TITLE: Amateur Magic [Part 7/9]
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.“
* * * * *
Dawn sat on the floor, drawing a circle with white chalk and holding Willow's instructions in her other hand. Giles and Willow sat in straight-backed chairs observing her work. Spike was near Dawn, but stilled tied in his chair.
"How'm I supposed to do a spell stuck here like this?" Amazing how quickly they'd twisted the terms of their agreement with him. He had a feeling that they'd be chirping all the details to Buffy by the end of the night. Old disposable Spike. He felt like a box of tissues in the sick ward. "Come on, be fair. You could at least untie me."
"Hush," said Giles.
"Honey, I think you should make that circle a little bigger," Willow said to Dawn. "And be careful not to break that bottle of sandalwood oil by your foot. It's the only one we've got."
Dawn sighed, erased part of the circle with her fist, and redrew it larger.
"Can I at least read the rules to this game?" Spike said.
"Shush," said Giles.
"The first part uses a pink votive candle," Willow said to Dawn. "You know what a votive is, Honey?"
"Let me guess." Dawn held up a candle. "Could it be the only pink candle in the bunch?"
Willow rolled her eyes. "Sorry, that was dumb of me. You're doing great. I'll just shut up and watch."
Dawn kicked at the basket of candles, scattering them across the floor, and eliciting an inhaled hiss from Willow. "You're driving me nuts," Dawn said. "I can do the stupid spell. I really can. Would you and Giles just go upstairs and leave me alone?"
Giles said, "That wouldn't be--."
"Wise," Dawn completed for him, arching an eyebrow.
"I was going to say 'prudent'."
Dawn stood up and folded her arms.
Standing and pulling at Giles' sleeve, Willow said, "C'mon, let's give her some room. She can yell if she needs us."
Before leaving, Willow took a look at the Xander shoe. Spike could see that he still looked zoned-out-- eyes rolling and mouth gaping like a mackerel out of water. Willow hid a sniffle with her sleeve, and Giles led her upstairs.
Spike loved watching these little spats among the Buffy gang. It was a relief to have that pair clear out, too. Dawn, at least, was a bit less surly.
When they were alone, Dawn set about untying Spike's hands.
"You're going to get yourself into trouble, Little Bit."
"Tough cookies," she said, but then she winced. "You're not going to go all neck-sucker on me, are you?"
"Not planning on it." Oh, yeah, Spike thought. That'd be a great way to insure a long and happy unlife once Buffy'd gotten word. Now that he knew about the Marmus, he'd just shrug it off if the beast came back around, sniffing for minions.
His hands free, Spike untied his right ankle while Dawn did the left. Then, he stood and stretched. "Now, this feels better."
Dawn sat back down on the floor in a half-lotus position and signaled Spike to join her. "Let's go through the instructions once," she said. "It's really pretty easy."
Spike sat down on the opposite side of the chalk circle. Dawn scooted next to him and laid the instruction sheet on his lap. As she read off the steps of the spell, Dawn's head was almost directly under Spike's chin-- her hair was tickling his throat. He tried to identify the scent of her shampoo. Something tangy. Something to make your mouth water.
"And then...," Dawn said, moving in front of him, her knees touching his leg, "...we hold hands like this. We say the magic words 'blah, blah, blah', and then...." She closed her eyes and leaned toward him.
Spike shot to his feet.
"What's wrong?" Dawn said.
What's wrong, she says. This bloody Summers family is going to be the death of him.
The whole idea of this circus was to impress Buffy. He admitted that much to himself. To hell with saving the world! But, if anyone let on that he'd worked this spell, not with Willow, but with Dawn-- and played tonsil hockey with her, for God's sake-- Spike could write off any hope of ever getting on Buffy's good side.
"Spike!"
"Sorry, Nibblet, had a cramp. I get the picture. Might as well get started."
The two of them got back into position on the floor. Dawn set the pink votive in the middle of the circle and struck a match. She had some difficulty lighting the candle-- her hand was shaking. Spike reached out to steady her, and when he touched her, their eyes met.
Spike had never noticed the color of Dawn's eyes-- light blue, maybe a bit of gray. It had been a long time since anyone had looked at him with eyes that weren't filled with hate or ridicule. Dawn's eyes were gentle. Her lips were soft and full. Spike leaned forward. There was that tang of her shampoo again.
"Ow!" Dawn yelped, dropping the match.
* * * * *
"Good Lord, what was that?" Giles said.
Willow called down to the lower level of the crypt. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Go away," came Dawn's voice.
Willow was concerned, but Dawn's grumpiness was probably an indication that everything really was fine. She was about to say something to Giles, but she noticed his face had gone white.
"Giles?"
"I'm afraid I've accidentally pressed the speed dial on your telephone."
"Oh," Willow said, taking the cell phone from Giles' hand. Then she realized that he'd just given Buffy the signal to attack. "Oh, no. This is bad."
"Try calling her back," Giles said. He sat down and put his head in his hands.
Willow dialed the phone.
* * * * *
Buffy hated waiting. She was anxious to have the chance to serve up extreme payback to the Marmus for turning her against Giles. She twisted her hands on the shaft of the axe. It felt good, but it would feel even better swinging the weapon with all her strength and connecting with the Marmus' neck.
Her cell phone vibrated. Finally! She checked the caller ID to verify that it was Willow.
Buffy stood and inventoried her weapons. She began to focus her thoughts on the kill. Setting the cell phone beside a marble urn, she moved forward into the cave.
Let's see how tough this demon is without his mind tricks.
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