CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: DARK RITUALS
For quite possibly the first time in two and a half years, the library was completely silent even though the entire Scooby Gang was there. The lights were dimmed and the only light was coming from the bright blue flame in the ceramic pot on a pedestal that they'd set up for the ritual. The silence didn't last that long though.
"This is kinda exciting," Faith whispered to Buffy. They were standing in front of the table, the Scooibies seated behind them, all of them watching as Giles and Joanna completed the ritual, with Wesley standing in the background, arms folded in annoyance at being left out.
Buffy couldn't help but smile at Faith. She brought a single finger up to Faith's lips to silence her. Faith couldn't help but dart her tongue out to lick Buffy's finger. The blonde Slayer glared and took her finger from Faith's mouth.
"You're so gross," Buffy whispered.
Faith leant closer to her girlfriend. "You weren't complaining about my tongue last night," she breathed.
Buffy felt herself flush bright red and was thankful that the lights were dimmed. She glared at Faith who just grinned mischievously. Faith moved them back so that they were leaning against the table, Faith's arm draped around Buffy's waist, one hand on Buffy's hip, gently tracing small indiscernible patterns on the slight amount of skin that was bared between Buffy's shirt and her jeans.
"Faith," Buffy whispered, half in protest, half in pleading.
Willow couldn't help but notice the two Slayers had moved back slightly. She flushed when she saw the intimate position and turned her attention back to the ritual. She was annoyed that Giles had insisted that he and Joanna be the ones to complete it. Something about them having done the same spell while they were studying at the Watcher's Academy together. It was all very cliquey and Willow couldn't help but think that there was more history between Giles and Joanna than they'd let on.
Joanna began to mutter several low incantations in Latin which were unintelligible to most of the group, but which Willow strained forwards to hear. She wanted desperately to be a part of the proceedings.
"D'ya think that's maybe…pig latin?" Xander whispered, leaning over so that only Willow could hear him. Willow returned his comment with nothing but a glare.
Oz sat next to Willow with his palm resting lightly on her leg. She leaned against him, seeking comfort from the general irritation that was rising inside of her. He felt her move against him and accommodated by bringing his arm around her shoulder.
"Kinda wanting in with the spell, huh?" Oz asked.
"Yuh-huh. I'm more than just a brain you know…I can do spells and stuff now too…but no…as soon as some…qualified school-chum breezes in, it's all 'Oh good Willow, you just go float your pencils now'," Willow said poutily. She didn't like sounding like this, but she was getting a little tired of being seen as an amateur by Giles. She had nothing personal against Joanna, it was just that the Watcher was between her and potential magic playtime.
"I know," Oz reassured her gently, squeezing her shoulder. "Maybe they'll need you for something magicky later."
"I guess," Willow sighed.
She was momentarily distracted by Xander who nudged her leg and grinned in the direction of the Slayers who were still doing their best to distract each other from the task at hand. They were doing a painfully bad job at hiding their flirtation.
"These two sure know how to make with the black magic themselves, huh Will?" Xander said suggestively. Willow rolled her eyes but giggled softly.
"You're such a guy, Xand," Willow said.
"Really? Phew that's a relief 'cos for a while there I was seriously worried that I'd been destined for a career as a eunuch and no one had bothered to tell me," Xander said, a little too loudly.
Giles turned sharply towards Xander. "In case the Latin and the essence of toad hadn't quite tipped you off Xander, we are trying to perform a spell here. A little silence would be beneficial to the success of said spell. So unless you do fancy a startlingly sudden career as a eunuch, I'd suggest you cease your infernal blathering," Giles said, cleaning his glasses and sighing as he finished speaking.
"Quite," Joanna murmured in distracted agreement, as she leaned over the aptly named book of Dark Rituals.
She sprinkled the twice-blessed sage in the ceramic pot around which they all stood. Something sparked and exploded in a small burst of purple flame.
"Well that's some progress I think," Joanna said with satisfaction, stretching her shoulders and then turning the page of the book. In a few incantations time the box would be de-beastied and could be safely destroyed.
Joanna stared at the page. Damn. They were missing Romanian bloodwort and without it the spell couldn't be completed. Joanna tugged on her left earlobe. Faith cocked her head to the side.
"What's the matter Jo?" Faith asked.
"Blast and damn. Romanian bloodwort's the matter. It's absent from this box of ingredients," She said worriedly.
Giles and Wesley immediately turned to glare at Xander. The teenager shifted uncomfortably. He was fairly certain that they'd picked up all of the ingredients that had been on the list. He'd known how important the ritual was, and he'd been more careful than usual.
"It could have dropped out of the box on the way back from the store," Xander offered. He prepared himself to be blamed.
"Wait up guys," Willow said in excitement, leaning down to fumble in her bag, which sat at her feet. She pulled something small, brown and withered in a plastic snaplock bag from her backpack, and in her hurry to straighten up, banged her head on the underside of the table.
"I've got some…ow….Romanian…gee that hurt…Romanian bloodwort," Willow said, grimacing as Oz comfortingly rubbed her head.
Joanna smiled thankfully and nodded in appreciation at Willow, taking the bloodwort from the redhead's hand. She crushed the leaves into the ceramic pot, and muttered a string of Latin words. Pulling on a pair of polka dotted oven mittens she grasped the ceramic pot firmly and poured the contents all over the box of Gavrok. There was a high-pitched screech of collective death and a bright flash of orange light surrounding the box. Then it was quiet.
"Done! Good show, Willow. I see all the good things Rupert has been telling me about your developing knowledge of magic were not unfounded," Joanna said.
Willow grinned. Giles had said she knew stuff? She knew she was smiling like a kid, but the fact that he had praised her to the other Watcher had made all of her previous irritation die away. She turned and grinned at Oz. He nodded and half smiled, picking up the happy vibe that was radiating from Willow.
"So," Buffy interjected abruptly, aware that she'd been slightly distracted for the last half hour or so. "We're all good to go to destroy the Gravox now?"
"The Box of Gavrok. And yes, we can destroy it. But there's really no need to. The creatures inside the box have been destroyed, so it's been rendered harmless. It's now no more threatening than that box of animal crackers over there," Joanna said, pointing at the biscuits that had fallen out of Willow's bag.
"I dunno…they're pretty high in calories," Oz quipped. Willow grinned.
"So what're we going to do with it then?" Buffy said, disentangling her arms from Faith and walking around to get a better look at the now spider-less box.
"Could make a decent jewellery box B," Faith said, grinning. "Save money on a Christmas gift for Joyce."
"How about not," Buffy said, rolling her eyes at Faith. "I don't think my Mom would quite appreciate the sentiment. 'Hey Mom, here's an ex-tool-for-world-domination I got you'."
Wesley spoke for the first time since the ritual had begun. Giles and Joanna had managed to irritate him to the point that he had resorted to quietly sulking at the lack of respect he was receiving from the Scoobies and the Watchers. However he seemed to have recovered from his stint of humane silence and straightened his tie as he spoke.
"Right. Frivolity aside, I think it is now time to consider the implications of removing the tool the Mayor hoped to use to ascend. For instance, we may have made ourselves a target for revenge," Wesley said gravely.
Buffy snorted. "Hello? Slayers here. Always a target."
Faith laughed but then walked to stand beside the blonde Slayer, a serious expression on her face.
"He has a point though, B. The Mayor is gonna be wicked mad that we've stolen his toy and zapped it," Faith said. She slid one arm around Buffy's waist, semi-protectively, but also just missing the warmth of her body.
"I suggest that we play it safe for tonight," Giles said firmly. "Willow, Xander, Oz, stay at home tonight. Faith and Buffy, patrol but stay together and stay alert."
"Hear that you two? That means no smoochies!" Xander said, shaking a finger at the girls.
Buffy just pouted. "Spoil our fun."
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