Chapter 18
Temptation

"Responsible people are always so concerned with being good all the time that when
they finally get a taste of being bad, they can't get enough. It's like all kablooey."
-Anya, 'Smashed'

Willow let a long string of blue light float up from her fingertips into the light-sculpture she was making. The loose ball of rainbow-colored lights hung several feet above Spike's bed, gently pulsing. She considered it a moment, then added some more green to it. Her naked skin tingled from the power she was exerting.

"Very pretty, pet," Spike commented, waking up from his nap, "What's it for?"

"Just for practice, mostly," she explained, "It's a simple conjuring spell – bringing forth something from nothing."

"Looks like you're getting quite good at it," Spike observed, kissing her on the shoulder.

"I probably don't need the practice, anymore. I just enjoy doing it, though. I like the way the power feels when it courses through my body."

"Well, then, we should go hunting again tonight," Spike offered eagerly.

Hunting with Spike was the best. She found that she enjoyed using her powers to trap and stake vampires. The combination of adrenaline and magic formed a potent drug that she often didn't come down from for hours.

The only thing better than hunting with Spike was…well… Willow glanced over at Spike's naked body, partly shrouded by his sheets. The light-sculpture above their heads began to glow red and pulse more strongly as Willow's thoughts were diverted. Spike must have sensed the change, too, as he pulled her on top to straddle him.

Spike spent a long time kissing and caressing her gently, making sure that she was ready for him. She gasped slightly as he entered her, then closed her eyes to concentrate as she moved up and down. They both moaned softly as Willow slowly picked up the pace. The light-sculpture pulsed in time to her rhythm, growing brighter and brighter until it shattered into a spray of twinkling gold lights. Willow collapsed, breathless, on to Spike's chest. He put his arms around her.

"Quite a nice little light show," he commented once they recovered, "Now, to get back to what we were discussing. Are we hunting tonight?"

"Oh, actually, I was going to go to the mall," Willow responded, "That reminds me, I need some more of my spending money."

"Going with Buffy?" Spike asked with disdain.

"No, she's busy, as usual," Willow grumbled, "That's okay, I can go without her."

"Getting a few more sexy numbers like that one?" Spike gestured towards a midnight blue teddy, lying crumpled on the floor.

Willow smiled, then shook her head. "Well, maybe," she conceded, as she thought about it, "If one catches my eye."

"Then what?" Spike asked curiously.

"I need a leather jacket, if we're going to keep taking trips on your bike."

The motorcycle had been Spike's latest acquisition. He'd simply killed the demon who'd owned it. Willow wasn't quite sure how she felt about that, but the demon had probably deserved being killed anyway. So Spike was teaching her how to ride. She even had her own helmet. Plus, she was finding the adrenaline rush from going very fast was almost as good as the one she got while hunting.

"A wise purchase," Spike agreed, "Well, if you get done with your shopping early, drop by. Actually, you can drop by late, as well. I'll certainly be up."

"Okay," Willow agreed readily, beginning to get up. Now that she was using her memory spell on her teachers regularly, she no longer had to worry about being home on time.

A sly look crossed Spike's features, then, as he pulled her back on the bed.

"I've got a challenge for you, pet," he whispered into her ear, "For when you go to the mall."

"What?" Willow asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"I want you to shoplift something. Something small that won't be missed. Any little thing," he coaxed.

"What? Why? Spike, that's stealing. I couldn't do that!" she protested.

"San Francisco," was all Spike said, but it was enough to send a scarlet blush across Willow's face.

"That was different," she insisted, then added weakly, "Wasn't it?"

Spike shook his head in apparent amusement, then went back to the main point.

"I want you to use your magic to steal something little. You won't get caught that way. Even if you do, you can always say it fell into your bag," he persisted.

"But why, Spike? I have plenty of money, I don't need to steal," Willow countered, still confused by Spike's insistence.

"Because you can, love. Because it will make you feel alive. Because you can't live by the bloody rules all the time, or you'll go crazy. Look how many you've broken just to be with me. What's one more little one?"

Willow shook her head and slid off the bed, reaching for her clothing.

"I'm sorry, Spike. I've done a lot for you, but this is one thing that I won't," she told him. She couldn't believe that he'd even suggested it. Willow had promised herself that she'd heed Spike's recommendations, but this was too much.

Willow finished dressing and gave a rather disappointed Spike a hug and a kiss. Then she dug out some money from her secret stash, before waving goodbye to her boyfriend.

"I'll see you later, Spike. Be good!" she said.

"Until later, princess. Keep what I said in mind," he responded, not giving up so easily.

Willow simply shook her head at that, and headed up the stairs to the crypt entrance.

Spike moved quickly through the streets of Sunnydale, on a hunt for something acceptable to eat. He didn't have much time if he wanted to be home before Red's shopping trip was over.

He didn't know why he'd suggested shoplifting to her, but he hoped she would follow up on it. He had to find some way to get her to tap into her dark side, and fast. This current meal plan was killing him.

He hadn't eaten in several days. Nothing human, at least. It seemed that Sunnydale's demon population really cut down on the more mundane criminal element. He often found himself questioning the wisdom of his plan.

Sounds of a struggle drew him to a nearby alley. He sincerely hoped it wasn't another demon. As much as he liked a good fight, right now all he wanted was to feed.

A man with a knife in one hand stood threatening a young redhead, the other hand on the strap of her purse. Oh good, a mugging, Spike thought, making his way towards them. When the mugger got a look at Spike, he pulled his victim towards him, and put the knife to her throat.

"Not another step! I'll kill her!" the thug threatened.

Spike scoffed at that, and with vampire speed came up behind the mugger, grabbing the man's knife arm and twisting it behind his back, bringing him to his knees. A small scream left the woman's lips as the knife whipped across her throat. The smell of blood scented the air, and Spike realized the girl had been cut. She was still standing, though, so it must have been a shallow one.

Spike continue to twist the mugger's arm until he heard it snap. He vamped out and dove hungrily at the man's neck. He drank as deeply as he dared, then let the man go with a brutal shove down the alley. The thief wasted no time in making a rapid exit, broken arm cradled in his good one.

Spike turned around to find the redhead still standing in shock.

"Get out of here," he growled, not bothering to alter his game face. The smell of her blood was just reminding him that he was still hungry.

She went wide-eyed as she took in his true face, but didn't move, apparently paralyzed with fear. Her hand was pressed to the cut on her neck.

"I said 'get out of here'," Spike repeated, moving in towards her menacingly. She backed up into the wall behind her, and squeaked with fright.

The cut must have been deeper than Spike thought, as ruby liquid welled up between her fingers, tantalizingly close. Spike couldn't stand it. He took her hand and slowly began licking and sucking the blood from her fingers. When he had licked up every last drop, he looked at her, at her neck. Blood was now flowing from the gash, down her neck, and across her chest. Quick as thought, Spike's head darted down to catch the end of the bloody stream and followed it back up with his tongue. She whimpered a bit at the contact, but didn't move. Spike's mouth greedily latched on to the wound, and he began to drink.

What about Willow? the voice from deep inside reminded him, What about your Red, your beautiful goddess? Spike cursed the voice, but heeded it, breaking off his feeding. His princess would definitely not approve. He had to stay worthy of her, until the day that he could turn her.

He grabbed the young girl roughly by the shoulder, and propelled her out of the alley. Once she began to move, she finally took the hint, beginning to run for safety.

Spike kicked a trash can angrily. Cold pig's blood for dinner tonight, that's what he was going to have. Once more, he cursed himself for not turning Willow when he had the chance. Why did he have to go and fall in love with her, anyway? He only hoped he could coax her over to the dark side, soon. He couldn't stand too many more nights like this one.

Willow shifted her shopping bag from one hand to the other as she surveyed the upper level of the mall. She'd found the jacket she'd been looking for, and now she was browsing. She was just setting out again, when she heard a voice calling her name.

"Willow! Willow Rosenberg? Is that you?"

Willow looked up to see one of the last people she'd expect to be addressing her. It was Aura, one of Cordelia's old gang.

"Oh my gosh, Willow, I nearly didn't recognize you. That outfit is almost fashionable," the former Cordette said.

The back-handed compliment felt just like one, like a slap to the face. Willow gritted her teeth, and smiled.

"It's great to see you, too, Aura," she lied.

"And how's Oz? Are you two still together?" Aura persisted.

"Oh, we broke up," Willow informed her, still a little sad about it, despite having Spike in her life.

"Truthfully, I never really saw you guys together. I mean, he was so cool and everything. You guys were so different," Aura observed tactlessly.

"Well, I'm in a new relationship now…" Willow began, feeling stung by the Cordette's thoughtless words, and fully intending to tell Aura just how gorgeous and cool her new boyfriend was. She never got the chance.

"A new guy? Did you two meet in a study group?" Aura asked.

Of course, Willow thought to herself, disgruntled, Because where else would Willow Rosenberg meet a guy?

But they seemed to have reached the point that Aura most wanted to discuss. She ran right over anything Willow might have to say.

"And speaking of study groups, I was thinking maybe you and I could get together some night. It'd be a nice chance to catch up," Aura offered, then confessed, "I'm totally flunking history."

Now Willow understood why Aura had even lowered herself to talk to the redhead in the first place. The only thing Willow might be good for, a study-buddy. She felt like she was right back in high school again.

"Sorry, Aura," Willow said, not feeling sorry at all, "But I can't. I'm swamped with my own work, right now."

At these words, Aura instantly lost any interest in the conversation.

"Oh. Well, it was good seeing you again. Bye now!" And with that, she mercifully left.

Willow sat down on a nearby bench, feeling like she'd been kicked in the gut. It was amazing to her how one person could bring back so many unpleasant memories and associations. She tried to breathe evenly, to calm herself, but she could feel that she was beginning to cry. Angrily, she dashed the tears from her eyes.

There was a goth-themed store directly in front of her. More to give herself something to do than for any other reason, Willow decided to explore it.

There wasn't much in the store to interest her, really, but there was one display on the counter that caught her eye. Laid out in a neat row were some velvet chokers in various dark colors, each with a pentagram dangling from the center. Willow went over and tried on a black one. It fit.

Willow started to take it with her, to bring it up to the register, when a sudden thought made her put it back. She took another tour of the store, acting like she hadn't really been interested. When she came back around to the counter, she quickly glanced to see if anyone was watching, before using magic to coax the choker off the counter and into her bag. She immediately slapped a glamour on the display, making the necklace appear to still be there, and walked out as slowly as she could make herself, trying to look casual.

As soon as she was clear of the store's windows, she began to speed-walk. She passed five or six storefronts before she could get a hold of herself enough to slow down, or stop. She leaned against the second-floor railing, breathing heavily.

Why did I do that? she demanded of herself. It was only partly because of Spike's suggestion, she knew that. The greater part of it had to do with meeting Aura, and feeling just as she had in high school, like a mousy nothing. The shoplifting had been a way of reasserting control.

She tentatively lifted the glamour, and waited for the hue-and-cry over the missing item. Nothing appeared to happen. She waited for several minutes, then realized that nothing was going to happen. She'd gotten away with it. She, Willow Rosenberg, had stolen something, and gotten away with it. The world hadn't come to an end; she hadn't been struck by lightning; nothing had happened.

Willow felt giddy and light-headed. There was a bit of an adrenaline rush, too. She kind of liked the feeling. She took the choker out of her bag, and fit it around her neck. Smiling to herself, she continued on her way.

It was only a few stores farther on when Willow was tempted to try it again. She was browsing a store that specialized in earrings, and saw a pair that she wanted. This time, she didn't bother with a glamour. She simply used magic to tip the earrings into her bag, then walked out. She still had a nervous reaction afterwards, but it was less than before.

Willow tried it in three or four more stores, always picking some small, inexpensive thing that wouldn't be missed. Only once did she get caught, and even then, the shopkeeper just thought it had fallen in her bag. She simply retrieved the small carving, returned it to its shelf, and went on her way.

She was getting tired of the game when a mannequin in a store window caught her eye. Spike would like that on me, Willow thought, then wondered, Would I actually have the guts to wear it? She stood there for a long moment, considering the outfit. She had enough money with her to buy it, she was certain. She just wasn't sure that she'd ever put it on. Well, I can always just wear it at the crypt, she decided, marshalling her courage and entering the store. Boy, is Spike going to be surprised.