The Fallen Slayer {1}

No Place Like Reality

Staring at the spell-book in front of her, Buffy was so focused on her research task that she barely processed the busy store and all the customers around her.

All the noise and stress of the environment that was affecting her friends faded away.

Buffy didn't notice a thing other than the words in front of her.

She was just too freaked out about her flashes. She had to find something, anything that may help.

"Did you ever think in a million years you'd miss the high-school library?"

At the sound of Xander's voice, Buffy jumped slightly barely processing his words as she finally tore her gaze from the book "Someone did something to me, to try and make me lose my mind. It's what the flashes are. They are trying to make me weak, so I can't protect the people I care about."

With the sudden realization about what her mysterious flashes were, Xander's eyes quickly filled with concern, wondering what he could do to help "That's a new kind of nasty. Any suspects?"

"Well, I've got the list narrowed down to just under infinity."

Knowing there wasn't much he could do right now, Xander patted her back softly trying to comfort his clearly stressed-out best friend.

Anya who was in the process of wrapping up an item for another customer glanced over at Buffy, her centuries of demonic knowledge coming in handy as always "You know, Buffy, there used to be this French Sorcerer back in the 16th Century...I don't know what name..."

Buffy who now had her attention focused on Anya turned to Giles as he spoke up "Cloutier?" He asked the ex-demon.

Anya grinned, a cheeky smirk grazing her lips at the memory "So cute in his little knickers. But he had this one spell demons just hated called "Tirer la couverture".

At the phrase Buffy merely raised an eyebrow in confusion. She barely spoke regular English how was she supposed to know what that meant?

"Rotate many foodstuffs?"

Willow turned smiling softly at her best friend's obvious confusion "Pull the curtain back."

"A spell to see spells." Anya explained, "A trance to see spells, actually, but you get the idea. Try that."

Despite the explanation, Buffy was even more confused than before. She really wasn't the book type, nor the magic type "What do you mean, 'see' spells?"

Giles quickly turned to them, the stress from the large number of customers rummaging through his store written all over his face.

Clearly, he had underestimated how hard running an actual store would be, it wasn't like the Sunnydale High Library "Well, all spells or even potions leave a trace signature. It's just not perceptible to the human eye. In this case, it may be a dark cloud surrounding you, or a creature holding onto your head."

Buffy groaned "Yew. Big with the eff factor Giles." She mumbled before shaking her head as she placed the book in her hands back down on the counter. If she had to do this to figure out the truth then so be it "Okay, so I'll do what monsieur silk knickers did. I'll go home, get trance-y and see what's doing this to me."

Instantly, Willow found herself worried "I don't know, Buffy. Trances?"

Giles nodded in agreement and quickly ran away from the customers in hopes of talking Buffy out of this "Yes, the sorcerer Cloutier was legendary. His skills at achieving higher states of consciousness were..." As Giles is again distracted by customers Buffy finished the sentence for him "Better than mine? I knew you'd say that. But I've been practicing concentration. I'm close."

"Are you ready?" Giles queried.

He didn't want anything to happen to her.

Buffy just sighed in defeat "Giles this thing, whatever it is is threatening my family. I'll get ready. What do I need?"