***

The group of them stood on a windswept plain that over looked a village. They had prepared for this moment, hiding their activities from the eyes of the young ones, the human watchers and their Slayer. There was still disagreement about what had to be done but not about the facts. The power they where burying was too great to allow the young ones to be exposed to it, and Cain forbid the lycans get their mangy claws upon this holy relic. This tribute to the power of the ancients this Blood Sword.

Michael opened his eyes and realized two things. He was on the floor and that Xander was leaning over him along with Angel and another guy he remembered from the raid on the warehouse, Wesley had been his name.

The doctor in him reacted immediately. "Xander what are you doing out of bed." He realized his voice lacked a certain authority. Passing out had left him sounding a bit wimpy.

Helping you up, what happened there?" Xander asked concernedly

"I'm not sure it felt like, a memory."

"Memory?" Wesley was intrigued

"I've noticed that I retain memories of the Lycan and Vampire that "made" me. it was kind of like that."

"Interesting, inheirited memories. Who's memories do you possess."

"Selene contributed on the vampire side but the werewolf side came from Lucian."

"Lucien… the Lucien," Wesley's voice hit an octave of surprise unheard of by anyone. " Revered by lycans, Feared by Vampires around the globe That Lucien. He is the Lycan that turned you.

Michael nodded, he was just getting to his feet when he was hit by a flood of thoughts and images. He was on the windswept hillside. Other times he saw Kravan. And there was the bald man, oh dear gods not the bald man, the bald man filled him with revulsion and fear, he would take from Michael all that was personal and loved.

Michael snapped back to reality. He was leaning against the bed, his head pounding.

"What did you see? " Angel Demanded

"More images, people this time. Victor and bunch of vamps and Kravan and someone I don't know "

"What's the person look like " Wes asked

"Balding, in a scarlet robe and a crystal embedded in his forehead."

Angel got a sinking feeling. "Was the crystal light Coloured or dark?

"It was light."

Angel called out in the hallway, "Harmony, find Eve and get the building Psyches on full alert. Someone's using a Shin-Tali mystic on our girl "

Xander was confused "Shin-tali mystic."

"Think of them as mental hackers." Wes explained "they sift through your mind locating the desired information or planting images. Even a novice can find the secrets they want, discarding the rest like a rag doll."

"A good indicator of what your brains look like when one is done with you." Angel said pacing the room restlessly

"I'm getting images, its like I can feel Selene's pain."

"You probably can, you share the same bloodline essentially her Brain is broadcasting right to you on closed circuit. You get an all-access pass to everything she is experiencing unless she screens you out. No chance of that with the Shin-Tali roaming around inside her mind. "

"So what's happening?"

"I'm locking the building down. You have a two-way connection to your sweetie and I don't want the Shin-Tali gaining access to us through you. "

"I mean about Selene," Michael asked "What is this guy doing to Selene."

Wesley answered on Angel's behalf "The monk is hacking Selene's mind, cracking it open layer by layer. If he is sufficiently trained she will tell him anything he wants to know and never know she did it "

"And if he isn't trained enough " Michael asked worriedly

"Killing whatever is left of her will be an act of mercy." Angel whispered darkly

Harmony popped her head in the door "Boss I hate to add to your problems but we have a situation. "

"What now."

"A dimensional portal is forming on the floor below this one. Someone is attacking the building and it's a really powerful someone from the power readings they are getting. "

***

The Wolfram & Hart security Force was better trained and prepared them some sections of the military. Then again, they had to deal with threats so far beyond the normal and natural that they had to be. Garvy and Jones were professionals, they had survived in Wolfram & Hart by being good at their work. The change of ownership had been daunting at first. Angel liked risking his neck, which was a change from what they were used to. They just adapted. Viewed themselves as support Rarely needed support it was true but support nonetheless.

Their team arrayed themselves around the door leading to the ladies bathroom where someone was invading the firm.

Garvy hissed to his team. I want you prepared to splat anything that comes through that door."

Jones shouldered a massive shotgun. "We have the floor completely cleared out. "

Garvy nodded. He looked around making sure everyone was ready. "Where is the boss

"Upstairs and he wants us to hang back till he gets here. "

"Yeah well if the people on the other side of that door aren't in the waiting mood I'm gonna at least defend my danm self.

The door rattled and Garvy's team aimed their weapons. The bathroom doors blow open and a wind gusted out in the hall. Its power was hurricane strength and it forced the team back and away from the door. One of the security team fell backwards his gun going off. The bullet streaked through the air before rolling slowly to a stop about a foot from the open door. The wind died down and Garvy moved toward the door. Something grabbed him and tossed his body to the side. He impacted the wall before sliding its length down to the floor. An older matronly looking woman in a conservative suit stepped from the bathroom. She walked up to the floating bullet curling her fist around it. Walking up to the fallen soldier,. She looked at him with a mix of pity and disgust before dropping the bullet in his lap. "There is reason that guns come with safeties, so that you don't accidentally shot someone." She stated acidly

Angel and Wes ran up to the scattered security team. A red-headed girl came out of the bathroom followed shortly afterward by a dark-haired one dressed in lose comfortable clothing that nevertheless hinted at the tremendous power in her athletic figure. The red head ran up to Angel, throwing a huge hug around his shoulders. "Angel you don't know how glad I am to see you."

"Willow, Kennedy and a…"

"Hello Angelus…"

"And someone whom I just realized I don't like."

Wes smiled and moved to cover for Angel. "Hello Reverend Mother, welcome to the new Wolfram and Hart what can we do to aid the head of the Wiccan Council."

***