'Wesley, what's this symbol?' Kathy was sitting in Cordelia's living room studying the prophesies of Abergion and found something familiar. She just couldn't put her finger on what.

Wesley stood beside her and bent over the text.

'Ah, that's the mark of the Deimos. I had assumed that it was an oblique reference to the prophesies of Deimos, but they haven't been seen in more than five centuries. I heard of them when I was training in the council. Apocalyptic writings, supposedly in a cross-between Ancient Greek and Lohesh.'

Suddenly Kathy remembered where she saw the symbol and went to the pile of ancient texts she had brought with her. Pulling out a leather bound volume she set it on the table and began leafing through it. On each page were carefully scribed words in Latin, Greek, Celtic and old English, detailing spells, incantations and rituals.

'A book of shadows?' Wesley commented.

'My Grandmother's. In here is every spell she ever learned, every prophesy she ever heard. She passed it onto me just before she died.'

Kathy found the pages she was looking for. Wesley bent closer.

'Ancient Greek and Lohesh,' he confirmed.

'Unfortunately I don't speak Lohesh, so I never knew what it said. Can you translate it?' she asked, looking up from the book.

'It may take a little while.' Wesley smiled. 'It's a very interesting language. When we get through this, I'll teach you.'

Angel's arms and legs were chained to the bed as the ritual was about to start. Three Harbingers formed a circle round him, chanting.

As Darla approached they drew back, taking up position at the periphery of the room. In her right hand she held a dagger, which she now raised high over Angel.

'By the Power of the First, pure, untainted evil, I petition the knowing ones,' she began to chant. 'Give me the power to raise this creature of evil to full strength. Separate Angelus from the curse of his human soul.'

Lowering the dagger, she sliced open her own wrist and allowed the blood to drip onto Angel's unconscious body. 'By the blood of the sire, I command you to restore this creature of evil.' She directed the flow of body so that it dripped into Angel's mouth.

'By the blood of the sire, I command that you renew the power he once had. By the power of the sire, he will be reborn.'

Drusilla clapped her hands together like a child receiving a Christmas gift. 'Now the fun can begin! We'll be a family again.'

Cordelia was making coffee when Kathy entered the kitchen.

'I didn't get to ask you earlier. How did things go with Doyle?'

'Actually, I was just thinking about him.' Cordelia turned and Kathy could see the tears in her eyes, despite the brave smile she wore. 'He backed you up. Told me not to give you a hard time.'

'Are you okay?'

Cordy nodded and brushed away a tear. Shaking it off, she confronted Kathy. 'He also told me who you really are.'

'Oh,' was all Kathy said.

'Oh,' replied Cordelia. 'This isn't some kind of revenge kick for you, is it? For him killing you? 'Cause, if it is ...'

'I swear it isn't, Cordy.' She was earnest as she looked into the seer's eyes. 'I'm here to protect him. I'm not going to lie to you. It took me a long time coming to terms with all this. With what happened to me when I was a child. With what I'm expected to do. None of it has been easy. But the bottom line is that Angel is important to the Powers that Be and he needs help. We have to protect him from Wolfram and Hart. And from himself. It's that simple.'

'I don't buy that.' Cordelia didn't mince her words. 'You try to pass this off as pure business. It isn't that simple. You're emotionally invested in this. And you hate it.'

Cordelia could see past her front because it was the same one she'd been putting up. Business as usual, pretending that it wasn't personal. But it was very personal.

Kathy's resolve and calm wavered. She had tried to distance herself in this. Tried to keep it all business. It was in part why she hadn't told the others who she really was. She didn't want to face what she felt. She turned away from Cordy's gaze.

And decided to be honest. 'He was my brother. I can still remember Liam picking me up in his arms, looking after me. I loved him. I remember my childhood so vividly. I still see my brother when I look into Angel's eyes. Not the scoundrel my father used to whip and shout at, but the loving, sweet boy who was the world to me.'

She turned to face Cordelia. 'He was taken away from me once. I won't allow it to happen again.'

'We won't let anything happen to him.' If Cordelia still had any doubts, they were put to rest by the sincerity and emotion in Kathy's voice.

'I know. You're his family,' Kathy replied with a soft smile.

'I may have something here,' Wesley called from the living room.

'And it will happen that in the end of days, a great darkness will fall,' he read as the girls entered. 'And at this time will come a great warrior. He will walk in both worlds, and his life will be in the balance. Neither light nor darkness, and yet both will touch his soul. And the one who is to Shanshu will hold the key. To the light or to the darkness he will bring victory.'

'Oh my god,' Cordelia almost whispered. 'We have to tell Angel.'

'What time is it?' Kathy looked at her watch. Fear pierced her voice. 'It's been nearly three hours since he last called me. He should have been here by now.'

Cordelia picked up her phone and dialled the number of Angel's cell phone. She let it ring and ring.

'No answer,' she said, finally putting it down.

'Maybe he's switched it off,' Wesley offered, not wanting to think the worst. 'You know how much he hates it.'

'Call Gunn,' Kathy told Cordelia. 'Ask him to do a sweep, then to meet me at the hotel.'

She ran to pick up her keys.

'I'm coming with you,' Wesley said, getting up.

'No. Stay here. Wait for Buffy and the others. They should be here anytime. And keep translating. There might be more.' With that she was out the door.

The drive to the Hyperion usually took 20 minutes from Cordy's apartment. Kathy sped, and it only took her ten.

She ran up the path and burst through the doors of the hotel. Just in time to see Angel groggily coming down the stairs from his bedroom. She stopped dead in disbelief.

'Angel, it's barely dawn. What were you doing in bed?'

'I'm not sure. I don't remember going. I guess I was tired. I was just coming down to call you.' He yawned and stretched. 'I feel like hell. What are you doing here?'

'I was worried. You didn't call.'

'I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. I didn't find anything though.'

'Neither did Gunn. But research turned up something. The reason The First wants you so badly.'

Angel sat down, rubbing his eyes then giving her his full attention. 'What did you find?'

'We found an obscure prophesy. It tells of a warrior who will be the deciding factor in the next apocalypse. Whichever side he's on will be the one that is victorious. We think The First believes that the warrior is you.'

'Explaining why Wolfram and Hart are so keen on me losing my soul. If Angelus turns ...'

'... they win,' she finished his thought.

Angel looked exhausted and Kathy was worried about him.

'Let me get you some coffee.'

She turned to the coffee-maker and switched it on. As she began to fill the machine with ground coffee, Angel's head began to ache. Sharp shooting pains cut through his mind as though something was being forced in. His hand shot up to his forehead, trying to soothe the pressure.

'After you drink this, maybe we should head over to Cordelia's,' Kathy said, her back still to Angel. 'You look exhausted. You should get some more sleep before tonight. I'm worried about you.'

Angel removed his hand from his head as the pain subsided. He went vamp-faced.

'You should be.'