Disclaimer: Not even pretending to own them.
Author's Notes: AU. Pre-Season 6.
The Only Chant
That was new. Willow interrupted me talking. She tries not to do that, as a general rule. You know, to make sure I actually talk once in a while.
She knows how nervous I am, and how I still am not able to talk to more than three people about something important for more than two seconds without stuttering. I hate doing it, but I can't seem to stop. Even my lack of contact with my so-called family hasn't ended it.
I love her. She screwed up, but I love her. I understand that she didn't mean to hurt anyone, and that she was just trying to help her friends out, and maybe even help Spike, but she shouldn't have messed with it.
I can't tell her that, though. I can't bring myself to. I have cast a spell that nearly got people hurt. I have been there.
It's just that, she disrupted a major balance with the 'unateem omreanme' spell. I don't even think that she realizes that everything may not be okay if, when we get this all sorted out. She has forgotten a major law of Wicca.
It is our version of karma: everything returns to you times three. You cast a spell that helps someone, the good comes back to you threefold. It is the same with harmful spells. I don't know what kind this is yet. Maybe the Powers around us will see her good, and understand what happened, how it was an accident.
Things are never simple here, ever. I didn't even know that I was coming to the Hellmouth when I got here. Things changed so quickly, its frightening how everything just turned every which way.
I know everyone wants their lives back to 'normal', but I don't even know what normal is. Everything about this world, a world so different from the one I come from, scares me. I'm just barely adjusted to being independent, let alone trying to help write a spell for turning a vampire back into a human and leaving what was originally a vampire as a human.
I don't know how to express that. I try to form the right words in my head, but I'm saved by a knock on the door. Giles answers it by cracking the door open just enough to see who it is. He steps back and lets the door open wide to reveal Angel. He still makes me nervous, I have heard too many stories from everyone in this group to not be.
Suddenly, without provocation, my mouth opens, "He has the spell!" Everyone, including Angel, turn to look at me. They all think I'm crazy, except for my Willow and Angel. It's written in their eyes.
Spike gets out of Xander's lap and stands stock still for a second before holding his hand out behind him for Xander. Xander takes it without question and stands with his lover. They really are a striking pair.
Spike, almost ceremoniously, strides to sire, or former sire, now. Xander, almost as carefully, stays close behind. They both have blank expressions on their face.
It's like a dance, somehow. It is beautiful in a strange and completely ordered way. I don't understand it, but I know that it's a ritual of sorts.
"It's already started," Willow states as I begin to feel my energy slowly flow out of my being. It isn't coming from my body really, more like my spirit or soul. I glance around the room. I see Giles grasp at a kitchen counter behind him for support. Buffy is slouching further into her chair than she was the last time I looked at her. Even Willow is leaning into the couch more than necessary, her head nearly lolling back into my lap.
"Une moreenk otre by-ink lomensar. Eevr Jrappe moa rahm. The chant is begun by the blood-changed. Only for the reversed lovers does it flow." I don't know the language that I spoke before; it isn't from the spell that Willow cast. But I know that what I spoke in English is the translation, as well as it can be translated at least.
Willow snaps her hand back to grasp mine. "Ooefme Eaonoa boneeak crimay aop. Omniscient Powers forgive those causing unintentional harm when it is corrected by effort." Willow's words, starting with those of the language different than the one I spoke, echo in my ears. I hope it means that she is forgiven.
"Offa doema charm laerkum raffa! Reverse of change given with desire!" "Yoomsha layecha shimeo rem! Original allowed, beloveds returned!" Giles, then Buffy, shout out their words. We all know now that this is not in our control. It isn't even in Angel's control, and he started it.
I can't move now. I don't think anyone else can. All our energy, kinetic and potential, is being taken out of us. A great Power is in charge.
I was wrong, some of us can still move. Xander nearly floats to take his side by Spike. Angel raises his hands in what we would've thought as a defensive gesture minutes before, now we see it as a movement of purpose. I see Angel mouth words quickly, but I don't here them. I can't see if it is the same with Xander and Spike, but I think it is.
And I'm scared suddenly, I feel like the last of my life is being sucked from me. I hear my heart in my ears, and it is slowing. I want to grab Willow so she can save me, and crush her with all my strength and make sure we are never separated, but I can't. All I can do is what is allowed to finish the spell, speak the only chant that will close off this energy vacuum we are in. "Oveem con larae. Let them be!"