TITLE: Amateur Magic [Part 5/9]
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.“
* * * * *
Willow was growing frustrated with her search for information about the Marmus. She really wished she had her laptop with her, but of course, it wouldn't do her all that much good in Spike's Internet-free crypt.
"This is useless," she said. "I've only found one reference to the Marmus, and that was in the punch line to a joke someone told at a birthday party for Alexander the Great."
"Untie me and I'll turn pages for you," Spike said.
Willow snorted in response. "Thanks, but no thanks. My thumb still works-- it's my brain that's numb. Besides, I have no idea how long that de-vamping spell is going to last. You could be bouncing around biting necks any time now."
"I don't bounce," Spike said. "I have never once bounced in my entire life."
"We could at least loosen the ropes," Dawn said, picking at Spike's restraints. "They look like they must hurt."
Willow shook her head. "No, not unless Buffy and Giles say it's okay."
"Buffy must have been in a royal snit over that little love peck I gave her. She ties a wicked knot. Good thing I don't have to worry about my circulation being cut off." He nodded to Dawn. "Thanks anyway, Nibblet."
A ruckus in the upper level of the crypt announced the arrival of visitors. Willow quickly picked up a knife and led Dawn to the back wall. To her relief, it was Buffy and Giles who descended the steps. Her relief turned to concern, however, when she read their expressions.
"Oh, my gosh," Willow said. "Are you all right?"
"At halftime," Buffy said, "Marmus one, Saviors-of-Humanity nil." She went on to give the details of the encounter.
"So much for the direct approach," Giles said. Then, to Willow: "Have you come across anything useful in your research?"
"Nothing," she said, deflating. "There's still a few more books to go, though."
"Those books may be our last hope," Giles said.
"How's Xander," Buffy asked.
Willow took the Xander-shoe down from the shelf and looked at the sole. "No change. He hasn't said anything since we got here, and he looks awful. He looks like he's suffocating."
Spike chuckled. "Somebody turn the nancy-boy into footwear?"
"Worse," Willow said, cringing. "He's just a blob of mud."
Spike stretched forward for a closer look. "Are you sure that's mud?"
Dawn walked next to him and said, "Hey, Buffy. Willow said I should ask you if we could untie Spike." Willow gave her a mean look. Buffy charged over to Dawn, jerked her away from Spike, and shook her.
"Don't you ever go near this monster. He's a killer. You have no idea how vicious he can be."
Dawn pulled away from Buffy. "Quit with the tough love already, Sis."
"I hate to interrupt this gay banter," Giles said, "but we have work to do."
Willow set Xander back on the shelf, and she, Giles, and Buffy dug into the books. Dawn meandered about the crypt, picking up and examining every little knickknack she came across.
After nearly an hour of page turning and heavy sighs, Willow brushed Giles' wrist with her fingertips and then radiated importance with a private glance.
"I need to get up for a minute," she said to the room with a theatrical yawn and stretch. She winked at Giles.
"Yes, I believe I could use a bit of a break myself," Giles said, raising his eyebrows at Willow.
Buffy remained hunched over her book, as if on the verge of falling asleep. "Whatever," she said with a weak gesture.
* * * * *
Willow ascended the steps and walked outside, making sure that Giles had followed her. "Oh, gods," she said, pacing. "Oh, gods."
Giles watched her.
"Buffy is going to kill me," Willow said. "I know how to defeat the Marmus."
"That's wonderful," Giles said with subdued cheer. "Isn't it?"
"I found a spell that will weaken the Marmus. We should be able to kill it while it's weak. Once it's gone, all its magic should be undone-- the vampires settle down, Anyanka turns back to Anya, and Xander... stops being slimy."
"Excellent."
"But, I can't do the spell."
"Ah," Giles said. "Well, that does diminish its usefulness."
"Giles, I know sometimes when you really care about someone, sometimes you have to tell a little lie, and that's okay, because you've got the person's best interests at heart. Well, what if you have to tell a bigger lie, or like a really, really big lie, and you're just not sure--."
Gesturing Willow to stop, Giles said, "Let's postpone the ethical evaluation. Can we use this spell or not?"
Willow took a deep breath and sat down on the stone entrance to the crypt. "The spell is pretty simple, but it has to be performed by a vampire and a virgin."
Giles glanced away for a moment in thought, and then his face colored. "Surely you don't mean they have to...."
"No, no, no," Willow said. "Nothing like that. Well... something like that."
"We are referring to Spike and Dawn," Giles said. Willow nodded. "And are we sure that Dawn...."
"Yes," Willow said, shrugging. "Girl talk. Trust me on this one."
"Assuming there's no carnality involved, would the two of them be capable of performing the spell?"
"Well, there's a little bit of carnimalism, but on a scale of one to five. It's definitely a one." Her eyes rolled up for a second in thought. "Definitely no more than a two."
Giles waited, but Willow could see he was about to get testy with her. She got up and started pacing again.
"The spell itself is a piece of cake. Just light some candles, hold hands, say a few Latiny words, and... and kiss. The Marmus' should be pretty much powerless for a few minutes after that."
Giles considered this briefly. "Well, if Spike and Dawn are amenable and supervised, I don't see this as a problem. Buffy and I could position ourselves beforehand, and at your signal, we could destroy the Marmus."
"Sure, no sweat," Willow said, becoming agitated. "Only Buffy's out there fighting this demon, and Dawn and Spike are on the other side of the universe smooching."
"You would be there with them."
"Giles, we're talking about Buffy. If she knows that Dawn and Spike intend to do a spell together, especially one that involves touching, she just won't allow it. She'll say 'no', and she'll just go back to fight the Marmus with a bigger knife or a bigger axe, thinking she'll be able to destroy it if she just tries harder. Do you think she can do that without some magic?"
Giles put his hands in his pockets and looked up at the sky. "No, I don't believe she can," he said. "The Marmus can magnify even the tiniest weakness a thousand-fold. Sometimes even a Slayer needs help."
"Exactly," Willow said, her expression pained. "We have to lie to her. We have to tell her I'm going to do the spell myself."
"Ah," Giles said with a sniff. "Now we're discussing the ethics." He paused for a moment to think. "Regrettably, I can see no other course."
"So, it's settled," Willow said, frowning. "We lie like dogs."
"Agreed."
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