"I'm glad too Mom. I feel bad about blowing off the gang, but I did need some face time with you.", Buffy told her mother. She figured it was more important to have dinner with her than go check in before patrol. She figured it would be another slow news day anyhow. She planed on a quick patrol, then maybe an early bed. She was a little tired tonight.
"Well, you should get going honey, I wouldn't want you to miss any goblins", Joyce said as her daughter got ready to go.

 

"I knew you'd come. He said was calling to you.", Tara said.
"I knew it too, it's all I can think about. Did you tell him about her?", Willow asked.
"Yes, he was pleased. He made me feel so good Will, like nothing I've ever felt before. He can do it for you too. Tonight, he'll do it for Buffy. We will all be like sisters, serving our master together. I'm so hot Will, let's make love,", Tara said, almost as a command.

 

Buffy was about half way done when she felt a strange presence behind her. Instinctively, she raised her stake. Expecting to find a nasty vamp behind her. Something was different though, something was giving her butterflies. It wasn't fear, it was almost an excitement, maybe even a sexual excitement. Buffy spun fast to meet her attacker with a fury that had destroyed a hundred demons.
"Bad move buddy", she quipped as she spun.
"Hello, Ms. Sommers, look into my eyes.", Mesmotto said calmly. Buffy immediately froze. "Yes, your friends were right, I can sense the power running within you.", Do you know what is happening right now?
"N-No, what are you doing?", Buffy asked, staring deep into his eyes.
"You are caught in my hypnotic gaze. It feels nice, relaxing. Put down your stake.", he said. Buffy did so. "Now take your hand, and begin to massage yourself in your private area....good, now let yourself fall into my eyes, let your will fade away. You hear only my voice, my power is seeping through you. You are powerless against me, which excites you..."

 

Xander stared at the two through the bushes. He had to do something. Buffy was obviously entranced by Mesmotto. He was scared, really scared. If Buffy couldn't fight this guy, how could he? It didn't matter though. Summoning all the courage he could muster, he screamed out, "Get away from her you Bastard!". Mesmotto spun around, and saw Xander through the trees. He became even more pale than he already was, as if he was terrified of Xander. Then, the tall, dark figure vanished into the night in a puff of smoke.
Buffy was confused. What happened? Where was she again? That man, those eyes...it felt so good, she was so turned on...then Xander. She wanted to turn around and snap his neck! Wait, it's Xander, she couldn't. That man, that force, it must have been evil.
"Are you ok, Buf?", Xander asked, still shocked that he scared the monster away.
"What the hell are you doing here?", Buffy snapped, still angry with him, "I mean how did you know about him?"

 

Later, the gang met back at the Magic shop to regroup.
"I'm tellin' ya Buf, you were definitely pickin' up what he was putting down. And from what you were doing with your hand, I'd say you liked it."
"Shut up Xander", Buffy snapped
"Good thing I was there, that dude took one look at me, and he was poopin' in his pants with fear"
"Wow, and he wasn't even at the grocery store!", Anya added.

"It is a little strange that a creature from the netherworld would fear a mortal.", Giles pointed out.
"Especially Xander", Anya added.
"Indeed", Giles agreed,"unless.... remember I told you all obsessions and passions increase during time in the netherworld...well, the same goes for fears. Mesmotto was supposedly killed by a jealous lover, a man. It could be that he has come to fear men, thinking they may cause him harm. He probably spent his whole mortal life in fear of jealous lovers.", Giles explained.
"One may gather that his hypnotic powers are effective only on women as well then. Xander, it is up to you and I to stop this monster this time."
"What should we do, lock everyone else in the basement?", Xander joked. Buffy and Willow didn't even flinch. They hadn't been paying attention the whole time.
"Well, Anya hasn't been infected yet, but we should detain these two, unfortunately.", Giles said.
"I suppose we'll have to gather as much help as possible too.", Xander mentioned,"I try to get in touch with Riley, and I'll swallow my pride and hold my nose to ask Spike"
"I'll figure out a way to detain the girls, Anya, you should keep a low profile, you are susceptible. Buffy, I am going to have to lock you down in the basement, if that's alright...", Giles tried, she seemed almost comatose, so he didn't expect a fight.
"What, OK. Huh, wait no!", resisted Buffy, "Giles, I have never let a demon or a vamp best me yet, and I am not about to start now, now matter how much I may want to!"
"Yes, but you must understand, this is not a vampire, or for that matter a demon, and his power is not something you can overcome with quick fighting reflexes. Xander and I should be able to defeat him. You should stay in the basement, there are two beds down there, you'll be fine.", Giles ordered.
"It's OK, Buffy, we can make it fun" Willow smiled. She looked into Buffy's eyes. There was a connection that required no words. Giles sensed there was something going on between them, but when Willow willingly went downstairs, and Buffy began to follow, he was just happy they would be out of Mesmotto's reach for the time being. Now he and Xander could concentrate on finding the fiend before anyone else fell into his clutches.

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