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Chapter 29 Magic Ritual

Willow, Giles and Spike were running toward the screams. The corridors were very dark and they kept bumping into each other and the walls, anxiously trying to take the correct turn and get to Buffy.

Finally they reached an opening in the corridor. It led them into an open room, and unfortunately what looked like a trap.

Buffy was tied to a chair in the center of the room and creatures in long hooded robes were standing around her. She seemed to be unconscious. Julian was sitting in another chair facing Buffy, but he wasn't bound. In the middle was an elaborate mirror like the one in Julian's room and it seemed as if the king had already joined the ceremony.

The room housed what looked like old jail cells with some of them containing young girls. The screams they had heard were coming from one girl in particular. It was the young servant girl that Buffy had recognized. An ugly lizard looking demon had her arm. Anne was lying in a bed they had prepared for her in another corner. Some kind of strange markings were on the floor around her bed.

Spike was the first to speak up. "What exactly do you think you are do'in? Let her go or I'll be yank'in your arm off." He was talking to the lizard demon but the demon didn't respond. The girl, however, did stop yelling when she noticed Spike.

The mirror turned white and the king appeared. "So I see you have all decided to join the party. It is as I expected. Always running to the rescue of your beloved slayer. Too bad you are too late." His dragon features were hideous but his voice was even more irritating. He wasn't saying anything they wanted to hear.

Willow flinched at the mention of it being too late. It didn't look as if the ritual had started yet. Buffy was unconscious and still had on the necklace. She gave a signaling look to Giles and Spike and started to reach for her crystal when there was a loud bang.

Suddenly out of nowhere a woman dressed in black appeared. She had long red hair and her skin was very pale. She actually could have been very lovely if it hadn't been for her third eye.

The king spoke up again. "Please, where are my manners. This is Kalista, a very old friend of mine. She is very………versed in the art of magic. She has agreed to assist me today. I am afraid she has a very short temper though. You might want to back off a little."

Just then Giles and Spike turned to find Willow lying on the ground unconscious. The loud bang was obviously the doing of this Kalista and she had succeeded in knocking Willow out. They both panicked and frantically tried to wake Willow.

Giles grabbed her arm and shook it. "Willow, wake up. Can you hear me? Are you ok?" Spike was feeling for her pulse and he detected a heartbeat. "She's not dead."

"Good observation vampire." The king was being flip again. "Don't worry, your little witch isn't dead……yet. She is, however, out of commission and unable to do whatever little scheme you concocted up. You don't think I would be stupid enough to let her come here and ruin my plan do you?"

Spike was enraged now. Giles was still tending to Willow when he heard Spike growl. His face was now his demon features and he was angry. "I don't think you want me to comment on how stupid you are mate. If you know what's good for you then you will release Buffy and let us leave." Spike was ready to fight, but wasn't quite sure what he was fighting. He could break the mirror, but he wasn't sure if that would help.

Just then the lizard demon was summoned by the king to attack. Spike was ready. He hadn't had a good spot of violence in awhile and the demon would be a good start. Soon fists were flying and bones were crunching. Both of them had made good hits and it looked as if he would be a worthy opponent. The demon punched Spike in the ribs causing him to double over but it only took him a minute to recover. Neither had weapons so it was a mixture of blows and kicks. It didn't take long before Spike had the demon in a headlock followed by a loud crack. The demons body fell to the ground.

When Spike turned around to say something to the king he was surprised by what he saw. The ritual had started and Buffy was waking up. The witch, Kalista, was standing over her chanting and sprinkling some powder into the air. The demon had been a diversion to keep him busy.

He looked over to Giles who looked panicked. Willow was still out cold and he wasn't having any luck waking her. He had the crystal in his hand and it looked as if he too was chanting something but it wasn't working. He gave Spike a worried look. They hadn't talked about a plan b just in case Willow's plan didn't work. They were counting on her to do the counter spell in time. Giles knew about magic but he was counting on Willows strength to do this spell.

Just then Buffy woke up. She looked around and realized where she was and that the ritual had started. The king was happy to see that she was awake.

"Ah, sleeping beauty. I am glad to see you have decided to join us. We need you awake for this next part. You remember Julian don't you? He has been waiting patiently for you."

Julian was staring straight ahead as if he was in a deep trance. He didn't have to respond for Buffy to see that something was very wrong with him. "That would be where you are wrong, king dumb ass. I don't plan on cooperating with your little plan here."

The king laughed a little. "Oh, I think you will dear. You see, the wine you drank with Julian last night is going to help Kalista with our little ritual and get my Anne returned to me. It's going to help you realize that you love Julian so you can complete the transfer of the necklace and your power will restore Anne. I will be released and we will be together, Anne and I."

Spike started to run toward Buffy to release her and there was another loud boom and he was knocked back about 20 feet. Kalista was now laughing and continuing her work. She had placed a very powerful barrier around Buffy and Julian.

"Stupid vampire. My witch is very powerful. You can't defeat her and trying will only get you dead sooner rather than later. I have plans for you and your little friends. If you cooperate I might spare your lives."

Spike was shaking his head and picking himself up off the floor. Kalista was finishing another round of chanting and Buffy and Julian were now standing. Buffy was desperately trying to resist but it was becoming impossible. Buffy and Spike locked eyes and he could feel she was frightened.

The air began to sparkle just as she mouthed his name.