Chapter Eight: All Night Long
"I need these supplies," Ethan said, handing a list of materials to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper glanced over the list and looked back up him, "'This is a continuation spell, what for?"
Ethan grinned, "None of your business, I'm paying you so please do as I ask."
The shopkeeper nodded and got his things for him, which added up to a total of over two hundred dollars. She knew that whatever he was attempting to do was dark, people didn't cast continuation spells for anything good.
Ethan smiled and walked out of the Magic Box. As soon as he stepped foot into the night outside he was met by Collin.
"Oh gods!" Ethan said as Collin popped out in front of him, "Don't do that when I'm working for you."
"Its been two weeks and we've had no word from you, I was starting to worry that you were gone. And none of us would want that-would we?" Collin's eyes did the rest of the talking for him. People who had known him for a while would think of him as a friend, not threatening but his glare sent a chill down Ethan's spine.
"I'm sorry, I've been working on a spell that could keep the Slayer out of your way until, well---lets just say she'll dance to her death."
Collin nodded, "Good, because I don't like people who mess up my plans. I'm sure you understand."
"Completely." Ethan said then rushed down the street, getting as far away from Collin as possible.
Collin took in a deep breath and stuck his hands in his pockets, "I love the smell of death." He then turned and took steps down the street toward his house.
The shopkeeper removed her eyes from the window and sighed. The slayer? She thought, There's another one in town?
She turned and walked through the shop until she reached a standalone mirror. She eyed herself in the mirror and adjusted her purple turtle neck sweater. She sighed, "Okay, Anya." Anya said to her reflection, "Don't dabble, keep in your own business. The Slayer can handle this."
She breathed in deep and eyed the phone, should she call Willow and Giles? Should she interrupt them in England? She thought for a second and let out another deep sigh, "No, mind your own business." She walked over the floor and opened a cabinet behind the cashiers counter. She opened it and pulled out a framed picture, a picture of herself, Xander, Willow, Tara, Buffy, Dawn, Giles and Spike all together shortly after the re-opening of the Magic Box, shortly before Buffy was killed.
She pressed her lips together and let a tear escape her eye. In the wake of Buffy's death the entire Scooby Gang had split up. Giles took Willow and Dawn to England for rehabilitation for Willow, seeing as how she was pushed over the edge when Tara was killed, and to train Dawn to harness her powers as the Key for further use in demon slayage. Spike went into a rage and nearly had to be staked, therefore he left and the last Anya heard of him he was in New York-for what reason she did not know. Xander, her ex- fiancee, left her. He was so shocked and taken by Buffy's death that he left Anya on a wild rampage and he supposedly had gone to Georgia, a place to relax away from all hell-mouths and demons.
And Anya, she was left in Sunnydale-the only one that would stay. She had been keeping up shop in the Magic Box and went slaying on random nights. She had even learned a few magic tricks, things that Willow could do without thinking she had to do with a long incantation but it was helpful when a vampire was overpowering her.
She shook her head, trying to get rid of the thoughts. She grabbed her coat and put it on then headed for the door, she looked back on the shop-as she did every night-and remembered all of the memories housed in it. She swallowed and then turned off the light and closed the door and headed to her apartment.
*******
Ashley leaned closer to Parker as they walked through the Restfield Cemetery. She enjoyed being out with him, whether it was enjoying a dinner at his parents house or dancing on the floor of the Bronze or wrestling vampires it was always a good time with him. She liked having that security of someone with her and she hadn't been this happy in a very long time. Granted, the book that was supposed to lead them to this apocalyptic cult called the Order of the Left Hand was stolen, she still didn't care as long as she was with him.
Her feelings toward him over the past two months had blossomed to become something that she had never really felt before. Not even with Sam had she felt this way. Parker could touch her and she would melt in his arms, he could talk to her over the phone and the pain of not being able to see him was almost unbearable. Obviously, her feelings were leading her to something that she couldn't identify, something more intense than any destiny she had to face.
She looked up to him as he had his arm around her and she said, 'Well, there's not much action tonight. You wanna head home?"
He looked to her and nodded, "If your ready to go then I guess I am."
She smiled, "What, you wanna stay here with the corpses?"
He grinned and looked at her, "No, I wanna stay with you."
Her expression froze still and then she wrapped her arms around him as he did the same and their lips touched momentarily. She broke the kiss and looked up to him, "I love you, you know that right?"
He nodded, "I love you more."
"No, no." She grinned and put her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"Yeah," he said, "I think I do."
"I know you don't," she said.
"What makes you say that?" he asked her, playfully.
"Cuz," she started, then her expression changed as she threw him out of the way of an incoming vampire, "There's a vampire sneaking up on us."
She eyed the vampire in disgust and round-housed it, "You vampires always know the exact WRONG time to show up, don't you?" She then hit it and slammed it back against a tombstone and shoved a stake in its heart.
She turned to Parker, "Okay, where were we?"
He grinned, "Going home?"
She nodded and let herself get trapped in his arms as they walked to her house.
They got to her street and she looked up to him, "You know what I've just realized?"
He looked to her, "What?"
She smiled and said, "I should be walking you home."
"Yeah, I hear you." He grinned, 'You gonna walk me five miles outside of town to my house?"
"No, no. I'm gonna steal your car and go." She grinned as he leaned down and gave her a kiss.
"Go on, don't get caught sneaking in." He grinned.
She broke the kiss and slid away from him, "I love you, baby." And with that she proceeded to climb up the tree next to her room and hop into her window.
Parker watched her up until she turned on her bedroom light and then walked down the street to his car, which was parked at the very end of the road.
*******
Sherri walked out of Ashley's bedroom in her royal blue dress, the one they had bought just before the centaur attacked them a few days ago. Mitchell Neal was there in the hall waiting for her in a black tux and a bow tie. He smiled as Sherri walked up to her, this was their second date and she really liked him-but he did not know about Ashley and her 'extra- curricular' activities, and that may cause problems in the relationship. But it was all good right now, here he was and here she was and that was perfect enough.
Soon after Sherri left Ashley's room Carolyn and Ashley followed her out. Carolyn was dressed in a black, sparkling halter top dress. Ashley came out in her emerald green dress that she had bought with Sherri up in LA a few days ago.
Of course, they were well received by their boyfriends. The strange thing to Ashley was that this night marked their second month of dating. Parker had remembered and they missed first and second period earlier that day because Parker had set her up a nice little breakfast, and they had talked and kissed until they realized it was almost eleven-o'clock. She grinned as Parker came up and kissed her lightly then told her how great she looked.
"You look good too," she smiled and then put her hands on his chest and played with his tux, "Strange, this is the first time I've seen you in dress clothes."
He yanked slightly on his bow tie, "And I hope it will be the last.:"
She grinned and kissed him lightly, "You look great."
"Not as good as you." He said, looking down adoringly at her. They locked eyes and fiddled with each other's hands for an unknown time. But they were snapped out of their trance when Sherri chimed in, "The limo's here."
Ashley smiled at Sherri, "That's great!" She took Parker by the hand and they walked down the stairs and sneaked out of the house before her mother could start with the picture taking.
*******
"Why didn't Eric come?" Ashley asked as they stepped out of the limo.
Parker looked to her as he shut the door, "He had to go up to LA with his father for an audition."
Sherri grinned at the thought of Eric in a movie. He went up to LA to audition for the part of Alex Smith, a young aspiring teenager who is caught up in a murder spree. The movie was going to be called something like "All Course Zero".
Eric had quested to be an actor since his part as an extra in a NyQuil commercial. He was a good actor, but it wasn't known if he had what it took to make it in Hollywood. Nevertheless, it was good that he was trying.
"So," said Carolyn, "did we come here to stand outside and talk about Eric's sun-shiny career or did we come to party?"
With that they all took steps toward the Bronze and entered. It was an amazing site, lights and music and drinks and decorations. It was almost too perfect. Too good to be true.
*******
Collin started his dark blue Chevrolet 1500 and made sure that all of the supplies for the spell Ethan had come up with were in place. Ethan soon climbed into the passenger seat and told him everything was going well just as three of the other followers of the Order of the Left Hand took their places in the bed of the truck.
Collin turned to Ethan, "Are you sure this is going to work?"
Ethan scoffed and said: "The only person that could possibly have a clue what were doing is that shopkeeper, Anya I think her name was."
Collin scowled evilly, "Maybe we should kill her, to tie up loose ends."
Ethan looked to him, "Are you serious? Its going to be hard to accomplish what you're wanting to do if the police get involved in a murder investigation."
"Quit worrying Ethan," Collin sighed, "I know what I'm doing."
Ethan shook his head and looked out into the darkness as they drove to the Bronze.
*******
Ashley, Sherri, Carolyn, Parker, Mitchell and Chris all took a seat at a nearby table from the dance floor. They were partly laughing, not knowing why. Ashley, for one, had never had such a good night in a long time. She thought of Parker every other second and she enjoyed every moment they were together. As a matter of fact they were never caught not touching in some way the entire night.
They were indeed having a good time and without a doubt did not want this night to end. Soon their time of rest was over for a rather old song called "Never Had A Dream Come True" by S Club 7 came on the speakers and literally the entire crowd flocked to the dance floor to slow dance to this classic song.
Ashley looked up to Parker as her hands wrapped around his neck and his around her waist. She smiled as he looked down to her and they were locked together in the moment, a perfect moment that was to be treasured. No words were needed to be said, for they both knew how the other felt-love.
Sherri was dancing with Mitchell, and oddly she felt something from him- something different. She smiled to him and he smiled back, she thought of how perfect his smile seemed. How nicely it fit with his eyes, his lightly tanned face and his sandy blonde hair. His hands on her hips felt like fire against her needy skin, like the hands of something too good to be true.
Either I'm in love or I'm really horny, Sherri thought, Well, I'm always horny. Damn. She slightly grinned at her own thoughts.
She then looked over to Carolyn and Chris. The perfect couple. They looked great together, were almost as inseparable as Parker and Ashley. They seemed to know each other deeper than what was ever known to anyone else and they truly trusted each other-they were lucky Sherri thought. They had been together for over 3 years, but had been 'going out' for nearly 7 years off and on, they were in love, no doubt about it and a bright future awaited them both-if they lived through high school.
*******
Three teenagers circled the perimeter of the Bronze sprinkling a gray, cloudy dust behind them. They must have circled this place at least six times combined but it would have to stay, for if the dust blew away even in one spot the spell that was about to be cast would rupture and break and spill out randomly in the town. Not that the chaos it would leave in its wake wouldn't be funny, but now they had a job to do and nothing would stop them from completing it.
In front of the main doors of the Bronze Collin and Ethan drew a pentacle on the pavement using blood from a lamb. While Collin put the finishing touches on the reddish-black pentacle, that is letting some of the gray dust fall on the painting, Ethan set up a small altar and cast the required circle.
"Are we ready?" Collin asked.
"Yes," Ethan looked to the doors and said a little charm underneath his breath to seal them, "your minions are going to keep sprinkling dust around the Bronze to ensure that the circle won't be ruptured."
Collin nodded and stepped out of Ethan's way. Ethan then started to chant a very simple incantation and as he did so a white cloud appeared in front of him and began to circle around him, rising ever higher into the sky. Ethan then began to rock in his chant, lightning struck down around he cloud, which could not be heard inside the Bronze or barely even heard by Collin. Then Ethan took an black handled knife and spilt some of his own blood into the circle, and then the clouds around him flew away from him and to the Bronze, the spell had been cast.
*******
Anya threw on her black leather jacket, it had been so long since she had dressed up in this outfit. Black leather pants, black leather jacket and a white tanktop. She had taken over a bit of the slaying responsibilities when her friends left town and now she had to try to be the Anya she was before---the strong Anya who could take anything. She grabbed her duffel bag that was full of magic supplies to stop the spell they may have cast and walked out of her house.
*******
Ashley continued to dance with Parker, as did Carolyn with Chris and Sherri and Mitchell. Everyone was having a wonderful time-and didn't seem to know that they had been on the same part of the same song for forty minutes.
Outside Collin was interrogating Ethan about this spell, "Okay, why didn't you just come up with a round-about way of killing her. I don't see what good this is going to do."
"Collin," Ethan eyed the youngster, "anyone who try's to be a hero and rushes in there will be caught up in the continuum. That one spell can hold up to five thousand different time waves and repeat them for several years. As the moments go by in there they age as usual, they become weak as usual and soon enough they will be dancing corpses"
Collin nodded, "But this has too many ways to fail."
"But just as many ways not to. This is your best bet to buy time, Collin. No one can trace it back to you, not in any way or any reason."
At this time Anya had been listening to their conversation for at least fifteen minutes, learning of what was cast and who her enemies were. She found out a great bit about Ethan, and this blonde boy named Collin. She knew that somehow Collin had connections with the Slayer, and the Slayer was his next planned victim. But how did he know the Slayer? They did not talk of this, or anything else but instead walked off chuckling-they were going to her shop. To kill her.
Anya stood and watched as they all filtered out and two vampires stood watch around the building. She slipped a strand of her newly dyed strawberry blonde hair behind her ear as she carefully stepped behind a car and near one of the vampires. She reached inside her jacket and pulled out a stake, she gripped it tight in her hand and leapt. It was quick, silent and completely on surprise, the vampire outstretched his hands and fell to his knees then erupted into dust.
The other vampire, who stood about two hundred yards away, heard the dust explosion and turned. What met its eyes was Anya standing over the remains of the vampire she slayed gripping her stake and glaring back. The vampire let out a growl and charged for Anya, who leaned all her weight onto her back leg and leapt up just in time for the vampire to run under her and slam into the car behind her, breaking the passenger side window.
Anya landed almost gracefully on the pavement and turned, round-housing the attacking vampire and managing to send it back a few inches long enough for her to backhand it and slam a stake into its cold heart.
She then stood up and took a deep breath. She glanced at the building and then at the newly charred altar from which the spell was cast. She rushed over to the altar and sniffed the top of it, she could smell a bit of Eryshon's Trail, a kind of gray dust. Come to think of it she had sold the ingredients to make this dust to Ethan earlier that week. So now she knew that she was right, they made a continuation spell.
In order to cast a spell this powerful they would have to call on the Mistress of Time and Eryshon the Endless One, which means that the reverse incantation would require the summoning of Omegira, the lesser god of Omega. Anya thought for a moment, pondering her options. A casting of Omegira would call upon at least four hundred dollars worth of materials, not including a solid black onyx spirit orb.
She stepped away from the altar and thought for a moment. If her calculations were right those inside would have only two to four days to live-then the spell would both rupture by accident and kill everyone that was inside the building or they would start combusting and falling out dead from lack of water and exhaustion.
There was no way she could get everything that was needed in time, and such a casting would nearly kill her. If only Willow were there or Tara had been killed. Her thoughts lingered for a moment and then suddenly the answer appeared in front of her, her demonic powers. But could she control them in her human body? Would they be too much to handle? As of now she couldn't worry about her own personal safety-the slayer was in danger and she knew what happened when a Slayer died these days.
She sighed, what did she have to live for anyway, a magic shop and a single life? She took in a deep breath and nodded. She had made up her mind, she would call back the demon inside of her. Anyanka would live again.
"I need these supplies," Ethan said, handing a list of materials to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper glanced over the list and looked back up him, "'This is a continuation spell, what for?"
Ethan grinned, "None of your business, I'm paying you so please do as I ask."
The shopkeeper nodded and got his things for him, which added up to a total of over two hundred dollars. She knew that whatever he was attempting to do was dark, people didn't cast continuation spells for anything good.
Ethan smiled and walked out of the Magic Box. As soon as he stepped foot into the night outside he was met by Collin.
"Oh gods!" Ethan said as Collin popped out in front of him, "Don't do that when I'm working for you."
"Its been two weeks and we've had no word from you, I was starting to worry that you were gone. And none of us would want that-would we?" Collin's eyes did the rest of the talking for him. People who had known him for a while would think of him as a friend, not threatening but his glare sent a chill down Ethan's spine.
"I'm sorry, I've been working on a spell that could keep the Slayer out of your way until, well---lets just say she'll dance to her death."
Collin nodded, "Good, because I don't like people who mess up my plans. I'm sure you understand."
"Completely." Ethan said then rushed down the street, getting as far away from Collin as possible.
Collin took in a deep breath and stuck his hands in his pockets, "I love the smell of death." He then turned and took steps down the street toward his house.
The shopkeeper removed her eyes from the window and sighed. The slayer? She thought, There's another one in town?
She turned and walked through the shop until she reached a standalone mirror. She eyed herself in the mirror and adjusted her purple turtle neck sweater. She sighed, "Okay, Anya." Anya said to her reflection, "Don't dabble, keep in your own business. The Slayer can handle this."
She breathed in deep and eyed the phone, should she call Willow and Giles? Should she interrupt them in England? She thought for a second and let out another deep sigh, "No, mind your own business." She walked over the floor and opened a cabinet behind the cashiers counter. She opened it and pulled out a framed picture, a picture of herself, Xander, Willow, Tara, Buffy, Dawn, Giles and Spike all together shortly after the re-opening of the Magic Box, shortly before Buffy was killed.
She pressed her lips together and let a tear escape her eye. In the wake of Buffy's death the entire Scooby Gang had split up. Giles took Willow and Dawn to England for rehabilitation for Willow, seeing as how she was pushed over the edge when Tara was killed, and to train Dawn to harness her powers as the Key for further use in demon slayage. Spike went into a rage and nearly had to be staked, therefore he left and the last Anya heard of him he was in New York-for what reason she did not know. Xander, her ex- fiancee, left her. He was so shocked and taken by Buffy's death that he left Anya on a wild rampage and he supposedly had gone to Georgia, a place to relax away from all hell-mouths and demons.
And Anya, she was left in Sunnydale-the only one that would stay. She had been keeping up shop in the Magic Box and went slaying on random nights. She had even learned a few magic tricks, things that Willow could do without thinking she had to do with a long incantation but it was helpful when a vampire was overpowering her.
She shook her head, trying to get rid of the thoughts. She grabbed her coat and put it on then headed for the door, she looked back on the shop-as she did every night-and remembered all of the memories housed in it. She swallowed and then turned off the light and closed the door and headed to her apartment.
*******
Ashley leaned closer to Parker as they walked through the Restfield Cemetery. She enjoyed being out with him, whether it was enjoying a dinner at his parents house or dancing on the floor of the Bronze or wrestling vampires it was always a good time with him. She liked having that security of someone with her and she hadn't been this happy in a very long time. Granted, the book that was supposed to lead them to this apocalyptic cult called the Order of the Left Hand was stolen, she still didn't care as long as she was with him.
Her feelings toward him over the past two months had blossomed to become something that she had never really felt before. Not even with Sam had she felt this way. Parker could touch her and she would melt in his arms, he could talk to her over the phone and the pain of not being able to see him was almost unbearable. Obviously, her feelings were leading her to something that she couldn't identify, something more intense than any destiny she had to face.
She looked up to him as he had his arm around her and she said, 'Well, there's not much action tonight. You wanna head home?"
He looked to her and nodded, "If your ready to go then I guess I am."
She smiled, "What, you wanna stay here with the corpses?"
He grinned and looked at her, "No, I wanna stay with you."
Her expression froze still and then she wrapped her arms around him as he did the same and their lips touched momentarily. She broke the kiss and looked up to him, "I love you, you know that right?"
He nodded, "I love you more."
"No, no." She grinned and put her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"Yeah," he said, "I think I do."
"I know you don't," she said.
"What makes you say that?" he asked her, playfully.
"Cuz," she started, then her expression changed as she threw him out of the way of an incoming vampire, "There's a vampire sneaking up on us."
She eyed the vampire in disgust and round-housed it, "You vampires always know the exact WRONG time to show up, don't you?" She then hit it and slammed it back against a tombstone and shoved a stake in its heart.
She turned to Parker, "Okay, where were we?"
He grinned, "Going home?"
She nodded and let herself get trapped in his arms as they walked to her house.
They got to her street and she looked up to him, "You know what I've just realized?"
He looked to her, "What?"
She smiled and said, "I should be walking you home."
"Yeah, I hear you." He grinned, 'You gonna walk me five miles outside of town to my house?"
"No, no. I'm gonna steal your car and go." She grinned as he leaned down and gave her a kiss.
"Go on, don't get caught sneaking in." He grinned.
She broke the kiss and slid away from him, "I love you, baby." And with that she proceeded to climb up the tree next to her room and hop into her window.
Parker watched her up until she turned on her bedroom light and then walked down the street to his car, which was parked at the very end of the road.
*******
Sherri walked out of Ashley's bedroom in her royal blue dress, the one they had bought just before the centaur attacked them a few days ago. Mitchell Neal was there in the hall waiting for her in a black tux and a bow tie. He smiled as Sherri walked up to her, this was their second date and she really liked him-but he did not know about Ashley and her 'extra- curricular' activities, and that may cause problems in the relationship. But it was all good right now, here he was and here she was and that was perfect enough.
Soon after Sherri left Ashley's room Carolyn and Ashley followed her out. Carolyn was dressed in a black, sparkling halter top dress. Ashley came out in her emerald green dress that she had bought with Sherri up in LA a few days ago.
Of course, they were well received by their boyfriends. The strange thing to Ashley was that this night marked their second month of dating. Parker had remembered and they missed first and second period earlier that day because Parker had set her up a nice little breakfast, and they had talked and kissed until they realized it was almost eleven-o'clock. She grinned as Parker came up and kissed her lightly then told her how great she looked.
"You look good too," she smiled and then put her hands on his chest and played with his tux, "Strange, this is the first time I've seen you in dress clothes."
He yanked slightly on his bow tie, "And I hope it will be the last.:"
She grinned and kissed him lightly, "You look great."
"Not as good as you." He said, looking down adoringly at her. They locked eyes and fiddled with each other's hands for an unknown time. But they were snapped out of their trance when Sherri chimed in, "The limo's here."
Ashley smiled at Sherri, "That's great!" She took Parker by the hand and they walked down the stairs and sneaked out of the house before her mother could start with the picture taking.
*******
"Why didn't Eric come?" Ashley asked as they stepped out of the limo.
Parker looked to her as he shut the door, "He had to go up to LA with his father for an audition."
Sherri grinned at the thought of Eric in a movie. He went up to LA to audition for the part of Alex Smith, a young aspiring teenager who is caught up in a murder spree. The movie was going to be called something like "All Course Zero".
Eric had quested to be an actor since his part as an extra in a NyQuil commercial. He was a good actor, but it wasn't known if he had what it took to make it in Hollywood. Nevertheless, it was good that he was trying.
"So," said Carolyn, "did we come here to stand outside and talk about Eric's sun-shiny career or did we come to party?"
With that they all took steps toward the Bronze and entered. It was an amazing site, lights and music and drinks and decorations. It was almost too perfect. Too good to be true.
*******
Collin started his dark blue Chevrolet 1500 and made sure that all of the supplies for the spell Ethan had come up with were in place. Ethan soon climbed into the passenger seat and told him everything was going well just as three of the other followers of the Order of the Left Hand took their places in the bed of the truck.
Collin turned to Ethan, "Are you sure this is going to work?"
Ethan scoffed and said: "The only person that could possibly have a clue what were doing is that shopkeeper, Anya I think her name was."
Collin scowled evilly, "Maybe we should kill her, to tie up loose ends."
Ethan looked to him, "Are you serious? Its going to be hard to accomplish what you're wanting to do if the police get involved in a murder investigation."
"Quit worrying Ethan," Collin sighed, "I know what I'm doing."
Ethan shook his head and looked out into the darkness as they drove to the Bronze.
*******
Ashley, Sherri, Carolyn, Parker, Mitchell and Chris all took a seat at a nearby table from the dance floor. They were partly laughing, not knowing why. Ashley, for one, had never had such a good night in a long time. She thought of Parker every other second and she enjoyed every moment they were together. As a matter of fact they were never caught not touching in some way the entire night.
They were indeed having a good time and without a doubt did not want this night to end. Soon their time of rest was over for a rather old song called "Never Had A Dream Come True" by S Club 7 came on the speakers and literally the entire crowd flocked to the dance floor to slow dance to this classic song.
Ashley looked up to Parker as her hands wrapped around his neck and his around her waist. She smiled as he looked down to her and they were locked together in the moment, a perfect moment that was to be treasured. No words were needed to be said, for they both knew how the other felt-love.
Sherri was dancing with Mitchell, and oddly she felt something from him- something different. She smiled to him and he smiled back, she thought of how perfect his smile seemed. How nicely it fit with his eyes, his lightly tanned face and his sandy blonde hair. His hands on her hips felt like fire against her needy skin, like the hands of something too good to be true.
Either I'm in love or I'm really horny, Sherri thought, Well, I'm always horny. Damn. She slightly grinned at her own thoughts.
She then looked over to Carolyn and Chris. The perfect couple. They looked great together, were almost as inseparable as Parker and Ashley. They seemed to know each other deeper than what was ever known to anyone else and they truly trusted each other-they were lucky Sherri thought. They had been together for over 3 years, but had been 'going out' for nearly 7 years off and on, they were in love, no doubt about it and a bright future awaited them both-if they lived through high school.
*******
Three teenagers circled the perimeter of the Bronze sprinkling a gray, cloudy dust behind them. They must have circled this place at least six times combined but it would have to stay, for if the dust blew away even in one spot the spell that was about to be cast would rupture and break and spill out randomly in the town. Not that the chaos it would leave in its wake wouldn't be funny, but now they had a job to do and nothing would stop them from completing it.
In front of the main doors of the Bronze Collin and Ethan drew a pentacle on the pavement using blood from a lamb. While Collin put the finishing touches on the reddish-black pentacle, that is letting some of the gray dust fall on the painting, Ethan set up a small altar and cast the required circle.
"Are we ready?" Collin asked.
"Yes," Ethan looked to the doors and said a little charm underneath his breath to seal them, "your minions are going to keep sprinkling dust around the Bronze to ensure that the circle won't be ruptured."
Collin nodded and stepped out of Ethan's way. Ethan then started to chant a very simple incantation and as he did so a white cloud appeared in front of him and began to circle around him, rising ever higher into the sky. Ethan then began to rock in his chant, lightning struck down around he cloud, which could not be heard inside the Bronze or barely even heard by Collin. Then Ethan took an black handled knife and spilt some of his own blood into the circle, and then the clouds around him flew away from him and to the Bronze, the spell had been cast.
*******
Anya threw on her black leather jacket, it had been so long since she had dressed up in this outfit. Black leather pants, black leather jacket and a white tanktop. She had taken over a bit of the slaying responsibilities when her friends left town and now she had to try to be the Anya she was before---the strong Anya who could take anything. She grabbed her duffel bag that was full of magic supplies to stop the spell they may have cast and walked out of her house.
*******
Ashley continued to dance with Parker, as did Carolyn with Chris and Sherri and Mitchell. Everyone was having a wonderful time-and didn't seem to know that they had been on the same part of the same song for forty minutes.
Outside Collin was interrogating Ethan about this spell, "Okay, why didn't you just come up with a round-about way of killing her. I don't see what good this is going to do."
"Collin," Ethan eyed the youngster, "anyone who try's to be a hero and rushes in there will be caught up in the continuum. That one spell can hold up to five thousand different time waves and repeat them for several years. As the moments go by in there they age as usual, they become weak as usual and soon enough they will be dancing corpses"
Collin nodded, "But this has too many ways to fail."
"But just as many ways not to. This is your best bet to buy time, Collin. No one can trace it back to you, not in any way or any reason."
At this time Anya had been listening to their conversation for at least fifteen minutes, learning of what was cast and who her enemies were. She found out a great bit about Ethan, and this blonde boy named Collin. She knew that somehow Collin had connections with the Slayer, and the Slayer was his next planned victim. But how did he know the Slayer? They did not talk of this, or anything else but instead walked off chuckling-they were going to her shop. To kill her.
Anya stood and watched as they all filtered out and two vampires stood watch around the building. She slipped a strand of her newly dyed strawberry blonde hair behind her ear as she carefully stepped behind a car and near one of the vampires. She reached inside her jacket and pulled out a stake, she gripped it tight in her hand and leapt. It was quick, silent and completely on surprise, the vampire outstretched his hands and fell to his knees then erupted into dust.
The other vampire, who stood about two hundred yards away, heard the dust explosion and turned. What met its eyes was Anya standing over the remains of the vampire she slayed gripping her stake and glaring back. The vampire let out a growl and charged for Anya, who leaned all her weight onto her back leg and leapt up just in time for the vampire to run under her and slam into the car behind her, breaking the passenger side window.
Anya landed almost gracefully on the pavement and turned, round-housing the attacking vampire and managing to send it back a few inches long enough for her to backhand it and slam a stake into its cold heart.
She then stood up and took a deep breath. She glanced at the building and then at the newly charred altar from which the spell was cast. She rushed over to the altar and sniffed the top of it, she could smell a bit of Eryshon's Trail, a kind of gray dust. Come to think of it she had sold the ingredients to make this dust to Ethan earlier that week. So now she knew that she was right, they made a continuation spell.
In order to cast a spell this powerful they would have to call on the Mistress of Time and Eryshon the Endless One, which means that the reverse incantation would require the summoning of Omegira, the lesser god of Omega. Anya thought for a moment, pondering her options. A casting of Omegira would call upon at least four hundred dollars worth of materials, not including a solid black onyx spirit orb.
She stepped away from the altar and thought for a moment. If her calculations were right those inside would have only two to four days to live-then the spell would both rupture by accident and kill everyone that was inside the building or they would start combusting and falling out dead from lack of water and exhaustion.
There was no way she could get everything that was needed in time, and such a casting would nearly kill her. If only Willow were there or Tara had been killed. Her thoughts lingered for a moment and then suddenly the answer appeared in front of her, her demonic powers. But could she control them in her human body? Would they be too much to handle? As of now she couldn't worry about her own personal safety-the slayer was in danger and she knew what happened when a Slayer died these days.
She sighed, what did she have to live for anyway, a magic shop and a single life? She took in a deep breath and nodded. She had made up her mind, she would call back the demon inside of her. Anyanka would live again.