Disclaimer: I don't own the Buffy the Vampire Slayer property or any of the characters therein.

The Witch and the Ex-Demon

Chapter One: Teach Me

To say that Tara was surprised when she opened the door to find Anya standing alone in the hallway would be an understatement. Tara actually stuck her head out the doorway, looking right then left. "Xander isn't wuh-with you?"

"No," Anya said, walking past Tara into the dorm room without waiting to be invited. "Is Willow around?"

"She has class, and then study group after. She won't be back for hours. If you want to cuh-come back later…"

"That's okay, I guess you'll have to do."

Tara averted her eyes to the floor. She was always a bit uncomfortable when attention was focused on her—except when Willow was doing the focusing—and there was a directness to Anya's speech and stare that made Tara feel like a specimen under the microscope. "Wuh-what exactly do you nuh-need?" Tara stammered; her stutter always became more pronounced when she was nervous.

Anya stood there, dressed mostly in white, looking more like an angel than the ex-demon she was, seemingly oblivious to Tara's discomfort. In truth, Anya was usually oblivious to anyone's feelings but her own. Except maybe Xander's, but Tara even questioned that at times. "I've been giving it some thought lately, and I want to participate in some of the activities you and Willow do together."

A hot blush crept into Tara's cheeks, at the same time her mind emptied of all coherent thought, so total was her shock. "Wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh…"

"Oh no, not the lesbian stuff," Anya said with a flip of her hand. "I'm much too big a fan of the penis for that. I'm talking about the witchcraft."

"Wuh-witchcraft?"

"You know, spells and charms and potions and all that. I want you to teach me how to do it."

"What exactly do you want to luh-learn?"

"All of it. I have been thinking about it ever since Willow made the offer to show me a few spells."

"Willow offered to teach you?"

"Yes, you were there. Don't you remember?"

Tara just shook her head.

"It was when Giles was away and you and Willow were robbing the Magic Box blind trying to create that silly ball of sunshine. In an attempt to distract me from your criminal activities, Willow said the two of you could teach me some magic."

"You mean when you and Willow accidentally fuh-freed that troll that wreaked havoc all across Sunnydale, leaving behind a trail of duh-destruction and injuries?"

"Yes, very impressive for a beginner, wouldn't you say?"

"Some may say impressive, others muh-may say disastrous."

"All the bad stuff I'm pretty sure was Willow's fault. She seems a bit rash and doesn't think through all the consequences when it comes to the magic. Probably better to have you as my teacher. You're much more levelheaded."

"Thanks," Tara said, blushing again. She wasn't used to compliments. "I suppose I could tuh-teach you to float a pencil or something."

"Boring. Let's start with something big. Transmutation, astral projection, teleportation. Ooh, or a spell to turn air into money. Do you know a spell to turn air into money?"

"Uhm, no, but I do know a spell to turn water into wine."

"Sounds vaguely blasphemous; I like it. Let's get started."

"Well, problem is Willow and I are suh-sort of low on supplies at the moment—"

"Then we'll go buy some, but not from the Magic Box."

"Why not?"

"I don't want Xander to know about this. He'd get that disapproving frown, and that little frown typically leads to no sex."

"Oh," Tara said softly, looking anywhere but at Anya. "But there aren't any other magic shops in town."

"No problem. I know a guy that trades in dark magic, deals mostly with demon types. He should have anything we need."

"Duh-demon types? Will it be suh-safe?"

"Sure. If anyone or anything gives us any trouble, you can just zap lightning out of your fingers or something."

"But I cuh-can't—"

"Come on," Anya said, grabbing Tara's hand and pulling her toward the door. "Time's a wasting."