Amateur Magic: Part 2
by Virtual Void
TITLE: Amateur Magic [Part 2/9]
AUTHOR: Virtual Void
GENRE: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
RATING: PG-13 for non-graphic violence, mild language, and adult situations.
SUMMARY: Buffy needs Spike’s and Dawn’s help to save the world--she just doesn’t know it.
SETTING: Season Seven-ish
PAIRINGS: Spike/Dawn
DISCLAIMER: Some of the characters and ideas in this story were taken directly from the television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (BTVS), which is owned, copyrighted and trademarked by Twentieth Century Fox, Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB Television Network, and/or their related entities. No profit is being made from this story, and no copyright infringement is intended. The copyright owners of BTVS have not endorsed or authorized this story, and the author of this story is not affiliated with the copyright owners of BTVS. This story itself is copyright 2003 by Virtual Void. All rights reserved. Enjoy.
ARCHIVE: Please ask first.
FEEDBACK: Feedback, criticism, and MiSTing are welcome. “Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich staerker.“
* * * * *
The neighborhood wasn't nearly as dangerous as the cemetery. It wasn't dangerous at all, really. Still, Dawn felt a wicked glee thinking about the shades of purple Buffy's face would turn if she knew Dawn was out here patrolling on her own.
Should she tell her? Just to rub it in?
Dawn tapped her hand-made stake against her thigh. No, she'd better not say anything. It was enough satisfaction just proving to herself that she was nobody's flunky.
What were the odds that she'd actually find a vampire tooling around the neighborhood? Not very good. Heck, this place was so squeaky clean some people didn't even lock their doors at night. She looked at the Johnsons' house as she passed it. The porch light was on, and there were the kids' bikes, just leaning against the rail. Anyone could just walk up and grab one. What were these people thinking?
It occurred to Dawn that she could head over to the old warehouses. They were a couple miles away, but the night was cool and pleasant. If she really wanted to find a vampire, she'd have a much better chance of success at the warehouses. She decided against it, though. Maybe hunting down vampires wasn't really why she was out here after all.
"Hi."
The voice startled Dawn, but she saw it was just a girl in her late teens. She was wearing a black tee-shirt and some really well-ripped jeans.
"Oh, hi," Dawn said. "I didn't hear you come up."
"Guess I'm kind of quiet," the girl said. "Mind if I walk along for a while? I'm just getting some air."
"Oh, sure. Hey, I don't think I've seen you around. Do you live in the neighborhood?"
"Yeah, we moved in last week. I feel kind of lost. Sunnydale is way different from Paris."
"You're from Paris?" Dawn was incredulous.
The girl giggled. "Yeah, Paris, Tennessee. I like to do that to people. My name's Beth." She offered her hand.
Dawn introduced herself, shaking hands with Beth. "Hey, you're cold."
"Listen, this is nothing," Beth said. "My brothers tease me because I like to play in the snow wearing shorts. This feels great tonight."
They walked for a few seconds in silence, then Beth said, "I see you have a pointed stick."
Dawn felt suddenly embarrassed, realizing how silly she must look carrying the stake. She considered inventing some lie to explain the weapon, but she decided to just be straight. "Yeah, I'm... looking for vampires."
"Well, it's your lucky night."
Who said that?
Dawn looked about. A decrepit vampire in a disintegrating leisure suit appeared from behind a parked car. It grabbed Beth and opened its mouth to bite.
Reacting quickly, Dawn staked the monster's back, turning it to dust. Beth took off at a world class run. Looking to her left, Dawn saw three more vampires sprinting across the street, coming straight for her.
Dawn took off running toward home, but as she ran, she had to ask herself, Am I scared, or is this just cool as hell?
* * * * *
"You're missing the point, Anya. They don't know the ship's going to sink when they buy their tickets."
"Xander, of course it's going to sink. Would you buy a ticket to ride the Titanic."
"You got me there."
"I mean, why pay full price for a ticket when the boat only goes half as far as it's supposed to. That's false advertising."
"And again," Xander said, with a gesture of surrender.
At Anya's insistence, Willow had parked in a free lot half a mile from the movie theater. They had the sidewalk completely to themselves, but Willow would have felt better if there'd been a few more streetlamps.
"I hope they've got Twizzlers this time," Willow said, walking backwards to face her friends. "Last time they were out. Milk Duds are okay, but not just. I mean, I want all three courses: Milk Duds, Twizzlers, and those little mint thingies that are so wonderful when you freeze them and then let them melt against the roof of your mouth."
"I just want popcorn," said Anya.
"Popcorn's okay," Willow said, "but I worry about the fake butter stuff. Every time I see them pumping it on, I feel like I'm ordering food at a Jiffy Lube. Hey, what's the name of this movie we're seeing, anyway?"
"You can get popcorn without the motor oil, you know," Xander said.
Anya stopped and looked at Xander in disbelief. "It costs the same, right, with or without the motor oil? If you don't take the motor oil, then it's like you're getting a one-for-two special."
"Well, yeah," said Xander, a little confused. "But if you don't like butter substitute, it's just a waste of money."
"Are you accusing me of wasting money?"
Willow tugged at Xander's sleeve. "Guys, we need to keep walking if we want to get good seats."
"Anya, what's gotten into you?" Xander said. "You're acting pretty weird all of a sudden."
"Oh, sure. It's always my fault."
"No, not always. Just usually. And this time, yeah, definitely."
"You guys," Willow said, "this is just really silly. Come on, let's just keep walking and think about movie candy but only not talk about it because--"
"You stay out of this, witch," Anya said. Willow was stung by the nastiness of her tone. Xander gave her an apologetic look, but then Anya started poking his chest with her finger.
"You're just like every other man in the world," she said. "You act so superior, and you treat women like dirt." Her features hardened into the face of the demoness Anyanka. "It's revenge time, scum. Welcome to the Feast of Purgatory."
In a blip of brownish light, Xander disappeared, and Anyanka, leveling a baleful glare at Willow, shimmered away as well.
"Oh, gods," Willow said breathlessly. "Oh, gods."
Dazed and alone, Willow started to shuffle back towards the car. She needed to try to sort things out.
"Ow. ow. ow."
Okay, now that's weird, she thought. No, she was not making the noise herself. What was going on?
"Ow."
Willow realized that every time she took a step... her shoe was groaning? She sat down on the grass and looked at her feet. Nothing odd about her flats, except that she'd apparently stepped in something messy. She drew her right foot up to check the sole of her shoe, trying not to get her skirt dirty.
"Uh, nice panties, Will, but I've got a problem here."
Xander's face was visible in the brown gunk on the bottom of Willow's shoe.
"Xander! Anya turned you into..."
"It's mud, Willow. And speak up-- I can barely hear you."
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"What?" Xander said.
"Oh, gods." Willow removed the shoe and half ran, half skipped back to the car.
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