The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
by cathy nort
chapter 10
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Witches are born with their powers, that is true." Elyse said. "Your friend seems to have not even known she had them. I suppose some go through their entire life without learning they were so endowed. Others learn early often by accident. And others, because they are born into a family of witches, learn almost immediately. Since their fore bearers instruct them, educate them as to how to use those powers they become quite advanced in it's use-ages. I suppose it is quite a heady thing to be able to cast spells, install curses, move objects. One could easily be taken over by that power. The Gutenborgan Witches seem to have relished their abilities so much that they wished to acquire even more power. They can do that in only one way. They can increase their power in only one way and that is to incorporate the powers of another witch into theirs."
Buffy's mouth fell open. "So Sasha is after Willow's magical power?"
"I fear so." Elyse said tersely. "That's not good."
"I was afraid you'd say that."
"You should be. Fortunately the process, the ritual in Sasha acquiring Willow's abilities, must be preformed by a third witch. She bonds the two, Sasha and Willow, in a strong, overpowering spell leaving them helpless. It is then she drains the one, Willow, and transfers her power to the 'chosen' one, in this case Sasha. I can't help but feel that Sasha already has a third witch in readiness."
"Sasha is living with an old woman. Her grandmother." Buffy was all but certain that the die had been cast. Her only thought was she had to do something to save Willow from the clutches of these two. As the fear inside her mounted she turned back to Elyse. "What happens? To Willow if she is robbed of her powers? It wouldn't be awful if she were no longer a witch. Not to me. Not to her."
The grey haired woman shook her head sadly. "It would be. For both of you." She reached out and took both of Buffy's hands in hers. "Willow's mind would be destroyed. The process would would leave her intellectually a blank slate. She would be a vegetable unable to comprehend even the simplest things in life. Every thing she was, would be, will be gone. Forever."
"H....how do I stop them?" Buffy gasped at her own words as they tumbled out. "How do I stop the ceremony if Willow won't even see me. She won't listen to me s......since the school........"
"I'm afraid I can't be of help to you." Elyse said. "It appears, poor child, you are on your own. Utterly on your own."
* * * * *
It was an hour, late afternoon before Buffy could reach the Rosenberg home. Knocking and ringing the doorbell proved fruitless. She knew where the Rosenberg's kept their key hidden in case they locked themselves out. It was under a rock in the flower bed. She got it and unlocked the door. After completely searching the house it was clear Willow was not at home. She wasn't inside hiding from contact with Buffy. But where was she? The horrible thought that she was with Sasha sent waves of panic through Buffy but she hadn't the slightest idea where Sasha lived. Buffy had no alternative but to sit, fitfully, on the porch hoping the Rosenbergs would come home soon.
They did finally but it was almost dark by the time they arrived.
"Hi Buffy," Mrs. Rosenberg said as her husband started to unlock the door.
"It's open." Buffy said simply without further explanation. "I need to see Willow, Mrs. Rosenberg. I need to see her badly."
It was clear Willow's parents were aware of the falling out Buffy and their daughter had had. "Well Buffy." Mr. Rosenberg said. "Willow has told us she doesn't wish to see you for the time being. I've talked to her until I'm blue in the face but she refuses to budge. What happened between you two? You were inseparable."
What could Buffy say? Tell the truth that they had a lovers quarrel. A lovers misunderstanding? She didn't think they were prepared to hear that. "We had a fight," was all Buffy could answer.
"Well, it isn't our place to go against our daughters wishes," Mr. Rosenberg said.
"Nonsense!" Mrs. Rosenberg stamped her foot on the wooden deck of the porch. "She's been moping around for days. It has to stop. She's miserable and so is Buffy. Buffy wants to see her."
Mrs. Rosenberg dismissed her husband with a wave of the hand. Then she turned to Buffy. "She's at Sasha's. She's spending the night."
"I want to go there." Buffy was almost crying. "I don't know here she lives."
"Two blocks over on Huron. 214."
Buffy was there in a matter of minutes. The house was dark except for flickering lights on the second level. She rang the doorbell though her instinct told her to not be so polite. If Sasha was as dangerous as Elyse said it could be a mistake to announce her presence. While she waited she tried the door. It was locked. She was about to go around to the back when the door was unlocked. When it swung open she found herself looking at Sasha. "Hi Buffy. What's up?" Sasha was obviously unperturbed by Buffy being at her front door. She was so casual that it disarmed Buffy.
Sasha was wearing a long, black, scooped neck dress. Her hair was flowing over her shoulders dancing in the slight breeze of the doorway.
"I need to see Willow."
Sasha smiled brightly. She had one hand on the door knob and the other was behind her back. She stepped aside. "Come on in. Willow's upstairs. To tell the truth I've been kind of expecting you."
Sasha waited for Buffy to come into the darkened foyer. When Buffy was a few steps inside and in front of her, Sasha pulled her hand from behind her. In it was a short, wooden club which she raised over her head and slammed it down against Buffy's blond hair.
"Ugh!" Buffy didn't even stagger. She fell back, unconscious, into Sasha's waiting arms.