Chapter 21

"This isn't your fault," she said.

"What?" Spike asked as Bubba quickly wove the rental car through traffic in an effort to get to the arena before Cordelia's vision could come true.

"I know you, and you're blaming yourself," Tara said.

"Maybe if I hadn't given it to you this wouldn't be happening," he hypothesized.

"Then we wouldn't have a way to stop them," she pointed out. "Maybe you were supposed to find it. Granny always said you were more sensitive to magic than your brothers. According to Wesley, the amulet always finds its way to a witch, and there weren't any in the WWE until I came to visit."

"At least not any literal witches," Bubba clarified as he took the exit off the freeway.

"Maybe all this was supposed to happen," Tara said.

"We're here," Bubba announced as he pulled up to the arena entrance. They got out of the car just as Angel, Wesley and Gunn pulled up in a classic black convertible.

"Attacks have taken place at the west, south and east side of the building so the next attack should take place in the north area," Wesley said as they got out of the car and grabbed supplies.

"Follow us," Bubba said as he led the way with his brother.

Unable to move or speak, Jeff could do nothing but watch in terror as Victoria knocked him on his back and lowered the knife. To his surprise, the pain was in his arm rather than his chest. The symbol Tara had drawn flared with the sting of a thousand needles biting into his flesh.

Even Victoria was confused when the first cut produced no blood. "What…"

"Get away from him," Spike shouted as they ran toward them.

Tara pointed at the smaller group and said something in Latin. Jeff was sent skidding across the floor toward the far wall.

Both Victoria and Steven spun around and glared at Tara. "Witch!"

The couple started toward her but was intercepted by Angel and Bubba while Gunn went to check on Jeff. Wesley, Tara and Spike quickly set up a trap by putting chunks of black tourmaline in the shape of a square on the cement floor.

"Casses Patefacio!" Wesley shouted triggering the trap as bolts of energy streaked out of the dark crystals to form a pyramid. "Throw them inside!"

Realizing what they intended to do, Victoria and Steven struggled wildly against Bubba and Angel who eventually were able to throw them into the mystical cage. Once inside, they shrieked and collapsed as the trap forced the demon spirits out of their human hosts.

"Tara, now!" Wesley ordered.

Raising her arms, she recited in a loud voice, "Expungo Mactellarius Phylacterium!"

There was a high pitched squeal as the demon spirits were slowly sucked into the amulet which suddenly weighed a ton. Tara felt like she was being punched in the solar plexus. When it was over, she fell to her knees in exhaustion. Her cousins rushed to her side.

"Are you okay?" Bubba asked as he checked her for injury.

"I'm fine," she said panting slightly.

"Is that it?" Spike asked the Angel team. "It's over?"

"Yes," Wesley said.

"What about these guys?" Gunn asked jerking a thumb toward the unconscious bodies of Victoria and Steven still inside the trap.

"They'll be weak for a long time, but they'll be okay," Wesley replied. "I'm not sure if they'll remember anything."

"And Jeff?" Tara asked glancing toward the wrestler propped up against the wall. He appeared to be in a trance-like state.

"Once the effects of the powder wear off, he'll have a headache, but he should be fine," Wesley said.

"What about the police?" Bubba asked.

"Leave them to us," Angel said.

TBC