"It looks like we're too late," Faith said quietly, as she saw the double doors of the library in pieces on the floor.
"What makes you say that," Maeve asked.
Faith snorted, then said sarcastically, "Let's see: the place looks like a war-zone, and it's too quiet for a battle. Oh! And there's no demons or vamps here. All except Angel, anyway."
As they looked around the room, there was paper and books scattered all over the room. Tables and chairs were upturned or broken. Giles was stuck between two bookshelves that had partially collapsed in on his legs. Oz was sprawled on the ground, looking battered, bruised, and unconscious. Xander lay across a table near the door. Willow was huddled in the far corner of the library. Two Watchers sat nearby, shaking off the effects of what had happened.
Xander groaned, and as he rolled over to sit up, fell off of the table.
"Anybody get the number of that bus that came through here?" Xander spoke as he tried to regain his composer and feet.
Faith's face scrunched up as she looked over at Xander -- who was now leaning on the table he had fallen off of -- then responded, "I don't know, but who was the one who took the 'ugly stick' to your face?"
"An 'ugly demon,'" Xander replied, then asked and said sarcastically, "What the Hell happened to Dead Boy? He run into an army? Nope, couldn't of happened. 'Cause the army was here."
Angel hung limply between Maeve and Faith -- his arms were draped across both of their shoulders as they held him -- his face drawn tightly in some unseen pain. "Buffy," he kept whispering incoherently.
"What is he saying?" Giles pleaded from where he lay pinned to the floor, struggling to free himself.
"Oh, he has been calling Buffy's name for the last 15 minutes," Maeve said as she struggled with the weight of Angel on her shoulder.
As Faith shifted the weight of Angel to keep him from falling to the ground, she said "Yeah. Now could some of you stronger people help us with him?"
"No one's stronger than you, Faith. Except Buffy and Angel…" Willow trailed off as she spotted Oz. Instantly, she was on her feet to go check on him.
Maeve scowled at the two Watchers who were gazing at Angel in mistrust. She said, "Get over here and help us. He is not going to harm you in the state that he is in." The two Watchers jumped to their feet and lifted Angel off of Maeve and Faith. They lead Angel to a chair, which they put back on its legs, and unceremoniously dropped the vampire onto said chair.
As the Watchers quickly backed away, Angel fell to the ground; narrowly missing falling on his face as he suddenly caught himself. With a sharp, indrawn breath, he surged to his feet, looking around wildly in fear.
"Buffy!"
"Not here," Giles grunted, as he finally freed his legs from underneath the bookstands. He stood, and unsteadily walked over to Angel. "She was taken by those who attacked us."
"How?" Faith asked in disbelief.
Giles focused on Faith, then said, "We were all in here, when a large group of demons -- led by two vampires -- burst in through the doors. The vampires immediately focused on Buffy. One of them said -- speaking to Buffy, but everyone as well, 'We have come for the Slayer. We know of the prophecy concerning the souled vampire, and will see its fulfillment.'
"I then asked -- to stall them as Xander secretly grabbed a stake that lay behind him on a table, 'And what prophecy do you speak of?'
"They replied, 'The two who are made one by soul and mind will bring on the re-awakening of St. Vigeous.'"
"No," Maeve gasped in astonishment, panic in her voice. "This was not supposed to happen yet!"
All turned to stare at her, as Angel's eyes narrowed in barely controlled rage. He snarled, nearly growling, "When this is all over, remind me to give you a lesson on filling in all of the fairytale gaps of the prophecy spoken at my birth!"
In the suddenly unbearable silence, Faith asked in confusion, "What prophecy? And who the Hell is St. Vigeous?"
Giles turned to Faith and said, "Well, Faith...St. Vigeous was a monk some 1500 years ago. He gave shelter to the vampires who were caught out before dawn."
"The death of St. Vigeous was tragic, at his funeral, vampires came from all the corners of the world. Many of the Master vampires came as well," Maeve said.
Giles grabbed some books as he continued. "The story goes that he was granted eternal life for his generous nature. Eternal life from the first vampire to ever be created. When he arose, he was very powerful."
Maeve nodded her agreement, and said, "Yes he was, but he retained his identity in the church when he came back to life. The church hid him from the daylight and allowed him to continue his good deeds…until he began killing and gaining power throughout the kingdom. He amassed a vast following, but he never sired any vampires. As the Church discussed what to do, other priests were preparing to entomb him in a crypt and make sure that he would not ever arise again."
Maeve moved towards Angel and looked into his eyes. "Your actions remind me of what I read about him."
Angel looked down, away from Maeve's accusing gaze. / You don't know how right you are, distant child of my blood. \
Putting a load of books on the checkout counter, Giles turned around and asked suspiciously, "Maeve, what are you trying to say?"
Maeve -- without taking her eyes off of Angel -- said to Giles, "Some of the priests in the church where St. Vigeous was staying were Angel's human ancestors. One of those ancestors was Turned by St. Vigeous before said vampire was entombed."
A long silence fell, before Giles asked, "Do we know the name of the one Turned?"
"Yes," Maeve said. "You would know him as the Master. As with what happened with St. Vigeous, the Master only sired one other in his life: Darla. And she in turn only sired one."
In the silence that fell, Angel could hear each and every individual heartbeat in the room.
"Dear God," Giles whispered. "That would make Angel the great-grandchilde of St. Vigeous."
Everyone looked at Angel, as Angel turned to look away. The air was still.
Maeve broke the moment, while changing the subject, saying, "Did the vampires say or do anything else that would give us an indication of where they were going?"
Giles narrowed his eyes and glanced at Angel and Maeve. With suspicion in his voice, he asked, "Is there something that you two are not telling us?"
Xander moved towards them all, clearly angry, as he said, "Hey, if you two are not going to help us find Buffy then the others and I will."
Angel snapped his head up and glared at Xander, beginning to bare his teeth in rage. He snarled, "There is no one in this room who is not worried about her safety more than I!"
Maeve took in a deep breath, she knew it was time to reveal the prophecy of St. Vigeous. She said, "There is much to tell, and not enough time. I need to make a few phone calls, and then I want everyone to meet at the airport at nine pm. I will explain what I can on the way."