Chapter 3

 

The Magic Box


Tara sat on the floor in the training room Spikes box in front of her inside a circle of sand three candles were also inside the circle. Carefully she leant forward and lit the candles softly chanting as she did so. She reached into the small pouch on her lap and sprinkled some of the herbs inside onto the box.

“So mote it be” Tara finished and a brilliant light flared in front of her.

Tara blinked trying to bring back her focus so that she could see if the spell had worked. Finally when the blinding spots faded she saw the box sitting there newly restored. Now all she had to do was see if the contents were restored as well.

She reached out a tentative hand and almost let out a squeak when the door from the alley burst open and a smoking Spike rushed through. As Spike was stamping out his smouldering blanket Tara spoke up “Umm I’m pretty sure that the blazing sun means that it isn’t evening yet Spike”

Spike threw her a smirk “Brilliant observational skills there luv.” He moved across the training room to where she sat. “What you done it already. Did it work?”

“I was just about to check” Tara replied as she stood up moving towards the door to the shop. “Lets have a look and see shall we.”

She moved into the shop and placed the box on the research table.

Spike walked up beside her “You open it pet, your work after all”

Tara gave him a sly look “chicken” she exclaimed.

Spike gave a snort “not bloody likely” and reached forward to open the lid.

Tara smile silently to herself as she saw his hands tremble slightly.

Spike slowly raised the lid and steeled himself to look inside.

It was all there, perfect, as though nothing had ever happened.

“Glinda your incredible” Spike grabbed Tara up and twirled her round the Magic Box.

Tara laughed “Spike but me down” she squealed as he spun her even faster. “Enough, enough, please Spike”

Spike set her back down “Ok luv, I am yours for the day” he bowed with a flourish “Your wish is my command”

“Well” said Tara “I have to get the shop in order and I really could use some help bringing some of the heavy boxes up from the storeroom.”

“As you wish madam” Spike chuckled as he headed downstairs “Just tell me what you need”

Tara turned back to the research table to grab the box and move it next to the cash register before starting work.

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On the way to the Magic Box


Buffy, Giles, Willow and Xander were on their way to the Magic Box to research Rebecca and Dawn following behind.

Rebecca was quizzing Dawn about Spike.

“So who’s Spike” asked Rebecca “And why does it matter if he can hit Buffy?”

Dawn leant in “Well Spike is a Vampire” Rebecca gasped “But he’s good now” rushed on Dawn. “You see this government agency called the Initiative put this chip in his head which means that he can’t hurt humans. Ever since then he’s been helping us out.”

“But Buffy said that he can hit her doesn’t that mean he’s dangerous” Rebecca didn’t understand what a chip was but she didn’t want to ask and get overloaded with information she didn’t understand.

Dawn looked at Rebecca “Well that was the first I heard about him being able to hit Buffy” she shrugged as continued “But Spike would never hurt her. He’s totally in love with her.”

“Oh” Rebecca shrugged “And he doesn’t hurt the rest of you because he has a chip? Alright then .......... Spike is a good guy.”

Dawn stopped in her tracks and stared at Rebecca “Huh”

Rebecca turned to look at her “What? What’s wrong?”

Dawn looked confused “Where’s the...............he’s an evil soulless demon and he can’t love........................he can’t be trusted.................he will turn on you at any time..............the.....the...... he’s only using you to get to your sister?”

Rebecca smiled at her “Using you to get to your sister?” she arched an eyebrow “More to the story I think”

Dawn drew her over to a bench and sat down “Spike is my best friend. He always treated me like an equal not a little kid. When Buffy was ...” Dawn took a deep breath “When Buffy was dead” there she said it “he looked after me, he didn’t leave, he stayed and took care of me.”

Rebecca took Dawns hands “I am sure that he loves you Dawn.................and who told you that demons couldn’t love?”

“Wha?” Dawn gaped at Rebecca “Huh?”

“Who told you that demons can’t love? That is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard” Rebecca looked at Dawn.

“But.......But Giles....Buffy” Dawn couldn’t get the words out “Everyone!” she finally exclaimed “Everyone say’s that if a demon doesn’t have a soul they can’t love.”

“Well that is true to an extent. There are demons out there that are incapable of love; they exist on a base level. Survival of the species that kind of thing. Then there are demons that do have souls” Rebecca racked her brain trying to remember everything she had learned.

“Some demons have souls?” Dawn squeaked “Why haven’t I heard about this before, I wonder if Buffy knows, or Giles. We’ll have to research the species.” Dawn was getting excited at the thought of knowing something that the others did not. Then she looked at Rebecca watching her patiently with an amused look on her face “Oops sorry” Dawn quieted back down and waited for Rebecca to finish.

“Yes Dawn there are demons with souls, some look almost human and others not so much. When I was the slayer in London I often went to a small community near Oxford to train. Many of them used to work at the University and no one ever knew. Also there are other demons, like vampires, who retain their human personalities.” Rebecca looked at Dawn hoping that she understood what she was saying. “If a passionate, loving person was turned then they would be passionate and loving as a vampire.”

“But” Dawn began her brow furrowed

“That’s not true” came a cold voice from behind them.

They both turned to see Buffy standing behind them. “And I would appreciate you not filling my sister’s head with such nonsense”

“It’s not nonsense Buffy” Rebecca studied her carefully

“Look this is not the time or place for this” Buffy looked around her “We’ll finish this at the Magic Box” with that she turned and stalked off.

Rebecca glanced at Dawn “I don’t think she likes me”

“Nah” smirked Dawn “She’s just in denial about Spike”

With that she stood up grabbing Rebecca’s hand leading her towards the Magic Box.

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Magic Box


Spike walked up from the storeroom a large box in his arms “Where do you want it luv?”

“Just put it on the table Spike” came a disembodied voice.

Spike look around not see Tara anywhere “Where you at Glinda?”

“Up here” Tara poked her head around a stack of books in the restricted section. “Everything is so dusty, Anya would hate to see the shop so neglected” Tara made her way downstairs to look in the box. “What’s in it?”

Spike started to pull an assortment of jars from the box turning each until he found a label “Let’s see shall we........Hmm.......Mandrake root..........newt eyes” Tara grabbed the jar from his hands

“Oh the good stuff” she said as she inspected the contents

Spike pulled a jar from the box. Its contents were small and purplish resembling the tip of a finger.

“What’s that” asked Tara . She took the bottle from Spike and started to open the lid.

“Umm luv.” Spike was looked as though he was about to burst out laughing. “Well they are”...........he chuckled.......”They would be Imp..........umm......Phalluses.”

Tara frowned “Imp Phal..........ohh............OHH!” she hastily went to set the jar back down spilling the contents across the table as she did. “Ewwwww” She jumped back “Th....That’s just wrong.”

By this time Spike was doubled over with laughter................until the smell hit that is. “Ugh they smell disgusting......hope they don’t smell like that all the time......no wonder they cut em off.”

Tara wrinkled her nose “I don’t think their meant to smell like that. I think they’ve gone off.” She ran over to get a bin as the fluid from the jar started to make it way to the edge of the table. “Quick Spike grab a rag!” She threw him an exasperated glare “Help me”

Spikes eyes darted around trying to find something when he spotted at blue flannel shirt draped over one of the chairs ‘must be the whelp’s’ he thought. Grinning evilly he grabbed the shirt and proceeded to use it to sop up the mess.

When the mess was cleared up Tara tossed the shirt into the bin with the rest of the mess, before removing the liner. She held the bag out towards Spike “Can you put this outside for me please.”

Spike shrunk away from the stinking mess, some of the fluid was starting to make its way out of a small hole in the bottom. “Can’t luv. You see there’s this bright shiny thing called the sun, tends to make us vampires dusty.”

Tara looked at him “The alley is in the shade this time of day. Please Spike.” She pouted and batted her lashes at him. “For me”

Spike sighed grabbing the bag “And they say I’m evil” he grumbled as he headed outside.

Spike tossed the bag into the bin; it broke open exposing some of the contents.

‘May as well have a smoke while I’m out here’ he thought searching for his ciggies. Spike bought one up to his mouth then flinched away as he smelt his hand. “That’s rank.” He sighed and tossed the smoke away. He really needed to get the smell of his hands; he turned to go back inside glancing into the bin as he did. Spike’s eyes fell upon the shirt now exposed by the broken bag. An evil smile crossed his face as he snatched up the shirt.

Back inside the Magic Box Spike very casually made his way to the research table and draped the shirt back over a chair.

Tara looked up from behind the counter “After you wash your hands Spike come here and I’ll but some lily oil on them. It’s really good for getting rid of most of the smell; I’ve already done the table.”

Spike sauntered over to the counter and held out his freshly scrubbed hands.

Tara started to rub the lily oil into his hands “I haven’t gotten the smell completely out so I’m going to open some windows and the door to let some air in. So keep an eye out for stray patches of sunlight. OK”

“No probs luv. I’ll stay downstairs for abit......make sure there’s no more nasties amongst the stock.” Spike headed back to the storeroom grinning to himself as he went.

“I wonder what he’s up to” mused Tara before she turned back to her work. She noticed Spike’s box still sitting on the counter so she grabbed it and locked it in the cupboard beneath the counter. “Better not leave this lying about.”

*********************************************************************

Xander, Giles and Willow neared the Magic Box. Willow and Giles were deep in discussion about what they would need to research.

“I think the first order of business is to research the spell that you used” Giles stated

Willow furrowed her brow “I think Tara might have it. I saw her with the book one day.”

“Oh well we best contact Tara then.” Giles looked at Willow “Will you be ok with that Willow ?”

Willow beamed happily “Definitely. Tara and I.....well there’s been the having of coffee and talking.” Willow gestured wildly “I think we’re on the road to back togetherness, so a call is definitely of the ok.”

“I’m very please for you Willow” Giles started to search his pockets for his keys “Xander you don’t happen to have...........Oww.” Giles frowned at Xander's back having just walked into him.

“Why is the door to the Magic Box open?” Xander then broke into a run “An? Anya!”

Xander burst through the door looking around wildly “Anya you here”

Tara walked round from the corner “Sorry Xander it’s just me” she gave him a conciliatory smile.

“Oh” his shoulders slumped and he flopped into a chair. He looked up suddenly “Do you.....”

Tara cut him off “No Xander I don’t know where she is.” She looked towards the door as Willow came through closely followed by Giles. Tara gave a pleased smile when she saw Willow “ Willow ” she breathed. The Tara realised who was with Willow “Giles” she exclaimed happily rushing forward to hug him.

The group made their way further inside chatting happily. Willow filling Tara in on what was happening in a jumble of words.

“........and so we decided to come here and research the spell, and do you have the book, and Rebecca’s coping really well considering, Buffy’s still a bit freaked, and they should be here soon so....” Willow babbled

Tara smiled at her “ Willow ” she interjected “Breathe”

Willow ’s mouth snapped shut as she gave Tara a sheepish grin

“Sorry, got carried away.”

Just then Buffy came stalking through the door closely followed by Dawn and Rebecca.

Giles motioned them over and began to make introductions.

“Hi” said Tara after all the introductions and explanations were finished. Her head was swimming and she really needed to get downstairs and warn Spike that Buffy and the Scoobies were here. She started to move towards the door “I just gotta go get.........ummm”

Xander stared glumly at the table. The longer Anya stayed away the harder it was going to be to get her to forgive him. His eyes wandered round the shop before finally falling upon the shirt lying haphazardly across a chair. “My shirt” he snatched it up and shrugged it on. “Been looking for this” he continued his casual inspection of the shop. Then he smelt it. ‘What is that’ he started looking around, sniffing carefully. He bent down sniffing under the table ‘smells like something died’

Giles looked up to see Xander on his hands and knees under the table. Was the boy sniffing?? “Xander what on earth are you doing?”

“I think a mouse or something must have died under here G man” Xander started to get back up “But I can’t find anything, it sure smells though. Phew!” Xander waved a hand under his nose to emphasise his point.

Willow moved forward intending to help him look. As she got near him she stopped abruptly “ohh ewwwww Xander I think its you.” She hurriedly stepped away from him.

Xander started to sniff himself lifting an arm and taking a deep whiff “Yuk....Yuk it is me!!” he hopped around trying to rid himself of the offending garment. As he was doing so a small purple object fell out of his pocket. After tossing the shirt away he picked up the object gingerly inspecting it “Umm anyone know what this?”

The group started to move forward until the smell hit, they all took a big step back.

Tara who had been on her way to warn Spike had stopped to laugh at Xander's antics. She moved forward, Spike temporarily forgotten, “Umm Xander that’s an umm......” she blushed red as she tried to make herself say the words “It’s an Imp’s umm.....” she lowered her hand and wiggled a finger “You know ....an Imp’s ummm... privates.”

Xander stared at her, then his face changed to a look of horror as he realised what Tara had just said “Ughhhh” he squealed tossing the object in the air. Straight towards the girls.

The girls screamed and squealed as the object came flying there direction. They suddenly heard a loud roar come from the storeroom. Spike came charging up in full game face ready to defend Tara from an attacker. He stopped short when he saw the gathered group; they were all there, including the watcher and some new bird.

He stood there still in game face when he saw the new girl start to turn to look at him.

Buffy began to move forward ready to berate Spike for being where he wasn’t wanted, when he did something completely unexpected.

He fainted

Straight into one of those stray patches of sunlight Tara had warned him about.