by FIRESIGN » Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:44 pm
Chapter Thirty-one
After they each had some breakfast, Willow, Tara, and Anya headed to the Magick Box in Tara’s VW.
“Have you been here before?” Tara asked, as they rounded the corner.
“No…I’ve driven by it once or twice, but never stopped in.” Willow said. “I wonder what all they’ll have in there…eye-of-newt…wing-of-bat…” Willow said with a giggle.
“Somehow, I’m sure they’ll have that…and more.” Anya said, matter-of-factly.
“Well…we won’t have to wonder for long…we’re here.” Tara said, pulling into a parking spot in front of the store. The three got out of the car and headed up to the storefront. Tara walked up the step, opening the door for Willow and Anya…a small bell atop the door announcing their entrance.
“Thanks, baby…” Willow said, giving Tara a quick kiss as she passed through the doorway.
Tara smiled as she followed her love and her sister into the shop.
The moment they entered, they noticed the smell of old books and incense hanging in the air. The walls were lined with shelves of books and items that stretched from floor to ceiling. Towards the back of the store, there was a set of stairs that led to the second floor. At the base of the staircase, Mr. Giles, Buffy, and Xander sat at a circular wooden table.
“Good morning, ladies!” Xander said, standing up from the table to greet them, his eyes trained specifically on Anya as she walked towards the chair next to him. He pulled the chair out, assisting her as she sat down.
Buffy and Giles sat their slack-jawed, while Tara and Willow stifled giggles. Willow gallantly pulled the chair out for Tara, as well.
“Why thank you!” Tara said, sitting down.
“Oh please…you guys are just about to make me puke here!” Buffy said, rolling her eyes at the couples.
“Jealous?” Willow said with a smirk.
“Ahem…” Giles said, calling a halt to the conversation. “I know that we have a mausoleum to visit this morning, but I’d like to run a few tests on Tara and Willow before we go, if that’s alright with you?”
“Is it going to hurt?” Willow asked. “Because really…had enough of being hurt lately.”
“No, Willow. I can assure you, there will be no pain involved.” Giles answered. “It’s merely a smudge test.”
“Smudge test?” Tara asked.
“Yes…I’ll be lighting a dried bundle of herbs…sage mostly…and reciting an incantation. Then, I’ll make note of the patterns that the smoke from the herbs makes near you both.” Giles explained.
“Oookay…” Willow said, skeptically.
“I know it sounds a little weird…but the G-man here is legit.” Xander said, backing up the Watcher.
“Yeah...it’s one of those ‘Watcher’ things…” Buffy added.
Tara looked to her sister for affirmation. “An?”
“It’s fine, you guys…” Anya said.
“Okay…let’s get this smoke signal thingy going, then!” Willow said, giving Tara’s hand a squeeze.
“Very good…I have everything ready in the back room…if you would both follow me…” Giles said, getting up from the table and heading behind the counter to a door.
“Okay…didn’t feel like sitting anyhow…” Willow said, getting up. Tara followed suit, taking the red-head’s hand in her own, walking behind the Watcher.
Giles opened the door for them, following them into the room.
Both Willow and Tara were surprised by the actual size of the room, it was much larger than they had expected, not realizing how big the Magick Box actually was. Lining the walls were a myriad of weapons: axes, swords, bo staffs, tonfa, and kama. From the rafters, several well-used large canvas practice bags hung at different levels, and a wooden practice dummy stood guard in the corner.
“Wow…ummm…quite the…home gym…” Willow said, feeling a bit unnerved.
“Actually, this is Buffy’s practice room.” Giles explained. “These are just a few of the weapons that she’s become quite proficient in.” He said, obviously proud of his young protégé. “Yes, well…if you don’t mind…I’d like you to both just have a seat on the floor, facing each other.”
“Okay…” Willow said, sitting down, crossing her legs. She reached up to Tara, smiling. “Care to join me, beautiful?”
Tara smiled, sitting down directly across from her.
“Excellent…now, I’m going to join you both…” He said, taking the bundle of herbs and a small velvet pouch and walking toward the pair. As he got near them, he reached into the pouch, taking a handful of rock salt, spreading it in a circle on the ground around them. He then took the match from his pocket, striking it and lighting the smudge bundle. It burned briefly before slowing down to a smoky ember. He sat on the ground between them and began the incantation…
“Tutela of North quod Meridianus , Oriens quod Occasus , loco vestri liberi ut expertus. ostendo nos sententia is smoke hic animadverto , quis illic vox inibi exsisto!”
The words had no more than left his lips when the pillar of smoke rose clearly from the bundle. As he moved it towards Tara, the pillar became larger, and turned a pure white. He then moved it toward Willow, and the pillar flared again, becoming a charcoal gray.
Feeling a bit unnerved by what was going on, Tara reached for Willow’s hand. The moment that their fingers entwined, the bundle flared into a beautiful translucent blue flame, lighting the entire room with a cobalt glow.
The Watcher’s eyes opened widely, astonished at what was happening before him.
“Extinguish is flamma , expertus est universa!” Giles chanted. The flame slowly went down, returning the bundle to smoking embers.
“That was…most interesting…” Giles said, obviously surprised by the results.
“Neat light show…” Willow said, not quite sure what to think of what had just happened.
“I-Interesting, how?” Tara asked.
“Well…um, I’ve only heard of something like this happening once before…” Giles began.
“…and?” Willow said.
“…and well…have either of you ever practiced ‘the Craft’ before?” He asked.
“What craft? Me…I’m not much with the crafty stuff…kinda clumsy…” Willow began to babble.
“He m-means magic, love…” Tara explained. “…I remember my g-grandmother teaching me s-some sayings and rhymes when I was l-little…but I never really thought t-they were anything…”
“What kind of sayings?” Giles asked.
“Just little things…like she always had us say this one together when we would enter her house…it was…Protect this place from evil and mean, with a shield that is unseen. Only the good may enter here, no one that can hurt or scare. Unless I think that they are fine,
then coming through will be sublime.” Tara said, smiling sadly as she remembered those she lost so long ago.
“It’s a protection spell…” Giles explained. “From the sounds of it, I’d say your grandmother was quite an accomplished witch.”
“R-really?”
“I believe so…I have some friends who may be able to research and find more about your lineage, if you don’t mind…what was your grandmother’s name?” Giles asked.
“Meghan…Meghan Gillenwater…she was my mama’s mother…everyone called her ‘Maggie’.”
“Excellent…and Willow…do you have anyone in your family that practiced?” Giles said, turning to the smaller girl.
“Everybody on my dad’s side is Jewish…um…my mom’s…I’m really not sure…a-and it probably wouldn’t be a real good idea for me to ask her…” Willow said, looking down sheepishly. “…besides…the smoke was just smoke with me…it didn’t turn white like Tara’s…”
“But the pillar was very strong and distinct, Willow…the color just means that your power is rooted in a different way than Tara’s.” Giles explained.
“How so?” Willow asked.
“Tara’s pillar was white because her magical line is very much based in light…mostly likely elemental…yours has elements of both light and dark, hence the gray coloring.” He said.
“Dark magick…like voodoo or something?” Willow asked.
“No, no…I suspect that whomever was involved in the craft in your family had very little training, so they may have dabbled into both areas…but your powers are both very strong…and immensely so when you are together.”
“So…now what?” Willow asked, her hand still entwined with Tara’s.
“Well…if you have no objections…I’d like to train you…both of you.”
Sapphire eyes met emerald, looking for affirmation. Tara nodded, smiling.
“We’d like that!” Willow answered for the both of them.
“W-when can we start?” Tara asked.
“Well…I do believe we have a mausoleum to visit first…” Giles said, reminding them of the main reason that they had gathered this morning.
“Right…vamp nest, here we come!” Willow said, wondering exactly what they were going to be walking into…
To Be Continued...
please update soon?? 
