Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be.

Author's Note: I hate writing spells. It doesn't mean that I can't (because it's actually the total opposite (you'll know this if you've read my other works)), it just means I don't like to. The reason? (faint laugh of hysteria) I FEEL TOO MUCH, DAMNIT! I'm absolutely drained of energy right now.

Author's Note 2: This part's the longest one yet, and would've been even longer if I could have been able to put down every single detail that I saw/felt/heard. So, you're getting the simplified version. Be glad. You'll understand what I mean after you read this.

Author's Note 3: This part's dedicated to The Cranberries and their song "Dreams", as well as to Steve Tibbetts and their song "Nyemma" (which is actually a musical number, not a song).

Author's Note 4: Feedback, ideas, advise, compliments, whatever, are greatly appreciated, and are being saved on my computer.

Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who is wondering if she could go crawl into a hole now and forget she ever started writing this thing)


Part 13

"Now, Angel, we need you to stay as still as you can while we do this," Willow said as the souled vampire laid down on the floor in the training room in the back of the Magic Shop.

"What we'll be doing is going to be very painful for you. We'll try to be quick, but we aren't sure how long this will take. Also, if you feel a sensation -- like you're being touched, but aren't --, that'll be us...and any powers we might call down to help us," Tara said, as she and Willow knelt down on either side of Angel.

"Are you guys sure that this is how it's supposed to be done?" Buffy asked anxiously from where she sat, three feet from Angel's head.

"Yeah," Willow said, as she looked at Buffy, then turned her head to where Adam and Dawn sat. All three were evenly spaced in a circle around Angel. Willow nodded in satisfaction.

"Tell me again, why do I have to be part of this?" Adam asked in annoyance.

"Because, Ancient," Whistler said from where he stood in a corner lounging, "you, Dawn, and Buffy's auras will be a point of focus for the two witches as they do what they need to do. If you'll notice, you're also forming a circle of protection around them, so that nothing can harm 'em while they do this. Got it?"

Frowning, the Immortal nodded. Willow breathed a sigh of relief, as she brought her attention back to Tara.

"Ready?" she asked.

Tara nodded, then raised her hands as Willow did. They clasped their hands over Angel, as they began the spell that would bind the vampire's soul forever.

Into the silence, they chanted these words: "The inward eye, the sightless sea...Ayala flows through the river in me."

A silver light flowed from their hands to touch Dawn, Buffy, and Methos. It then spread to form a circle of misty hue between the three. The moment the circle was completely formed, the two witches stopped, drawing in breath sharply, their eyes glowing.


Willow and Tara stood/floated within a void of nothingness. They looked at each other, and saw a silver light surrounding them. The light was even brighter where their hands were clasped.

'Though they did not move their mouths, they spoke. It did not matter who said what, for in this place, their essences were one.

"We must go to him. There is not much time."

The moment it was spoken, it was so. They saw in this place of spirits, the true essences that resided within the souled vampire.

Angel and Demon fought, neither giving ground. The Demon: hideous beyond compare. The Angel: the most glorious being they had ever witnessed. It was only then that Willow understood what Tara had attempted to tell her about the souled vampire.

"They will destroy him. This must be stopped!"

"The only way is to make them one entity. His body cannot withstand their constant struggles for much longer."

"What would happen if nothing was done?"

"He would go insane...and seek any way to end his existence to stop the pain of his mind and body."

"We cannot allow that. He must live...for his beloved and daughter's sake."

"Agreed."

With determination, Willow and Tara raised their unclasped hands, and forcefully broke apart the Demon and Angel with their power. With rage, the two entities struggled against the silver bands that suddenly bound them. They stopped struggling, and quickly looked at Willow and Tara when they spoke.

"No more will you fight."

"You destroy the body you reside in with your constant battles."

"No more will you two be separate, but one."

"By will of the Higher Powers..."

"...Let it be so."


Within the silver circle, Angel screamed, convulsing in agony. Black and white light swarmed around him. Every once in a while, silver light flashed.

For hours, he wreathed on the floor, screaming. Near the end, he no longer screamed, as he lay still, occasional shudders passing through him, his eyes open and blank.

It was sunrise when they began, but sunset when it finished in a blaze of silver light.


Next Part: A brief interlude for sanity's sake (mine, not yours), and the question of the hour: Was the vampire's soul bound...and what about the demon? Are the Angel and Demon now one?

P.S.: Remember...that was the simplified version. Believe me when I say you don't wanna know what I saw, heard, and felt. Just thinking about it makes me want to curl up into a ball and scream.