Healing

Part 28

Tara and Willow sat on their bed surrounded by magic texts and scrolls. They had been searching for the better part of an hour and had come up with nothing.

"We need to find out what she said."

"Do you think maybe Spike or Angel heard her?"

"I don't know, Willow. But under the circumstances I don't think Angel would tell us anything and Spike... Well I don't think we should bother him. Not tonight."

"You're right, I know. But I hate this, I feel so violated."

"Let's keep looking, maybe we'll find something."

Tara had an idea of what spell Dru had cast and if it were the one she was thinking of there was nothing she could do. The only one who could possibly undo the spell was Angel or Spike since they were blood-linked to Drusilla. And Angel was Angelus now and Spike was unlikely to willingly give a slayer back her power. In short, they were screwed.

Cordy removed the gag from Ethan’s mouth and quirked her eyebrow at him.

"Ready to talk yet, or should I have Wes zap you again?"

Ethan did his best to look unaffected and leered at the girl.

"Or you could untie me and we could take this little bondage session somewhere more private. Your friend is welcome to come along, he's not hard on the eyes either."

"Eeewww! So not going to do that! Wes, I think it's time we attach the other clips. The ones that go... Lower?"

Ethan clenched his jaw but said nothing as Wesley brought out another set of clips and began attaching wires to them. It wasn't until Cordelia started to unfasten his pants that he spoke up.

"Alright! Alright, I'll tell you what I know, but it isn't much."

"No, really?"

"Look, all I know is the last time I was here I was given to a bunch of military scientists who wanted to crack open my skull to see what they could learn from it. I was rescued, purchased really, by a lovely dark haired woman in an expensive suit."

Wesley and Cordelia looked at each other, they both spoke at once.

"Lilah."

Ethan nodded his head.

"Yes, I believe that was her name. She sent me here with that mad woman to bespell the vampire. That's all I know. I don't know why she wants Angelus back nor do I care. I simply did what was asked of me in order to regain my freedom."

Cordelia looked sceptical. Wesley shook his head and sighed.

"That really wasn't the answer that we wanted. You see, you were supposed to tell us how to undo the spell that bound our powers and how to restore Angel. I assume you either don't know these things or you take us for fools. Either way I'm betting a little electricity will answer that question."

Wesley reattached the ball gag as Cordelia attached the clips to the wizards foreskin. Ethan screamed behind the gag and frantically tried to talk. Wes loosened the gag and Ethan spoke.

"You people are crazy!"

"Gag him Wes, he isn't ready to talk yet."

"Wait! Yes, yes I am. Please. Just don't flick that switch."

Wesley toyed with the rewired lamp in his hand. He ran his fingertips over the power switch and smiled an evil smile.

"What, this switch?"

He quickly flicked the switch on and then off again. Ethan lurched up off the chain in pain and then dropped back onto it. Cordy looked at Wes like he was insane, she hadn't expected it to go this far.

"Terribly sorry old chap, must have gotten a twitch in my finger. Perhaps you should talk before it happens again."

Ethan took a deep breath and started talking. He told them how Drusilla’s spell could only be broken by herself or possibly her sire if he were magically inclined. That Angel was still in possession of his soul but that the demon had been granted control of the body. He swore that he had no idea of how to reverse it. Wesley was considering shocking him again when Giles came in and interupted.

"I believe he is telling the truth."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes, Wesley. I assure you, no one would enjoy frying his knackers more than I, but I believe him."

"Fine then, It has been a very trying evening and I'm quite worn out. I'm going to look in on Angel and then I shall head back to the hotel if that's okay with you."

"Yes, that sounds like a very good idea."

Wesley left to check in on Angel/Angelus and Cordelia motioned for Giles to join her in the kitchen. Buffy was still there drinking a soda and eating some cookies. As soon as they were away from Ethan and she was sure that neither he or Wesley would hear Cordelia told Giles what was on her mind.

"I don't think we should leave Wesley alone right now. He and Angel, well they had a bit of an argument the last time they spoke and he's taking it pretty badly."

"Will you be accompanying him back to the hotel then?"

"Yeah, as long as I'm not needed here. I think Mr. wizard in there is under control and Angelus is still out of it."

"Don't worry, Buffy and I will be fine here. You should take Wesley back to the hotel and you both should get some rest. We have a lot of research to do tomorrow."

Wesley looked at the vampire in the tub and wondered if what the wizard had said was true. Was Angel indeed still in there? And if so would he hear him?

"Angel, I don't know if you can hear me, or if you're even there, but if you are I want you to know that I'm sorry. I didn't mean it, what I said about us not staying together. I was just jealous of the way Xander stood up to his friends and announced his relationship with Spike. I wanted to have that openness with you. I realize that I was wrong to run off and more so to tell you I wanted to end it. I love you, I just wanted you to know. Good night Angel."

Wesley went back downstairs and met Cordelia at the door. They waved goodbye to Giles and Buffy and then left. Giles and Buffy made themselves comfortable and settled in for a long night of prisoner watching. Ethan opened his mouth to say something but one look from Buffy was enough to make him close it again. He would live with the slight pain from the clips rather than remind her that they were still hooked up. One zap to the testicles was more than enough, thank you.