Power of Persuasion by Massie Elizabeth

Author:Massie, Elizabeth [Massie, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 1999-04-30T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Buffy dropped onto on a kitchen chair and put her head on the table.

“You okay, hon?” asked Joyce. She was peering into the refrigerator, deciding what to fix for dinner.

“Sure, fine,” said Buffy. “Just tired.”

Buffy was emotionally exhausted. It was worse than the physical exhaustion that came with battling vampires. She and Xander—Cordelia had had a pageant meeting after school—had spent two hours in Sunnydale’s public library, researching pheromones with the help of an overly enthusiastic librarian. They’d come away with some articles on scents in the animal kingdom, both natural and manmade.

But none of it was any more helpful than what Mama Moon had printed out.

“Buffy? I could call out for pizza if that would perk you up. Would you like pizza?”

“Whatever is fine. And I’m okay.”

Buffy ran her fingers through her hair and pulled tight. Think, she thought. Think! Willow is under the Moons’ influence, and Giles as well. Somehow, some way, I have to get them away from the influence until I can figure out what it is, where it comes from, and how to stop it.

Tomorrow she planned on going to the library at Crestwood College, Sunny dale’s contribution to higher education. They would surely have more information on file, or a couple of old professors of zoology and mythology who would love to share anything and everything they knew.

But what can I do now? Lock them up and throw away the key?

The phone rang. Buffy caught the receiver before her mother could get halfway across the floor.

“Hello?”

It was Willow, and she sounded furious. “And just what is wrong with you, Buffy? Would you mind telling me? I’m so embarrassed. Tell me what is the deal?”

Okay, thought Buffy. Think before you speak. “I’ve had a long day, sorry. I’m not sure what you’re—”

“You are, too. You sure are! You’re being a holdout!”

“Holdout?”

“You sit at your own table during lunch, you won’t hang with us in the halls. You haven’t signed the newest petition for Ashley, or the one about the bathroom mirrors, or the one to force the school board to hire a female custodian for our school. Men can’t clean! Aren’t you proud to be feminine, Buffy? I thought you, of all people, would wear the badge of femaleness proudly!”

“Whoa there,” said Buffy, putting her hand to the receiver and lowering her voice. Maybe Willow was brainwashed, but Buffy wasn’t going to let her say that. “Willow, I’ve never not been proud to be who I am. Let me amend that. I’ve gotten better about being proud of who I am. Just because I don’t want to eat where the only thing I can smell is cheap perfume and the only conversational topic is how girls should pretty much rule everything, it doesn’t mean I’m not a big bad female.”

“Buffy?” Joyce had obviously heard the last part.

“Well,” continued Willow, “we’ve been talking about you. This afternoon at The Laughing Greek. We think it’s time you got with the program, wore our T-shirts, signed up for the Miss Sunnydale pageant, and chose a boys’ team to protest until they let you try out.

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