. She always tried to do what was right. There was much pain in this tiny group of people who were barely adults and yet had seen so much pain, suffering, loss and death that they had matured far beyond their short years. He knew all these things simply by retaining the thoughts, memories and feelings of this one gentle human who had the thoughts he retained in his mind the only thing he could ever count on. He could never be described as shallow. The vampire was giving Christopher a strange look. Angel, he reminded himself. He shook off Ang! el's look and went to retrieve his keys from his back pocket. Instead, his hand fell over the knife and, accidentally, brought that out. On seeing what it was he had gotten, he dropped it. An image of a knife covered in blood and matching blood on his hands echoed in his mind. Christopher remembered all the people he'd had to kill that instant and reinforced why he could not let the Harbinger win. He felt something strange come over him The Harbinger is killing me, he thought to himself. But no. He felt Oz's identity slipping out of him. His image changed and flickered from his to Oz's and then finally came to rest on his. He was free. He'd escaped. But it couldn't be that easy, could it?
* * *
Oz felt something penetrate through him, like he was being completed again.
"That traitor! I knew employing a pure mortal would be trouble. Don't move, you little wretch, I'll be back!
" Catherine said to Oz. He had a bad feeling about that.
* * *
Giles was quite worried. Whatever had possessed Tara to do such a thing must've been quite powerful. But what had happened made no sense. Giles had a bad feeling about what was going on. He had to get to the others soon. But where had they gone to after the hospital? He couldn't remember now. He picked up the phone. He might as well try Angel's cell. Angel heard his phone ring in the distance. There were all still gaping at the discovery of the masquerader. After the fourth ring he finally picked up.
"Yes?
" he asked.
"Angel, it's me. I'm so glad I could contact you. I had a rather odd experience with Tara. Has she been acting at all strangely since she arrived?
" he asked.
"No, not Tara, that is,
" he said.
"Giles, I have to call you back,
" he said. With Giles loudly protesting, Angel clicked off his cell phone.
"I have to tell you something fast. She'll come for me soon,
" Christopher said.
"Go on, but if we don't like what we hear, your mistress will have her work cut out for her,
" Buffy said.
"Too late,
" he whispered. They watched him drop to the floor and he misted and disappeared. Something in front of them began to shimmer and then took shape.
"Catherine Madison,
" Buffy said.
"So you remember me. I guess I don't I have to take the time explaining, then. I am sorry for the discovery of your missing friend. You will all suffer the fate the real boy faced. Except for you two. I need you for the ritual,
" she stroked the chin of Tara and then Willow. Willow flinched and glared at Catherine. What she found odd was that Tara didn't do the same.
* * *
It was getting cold. Despite how much he feared and resented her, he wished Catherine was there. Even though she constantly talked about killing him, he knew that she would never dare until the ritual was over. He nearly knew completely what the ritual was for. If only the others could find him… but he knew that they wouldn't until they were trapped here. His double, even if he was executed, they would probably figure Oz for dead. Somehow he knew, though, Willow could find him if she put her mind to it. Their souls were joined. It was only a matter of time…
* * *
They sat in the van in silence. Dead. Oz was dead. That's all Willow could think. The pouring rain wasn't helping their moods any, either. Buffy, who was driving the van looked over at her and touched her arm.
"We'll kill Catherine and we're going to all make it through this. That bitch is going to pay,
" Buffy said. Willow looked away. Buffy felt so sorry. No one, for even an instant – except Tara – doubted that there was any chance Oz was alive. When no one was looking, Angel had picked up the knife. Oz wasn't dead. This knife wasn't used to kill people. It was ritualistic. Oz was somewhere being held captive by this Catherine Madison while she prepared for the ritual. He kept looking at it. Its blade was curved and had a design cut out of it. Mostly diamonds and curved lines were cut out. The tip had a ruby on it. He guessed that this was no ordinary stone.
* * *
Giles was in the kitchen eating an extremely late dinner when they entered.
"My God, what's wrong, Willow?
" Giles asked. Oz is… he, um… Well, you see, we believe…
" Xander trailed off. Without any sentiment in her voice or sorrow, Tara said.
"My mother killed him.
" He lowered his gaze to Tara. Something was amiss about the way she was acting.
"Why you think this is true?
" Giles asked.
"God, Giles, it was a little clear, okay?
" Buffy asked, for Willow's sake.
"They think my Mother killed him,
" Tara said blandly. Buffy glared at Tara. She couldn't even describe how much she wanted to slap her. Someone Willow had loved was dead, and she couldn't care less.
"This is terrible. Did she say anything else?
" he asked.
"She said the rest of us would follow, and something about a ritual, I think,
" Buffy said.
"And that Tara and Willow would be the two exceptions; that she needed them,
" Xander said.
"This must be a Wiccan ritual to which she was referring. And concerning Oz, do you remember precisely what she said in regards to him?
" Giles asked.
"She said, and I remember it word-for-word:
"I am sorry for the discovery of your missing friend. You will all suffer the fate the real boy faced.
" The reason she said the real boy was that at some point Oz was switched with a decoy, who is now… dead,
" Tara said. This is outrageous! She has more sympathy for some evil guy than Oz! Buffy thought to herself. Willow looked like she'd been hit with a baseball but was so stunned she hadn't felt anything. Why was Tara acting like that? Was she really happy Oz was dead? Willow was asking herself. But it didn't matter. He was gone.
"From what you tell me, I don't believe he is dead, but she is trying to make you all disconcerted until she has all of you where she needs you. In all possibility she's planning to use you for the ritual,
" Giles said. Willow brightened.
"He's not dead?
"
"There still is a possibility. I don't want to raise any false hopes,
" Giles said, and Willow's face fell again. She wouldn't care if it was me who possibly dead. They deserve to die. I hate them all. Tara was thinking. And by way the way, Buffy, my Mother's not a bitch. You'll pay for that. You all will.
"You have to excuse me. I don't feel well,
" Tara said.
"Do you want me to come?
" Willow asked.
"No!
" Tara said loudly, and then looking at the confused looks, she softened her tone.
"No, you should be with everyone and… research,
" Tara said.
"Tara, if she gains access to you she'll have only a few more people before she can complete this. It would be best if you were to stay here, where we can protect you,
" Giles said.
"I can take care of my self,
" Tara said, and rushed out the door. Willow was more confused than she had ever been in her life, but all she cared about was getting to Oz, freeing him and stopping this ritual. She knew there was only one person with all the answers…
* * *
"Cordelia, how close are you to Giles' place?
" Angel was asking her over the phone.
"Not too far. I'm just not sure I quite remember where he lives Do you need my help? I'm staying at the Sunnydale Motel. Classy, huh?
" she asked with a giggle.
"Yes, I do. Can I come pick you up?
" Angel asked.
"Sure, but I don't think I'm quite clear on the sitch,
" Cordelia was saying.
"I'll explain when I come,
" he said. He clicked the off button on the cell phone and muttered something about the Hellmouth.
* * *
Cordelia put down the phone. Something serious was going down. She put on her tight black leather jacket over a tight red shirt and a black skirt. She grabbed her purse and decided to wait for Angel outside.
