Chapter 10: Bound

Dawn had slept thru most of he drive to Los Angeles.

From what Faith could surmise, she didn't seem to have any visible injuries, however she wouldn't breathe a sigh of relief until she had her checked out. Connor on the other hand wasn't fairing up too well. The bullet went thru one side and out the other, however it was bleeding tremendously. When they had reached the hospital, he was barely conscious as Angel carried him into the emergency room. Dawn had come around by then and thoroughly protested at the suggestion that she get herself checked out.

While everything was being taken care of Faith found herself walking upstairs to Wesley's room. There she found her former Watcher nose deep into a rather large spined dusty volume written in some demonic language.

Faith chuckled, "You can take The Council away from the Watcher but not the Watcher out of the man."

"Faith," Wesley smiled putting his book down on the small tray table in front of him. "How have you been?"

"Busy," Faith replied sitting in the seat next to his bed. "How about you? You look like shit."

"Yes, well that happens when you lose a spleen. However I'm on the mend."

"I can see that, you have to be if you engrossed in --- " Faith looked down at the book on the tray table. "Demonic Rights Of Egyptian Gods."

"I'm up for a bit of light reading."

"You call this tome light?"

"Compared to what I had to read at The Academy, this is nothing."

"So, Angel said something about a traitor, and a group of evil Watchers behind the kidnappings. Got anything else for me?"

"Nothing more than I can be absolutely certain of at the moment," he admitted reluctantly. "However I just might be onto something."

"What?"

"The scar on Briar's right hand had some kind of decoration, possibly a tattoo. I didn't notice right away with the being stabbed to death but I have had lots of time to think it over."

"And?"

"And, " he said flipping open the large thick book and handing it to Faith. "I believe this to be it."

"This freaky face thing."

"That freaky face thing is known as the Eye of Ra, its a physical representation of the Egyptian sun god."

"And this has to do with Xander and the others how?"

"I am not sure yet, however from what I read, the symbol was often worn by an elite group of temple scribes in Ancient Egypt."

"How elite?"

"Well according to the text they were in charge of the writing of the Reu Nu Pert Em Hru or better known as The Book of The Dead. Its a collection of Egyptian spells and potions all dealing with death and the afterlife."

"So you think this book is what Briar and The Order are after?"

"I'm not certain but its a start. Anthony Briar, Jaxon's father, was big into Egyptian mysticism. Considered one of The Council's leading experts. If anyone would know where to acquire the book, he would."

"So I'm guessing that someone got to it first. Someone in the Scooby corps."

"Precisely Faith," Wes said as he grunted from a sharp stab of pain in his abdomen.

"Are you okay?" A concerned Faith murmured as she moved closer to Wesley.

"Yeah, just a bit sore still."

Faith nodded, not sure if she really bought what Wesley had just told her. She had made a mental note to talk to Angel about it later. Turning herself back to the their conversation, she asked what had been weighing heavily on her mind.

"What I don't get is if the Briar guy knows who took his book, then why would he kidnap all of them?"

"I have been mulling over that as well. I suspect whomever it is that has the book is in a position where Jaxon cannot reach them. By taking someone from all of us, he is creating the advantage that disarray would erupt between us and we would make it much easier for them to make his move."

Dawn Summers stood in the doorway to Wesley's room. Stifling a sob she turned and ran smack into Angel.

"Hey Dawn, how are you feeling?"

Unable to answer, Dawn just stood there. Immediately, Angel could see she was distressed.

"What's wrong?"

Dawn looked at Angel as if she was about to answer before she went barreling down the hallway.

"What was that?" he announced walking into Wesley's room.

"What was what?"

"Dawn. She was standing outside of Wes' room and she looked upset."

"Did she tell you why?" A concerned Faith said getting up from her chair.

"Nope, she just went flying down the hallway."

"I'll talk to you later Wes," Faith replied not being able to get out of the room fast enough.

Dawn Summers was running. Despite the fact that she had a slight concussion and felt a little on the woozy side while she was doing it, she ran. Things had went from bad to worse and it didn't seem like it was going to get any better. She needed to leave, it was all beginning to be too much. She could handle that Xander had been kidnapped by a nefarious evil group. She couldn't handle that someone she knew may have been responsible for it. Upset, she didn't notice Lorne and Gunn calling her name, and especially didn't notice Connor, whose arm was bandaged and slinged up. That is, until she ran right into him. With a loud smack they made contact and fell to the ground.

"I don't believe we've met," he grunted at the strange girl who lay on top of him.

Dawn smiled slightly. Things definitely couldn't get any worse than this.

It was dark. And cold. And wet. Surprising since they were indoors. From the slits in the walls they could see them walking. Tall men and women in black robes, large hoods concealing their faces. Shadows slinking about in the hallways like evil spirits waiting to devour you when you least expected it.

Xander Harris knew help would come. Sadly, however, he didn't think they could wait.

Huddled together with his three female companions he looked to see if any of the shadow figures where nearby before he spoke.

"I have a plan."