Of Magic and Lies

Chapter 3

…..

Once the women managed to break the powerful memory spell, the other spells fell away with ease. A love spell, a couple compulsion spells, a smaller memory spell to make Oz forget the time he kissed Buffy after he was with Willow.

Willow may have been able to make him forget his time with Buffy, but it didn't stop his attraction to the blond. Or hers to him. Over the years, there had been moments. Many of them. A heated look, a brush of hands. But it never went any farther than that because he'd believed he was in love with Willow.

Oz bolted up as the ritual subsided, rushing out of the tent as waves of nausea rolled over him. He collapsed outside the tent door, emptying his stomach onto the grass.

The women followed him, and Joanne frowned. "That's not a side effect of the spell."

Mara shook her head. "No, it's not." She approached Oz slowly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "That bad?"

"Worse."

He allowed Mara to help him back into the tent, gratefully accepting the water she offered him.

Joanne and Mara sat patiently, waiting for him to speak.

"It was Willow." His said hoarsely. "All of it. It was Willow."

"Your lover?" Joanne asked, surprised.

Oz felt like he was going to be sick again. "She's not my lover. She's a monster." Oz closed his eyes, breathing deeply. "She took everything from me. Years of my life… are nothing but lies."

"Oz," Mara said gently. "All the spells are gone now. Your aura is clean. But… the mating bond is still there."

Oz nodded, a shaky smile playing at his lips. "As it should be." His voice broke as he spoke. "You were right all along. I just couldn't remember. She didn't let me remember."

"Your mate…"

"Was the woman who I was made to believe was just a friend. My Buffy…" Her name felt like a prayer on his lips.

"Your friend that died." Mara said, her voice filled with sorrow and understanding.

Oz nodded again. "She was my mate, my wife, my everything. And now she's gone, and I didn't even…" Oz looked away, his pain overwhelming.

After a moment he continued. "She killed our child. Made Buffy miscarry. And I've been with her, loving her for years."

"You didn't know." Joanne spoke up. "You couldn't have known."

"It doesn't make it any better."

Mara and Joanne exchanged a look. There was more he needed to know.

"There's something else. Your bond with your mate… the witch's magic was clouding it before, but now it's- "

"It's killing me faster. I know. I can feel it."

"I'm so sorry."

Oz looked at them, his eyes wide and sincere. "No. I am so grateful. Without both of you, I would have never learned the truth. Some things are worse than death."

"You shouldn't suffer as much now." Joanne told him softly, her eyes sympathetic. "Death brought on by a severed mating bond is supposed to be peaceful and quick. The black magic was clouding it, making it kill you slowly, like a poison."

"It's better this way." Oz said quietly. "I'll get to be with her soon. I only regret that I won't make it to Sunnydale to stop Willow."

"The witch must be stopped." Mara said, her voice hard and determined. "We will make sure you and your mate get justice."

Oz shook his head. "There is no justice for what she did to us. But I don't want her to be able to hurt anyone else."

"We'll find a way to stop her. We promise." Joanne told him.

"You'll need help." Oz's voice was already weaker. "Got a pen and paper?"

Mara nodded, hurrying to get what the young wolf requested.

Oz scribbled some information down and handed it back to her. "That's how you can reach Rupert Giles. You'll need to take the spells off him too, but after that, he'll help you." Oz began to sway where he sat, and Mara guided him back on the mat, helping him settle against the pillows.

"You shouldn't be alone right now. You can stay with me. Don't worry about a thing, okay?" She smiled down at him sadly.

"Thanks Mara. For everything." He said, his voice almost a whisper. Oz's eyes closed, his breathing ragged.

Joanne and Mara looked at each other, tears welling in their eyes. It wouldn't be long now. This tragic story was about to come to a tragic end.

….

2 days later Mara was outside. It was storming, and she was collecting rain water, enjoying the feel of the cool drops as they ran over her skin. Suddenly an anguished cry came from her tent. She ran back inside and found Oz trashing on the mat, his face contorted in pain.

"Joanne!" Mara shouted.

The brunette rushed in, taking in the site before her in horror as Oz continued to scream.

"This isn't normal." Mara insisted.

"No, it isn't." Joanne agreed. "Think it's the witch?"

"It has to be!"

The women struggled to hold Oz still, fearing he would hurt himself. Then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped, and Oz was lax in their arms. The women looked at each other, fearing the wolf had died in such a horrible way.

But the next second, Oz's eyes snapped open. "Buffy." Oz sprang up and ran out of the tent into the rain, looking around wildly, like he wasn't sure where he was.

The women ran after him.

"Oz, stop! Come back inside, you're not well!" Mara called after him.

He spun to face her as she and Joanne caught up to him. "I'm fine." Oz looked down at himself in surprise. In the last 2 days, his body had seemed to waste away before his eyes, but now he looked like nothing had ever been wrong. "I'm fine."

Mara gasped, seeing a light in Oz she hadn't seen since he arrived. "Your aura…"

Oz looked up at the sky, letting the ran wash over his face. When he looked at Mara again his expression was of pure awe. "She's alive."

Joanne blinked, shock covering her face. She grabbed the 2 wolves and pulled them in the direction of Mara's tent. "Come on, lets get back inside, huh?"

Inside the tent, Mara handed out hand woven towels and they dried off. Then she looked at Oz. "What happened? You were screaming and then all of a sudden..." She gestured as his now healthy form.

Oz hesitated, not sure how to explain. "I-I think I felt them resurrect her. I know she's alive. I can feel her." Oz looked toward the door again. "I have to go back."

"You're going to need a plan first." Joanne pointed out. "You rush in there and you'll probably end up back where you started: chock full of black magic and she'll probably kill your mate."

Oz nodded, looking down at his hands. Joanne was right.

"We can't go with you. It'll raise too much suspicion, and the witch has leverage now. She can undo whatever she did to bring your mate back, so you can't let her know you're on to her." Joanne explained. "But we have a contact in Sunnydale who is willing to help."

"Good. She can remove the spells on Giles. He'll go back to Sunnydale as soon as he hears Buffy's alive. I won't have to worry about trying to track him down."

"Here." Mara handed him a small, glossy, white pendant hung on a thin black cord. "It's a blessed opal. It'll protect you from unwanted spells. It won't do much against something big and dark like that memory spell, so still be careful, but it will protect you from more minor spells like compulsion spells, or love spells."

Oz smiled. "Thank you. I have a feeling I'm gonna need it."

It was time to return to his mate.

…

Alright! Things are about to heat up! Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed. You guys made me smile so much. More to come!