TITLE: Amateur Magic [Part 3/9]
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.“
* * * * *
"Interesting," Giles said, tapping glasses against his lips. "The increase in vampire activity, taken by itself, could just be coincidence, of course. Or perhaps it's a cyclical elevation of some sort."
Buffy sat at the library table with her feet propped in another chair. She'd bandaged the worst of her scrapes, but she'd begun to develop a headache. She hoped Giles cure of strong tea with milk and honey was going to work.
"The really weird thing is the way Spike attacked me," she said. "It's just not like him-- not that he's Mister Dependable or anything. But it's like he didn't know or didn't care about the chip in his head."
Spike's assault of Buffy had fizzled out quickly when the restraining computer chip in his head had kicked in. He had managed to graze her neck with his teeth before doubling over in pain, though. Buffy was wearing quite a collection of bandages tonight.
"Yes, that is odd," Giles said. "I suppose if there is some cyclical influence at work, Spike could be affected just as any other vampire."
"Whatever got him still has him, I think. At least, he was still fully vamp when I left him tied up in his crypt." Buffy sipped her tea. "Something else that was weird: just before Spike came at me, he said 'Welcome to the Feast of Purgatory'."
Giles stopped tapping his lips with his glasses.
"Are you sure those were his exact words?"
"Um... yeah." Buffy hated that expression Giles got when he realized they were up against a "Gates o' Hell"-class monster. She hoped she was misreading him.
"This is serious," Giles said. "Very serious indeed." He began searching the bookshelf.
Darn. And she was just getting comfortable. The teacup felt so nice and warm against her fingers.
Giles found the book he was looking for and opened it on the table. Buffy moved over to look.
Tracing the lines with his finger, Giles summarized the text. "The Marmus is a sort of commanding demon sent from the underworld to unite all expressions of evil into a single, all-consuming wave. Every doubt, every fear, every horror will rally to his side. Everything will be destroyed, and the world will begin anew. The phrase you mentioned is their term for the eradication of mankind."
Buffy sighed. "So, this is like the end of the world, I guess."
"No, I suppose that's the bright side. The world will in fact survive. We just won't be around to enjoy it."
"Great," Buffy said, frowning, then perking up. "So how do I kill it?"
"There's no mention of vulnerability in this volume. I'm afraid I'll have to do some additional research." Giles closed the book. "I wish Willow were here."
At that moment, Willow burst into the room, hopped forward, and held up her shoe.
"Anyanka turned Xander into mud!" she said, fighting to catch her breath.
Buffy wrinkled her nose at the shoe. "Are you sure that's mud?"
"Yes, it's mud," Xander said.
"Good Lord," said Giles.
"What?" Xander said. "Speak up, I can't hear you."
Buffy held Willow's hand to steady it. "Anyanka did this?"
"Uh-huh," Willow said. "We were going to the movie? Xander and Anya got into an argument? And..." She stopped to breathe.
"We must act quickly," Giles said. "The first thing we need to do is determine the location of the Marmus, assuming that it is, in fact, in the vicinity. If Spike is still under its influence, we'd best start by questioning him."
"Mar...," said Willow. "Mar...."
"Giles, I left Dawn at home by herself."
"We'll pick her up on the way. No place is safe at the moment. Willow, I'll need you to help with research." Giles started selecting books and piling them into Willow's arms, causing her to drop the shoe.
"Ow."
Buffy picked Xander up and held him at arm's length. "You get to ride in the trunk."
* * * * *
"I've got him tied up in the lower level," Buffy said when the gang arrived at Spike's crypt.
Willow's arms were getting tired holding the stack of old books, not to mention dangling Xander from her pinky. "Is he still vampiry? If he is, I know a spell that can turn him back for a while."
"That wouldn't be a good idea at this point," Giles said, entering the upper level of the crypt. "We need to learn the Marmus' location from him first."
Willow, Buffy, and Dawn followed Giles inside. They could hear Spike singing loudly to himself downstairs. Willow set the books down and, in a voice just above a whisper, asked, "How are we going to get him to talk?"
"I vote for torture," Buffy said quietly.
"Is he ticklish?" Dawn said. Everyone looked at her. "I mean, it always worked on me." She sighed, defeated. "Well, it doesn't leave a mark."
"I vote for leaving marks," Buffy said.
"No, I doubt torture would be the best course," Giles said in a low voice. "In his current state, I suspect he's quite thoroughly possessed by the Marmus. Pain alone would not be a sufficient incentive. We need to devise some clever ploy to trick him into divulging the Marmus' location."
"Why don't you just ask me, then?" Spike said from downstairs. He resumed his song.
Buffy sighed. "Being possessed must do wonders for your hearing." She descended to the lower level of the crypt, and the others followed.
Spike was lashed firmly to a chair at his wrists and ankles. He was singing at the top of his rough voice some bawdy-sounding ballad about fishermen and ale. His voice resonated terribly in the stony confines of the crypt. Dawn put her hands to her ears.
Buffy slapped Spike hard across the face. "Enough, already."
Giles helped her back gently. "Easy, now."
Willow set Xander on a shelf, propping him up so he could see. He was beginning to look a little dopey, and that worried her.
"Okay, Spike, talk," Buffy said.
"Where's your master?" Giles added. "Where is the Marmus?"
Spike smiled. "Go south down the path, hang a left at the benches, look for a stone marked 'Zacharias'. He'll be downstairs."
"He's lying," Buffy said.
"Am not," Spike replied. "Anyway, he's looking forward to seeing you."
"You guys, we'd better hurry up," Willow said with a note of alarm. "Xander's not looking so good." In fact, Xander's mouth was gaping, and his eyes were turned up, as if he was suffocating.
"Right," Buffy said. "Weak spot or no, we've got to take a stab at this baddie right away. Demons are usually sensitive to being decapitated. I say we try that first."
"I'm afraid I have to agree," Giles said. He began handing out weapons from a canvas sack. When he handed a knife to Willow, Buffy stopped him.
"Willow stays here. There is no way I'm leaving Dawn alone with Spike."
"I can de-vamp him for a while," Willow said. "It will only take a minute."
"You do that. But I still want you here with Dawn."
"I can take care of myself," Dawn said. "I don't need a babysitter."
Buffy slid a stake into her pocket as a final weapon. "Let's go, Giles."
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
