The Exorcism

Willow noticed as soon as she used the spell that people quickly avoided the area. Hmm, just because I can't use magic doesn't mean I can't use pre-made spells!

She looked up at Amy, who glared down at her. "Hello, Amy." Willow smiled. Amy just continued to glower. "Didn't think… didn't want to see you again. But, I don't have a choice."

"And why's that?" Amy snapped.

"My girlfriend's been possessed. I need your help to do an exorcism. You're not really in a place to make decisions, so I'm guessing you'll help." Willow smirked up at her.

"And if I don't?" Amy sneered.

"Well, let's just say it's back in the cage for ya!" Please don't know I'm bluffing. Please don't know I'm bluffing.

A flash of fear crossed over Amy's face, but she quickly composed herself. "Fine," she said with a huff.

"Good!" Willow breathed a sigh of relief. "We'll need binding powder and a few more items, all of which should be at the Magic Box. The trouble is getting them… My guess is, the demon's already there. Most likely, it will put up a fight. Are you ready?"

Amy nodded again. She was ready, alright. She had a plan.

"Giles?" Buffy spoke into the receiver.

"Hello, Buffy. Good to hear from you! I assume there's trouble?"

Buffy laughed. "Sort of…but we can handle it! We just…need your help. We need to find out a type of demon."

"Right. Give me the details. What's it look like?"

"Well….Tara. It possessed Tara," Buffy said slowly.

"Hmm, there's many species of demon that are capable of taking over a host. Most enter while the body is weak, but they have to be invited in…has Tara been injured recently?"

"As a matter of fact, the other day we were both shot! It was no big thing…just, you know, Warren coming to kill us…"

A burst of static came rushing through the phone. It sounded like Giles had dropped it. After a moment, his anxious voice said, "My God, Buffy, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Now, back to Tara. She had to have a heart transplanty thing…"

"Oh, yes. I think I know what kind of demon this is. Though…I've never heard of this happening before."

"You know just off of what I've told you? Okay then... what is this new big bad?"

"It's- it's a vampire demon."

"A what?" Buffy yelled, causing Xander to jolt in his chair.

"Yes, a vampire demon. See, the two main organs of a vampire…and consequently anyone, are the brain and the heart. When a demon enters a vampire's corpse to "activate" them, it has to first "activate" the heart, and then it can control the brain. Tara received a heart transplant…and the amiable donor must have been a vampire who had yet to be activated. How unfortunate…."

"Well, what do we do?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to stake her."

"WHAT?" Buffy yelled again, making Xander fall out of his chair.

"I'm just joking, Buffy."

"Giles. You don't joke. Don't start now. What do we do?"

"An exorcism, of course. We've dealt with things like this before; I do think you are capable of handling it yourselves. Now, I must go, I have a meeting with the Watchers Council in a few minutes. Good luck."

With a click, the phone disconnected, and Buffy returned the phone to its cradle. "Let's go find Willow."

The door to the Magic Box was open, barely hanging on by its hinges. A "closed" sign was in the corner of the window. "Yep, looks like it's here," Willow said, taking a breath. "When we get inside, you look for the items, I'll distract the demon." Amy nodded. "Let's go."

They entered into the store. Shelves lay on their sides and glass was sprayed across the floor. It was hard to make out anything in the darkness; not a sound could be heard. "Go!" she whispered to Amy.

Amy complied and walked cautiously off to the right.

Willow walked slowly forward, eyes scanning for anything moving. She walked past the cash register and stopped. Though she could see nothing, she knew something was there. "T-Tara?" she spoke weakly. There was a creak from up where the "darker" spellbooks were. She gradually made her way up the ladder, firmly placing her feet on each rung. She reached the top and pulled herself to a stand.

She looked to her right and saw nothing. As she turned her head left, a dark shadow rushed at her, slamming into her and knocking her off the side of the ledge.

They crashed hard onto the wood floor, Willow's back crunching onto broken glass. "Ahh!" she cried out in pain. Tara rolled off her, hissing evilly. Willow tried to stand up, but the thing charged again, slamming her into a bookshelf. She collapsed to the ground, books falling around her. The demon lunged at her, teeth bared.

A feminine grunt came from her left, followed by a thunk as Tara collapsed on top of her. "And the bitch is down!" Amy laughed.

They had pushed the table out of the way, and had Tara tied down on a chair. There was a pale ring of binding powder around the chair, serving to keep the demon contained when they exorcised it.

Amy and Willow sat on the floor facing each other, a pot of foul smelling ingredients between them. It glowed a sickly green, and a thin column of steam spiraled off the liquid surface.

Amy began the incantation, and Willow closed her eyes, pretending to do the same. I just hope she's powerful enough to do this alone…

With each word that left Amy's mouth, a crackling spark rose from within the liquid and entered Tara's chest. The chant was almost over. An unearthly wail burst from Tara's mouth, and her face contorted into that of the demon's, features dark and rigid, eyes bright red.

"You will not succeed!" it howled, and wind began to rush around them, sending papers swirling in the air.

Amy had finished the chant, and now her eyes had turned black. "A-Amy…" Willow stuttered.

"Silence!" She growled. "Demon from the Nether, I command you. Prince of Darkness, give me strength! Take this offering I present to you and bless me with your power!"

"O-offering?" Willow said nervously, standing up and backing away.

"Silence!" Amy roared again, throwing up her hand and sending Willow crashing into a glass display case. "Take this offering and imbue me with strength! Reward your faithful servant!"

The demon howled and a black plume of smoke began to emit from Tara's body. It formed at the edge of the binding circle. The demon solidified as the last bursts of smoke sunk into its flesh. "Release me!" It commanded.

Amy stepped forward and bent down, wiping off a small portion of the circle.

The demon rushed at Willow, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her off her feet.

The door to the Magic Box opened, and Warren walked in, gun held in front of him.