"Because you're the only one with this kind of experience."
"Not like this!"
"Come on Anya, you've done stuff like this before. I mean, you're an ex-vengence demon. Relationships and scorned women are your thing!"
"Yeah, but Buffy isn't exactly scorned here. Xander, have you really given this thought? You're messing with some huge consequences," Anya said softly to get the point across.
Xander had given it thought. Much needed however unwanted visual thought. Spike is a killer, however much anyone tries to deny it. It's not like he has a soul or is any good influence to the Scoobies. All he was is a mess that needs to be cleaned up. 'And I can do that!' Xander thought. Lately life hadn't been that great for Buffy, despite how much everyone tried to believe it was. They had brought her back but at what cost? To sending her straight into the arms of a demon?! Willow had wanted to fix Buffy, but look how that turned out. Everyone lost thier memories of themselves! This was different. This was a way to get rid of the vampire and bring Buffy back to her real loved ones.
"This is the right decision," Xander told Anya. "I know it is."
The couple stood in a moment of silence, Xander searching her for some response. It didn't seem like a good idea to Anya. This kind of spell could get way out of control. But Buffy did need fixing. She wasn't the same anymore and that didn't make Xander happy. Which also caused a lot of problems for her since it seemed they could never go to bed without him saying something about Buffy. Even after the fantastic sex!
"Okay I'll do it. But if something bad happens and somebody gets hurt before the wedding it'll be all your fault!" she stated.
"Nothing will happen, I promise," Xander assured her. "So what do we need for the spell?"
About an hour later after they had found the certain spell and ingredients everything was set for motion. Anya had sent Xander home just a short while ago for being too jittery and anxious. He was almost excited for this to happen. Like a little kid waiting for the ice cream man to come around the corner in his little truck and give away free samples.
She cleared the floor to give herself space and went over everything in her mind again. Five candles for the circle: red, white, black, blue and yellow. Each represented their own characteristics that were specific for this spell. Red was for inner strength, yellow for intellect, white for protection and purity and black also for protection. Ordinary people usually forgot that black ment protection and wasn't a sign for evil. But being on the hellmouth around witches and vampires and also owning a magic shop had given Anya more knowledge than most. The most important candle was the blue which would stand at the top of the circle where Anya would be facing. It represented healing and truth, the most important factors to the spell.
Next she would need some incense. The spell called for two kinds of herbs, both sandalwood and sage. Sage was for healing and purity and sandalwood was for protection and clensing. Anya decided that stick incense would be easiest to use and carefully picked out two seperate plates to let the ashes fall into.
Another herb was also called for but not to burn. Rue which was for seeing mistakes was to be placed around an object of the "accepting party." She guessed that ment the person who the spell was being performed on. So before he left, Xander gave Anya a picture of Buffy from his wallet.
Once everything was in place, Anya stood in the middle of the circle and lit the five candles and incense. She kneeled down with the spell book in her lap and focused her energy on the performance. She hoped this wouldn't be one of those 'big lights and poofy smoke' shows. She only had to read the spell once so she was determined to give it her best shot.
To help a friend who is in need
With this spell let them see, let them see
Find the answers to their mistakes
With this spell set them free, set them free
Open their eyes tolet them learn
With this spell let them see, set them free
After the spell was said Anya closed her eyes and focused on the power vibrating around her. She could feel the buzz in the air and the fire from the candles grow. There was a small breeze that circled around her for a moment. When Anya finally opened her eyes the candles and incense had abrubtly stopped burning and it was utterly dark inside and out. She looked over to the front of the store and stared for a moment. Neither the door or windows were open. The little breeze had come from the spell! At that moment Anya wasn't sure whether to feel happy or terrified that the spell had actually worked.
Anya starting picking up the candles, mentally computing the cost so to charge Xander. After all it was his spell. She started to feel lightheaded after only a few moments and accidently dropped the white candle, shattering it on the hard cement floor. She was about to collapse when she grabbed the chair to the table and sat down. Her mind was swirling and her eyes became blurry. It was only a matter of seconds before the night closed in on her and everything turned to black.
TO BE CONTINUED. . .