spankerella | fic - Brotherhoods and Sisterhoods p3

title: Brotherhoods and Sisterhoods
part: 3
author: echo
rating: 18
disclaimer: I do not own anything here. The BtVS characters belong to Joss Whedon. The HP characters belong to JK Rowling. The Craft characters belong to Peter Filardi and Andrew Fleming. The Covenant characters belong to JS Cardone. The versions here of the Practical Magic characters belong to Alice Hoffman, Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman, and Adam Brooks. The Witches of Eastwick characters belong to John Updike and Michael Cristofer. That one certain Anita Blake character belongs to Laurel K Hamilton.
summary: Witchcraft-apalooza. After the war with Voldemort, the Salem Witches' Institute is host to an interesting array of teachers, students, and visitors. Slight spoilers for The Covenant.

Part 1 ][ Part 2

*~*~*

"Janice fell off of her broom!"

Dawn was up instantly. She gathered her books quickly. The librarian was glaring at Kylie for her loud entrance and outburst, but it was plain as day the redhead didn't care about that. The two girls hurried out of the library and across the campus towards the heath center, specifically its infirmary.

"What happened?"

"Well, you know Janice...."

Dawn let out a hysterical giggle. Yes, she did know Janice. Janice was a little crazy. She was likely doing something reckless. She didn't know why Janice wanted to help the stereotype and ride a broom anyhow. It was likely because Professor Krum was cute. Then again, Janice had a crush on everyone these days. Professor Malfoy was cute. Professor Zeeman was cute. Caleb and the boys were cute. The pictures of Xander were cute. Kit's picture of Carlos Trejo was cute. Even the picture Dawn had of herself with Andrew... Andrew was cute.

As they skidded into the triage area, Dawn noticed Reid there as well with a hefty bandage on his head.

"Oh no! What happened to you?"

"Oh." Kylie said. "Oh yeah. I forgot the best part. He tried to catch Janice."

The attending nurse looked at Reid then looked at Dawn and Kylie. Then she shook her head as if to say Reid was quite foolish. Dawn just grinned. She wished she could have seen it. It had probably look pretty funny. Reid came off as a bit of an ass sometimes, not that Dawn minded, but he was actually a decent guy. She could handle him being a jerk. Hello, she'd been friends with Spike. She knew who he really was underneath. Well, who she hoped he was anyhow. His trying to catch Janice just kind of proved it for her. Asses didn't do stuff like that if they were truly an ass through and through.

"You tried to catch Janice?" Dawn asked Reid. "Like just you? You didn't try to use your man witch powers or anything?"

He glared at her.

"You panicked and forget you even had powers, huh?"

Reid looked away then. Dawn's grin widened. So it was true then... not an ass through and through. That was just about the time Caleb burst into the infirmary with Tyler on his heels.

"Are you ok? Is Janice ok?"

"Janice is fine." Janice said as she limped out from the back with her arm in a sling.

"Oh hell, Janice." Caleb said.

"It looks worse than it is, and I get to spend a fun-filled night in the infirmary while my arm mends... I broke it, by the way... and twisted my ankle, and have some fantastic bruises... but other than that, I'm good. Blondie's head broke my fall pretty darn good. Thanks, by the way. Very dumb. Noble and wonderfully wonderful, but kinda dumb. You got hurt too. I wouldn't have and didn't want that."

Reid actually blushed and looked away. Tyler was grinning.

"And your head?" Caleb asked. "How does is feel?"

"Like I had a bag of bricks dropped on me."

Janice glared.

"I have a concussion. I will also be staying overnight for observation. Dammit." Reid muttered in an irritated tone and folded his arms across his chest.

The door to the infirmary opened again. Professor Krum walked in, looking all sharp lines and brute force.

"Ah, Janice. You are better?"

"I broke my arm and twisted my ankle, but other than that, I'm good."

"I vanted to tell you that your flying vas excellent today... before the falling off of the broom obviously." He looked at Reid. "And I vas most impressed with your trying to break her fall, Reid. Though next time, perhaps a lightening charm vould be less painful?" He nodded once then exited the infirmary.

Reid sighed in frustration. "Great. Now I'm forever gonna be that guy who forgot he had power and tried to stop and falling body with my own. Just great."

"It's better than being the guy who accidentally magicked away all his clothes and was standing in front of the class all naked and stuff." Dawn offered.

"Who do you know that did that?"

"Well, nobody... yet. I'm just saying... could be worse."

Reid glared at her as if to say she was not helping. Caleb and Tyler chuckled.

*~*~*

Kit was walking with her books hugged to her chest. Her head was down so her hair covered her face mostly. She'd been avoiding Pogue Parry for over two weeks now. She'd been pretty good at it too. She'd been avoided just about everyone though, not just Pogue. Dawn had asked her if she was all right. Kit had lied. She went through these antisocial phases. Phases where she just wanted to be left alone to go about her merry or not-so-merry way. Dawn knew about it. She'd told her roomie that she was going through one now. Dawn had eyed her as if she knew Kit was lying, but she'd said she'd give Kit her space. Dawn also told Kit she knew where to find her if Kit needed or wanted to talk

She didn't know what was wrong with her. She'd even called Carlos to talk the other night. He was already planning a visit. He'd actually graduated high school in a town in sunny Cal called Neptune. Almost as weird as Sunnydale. He was doing good, and he was working at an auto body place. He was considering going to a vocational school in the area. He'd been in a bit of a fix with someone accusing him of a car jacking, but some little blonde named Veronica had cleared him. Kit wondered aloud if he had a crush, and Carlos said no. He fancied some little Latina named Carmen who had a bad rep because of a popsicle or something. Kit didn't ask. Carlos assured her that Carmen was a good girl.

That was all Kit cared about really. Carlos deserved a nice girl. She knew him well enough to know that. He also knew Kit pretty well. He'd hounded her until she'd told him of her troubles. She reluctantly divulged most of the Pogue story to him. Carlos said he didn't understand what was holding her back. Kit countered that she was not the sort of girl that a guy like Pogue went after. Carlos came back with what he called the fact that any guy with half a brain would go after Kit. She commented that Carlos himself had not, and he said that was because she was like his sister. They'd laughed and talked about less serious stuff after that. Carlos had parted with encouragement and told her to go for it with the witch boy. He'd promised appropriate damage if Pogue hurt her.

Kit was smiling while thinking about it when she went to enter her room. She let out a surprised shriek when she was grabbed from behind and jostled roughly into the room. The door was slammed behind her and whomever had pushed her inside. Kit spun about and hurled her books and papers at her attacker.

Pogue deflected the books and glared at her in surprise.

"Oh."

He continued to glare.

"Well, you could have let me know it was you."

"As if that would have worked. You would have run into this room and locked the door."

"I would not..." Her voice died off. He was right. She would have.

"Right."

Kit sighed. "Well, I don't know what to do about this."

"And I do?"

"I'm confused."

Pogue sighed loudly. "And I'm not supposed to be over who I thought was the love of my life. Do you know how angry you make me?"

"Then forget it."

"I can't. You're in my head now. You're all I see."

Kit's brows knitted together. "Why?"

"Don't know. Maybe you're worth the risk."

"You can't know that."

"No, but I can feel like I do."

Kit sighed. How did you argue with that? There had never been a guy ever who talked to her as he did. He might hurt her. Her might break down all her walls, and he might make her feel like she could die from all of it. But she had to risk it, right? She had to take that leap. Because he also might make her feel like all of that was worth it.

"Oh all right." She snapped as she stepped close to him.

"What?"

"Let's do this thing, but if you hurt me, my friend Carlos will break several of the bones in your body."

"Huh?"

Kit placed her hands on his shoulders and pulled herself up a bit to place a soft kiss on his lips. Pogue seemed frozen a bit then he spurred into action. He was everywhere, and Kit's booted feet left the floor. For lack of anything better to do, she wrapped her legs around his waist, and then they had fallen onto her bed with a bounce. Some clothes fell to the wayside.

And things might have gone a bit further if Dawn hadn't walked in.

"Omigod! Sorry! Sorry!"

Caleb was looking around her with wide eyes. "Pogue?"

Tyler looked just as shocked. He knew if Reid were here, Reid would be shocked as well. They'd thought Pogue would never get over Kate. They thought he'd be all 'there will be no white flag above my door, I'm in love, and always will be'. They had all thought he'd really go down with the ship on this one, but here he was... all over Kit.

Kylie just giggled. After the door was closed, she looked at Dawn. "Janice's bed will be empty tonight. You can stay in our room if you need to."

"Thanks."

Kylie headed off to her room. "Just knock."

"Here, let me walk you." Tyler offered.

Kylie gave him a look. "It's just down the hall."

"I know."

"Whatever."

They walked off after Kylie threw Dawn an odd look. Dawn just shrugged. She didn't know much about Tyler. He was quiet and unassuming. Her sort of reminded her of Oz for some reason. That made her like him.

Caleb was looking at Dawn. "Well, we could go hang out in my room. We know my roommate won't be there."

Dawn giggled.

*~*~*

Kit had her hands over her face. Pogue started snickering. He was lying on his side next to her, propped up on one elbow so he could peer down at her.

"It's not funny." She said with a glare. She slapped at his bare arm. Which led her to distraction because his shirt was not on. She did not recall it being removed. She also didn't recall her own shirt coming off. Kit tried to cover it her chest with her arms.

"What are you doing?"

"The lights are on, and my shirt isn't... on." She tried to cover herself again.

Pogue leaned over her and grabbed her wrists. He pinned them to her pillow above her head and leaned down so low his hair brushed her cheek.

"Stop that." She said struggling.

He had such a serious look on his face. "Don't hide."

"But I'm..."

"Wearing a very hot lacy black bra that I can see your nipples through?" He considered this for a moment. "On second thought, yeah, maybe you ought to cover up."

Kit giggled then. She felt him brush over her aura... like Caleb had done, but this was more sensual. This made her break a sweat and tingle.

"Can I?" He whispered, brushing his nose against hers in a butterfly kiss.

Kit just nodded yes. It tickled inside her head. And not only did she know he was seeing her, he was letting her see him. His history. And Chase Collins frightened her. He'd nearly killed him... and Kate. Oh my, but Kit was jealous of Kate. How could she have left him with all he had suffered for her? With all they had suffered together?

All the images swirled in her head like tie-dye, and suddenly they were kissing. Just kissing, but his fingers played with the strap on her bra. She knew that that's all those fingers would do tonight though. Slow. Now, he knew he'd have to go slow with her, and she, in turn, knew why he was not going to rush right in. And that was all right.

*~*~*

Dawn felt slightly naughty entering Caleb's room. It was like guy inner sanctum. He slept here. He changed clothes here. Her skin tingled at the thought. Buffy would be horrified. Boys were trouble. Boys distracted you. Boys could lead to demonic pregnancies.

"Make yourself comfortable."

The only place for her to sit was on the bed. She didn't have to ask. She knew which bed was his. His was the tidier side of the room, and plus, Pogue's leather jacket along with several articles of clothing she'd seen Pogue wear were strewn across what had to be Pogue's bed. Caleb's bed was tidy. Nothing on it but the made-up bed linens. Very tidy made-up bed linens.

Dawn sat down slowly. The bed creaked a bit. Oooo, noisy for if... well, nothing at all happened on this bed. Nope. Nothing. Dawn blushed.

"You ok?"

"What? Yeah, I mean, why wouldn't I be?" She wrung her hands a bit nervously.

She'd just been sorta kinda thinking about making out with him on his bed... what could possibly be wrong here? Caleb sat on the bed next to her. Dawn sprung to her feet like a race horse just coming out of the gate and started pacing.

"Dawn?"

"What?" Her voice was squeaky.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm totally fine. Why do you ask?" Her voice squeaked again.

"You're flushed pink, and you're wringing you hands together. Plus, your voice sounds odd. What's wrong?"

"Nothing seriously." She tugged at the collar of her shirt. He was just too cute for his own good. "Is it hot in here though?" She moved over to the window and opened it. "I'm warm, I think. Hot. Because... hot."

"Dawn..."

She heard the bed creak signaling that he'd stood. He was likely walking up behind her. Dawn's heart started a wild drum solo that would have made Tommy Lee proud. She knew she ought to turn around and face him. Silly Dawn being afraid of a cute guy, but she just couldn't yet. That's when she looked out across the campus and saw it. Dawn gripped the window frame and leaned out. Couldn't be. Then again, it could. It so could. She knew what she'd seen. Her eyes weren't lying to her. How long had she lived in Sunnydale? Wasn't her sister a slayer? Wasn't she a member of the Watcher's Council? She knew. She knew what she had to do about it too.

"Dawn?"

She turned and looked up at him. "Vampires."

With that, Dawn took off running. She was never one to stand idly by. Not now, not ever. Not even if she'd been sure she might have gotten a kiss out of Caleb Danvers tonight.

She didn't know he was right behind her.

To say Caleb was shocked when Dawn tackled that guy off of the girl he was holding down and had apparently been biting and drinking blood from was an understatement. He was even more shocked when she rolled across the ground and came up on one knee in a fighting position and holding a wooden stake. Where had she had that thing hidden? The vampire hissed at her. Dawn didn't even bat an eyelash. How did she not show fear? All the hair on the back of Caleb's neck stood on end at that sound.

He made a move to aid her when he was grabbed from behind. By something he felt was unnatural. Had to be another vampire. It was his first, and he had to say he did not like the way their undead energy made his gut twist. His power flared. He reached over his shoulder and grabbed a handful of whatever his attacker was wearing and pulled. He also leaned forward, easily flipping the attacker over his shoulder and tossing him roughly onto his back at the ground at Caleb's feet.

By now Dawn had managed to pierce her vampire's chest. He yelled as he turned to dust and scattered in the breeze. She looked at Caleb about the time his vampire was picking himself up off of the ground.

"Caleb!"

He knew his eyes were black voids. The vampire before him took a step back.

"That's right... you're in trouble."

There was a mighty crack. A broken tree branch came whipping through the night and stabbed the vampire in his heart. He turned to dust while blinking in surprise.

"Caleb." Dawn was at him in an instant. Her hands were everywhere as if she was checking for wounds.

"Are you all right?" He asked, looking down at her.

She gasped and stepped back.

"What?"

"Your eyes."

Caleb blinked a few times, stamping his power back down. "Better?"

She was just looking at him, a bit of fear in her eyes.

"It's not going to take me over." He said, voicing her concerns. "Whomever you know in this, they are not me. My power is seeded in generations. It knows no darkness. I won't allow it to."

She wanted to believe him, she really did, but her head was all full of someone else who'd said the power wouldn't overtake her.

The victim, a little blonde, moaned then.

Caleb walked to her briskly and scooped the girl off of the ground. "Better get her to the infirmary."

"Right." Dawn answered. But she was still afraid. His eyes, they'd been black like Willow's. What if he lost control some time and tried to unmake her as well?

*~*~*

Kylie was wrapped in her robe and hurrying from the rest room back to her room. She did not know why, but she felt odd. Like someone had been in the showers with her. Even though she'd been the only one in there she was sure. It was silly, she knew, but a part of her said her silliness and superstition had served her well in the past. Her sister Toni was the one who knew more of the book side of their craft, but Kylie came by her craft in a more natural and intuitive way. She always had. Toni griped that Kylie did not care about it as much as she did, but they both knew deep down that was not true. Kylie cared. She always had. Hadn't she been the one who had been so angry with their mother for denying her gifts for so long? She had known they were different from other girls and that their mother and aunt and the Aunts were different from most other women long before Toni had. It was there like a burning.

She had more intuition about things than Toni at times. She just knew sometimes. She felt things. She felt lots of things, and right now Kylie felt as though she were being watched, and she did not like it. She could hear echoes from when she had been a child. It was an ugliness, an evil that had possessed her aunt. It had made her guts twist and turn like eels in a jar too small for them. Something of the same ugliness was peering at her this night. Kylie hurried towards her room. She needed to call her sister. If she could just hear Toni's voice, everything was all right.

She had almost gotten into her room when a hand clamped down on her shoulder. Kylie jumped in fright and screamed.

"Sorry. Sorry."

She spun about. She regarded the guy standing there. He looked harmless enough, but her gut was telling her that he was danger.

"Can I help you?" She asked warily.

"Maybe. I was just looking for Caleb Danvers. I was wondering if you knew him, knew where I could find him?"

"I do." Kylie suddenly cocked her head to the side. "You were looking for Caleb? This late at night?"

"Well, you got me there, Carrots." His smile was pure evil.

Kylie screamed again when he grabbed the front of her robe and forced her into hers and Janice's room. Her head banged against the door hard. Everything went black.

*~*~*

Antonia Owens sat up straight screaming her sister's name. Her stepfather Gary was the first one through her bedroom door, with his gun drawn, no less. On any other night, she would have laughed at this.

"Toni!"

She was covered in sweat and gasping for breath.

"Easy now." He said as he sat on the edge of her bed and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"Antonia?" Her mother sat on the other side of her bed.

"I need to talk to Kylie."

"Honey?"

"Something... dark. I can't remember. Dream, but... not. So dark." She shivered.

Gary grabbed Toni's cell off of her night table and dialed Kylie's cell. He listened as it went straight to voicemail. He hung up, dialed again, and once again got the voicemail. Gary looked at his wife. "Call Gillian."

"Gary-"

"Sally, trust your daughter. Call your sister. You know you wouldn't rest easy if you'd had a nightmare about Gillian. Just get her to check on Kylie. She's in the same building. All she has to do is go to the fourth floor and have a look. You know none of us will rest easy until we know Toni's dream was just that... a dream."

She sighed. He was right. Of course he was right. He always had to use logic on her. Then again, if the aunts were here and not at some likely dancing naked under the full moon ceremony, they'd say the same. Call Gillian. Just to be sure. Sally tightened the sash on her robe and headed for the kitchen and the phone. She just hoped Gillian was awake still, but knowing Gilly, she was.

An odd chill settled over Sally. She shivered and dialed faster. Gary was right. She'd rest easier when she knew her Kylie was ok.

*~*~*

end part 3