A/N: This is one of my shorter episodes, but last week was extra long so I figure it all balances out. :) Enjoy!

EPISODE 11

"Balthazar's Amulet"

xoxo

Buffy watched as Tara laid out several tarot cards before them. It had been a slow patrol night, so Buffy decided to hang out with Tara to get to know her a little better. Apparently, it was a slow night at the shop as well.

"How long have you been doing this?" Buffy asked.

"Oh, I'll be honest, not long. I'm still learning. But I think I'm really good at it."

Tara flipped over the last two cards. Buffy scanned the cards and breathed a sigh of relief. "No death card. That's a good sign, right?"

Tara looked up and smiled. "Actually, the death card's a little misunderstood. It usually just means change." Tara then returned to the cards and studied them for a moment.

"So, what do the cards say?"

"Well, it looks like someone has betrayed you in the past, and that you've also been through a lot of suffering."

"Yeah, that's pretty dead-on accurate."

"You possess an inner strength that will help you get through it, and I see a change for the better happening. However, you'll still have obstacles to face, but I foresee it will be a positive outcome."

"You're pretty good at reading tarots cards. That was eerily accurate. Let's hope for that positive outcome."

Tara smiled. "Thank you." She began to gather up the cards. "Of course, I sort of know a little about your past, but the cards did confirm it."

"Well things have to get better for me. After what I've been through, things can only go up from here, right?"

A loud crash came from the back room. Tara looked to Buffy in alarm.

"I take that back. Things are about to get pretty ugly right now. So much for it being a quiet night. Stay here."

Tara nodded as Buffy went to investigate what the noise was.

The back room, which served as a storeroom, was littered with a myriad of items as the shopkeeper Bob was a bit of a hoarder. When Buffy arrived, she found the back door wide open and two vampires both dressed in leather uniforms ransacking the room. She reached for the stake in her back pocket.

"Okay, I know this shop is technically a public place, but that doesn't mean you're invited."

At the sound of her voice, the two vampires immediately stopped and looked to see who had interrupted them.

The vampire closest to her ran at her. Buffy swung her leg in a roundhouse kick, but the vampire caught her leg before it was able to connect with his head. The vampire grabbed her by the shoulder and threw her back against a row of shelves. A cloud of dust and a few small items fell down upon impact.

Buffy brushed it off and charged at him with her stake when the vampire suddenly pulled out two swords adorned with jewels, one long and one short. The vampire laughed at her measly stake, which Buffy still held in the air, and used his long sword to slice off the tip of it.

Buffy dropped the remainder of her stake and dodged the blade of one of the vampire's swords. From the corner of her eye, she saw the second vampire charging toward her.

Angel suddenly appeared in the doorway, and Buffy breathed a sigh of relief at his impeccable timing. He began to fight the second vampire as Buffy turned her attention back to the first.

She blocked the vampire's next move, then grabbed both of his hands. She brought his arms down, forcing him to drop both swords. Now that he was without a weapon, he was much easier to fight. Buffy punched him in the head, momentarily stunning him. While the vampire was still getting his bearings, Buffy reached for the long sword on the floor and swung it at him, neatly beheading the vampire and turning him to dust.

Angel was still fighting the second vampire. He had wrangled one of the swords free from him and was using it to fend him off. Buffy came up behind the vampire and held the sword up.

"Angel! Duck!"

Angel ducked his head and Buffy swung the sword toward the vampire, beheading him as well.

"Buffy! Angel!" Tara screamed from the other room.

They locked eyes for just a moment before running back to the front. A third vampire, previously unseen, had Tara in his grips.

"Hey!" Buffy yelled.

The vampire took one look at Buffy and Angel running toward him, both armed with swords of his fellow vampires, and took off.

Buffy turned to Angel. "Check to see if there are any more lurking around here. I'll go after that one."

Angel nodded and Buffy ran after the other vampire.

But when she finally made it outside, the vampire was nowhere in sight.

"He got away," Buffy announced when she returned to the shop a little while later. She had attempted to track the vampire down, but had no luck.

"It's all clear here," Angel said. "Looks like it was just the three of them."

"Great timing by the way," Buffy said to Angel, smiling.

Angel smiled back at her.

"I've never seen vampires quite like that," Tara said. "They had such strange outfits."

"And unusual weapons," Buffy added, holding up one of their swords. "At least for a vamp. Have any ideas on who they are?" she asked Angel.

Angel shook his head. "Not sure. Maybe Giles will know."

"In the meantime, wonder what they were doing here. I don't think they were looking for a fight, though they were certainly prepared for one. But they were looking for something."

"Then we need to find out what it is," Angel said.

Giles looked up when he heard Buffy enter the library the next morning. He then glanced down at his watch and back to her. "Buffy. You're early."

"Had an interesting night," Buffy said. "Wanna hear about it?"

"Hellmouth?"

Buffy gave him a look. "What else?"

Giles stopped what he was doing and gave his full attention to Buffy. "What happened?"

"Some vampires tried to rob Uncle Bob last night."

Giles gave her a confused look. "Uncle Bob?"

"Uncle Bob? Of Uncle Bob's Magic Cabinet?"

He nodded. "Right, of course. The shop where Tara works. Go on."

"I was over there last night before she closed shop. We heard a noise in the back storeroom and I went to investigate. There were two vampires ransacking the place. And another one lurking around. And they were all a little…unusual."

"Unusual in what way?"

"Well for one, they had these matching outfits, like they were in a cult or something. And two, they were carrying this."

Buffy placed two of the swords she had recovered on the counter. Giles immediately picked them both up and examined them.

"Jeweled swords, one long, one short…" Giles mused aloud.

"I killed two of them, but the third got away."

Buffy watched as Giles headed to the cage. He placed the swords in a safe place and began to rifle through his book collection.

"Do you know something about them?"

Giles pulled a book from the shelf and began to flip through the contents. "It sounds familiar. I think I might." He walked out of the cage and flipped a few more pages. "Ahh, yes, here it is."

"Here's what?" Oz asked as he and Larry walked into the library.

"Big bad," Buffy answered.

"El Eliminati," Giles said. "Fifteenth Century duelist cult, deadly in their day. Their numbers dwindled in later centuries due to an increase in anti-vampire activity and a lot of pointless dueling."

"So I was right. They are in a cult."

"Who's in a cult?" Larry asked.

"Some vamps at the magic shop last night."

"They eventually became the acolytes of a demon called Balthazar, who brought them to the New World, specifically here," Giles continued.

Oz frowned. "So why have we not seen them before?"

"I'm not sure." Giles studied the book for a moment. "According to the text, they were driven out a hundred years ago when Balthazar was killed. By whom though, it doesn't say. Apparently Balthazar had an amulet purported to give him strength which was taken by a wealthy landowner named Gleaves. It may possibly have been buried with him."

"So the El Eliminati are back because…?" Buffy asked.

"That's what we need to find out. You said they were ransacking the shop's storeroom?"

"Yeah. Seemed to me like they were looking for something."

"You're probably right. And chances are, if they didn't find whatever they were looking for, they'll return."

"Do you think they were looking for this Balthazar's amulet?"

"It's possible."

"Is there a picture of the amulet?" Buffy asked.

Giles nodded and handed her the book. "Yes, right here. The picture is in black and white unfortunately, but the amulet itself is gray stone with a ruby gem in the center."

"I'm going to borrow this book," Buffy said as she stood to her feet. "I'll be back."

"Where are you going?" Giles asked.

"To pay Uncle Bob a visit."

Bob Bogarty looked up at the sound of the bell on the door jingling. The girl who walked in looked familiar to him, but he couldn't immediately place her.

Buffy walked over to the counter where he stood.

"Hi, can I help you?"

"Hope so. Did you get Tara's message about the vampires who broke in last night?"

"Oh right, your Tara's friend. I knew I had seen you before. Yes, I got the message." Bob shook his head. "I knew I shouldn't have left the kid alone in the shop at night."

"Good thing I was with her then."

Bob ignored the slight. "What can I help you with?"

"Those vamps last night were looking for something. I figured out who they are, and now I just need to figure out what they're looking for. I'm wondering if it was this." Buffy placed the book on the counter, opened to the page with the picture of the amulet.

Bob studied the picture for a moment. He grew awfully quiet after that, making Buffy suspicious.

"Do you have this amulet? It's a gray stone with a ruby gem."

Bob shuffled on his feet nervously. "Yeah, I have it."

"Do you still have it?"

"Just a moment. Let me go check in the back."

Buffy tapped her fingers on the counter as Bob took longer than a moment. She could hear him shuffling around in the back. Finally, he emerged with the amulet in hand. "Yeah, I still have it. They didn't find it."

"Can't imagine why," Buffy said sarcastically, remembering the way Bob's backroom looked last night. "Can I take a look?"

Bob nodded and handed the amulet to Buffy. She studied it for a moment, comparing it to the picture. Yep, it was definitely the same one. "Where did you get this from?"

"I collect a lot of odds and ends from just about everywhere. I see something I like, I buy it. A lot of times, stuff like this sells for good money in the shop."

"You didn't answer the question. Where did you get this from? According to my sources, some man named Gleaves last had possession of it. Some even believed it was buried with him."

Bob shuffled nervously on his feet again.

"Look, Bob, I'm not here to judge you. I'm just trying to figure out if this amulet is dangerous. Obviously those vamps last night were looking for something. Now tell me. Where did you get this amulet from?"

"I bought it from a demon," Bob admitted. "He brings me things from time to time. He said he found the amulet in a crypt."

"Now we're getting somewhere."

"I don't know anything about the amulet. If it's dangerous, than I don't want it. You can have it. I just liked the way it looked. Thought I could sell it for a good price."

Buffy examined the shiny ruby in the center. "I don't know if it's dangerous, but it could be. I'm going to take it just in case." Buffy pocketed the amulet and picked up the book she brought.

"That's fine. Take it. I don't want it much now. Not if it could be dangerous."

"In the meantime, might want to beef up security around here a bit."

"Yeah, I know. People tell me that a lot."

Not to mention cleaning up the back storeroom, but Buffy kept that thought to herself.

Giles turned the amulet over, examining it closely. "Well, it appears to be authentic." He then studied the picture in his book and looked back to the amulet. "And it is an exact match. How did Mr. Bogarty get a hold of it? Did he say?"

"He said some demon sold it to him. A grave-robbing demon apparently. Or crypt-robbing. Whatever. Apparently Uncle Bob likes to buy stuff like this to sell in the magic shop."

"That could be incredibly dangerous if he doesn't know what he's buying."

"So you think the amulet is dangerous?"

"If the El Eliminati were looking for it, than yes, I do."

"Are you sure that's what they were looking for?" Larry asked, overhearing their conversation.

Giles nodded. "It's too much to be a coincidence. Buffy, you should probably patrol around the shop tonight."

"Yep, was already planning on it."

Buffy found Angel sketching when she arrived back to the apartment. This was becoming a common occurrence, one that she particularly enjoyed.

"Glad to see that sketchbook is getting some use," she said.

Angel smiled at her and put the sketchbook aside. "Did Giles have some answers?"

"First things first. What are you drawing?"

"Oh, it's nothing really. It's not done yet anyway."

"Can I see?"

Angel hesitated.

"Oh come on. Please?" Buffy sat on the couch beside him and before Angel could stop her, she reached for the sketchpad. When she looked down at it, she saw herself. "This is me."

Angel had sketched her face down to the last intricate detail. He'd even drawn the scar above her lip.

"This is really good," she told him, handing the sketchpad back to him.

Angel shrugged, seeming somewhat modest. "You think?"

"Well, you could erase the scar. But other than that…"

"No, the scar stays."

"It's an ugly imperfection."

"It's not ugly. It gives you character. It tells the world that you're a survivor. I have scars too, you know."

Buffy did know. The scars on his chest told horrific tales of what he had endured at the hands of the Master and his minions.

They locked eyes for a moment, then Buffy leaned forward, pressing her lips gently against his. When they pulled away, she smiled at him. "Okay," she whispered. "The scar can stay."

"So, tell me what Giles said," he asked, steering the conversation into less dangerous territory.

"El Eliminati. It's a vampire cult. They used to work for a demon named Balthazar until he was killed and their numbers dwindled. Guess they're making a comeback."

"Did you find out what they were looking for?"

"Yep, an amulet. Balthazar had an amulet that gave him powers, but it was stolen from him. Turns out that Uncle Bob at that magic shop bought the amulet from a demon. He says he likes to sell odds and ends like that to the customers."

"After seeing that back storeroom, I think I believe that," Angel said.

"Yeah, Tara says she's afraid to go back there. No telling what she'll find."

"So this amulet gave this demon powers, but he's dead and now the cult wants it back?"

"Yeah, looks like it. Giles says it's probably dangerous."

"I'd have to agree with him."

"I'm going to keep close to the magic shop tonight. The Eliminati didn't find the amulet so they'll probably come back."

"Need some company?"

"I think the White Hats are going to join me this time. But I do need your help. Maybe you could use your underworld connections to see what the Eliminati are up to?"

Angel nodded. "I'll see what I can find out. And, Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful tonight."

Buffy smiled. "You too."

"It feels weird to be here after hours," Tara said as she fumbled with the lock to the magic shop. "I hope Mr. Bogarty doesn't mind us being here."

"Tara, he's not going to care," Amy scoffed. "Move aside, let me." Amy turned the key in the lock and opened the door. "Not that I needed a key to unlock a door, but this way is easier."

Tara reached for the light switch but Buffy placed her hand over her arm. "No, no lights."

"How will we see?" Larry asked.

Oz turned on a flashlight.

"We need to keep it dark," Buffy warned. "When the Eliminati come looking for the amulet, we want them to be surprised we're here. That way, their guard will be down. Easier to kill that way."

"Good thinking," Larry said. "I guess that's why you're the slayer."

Buffy, who pulled out her own flashlight, led them towards the back.

"Watch your step back here," Tara warned. "Mr. Bogarty has…quite a collection."

Amy spotted a charm bracelet and grabbed it. "Ooh, look at this! How much does he want for the bracelet?"

Tara shrugged. "He keeps saying he's going to get around to selling this stuff, but he never does."

"Probably wouldn't even notice if it was gone," Oz said.

Amy, when no one was looking, pocketed the bracelet.

"So are you sure these Eliminati vampires are going to show?" Larry asked Buffy.

"I'm sure. I'd be surprised if they didn't. Angel and I scared off one of them last night. I'm sure this time, he'll return with a few buddies. Besides…" Buffy kicked an empty box that was on the floor. "He might need some help to look for that amulet in this mess. Is everyone clear on what they need to do?"

Oz and Larry both held up their weapons.

"Oh yeah," Larry said, a grin on his face.

"Tara and I should set up," Amy said as she reached into her magic bag and brought out a candle. "Is there any place I can put this thing without it being a fire hazard?"

They waited for what felt like an eternity but in actuality was only a half-hour. It was a shuffling noise outside the door that alerted Buffy they had company.

"Everyone get ready," she whispered in the darkness.

The back door was jimmied open and four figures entered the room. From the light of a streetlamp outside, Buffy could see the profile of one of them. The ridged forehead was a dead giveaway. Reaching for the light switch, Buffy turned it on, flooding the storeroom with light.

"Well, well, well…what do we have here?" Buffy asked them. "Had a feeling you guys would show up again."

Without waiting for a response, Buffy, along with Oz and Larry, charged toward them. The guys were armed with axes while Buffy, for the fun of it, used the sword of their fallen cult member. As they began to fight, Tara and Amy frantically chanted in the background. A protection spell never hurt and they had plenty of practice.

Oz was the first to kill one, dodging the blade of the vampire's sword and slamming his axe down on his neck. The fight wasn't over for Oz though as another vampire soon took his place.

Larry fended off another one. He managed to slam his axe down on the vampire, though unfortunately, it did nothing but piss him off.

"You're not going to find your amulet here," Larry said, taunting the vampire even further.

Meanwhile, Buffy fought the other vampire. They dueled in the center of the room with neither of them getting a hit in yet. It was difficult only having one sword when the other vampire had two, so Buffy decided to make it an even fight. Finding an opportunity, she struck the vampire in the hand and chopped it off, forcing the vampire to drop his weapon. He was momentary stunned by his missing appendage. Buffy then finished him off, beheading him just as she had done to his buddies the night before.

Buffy looked around, seeing Larry and Oz still fighting. Oz and his vampire were the closest. While Oz kept the vampire distracted, Buffy sliced his head off.

"And off with his head too," Buffy said.

"Nice move," Oz said.

The remaining vampire, whom Larry was still fighting, suddenly realized he was outnumbered three to one and his fellow cult members were dead. Deciding to give up, and armed with the knowledge of the amulet's possible whereabouts, the vampire bolted for the door.

"You big wuss!" Larry called out after him. "Why don't you come back here and fight like a man!"

"I'll take care of him," Buffy said and once again, ran off after an escaped Eliminati vamp.

"That slippery little weasel," Buffy muttered. She had been searching for the remaining Eliminati, but he too had gotten away.

Feeling a presence behind her, she turned to see Angel emerging from the shadows. She smiled. "Hey, there you are. Wanna help me track a missing Eliminati?"

"We've got a bigger problem than the Eliminati."

Buffy frowned, sensing the serious tone in Angel's voice. "What is it?"

"Balthazar."

"The dead demon?"

"Not as dead as you think. Word on the street puts him in the packing warehouse on Devereau Street. He's looking for—"

"His amulet. It's supposed to restore his strength."

"From what I'm hearing, that's not something we'd like to see happen."

"I gave it to Giles for safekeeping. They're still looking for it."

"And they'll keep looking for it until they find it."

"Then we better stop them. Where's this packing warehouse again?"

Inside the packing warehouse, an extremely obese demon with pale, slimy skin sat in a tank of dirty water. One of the Eliminati stood beside him with a ladle and continuously poured water on him to keep his skin moist.

"Let me tell you what I see," said the demon as he looked at the Eliminati standing around him. "I see fear, and agony, and the pitiful look of faces that cry out for mercy. And now that the Master is out of the way, I see myself taking his place. But what I don't see is what I want to see, and THAT'S MY AMULET!"

"Lord Balthazar," said one of the vampires as he approached him. "We are trying. But it appears the White Hats and Slayer have possession of it."

"If you know that, then why aren't you out there looking for it?" Balthazar yelled, splashing his hands in the water in anger.

"Because not all of us have returned," the vampire replied. "The Slayer and her friends are armed."

"You mean to tell me that a bunch of teenagers are too much for you?"

"But the Slayer…"

"Enough!" Balthazar said, silencing the vampire. "Already I'm bored." He then held out his hands. Suddenly, the vampire was dragged across the floor by an invisible force until he was directly in front of Balthazar. The demon grabbed the vampire's throat and squeezed it until his neck broke. The vampire, now dead, slumped lifelessly to the floor before turning into dust.

Balthazar, pleased with the vampire's dismissal, looked up and stared at another one of the vampires. "Vincent, come here."

Vincent, who was worried he was about to experience the same fate, slowly walked over to him. "Yes, Lord Balthazar?"

Balthazar wheezed hard before talking. "Closer."

Vincent leaned toward him.

"Closer."

Vincent leaned closer and Balthazar placed his hands on his shoulders. "Let me tell you what I want to see."

"Yes, Lord Balthazar?"

"MY AMULET!"

"This is it," Angel said as they approached the warehouse.

"I say we do recon first, see what exactly we're dealing with here."

Angel nodded. "Agree. I think there's a entrance in the back."

Buffy and Angel made their way to the back. Buffy immediately saw the door and noticed it was cracked. She motioned for Angel to be quiet and pointed toward the door. Together, they peered through the crack.

Inside the warehouse, they saw a large, obese demon sitting in a vat of liquid. Several of the Eliminati vampires surrounded him.

"Okay, we have ten, maybe twelve bad guys and one big demon in desperate need of a Stairmaster," Buffy said.

"For a dwindling cult, there numbers still seem to be pretty high," Angel whispered.

"We're going to need a little more firepower. Stakes aren't going to cut it for Jacuzzi Boy. Let's go to the library."

"Is Giles still there?"

"Probably. Why?"

"Because he has the amulet. And as long as he does, he's in danger."

Buffy looked at Angel, alarmed. She hadn't thought of that and was glad Angel brought it up. "You're right. Let's hurry."

Giles looked up at the light tap on his door. Jenny stood in his office doorway.

"Working late?" she asked with a smile.

Giles glanced at the clock on the wall. "Well you know what they say about time flying."

"Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"No. Have you?"

She shook her head and walked into his office. "Would you like to have dinner with me? Say at my place in about an hour?"

Giles pushed his book aside and turned his attention to Jenny, who pulled up a chair to sit next to him. "I would love to."

"I even have a special dessert planned," she hinted suggestively.

Giles grinned. "Even better." He leaned forward and placed a hungry kiss on her lips.

When they pulled away, Jenny caught sight of the amulet and picked it up. "Oh, what's this?"

"It's an amulet that belonged to a demon named Balthazar. It could be quite dangerous. I'm researching it now."

Jenny handed the amulet back to Giles. "Want to take a break from research?"

Giles smiled at that idea. "That would be lovely." He stood and reached for his jacket.

"What are you going to do with that?" Jenny asked, indicating the amulet.

Giles opened his cabinet drawer and tucked the amulet inside. He then locked it with a small key which he placed into his pocket. "I think it'll be safe in there for now."

"So what do you feel like for dinner, Rupert?"

A noise in the library interrupted Giles's reply.

"What was that?" Jenny asked.

Giles instinctively grabbed a stake lying on his desk, then peered out of his office. "Get down," he whispered to Jenny.

"What is it?" Jenny whispered as Giles crouched down beside her.

"We have company." Giles moved his head to peer out of the office. From his vantage point, he could see three of the Eliminati vamps tearing apart the library. They all seemed especially interested in the weapons cage, though weapons did not appear to be what they were after considering they had their own.

"They're looking for the amulet," Giles whispered to Jenny.

Jenny's eyes widened in fear. Giles grabbed a crucifix from his desk and shoved it into her hand.

"Do you think they'll go away?" she asked.

"Well, what do we have here?" asked one of the Eliminati.

Giles and Jenny looked up to see a vampire looming over them.

When Buffy and Angel arrived at the library a short while later, Buffy immediately could sense that something felt off.

"It seems eerily quiet here," Buffy said. "And by that, I mean too quiet for a library."

Over near the counter, two library books had fallen to the floor. They looked out of place for Giles' orderly library. Buffy walked over and picked them both up. "Okay, something's definitely not right. I'm getting a strange vibe here."

"You can say that again," Angel said. "Look."

Buffy looked to where Angel pointed. The cage door was wide open and items were strewn about on the floor.

Buffy rushed over to the cage. "Oh my god." She looked around, but noted that none of the weapons had appeared to be taken. "It looks like someone was looking for something." She stared at Angel. "Oh no."

"The Eliminati. They were here. Recently. Where's Giles?"

"Giles?" Buffy called out as she rushed over to his office. It looked as if he had just been there, but there was no sign of the watcher. "He's not here," she said as she walked out of the office.

Angel was already heading toward the weapons cage. "We need to get back to that warehouse. I have a feeling that somehow, the Eliminati know Giles has the amulet."

Buffy grabbed a weapon for herself and nodded. "Let's go."

At the packing warehouse, Giles and Jenny sat in two chairs with their hands tied together behind their backs. Balthazar, however, was oblivious to them at the moment as he was more focused on the vampire with the ladle.

"The front!" he instructed. "The front! Moisten the front!"

The vampire groaned as he poured a ladle full of water across Balthazar's chest.

Jenny grimaced, not able to watch. "What is that thing?" she whispered to Giles.

"I'm going to guess that it's Balthazar. Apparently he's not so dead after all."

Balthazar, finally satisfied that his front was moistened, turned to Giles and Jenny. "Bring them closer," he ordered the Eliminati.

Two of the Eliminati grabbed Giles and Jenny from their chairs and brought them closer to Balthazar.

"You know what I want," Balthazar said, looking at Giles.

"If it's for me to scrub those hard-to-reach areas, I'd like to request you kill me now."

One of the Eliminati struck Giles in the back of the head.

"Oww," he muttered.

"Rupert, I don't think it's wise to antagonize him," Jenny warned.

"Listen to your lady friend," Balthazar said. "Now, you will tell me where my amulet is."

"I don't have your amulet."

Giles was struck in the head again by an Eliminati.

"YOU TELL ME WHERE MY AMULET IS!" Balthazar bellowed.

Giles remained quiet, and Balthazar tried to move closer, though his girth prevented him from doing so. "A little birdy told me that the White Hats have my amulet. And you are the head of the White Hats. So you tell me where my amulet is, or I'll kill both you and your lady friend!"

"Okay, fine," Giles relented. "I'll tell you where the amulet is hidden. But you have to let her go first." Giles glanced at Jenny, hating that she had been dragged into this mess too.

"Hmm…a trade. Intriguing." Balthazar appeared to mull over the idea. "No. Wait. Boring. Pull off his kneecaps!"

Two vampires grabbed Giles.

"Wait!" Giles said, panicked. "I'll tell you what you need to know."

"You will tell us everything!" Balthazar demanded.

From the corner of his eye, Giles spotted Angel entering the warehouse.

"You're about to be very sorry," he said.

Angel, in his game face, grabbed the two Eliminati holding Giles and Jenny and pulled them away. Seconds later, he slammed both of them into the wall. While this was happening, another Eliminati moved toward Giles and Jenny, but Giles, thinking fast, head-butted them and blocked his move.

Buffy, coming from the opposite direction, backhanded one vampire than punched another in the face. The first vampire raised his sword. Buffy pulled out her own sword and swung at his arm, making him drop his weapon.

"Buffy!" Giles yelled, holding out his bound wrists.

Buffy turned to Giles and saw the rope binding his hands together. She quickly used the sword to cut the ropes, then returned to fighting. Giles, finally free, untied Jenny's ropes.

Buffy swung the sword again at the Eliminati, but the vampire caught her hand. He pulled the sword along with her hand down against the edge of Balthazar's tub of water, which forced Buffy to drop her weapon. He then swung at Buffy's face, causing her to stumble. Buffy quickly regained her balance and kicked him. Another Eliminati came charging at her with his sword, and Buffy ducked and rolled to avoid the blade of his weapon.

Balthazar flailed his arms around in full tantrum mode. "Unacceptable!"

Meanwhile, Angel was busy fighting and ducked a swing from one of their swords. Angel managed to get a right hook to his face before punching him hard in the stomach. He then turned around and punched another one behind him. He blocked the vampire's move and hit him again.

"UNACCEPTABLE!" Balthazar roared again.

Giles had just finished unbounding Jenny's hands when behind him, a vampire roared. Giles glanced back and ducked just in time to avoid his sword. The sword, instead, hit a shelf. Giles grabbed the blade and elbowed the vampire in the face, managing to take the weapon from him. Giles swung the sword and hit the Eliminati in the face.

Before Giles could catch his breath, another Eliminati charged at him. The vampire swung his sword at him. Giles blocked the move. Jenny watched helplessly as Giles went toe to toe with the vampire. Every time the vampire would swing, Giles would duck. Finally, Giles swung his arms and forced the Eliminati's sword to fall to the floor. Giles kicked the vampire in the face as he went to retrieve it and the vampire fell backwards.

Moments later, the vampire whose sword was taken by Giles grabbed Jenny from behind. He pinned her arms behind her back.

"Rupert!" Jenny screamed.

Giles raised his sword. "GET DOWN!"

Jenny bent over as Giles swung the sword, hitting the vampire on the neck and cutting completely through. The beheaded vampire turned to dust. Jenny looked up to Giles, her eyes wide.

Buffy moved to a raised area of the floor. An Eliminati charged at her with his sword, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him over a crate then into a barrel. Another came at her, but she blocked his move, punched him in the stomach, ducked another swing from him, then punched him in the face. The vampire fell to the floor. She then picked him up and sent him flying into a pile of rope. When the vampire tried to stand up, she kicked him in the face. The Eliminati regained his balance again, but Buffy was once again ready for him. She punched him again, then threw him into several stacked oil barrels.

Meanwhile, Angel was kicking his opponent. When another vampire tried to attack him with a kick, Angel grabbed the vampire's leg and threw him back.

Another Eliminati went after Buffy. She grabbed the vampire by the arms and threw him from the raised floor. She blocked a kick from another Eliminati and almost got hit in the face. She in return punched him in the gut. The vampire finally backed away a little. While he was doubled-over from the punch, she kicked the vampire to the floor below. He landed against a crate before falling down.

Angel was kicked in the face from another Eliminati, but Angel wasn't fazed by it. He managed to dodge the next move and this time, got the vampire back by punching him in the gut. Angel then grabbed the vampire and threw him into a wall.

Balthazar watched all of this unfold and began to grow very frustrated. He held up his arms, and suddenly, Angel was being sucked toward him and landed on the edge of his tub. Balthazar placed his hands around Angel's head. Angel tried to move away, but found it was impossible. Balthazar's grip on him was too tight.

Buffy, seeing that Angel was in danger, looked frantically around the room for something she could use to get Angel away from Balthazar. With luck, she spotted an electrical cable hanging down from a light fixture directly over the tubby beast. Buffy grabbed the cable and jerked it down. The lamp fell from the ceiling and landed in the tub, sending sparks flying in Balthazar's tub.

Balthazar released Angel then squirmed in agony as he was electrocuted. Nearby, Giles and Jenny stared at the overweight demon in shock. Finally, with one last wheezing breath, Balthazar closed his eyes and died.

Buffy rushed over to Angel. "Angel, are you okay?"

He nodded, though slightly dazed. "Yeah, I think so."

"Rupert, you were so brave," Jenny beamed, holding on to Giles' arm.

"Looks like the rest of the Eliminati scattered," Buffy said. She realized they must have gotten away while they were distracted over Balthazar's electrocution.

"I think we've had enough for one night," Giles said wearily.

The group gathered at the library the next morning. Balthazar's amulet was on the table before them.

"Hard to believe such a small amulet could be so dangerous," Tara said.

"It's pretty," Amy said, picking up the amulet and examining the intricate design on it. "Shame you have to destroy it."

"Well it's too dangerous to keep around," Giles warned.

"Balthazar's not around though," Oz said. "Does it really still pose a threat?"

"I don't think we want to take a chance," Buffy said. "Hey, speaking of Balthazar, how did he figure out where the amulet was?"

"That may have been my fault," Larry said quietly. "I may have mentioned to one of those Eliminati vamps that he was looking in the wrong place. I'm sorry about that. Really, I am." He looked up to Giles as if begging for forgiveness.

"All is well now, Larry," Giles said. "They probably would have figured out we had it sooner or later."

"So can I do the honors?" Buffy asked, holding a hammer in her hand.

Giles nodded. "Be my guest."

With that, Buffy slammed the hammer down onto the amulet, breaking it into several pieces.

A/N: Some dialogue was borrowed from the episode "Bad Girls." Balthazar was perhaps one of the more interesting demons so I felt compelled to write an episode about him. Obviously the circumstances are a little different than they were on the show, but this is Wishverse so everything is slightly different…