Meanwhile, Willow had followed Xena's soaring form through the cool Sunnydale night sky and into the mountain caves that housed Bacchus' lair. In truth, though, Willow didn't need to follow her new Mistress, the former Warrior Princess, through the vast labyrinth of tunnels within the mountain range that bordered the Hellmouth. Since being bitten and having turned into an immortal follower of the Wine God, Willow felt an undying sense of loyalty to Bacchus and with that, was drawn to his mighty presence. Still, Willow, in her newly twisted mindset, also felt indebted to Xena for ridding her of her foolish humanity and making her into a Bacchae, and so she had followed the raven-haired woman obediently to their destination.
When the tunnels opened up finally and the two Bacchae set down gently on the rocky floor of the huge, cavernous space that was Bacchus' lair. Willow was instantly overcome by the numerous sensations that were running through her body and mind, and a low growl emanated within her throat in response. Instantly, slow, rhythmic, hypnotic music flowed through her and she gazed on in abject wonder at the sea of pale women in black clothing dancing around a center cauldron that was barely filled with rich, crimson blood. Willow's big, golden red-lined eyes, concentrated fully on the cauldron, unaware that she had already begun to writhe and sway to the melodic music that had already taken hold of her.
"It is the music all Bacchae know well, my sister," Xena whispered hotly into the redhead's ear, and Willow put up absolutely no fight as her new Mistress stripped her of her soft pink shirt and virginal white bra. Once topless, Willow allowed her head to loll to one side. She felt the senior Bacchae behind her brush away her wild, wind-swept, shoulder-length hair and she closed her eyes. Inhaling sharply, she felt Xena plant soft kisses up and down her pale neck before her Mistress stopped and whispered in her ear, "Let it flow over you. Accept it into your wild heart."
"I'm thirsty," Willow simply stated, her evil eyes never leaving the cauldron of blood. She parted her swollen crimson lips and flashed her long, viperish fangs.
"I know, my dear," Xena purred, a slightly sympathetic tone to her cutting voice, "And you must be famished. The initial thirst is the worst. Once you feed, all will become much clearer. Now, come with me."
Willow hissed evilly as she was led away from the cauldron of blood by Xena into another part of the cavern. They passed flaming torches and large candles that illuminated the cavern and made the dancing Bacchae at the center of the room's chalky white skin take on an orange and yellow hue to reflect its flames. Willow looked on and wanted nothing more at that point than to join her sister Bacchae in their dance. Somehow, she knew that it would please her Lord and Master, the great Bacchus.
Xena led on with a confident smirk on her evil face until they were met by a shorter Bacchae with long, golden blonde hair pulled back. She wore the signature black skirt, midriff-barring top with the hole at the center to showcase her pale white cleavage and a gold-lined black cape that was attached to her black opera gloves. Willow somehow knew instantly that this Bacchae before her was another one of her Master's favorites. She glanced to the side for a second, as if a voice was calling to her inside her mind but only for a moment. With a snarl, her head snapped forward and she felt a shudder flow through her. Willow then opened her eyes and looked at the grinning face of the Bacchae in front of her.
"Gabrielle," Willow announced, and her swollen red lips curled into an equally devilish grin as the one Gabrielle was giving her. Xena laughed lightly to herself. Willow was already feeling a connection with each and every one of Bacchus' subjects, and the former Warrior Princess knew that the redhead before her was going to be a truly powerful Bacchae.
"Welcome to the fold, sister," Gabrielle purred, "Our Master has such divine plans for you now that you are one of his children."
"All for the glory of Bacchus!" Willow announced, wild energy dancing in her big eyes. She then lurched forward slightly, her body wracked by a wave of dark pleasure that flowed over her. The redhead was quickly learning that obedience to Bacchus had its rewards.
The two senior Bacchae nodded their heads and they smiled their fang-filled grins. They quickly descended upon their new sister and stripped Willow completely naked. Once the three emerged from the dark corner of the vast cavern all could see that Willow had now taken on the full look of the Bacchae. She was one of them. She looked like she belonged amongst the frenzied, bloodthirsty women dancing at the center of the large space.
Gone forever was Willow's relaxed sense of dress. It had been replaced with the black ensemble that contrasted perfectly with Willow's deathly pale skin. Her short red hair was slicked back, taking on a wet, shiny look, and fell to the top of black collar she wore. Willow's black opera gloved hands were attached to a black-lined cape. A giddy smile had spread over Willow's features, as she walked out of the darkness with Xena and Gabrielle at her side. She had always felt an incredible bonding and belonging with Buffy, The Slayer. It had made her feel special. As if she was a part of something bigger than herself. Willow thought with disdain what an absolute fool she had been! That was nothing compared to being amongst Xena and Gabrielle, her Master's favorites. How Gabrielle herself had told her that Bacchus had plans for her. Another dark jolt of pleasure flowed over her and Willow wanted nothing more than to find Bacchus and pledge everything she was and everything she ever would be to his great power.
"Willow!" came a loud, deep voice, as if to answer her silent request. The redhead looked on in utter awe at the source of the voice. The same dark flow of pleasure spread throughout her body and she knew that it was the voice of her Lord and Master, Bacchus!
Xena and Gabrielle took Willow by her arms and anxiously led her through the crowd of their Bacchae sisters, who had stopped their dancing and were now congregating in front of their master's throne. Willow, Xena and Gabrielle finally made their way to the front of the group and the two senior Bacchae once more took their places next to the their horned master. Willow's breath caught in her throat the moment she saw the being that she now regarded as her entire world. The redheaded Bacchae didn't see his weakened state, or how he slumped back feebly in his throne. Instead, she saw a source of incredible power that had just laid dormant for too long. Without another thought, Willow dropped to her hands and knees and bowed her head in reverence to her new God.
Bacchus, for his part, looked on and his face contorted into a warped, fang-filled smile that was made all the more striking by his gaunt facial features. He could feel the raw magical power emanating off Willow. It was like a heavy fog that only he could perceive, and for an instant, the Wine God wanted to nourish his anemic body with it. A growl escaped his dried, chapped lips when he closed his eyes and used his connection with his bowing redheaded minion at how she had used that power for such good up until the point of her transformation into one of his Bacchae. Opening his evil, golden eyes, Bacchus couldn't help choking out a gleeful laugh at his plans for Willow and her considerable magic. He would pervert her and twist her and her power to fit his needs.
"Rise, my child," Bacchus commanded, lifting his clawed hand slightly and Willow did as she was told. The redheaded Bacchae looked up at him with awed worship in her big golden eyes. He then turned his head slightly and called out a name. "Anya, come to me."
From out of the darkness behind Bacchus Anya approached her Master. The one-time rivals for Xander's attention, one his girlfriend and the other his best friend, regarded one another as Anya stepped into the dancing light of the large candles that surrounded the throne. As humans Willow and Anya tolerated one another and nothing more. Now, though, as Bacchae, they looked at one another with a new fiery sense of passion in their evil, yellow eyes. Willow tore her eyes away from Anya's smoldering orbs and saw that in the one-time Vengeance Demon's black-taloned hands she held a large golden chalice. Xena moved away from Bacchus and allowed Anya to take her place at her Lord's side.
"You are both friends of the Slayer," Bacchus continued, struggling to rise up in his ornamental chair, "She whose blood will restore me to my former glory. Willow, I have been told that you were particularly close with her."
"She was a dear friend, but all in the past, Master," Willow hissed, an air of desperation to please the Wine God in her voice, "I only live to serve you."
"You will find that you may be drawn to past relationships now that you are one of my children. If those you still feel attached to will serve me, then you have my permission to make them into one of us," Bacchus spoke, and Willow nodded her head, an evil grin forming on her swollen lips, "We will use this friendship you had with The Slayer to our advantage. Anya here has already proven most useful in converting you into my loyal servant."
Bacchus then looked off in the distance for a moment and Willow's posture grew straight and she blinked her eyes rapidly. He was reading her mind. Finally, Bacchus returned his gaze to Willow and the redheaded Bacchae snapped out of her brief trance. The Wine God continued, "Hmm. A shame that The Slayer, your friends and even your lover herself...this Tara...kept you from expanding on your already considerable powers in magic, Willow."
"It is true, Master," Willow spoke, her head bowed in reverence, "They believed I was becoming a danger to myself and others."
"The fools," Bacchus snapped. He leaned forward and stared intensely at Willow, "I have lived through countless centuries. I have seen the great witches, wizards and other magic users rise and fall. I make this promise to you, my child. Through my teachings and influence, you, Willow, shall eclipse them all. You will become a most powerful Bacchae witch, and we shall bathe the world in eternal darkness! A world where the Bacchae shall rule! And in return, you will help me find The Slayer and make her mine. You will help me make her into one of my children, and I will once again be made whole!"
"Yes, Master," Willow gasped, her eyes suddenly half-lidded as excited inhuman shrieks and snarls from her surrounding Bacchae sisters could be heard echoing through the large cavern. Willow felt an overwhelming surge of evil power and pleasure surge through her once more. It was everything she had ever wanted as a mortal witch, and only now as an evil eternal servant of Bacchus, the God of Wine, she would achieve her goal of finally mastering her magical powers. In a quivering, pleasure-filled voice Willow vowed, "All for your glory, Master. Buffy will be yours."
"Excellent!" Bacchus laughed, before turning to Anya, who stepped forward and held out the chalice, "And now it is time to sate your thirst. Drink and become immortal. Become one with me. Forever!"
Anya held the cup out for Willow, and the redhead took the chalice in her black taloned hands. The newly-transformed Bacchae glanced down at the warm blood inside the chalice for an instant and felt the maddening thirst rise up within her once more. A stray thought past Willow's frenzied and twisted mind. How if she would drink of the cup filled Bacchus' own blood like some warped communion ceremony there would be no turning back. There would be no chance that Buffy could save her. She would forever be a bloodsucking Bacchae. Suddenly, a loud snarl escaped her fang-filled mouth and yet another dark wave of pleasure raged through her body. The bloodlust had proven too powerful, and Willow brought the chalice up to her swollen lips and she drank, savoring the rich flow of blood coursing down her throat. It was the most delicious thing that Willow had ever tasted and she kept drinking like she had been dying of thirst.
Suddenly, Willow felt a new power rise up within her and a blinding flash of white, blinding light engulfed her. As that happened, she shrieked out in the inhuman, ear-piercing call of the Bacchae as an orgasm blasted through her mind, body and soul. It forever sealed her fate as one of Bacchae's evil followers.
Willow would forever be a Bacchae. Xena and Gabrielle looked on grinning as the cavern was filled with Bacchus' triumphant laughter.