Desperate Acts: Part Twenty Three
by Wravyn

Disclaimer: Not mine.



Anyaka stared hungrily at the necklace that was once again hanging around Cordelia’s neck. “First, uh ... I’ll need that amulet you’re wearing. My power depends on it.”

Cordelia let out a short bark of laughter. “I don’t think so. You’re not getting a hold of this until after you cancel out the spell. You weren’t holding it when I made the wish before, and you don’t need it now.” Her fingers closed over the amulet protectively.

“Casting the spell is different! The, uh, magicks required to reverse one are more taxing, and so ...”

“Cut the crap and undo the spell already,” interrupted Cordelia bluntly.

“All right!” said the goddess in exasperation, realizing she could not trick her into giving her the necklace.

Cordelia smiled faintly. “So, are you ready?”

Anyanka made a rude noise and raised her hands in the air. She began muttering a few words in a strange tongue. A bright green light began glowing over Cordelia’s figure. “Repeat your original wish, girl!” she cried, as the intensity of the magick rose to engulf the two.

“I wish that things had happened differently!”

A flash of light, then darkness.


* * *
Cordelia opened her eyes and looked around excitedly. The Library was silent once more. “Did it work?” she asked out loud. She looked down at her hands, as if the familiar sight of them would soothe her fears. “Am I back?”

“I don’t understand,” said a puzzled voice behind her. Cordelia turned to face the source, and was surprised to see Anyanka still with her. The goddess was staring about her with a peculiar expression on her face. “This has never happened before,” she said, almost to herself.

Cordelia immediately felt alarm at the funny note in her voice. “What?” she demanded. “What has never happened before? We are back home, aren’t we? I didn’t have to click my heels together and say the wish three times or anything, did I? Anya, the spell did work, right? Right?”

“I’m ... not sure.”

“What do you mean?” asked Cordelia, her heart beginning to pound at the worrying reply.

“I mean it just didn’t work. I don’t know why ...”

Cordelia was silent for a long, long time. “You’d better not be trying to mess with me, lady,” she said quietly at last. “I told you already, I’ve taken too much shit to deal with any more without snapping.” She yanked at the chain around her neck, breaking the link. Her fist tightened around the stone, and Anya let out a cry of distress. “Undo. The. Spell.” hissed Cordelia in a low, flat voice.

“I can’t!”

“Don’t lie!”

“I wouldn’t! Not when the amulet is in your hands like that!” insisted the goddess, her eyes darting nervously between Cordelia’s blank face and her clenched fist.

Cordelia sat down abruptly and stared out into space without saying anything. There was no expression on her face. She laid her hand on the table and kept her eyes trained intently at the amulet. Still she said nothing. She just sat.

Hidden behind the stacks, Angel furrowed his brow uneasily.


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