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Chapter 22


Willow sat on the stiff couch, surrounded by open books, searching for the spell to fix everything. It had been nearly a week since she had sent Buffy to the little cave girl the Slayer just had to see.

“I hope she’s having a good time wherever she is,” she grumbled to herself. “This is all her fault. If she hadn’t come to me with her secret spell wish, then I never would have gotten into this mess, and Tara would never have pushed me away. I just need to get her back so she can explain to everyone that this is what she wanted.” Frowning—and completely oblivious to the fact she was talking out loud—she exclaimed, “Damn it! Why can’t I find the spell?”

Willow pushed all the books to the floor and walked over to the remains of the table. Picking up the large black stone and dusting it off, she placed it carefully on the hearth of the fireplace. “At least this didn’t get damaged. I don’t think I could get another if I tried. I think I can get the demon to help me, I just need the right offering.” She shuddered as she remembered the dream that had woken her just a few hours ago. I’m sure that was just a dream, I haven’t done anything wrong to cause any kind of demon retribution.

She needed some things from the Magic Box. Knowing Anya, however, the only way to get them without everyone knowing about her purchases would be to glamour herself. With a wistful look on her face, the tapped her chin with her finger, “Now, who should I look like…?”


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Spike fell to his knees as the tunnel swirled around him. The entrance behind him snapped shut with an audible pop. He felt dizzy. There was a strange, almost no-gravity, feeling within the tunnel, which had suddenly changed from blue to an extreme white. Shielding his eyes, he struggled to stand. The blinding white light had blasted his senses was gone—as quickly as it had appeared—leaving him in total darkness. His sensitive hearing kicked into overdrive, trying to make out any sound, but he heard nothing. The silence was driving him crazy, his mind wondering what was going to happen next, wanting to be prepared for whatever was about to happen.

Like a trapdoor was released beneath him, he began falling. The passage of time changed, making his fall seem never ending. Then suddenly, without warning, he hit the ground—or at least what he thought was the ground. Sharp, blinding pain coursed through his body on impact, followed by unconsciousness.

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Dawn, Tara, Xander, and Anya stood staring at the orb.

“Now, what are we supposed to do? Did that thing come with instructions?” Xander asked while pointing at the sphere.

“Well, I don’t think you should worry about that, Xander. Don’t you need to be working? Making the money to make me happy?” Anya started walking up the stairs, pulling him with her.

When the kitchen door was shut, Tara carefully picked up the orb. “Dawn, I need your help. Follow me. We need to check on Buffy, and put this somewhere safe.”

Upstairs, Buffy’s condition hadn’t changed at all.

“Do you think we should get one of those baby monitor thingies to check on her?” Dawn wasn’t trying to be funny, but it came out that way. “I mean, well, you know, with Spike gone, we can’t really have someone by her side all the time.”

“No, I don’t think we’ll need it,” the Wiccan replied without needing to think about it. “Besides, Giles will be here soon to help out, and hopefully Spike will get Buffy and bring her right back. I’m not sure exactly how that’s going to work, with Buffy’s body here, but I imagine Spike will be coming back through the orb.” Tara placed the swirling ball on the chair near the bed. “Now, when he comes back, he will see her immediately.”

Dawn still looked a bit concerned. “So we just wait?”

“Yes, Dawn. That’s really all we can do. The Powers That Be chose Spike, so he is the only one who can bring her back. I just hope he gets to her soon.”


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Willow cast the glamour spell, making herself look like Amy. She had a list to shop from and hoped Anya wouldn’t question any of her items. She really is a nosy little busybody demon that needs to mind her own business. Doesn’t she have some money to count, orgasms to have?

Walking into the Magic Box, Willow saw Anya behind the register, counting money just like she’d expected. There was one other customer who was looking at the assorted candle bin.

Willow grabbed a hand basket and started to get everything on her list, carefully laying her selections in her basket. She knew where everything she needed was, except… a mummy hand. Damn it! Those are kept downstairs. I wonder if it would be easier to break in later… No. Anya would sell it to Amy. Besides, they can be used for lots of things. She wont have a clue what I need it for.

As Willow approached the counter reluctantly, Anya lifted her head and smiled. “Welcome to my store. Aren’t you the rat girl? Can I help you find something?” she asked, eager to make a sale.

“Um, yeah, right on both counts. I need these and a mummy’s hand if you have one.” Willow had glamoured some paper to look like cash, and giggled at the thought of Anya discovering she had been robbed. Rat girl. Jeez, Anya. Rude much?

Anya was excited. Mummy hands weren’t cheap, nor was she moving any at the moment. “I have just one left. It is a left I believe. Is that ok?”

“That’s fine.” Willow smiled at her with Amy’s grin and placed her other items on the counter.


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Kaia’s sickness only lasted the week, and was mild compared to some Groma had seen. She watched her carefully, making sure she was well, before allowing her to resume any activities.

Groma had confirmed the pregnancy after Kaia’s cycle had still not shown after the sixth week, and found herself thinking of the child regularly. Kaia’s body seemed a little softer, and her breasts fuller even though it was too soon for her belly to have rounded.

Buffy hadn’t wanted to talk about the baby, and changed the subject each time Groma brought it up. That troubled Groma. The child would be coming, and if Buffy wasn’t able to warm to the idea, there was no way of knowing if she’d be able to take care of it. As she prepared their evening meal, Groma decided that was not something that could be put off any longer. If Buffy was to stay there—by choice or not—she needed to be willing to mother the baby. If she was not, a decision needed to be made very soon. They were running out of time.


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Spike woke up lying on the ground, looking up through tree branches. Rays of sunshine filtered through the trees, speckling his face with warmth.

Panicked, he rolled away, desperate to get away from the lethal beams of light. Pain wracked his body from his rough landing as he found shade near the base of a large tree. His hands patted his face, trying to put out nonexistent flames.

Am I ok? Am I burned? Where am I? Spike’s mind was flooded with questions as he remembered where he was… or at least why he was there. He cautiously stuck his hand into a shaft of sunlight, testing to see if his original observation had been correct. Relief, then confusion crossed his mind. Did this mean he wasn’t a vampire here? He quickly shifted into his game face and back again. A realization that made him smile slowly sank in. He’d wanted the Gem of Amara for this very reason, to stroll in the sun, unharmed. The sun not burning him would make his quest easier, although he wasn’t even sure where to begin. He needed to look around, find out more about where he was.

Listening to his surroundings, he could hear water nearby, and what sounded like voices. Spike stood slowly, cracking his back as he stretched. He felt his body, looking for injuries and found only a few bruises, nothing that wouldn’t heal within the next few hours. Or at least he hoped. He wasn’t sure what to expect in this strange land.

Spike made his way closer to the voices, hoping to see Buffy. Or Kaia, he reminded himself. Buffy would look like Kaia. If Buffy’s body is home, and she is here in Kaia’s body… where is Kaia? Spike suddenly became worried that maybe there was something the Powers had forgotten to tell Tara. Right, then. Find Kaia… who is actually Buffy, and maybe Buffy will know how to find the real Kaia.

Moving stealthily, Spike hid behind some bushes, seeing a clearing near the water’s edge. Dark haired people dressed in crude animal skins and furs were working on various tasks and talking to each other in a language he didn’t understand. Dropping his head at the obstacle ahead, he realized he was dressed in his jeans, black t-shirt and combat boots. Bloody wonderful! Oh, I wonder if I will look out of place. He needed to think, to plan. Should he approach those people? Surely he would look like a threat. He scanned the cave folk once more, looking for a blond head. Not a one.

The sun was sinking behind a bluff to his back. He needed to find shelter, and he needed to decide what to do next, and quick. Bloody Hell! I hope there’s no dinosaurs!


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Buffy and Groma sat facing each other as they ate silently. Groma was happy to see the young woman’s appetite was back, but the vacant look on her face was becoming very worrisome.

“Buffy? I need you to talk to me.” Groma began and scooted close to her.

Buffy didn’t move away, or even look at Groma. “I have decided.”

Groma stilled, and placed her hand on Buffy’s back, as she waited for her to say more.

Buffy looked at Groma with Kaia’s eyes as they filled with tears. “I will have this child. I will have this child for Kaia.”

Groma could see the torment Buffy was going through, and had to reassure her. “This child will not be a reminder of Kahn; it will be reminder of life. The child is an innocent and will be loved regardless of who its father is. Please don’t let this haunt you.”

Buffy shook her head. “I will have this child for Kaia, not just because it is dear to her, but because I think it is her.”

Groma stared at her shocked. “Why? What are you saying?”

“The morning the sickness began… was the last time I felt Kaia. I think this may be her way back into your world.” Taking a deep breath, she went on. "I know I sound crazy, but she’s not in my head anymore. I can’t hear her any more, but I know she’s still with me.” She placed her hand on her still flat belly. “I will protect this child every way I can, but I am weak, and scared.”

Groma hugged her tight, unsure of what this all meant or what the future would hold.


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Willow’s glamour spell dissipated shortly after she left the Magic Box, laughing like a crazy woman.

The mummy hand was something live from the past needed to draw the demon to her. She had everything she needed to bring the Beast to her and hold him captive until he granted her wish. “How dare he threaten me! I think he might make a good pet.”

She started setting up for her next spell immediately upon getting back to her place. That demon was not going to intimidate her again. She was powerful now—more than he realized—and she planned on using his power to show him.

She laid out a large pentagram on the floor with bloodstained sand, and surrounded it with a tall black candle at each point of the star. The mummy hand was was placed next to the black stone on the hearth, writhing within the glass jar it had been sold to her in.

Willow surveyed her surroundings, content with the setup, and began. As she started calling on the elements for power, wind whipped through the missing windows of the building, howling as it swirled. Sparks of lightning from unknown sources struck the unlit candles, lighting them in sequence. Once the candles were lit, the red sand ignited and a portal was opened in the center of the star.

The swirling air drowned Willow’s chant out as she called for the demon to be delivered to her. The giant horned beast suddenly appeared within the shaft of light in the center of the star.

“HA! How dare you threaten me, Beast? My will be done!” Willow raised her hands, electricity flowing from her fingers as she screamed.

The Beast threw his horned head back with a roaring laugh.

“You foolish mortal! You have delved into powers beyond your comprehension, despite being warned!” The Beast spread his scaled arms wide as he shouted out his incantation in some guttural language and swiftly clapped his hands together.

The flames rose to the ceiling and Willow fell as she backed away from the fire. In a flash of light, Willow found herself bound. Bound within the confines of her own trap as the Beast looked on.

“Now, stupid witch, punishment time is here.” He threw his head back and laughed once more.