Power; Part 10
"Are you sure?"
"I think I can tell when someone with incredible power walks into Sunnydale, alright?"
"Okay Red. Take it easy. What do we do? Alert the Scoobies? Go track her down?"
"We wait."
"For what Red?"
"She's coming into town, she's going to get herself hurt. We can't help her till she's in town"
"You sure?"
"Uh huh. Can I have another coffee?"
"Sure Red."
---
"Woah." Paige wobbled on her legs and Tyler slid his arm around her shoulder to keep her balanced.
"You alright?"
"Yeah, just a little wobbly. Come on, I think we're nearly there."
They kept walking down the road and as Paige thought, buildings slowly came into view.
"Told you. Come on let's find a shop that sells drinks. I really need something to drink."
They walked through the town center, keeping an eye out for a shop that was open and sold drinks.
They eventually found Starbucks and walked slowly inside.
"One water and one coke please."
Tyler turned to Paige. "Do you want anything to eat?"
"No, I'm fine. Just thirsty."
Tyler paid for the drinks and they started to leave the shop. When they were barely outside, Paige's vision clouded over.
"Paige? What is it?"
"Taylor, call me Taylor okay?"
"Sure. Uh, Taylor, are you okay? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm sure it's nothing. Just feeling a little dizzy."
"Here, come on sit down."
Before Tyler could find Paige a seat, her eyes grew foggy and she put a hand up to the wall. "Taylor, you have to tell me what's wrong."
"Vision's all funny. Need, to sit down."
Tyler helped Paige slide down the wall and sit on the concrete.
"I'm going to get some help, stay here."
"Tyler, no, don't. Please."
"Okay, but when you're feeling a bit better, I'll go get some help." He held the open water bottle in front of her mouth, "Drink some, Taylor."
Paige nodded slightly and managed to get a few sips of water down before feeling like she was going to throw up.
Inside Starbucks
"Spike, she's outside."
"Do we go find her now?"
"Yeah, she needs help. Please don't strangle her this time, she's really weak."
"No promises Red. But if she pisses me off, she might find my hands at her throat."
"Spike, if you strangle her she won't trust either of us again and we need her to come with us."
"Where are we going to take her?"
"Back to our apartment. You'll have to help her get there. Can you handle that?'
"Yeah, I'll manage."
"Good. Come on."
Willow took Spike's hand and weaved through the tables. Surely enough, when they were outside Starbucks, they found 'Taylor' leaning against the wall with a guy trying to keep her talking.
"Excuse me. I'm Willow and this is Spike. You look like you could use some help."
"Taylor?"
Paige nodded slightly at Tyler's word.
"Taylor? Remember me? Willow?"
Paige slightly lifted her head to look at the redhead. She tried to nod but her head collapsed falling forward.
Willow got down beside Paige and lifted her head with her hands.
"We're going to take you to out place okay? Don't struggle."
Paige nodded and Willow stood up. "Spike, help her up. Take one side of her and you take the other. Sorry, what was your name?"
"Tyler."
Spike gently pulled Paige off the ground and moved one of her arms so it was around his shoulder.
Tyler lifted her other arm and dropped it round his shoulder.
"This way."
Together Spike and Tyler carried Paige following Willow until she reached her and Spike's apartment. She put the key in the lock and quickly went inside, clearing the things off the couch.
"Put her here." Spike took Paige off their shoulders and laid her gently down on the couch.
"Spike, get some water please."
"Sure Red."
Spike went to the joint kitchen and filled a glass with water from a jug in the fridge.
"Here Red"
"Thanks Spike." Willow put the glass to the young girl's mouth and she drank greedily until the glass was empty and her stomach was filled with water and she had that sloshy feeling.
"Taylor, how did you get here?"
"Transportation spell. From LA."
"What were you doing in LA?"
"Looking for my brother."
"Did you find him?"
Paige gently shook her head. "What time is it?"
"Uh, nine. Why?"
"Have to be home by eleven."
"You're not going anywhere yet." Willow stood up from her position and turned to face the young man who had been with Paige when they'd found her.
"How did you get involved in all this?"
"I met Taylor in LA last night. Saw her again tonight, I was helping her look for her brother. She was told he was in Sunnydale and she decided she'd take me with her when she did the transportation spell here."
"You know about demons, vampires and magic?"
"Yeah. I fight it occasionally."
"Okay. Well, Spike here's a vampire. He can't hurt you, don't worry. Go with him to the Magic Box. Spike, ask Anya to get you the ingredient's for the healing spell, she'll know what I'm talking about."
"Red, you gonna be okay here with magicked-out girl over there?"
"I'll be fine. Go and get me the stuff, hurry."
"Alright Red. Come on Junior."
Tyler followed Spike out the door and closed it behind him.
Willow bent down again. "Alright Missy. You and me need to have a talk about magicks."
---
The bell rang as Spike pushed open the door of the Magic Box.
"I'm sorry. We're closed tonight. Stocktaking. Please bring you and your cash back tomorrow morning."
"Anya, it's me. Willow want's the ingredients for a healing spell. Says you'll know what she's talking about."
"Why does she want those?" Anya popped out from behind a box and eyed Spike and Tyler suspiciously.
"Who's your friend Spike?"
"Oh, this is Tyler. Friend of Taylor's. The one we summoned?"
"Yes, I remember. What spell did Willow want ingredient's for again?"
"Healing spell."
"Oh, right." Anya fumbled around and eventually handed Spike a shoebox half filled with funny liquids in jars and some magical herbs and spices.
"There you are. $12.50."
"Ah, listen, Anya. I don't have any money on me. I'll pay tomorrow okay?"
Anya gave him a glare. "Alright. But don't pretend to forget like last time. Come again."
"Ah, yeah. Come on Junior." Tyler followed Spike out the door again.
---
"How's the demon coming along?"
"Summoned and waiting for the word to attack."
"Good. Make sure he only gets the one. We still need the other."
"His orders are really clear. He understands who to kill and who not to."
"Good. So any word on the other?"
"Nothing other than she's been practicing her powers and she's really weak. I spoke to Dru and she reckons that the witch is taking care of her at the moment. Also, she's been um, talking with that demon hunter guy. Remember him? The one we fought a few months ago."
"Does he know who she is?"
"Nothing other than a girl who can do magicks. He hasn't made the connection between her and the firm."
"Good. Wouldn't want him to turn on her now would we."
"Not at all. So, tomorrow night the attack'll happen?"
"It will. But if the girl is still around the witch, don't send him in. She could ruin the plans. Make the demon attack her when he feels the power."
"Okay. See you tomorrow night."
"Okay. Bye."
---
"Any more dreams Buffy?"
"No, thank god. It was horrible."
The phone rang and interrupted Dawn's next sentence. "Buffy, it's Anya, she needs to talk to you."
"Coming." Buffy went into the kitchen and took the phone from Xander.
"Anya? What's up?"
"Buffy, I think Willow might be back on the magicks."
"What makes you say that?"
"Spike came in before saying Willow wanted ingredients for a healing spell. He had a guy, Tyler, with him. Tyler is apparently Taylor's friend. I don't want to jump to conclusion's or anything but I think she might be doing it again."
"Okay, thanks Anya. I'll talk to her. Bye."
"Bye Buffy."
Anya hung up and Buffy did the same when she heard the tone.
"What did Anya want?"
"She thinks Willow's back on the magicks again. And also, Taylor might be in town."
"What do we do?"
"Call Willow. Talk to her I guess."
"You or me?"
"I'll do it." Buffy picked up the phone again and dialed the number.
"Hello?"
"Uh, hi. Who's this?"
"Tyler. Willow and Spike are a bit busy at the moment so I had to get their phone for them. Would you like me to tell them something?"
"Uh, what are they doing?"
Tyler sighed. "Trying to get Taylor to drink this stuff Willow made up so the Willow can cast a spell to make Taylor heal faster."
"What's wrong with her?"
"She transported herself and me to Sunnydale from LA and apparently she can't do that properly yet."
"Can you get Willow for me? Tell her its Buffy."
"Willow, there's a Buffy on the phone and she really want's to talk to you."
Buffy heard mummers in the background and then got Willow on the phone.
"Buffy, what's wrong? We're sort of in the middle of something here."
"Yeah, I heard. Listen Anya called and she thinks you're back on the magicks. Are you?"
"Buffy, I'm just saying a few words mixed with a potion to make Taylor heal faster, nothing dangerous, Promise. Now I think Spike's about to strangle her again, so."
"Willow, be careful okay? We don't want you to get hurt okay?"
"I will, I promise. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye."
Willow hung up on her best friend and went back to the couch.
"Taylor, please just drink it."
"I don't want it."
"Pet, it's not going to kill you. Just drink the liquid. Probably doesn't taste that bad."
"It smells bad."
"Well, yeah, okay granted there's that, but it can't taste that bad. Drink it and you can have some water after Willow's done the spell."
Paige shook her head again and shut her mouth tight. Spike sighed, stood up and moved away from Paige.
Willow took his spot. "If you don't drink this you won't be strong enough to get yourself back to England and you certainly won't be back by eleven."
Paige sighed. "Fine, I'll drink it. But can I have some water straight after?"
"After I've said the spell, then you can have some water. As much water as you want."
"Can it be here so I can drink it after you've said the spell?" She looked at Spike and made puppy dog eyes.
Spike grumbled something that no one could hear but went to the kitchen all the same and poured her a glass of water.
He went back to where she and Willow were waiting, and put the glass beside her.
"Drink that now pet."
She nodded and sculled the mixture back in five seconds. When she swallowed all of it, Willow said a few words that didn't make any sense and Spike handed Paige the water.
"Thanks."
She gulped it all down and looked happy with herself. "Can I go home now?"
"Nuh uh. The spell takes at least 15 minutes to work. And I don't think you're up to taking yourself and Tyler here, back to LA and then taking you back to England, it'll be to much for you."
"Oh, it's okay. I have a friend who lives here, I'll stay the night at his place."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Spike?"
"Yeah pet?"
"Why did you strangle me last time I was sort of here?"
"Yes Spike, why did you?"
Spike shrugged, "Something inside me was flaring. You have way too much power for someone your age."
"That's Spike speak for he doesn't know how old you are."
"15"
"Okay. Are you feeling any better now?"
"Yeah, heaps. Can I leave?"
"Bit egar to get out, aren'tcha pet?"
"You're scary." She sent him a look of mock fear before she looked at Willow. "So, can I leave?"
"Yes, I guess so. But no more double transportation spells. Ever, unless you one day harness your very strong power."
"Got it. No taking people with me." Paige stood up off the couch. "Thanks for everything you guys. Tyler, I'll see you around. Bye everyone." She pulled the bag onto her back and closed her eyes.
Suddenly, she was gone. "Creepy. Alright Junior, where you heading?"