Inell's Fanfiction Archive

"You can't trust her."

Willow jumped at the softly spoken words. She turned, peering into the darkness, seeing nothing. She shook her head slowly, deciding she was imagining things. She was just upset. That had to be it. Jesse was dead. His life replaced by blood from her vampire lover. He would awaken sometime the next day and be someone she no longer knew. Darla told her that he would be the same in many ways, but Willow was unsure. There was so much of her lover's life and history that confused her. She had never asked specific questions, knowing somehow that it was not the time. She continued walking, knowing that Darla would kill her if she knew Willow was out alone after dark. She had been escorted home by Darla a few hours before dawn. After spending almost an hour pacing around her room, Willow had grabbed a coat and left. Now, she was hearing whispered voices in her head.

"She's going to hurt you."

Willow stopped and again looked around. "Who's there? Come out and show yourself."

Willow's breath caught as a tall man moved from the shadows of a nearby tree. He was dressed all in black, his dark hair falling against his forehead. Dark brown eyes caught hers, keeping her pinned. She stiffened as she got a vibe from him. Something was pulling at her. She frowned, not sure what this strange feeling was. "Who are you?"

"That's not important," he said in a soft voice. So soft she could barely hear him.

"What do you want?"

"To warn you," he said simply. His eyes were guarded, his emotions concealed. She couldn't understand what he was trying to say.

"By scaring me to death?" she asked.

"You still have a chance," he said, ignoring her words. "You can get away from her."

"Darla?" Willow asked, knowing it had to be her lover he was speaking about. "You know Darla?"

"You could say that," he said, smiling wryly. "She will be ruin you."

"I don't really think my relationship with Darla is any of your business," Willow said, suddenly understanding the strange feeling she had been getting. He was a vampire.

"I've made it my business," he said sharply. "I will not merely stand here and watch her destroy you."

"She is not going to destroy me," Willow said, her tone confident. She would not have this man badmouth her mate no matter how handsome and vampy he was.

"Yes, she will. She can't have changed that much," he said quietly. His eyes softened slightly. "You are so innocent. She's playing with you."

"She is not," Willow said, her tone angry. Who did Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome think he was? Darla's judge, jury and executioner? "She cares about me."

He snorted, "She is playing a game with a naive little human. When she is finished, she'll kill you."

"That's my choice, isn't it?" she asked. "This is ridiculous. I don't know you. I am not going to stand on some dark street and discuss my love life with you. Just leave me alone."

"I can't do that, Willow," he said softly.

"How do you know my name?" she demanded, feeling frightened but also upset.

"I've been watching you since I arrived in town," he admitted. "You have such a bright soul. It attracted me from the start. I had to protect you. Everything else in this town is so dark, so jaded. She must have seen it too."

"Wait a minute," Willow looked at him for several moments. "You've been following me? You're lying."

"I don't lie," he said. "I haven't been following you. Not really. I've just made it a point to watch out for you, to protect you."

"Oh, that's rich. My very own protector? Well, Broody guy, where were you a few weeks ago? When she first found me? She saved me, you know."

"I was in L.A.," he admitted. "I had to see someone. I came back but it was too late. Her scent is all over you."

"It is?" Willow had to smile at that. Her lover had marked her. "Well, then. It's too late. Why bother talking to me now?"

"I can still save you," he said, his eyes serious. "I can protect you from her, from becoming like her."

"I thought she was going to kill me?" Willow said, wishing he had never spoken.

"Willow, please listen to me. I want to help you. Soon, things here are going to change. You can save yourself," he said.

"Change? You're definitely a cryptic guy, aren't you?" she said, laughing slightly. It had been a terrible day. Jesse was dead, well undead. Now she was confronted with this stranger speaking all of her fears and concerns, giving them a soft voice to have to listen to. His cryptic words and warnings. Who was he? He didn't know her, didn't know Darla, didn't know what their relationship was like. He was a vampire, that she was pretty sure about. He could be her enemy, hear to hurt Darla. Yet, looking into his eyes, she saw sincerity.

"I've been accused of that in the past," he said in return.

"Please, just leave me alone. I love Darla and she loves me. I'm not afraid of her. I trust her completely. She's my mate," Willow explained, hoping that he wasn't after her due to some hatred against Darla.

"I know," he said, grimacing. "She made sure to claim you. She is going to hurt you, Willow. Please don't trust her."

"Stop it," Willow said, moving away from him. "Just stop."

"Running won't change the truth," he said softly, his words following her.

"What would you know? You've been following me around like some sort of," she struggled for words, "like some puppy dog, trying to protect me. Yet, when I've really needed protection, where were you? In L.A.? Well, Darla was here, saving my life. So, keep your stoic warnings and wise insight to yourself. I don't want to hear it. I trust her with everything that I am. So why don't you find someone else to follow?"

"I'll be here, Willow. When reality finally begins to make sense, and you realize that I was right, I'll be here," he said quietly. "I promise you that I will keep you safe."

"It's been real weird, Stranger," she said, needing to get away from him. There was an intensity in this man that frightened her yet also intrigued her. She walked away from him, wondering if she should mention him to Darla or keep him to herself.

Angel watched the quite redhead that had been captivating him for months as she walked away. His sire's smell was all over her, the claim obvious to even the newest vampire. The strength of the claim, of Darla's interest in Willow, frightened him. This time, he was wondering if it was actually forever. Thinking of Willow and the future she would have with his sire made him shudder. He couldn't stand by and watch it happen. The slayer was supposed to be in town by now. He'd gone to LA to find her still there, cheerleading of all things. Yet, here in Sunnydale, things were beginning to fall apart. The master was getting stronger. Darla was much stronger than he had ever seen her. If the slayer didn't arrive soon, he feared what might happen to this town. She was supposed to arrive within the month. He just had to keep Willow alive that long. He began to follow Willow, keeping enough space between them that no one would sense his presence.