These characters belong to Mutant Enemy.
Fractures
Fifteen minutes to midnight. The construction site was cold and dark. Four figures stood in the centre, shivering.
"It's too dangerous," Xander insisted. Anya moved closer to him. He put an arm around her, holding her snugly against his side.
Willow planted her hands on her hips. "We've been through this all before," she told him levelly. "I've done the preparations. I've spent the last three nights, Xander, three damn nights, outside under the full moon. I can do this. I have to do this." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "The world needs Buffys, Xander."
Tara, Xander, and Anya exchanged uncertain looks.
Willow took a box of matches from her pocket. "Are you helping me or not?"
Anya and Xander separated reluctantly. The four lit the candles in a circle, then sat cross-legged around the outside. Willow shook a small bag on the ground in front of her. Four things hit the dirt – a clear crystal, a scrap of cloth, green powder – and a strand of hair.
Blonde hair.
"At least let me call Giles," Tara suggested.
"No," Willow said firmly. "We have to do this now. The elements are calling to me, Tara. If we miss it tonight, there isn't another window of opportunity until next month."
She started chanting. The others had no choice. They bowed their heads and intoned the responses.
A wind blew up out of nowhere. The air inside the circle began to go dark and cloudy, though the sky above stayed clear. Lightning cracked. Willow rose, staring into the maelstrom in front of her. She clutched the hair tightly in one hand. The candle flames burned dazzlingly blue, in spite of the wind whipping through the circle. "I summon thee, O Uniss, on this great day," Willow said loudly. "I summon thee in the aftermath of the breaking, so that thou may heal. I summon thee," she raised her voice to a shriek over the wind, "to bend to my will!"
A red spark shot through the centre of the whirlwind, followed by a great roar. Anya, Tara, and Xander were on their feet. Slowly, a figure began to appear. It was huge, red, and had at least six arms.
Then it vanished. The whirlwind disappeared. Willow was motionless, aghast.
A candle had been knocked over.
Willow pounced on it. "What the hell happened?!" she screamed. "Who did this?"
"Me," Tara said quickly. "I'm so sorry, Willow." She tried to take Willow into her arms, but Willow would have none of it.
"You knocked the candle – ?! You know how important this is, Tara. You know how freakin' important – get out of my sight." Willow closed her eyes, breathing deeply. "I know you still feel sick. I know it was an accident. But I don't want to look at you right now. Leave me alone."
Tara sighed, helpless. "I'll get some coffee from the car."
"I'll come too," Anya said uneasily. Xander gave Tara a strange look, then motioned for the two of them to go ahead. He went over to Willow and began talking to her in a low voice. She wiped her eyes, gesturing angrily.
Anya didn't speak until they reached the car, and Tara was sipping coffee. She touched the blonde witch's arm.
"It wasn't you, was it?"
Tara glanced at her sharply. She exhaled, the wariness in her eyes replaced by exhaustion. "Yeah," she said softly. "How'd you know?"
"I saw Xander's arm. He burned himself. Why did you say it was you?"
Tara leaned back against the car, thoughtful. "I knew she'd forgive me."
"What do you mean?" Anya asked quietly.
"She did so much for me. Looked after me. And she knows I'm not quite – not quite all there, just yet." Tara didn't meet the other girl's eyes. "I hate to use that. I hate lying to her, but I had to. She couldn't do this. It's too dangerous. Someone had to stop it. I saw him when it all died down. I saw how guilty he looked. She has to have Xander in her life, Anya."
Anya nodded. "Because of Buffy."
"Yeah. She's lost one friend already. She can't lose another. I didn't think she'd take it well if he betrayed her, but me being clumsy – that happens every day."
Anya reached out hesitantly, taking Tara's hand. "I think I understand."
Tara looked up at her shyly. "Thank you." She was silent for a moment. "I'm hoping I can talk her out of it before she can try again. No one can control Uniss."
"I've heard of him," Anya agreed. "He likes eating people."
Tara laughed abruptly, a short, pained sound. "And Xander didn't want that to happen to Willow. She'll understand the danger, when she's a little more rational."
"And she'll forgive you," Anya said.
"I think so," Tara rubbed her eyes wearily. "The world needs Willows, too."
