Buffy silently crept through the abandoned house. She had trailed Amy here. The supplier had just left. Amy was talking on her cell phone to someone else about some other supply deal. Amy was becoming quite a player in the magic black market. Buffy was half thinking of killing her, but on her way in, she thought that the former classmate may have better uses alive.

Buffy was picking up speed as she got Amy in her
sights. In a flash, the slayer threw the phone out the window, and slammed Amy into the wall.
"Hi Amy", Buffy said. Amy was frozen speechless with fear.
"Fine thanks, and how are you?", Buffy joked. Amy missed the irony of the comment.
"B-Buffy, what's going on"
"I need something from you", Buffy said. This time Amy did note the similarity to her conversation with
Willow, "That's seems to be everybody's opener tonight", she said as she tried to squirm for a deeper breath, "what can I do for you?"
"What did Willow tell you to get for her"
"Nothing, I don't know what you are--", Amy tried, but Buffy just tightened her grip.
"You damn witches love to stick together. I'm going to ask again Amy, what are you getting for Willow?", Buffy said, squeezing harder.
"Chrononnedy Root", Amy winced.
"What is that?"
"It's a root"
Buffy squeezed tighter, and added another shake into the wall, "Do I look like I'm in a joking mood Amy?"
"It's used for spells"
"Yeah, obviously, what kind of spell is Willow going to cast with it?"
"I can't be sure"
"What's you're best guess?", Buffy said, adding another shake.
"I-I can't say. It usually has something to do with time... dislinking time continuims, things like that", Amy admitted.
Buffy was puzzled. She wasn't sure how this fit in. She decide she needed to find out from Willow.
"C-Can I go now, that's all I know", Amy pleaded, she wasn't sure what the slayer was going to do to her.
"Well, actually, there was one more thing I was thinking you could help me with", Buffy said. Amy noticed a change in her whole demeanor. She went from mean thug to .... well, kind of a seductive snake type thing.
"I've been looking for the perfect gift for my partner, and I think I might have just found it"
"What, chrononnedy root?", Amy asked.
"No ... you"
"Me?", Amy asked, frightened. She noticed Buffy's grip loosen considerably. Amy was still unable to go anywhere, but at least she could breath freely.
"Amy, look into my eyes", Buffy said. Her voice seemed different. Amy didn't have much choice so she did so. It was then that she noticed how they sparkled, she hadn't seen that in Buffy before. It was nice.

The next few minutes were a blur. Amy was
completely lost in Buffy's eyes and her words. She was quickly put under.
When she was confident the witch was under her power, Buffy began giving instructions.
"Amy, tomorrow afternoon, you will go to 585 Crichton Blvd. Tell whoever opens the door that you are a present for Faith from Buffy. Do you understand?"
The hypnotized girl nodded.
"Good. Now when you see Faith, you will fall instantly in love with her. Beg her to hypnotize you and let you join her team. Tell her you want to be her 'Bad Ass Chick', and tell her you are a thank you present from me for her being so understanding. Can you do that?"
"Yes", Amy answered.
"Good. Now give me the chrononnedy root and be on your way", Buffy said. Amy handed the root over, then quietly left the building.

 

 

Kathleen Carter looked out the triple re-enforced 3" plexiglass window of the Howard Asylum for the criminally insane. She was starting to forget how long she had been here. This place was awful, but it was probably better than jail.

Kathleen, who liked to be called Kat, was the premiere jewel thief of northern California. She was, at least, until she got busted over a year ago. She could afford a good lawyer though, and that good lawyer told her to plead insanity.

The insanity plea wasn't a far cry for Kat, who had suffered from severe self esteem issues, and manic depression all of her life. With proper therapy and medication, Kat could have easily overcame her mental health issues, instead they were exploited and potentially even worsened in order to keep her out of a maximum security prison.

Kat suddenly heard keys at her door. Even in her

thorazine induced stupor, Kat knew it wasn't a normal time for meds or for dinner. When a dark haired girl entered the room, Kat figured she was having another one of her hallucinations (a common side effect of the throazine).

"You must be the Kat", Faith said with a smile. The papers had called her "The" Kat during her trial.
Kat looked at Faith with a dazed but puzzled look, "How?" was all she asked.
"How did I get in here?", Faith continued for her,
"Well I had a little chat with the guards and staff here. I can be ... very persuasive. Anyway, they agreed to let me take you out of here into my custody."
"Who?", Kat asked. This was a very real hallucination.
"Who am I? I'm your salvation... I'm your queen.... I am Faith", she said dramatically, for fun.
"My queen", Kat muttered. Suddenly her eyes lit up. Her queen had come to save her!
"I am your faithful servant for all of eternity my dark queen!", Kat said excitedly. Her rapid switch from drugged confusion to obedient exuberance caught
Faith off guard. What surprised the young slayer even more was when the former jewel thief took off all of her clothes and kneeled before her.
"Please, my raven haired mistress, command me", Kat proclaimed.
Faith was actually a bit freaked. This girl was more mental than she thought. Faith hadn't even used any hypnotic tricks on her. She was just ready to serve the first girl who came in the room and identified herself as the queen of salvation.
"Umm, yeah, well... why don't you stand up", Faith suggested
Kat did so.
"You're Kathleen Carter, right? The jewel thief?", Faith asked. If she was going to get stuck with a nut ball, she should at least make sure it was the right one.
"Yes my queen", Kat replied.
"Ok, well, let's go then", Faith said. She knew this girl was going to need some work.

 

 

 

Willow was only two streets away from the Summers house when Buffy surprised her. The red headed witch jumped back in fear.
"You better be scared you little double crossing bitch!", Buffy said, getting right up in Willow's face.
"Buffy! What's wrong? I don't understand?", Willow said, frantically.
"What is chrononnedy root, huh? Some kind of trick or spell to restore him to power?"
Buffy wasted no more time. She grabbed Willow and started to 'rough her up'.
"Wait, wait", Willow panted, "It's not for him, it's for me!", she yelled.
Buffy stopped with the abuse for a second, "What do you mean, and I'll know if you're lying"
"It's to make time go faster.... for me"
The time going faster explanation did jive with what Amy said. Buffy let will go.
"Why do you need time to go faster for you?", Buffy asked, ready to spring into action again if she didn't like the answer.
"Mesmotto's power seems to wear off over time. I want it completely worn off...sooo", Willow said.
"I see"
Willow took a minute to compose herself.
"Sorry", Buffy said. She had once again reacted too quickly.
"It's ok", Willow said, moving into hug Buffy. She was afraid she was laying it on a little thick, she and Buffy weren't quite back to the hugging stage yet, but she wanted to prove she was still on Buffy's side.
"Are you still in on the plan?", Willow asked.
"I guess, when do we do it?", Buffy said.
"I'm trying to set it up for Tuesday night. Can you be at the graveyard around 8:00?"
"Yeah"
Willow explained how she had to get back so the others didn't suspect anything, and ran off.

Buffy walked back alone. She was both excited and nervous. She was glad to have the chance to kill Mesmotto, the chance to prove she was stronger. But part of her was afraid she wouldn't be strong enough, that she'd chicken out, or worse, decide not to do it. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.

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