Chapter Four

It had been Illyria's idea to check the hotel. She had memories of Fred and the others working there, plus as she had pointed out, there was a light in the window where there hadn't been on before. 'Two points the Blue for observation skills,' Spike thought. He had not expected, however, to enter the lobby and find him in such good shape talking with a young woman in a flowing dress. However, something told him that her arrival, and what happened outside was not all coincidence.

"Good to see you made it Charlie," then looking at Layla, "So...who's the bird?" was what ended up coming out of his mouth. She just looked confused.

Gunn nodded in response and gestured toward Spike, "Ah...Spike, Layla. Layla, Spike. She is our friendly, neighborhood representative from the PTB's."

Spike walked down the stairs and looked her in the eye. "Sorry to not appear grateful and all, seeing as one of you just blew up a dragon, and scared off the entire army out there. But what in hell is going in?"

Illyria came down the stairs, staring at Layla. Then deciding there was no danger, moved over to make sure for herself that Gunn was well.

Layla smiled at Spike. "Ah the Sword has come. He is part of the Voice. The warrior aspect if you will. He was sent to end the war. It's not time for this battle. Not yet anyway." She frowned in thought. "And before you ask, I don't know when the time is. I only know what I was told to do, and that is to help you." She waved her hand at the group.

She walked over to the door and looked out into the rain. "Now we can spend the rest of the night grilling me for information I don't have," and turning toward the group, she looked Spike in the eye. "Or we can ..."

"Bury our dead," Illyria finished. She stood. "I must return to Vail's and retrieve Wesley. He requires the rites of an honored warrior." She walked toward the door. "I will return shortly." And with that she was gone.

Spike nodded at Illryia. "So where do we take him then? Never really had to put thought in to where I buried someone before."

"Next to Cordy," Gunn said. "He shouldn't be alone. And it seems right somehow."

Spike nodded, "Agreed. What about Angel then?"

"He should be with Cordy too."

Spike turned to Layla. But she was gone. "Now where in bloody hell did she go!" Then something clicked in his head. "Wait a tick! She said she was from the Powers?!"

Gunn stood up and walked over. "Yeah, she is a celestial being in the flesh."

"Oh Christ! Are you saying she's an angel?!"

Gunn waked past him toward the door, and looked outside. "According to best guesses...yeah."

Layla blinked into the rain. She stared down at the dust, now more of a mud type substance, that had once been a champion. She drew a medium sized box out of her robe, and opened it. Her other hand she held high above the pile. She closed her eyes, and concentrated. Light curled and swirled, as she drew the dust through the air and into the awaiting box. When she finished she closed the box and faded out of sight.

Illyria retraced her steps till she found herself at Vail's door. She entered the house and into the room where Wesley's body lay. She felt familiar, if new, emotions well up inside of her: Pain, emptiness, loss. She closed her eyes, and steeled herself as she walked over to his body. Opening them, she looked down at what had been her guide and friend. No words could express what she felt. She knelt down, and slowly gathered his body to hers. Her vision blurred, as alien tears filled her eyes. She didn't bother to brush them away as she gently picked up his body, and carried him away into the rain.