Loaded with the supplies they went back to Cordy's car. The sun had now set, and Kathy had picked up several weapons on their way out the door, just in case. As Cordelia set her bag down to unlock her car, the first vampire attacked.
Lindsey had tracked Kathy down and sent five vampires after her as the First had instructed. One vampire grabbed Kathy and spun her to the ground. Four more came out of the shadows to surround the girls.
Swinging her axe around, Kathy caught the vamp under the chin, knocking him backwards. She jumped to her feet and threw the axe to Cordy and pulled out two stakes.
'Boys, we really don't have time for this,' she said in an off-hand voice that hid her true fear. They so did not have time for this.
'You don't have a lot of time left,' said the vampire getting to his feet. He nursed his jaw as he snarled at her. 'You really shouldn't have done that. Now I'm gonna have to make your deaths painful.'
Kathy smiled. She just hoped that all her strength was back by now. She aimed the stakes at him and another vamp to his left.
'You're not gonna get close enough to use those,' he sneered.
'Close?' she asked as the two stakes shot out of her hands and into both vamps' hearts. The cocky expressions slid off their faces as they exploded into dust. Cordelia watched in awe.
'Wow!' she exclaimed as another vampire ran at her. She caught him out of the corner of her eye just in time and turned, swinging the axe. He staggered back as blood flowed from his stomach.
The other two vampires squared up to Kathy, watching her hands for signs of weapons. Pulling back her coat, she drew a sword she had concealed there as the vamps ran at her. With a wave of her hand she flung one over the trunk of the car. The other grabbed her arm as she swung the sword. He pinned her down on the car, his hand at her throat, squeezing.
'Sorry witch, this is where you get off,' he said before turning to dust. Cordelia stood there, stake in hand. She pulled Kathy to her feet.
'Are we having fun yet?' she said ironically as Kathy lifted her sword.
'Cordy, duck!'
The other vamp had gotten to his feet and was making a lunge for Cordelia. Steel flashed, and his head hit the ground before it, and the rest of him, turned to dust.
'Let's get out of here.'
As the sun set and Angelus prepared to leave, Drusilla began to have one of her turns. She swooned and collapsed to the bed, moaning.
'What is it Dru?' Angelus asked. 'What do you see?'
'The Slayer!' she cried. 'She's here to spoil the lovely party.'
'Buffy. She's here?' He slammed his hand into the wall. 'Cordelia must have called her after all. Damn it!'
'Now, now pet. Don't get all worked up,' Darla put her hand on his arm. 'Just one more pest from your past for you to kill. Unless there's still something between you.'
'You're not jealous are you, Darla?' he teased, grabbing her round the waist. 'She's only a little mortal. She lacked your passion. Your,' he kissed her neck, 'staying power.'
'Would you like us to come with you?' she asked as her ravaged her neck.
'Some backup would be nice. Just in case. But the kill is mine.'
'I wouldn't have it any other way.'
'They should have been back by now,' said a worried Buffy. 'We said an hour.'
'Maybe Kathy still wasn't feeling well,' Willow suggested.
'And that's another thing. I don't like the idea of her doing this ritual when she's weak. It's too dangerous.'
'Thanks for worrying, but I'm fine,' came Kathy's voice. She and Cordelia entered, carrying the supplies. 'Willow, did you and Tara get everything.'
'Yep. The magic store near here is fantastic!' Willow realised what she's said and looked at Giles sheepishly. 'But not as good as the Magic Box.'
'Have you worked out a plan?' Kathy looked at Buffy.
'I'll keep Angel busy, with Gunn, Wesley and Giles backing me up. How long do you need for the ritual?'
'Around five minutes to start off with. Then it's up to Angel, how hard it is to convince him to fight back. Once we do that, Angelus should be out of commission. Then all you need to worry about are Darla and Drusilla.'
'I'll meet Angel head on. Make sure he doesn't know what's going on,' Buffy said. She turned to Giles. 'You, Wesley and Gunn circle the perimeter of the gardens. Don't let any vamps get close to the ritual. We better get going and set up. They might get here at any time.'
They each gathered up weapons and magic supplies and made for the door.
Buffy kept to the shadows. She figured her best defence was that Angel didn't know she was in town. She had the element of surprise on her side. She hoped it would be enough as she saw Angel approach the apartment building flanked by Darla and Dru.
Willow, Tara and Kathy had set up the protective circle with Cordelia's help, while the others readied their weapons. Kathy checked over the ritual once more. Everything was ready.
'We'd better start,' she told the others.
Moving into the centre of the circle she, Willow and Tara joined hands. Closing her eyes, Kathy raised her face towards the nearly full moon.
'Hecate, send down your power to bless and protect us this night. Thrice around the circle bound, evil sink into the ground.'
'Thrice around the circle bound, evil sink into the ground,' repeated Willow, followed by Tara.
'Thrice around the circle bound, evil sink into the ground.'
The perimeter of the circle began to glow, as a protective shield rose up around them. They knelt to the ground as Kathy began the ritual.
Placing an amulet around her neck, she chanted, 'By the powers of the four directions, by the powers of earth, air, fire and water, I offer this sacrifice. Take me to the holy place. Guide me to the vampire's soul, that he may be restored.' She began dropping ingredients into the cauldron at the circle's centre.
'May the elements raise her spirit,' Tara continued, 'take her to the holy place. Let the spirits of the Powers be her guide.'
Willow began anointing her with oil, as Tara dropped herbs into the cauldron. 'Bless and protect her, Hecate. Bring her to her brother's soul. Let our spirits be her anchor to the earthly plane.'
'Hello lover,' said Angelus without turning around. He sensed Buffy's presence in the shadows. 'Even if Dru hadn't told me she was here,' he thought, 'I still would have sensed her.'
Buffy stepped out of the shadows as he turned to face her. She saw fresh blood on his lips. 'You been snacking on the way here?'
'Just a small appetiser. You're the main course.'
'I'm touched, really.' She looked past him towards Darla. 'You're looking healthier than when I last saw you, Darla. A lot less dusty.'
'Why thank you, Buffy,' Darla smiled. 'All thanks to Angelus here. You'd be amazed what he's done for me.'
'Now Darla, don't go making poor Buffy feel inadequate. I mean, she is, but ...'
'Are we gonna fight tonight, or are you going to bore me to death?'
'Oh no, love. I have a much more interesting plan for you,' Angelus replied as he lunged at her.
Buffy ducked out of the way and caught him with a round kick. He rolled and got back onto his feet in one easy move.
'Oh, this is gonna be fun,' he laughed.
Willow finished anointing Kathy and picked up a pair of scissors. Gently taking a piece of Kathy's hair, she snipped it off and placed it in the cauldron.
'Hecate, accept this sacrifice. Be her guide to the dark place,' she said.
The glowing of the circle intensified, radiating all around them. Willow and Tara joined hands over Kathy, who was being taken over by the light. She felt it fill her entire body, so much so that she could hardly breathe. She felt herself lose control of her limbs, as if all her strength, her very spirit, were being removed.
She raised her eyes to the moon, crying out in Romani,
'Te implor Doamne, nu ignora accasta rugaminte! Asa sa fie! Acum!'
(I call on you, gods, do not ignore this supplication! Let it be so! Now!)
Willow and Tara began to chant, 'Hecate, protect her.'
Kathy felt a sudden rush go through her body, forcing the breath out of her. Her entire body went limp and she fell backwards as her spirit lifted away.
'It worked,' Giles said, quietly relieved.
Cordelia heard a noise as the vampires attacked.