Willow, with Tara close in tow, jogged into the shop,
somewhat out of breath. "What is it, Giles?"
"I just very recently, and luckily I might add, acquired
this old book on dimensionality and…"
"Thanks to the chicken feet." The group was used
to Anya's unintelligible interruptions by now. This comment only
earned her a narrowed glance from Willow and Giles.
"…it describes a parallel universe that consists completely
of energy. It also makes mention of the ancient creator named Glorificus.
I don't know why this has never been mentioned in any other text before.
According to what small amount of information I have been able to gather,
she is stuck here, in our plane. She has to get home, or she will…well…die.
She cannot survive without the neural energy that she extracts from the
humans here."
"So, all we have to do is keep her from sucking more brains,
right?"
"Thank you for that lovely visual, Xander. And,
yes, that is correct."
"Why do I get the feeling it won't be that easy?" asked
Willow, always the realistic one.
"Because, how do you keep the creator of a universe restrained
against her will?"
"Four point leathers?"
This time the entire room looked at Anya.
"What? I'm not allowed to joke? That's Xander's
sole arena?"
Giles shook his head as if to rid himself of the tangible
stupidity flying around the room.
"Well, that's where this prophesy comes in. 'The
Golden Slayer shall join with the ensouled demons to rid this dimension
of its greatest threat.' Then, in this reference…" the
Watcher feverishly flipped through books, dust flying everywhere.
A 'bless you' accompanied a sneeze or two. "…an imprisoning spell/ritual
is made mention of. 'Three to one, like to like. The Dark soul
with light entrapped can be kept still by the Light souls with darkness
entrapped.' I can't say I completely understand it, but…"
"I do." Tara's little voice reached out, begging
to be heard.
Willow understood immediately. "Of course!
Spike!"
"Spike? What, we get to kill him now?" That
earned the handy-man a swift punch in the chest by his mate, and wiped
the huge grin off his face.
"No, jerk. Spike is the first, and Angel is the
second."
"Xander, we discovered just recently that Spike, um, has
a soul."
"I don't want to ask, do I?"
"Probly not." His best friend answered. She
then turned her attention to the elder. "But, Giles, who is the third?"
"I don't know of any other vampires with souls.
I actually thought one was a lot."
"But, see, I do want to know. What's the deal here?
Did he finally piss off the wrong person and buy himself a gypsy curse?"
"It's more complex than that." Willow always managed
to sustain the most patience with her friend.
"Can we maintain focus on the problem at hand, please?"
"I thought I was."
**************************
How that group ever managed to save the world umpteen
times, I will never know. I'm glad I decided to tag along with the
witch trio. I had a feeling something was up. With the bickering
flaring up again, I decide to materialize, hopefully unnoticed.
"Tara, I need to see that prophesy Rupert found."
"Danielle! You startled me. When did you come
in?"
"I have my secrets." My years with William have
taught me more than one handy facial expression. I give off an evil
grin.
"It's over there, in the n-new pile of books."
"Cool." I ignore the fact that most of the people
in this room have no idea who I am as I grab the book and flip to the pages
in question.
Now, the 'most of the people in this room' are giving
me dirty looks.
"M-Mr. Giles. This is D-Danielle."
I breeze through the greetings. "Oh, yes.
Well, hello, Xander, Willow, Anya, Rupert." I bow my head in each
person's direction. "Now to business. Where on Earth did you
find this? It has so much more information on the Glorificus crisis
than we've ever encountered." I have more or less spent my entire
existence preparing for this one event. The books in front of me
are more precious than water to a drought inflicted country.
"I fell into them actually. Perhaps we can put our
knowledge together and come up with a plan."
"Um, remember me? Xander? I actually belong
to this group. Who the hell is she?"
"She's Spike's guardian angel."
Silence. I laugh inside at his shock and confusion.
"Anyhow…"
**************************
It takes us several hours, but we eventually piece together
the knowledge that is needed. The one stumbling stone was getting
Rupert to admit that Buffy was in fact the third. Yes, he did realize
that the Slayers' powers are rooted in the darkness that she fights, but
I think a lot of the time he is just unwilling to admit his little girl
has that inside her. He does, eventually.
But my own hurdle to get over is the fact that the ritual
involves two, not just one demon with a soul. I guess I've had more
faith in my elders than they deserve. I mean, people are people,
right? Even if they are older than dirt and twice as
dusty. I push the increasing doubts out of my mind. If I've
been wrong about that, what else have I been mistaken about?
Giles addresses his posse. "So, here's how it will
happen guys. We lead Glory to the old warehouse on Devon St. by offering
her the Key in exchange for Joyce's life back."
Willow raises her hand meekly. "Do we have to use
that excuse? I mean, it's kind of soon to be opening Buffy wounds
that haven't even healed yet, don't you think?"
"It will be fine, Willow. Trust me." I forget
that she has just met me and doesn't even really know what I am.
But she calms just the same and Giles continues.
"We will all be waiting for her inside. Buffy, Spike
and Angel will surround her and join hands, while Willow, Tara and myself
encircle the four of them. Xander, you and Anya will be protecting
the exits from her minion with Wesley and Angel's friend Gunn." Upon
hearing the former Watcher's name, Xander ruffled. "And no noise
from you Mr. Harris. You will need all the help you can get."
"Yes, sir. May I be in charge of the artillery?"
he said with a hopeful smile.
"Of course."
He turned to Anya, "I'm the key military guy." She
smiled back in approval and pride.
Speaking of 'key', I realize that we have forgotten an
indispensable part to this plan. I ask to speak with Giles alone
and we exit to the back room.
"What is it?"
"The Key."
He is obviously not willing to talk about it without knowing
what level if info I already possess about the subject. "You know.
Dawn. She has to be there, or this doesn't work."
He stands silent.
"The Key is not really so much a 'key'. It is in
that Glory needs it to unlock her dimension to return. But, actually,
it is the only item in this universe that has some amount of influence
over her. The ancient Gods and Goddesses designed it to keep her
where she belongs. In order for this spell to work, we have to have
the influence of the Key."
"I see. Well, that should not prove to be a problem."
"Good, then, she must stand in the circle with the witches.
That way, the magick is enabled through her while the inner circle of light
and dark use their strength to hold her."
I can see the question in his eyes. 'What happens
to Dawn when this is over?' But he doesn't ask aloud, so I don't
bother to answer. He won't like the answer. None of them will.
**************************
Rupert and I return to the main room and announce the
addition of Dawn.
"Alright. Recapping here. In the middle, Glory
the Goddess of Bitch. Inner circle, the great trio: William Walthrop,
Buffy Anne Summers and Liam O'Brennan." For the first time, chills
run up and down my spine. I've heard humans refer to that sensation,
but never felt it myself. All these years, we've tried to keep their
separate lives in order, and in just one day, it's all coming together.
They will be working as one, for the greater good. Wow. I snap
myself out of it and continue. "Outer circle and in the four elemental
corners, witches: Willow, Tara, Rupert and the Key, Dawn. Then we
have the brute force guarding the warehouse from would-be attackers.
Are we cool?"
"Actually, I think it just got kind of stuffy in here."
That time I join in with the dirty looks at the ex-demon.
"Anyhow, Giles will go over the actual spell with you
two. It shouldn't be too taxing on you. The trio will be taking
the brunt of the forces."
"Brunt?'
"Forces?"
"They can handle it. Will there be any trouble getting
Buffy to comply?"
"What, is she a Borg, now?"
Rupert gives one last glare to military man and answers
negatively.
"Great. Tara and Giles, please relay the plan to
the Summers' girls. Willow, will you please round up Angel and his
crew? I'll take care of the 'center piece' and meet you all there
no later than 2030 hours."
"Why do I get the feeling we never really lost Riley?"
I wish that boy would shut up for once.
TBC
