Hey everyone I know i said there would be some Angel/Riley stuff going on but I'm building up to it. Geting in the groove, setting the scene and that kind of thing. Also it's my first story so give me a break and keep reading. P.s. I love any feedback whatsoever, call me needy, i dont care.

Thanks,

Telescapist

"A Caric demon?"

The scoobies were gathered in Giles apartment. Buffy and Riley had recounted the night's slayage as they finished off a box of donuts and Giles identified the ring in a demonology encyclopaedia.

Giles sighed. "They're an ancient race of demons that form the order of Keritos as far as I can tell. It also says that they practice ritual sacrifice in service of their god Malachite."

"Ich. How often do they practice? Hopefully not enough to make perfect."

"It doesn't say. But there are some unfortunately detailed drawings." He offered her the open book

"No thanks, I don't think my breakfast would like me much afterward."

"Well I for one want to know what they're doing in Sunnydale" Xander interjected. "It's certainly not for fun in the sun."

"From what i saw last night that demon just wanted Buffy dead" said Riley

"Maybe it's the nightlife" Anya mused "I remember going out once with a Knarick and man could he party. He was a real drinker too. He could down a pint of blood in less than 30 seconds and Marrow shots! He would just throw em back shot after shot –"

"Anya! Maybe we can save the old demon days stories for another, less breakfasty time."

"Fine, I'm just saying they're devoted to their order but they also know how to have a good time."

"Yeah, sounds like a riot" Willow grimaced.

"Maybe its customary where they're from, like egg nogg at Christmas" Tara nodded encouragingly.

"Only with a little less nogg and a little more human body fluids." Xander added

"Too much marrow talk in much too short a time" muttered Buffy.

"Agreed" said Riley

"Why don't you all stop" said Giles exasperatedly. "Some of us want to retain a fondness for Christmas drinks beyond the present conversation."

"Let's rewind back to the ring" Buffy started in a grateful voice. "It's the symbol of this sect or Order or whatever and they worship that demon. But what do they really want?"

"What do all fanatical demons want?" Giles answered ruefully.

"Apocalypse." Everyone sighed.

"Well I for one think these demons need to start thinking outside the box." Willow wrinkled her nose in annoyance. "They should hold a summit and brainstorm new ideas or everyone could write a new evil plan anonymously on a piece of paper and put it into a box and pick one out at a time."



"You're an evil genius Will, but for now I think the ending of the world is still their top priority." Xander picked the last jelly donut from the box. "So is this just a standard slice and dice, go in guns blazing or do we have to prevent an evil prophecy or something."

"I think you mixed metaphors there" Willow said with a furrowed brow.

"i think we just need to know more" Buff answered. "Like Xander said, why are they in town? And why now? Do they have a deadline of some sort? Or is there something here that they need? And if so where is it, how are they getting it? Have they killed anyone yet? We need to know what's going on."

"So...research then?" Willow smiled.

"Yeah" Buffy smirked. "And so begins the legwork"

"I'll get on the computer and see if I can find anything on my regular demon sites" said Willow, setting up her laptop. "And I'll check out the the sun and moon eclipse on the ring as well."

"It's plain old books for the Xand man. I don't need some whiz bang contraption that will tell me less than what I can get from these musty volumes with yellowed pages and questionable smells. "

"If you don't think it's necessary I can stop looking" Willow smirked as she tapped the keys on her laptop.

"Please find something quickly."

"That's right mister"

Xander and Anya sat at the table and began sorting through the piles of books, Anya with noticeably less enthusiasm for the books than for Xander's 'muscular' arms. Tara joined Willow at the laptop.

"Not that research isn't the funnest, but I have to go" Buffy laughed as she picked up her bag. "I've got a poetry class but after that I'm gonna check out the park where I found the ...Knarick. Maybe there'll be some kind of clue to what it was doing. Riley?"

"I'll come" he confirmed with a smile. "Just doing it for the team."

"Team Buffy?" She asked as they headed out the door.

"We'll work out a name later."He said noncommittally as he closed the door.

"Team 'Buffy is pretty and has shiny hair'?"

"Yeah thats the one" he smiled as they leant in for a kiss.

"Yay team Buffy" She grinned as they parted.

"Didn't you say something about a poetry class?" He queried, still smiling.

"I'm doing research", she leaned against him. "I have quite a few ideas."