Chapter 4
The magic shop Cordeila had taken her to was far beyond Willow's imagination. The Magic Box looked small and dingy in comparison. The shop, Enigma, had two large windows at the front overlooking the busy streets of L.A and letting in the bright summer sun. There was no hiding away in dark alleys for this shop.
Willow had at first glance dismissed the shop as a load of old hokum upon reading the advertisements for tarot readings and spiritual churches and then spotting the dream catchers hanging from the ceiling and the instrumental CD's on display in the corner apparently filled with the sounds of the forests and fairy's dancing.
The shop improved on closer inspection. Willow discovered that as well as scented candles and choking sticks of incense there were in fact proper magical artefacts on the shelves and she found all of the ingredients that she required to do the spell.
Willow spotted wooden crucifixes to protect from vampires, silver necklaces and rings to safeguard against werewolves and all manner of herbs that could be used to ward of evil spirits.
It was probably inevitable that she noticed an Ouija board sitting on the shelf as well.
She was taking her time nosing through some of the books on the shelves when Cordelia called to her. "Over here, look,"
Willow left the books and crossed to Cordelia who was hovering over a display of stones. "This is it, Willow. These are the stones in the key," she hissed, pointing to a tub of amber stones.
"Binghamite," Willow said without looking at the label. "Or otherwise known as Silkstone or American Tiger Eye."
Cordelia rolled her eyes, "You seriously need to get out more."
"Knowledge is power, Cordy," Willow said patiently.
"Ok, so what's the deal with these Tiger's Eye stones then?"
"Well, for one they can be used by metaphysicians for communication with other worlds."
"Other dimensions you mean?"
"Exactly."
"And for two?"
"Secondly," Willow held up two fingers. "The Binghamite in crystal healing can be used to regenerate energy flow in the body and renew cells." She paused and glanced at the tub of stones. "Doesn't sound promising, does it?"
"Not very," Cordelia said with a put upon sigh. "I guess we need to let Wes know as soon as we get back."
"Better get moving," Willow said sadly. She would have liked to have stayed a little longer in the shop and have a really good root around. On the bright side, at least they had something to go on to decode Cordelia's vision.
Gunn had returned by the time they arrived at the hotel, he was sitting up on the reception counter, swinging his legs and polishing up the head of an axe. He was telling a story to Fred, Wesley and Spike.
"Guess what?" Cordelia sang as she hopped down the steps into the lobby.
"What?" Fred looked up.
"We know what the stone are in the key," Cordelia smiled triumphantly.
"Oh good," Wesley pushed himself off Cordelia's desk, "Gunn has found out that the demon you saw in your vision is an Eradico demon."
"Oh? Who did you have to beat up to get that information?"
Gunn grinned, "I didn't beat anyone up this time. I asked Merle."
Cordelia nodded, "That makes sense. He always knows everything. Little creep," she gave a shudder.
"Whose Merle?" Willow wanted to know, dumping her purchases on the rounded sofa.
"Our informant," Wesley explained. "He's very useful I must admit."
"And he hates Angel," Cordelia added. "That's why it's best that Angel doesn't deal with him."
Willow noticed that Spike grinned at that last part. "So, what do we know about this Eradico demon, Wesley?"
"Not much, I haven't looked it up yet," Wesley admitted. "I was just getting on to it."
"I'll help you," Fred volunteered and scooted into Wesley's office.
"Can we help?" Willow offered gesturing between herself and Spike.
"Hey now," Spike glared at her. "No need to go offering my help, pet. I'm not helping Paingel do anything."
Willow took a deep breath. "Alright, Spike. You do whatever it is that you want to do, I'll help Wesley."
Spike glowered darkly. He knew very well that if Willow chose to help the ex-watcher he was stuck on his own bored and ignored.
"I think perhaps your time would be better spent revising the memory spell, Willow," Wesley said. "I can help you if you like? The others are more than capable of researching without me."
"But it won't be any fun without you, English," Gunn said hopping off the counter and thumping Wesley good naturedly in the arm. "Who's going to explain everything to me?"
Wesley smiled easily. "I won't be far away."
"Still," Gunn rolled his shoulders. "Won't be the same."
Willow smiled, it was nice to see the easy banter between Gunn and Wesley, it reminded her of home, of Xander and Willow suddenly realised that she hadn't called home today.
Wesley allowed her the privacy of his office to make the call while Gunn and Fred took the opportunity to run out and purchase some research snacks and Cordelia updated Wesley about the stones.
Spike had helped himself to Angel's stash of blood and was lounging back on the sofa relishing every sip of his pilfered beverage.
Tapping her foot impatiently on the mat Willow waited for Anya to pick up. She figured The Magic Box would be the best place to call.
"Hello Magic Box, how can I help you?" Anya's posh phone voice caused Willow to grin.
"It's me, Anya."
"Oh," Anya's disappointment came over loud and clear. "You aren't going to spend any money on a phone order. It's Willow."
"No, I'm not," Willow agreed, assuming that it was Xander who was at the shop with Anya. "How is everything? Is everyone alright? Is Xander's arm ok?"
"Xander's fine," Anya told her. "He's had to take time off work obviously, he's here now and wants to speak to you."
"Hey Wills," Xander sounded chipper compared to the previous night's conversation. "Everything ok down in good old L.A? Deadboy junior behaving himself?"
"As much as Spike ever behaves himself I suppose," Willow said, with a guilty little flutter in her chest. "Angel has been to see Faith, she's going to help as Xan, I'm going to do the spell." Willow waited for the blow up.
"Look, Wills, I'm sorry about last night ok? You took me by surprise disappearing like that with the living dead. I just wanna make sure that you're quite sure about this?"
The corners of Willow's mouth turned down. "You don't think I can do the spell?"
"Sure you can, Willow. If my best friend says she can do it then she can. Its crazy slayer I'm worried about."
"Xan, we have to give Faith a chance. She's our best option. We can't protect Sunnydale on our own we just aren't equipped to do it. Here in L.A they have Angel, we don't have anyone."
"We have our own vampire," Xander pointed out.
"No Xander, we do not have Spike. The chip will probably malfunction at some point or he'll find a way to get rid of it and then he'll leave Sunnydale and we'll be in an even worse position. Spike helps us because he has to not because he wants to." Just talking about Spike leaving gave Willow a cold, hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"I suppose," Xander admitted grudgingly. "But what if she goes all psycho slayer on us again?"
"It's the risk we're going to have to take," Willow pushed her hair out of her eyes. "Besides, I don't think she'll go off the rails again, Xander. Angel would never have agreed to go and see Faith if he thought for one moment we would be in any danger from her."
"Don't know why he would bother about us," Xander muttered darkly.
"Because he loved Buffy and we're Buffy's friends," Willow replied slightly irritated. She was somewhat gratified by the silence on the other end of the phone.
"Yeah," Xander said finally. "I miss her Wills."
"Me too," she said quietly, willing herself not to cry, if she started now Willow didn't know if she would ever stop. "We owe her this, Xander, we owe it to Buffy to make sure that the Hellmouth is guarded, that she didn't die in vain."
Xander was nodding even though Willow couldn't see him. "You're right, we do owe it to her." He stood a little straighter and reached out to grasp Anya's hand. "I'll stand by your decision about Faith," he said at last. "For Buffy."
Willow couldn't help the niggling feeling of irritation, it was just typical that Xander would agree to go along with having Faith back for Buffy's sake when she was dead and gone, and yet he couldn't just back her up for herself, because her idea had been a good one.
"Good. Then I don't want to hear anymore about it, Xan."
"You won't," Xander promised. "No more complaining. I promise. I'm all on board the new Slayer train."
"Fine," Willow nodded firmly. "How's your arm?"
"Oh it's alright. I'll be out of action for a while," he said ruefully. "But I get time off work so that's a bonus."
"You won't be getting any bonus if you don't hurry up and get back to work," Anya said in the background and Willow laughed.
"Anything odd happening in Sunnydale? Odder than usual I mean."
"We think there might be a nest of vamps at the cemetery but we're not sure. We're going to check it out later," Xander told her.
Willow frowned. "Are you sure that's a good idea, what with your arm in plaster?"
"Someone has to check things out," Xander said. "Besides, I won't be on my own, I'll have back up and it's just a recon, we aren't planning on getting into a fight with them or anything."
"I guess you're right, someone does have to check things out." She agreed but that didn't mean she had to like it. The idea of Xander going anywhere near a nest of vampire's was worrying in general circumstances, never mind when he was incapacitated with his arm. Still, Willow knew that he was right and telling him not to go wouldn't actually help matters, Xander would go anyway.
"Well, you be careful Mister. I don't want anything happening to my best friend."
"You know me Will's, Mr Careful. Nothing's going to happen, and I'll have some info for you and psycho slayer when she gets here."
"Xander!"
"Just kidding. I know her name's Faith."
"Do me a huge favour and remember that, will you?" Willow pleaded, she figured it would be hard enough for Faith going back to Sunnydale as it was without having Xander on her back.
"Yeah, yeah alright," Xander agreed.
"How's Dawn?"
"Missing you and the blonde demon from hell," Xander said dryly. "Seriously Willow, what does Dawn see in Spike?"
Willow forced a laugh, cradling the phone against her shoulder she rubbed absently against the scratch on her wrist; the scratch that Spike had drunk from. "I don't know, Xander."
Willow wasn't entirely sure she hadn't just lied to her best friend.
"It was always me," he moaned. "I was the one she had a crush on and now it's the evil undead. I don't get it. It's Spike!"
"Well, he's kinda cool I suppose," Willow said guardedly. "He has that bad boy persona down to a T. Of course he's had a few centuries to perfect it, and being evil probably helps in that department too." She glanced out of the glass window in the door to where Spike was loitering around the coffee machine, pressing buttons and looking slightly lost. Willow smiled indulgently. "I guess he's good looking too."
"And his cheek bones are out of this world," Anya added
Willow nodded in agreement feeling safe as they couldn't see her.
"When you think about it…" Anya began.
"Enough! I don't want to think about it!" Xander yelled horrified.
Anya's voice came at her again. "He's one good looking demon. Can't deny the facts."
"Sure I can. I can deny facts. Watch me denying the facts!" Xander sounded almost hysterical.
Willow rolled her eyes. "If all's well and good with you guys I'll get going and look over the spell again."
"Why do you need to look over it again?" Xander sounded slightly worried.
"It's a big spell, Xander. Wesley thinks I should look over it again and he's not wrong. I mean, I want to make sure that nothing goes wrong, that I know exactly what I'm doing."
"Oh come on, Wills," Xander sounded dismissive. "If anyone knows exactly what they're doing all of the time it's you. You always think everything through. No stupid spontaneous acts for the Willster."
Willow was illogically annoyed and insulted. She knew that Xander didn't mean to be insulting he thought he was listing her good points, but all Willow heard was Buffy's voice saying "old reliable". She'd hated it back then and she hated it now. They made her sound like an old stick in the mud who was forever disapproving of fun.
"Thank you, Xander," she said tightly. "I'll talk to you tomorrow ok?"
"Ok. Bye Wills, love ya."
"Love you too." Willow hung up and glared heatedly at the phone for a moment. She could too be spontaneous! There just hadn't been much room for fun and frolics' lately, what with Buffy's death and Giles leaving.
Sighing, she left the office her lips twitching into a smile when she passed Spike who was looking at the coffee machine in much the same way she had been looking at the phone. "Would you like some help?"
"It doesn't work," Spike said defensively.
"Sure it does."
"It doesn't. All I can get out of it is coffee."
Willow's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Well, it is a coffee machine, Spike. What were you expecting, Jack Daniels?"
"Hot chocolate," Spike said folding his arms across his chest.
"It doesn't make hot chocolate, just coffee, Spike."
"Just like Angel to buy the cheapest machine he could find. Loosen the purse strings a bit, mate," he muttered.
Willow laughed. "We'll be home soon I'll make you hot chocolate then."
"With marshmallows?" Spike asked hopefully.
"Yes, with marshmallows, you evil creature of the night."
Spike glowered at her amused face. "Marshmallows don't mean I won't tear your throat out the first chance I get."
Her smile slipped and she looked wounded. Spike had the mental image of kicking a puppy. "I suppose that decision is down to you, Spike." She turned her back on him and started up a conversation with Wesley. A few minutes later she and Wesley headed down to the basement with her bags of ingredients and a spell book.
Spike watched her disappear into the dimness of the basement, the door clicking softly shut behind her seemed to echo loudly in his ears.
xXxXxX
"I'm more than willing to go along with you, Angel," Willow said again.
"Its fine, Willow we've got it covered, you should stay here and rest, have an early night. You have that spell to do tomorrow." Angel patted her shoulder awkwardly.
They had finally managed to decode Cordelia's vision. The Eradico demon turned out to be on a mission to cross between dimensions, probably, according to Wesley's research to bring a tribe of Eradico demons into their world. The stones in the key both allowed him to communicate with his tribe in another dimension and regenerate his cells which it appeared would burn up while he was crossing between the dimensions.
Angel and his friends were now gearing up to go and stop the demon. Gunn was flexing his fingers over the handle of his axe, Cordelia and Fred both held cross bows, Wesley had the magic book and Angel held a sword.
They were going without her and Willow couldn't help but feel that she should be going too, offer her magical abilities in taking down the demon. Angel however didn't appear to want either her help or Spike's, not that Spike had offered. Spike had simply ignored the whole thing while Willow felt compelled to help.
"I don't like leaving you here on your own though," Angel added, a small frown creasing his forehead.
"She's not on her own, Bleached Blonde Wonder is here to look after her," Cordelia pointed out. "And you don't have to worry about leaving her on her own with him because he's all impotent now." She smiled brightly.
"Hey!" Spike yelled, his eyes flashing yellow. "I am not impotent! Do you even know what that means, cheerleader?"
"It means you have performance issues," Cordelia flashed a smile at him. "And you do."
"Not in that department," Spike replied testily.
"That we know of," Cordelia shot back. "Maybe you're just completely defective these days."
"Cordy, enough," Willow spoke up and fixed the other girl with a pointed look.
"You always did have a soft spot for the needy, Willow."
"Cordy, I'm serious," Willow looked to Angel for support. Shouldn't he at least be defending Spike? They were family after all and Angel did have a soul now.
"We're wasting time, come on, we have a world to save," Angel turned and swept out of the building. He caught the look of disappointment on Willow's face as he left and Angel felt as though he had just gone down in her estimations.
Spike always had been a pain in the ass, and now he was making him look like the bad guy Angel thought crossly.
xXxXx
She was stood at the window when Spike slipped into her bedroom around an hour after the almighty poof had left the building. The light wasn't on and the soft glow of a streetlamp illuminated her profile as she gazed out into the night. Spike studied Willow for a moment or two; she looked oddly vulnerable standing there at the window, almost as if she were waiting for a lovers return. His face screwed up at the very thought of connecting Willow and Angel in that way.
He had conveniently dismissed Tara, out of sight out of mind.
Spike moved further into the room automatically reaching for the light switch by the door. Her voice halted his movements.
"Don't turn on the light, Spike."
Spike retracted his hand and closed the door behind him. "Whatever you like," he wandered across to the window. "What are you looking at, pet?"
"Just the sky," she sighed softly. "Do you think Buffy can see us wherever she is?"
He didn't answer immediately. A cruel, sarcastic comment hovered on the tip of his tongue but he didn't let it pass his lips. She seemed so forlorn suddenly that he didn't want to upset her any more than was necessary. Spike was annoyed at himself for such thoughts, since when did he care about upsetting little humans?
Since this particular human was going to feed him her hot, rich blood straight from the vein. Spike was a survivor before anything else and he knew which side his bread was buttered.
"Maybe," he said carefully. "Probably not all the time though." It wouldn't do for the little witch to think her friend was watching her all the time and frowning disapprovingly down on her for feeding a vampire. That wouldn't help him in the slightest.
"I think Buffy would want to check up on us now and again, don't you?"
"Probably. She always had to have her nose in everything."
"Spike," she scolded lightly, her fingers plucking idly at the curtains.
Spike grinned, watching the resigned look cross her face in the window pane. Reaching out he ran the tip of his finger down the long line of her neck, the pulse throbbing against her skin mesmerising him. "I hate to interrupt your reminiscing about the Slayer and all, but I'm hungry, pet."
Willow swallowed nervously. She closed her eyes for a brief moment to compose herself and steady the nerves that were stretching tighter and tighter with each breath she took. "Yes, alright. Where?"
"Anywhere you like," Spike replied amiably, sweeping his arm outwards.
Willow gazed about the room, there weren't many options open to her. She had a little table, a chair, a chest of drawers and a bed. Considering how tired she had been following the previous night's feeding Willow opted for the bed. She could just drift off to sleep again and hopefully not end up immersed in Spike-centric dreams.
Sitting on the edge of the bed Willow took the small knife from the top of the dresser and pressed the sharp blade to her skin. She winced slightly at the pain, her heart beat picking up when Spike slid next to her his long fingers curling around her wrist, lifting it to his mouth and pressing his lips down against the cut.
Spike felt the muscles and bones in his face shift as his true face emerged, ridges popping up on his forehead and his fangs lengthening. The razor sharp tips scratched lightly at the tender flesh of Willow's wrist and Spike had to fight with every ounce of control in him not to do what came naturally to him, not to bite down. The headache he would receive for such an act was not worth the fleeting moment of pleasure.
Blood; warm, lovely rushing blood, how he missed it. The pig's swill he was forced to subside on did nothing for him. Human blood was the best it was stronger, fuller, richer it made him stronger, faster; deadly.
She was lovely. Delicious. Spike could taste the added zing of magic in her blood tonight. The previous night he had been so wrapped up in actually drinking human blood he hadn't notice its magical qualities.
The gentle sucking at her wrist relaxed Willow. It reminded her that Spike couldn't bite her, couldn't hurt her no matter how much he might like to. Closing her eyes as his tongue pressed to the cut, probing and tasting and flicking erotically, Willow leant further into Spike.
He could feel her warm breath against his neck it sent a shiver through his body. She was so warm, always so warm and his arm slipped around her waist pulling her closer to chase the chill of loneliness away.
Her fingers curled through the bleached blonde locks of Spike's hair and she leant closer into him, her head almost flopping against his. Her lips brushed his ear and she left out a faint moan. It was all so nice, oddly comforting and that hot rush of arousal was engulfing her again. There was no past, no future, her whole world at that moment consisted only of Spike.
"Spike."
His name vibrated in his ear, and even through the haze of blood lust Spike noticed that Willow sounded almost delirious. He lifted his head from her wrist his eyes glowing yellow, his mouth smeared in her blood. Willow's lashes fluttered and glazed eyes looked back at him. There was no hint of fear in the air no horror on her face, just a dreamy little smile; Spike was puzzled.
Ignoring her strange behaviour for now, he would have time enough to analyse that later; Spike returned to the more urgent matter of feeding. Her blood burst onto his tongue again and he sucked greedily; she was the most appetizing treat he had had in a long time and Spike only wanted more of her.
Willow was all hot; it was almost as though her skin was sizzling and she positively ached for the cool touch of Spike's hands. Spike would cool her body while stoking the fire that already blazed inside her, burned between her legs with an all consuming flame that threatened to scorch her if Spike didn't give her what she needed.
The taste hit Spike before the scent did; it thickened her blood that was rushing faster now and gave it a sort of syrupy taste which was most satisfying. A deep growl rumbled from his chest in answer; arousal, for him.
His own desire surged through him, his jeans uncomfortably, unbearably tight. Spike released her wrist and her hand dropped limply on to his knee. She stayed still for a minute or two the sound of her shallow breaths loud in the quiet room and her heart beat resounding in his ears, pulsing in time with his aching erection.
A slight tilt of his head had them temple to temple. Her mouth so close to his that each breath she took whispered across his lips.
"Spike."
The sound was half moan half desperate plea. Spike very much wanted to fulfil that plea and the demon in him surge forward overriding any pretence of humanity when Willow licked his cheek bone.
He had her on her back in the blink of an eye, her legs tangled up with his and her hands gripping his arms like talons. Keeping his weight on his arms Spike stared down at her studying her face with undisguised fascination. A pink flush of arousal coloured her cheeks, her lips slightly parted in an open invitation for a kiss and her eyes, those deep green eyes were hooded from desire.
Willow squirmed, he was so close to her, so very close and somehow he felt ever so far away. A little voice inside her head piped up, warning her that this was wrong, that she was not dreaming yet, that this was real, but Willow silenced it with the decision that she didn't care. How could she care about anything when she was burning up with need?
Her body arched upwards, easily coming into contact with his and her eyes closed with satisfaction and a low moan left her parted lips. This was it, this was what she wanted; to feel him against her. It wasn't enough, not nearly enough; but it was a start. Small fingers flexed over his arms and unable to touch Spike and hold herself up at the same time Willow let herself fall back onto the bed her hands moving over his shoulders, finger tips dragging down his chest over nipples that were hard and straining against the thin cotton of his black t-shirt.
Spike moaned quietly, it had been too long since he'd been touched. So long since someone he wanted had really wanted him back. Just him with no thoughts of Angelus dancing behind closed eyes. Spike halted that thought in its tracks. Dru had no place here.
Her heartbeat had picked up again until it was almost racing and her harsh breaths lifted her chest for his inspection. That green top she wore emphasised her breasts nicely, he had noticed that earlier. It didn't cling exactly, rather the material moulded to her showing off breasts that were round and ripe and asking to be touched, begging for a lick or even for fangs to pierce the soft rounded flesh; Spike growled again.
Willow squirmed again, her body rising into him in answer to his growl. Her head fell back stretching out her neck and Spike's yellow eyes latched onto the pale skin of her throat. Impulse was strong in Spike, necks and throats were beautiful to vampires and he lowered his head until his lips brushed over her throat.
He received a gasp in response and her arms flew around him, holding him tightly to her. The whispered caress of his lips moving against her skin was too much and not enough all at once. She needed more, Willow needed a lot more and her nails bit into his shoulders in desperation.
Spike's mouth closed over her pulse, his tongue stroking, enjoying the taste of her. His fangs scratched almost pitifully against her neck, he couldn't do what he wanted to, but Spike went all out with what he could do sucking the flesh into his mouth as her low panting breaths vibrated against his cheek.
He was startled with the sudden cry that came from her. Spike jerked back staring at her worriedly, had she changed her mind? It took him a moment to fully comprehend what the ragged breathing and sweat beaded forehead meant until the scent hit him.
His scarred eyebrow lifted in surprise. That's all it had taken on his part? His human face came back and a frown marred his forehead. She had experienced an orgasm from that? Something wasn't right, something felt off and at the same time it didn't.
Spike sat quietly watching Willow as she settled down to sleep with a contented little sigh of "Spike."
He rubbed the back of his neck confusion written all over his face. "What the bloody hell?"