The Grundy Affair by Winsomeone

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Chapter 12

The Grundy is considered a member of the Fast Growth domestic demon category. Various milestones can be charted at a pace much faster than most other varieties of domestic demons. The immature Grundy will reach its target weight and height within five weeks of birth. It is born with several abilities including enhanced vision and hearing. Other abilities, such as empathy and language comprehension manifest as early as three weeks after birth. All other abilities, including those unique to the Grundy will have manifested fully by completion of the sixth week.
- The Complete Manual of Domestic Demon Care
2001 Edition
Chapter 3- The Grundy



Perched wearily on the tope of a crate, Giles mopped his face with a handkerchief and surveyed the basement. Xander had offered to drive Willow to pick up ingredients not available within their own stock and then bring her back to the shop, so it had fallen to Giles and Anya to clear enough space to house everyone and still draw a fairly large circle. Glancing at his watch Giles realized it had taken them nearly two hours. He’d never realized before how much stock was actually stored in the basement, at least until he’d moved almost all of it.

“Anya, I’m going back upstairs to watch for everyone.”

“Go ahead. While we’re waiting I’m going to do an inventory.”

Giles nodded and trudged tiredly up the stairs. Walking in from the back, he stopped.

Six men dressed in black and several demons stood in the center of the shop. The demon in front, wearing a very shiny suit, spoke to him. “I hope you don’t mind, we let ourselves in.” He smiled, displaying a full set of serrated teeth.

Bloody hell. “I’m sorry but we’re not open at the moment.” Giles stood up straight.

One of the men moved forward. Giles watched the demon in the suit move, allowing him to pass. He studied the man striding toward him. Obviously the leader, he was tall, with dark hair and a military bearing. The dark eyes that looked him over in turn reflected both intelligence and cunning.

“You are the proprietor of this shop?”

“I am.”

The man held out his hand. “I am Captain Tarn.”

Giles crossed his arms. “Rupert Giles.”

The man dropped his arm. “Mr. Giles, I am looking for a particular piece of property which I believe you have in your possession.”

Giles kept his face expressionless. “What type of property?”

“It is a Talisman of importance only to us. I believe it was included with a beast which was delivered to you.”

Giles shook his head. “Sorry. I haven’t seen anything like that, nor any type of animal either.”

The Captain’s eyes narrowed. “And yet I understood that it was in your possession.”

“Your information is incorrect.”

The demon in the suit moved forward. “Perhaps we should check for ourselves.”

Giles thought of Anya still in the basement. Stay quiet Anya. Stay safe. He cleared his throat. “You can search if you choose, but I can assure you that it will be in vain.”

Shiny suit started to say something but Captain Tarn raised a hand to silence him. “Two of Mr. Giles’ companions left earlier which means one is still here somewhere.” He turned to the demon. “Find her. Perhaps she can be more readily persuaded to give us the information we seek.”

The demon nodded to two of his men. “You heard him. Go.”

“There is no one here but me.”

“Save your breath, Mr. Giles. We may be mere soldiers, but I assure you we can count.”

Biting her lip Anya crept away from the basement door. Damn.

She’d been about to open it when she’d heard an unknown man’s voice. Leaning her ear against the thin door, she’d heard the entire conversation, right up to the part where they were going to search for Giles’ companion.

Slipping down the stairs as quietly as possible, she looked around. Realizing there was no place to hide in the small basement, she quietly opened the sewer access. Sliding through, she closed it just as the doorknob rattled. Grimacing at the smell that assaulted her nose, Anya ran as fast as she could down the tunnel.

****

“Xander, slow up.”

“What’s the matter?” He tapped the brake pedal. “Did you forget something?”

Willow shook her head. “Just in case those guys are still hanging around, drive by the front of the Magic Box slowly, but don’t stop. I want to see what’s going on.”

“Okay.” Coasting by the front of the shop, Xander took a long look. “Uh oh. Do you see it?”

“The front window is cracked and the door doesn’t look closed right either.”

Xander stepped on the gas and the truck picked up speed. “Somebody must have broken in the shop after we left. It’s probably those same guys; they’re not out front anymore.” His heart started to hammer. Anya. “What are we going to do Will?”

The red head thought for a moment. “Head for Restfield, we’ll try to catch Buffy and Spike when they drop the car off at the crypt.”

“If they aren’t there, I can grab one of Spike’s weapons and head back over there.” And save Anya.

Willow knew what he was thinking. “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. Anya’s tough. Besides, Giles will protect her.”

“Yeah, that’s true, Giles will protect her.” Xander glanced over at his passenger. “Uh, Willow?”

“What is it Xander?”

“Who’s going to protect Giles?”

“Maybe you’d better drive faster.”

****

Giles heard the demons report to their boss that they had found no one within either the basement or the training room and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Anya had either hidden well enough to avoid detection, which was unlikely, or she’d gone out into the sewer system. Unfamiliar with the shop’s layout, the demons had overlooked the small unobtrusive exit. Either way Giles could stop worrying about her. Anya was safe.

Having reached this conclusion, he happened to glance out the large front window just in time to watch Xander’s car cruise slowly past the front of the shop.

When Xander didn’t stop, Giles knew they had noticed something awry and would most certainly try to mount a rescue, hopefully waiting until Buffy and Spike arrived to assist. He just had to sit tight and hope no one inside became too impatient. Perhaps he could get the leader talking and somehow keep him focused on the task at hand without making him too agitated. Giles had to keep them in the shop for as long as possible, he knew that if they moved to another location and took him along, Buffy would have no way to find him.

Giles turned to the Captain and cleared his throat. When the soldier turned to look at him, he apologized, “I’m sorry, I tried to tell you that no one else is here but me.” He paused before continuing. “Perhaps if you were to describe this Talisman, I could figure out where my partner may have placed it. That is, if we have it at all.” He tried to appear confused. “She’s always rearranging things. It makes it that much harder to remember where anything is located in here.”

The Captain’s lip curled. “I’m not a fool Mr. Giles, obviously your shop has another exit.” He sat down in one of the chairs at the table and folded his hands calmly. “Now, why don’t you tell me where you’ve taken the beast? I’m certain the old woman placed the Talisman with it and then gave it to you. Since it is nowhere that we have searched, including this shop, I know that you’ve left it with someone of which we are unaware. I need to know who that someone is and where they can be found.” He leaned forward in the chair. “If you’re still having trouble remembering, I’m sure my partner would be willing to help improve your memory one way or another.”

The soldier snapped his fingers and the demon wearing the shiny suit moved to his side and smiled at Giles, displaying two rows of sharp white teeth.

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