Part 11
Part 11
Willow nervously adjusted the lace collar on the top she was wearing. Tonight they would be going to fight Balein. Well Angel would be fighting Balein and the rest of them would be making sure no one got hurt and no one left. She wanted to talk to Jake's uncle Charles. She understood the pain of losing a loved one, though knock wood, she hadn't experienced it personally. But to call on Balein to return his wife from the dead was very odd for Charles. He hadn't believed in anything mystical. She wondered how he even knew about Isis and Balein.
She watched as Angel paced the lobby floor. This was hard on him, too. He knew it was the beginning and there was no stopping the final battle. Willow walked up to Angel and with a small half smile she reached for his hand.
"Everything will be fine, you'll see."
"We have faced danger countless times, you'd think I'd be used to seeing my friends go off to fight this week's big evil." Angel said ironically.
"I'd be worried about you if you were used to it. I still get butterflies in my stomach each time you or the others go out. I even get nervous for Buffy and Xander. It was extremely hard my first year at Oxford. I think I emailed or called back every other day just to make sure they were all okay."
Cordelia, Gunn, Fred and Wesley joined Angel and Willow.
"Ready?"
They had decided to bring only weapons that could be concealed and not be too noticeable under their clothes. Willow did a spell that the weapons would not be noticed by any detection that was natural or supernatural.
~~~~
They arrived outside of Isis' residence and Willow rolled her eyes when she saw the house.
"I take it she doesn't believe in subtlety?"
The house looked Mediterranean with Egyptian décor on the outside. It was complete with two sleek cat statues on either side of the door.
"I'm surprised she doesn't have a pyramid and statue of the Sphinx out here."
Wesley smiled, "They're probably out back."
As they approached the door a man stepped out to block their path.
"May I help you?"
Cordelia smiled and gloried in the return of Queen C, "Sure, you can show us where the ritual thing is. Daddy gave me his money and the ritual had better work or I won't hear the end of his whining."
They had decided that Cordelia would be the one that had the money and the request of Osiris. In case they were recognized by anyone they wanted to keep as close to the truth as possible. So, Cordy had been volunteered to be so desperate as to seek out Isis so she could become famous.
The man looked them all over carefully and Willow hoped her weapon spell was working. The front guard must have thought they were legitimate for he stepped back and pushed the door wider.
"Please come in, Derek will show to where the others are."
A man dressed in Egyptian robes came to escort them through the house. Willow noticed that the Egyptian theme flowed to the inside of the house as well.
Willow mumbled to Wesley, "If she comes out dressed like Cleopatra I'm not sure I can keep from laughing."
Willow looked the crowd over and couldn't see Charles. She wasn't sure if he hadn't arrived yet or if he was somewhere else. She hoped for the former but was dreading the latter. If he was somewhere else that meant the ritual to bring Balein out was somewhere else.
The lights dimmed and the area filled with light smoke. "Oh please" both she and Cordelia mumbled.
Seeming to appear out of nowhere a woman dressed in flowing robes appeared in front of the crowd. Wesley mumbled to Willow, "at least she's not dressed as Cleopatra."
Gunn leaned over and said, "If I had wanted to see a hokey magician show I would have gone to Vegas."
"Welcome, everybody. The ritual of Osiris will begin shortly. In the mean time please help yourselves to the food and the ministers of Osiris will be by shortly to take your donations and request."
Fred whispered, "Ooh dinner and a show."
That surprised a laugh out of Willow who covered it up by coughing. Willow looked over at Fred and saw the twinkle in her eyes and she smiled back.
Before the ritual began Willow and Angel circulated the crowd in search of Charles. Angel noticed a group of people standing outside in deep discussion. His vampiric hearing picked up bits and pieces of conversation and he thought he heard the word sacrifice.
"I think he might be part of the group outside." He told Willow pointing to the group of people. "Go get the others and I'll meet you out back."
"Okay, but be careful."
Willow caught Fred's eye and motioned for her to gather the others and follow her. When the others arrived she said, "Angel went outside. He thinks Charles might be among those gathered outside."
Silently they slipped out and made their way through the shadows toward Angel. Just as they slipped outside Willow felt a magick ripple and saw a flash of light.
SHIT! They were too late. She took off on a dead run in the direction that she felt the magick and the pull of the bond with Angel.
They others ran to keep up with her. They all skidded to an abrupt stop as they came around the corner. The sight that greeted them held them in shock.
"That's Balein?"
"What the hell, he looks like something out of 'Planet of the Apes'."
"I thought demons were you know demony, not monkey like."
Wesley turned to Cordelia, "Some cultures believe that monkeys are sacred so why wouldn't some demons look like that?"
In the circle of robed onlookers stood a being that looked like a snow monkey had grown to six feet and had taken on human characteristics.
Balein approached one of the men and Willow saw it was Charles. With dread she watched as Balein grabbed him by the throat and tossed him aside.
Angel made a noise behind the demon to take his attention off of the remaining worshippers.
Balein smiled, "Ah Angelus. Our time is finally here."
Oh that can't be good, Willow thought. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Charles was sitting up.
Willow quickly approached Charles, "Are you all right?"
"Willow? What are you doing here? Last time I saw you, you were with my nephew Jake in England."
"I'm helping my friend Cordelia. She was hoping Isis would help her. What are you doing here? Last time we talked you didn't believe in anything mystical."
"After my wife died I became very depressed and an associate of mine told me about her."
Just then Willow heard a shout and turned to see Angel draw his sword on Balein.
"Naughty Angel, you don't fight fair."
Balein leaped over Angel and kicked him from behind.
Balein landed close to Fred but he wasn't paying any attention to her. Which was his first mistake. Fred grabbed the knife that she had hidden up her sleeve and threw it towards the demon.
Willow watched it spin end over end until it hit its target. It landed between his shoulders. With a howl he turned toward Fred and swiped his arm. Fred flew back from the impact.
Balein stalked toward Fred, "Ohh, think to help Angel do you? Nothing can help him or you. While you have been fighting me the others have left to do Doc's bidding in this realm."
Reaching behind him Balein grabbed the knife and prepared to throw it back at Fred. Before he could complete this action though Angel used his sword and decapitated him.
Gunn ran to Fred's side, "you okay, baby?"
With a smile she answered, "Yeah, did you see his face when the knife hit him?"
"That's my girl."
Angel knelt beside Willow. Charles was mumbling, "What have I done?"
Just then dramatic music began to play and a holographic image of planets orbiting and stars falling could be seen inside the house.
With a wry twist of lips Willow asked Charles, "How could you have fallen for such cheap theatrics as that?"
"Oh that? It wasn't Isis that I came to see. Lilah told me about the Balein sacrifice but I would have to get invited to Isis' party first."
Angel's eyes bored into Charles, "Lilah wouldn't happen to work for Wolfram and Hart would she?"
"Yeah, you know her? She's my associate. We serve on the Board of a charitable organization together and the one that told me about these people."
"How long have you known her?" Angel didn't like where he thought this was leading.
"A couple of months. She's new to the Board."