BtVS belongs to Joss and M.E., Nightbane belongs to Palladium Books. I am not receiving any recompense for this.

Giles desperately engages his opponent, as Kendra claws at the whip choking the life from her.

Buffy abandons her sword and grabs her surviving foes spear and struggles briefly for possession but it's strength closely matches hers. She drops backwards suddenly, pulling it forward and flipping it over her, forcing it to release the spear. She spins and runs the prone figure through, pinning it to the floor. Her last foe incapacitated, Buffy rushes the monster's leader.

Giles attacks aggressively, forcing his foe back, until it stumbles against the counter, giving him the opportunity to start hacking at the heavy armor and slowly whittling away at it. The dark plated arms flex and throws the spear at Giles ducks, kicks him, knocking him over to the remains of Buffy's targets, his sword flying free. As he desperately gets to his feet, he grabs Buffy's sword, and with a desperate strength, tears it free. As the last hound charges him, he swings while rolling aside and the blade cuts easily into the creature's right arm. As the beast stumble, Giles grasp the hilt with both hands as he swings and the enchanted sword cuts deeply into the back of it's neck.

Buffy leaps upon the horned creature and jerks it's arm, ripping the whip out of it's hand as Kendra bonelessly collapses to the floor. It spins and delivers a left handed blow that sends her flying across the rom and into the railing. As Buffy struggles to rise, it pulls a knife and grabs Kendra by the throat and lifts her. Holding her, it looks over at Buffy stumbling to her feet and Giles still occupied but clearly winning. It turns to it's victim and drives the knife into her belly and drops her bleeding body to the floor, leaving the knife stuck. It walks to the where the book is laying and reaches down to pick it up.

Buffy struggles to her feet and charges as the horned monstrosity bends over reaching for the book. She dives forward, sweeping up Giles lost sword and comes to her feet . She sweeps the sword overhead and brings it down with her full power. The plain steel blade bites into the neck, only cutting a quarter of the way through, even with her enhanced strength, but it's enough as the thing falls to the floor.

As Giles finishes off his foe, Buffy grabs the phone and makes two calls. The first to 911 for medical help for Kendra, the second home for mom's help. She rushes to Kendra and tries to staunch the flow of blood.

Joyce appears in the library as a line if shadow that swiftly expands. She looks around and hurries to Kendra's side. Kneeling, she quickly examines her. "There is nothing I can do for her. It has been to long since I used my powers to heal a wound anywhere near this grievous. And without practice, I dare not risk making it worse. If you call now, she should survive until she gets to a hospital."

Giles notices the book and goes to pick it up. "What's this?" he mutters.

Joyce stands and walks to where Quintin Travers lies near death. She smiles and reaches into his mind.

Quintin Travers looks around at the frozen tableau in the library. Giles frozen in the act of picking up a book and The detested slayer Buffy Summers trying to keep Kendra alive. As he continues to look around, he sees his body, the pool of blood around it showing how close to death he is. And kneeling beside him is the Slayer's mother. He smiles at her coming death, her usurpation of the Council of Watchers power and authority.

"What'ca smiling about?"

Quintin jumps at the unexpected voice. He turns and sees a smirking Joyce Summers standing there. "What are you doing here?" he demands angrily.

"I'm here to make you an offer."

His condescending arrogance cause her to smile as he replies. "There's nothing you could offer me. I am Quintin Travers, head of the Council of watchers. And this is nothing. As long as I perform my duties, I am guaranteed a death of naturae causes. This will not be more than an mere inconvenience."

Suddenly, Whistler shows up and looks around. Spotting Joyce, he stops, confused."You're not supposed to be here."

"No, I'm not. I'm supposed to still be bond in slumber until the world end. After all, the Powers that Be Morons decided to bind the Demon Guardian of these worlds just so that they could play with my Slayer line. Never mind that my duties were assigned by the Lords of Light before they sacrificed themselves to destroy the Lords of Darkness." She looks at Whistler and smiles. "I have a message for those that hold your leash, balance demon. Tell them that as the ancient pacts decree, any actions of their's in the worlds under my protection require my approval. Otherwise, all their interference is categorically rejected."

Travers blanches as he realizes just who he's upset while Whistler shakes his head sadly. "You don't now what you're dealing with, doll. The Powers that Be are the ones that ..."

"Enough!" Joyce roars at him. Whistler snaps his jaw shut and watches as Joyce shifts forms. She continues in a more calm tone. "I am the equal to any of them. We were all created directly by the Lords of Light and Darkness, one time Chaos gods from the Sea of Chaos whom decided to create the known universes and dimensions. I can interfere until half my powers are unsealed. Now go and tell your masters that there are true Chaos gods looking this way again." She glances around the library. "Tell them also that the Ba'al-ze-Neckt are active here again."

Whistler disappears as she turns to Travers. "Dreaming of having me killed?" She smiles at him as a large cat towards ir's pray. If you want to live, you will bring me the two Orbs that the council has in their vaults. Those, combined with the others I have will allow me to break seven of the twelve seals on my power. Otherwise, you will pass on to your reward. The Hells will love to get you."

"What do you mean?" He stutters.

"The Powers have over stepped their authority. As long as the slayer line draws on my strength, they are under my direction and my protection. By the mystic laws this universe is built on by the Lords of Light, my essence is mine. When the powers usurped the slayer line, they forgot or ignored the rules. When you acted to control the slayer line, you came under my jurisdiction."

"What do you want?" Travers asks as the foundations of his world are revealed to be built upon sand.

"I can't remain here for long. I'm needed elsewhere. But my daughters will take my place here. Give it a year, two tops and I will be gone, returning for visits only." She walks to where Buffy kneels allowing Travers to see her love for her child in spirit if not flesh. "And for them to guard this world, they will need resources. If you swear to serve me, you will assist them in any way they need until your final death."

"So that's it. Serve you or go to hell. Not much of a choice."

"Of course not. An element of basic strategy. Minimize your opponents options and maximize your own. But skill takes practice and practice means making mistake that teach you. What you did wrong, how you misread your foes, or even how you over or under estimated one or both side's strength. But you and the council have never had to practice. You thought you had an unassailable strong hold." She turns and smiles, her eyes hard as ice. "To bad, Quintin. Your soul goes to hell or you serve me for the rest of your life and maybe manage to avoid it. You can even warn the others on the council if you wish."

Quintin decides swiftly, thinking he can always use the council's resources to set things the way they should be.

"Very well, Quintin." If anything, her eyes grow colder. "I curse you to be caught between life and death. No pleasure of flesh to feel, no words of this curse may you reveal. Until I stand in my proper place, you will obey my will. Until your crimes you have atoned for, you shall be neither living or dead, bound to my desires. Now sleep."

Joyce moves on, her business with Travers done for now. She moves until she stands next to Giles and looks at the book he picked up. He turns and jumps in surprise. "What... Please don't do that anymore."

She reaches out and runs a hand gently down the books cover as she whispers "The Book of the Darkness Triumphant. The book that the Ba'al-ze-Neckt found, read and used to become the monsters they are now. Written in blood on human skin and bound with hide and bones of an angel by one of the Lords of Madness." She turns to look at the decaying remains. "And these stink of them. Hide the book and ward it as best you can, Rupert."

"Right."

Joyce transports herself home to pick up Willow as Buffy accompanies Kendra in the ambulance to the hospital. As they enter the hospital, Buffy stops to wait for the others on the way. When Giles arrives, he heads to the desk and begins to fill out the paperwork.

The rest of the group gathers at the Summers residence, Xander takes charge. Miss Calendar, Amy and Tara, could you ward the house in case the attackers decide to attack us here?"

Jenny looks at the group she has to work with. "I think we can do something. Tara, Amy, you gather these." She writes a list on a notepad and hands it to them. She goes to Joyce's small occult library and removes a volume from the shelf and begins to scan through it.

"Jesse, my man. Is there anything you can do?"

"I can contact the Ted bot and have him secure the workshop. The other two that are functional can take the laser carbine and act as a security detachment there as long as I can identify the foe to them."

"Do it. Cordelia, Faith. You two will help me look through the books. Cordy, we're looking for that thing that appeared on Halloween. Finding out who summoned it is just became a high priority. Oz should be stopping by tonight. If he does, let him in. He's going to ask a lot of questions. Everyone got something to do?"

They nod affirmatively and go about their tasks.

A quarter of an hour later, Faith stands up. "This is boring. Isn't there anything else I can do." She walks outside.

Xander follows her out. "Come on Faith. I know you're worried. We're all worried. But until we find out what attacked them, we have no idea of what their plans are."

"I know, Xander." She pushes herself up from the railing. "I know. I just feel so useless. Just like my whole life." She balls her fist and hits the post at the top of the stairs. To both their surprise, the post shatters into two pieces and splinters.

As Faith stares on shock, Xander bundles her into the house. "Everyone, Faith 's a slayer. Miss Calendar, can you call the hospital and see if you can find out anything?"

"Sure thing." She grabs the phone and starts dialing.

"Amy, Tara. Can you help her up to her bed and keep her company."

"Ah...of co..co..course Xander." Tara stutters as she and Amy each take one of Faith's arms and begin to carefully move her.

"Dawn, could you see what everyone would like now?"

Dawn jumps up with unrestrained excitement. "Okay!" before she scurries to the dining room.