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"Giles, you look terrible," Willow commented, "Did you get any sleep last night?"

"No, not really, I guess," Giles replied, "Buffy paid a visit last night."

"That would explain that pretty little bruise on your head," Xander said, "But hey, you're still alive, so that's good. What did she want?"

"She was after a book. She's chasing something called the Eye of Ramras."

"Eye of Ramras?" Willow asked, "I think I've seen something about that."

She moved to the shelves, perusing the books, until she found the one she was looking for and pulled it out onto the table, opening it to the page she wanted.

"Ah-ha, the Eye of Ramras," she said, holding the book up, "It's an orb that amplifies power. For example, if Buffy got hold of it, she'd be far stronger than before."

"Yes, but she said that Angus was after it," Giles said, "What do we have on him?"

"Uh, he turned Buffy and he can beat the crap out of Angel," Xander replied, "I tried asking Angel about him, but he wouldn't say much, which is normal."

"He has power like you couldn't imagine," Angel said suddenly from Xander's left.

"Geez! When - how did - where did you come from?" Xander cried.

"Through the door," Angel replied with a hint of a self-satisfied smirk, "I've come by to help you guys and I guess we'll start with Angus."

"You two have met before, correct?" Giles asked, taking a seat.

"Unfortunately, we met in 1782 while Darla and I were in France," Angel began, pacing near the table while avoiding the beams of sunlight streaming in.

Willow took note and with a wave of her hand, shut the blinds on the windows.

"Back then, he was just starting to build his operation and he came to us, seeking to recruit us for his cause. Said something about an Old One. Naturally, Darla and I weren't interested and we both declined. Angus didn't like that."

"What exactly did he mean by 'Old One'?" Giles asked, "Did he say which one?"

Angel shrugged, "We didn't exactly give him a chance to explain. I told him to get lost and the next thing I knew, I was waking up as the sun was rising."

"He does sound like a charming character," Xander said, "And how often can someone say they managed to beat Angelus unconscious?"

Angel shot Xander a glare, before catching sight of the picture of the Eye of Ramras and he picked the book up for a closer look. The Eye looked familiar to him for some reason, before realising where he had seen it. About a month or so after the fight with the Senior Partners' army, Angel and Connor had taken on a case where they fought against a demon trying to take over a bad neighbourhood and terrorising the residents. The demon had surrendered during the fight and Angel allowed him to go under the condition that he didn't cause any more trouble and he remembered seeing a gold orb resting on the bookcase in the demon's lair.

"I think I know where to find this," Angel said, "I think I saw something similar on a case I did in Los Angeles."

"Are you sure?" Giles asked, looking at the picture once more.

"Mostly positive. The least I can do is go and make sure if I'm right or wrong."

"If it is indeed the Eye of Ramras, at least we'll have an advantage," Giles said, "Willow, think you can open a portal back to Los Angeles?"

"Sure thing," Willow replied, "You'll be fine on your own, Angel?"

"Yeah. I know the demon and he's a pushover," Angel replied.

Willow nodded and moved from the table, leading Angel to an open space, before chanting a spell, as a portal opened up before them. Angel stepped through, coming out onto a Los Angeles street. The stars and moon were out and Angel knew he had only a few hours before the sun rose, but it was more than enough for him. Crossing to the middle of the street, Angel dropped down into the sewers, then began heading in the direction of the demon's lair. Thankfully, he didn't come across anything that would slow him down and after nearly two hours of walking, he came to the door he was looking for. After hearing that someone was inside, Angel kicked the door off its hinges, hiding the smile from seeing the demon jump in shock. Looking like a skeleton surrounded in a blue goo and with glowing red eyes, Kr'ph began backing away from Angel as he advanced into the slum-like lair.

"Kr'ph, why are you backing away?" Angel asked, "I thought we were friends."

"No, we just parted on mutually beneficial grounds," Kr'ph said, "Though, admittedly, it was more beneficial on your behalf."

"Where is it, Kr'ph? Where's the Eye?"

"Eye? What eye? That soul starting to drive you crazy?"

Before Kr'ph could do anything else, he was held off the ground by his throat, all in the blink of an eye. Damn vampires and their super speed.

"Now, I know you don't breathe, so this is just mostly an intimidation thing," Angel said, "Which leads into bones being broken if you don't start talking. Eye of Ramras."

"Oh, that thing," Kr'ph said, "Well, why didn't you say so? On the bookshelf."

"Thank you."

Dropping him to the ground, Angel headed towards the bookcase, where he was able to see the Eye, sitting there like a paperweight. However, just as he neared the bookcase, the air before him began solidifying, freezing into a wall of ice and he whirled around, seeing Kr'ph encased in a block of ice and a demonic Eddie Hope was standing nearby with a grin on his face.

"Angelus, I've been waiting for you," Eddie said.

"Oh crap," Angel said.

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Spike was at the bar, drinking to try and forget his thoughts. Just hours earlier, he had watched as Illyria left his life as quickly as she had come back in, knowing that he was never going to see her again. Add that in with the whole 'Buffy-is-a-vampire' and Spike was finding that he was becoming very good friends with the whiskey, desperate to drown his sorrows. He was starting to feel like Angel, having lost two people important to him and he had been unable to save them.

Feel like Angel?

Spike did a small, hollow laugh as he downed the next shot of whiskey. Clearly, he had been hanging around Peaches for way too long and the last thing he wanted was to end up like his grandsire, moping about every single person he failed to save…and yet, he was doing exactly that, moping about Illyria and Buffy.

"Stupid ponce. Affecting me like this. However…"

Call him crazy, but he had just thought of a way on how he could help Buffy. Perhaps it wasn't too late for her. The alcohol was making his brain fuzzy, so he wasn't completely thinking about the all the outcomes, just his main idea. If it worked, it would work. It did for him, so why not for her? Finishing his last shot, Spike slapped some money onto the counter and headed out to the back of the pub into the alley, where he dropped down into the sewers and set off towards his apartment…as well as he could while drunk. Pausing, he tried to recount just exactly how much he had to drink, but shrugged it off and continued walking, while trying to remember the direction. Was it a left, straight, another left, then a right or was it a right, intersection and a double left? Did it really matter? Maybe he should call Connor…oh, that's right…no cell reception in the sewers…damn.

"Well, well, well, this is quite a surprise. A good surprise."

Spike whirled around to see Buffy standing before him. She had her hands on her hips, her legs shoulder-width apart, while four vampires stood behind her.

"Buffy, I think I've figured a way to help you," Spike said.

"Are you drunk?" Buffy asked, wrinkling her nose in disgust, "Eh, whatever."

With a click of her fingers, she motioned to Spike and the vampires carried out her silent order. Realizing what was going on, Spike threw a few punches, but they weren't having as much affect as he'd like, with him being intoxicated and all, so it was no surprise to him when he was floored by a powerful fist to his temple.

"Boys, I think we have another victim for interrogation," Buffy smiled.

She was standing over Spike and the last thing he saw was her boot coming down.

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Angel smashed through the ice wall with a groan, hitting the wall as Eddie came at him, swinging his fist. Dodging, Angel struck him in the stomach, followed by a blow to the jaw. Eddie stumbled back, receiving a kick to his chest that threw him onto his back. Rolling back over onto his feet as soon as he landed, Eddie caught hold of Angel's foot and rose up, throwing the vampire to the ground. He swung his leg in a sweeping motion, but Eddie jumped over it, as Angel rolled over and kicked him in the stomach, then rose up fully and swung his fist. Eddie blocked the blow, but caught the second punch on his chin, whirling around, his tail slamming into Angel's side and throwing him to the ground. He instantly rolled onto his feet, spinning around to parry Eddie's fist and punch him in the face.

"I thought I told you to leave LA," Angel said.

"And I thought I said I'd return," Eddie replied, "Guess neither of us listened."

He punched, but Angel blocked and struck him back, only to get punched in return. With a growl, Angel swung his fist at the same time as Eddie did and the pair staggered back, before falling to their knees, as clapping rang out.

"Very nice," Angus said, striding into the lair with Kumiko by his side, "Now, Angel, hand over the Eye or surrender your soul."

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