Chapter 16:

I Swear Officer, The Magic Made Me Do It!

by Quwinntessa Starber

 Willow could barely contain her excitement. She was dressed in a brocade floral gown that would have fit much better in the mid 19th century, with it's empire waist and lace sleeves, all of the most stunning cream color; and upon her hands were a pair of matching lace wrist gloves. Her hair had been curled and teased until it crowned her head in a cascade of ruby tresses that framed her face and left tiny tendrils to draw the eye to the line of her perfect spin and lace enhance breasts. On her feet she wore cream and gold slippers, each with a diamond teardrop at the top. Diamonds adorned her, a set of drop earrings, and encrusted choker, two diamond barrettes in the shape of perfect butterflies, a bracelet, and a matching anklet. But the most beautiful piece was the ring. A single one-carrot princess cut diamond, flanked by two equally cut half diamonds; but it was the colors that made them so fantastic. The center was canary in color, and the two flanking stones blue diamonds. When Spike had presented the final gift, she'd shed happy tears as he placed the beautiful piece on her ring finger.

"So they know when we walk into the room, you belong to me."

Spike had asked that they wait until the weekend, saying the natives would be more fun to watch if they waited until then; to Willow it was a few more days to add to a rather long wait.

Now, with a fresh layer of make-up that made her eyes smoky and her skin deathly pale--she'd wanted to fit in beside Spike--Willow was ready. Sitting in the conservatory, she breathed in a deep breath as she watched the Koi jump to the surface to catch the food she lazily threw for them. It was six o'clock and the sun had set not twenty minutes ago, Spike was making a last second phone call and then they would be off.

The pressure of the room suddenly changed and Willow looked up in time to see Spike push back one of the rather boisterous ivy tendrils that blanketed the ceiling and cascaded down. She stood, the smile on her face wide as she did a little twirl for him knowing the magic of the pool and the candle light would make her skin glow and the diamonds twinkle.

The growl Spike offered was appreciative and Willow twirled back to face him, giggling softly.

"You know Luv, we could always just go tomorrow, I mean, you do look good enough to eat." And he advanced towards her with that predatory gleam in his eye.

Squealing, Willow raced around the pool as best she could, hiking up the floor length gown. "Stop right there, Spike!" Holding out her hand she faced her smiling lover. "You can.um, eat me, all you want next week, and until then, it's time to feed Willow." Realizing what she'd said she groaned, "I don't think that came out right at all."

He laughed, moving lightening fast to scoop her into his arms and carry her from the conservatory. "You know, I think you said it perfectly." And he made his point by tracing his tongue along the now barely visible bit marks. He'd told her earlier that they'd be there forever, even when she was turned, but that suited her just find. It was comforting to know, reminding her more than a simple piece of jewelry, who loved her.

Down the marble hallway, past candle flames and stunning pieces of artwork, past Persian rugs and wood paneling, he carried her. At the door he set her down, kissing her softly, his thumbs moving to frame her face while his fingers worked lovingly into the back of her neck. When he pulled away, Willow swooned and Spike's look could only be considered possessive.

"Ready for that tour?"

She nodded, snuggling under his arm as he opened the door and led her down the stone stairs to the circular gravel driveway and the Rolls Royce waiting there; Matt dressed in proper chauffeur attire. "It feels like I've been waiting a lifetime to see this place." He squeezed her shoulders, helping her into the car, before nodding to Matt and then getting in himself.

The inside of the expensive automobile was spacious but Willow snuggled next to Spike anyway, wanting to share the experience of her new discovery. He'd told her yesterday, that the drive to the closest town was nearly forty-five minutes, so she was ready and willing to snuggle for a long while.

Surprisingly, the trip was relatively quiet. The silence was comfortable for them and had been for the last month or so. Willow learned that Spike, while often hyperactive with his minions, preferred warm nights by the fire and plenty of time to relax. He was well read and enjoyed learning about as much as he loved everything else; for him, life was filled with possibilities, but she had a feeling that it hadn't always been like that for him, and she waited for the time when he'd tell her more about his past.

But now wasn't that time, and as the coast came in and out of view, Willow watched it pass as she leaned against Spike's shoulder, occasionally receiving a kiss for her patience.

A turn came into the road and just over the crest of the hill, Willow saw the bright lights of the town against the backdrop of the twilight. It struck her as odd that the town would be so small and again she racked her brain trying to figure out where they could be. She let out a surprised squeak when a dark silk scarf was suddenly tied over her eyes, Spike's sultry voice whispering in her ear, "No peaking; don't want to ruin the surprise."

When the car finally stopped, Willow was breathing hard in anticipation. She grasped a hold of Spike's hand tightly, intertwining their fingers as he stepped out of the car before helping her. Around her the city was alive with sounds. Boisterous music could be heard in the street, muffled by the building that housed it. She could hear voices but couldn't make out any words as Spike helped her over the uneven pavement. The smells were strong and she nearly gasped when she realized the air was heavy with the smell of animals.

"Spike?"

He squeezed her hand. "One minute, Red, then you'll understand."

She nodded, allowing Spike to help her onto the sidewalk. At the door to some establishment, he paused, and Willow realized that the rowdy music was coming from the place they were entering.

The air was warm inside and the lights were bright, the first electric lights she'd seen in almost two months. Thick pipe smoke filled the air and Willow breathed it in deeply, remembering the smells from her childhood and her great-grandfather's pipe. But as they stood just inside the doorway, the sounds seemed to quiet, and even the music--which Willow realized was a live band--died down to nothing as the inhabitants took in the new arrivals.

What a pair they must make, she in her too old fashioned dress and diamonds, Spike in his black boots, leather pants and blood red shirt, not to mention the white blond hair. Oh, and there was the fact that she was blindfolded, mustn't forget that.

It was nearly silent when Spike leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Ready, Willow?" She gave an emphatic nod, and suddenly the blindfold was removed and the bright electric lights were burning into her vision, making her close her eyes and blink, squinting to adjust.

What came into slow focus was something out of a fantasy novel.

It was a bar, filled to the brim with people from all walks of life. Old time saloon mirrors hung behind a middle aged, bald man with a mustache who was slowly drying a class with a red rag. Hundreds of bottles lined the wooden shelves, while just as many glasses littered the polished wood bar top. A bar maid dressed in a long skirt and a peasant blouse eyed her quizzically as she whispered to a patron who looked like his eyes were going to bug out of his head. Looking down, she saw that the floors were wood as well, and the dozens of tables that were scattered around were wood too. Everything was wood, with metal to twinkle in the light that came from the large fireplace against the far right wall. The band to the far left seemed to be playing old wood instruments, some of which Willow had never seen before. In all it looked like an old time bar from the eighteenth century.

Turning, she looked up at Spike, who only smiled and cocked his head towards the barkeeper. "You wanted to know, Luv. Why don't you ask him?"

Wide-eyed and a bit shy, Willow made her way across the bar. The crowd opened for her, letting her pass as the entire establishment watched her progress until she came to the counter.

The bald man seemed a bit stunned but decidedly more relaxed at the same time, as if he knew something like this was going to happen but hadn't expected it tonight or for a long while. She cleared her throat and blushed prettily as the man nodded once to her.

"Um, this may sound like a very strange question, but, um, could you tell me where I am please?"

The bartender's green eyes rose to look back at Spike before returning to hers. When he spoke, his voice was gruff and filled with the accent of the newly discovered place that was her home.

"Ay Miss, ya be in the famous bar, The Scourge of Europe, and this here is Connor, Connor, Ireland."

She gasped, taking a step away from the bar and the man who'd just informed her that she was much farther away from home than Oregon or Washington, USA. Eyes wide, she swung around, locking her eyes across the room with Spike's. The bastard was smiling like the Cheshire Cat.

In the silence, she spoke to Spike, ten feet away. "We're in Ireland." He nodded, his eyes twinkling. "We're on an island, half way across the world." He nodded again. "We're in Ireland, half way across the world from Sunnydale, living in a huge mansion that's been there for the last two hundred years." Again, he nodded. "Oh. My. God."

Her lace-gloved hands came to her face, covering her mouth as she gasped once again.

With a roar of laughter, Spike tipped his head back before settling his eyes on her again. "So, is my Red Queen happy?"

Squealing she turning two tight little circles before flying across the room and launching herself into Spike's outstretched arms. He lifted her, twirling her around in the air as they laughed together.

Ireland, they were in the true land of magic, and around her it was as if a barrier had dropped and she could suddenly feel the ebb and flow of the currents under her feet. The magic warmed her, filling her soul with a sense of belonging and rightness. She was home, not just because Spike was here and she with him, but because the magic was open and free to her here, begging suddenly to be claimed and used, to be commanded.

He brought her down, letting the full contact of her body slide down his until she was on her feet. Then he was plundering her mouth, loving her and all the excitement that came with being mortal and discovering something she never thought she'd see.

When he released her mouth he called over the top of her head to the watching crowd. "In celebration of my Queen's coming out party, drinks for the rest of the night are on the house!" A roaring cheer filled the room and Willow buried her face in Spike's chest to escape the noise as much to breathe in his scent and ground herself against the flowing magical tides. The magic was intense here, as if it were a power spot. It overwhelmed her as much as it comforted and amazed her.

When the energy finally settled down, her mind took action to analyze what she'd learned. She wasn't even in her own country. Spike had somehow managed to spirit her thousands of miles away, across an ocean, to bring her to a remote mansion.all because she'd thanked him for killing her. Now, two months later she was mated to a master vampire and living the last two years of her natural life before her mate became her sire and brought her into his world.

It was a lot to take in, but as Spike's arm came about her shoulders and guided her towards a booth hidden in the shadows of the fire with the words "Owner's Table" carved into the wood above it, Willow didn't feel so overwhelmed. Spike was with her and that's all that mattered.

He slid them both into one side, careful to make sure that she was shifted so that the crowd could see her but not bother her. Brushing an escaped wisp of hair, he kissed her rose lips before nuzzling behind her ear. "Still glad I told you?"

She nodded, her eyes rolling up and closing as his voice pushed cold air against her sensitive skin. "How did you do it? How did you get me so far away so quickly?"

Pulling away, he smiled down at her. "A vampire has to have some secrets, Luvie, let me keep this one. Besides, if you're a good girl, I might tell you someday." And he winked, kissing her nose. She considered protesting, but the music was starting up again, and in truth, it wasn't that important anyway. She was here with the man she loved, that was enough for now. But later, she resolved, she was going to pick his brain until he begged to tell her.

She wasn't all that startled when the bartender himself came to take their order. Spike told him to bring a variety of drinks for her so she could figure out what she liked, and to bring a bottle of the blood wine in the cellar.

She didn't even question the fact that Spike owned a bar, something about that fact just seemed logical and fitting. He seemed at home here, as if he'd spent a good deal of time in bars throughout the centuries, and knowing Spike, he probably had. But what did surprise her was that the bartender, Avery, knew Spike was a vampire. When she asked, Spike just shrugged his shoulders. "Told you already, Red, not everyone's afraid of vampires. Avery keeps bar for the normals upstairs, and down below, in the basement, his son Jacob keeps bar for the demons."

Stunned by that statement, Willow asked, "You mean that right now, below us at this very second, there are demons?" She suppressed a sudden shiver.

Spike roared with laughter again and Willow's eyes brightened at seeing him so happy as her heart slowed down just a tad. Old habits were hard to break. "Cor Luv, of course, this is The Scourge of Europe after all. Think I'd own a bar where only humans could go? I don't bloody well think so."

He should have known better. The twinkle entered Willow's eyes a moment before she spoke her request out loud. "Show me. Take me downstairs. I only got to see Willy's for a second before Buffy started trashing the place. Show me what it looks like, show me what it's like to be in a room full of demons and not be afraid." She took his hand, bringing it to her chest as she locked her emerald eyes with his sapphire ones.

In true Spike form, he balked at her request. "Are you insane?" He turned in the booth, using his body to block the crowd from their discussion. "Willow, it's disgusting down there, chaos demons and all that, you don't want to go down there."

But Willow just shook her head. "Think about it, this is an amazing opportunity for me. Spike, I've always been the weak one, always, but with you, I could walk in there and practically own the bar!" She was nearly vibrating in her seat with excitement, but she settled down instantly at the softening look she saw steal over her lover's face.

A sudden charm entered Spike's voice then, making it whisper soft as he touched her arm gently. "You do own the place, Willow, all that is mine is yours. You do realize that, don't you? That I live to love you? That you are my world, all the best parts of it?" Then, without waiting for an answer he brushed his lips against hers bringing her in close to him, his hands locking around her body. None the less, Spike pulled back before she could answer him, shifting out of the booth and pulling her out with him. "If you insist on going down there, I won't stop you, but don't be mad when you get slime on your slippers." She smiled and nodded, walking beside him as they moved into the back of the bar.

At the end of a dimly lit hallway that smelled of spilled alcohol, they came to a doorway. Through it, was a storeroom and behind a rack of aging wine was another set of stairs. Willow looked questioningly down the pitch-black stairwell to the crack of light at the bottom. "Um, Spike?"

Without another word, he lifted her into his arms, stepping into the passageway and closing the wine rack behind them. He navigated the stairs effortlessly and Willow couldn't help but sigh wistfully. "You know, I bet night vision's the best part of being a vampire."

Spike chuckled. "Naw, the x-ray visions much better."

She stiffened. "Vampire's don't have x-ray vision..do they?" Spike laughed all the way down the stairs.

At the bottom, right before he opened the door, he nuzzled her throat, running his tongue across the twin puncture marks. "Don't stray away from me in there. Stay by my side and keep your arm around my waist. And no matter what, don't contradict me. Things in Europe aren't the same as they are in Sunnydale. Back there, I'm part of the Scourge of Europe, known only to a few of the smart people; but here, I'm a legend, and that comes with a lot of power."

She nodded in the darkness, knowing that he was looking right at her. "I'll be good. You can trust me."

"I know." And with that, he opened the door and walked through, once again letting Willow's body slide down his as they took in the sights.

Amazingly, the bar below was larger and more packed than the bar above. Demons of every shape and color abounded here, and just as above they all stared and grew silent at the new arrivals. The massive room was dark, but much better lit than what she could remember of Willy's, and Willow fought every instinct she had not to show her fear.

But a strange thing happened in the half second she stood afraid--the magic that had settled back into the crevices of the universe surged forward, filling her body like a sponge. Suddenly she was warm and confident, filled with a power as ageless as the universe and more powerful than time. Her body relaxed with her mind, and as it did, her grip on Spike became less about fear and more about identification. She was a human girl, standing beside a member of the legendary Scourge of Europe. By her position alone she was powerful, and that power was fast growing addictive.

Her body softened, molding itself into the lines and curves of her lover. Her long pale arms came around him, caressing him lightly as she stood in the gaze of nearly a hundred demons. At the direction of the magic, her head tipped down slightly even as her eyes lifted up, peaking coyly from beneath long dark lashes. She wet her lips, knowing that the room followed the slow progress that pink muscle made across her blood red lips. No longer Willow Rosenburg, she was something else entirely--a temptress hanging off the arm of one of the most feared vampires in history. She wasn't just a human girl anymore, she was the woman of a vampire, a witch in training, a Queen on the rise to power--and this was her first night out on the town.

When Spike moved, it was as if he'd compelled her body to go as well, because they moved in perfect synch, as if they were of the same mind. In her floor length gown, she seemed to glide across the floor as Spike moved towards the bar.

Emeralds shone from behind smoky eyes that spoke of long nights of wild sex, while her body moved fluidly, following the flow of magic around her and the demon at her side. At the bar they stopped, and she snuggled against Spike's side, moaning subsonically as his hand caressed her lower back suggestively.

She smiled once to the bartender before tipping her chin back, exposing the length of her long neck and the twin marks she wore more proudly than the ring upon her finger. She belonged here, with the legend by her side--all that he owned she did as well.

Crystal blue eyes locked with hers a moment before those perfect lips descended to devoured hers. The kiss was hungry and telling, reminding Willow that he was no longer her poet, but her demon, encompassing all the rights and privileges that came with being a demi-god. When he pulled back, his eyes flashed golden even as he offered her a sultry smile.

His right hand left Willow's waist and came up to shake hands with the young barkeep, the move crushing her against his chest in that way that said she belonged to him. "Avery, I trust things are running smoothly."

The boy seemed a bit young to be serving alcohol, but Willow reasoned it didn't much matter when serving to demons. "Y-yes sir, everything's going fine. It's good ta be seeing you again, sir."

Spike smiled in full business mode. "You too, Avery. I saw your father upstairs, says everything's going well."

"Yes sir. Customers are still coming ta The Scourge of Europe, and we be happy to serve 'em." The boy smiled before glancing once again at the siren being held by his employer.

Spike rose his voice just enough so that the whole assembly of demons could hear him. "This is my mate, Red. Red, be a good girl and say hello."

Willow lifted her eyes and blinked a few times for effect before slowly extending her lace-covered hand. Offering a coquettish smile, she spoke in an almost dreamy voice. "A pleasure to me you, Avery."

"Very nice ta meet ya, Miss. Can I be gettin' ya anythin'?"

She made a show of looking around behind the bar, her eyes gliding about the colored bottles. "No thank you, Avery. I'll wait until I'm back upstairs." Her voice was velvet seduction as pure as crystal. There were no nervous twitches to her body or cracks to her tone, she was poised and cunning, fit for a future vampire Queen.

She felt the call of that title flit through her body and cause a shiver of anticipation. The magic was intoxicating and Willow drank it greedily, eager to share her enjoyment for this new found power with the demon by her side. How she'd missed the magic all this time she didn't know, but now that she'd found it, she wouldn't let it escape her again.

Spike leaned down towards her ear, the vibrations from his growl sending shivers down her spine. "You're such a good girl, Red. Remind me to bite extra hard tonight."

She gasped, burying her face against his chest as her body shook with a sudden needy shiver. The magic was making her heady while the demon with the poet's face was driving her insane with desire. She felt his hand come around her hip to press possessively against her lower abdomen. She belonged at his side, to him and only him. She was owned, and cherished all at the same time.

"Something wrong, little one?" That mocking tone was in his voice so that Willow had to hold back the next shiver to save face.

"Nothing I can't cover up," she said bravely, that coy expression still in her eyes. "You on the other hand are going to have an obvious problem when I move away from your crotch." She emphasized slyly, rubbing her hip against his obvious erection.

Oblivious to the demons surrounding them, Spike's eyes flashed and remained golden, his features morphing into those of the demon itself. "Lots of ways to fix the problem, Red, lots of ways with lots of blood. You game?" He brought his fangs to nip under her chin.

And suddenly, she knew the game, the rules, and who was going to win. This wasn't about Spike showing off, it was about her. His demon was setting her up to show everyone in the room that she wasn't just a weak little human, but an emerging Queen. This wasn't about Spike dominating her, it was about her dominating Spike and showing the other demons just how much fun she was going to cause upon her turning.

So she did the only thing she could under the circumstances. With a quick twist that left her ruby trestles flying in the wind, she turned and swept away from him, moving back towards the doorway and the freedom of this place. Once there, she turned her head, giving her lover a come hither look before blowing a kiss to Avery and disappearing up the stairs.

She hadn't taken two steps past the wine rack when Spike caught her about the waist and hauled her back into a corner. Gold flecks floated in a sea of blue as he advanced, and Willow held her ground and her arms wide to receive him.

His kisses were hard and commanding, just as his hands were as they lifted her off the ground to deposit her on the edge of a tower of wooden crates. Then his hand were everywhere, kneading her breasts through her silk gown before curling his fingers around the back of her neck and demanding her compliance.

When he took too long, she wrapped her legs around his hips, locking her ankles and dragging him against her liquid body. She cried out as his hand found its way under the folds of fabric, and her impatience had her scrabbling to help him pull the fabric up before moving quickly to undo the buttons of his pants.

She needed this. After the use of such powerful magic she needed to temper it, needed to expel it from herself so that she could understand it, and enable herself to take in even more next time. She felt powerful, desirable, and devious, able to command the hoards of demons that sat so smugly beneath the surface. She belonged to that word as much as her own, and with more exposure, she'd belong to the darkness even more.

The magic was a living thing that arched between them as Spike entered her. He was savage in his claiming, but careful not to leave a single mark on the flawless fabric of her gown. Willow let it happen, giving herself to the feelings of submission that felt so perfect after having so much power. To Spike she could submit, to him alone she could bend and break.

At their climax he struck, burying his fangs into the twin scars upon her neck, drawing blood and feasting on her life and what remained of the magic. As he closed the wounds he stroked her back, her breasts, and arms, as if he couldn't get enough of the feel of her.

Willow closed her eyes, riding the wave of pleasure that always followed their coupling. She sighed deeply when he brought their lips together, thankful that she was still seated upon the crates, not sure she could stand at the moment.

"You're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen." Spike sighed, brushing chaste kisses over her face. "You were so beautiful down there. Gods below, Willow, you were born to be a Queen."

She smiled at the compliment, nuzzling his neck before dropping a few kisses below his ear. "Not 'a Queen' Spike, just your Queen. I never imagined the power could be so.incredible. It seems strange, like it shouldn't have affected me so much, I mean, people get power all the time."

Spike shook his head as he went about straightening her clothes for her. "You've no doubt felt the magic of the place. The magic attracts the demons, and even those with a little training can sense it. You're human, easily swayed by power magic, that's why so many humans seek power, it's one of the few magics that mortals can sense. But you've dabbled in the arts before, and the magic sensed that, it was drawn to you, it sought you out. Don't worry about being overwhelmed, you know as well as I do, sex is an amazing grounding technique." And he punctuated his point with a kiss before lifting her from the crates.

Once again on her feet, Willow snuggled under her lover's arm before walking with him back into the bar. But the noise and the crowds were soon overwhelming, and without so much as making it back to the table, Willow asked to leave.

So they fled into the night, walking the streets with no destination in mind. They passed countless shops, and every now and then Spike would point out some interesting fact or bit of history associated with something they passed.

At a cobblestone square Spike stopped, before taking her from the sidewalk into the middle of the deserted street. The moon was high tonight, and even though it was close to midnight, she could see him clearly.

His voice was hushed when he spoke. "I was standing right here the first time I met Darla. Angelus had sensed her coming this way and had gone out to greet her. Back then it was only he and I, and to be honest, I was a bit jealous of her. You see, Angelus adored her, love is too strong, but he idolized her, everything he did, the name he made for himself, was all a way of making her proud of him. He never let that stand in his way, and if she'd tried to go against him, I'm sure he'd've killed her easily, but she was like a mother to him, and he cared about her opinion of him.

"Back then, we only owned the bar, but the idea for the mansion came to Angelus the night we met Darla. She knew I was there, I guess Angelus did too, but I thought I was being pretty clever stealing into the night to track my own Sire. I was only a decade or two old back then, and Drusilla was still three quarters of a century away.

"I remember thinking, the chit wasn't much to look at." Spike stopped, scoffing at the memory. "Darla was Childe to the Master himself, a mean bastard even back then, she deserved a whole lot more respect then I was willing to give her." He looked down at Willow and gave her shoulders a squeeze. "Darla wasn't a Queen, she was too much like the males of our species. She killed for sport and never tried to blend in, she was in it for the power of the kill, not the power of hunt.

"Back then, Angelus greeted her with kisses that made me want to stake the bitch myself. But she laughed that womanly laugh and batted her eyelashes a few times to make sure he was paying attention. Then she attacked me. I was hiding up there, behind what used to be a bell tower. It's laughable to think that I could have fought against her, but I tried anyway." His voice became wistful, and Willow held her breath, hoping he'd continue.

"She wasn't trying to kill me, just teach me a lesson. She knew I was Angelus' Childe, hell the whole of Europe knew by then. She had me pretty well pounded when Angelus struck." He looked down at her and smiled before looking up at the moon. "You should have seen him, Willow. He was power personified. Every punch was solid and every kick connected, and he wasn't just fighting her for the hell of it, he was fighting her for me. Leaping into the fight like that, it showed that I was worth something to him, not to be treated like some minion, but the Childe of a legend.

"Darla figured it out right quick and ended the battle. From then on we had a love hate relationship. I respected her for her age and mastery, and she respected me for my position as Angelus favorite Childe; but we both hated each other because we both wanted Angelus' attention. The bastard knew of course, loved having the two of us fight over him. It was worse with Dru.a lot worse." He drifted off then, and Willow realized she'd learned more than was just on the surface of his story. She could feel the bitterness Spike felt at being discarded by Angelus, and she felt the final resolve behind the telling--Spike would never do to her what was done to him, he'd never let anyone come between them.

She pulled in tightly against him, breathing in his scent as she sighed and propelled them to continue walking. The silence was comfortable, and Spike was soon his old self, once again relating tidbits of history to her.

By two AM they were finished for the night. Spike had taken a shortcut to get them back to the car when something startling caught Willow's attention and caused her to stop in the middle of one of the busier streets.

"Willow?" Spike inquired, tugging gently to get her away from the oncoming traffic.

Suddenly she realized what she was seeing was real, and with a tug, she broke away from Spike and raced across the street, her skirts pulled high to give her legs more room.

At the dimly lit store window in one of the worse parts of town, Willow looked on in fascinated amazement at the scaled dollhouse inside. But the thing that caught her attention and held it now as Spike came up behind her was that the dollhouse was no ordinarily model, but a replica of Windemere, they're home, beautifully crafted with no expense spared.

"Spike, it's our home." She said, her voice a mere whisper on the wind as she rubbed the condensation her breathing was causing on the glass.

Spike peered in, and as he did, his expression darkened. "Bloody hell, the wanker copied my house!"

Suddenly Willow turned to him, her eyes just as suddenly commanding. "Spike, I want that dollhouse. I want it." She brought her hands to his chest, pressing her nails just slightly into his flesh causing the demon to surface. The magic was strong here too. "Please Spike, for me? Please." And within the time of a thought, he'd reacted.

When he broke the store window to get in, Willow only giggled, and when he lifted her over the glass so she wouldn't cut her feet, she kissed him for his thoughtfulness. But when the owner came down with a loaded shotgun in his hand and Spike made to move for the kill, she stopped him, and turned on her newly acquired charm.

Her hand against his chest, she turned to face the shopkeeper, a very old man with gnarled hands that had worked wood for a lifetime. "We're awfully sorry about the mess, and William will be happy to pay for the damages. We figured since the door was closed, we'd just find our own way in."

"Y-you what--" The man sputtered, but Spike cut him off.

With a growl, he spoke through elongating fangs. "Don't tempt me old man, listen to the woman."

Suddenly fearful and realizing this was no ordinary robbery, the man lowered the weapon. Willow smiled coyly as she advanced. Her entire body was in the hunt, and it was as if she were already a part of Spike's world. Her lover watched her with lustful appreciation as she glided towards the man, using her body as a weapon, allowing the magic of the land newly discovered to unconsciously enhance her lethal charm.

"The dollhouse is beautiful. You know, William and I live in a house that looks just like it, exactly like it." She stressed the word 'exactly' as she stopped before the wide-eyed and trembling man. "William and I are newlyweds, just a few weeks actually, and I can't think of a more wonderful present than this lovely dollhouse. Well, I mentioned it to him and he was bound and determined I'd have it tonight, weren't you, my love?" She remained facing the shopkeeper, her eyes locked solidly with his as she threw the question over her shoulder.

"Whatever my Queen wants."

Willow giggled. "He's so wonderful to me. Now, let's talk price." She move to the dollhouse, gently opening it to see that it was indeed a perfect replica of their home. Every detail was preserved and hand carved, even the chandeliers were made from real glass that tinkled as the two halves separated. "It's so beautiful. Did you do all the work yourself?" She asked, looking back at the wizened man.

He shook his head, his eyes still glued to Willow. "M-my wife sewed all the cloth and I done the carving. W-we sent out fer the glass work."

She smiled a mouth full of teeth. "How extraordinary. Now tell me, how did you ever come across such detailed plans to build an exact duplicate of our home nearly an hour away from here? You weren't trespassing, now were you?" The glint in her eye was deadly and the man knew it.

Violently he shook his head while Spike growled, coming to stand next to Willow but not invading her space. "N-no! I-I bought the plans off a man who's wife be workin' there. He-he's dying and they'd be needed the money fer some medicine. 'bout five years ago she took a bunch of pictures while the master--while you were away. I bought the pictures fer the dollhouse ya see there."

Willow clapped her hands and laughed. "How positively perfect!" She turned to Spike. "I want it even more now, it's full of history, intrigue and deceit!" Turing again, she faced the man. "I want it, and William will pay any price for it. Name it."

The man nodded, and from the top of the stairs, came the voice of the man's wife inquiring if everything was alright. "Ya-ya can take it, jus' take it."

But Willow shook her head as the man's wife came into the room and gasped. "No, no, that won't do. I'm sure you need the money, and we did break your window. My grandfather worked wood, so I know this must've taken the better part of half a decade to do. Let's do this, shall we, William will pay you thirty thousand US dollars, cash, when you deliver the dollhouse tomorrow evening around six o'clock. You'll be kind enough to bring your wife and a camera. An empty dollhouse is useless to me, so we'll just commission you to make the furniture. You can take all the pictures you want tomorrow and get started then. I'll send someone to collect the finished pieces every week, and you can name your price. You'll be sure to spare no expense in the material and detail you use, I want them to be the culmination of your very life's work." Again she flashed that devilish smile, stepping back and into Spike's arms. "William and I will be expecting you tomorrow, so do try to be on time. Oh, and don't worry about Clare, it seems she's done us quite a service, so we'll just pretend it never happened. Have a nice night." And with that, she and Spike left the same way they'd come in, neither bothering to mask the fact that they nearly glided over the window frame instead of jumping over it.

Back in the street, they walked the rest of the way to the car and climbed in before ever speaking a word. The magic had slowly seeped from her body, leaving her a bit empty for its presence.

Worried about her behavior and the strangeness that had come over her, Willow clutched Spike's hand in the rolling darkness and spoke in a near whisper. "Twice in one night. It's like the magic was waiting for me to find it, and now that I have it wants me to use it." She shivered and pulled in more tightly against him. "It's a bit frightening. I've never acted that way before."

Spike was silent for a moment. "Dru used to say that there are some people gifted with the ability to draw magic to them. Most people stumble onto magic, but a very select few can call it to them to use how they see fit. It's a power I don't know much about, but there are a few books back at the library that might help, we'll take a look tomorrow. In the mean time, don't worry on it, Luv, you were so beautiful tonight. I can see glimpses of the vampire you'll be someday, and I tell you, it's quite a site to behold."

Willow shook her head. "I was cruel to that shopkeeper, I nearly scared him to death. I didn't want to hurt him, I just really wanted that dollhouse--and I don't even know why I want it, just that I have to have it, like I don't have a choice in the matter."

Tipping his head to the side, Spike thought on it. "The magic took hold of you when you saw the dollhouse, so that tells me that the magic wants it for some reason." He shrugged. "Cor Luv, I've no bloody clue, but you wanted it, and now you have it. I'm gonna have to kill the housekeeper though, and that kind of pisses me off."

Shaking her head, Willow braved to touch his arm. "Don't kill her. I know why you want to, I even understand all that stuff about loyalty and master/slave issues, but for medicine, don't kill her." Spike tried to protest, but stopped at the glint that came back into those emerald eyes. "Don't kill her, but don't encourage bad behavior either. Broken trust is bad for business, I think you might have to break your trust with her and not turn her husband after all. I mean, what good is a minion we don't need, right?"

She smiled up at him then, kissing him as she snuggled in for the long drive home, and Spike grinned that evil look of answering cruelty. "Red, I like the way you think."

chapter 15

chapter 17

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