Title: The Query Series
Author: NyxMne Chaosis
Email: magmyr@umailme.com
Distribution: SFA
Rating: PG-13 (NC-17 in parts for character death)
Setting: Post-Lover's Walk (Season 3)/Pre-Harsh Light of Day (Season 4)
Summary: After his drunken fiasco in "Lover's Walk", Spike returns to Brazil to woo back Dru.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.

Giles' Query


Pulling my gaze from the ancient tome of magic transformations, I address Oz. He, like the others, have looks of deep consternation etched on their faces.

"She just vanished, is that correct?" I ask. Oz nods silently, lifting a stack of books from my sofa and placing them on the floor next to the swivel chair where Xander sits.

Buffy is as equally concerned, but I notice her nose is wrinkled in that curious expression of confusion.

"So," she finally speaks. "A magic spoon whisked Willow away?"

"I'm thinking it was the necklace," Oz replies.

Nodding, she finally understands. "We should check out the shop that sent it," she offers.

"Good thinking!" Xander jumps in. The boy is positively wired with worry and fidgets anxiously. "I'll do that first thing tomorrow morning, ask around, threaten them if they don't talk!"

"Um, maybe I should do that," Oz suggests, noticing the distant look in Xander's eyes and the hostility in his tone.

"You can help me," Buffy suggests to Xander. "We'll search some old demon haunts, find out if anyone new is in town."

"Or old for that matter," I add. Slamming the book shut, I rub my weary eyes. "I still haven't found anything, but from what you've told me, sudden vanishing is usually the result of a spatial displacement, or a temporal displacement... or both."

"Do you mean Willow might have been sucked into the past?" Buffy wonders.

"Or the future," Oz suggests.

"Both are very possible," I add. "But until we learn more about this necklace, we won't know for certain. There are many magic amulets that are triggered by looking at your reflection, so finding out the identity of this particular necklace will be difficult."

"What's the worse case scenario?" Buffy asks.

"Ah, can we go for a best case scenario?" Xander begs.

"Best case scenario," I begin, "is that it is merely a spatial displacement. She could be as close next door or as far away as half around the world. It would be a matter of waiting for her to make her way back to Sunnydale."

"I like that scenario," Xander says excitedly. "Can we keep that one? I like that one. That's a keeper."

Buffy smiles warmly at Xander, tries to conceal her own concern. "Come on, Xand," she calls to her friend. "Let's get started."

"Call me regularly on the hour," I tell Buffy as she leads Xander to the front door. "We can exchange information and keep everyone updated."

"Can do," Buffy agrees, but I see the outline of her jaw. She clenches her teeth tightly together to endure her own rising panic no doubt. "Later," she says, closing the door behind her and Xander.

I turn my attention to Oz, who sits quietly on the couch in silent contemplation. His reserve is uncanny for someone his age. It took me years to master my emotions... my incredibly hostile, violent emotions which seemed to be rearing their ugly heads at the moment.

"Did you get a close look at the necklace?" I ask him. Sitting before him, he snaps out of his daze.

"Yeah, it was a tiny silver medallion with a pentagram etched on it along with some writing I couldn't make out," Oz replies. "A pentagram," he repeats. "I thought that was a sign of protection."

"They usually are," I assure him. "But it might have been meant only to serve the safe journey of the traveler."

Oz nods in understanding. Leaning back against the couch, he picks a book and begins leafing through it. There is a profound sadness in his eyes as he buries his thoughts in research.

"We'll find out what happened to her," I promise Oz. With all my heart and breath, I will find out what happened to Willow, even if its the last thing I do.

Accidents do happen in magic, and hopefully if that's the case, the magic shop should have a way to return Willow. Otherwise, if it isn't an accident... If I find out that someone, human or otherwise, maliciously trapped Willow in some spatial-temporal fold, I'll... I'll...

Breathe. That's it breathe deeply. You will deal with that person or demon or whatever it is, but there's no use getting my blood pressure up about it. I'll be of no help to anyone if I'm laying in a casket due to a heart attack.

Immersing myself in a new text, I shake my head with silent wonder:

"Will we ever see Willow again?"