Episode 2- The Magic Box by AnyaRocks

Nestled tightly in the small shops and eateries of Sunnydale was the magic box, a quaint little place that held all things magical that one wished to dabble

in. The owner of the shop, Rupert Giles, was a stiff upper lipped British man who wore the classic tweed suits and appeared to be in his forties. The girl behind the

counter was very quick tongued and out for the dollar. She sometimes acted as if she didn't quite know the workings of being human but had the orgasmic and financial

terms down to a fine art. She appeared to be around eighteen years of age.

Though Rupert kept to himself most times, he did manage to get out once in awhile but just enough to keep the public coming back to his little shop if just to try

and learn more about the mystery man. Rumors had gone around for years among the old timers and children that he was a demon fighter who kept the

ghosts and such away, little did they know how right they were.

Rupert Giles was just nineteen when he became one of few humans to witness and live to remember it, an incident in which Angelus and his merry band of evildoers slaughtered twenty-nine people in a homeless shelter. He had been volunteering there during college

in which he studied of all things, demonology.

This heinous act bore on his mind for years so he worked hard to collect every bit of information he could, stayed in seclusion for going on ten years to do so. He

then practiced his magic skills along with his extensive sword fighting training by killing lesser demons then at age thirty-two, he headed for the states and settled

right in the thick of it all, good old Sunnydale California where he'd lived for the next thirteen years pecking away at the lower

ranking demons with hopes that one day he'd have the key to defeating Angelus and helping to restore civility to the world.

Anya was just closing up the shop when a dorkie looking teen came sprinting in the doors looking frightened, sad and worn out.

Andrew: "I need to speak to the man who owns this joint."

Anya: "You make a sad order giver. I can assist you with whatever you'd like to buy, if you have nothing to buy kindly leave as this is not a place for loitering and it is time to close." She snaps the cash drawer shut looking very unpleased at his intrusion.

Andrew: "Listen greedy little snob this is important." He makes an urgent face for emphasis which has no effect on Anya whatsoever.

Anya: "What could possibly be more important than making a dollar, well maybe an orgasm is up there also but you certainly do not look the type I want to

share my orgasms with so," she points vigorously to the door.

Andrew: "I am here because a friend of mine needs help. She is a vampire and is trapped inside that big ole scary mansion just outside of town and I heard Giles could help

me. Her name is Willow, you've probably seen mention of her missing in the papers."

Anya's demeanor quickly changes and noticeably so to Andrew. For a split moment her mind traveled back to a young girl who was just bit by that loathsome vampire Spike then a thin woman doing something, though she couldn't recall what.

Anya: "Leave now, come back tomorrow at a more decent hour and he will see you." She spoke sternly and moved off to the back of the shop leaving him no choice but

to go.

(next evening)

Willow and Darla were chosen to do a walk about, to scope out a situation which may be causing less human kill for the crew.

Darla: "Maybe we're getting to large a population around here," she points to a group of vampires heading into the Bronze.

Willow: "It sure looks like it, of course I've only been with you all a short time and," Darla raises a hand to silence the girl. She couldn't handle Willow for long

periods of time and was sure everyone knew it.

Darla: "Go inside and find out who these creatures are and what they want with us and daddy might let you rest tonight." Her chuckle filled the empty side street. As Willow recalled having to sleep with Angelus as punishment. He knew she was attracted to girls and promised she'd never have the pleasure of one's company until she was fully trusted by him, a statement she felt herself giving into, wanting them to trust her but the soul kept pulling her in another direction, splitting her in half from

the very core.

(Magic Box)

Giles sat down at a small table across from Andrew while Anya busied herself counting money for the umpteenth time.

Giles: "Do speak more slowly young man."

Andrew: "Willow is my best friend, she hid in her room for a year then disappeared, her mother said a vampire came in the house and took her, the father didn't believe

it so got counseling for Mrs. Rosenberg. So I heard all the rumors and went looking. I found her at a big scary looking mansion and I need to help her escape."

Giles pulls off his glasses and wipes them looking tense.

Giles: "Young man, first of all she's a vampire now, we can not help her escape. They're destroying the world as it is."

Andrew: "No not Willow! She helped me get out of the mansion for fear I'd be hurt."

Anya: "Maybe you are the special human whom the vampires love then," she makes a distasteful clicking sound with her tongue to show her sarcasm.

Andrew: "Please sir, you've got to believe me." Andrew was about in tears as he spoke feeling all hope was lost.

Giles scanned the books on a small shelf that was tucked away in the back of the room furrowing his brow.

Giles: "Anya do get your stake and crossbow, walk the young man home. I shall do some searching Mr. Wells and you come back around tomorrow."

Anya: "What!" She smacked her hands down on the counter in exasperation. "You believe this clown, he first of all acts like a girl, looks like a clown and I'll bet he

screams like one too." She gets up in a huff heading towards the door with Andrew following hesitantly not sure he trusts his life with this rude young woman.

(The Bronze)

Darla and Willow are in a furious fight outside with several vampires as well as two other lesser members of Angelus' crew who've come to assist the two women. It

seemed, from the information Willow had got, that this was a small group from up in the northern part of the state who were ran out by a group of slime demons and

were attempting to make this their turf.

Darla: "Letting the demons run you out, fools that you are! Kill their undead lives, these idiots aren't good enough for Angelus' crew!"

Andrew: There she is." His voice became a very muffled scream as Anya put her hand over his mouth though she was uncertain as to whether it was to help him or herself.

She didn't mind plucking off a vampire or two but if she had her rathers, it got done from a good hiding spot.

Anya: "Your house is that way, go and do not look back," she lifted the crossbow connecting with a vampire that was about to attack Willow, then readied to aim at

Willow but something pulled at her mind so she didn't. Instead, as Andrew ran for home she used two more stakes to pick off two more that were about to sneak up on

the red headed vampire.

As Willow tore the undead heart from a vampire she felt a rush like none before, a rush of power and strength. Her soul quivered inside aching with pain as it knew

she was giving in to the enjoyment of the kill that vampires were known for and this was not good.

As Darla finished off the last of the intruders she turned and saw the stakes laying on the ground near Willow, she did not however see the human who had done well assisting Willow while hiding in the brush sneaking away nor did the human see her.

Darla: "Come Willow, I'll give a good report on you this time." The two headed off with Willow trying to keep the emotions building up inside her hid away from the

perceptive vampire. "We've got a lot of work ahead I have a feeling."

(magic box)

Anya came into the room as Giles put down a book.

Giles: "Everything go well?"

Anya: "It was fine once I got rid of the sniveling geek."

Giles: "Yes well, I'd heard rumors also, he may be onto something. This book does make mention of a possibility of a souled vampire though it's very unlikely." Anya

looked at him for a moment perplexed it seemed then walked out. "Oh my dear Anya, just who are you?"

(fade to black)