TABULA RASA (part 3)
Tuscany and Dawn eyed each other off. Dawn was quietly terrified of being left alone in the room with a tied up witch and Tuscany was vaguely insulted that Dawn had been chosen for her guard.
Dawn was clutching a large book to her chest. It was called Magical icons throughout the ages. Giles had thrust into her arms when he had locked the pair in there together with firm instructions to go through all the witches whose name began with T.
"So what do you wanna do?" Tuscany asked trying unsuccessfully to swing her legs.
Dawn ignored her and sank to the ground next to the door. She opened the book and with last furtive glance at Tuscany began reading.
"Who you reading about?" Tuscany demanded, undeterred by Dawn's silence.
"Tallulah," Dawn made a face, "And I'm pretty sure it's not you."
"Why's that," Tuscany twisted her hands in the ropes.
"She's dead and she used to use the eye balls of demons to do her spells," Dawn was grossed out.
"How do you know I don't do that?" Tuscany asked indignantly.
"Call me crazy but I have this gut instinct that you aren't a psycho," A flash of confusion crossed Dawn's face, "In fact I sort of feel a relation to you."
"Maybe you're evil?" Tuscany suggested pulling her arm a bit harder and trying to keep her face straight.
"No. I'm Joan's sister and she's like a super hero," Dawn was adamant.
"It's all about Joan isn't it," Tuscany suggested bitterly. She tried manoeuvring her arm out of the constraints again.
Dawn noticed the twitch. "Are you trying to escape?" Dawn demanded crankily.
"No," There was a disbelieving pause, "Yes, alright, I was. Not that there was much point. These knots are done to damn well."
Dawn shot her a suspicious glare, "I'm gonna keep reading."
Tuscany gave her a fake smile before slumping down and sulking.
"Oh I think I found you," Dawn exclaimed excitedly.
"Who?" Tuscany sat back up interested.
"Tuscana. She was only a baby when she showed signs of intuitive magic. She was adopted by an English coven… oh," Dawn's face fell.
"What? Oh what?"
"After the fire Tuscana was lost. It is generally accepted that she perished in the blaze," Dawn finished the passage.
"I guess that's not me then," Tuscany's voice wavered.
Dawn looked at the witch and was surprised to find the look of distress on her face.
"Hey what's up?" Dawn asked.
"I don't remember who I am," Tuscany mused defeated.
"Well know of us do," Dawn pointed out.
"But to a degree you know who you are. Out there it felt like I knew everyone and I didn't belong."
"We all kinda agreed that it was probably because you're our arch nemesis or something," Dawn said softly.
"But I didn't hate any of them. I just didn't belong," Tuscany sighed. Dawn watched the dejected witch.
"I know what you mean," Dawn confessed, "I know Joan is my sister but on a level I felt no connection with her. And I felt so alone in that room. It was… interesting."
The pair examined each other for a long moment.
"I feel like I know you," Tuscany stated, "like we are alike."
"Maybe I'm your sister as well," Dawn burst out randomly.
Tuscany raised an eyebrow, "Right. Because Joan and I are so similar. We don't really look alike."
"But I feel like I'd follow you. Not out of love like Joan but out of obligation."
"Maybe you work for me?" Tuscany joked. Dawn's face was serious.
"You mean like a minion?" Dawn asked.
Tuscany shrugged, "Sure."
There was a scream and something White squeezed under the door.
"Is that a Rabbit?" Tuscany demanded. Dawn watched it incredulously as it hopped to the other side of the room and cowered.
"What the fuck are they up to on the other side of the door?" Tuscany snapped.
"No idea," Dawn answered before turning back to the witch, "So I'm working for you. Do you think that makes me a witch?"
"Unlikely. I don't think I'd have a magically inclined minion. It's like a magic code that I can't have a servant who has any chance of surpassing me magically…. I think."
"I'm not a servant," Dawn retorted, "and minion doesn't feel right."
"Accomplice?" Tuscany offered.
"I like it," Dawn, "And Joan is?"
"Not our enemy," Tuscany concluded quickly, "We're not against her. God this sounds so ridiculous."
"No it's not. I know what you mean. It's like we're not against her but we're on the same level and she's not," Dawn tried to articulate the elusive feeling.
"Maybe she found out that you were my accomplice and tied me up so she could beat me up," Tuscany suggested.
"Maybe."
"Maybe I should be let out of this chair," Tuscany indicated her chaffed wrists.
"Oh right," Dawn bustled over to help Tuscany out of the chair. With a combination of Dawn untying and Tuscany's wrist twisting the witch soon stood free.
"Now lets find out what Rupert and Anya have been up to," Tuscany nodded at the door. With a swift well-aimed kick the door came off the hinges. That was a slight understatement. It flew really. The door flew of its hinges. Tuscany saw the door disappear across the other side of the shop.
"I didn't know I could do that," She admitted to Dawn, "I thought maybe the lock would come off not the entire door."
"It looked cool," Dawn assured her.
A scary demon thing confronted them. Both girls screamed. The thing swung its head in their direction. It's eyes were the milky blue of a blind creature. It ambled towards them relying on hearing and smell to direct it. It growled loudly like a lion.
"Move," Tuscany commanded and pushed Dawn towards the counter. She literally picked up the smaller girl and put her over the top and swung over herself. Right between Giles and Anya who were glaring at each other.
"How did you get untied?" Giles inquired in hushed tones.
"That's not important. Can we focus on the horrible beast," Tuscany hissed back.
"How did it get here?" Dawn wanted to know.
"This lunatic woman!" Giles gestured at Anya.
Anya scowled, "Don't blame me, you snobby, snotty, thinks he's so great kind of jerk ... and I feel compelled to take some vengeance on you." She hit him hard on the back of the head. Tuscany and Dawn winced.
"Ow! God, no wonder I'm leaving you!" Giles snapped. There was a particularly loud growling as the three women stared at him in shock. Anya appeared devastated.
"What?"
"One-way ticket to London, and out of this engagement!" Giles flashed a plane ticket.
Dawn and Tuscany exchanged looks, both felt rather embarrassed to be caught between them
"Of all the nerve," Anya whispered furious. She yanked her engagement ring of and threw it at Giles. She missed and the ring went out over the counter. There was a loud growl close by.
"Now look at what you've done! That thing is gonna eat my ring," Anya was teary.
"Hey! Can we focus on the monster?" Tuscany cried quietly. Right then a white fluff ball hopped by. There was a sudden thunderclap and the girls looked up to be confronted by a green cloud.
"I don't wanna know," Dawn put her head in her hands.
"I think I found a spell," Giles exclaimed.
"Well don't just tell us about it," Tuscany prodded.
"Fatas ... venga ... mata ... waray!" there was silence
Slowly and hesitantly they all stood up. There was no cloud, bunnies or blind demon. Anya rushed out from behind the counter to pick up her ring.
Tuscany and Dawn moved to sit on the counter as they watched the pair face each other.
"I'm so sorry, dear," Giles said slowly.
"No. Rupy, I'm sorry. You were right. That was the wrong book," Anya said. Tuscany snorted.
"Yes, it was. But I'm, I'm still sorry," Giles took of his glasses and cleaned them.
"Don't leave me," Anya pleaded desperately.
"Oh Anya," Giles pulled her to him and kissed her passionately on the lips. Dawn cheered. Tuscany smiled.
They both jumped of the counter and did a little victory dance. They caught each other's eyes and stopped.
"I don't feel like a very dignified powerful witch," Tuscany said.
"And I don't feel like a minion slash accomplice," Dawn admitted.
"At least we survived," Tuscany smiled broadly.
"You still don't know who you are," Dawn reluctantly pointed out.
Tuscany shrugged, "I got you to help."
Dawn hugged the older woman impulsively. Tuscany hugged her back
There was a blinding flash of light and the pair sprung apart. Anya and Giles separated instantaneously.
"Oh dear," Giles murmured.
Giles couldn't look Anya in the eyes when he said, "So we agree it was Willow?"
"She brought up the memory spell," Anya reflected, "so it stands to reason."
Dawn was watching the three grown-ups clean. She looked at Tuscany coldly. With no memory she had connected more to Tuscany more than Buffy. It was wrong.
"Guess it just really awry," Tuscany assumed. They were dancing around the real issue of Willow's magic. They knew that this couldn't continue.
At that point the door burst open and Buffy strode in, "Dawn are you ok."
"Yeah," Dawn said quietly.
"Tuscany?" Buffy asked catching her little sister off guard.
"Fine. I mean my wrists have felt better but hey," Tuscany managed a weak grin and rotated her arm.
"You stopped that other vampire from attacking me," Buffy remembered.
"Of course. How could I have forgotten," Giles turned around, "You used magic."
"I think I can guess how you forgot," Tuscany offered with a smirk. Anya and Giles turned red.
"Dawn we best be getting home," Buffy motioned to the youngest Summers, "Coming Tuscany?"
"If it's alright Buffy I'd like to talk some more about her magical powers," Giles intervened.
"Sure," Buffy agreed and left. She looked tense.
"She's in a bad mood," Tuscany muttered to Giles.
Giles didn't comment, "Obviously since I'm leaving I can't test you and honestly I wouldn't know where to start. There is no record of a slayer possessing magical ability. I'll consult a coven and be in contact. That's is all I can think of to do."
"That's fine Giles. But I think I'll leave you and Anya to clean," She winked and left. As she exited the magic box she ran into Spike.
"Hey," Tuscany said simply. Spike seemed a bit lost for words. The day had been crazy.
"So the powerful witch is out of the chair," He attempted to make a joke.
"Don't start with me Randy or I'll tell your daddy," Tuscany teased.
"Hey below the belt," Spike placed a hand over his heart.
"What you up to?" Tuscany asked as they set into an easy pace down the street.
"Checking on you. Slayer had a bit of a break down when she got her memory back," Spike mused and searched his pockets for a smoke before realising that he was wearing the tweed suit still.
"That's nice of you."
"Anything interesting happen?" Spike asked referring to the whole affair.
"Giles and Anya hooked up, there was bunnies and a demon and Dawn and I bonded which totally freaked her out."
"Bonding over bondage," Spike joked.
"Oh god!" Tuscany rolled her eyes, "That was the worst joke ever!"
They were outside the Summers house.
"Looks like Red stuffed up bad this time," Spike was serious now.
"Yeah. Who knows what will happen," Tuscany wondered but she secretly had a good idea.
"Well I better go," Spike shifted uncomfortably.
"Yeah, of course," Tuscany agreed, "Thanks for checking on me."
"No problem Convict," Spike swaggered off.
"Spike!" Tuscany called after him. Spike paused and faced the younger slayer.
"Yeah?"
"Love the suit," And she ran back into the house.
Tuscany moved quickly through the house. She avoided rooms until she got to Buffy's. She moved through to the window and swiftly climbed out onto the roof.
From her position she could see out over the neighbour hood. And she knew that night things had changed completely in the Summer's house.
AN: This chapter didn't feel right somehow but I felt it necessary to get it up since as there was that big gap with the broken down computer. Please read and review and be gentle.
MD666
