Mutant Enemy Television, Inc. owns Buffy the Vampire Slayer. My use is in no way meant to challenge any established copyrights. This piece is not intended for any profit on the part of the writer, nor is it meant to detract from the commercial viability of the aforementioned, or any other, copyright. Any similarity to any events or persons (either real or fictional) is unintended.
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V – Old Friends, Future Allies"Hey, Willow!" a voice cried out behind the young, red-haired woman. Willow turned, trying to see who was calling to her, but didn't see anyone she immediately recognized. "Willow!" she heard again. This time she caught sight of a young woman that she thought looked vaguely familiar.
"Lucy?" she asked hesitantly. Willow found herself face to face with a young woman with short, black-dyed hair, appearing to be the Goth poster child. The last time Willow had seen Lucy, at one the Wicca club's meetings, the girl had long, beautiful blonde hair and a healthy, slightly tanned complexion. The difference was like night and day.
"Yes, Lucy," the girl confirmed. "Bet ya didn't recognize me at first."
"Good bet," Willow commented. "What happened?"
"I decided on a new look," the girl said needlessly. Willow had already guessed that much. "See, I remember when you were at one of our Wicca group's meetings, and you suggested we try out some spells. Most of the girls laughed it off, but I could see in your eyes that you considered the suggestion completely reasonable. The only reason that should have been was that you already knew some spells. I figured you came to the group to find out some new stuff, and not just act all alternative and spooky like the rest of them."
"Really?" Willow asked. She had always thought that the only girl in the Wicca group that had guessed at the truth was Tara. Apparently, that assumption had been mistaken.
"Really," Lucy answered. "I've been doing some research. I've been up in the Rare Books Room, checking out books that you and Tara have taken out. I've also been over to that Magic Box store. You know, the one run by that stuffy English guy and that weird, bitchy girl?"
"Yeah, I know the place," Willow said with a thin, amused smile.
"I've even cast a couple of spells," Lucy said.
"Really?" Willow asked.
"Yep," Lucy confirmed, her face glowing despite the overabundance of black makeup.
"What did you cast?"
"Only light and darkness spells," Lucy said. "It seems I have an affinity for them. One of the books I read said that it's very rare to find a witch that's good at just about every kind of magic. Usually there's some kind of specialization based on the person's personality, like summoning, or elemental magic, or divination, or whatever. Seems I'm good at light and dark."
"That's great," Willow replied, feeling some of the thrill that she had felt for herself when she had first begun casting.
"I was wondering if you and Tara would take me in at some point," Lucy said suddenly. "I know you two must be far ahead of me, and I have a lot to learn."
"That might be fun," Willow said.
"We could, like, form a coven or something," Lucy suggested. At the mention of the word 'coven,' Willow's heart jumped ever so slightly. It excited her to feel that the universe itself was going about making it easier for her and Tara to build the group they wanted so badly. It seemed to her like a sign that a coven was meant to be.
"Tara and I have been doing just that," Willow admitted. "We were gonna talk to some of the girls in the group."
"No point in doing that," Lucy said. "I was just there last week, and they treated my like I had leprosy or something. They just don't get it. I know this other girl, though, and she'd be willing to join up."
"You're sure?" Willow asked excitedly.
"Absolutely," Lucy said. "She's my... umm... partner. I know you understand, what with the way you and Tara are."
"Oh," Willow muttered. She had no idea that word was getting around that she and Tara were together romantically.
"Her name's Jamie," Lucy added, ignoring Willow's awkwardness. "She hasn't gotten a spell right, yet, but she's been working really hard. She'll get it pretty soon."
"I'm sure she will," Willow answered. "Why don't you give me your number, and I'll get in touch with you after Tara and I talk this over?"
"Sure thing," Lucy said with a broad smile.
To be continued..................................