"What are we here for this time," Xander asked as he and Willow walked into the study where Angel had asked everyone to meet. "I'm getting pretty tired of these meetings."
"There won't be anymore," Angel said quietly and firmly, "after this one."
"Why's that," asked Willow as she sat down beside Oz, who was already in the room when she and Xander walked in.
"Because there have been some terrible mistakes made, and we must remedy them as soon as possible," said Giles quietly.
"Like what," Xander asked.
Maeve said from where she sat beside Giles, "There are many, but the first is mine... I have taken you from your studies, and your families. That is inexcusable."
"No skin off my back," muttered Xander.
"Another," Giles said as he wiped his glasses, not looking at anyone, "is that we have unwittingly left the Hellmouth unprotected since we left. I was not even aware of this until Angel brought it to my attention."
"Oh boy," Willow whispered, wide-eyed.
Angel gazed at Willow for a moment, then stood, and went over to a window that showed the nearly blood-red moon. In a grim voice, he said, "The moon's also only three days from full." He looked towards Oz. "And Oz says that he would prefer to take on the were-shape in familiar territory... Since he is not sure how the wolf would react in unfamiliar surroundings."
Oz nodded his agreement, as Dru -- who had remained unnoticed in a shadowed corner of the room -- giggled, before saying, "Blood, blood everywhere." She pouted, then sauntered over to stand behind Angel. "But not a drop to drink." She leaned down, and wrapped her arms around him, and whispered, "Daddy, when can I eat?"
Calmly, Angel turned his head to gaze at his childe out of one eye. He said quietly, "Not now, Dru. Remember what you promised me."
Dru's pout turned into a scowl. She roughly pushed away from Angel, and hissed, "You're not playing nice!"
Ignoring Dru, Angel turned back to the Scooby Gang and said, "Maeve has made arrangements for all of you to go back to Sunnydale in about three hours. I am sorry to have pulled you all into something that is beyond what you're all capable of handling."
"So that's why we're here, huh," Xander stated more than asked. "We're not needed, so we're being carted back home." He paused, then snapped, "I don't think so!"
"What's your problem!" Faith said crossly from where she sat beside Angel. "Ever since I've met you, all you've done is complain!"
Xander rolled his eyes, and said sarcastically, "Look who's talking, Miss 'I AM the Slayer'!"
As Faith started to rise out of her chair in anger, Angel put a hand firmly on her shoulder, forcing her to stay seated. Quietly he asked, "Xander, why don't you want to leave?"
Xander sneered at Angel as he said, "Because I'm not leaving Buffy's fate in your hands...Deadboy!"
Quietly, Angel stood, walked over to Xander, then leaned on the table, 'til he was eye-to-eye with the teenager. Softly yet firmly, the souled vampire said, "You have no choice in this matter, Xander. You have done all that can be done. Let those who know what they're doing finish this."
Xander moved back slightly in his chair, and said with not as much conviction as before, "I'm not going."
"Then you will die," Angel said bluntly. "You will just get in the way, and dieing is the best possibility. The worst would be you being Turned."
"I can handle myself!" Xander said defensively. "I've faced you soulless, haven't I?"
"Xander, you are going back to Sunnydale...and that's final," Angel said, his voice flat. "You may have faced my demon, but what Faith and I will be facing makes me look like a walk in the park... Got that?"
Xander looked down from Angel's honest gaze, nodded, and mumbled, "Alright. I'll go back."
Straightening up, Angel said, "Good." He then turned his gaze to the other Scooby Gang members. "All except Maeve, Faith, and Dru need to go. What I wish to discuss now is not for anyone else to hear."
Everyone stood, and as they were leaving, Willow walked over to Angel and Faith. Once she was in front of them, she said, "I want to give you guys something." She held up a gold-chained necklace, with an obsidian stone in it. "This should help protect you somewhat from the side-effect of the blood moon, Angel. I hope it helps"
Angel smiled faintly as he took the necklace. As he put it on, Willow held up a similar necklace to Faith, but with a tigereye stone instead of an obsidian stone, and said, "I hope this helps you with what you need to do, Faith. It's all I could do on short notice."
Blinking her eyes, Faith took the necklace from Willow, then threw her arms around the Wiccan. "Thanks," she whispered hoarsely.
After a moment, Willow withdrew from Faith, and looked over at Angel. He nodded towards the door, a gentle smile of understanding on his lips. With a faint smile of her own, Willow left.
Within the study, only Angel, Faith, Maeve, and Drusilla remained. All others having left as Angel had ordered. The sun was near setting, as the almost full moon could be seen rising, red as blood.
"What do you know of the Sword of Kells," Angel asked, as he drew on a sketchpad, his gaze focused on what he was doing.
"Besides the fact that it has been missing since your Turning?" Maeve stated. "There has not been much said. It has been shrouded in mystery and no one seems to really have the true answers of what has happened to it."
"I have seen it many times in my dreams and not understood its meaning...until now. I need to ask Faith something, be I'm not sure if she's ready," said Angel.
"Ask me what," Faith said.
Angel tossed the sketchpad onto the table as Faith walked over to stand opposite of the vampire, and looked down and saw the sword. Her eyes closed and opened slightly -- as if in shock --, she shook her head in disbelief, as her breath drew in sharply.
She began to tremble again. Angel leapt over the table and felt a force that gently pushed him back, as the Slayer raised her arms -- hands up, palms out -- towards him. Faith rose into the air -- her head nearly touching the ceiling --, and looked down at Angel with a distant look.
Angel knew it was no longer Faith inside, as she said in a haunting voice, "It is I who can only help you unlock the door to where the Sword of Kells is, to kill the blood of your evil kin. He has brought disgrace and dishonor to the house of Kells. You are the Chosen Champion to fight him. Save your beloved as you have saved this soul, and you will be rewarded justly."
Faith gently fell to the ground, landing on her feet. The room was silent as Angel walked up to her. She looked him straight in the eye, saying with determination, "I will help you. We must go to Stonehenge now!"
Without hesitation Faith walked out of the room, as if she was now in charge of her own power. Angel stood there in awe, not knowing what he had saved that night, so many years ago. He smiled inside, and was glad that he had.
Angel followed Faith, leaving Maeve alone with Drusilla. With a shrewd sidelong glance, Dru said smugly, "Daddy's rules now," and left the room, following her sire and the Slayer.
In the silence, Maeve whispered, "I will not let her go!"
As if the unusually warm air did not affect Angel or Faith they stood there, looking out into the night, waiting for the others to come. It was as if their souls were connected. Dru stood to one side, gazing at the two, a faint knowing smile tracing her lips.
Maeve stood with several Watchers and watched the scene. Hatred grew within her. One of the Watchers motioned to her, bringing her attention to the Scooby Gang coming towards them.
She did not move at first, then turned towards them and looked at Giles, when they reached her. She said, "I guess this is where we part, my brother. May your journey be a safe one."
Giles turned to look at Angel and Faith, and whispered, "As well as yours."
Willow walked over to the souled vampire and Slayer, as the two Watchers/half-siblings talked. Faith turned and smiled, as the Wiccan reached them.
"Willow, I am glad to see you before you leave," she said.
Willow smiled shyly, and said, "I am too. I have one more gift for you Faith. It's from my heart."
From Willow's pocket laced in leather was a rose crystal that was intertwined with an amethyst stone. She tied it to the Slayer's wrist, then hugged her tightly.
"Please don't forget us."
Faith stepped back as a tear fell from the corner of her eye, and whispered softly, "I won't."
The Scooby Gang took one last look at the Slayer and souled vampire, and boarded their flight. Once the jet was in the air, Angel escorted Faith to the other plane that was waiting for them, the Watchers having already boarded.
In the air, Angel sat in the front of the jet with Drusilla, Maeve and the other Watchers sat in the middle, while Faith sat in the back.
Faith drew up her knees to her chest. Something within her was changing inside, and she could not fight it. She stood up, and moved farther away from the others. Angel sensing the movement, turned and watched in concern as the Slayer curled up into a corner.
As if out of nowhere, the first rip of pain seared down Faith's spine. Her back arched, and she opened her mouth to scream. Not a sound came out of her. In wild panic, she called out within her mind, "Angel...HELP MEEE!"
Angel rose, and ran down the aisle, as Maeve and the other Watchers rose from their own seats, and followed him to stop him.
The souled vampire turned with his vampiric face evident, and looked at them with rage. With a low growl, he said "Leave!"
Dru came up from behind the Watchers, with full game face on. In a hiss, she said, "Do as my Daddy says...or I won't be responsible for what Daddy will do."
They slide in-between the seats, as Dru moved towards Angel to back him up. The Watchers gazed in uneasy fear, as the two vampires stood there, the full terrifying glory of their natures evident.
Angel looked long at Maeve -- a look laden with deadly warning --, then turned to Dru. He nodded curtly -- once --, accepting her role as guardian at this time.
He turned back to Faith. Her back was still arched, and it looked like she was screaming. He knelt down to hold her. As he touched her, a jolt of energy went into him, then back to Faith. Silence -- except for the humming of the jet engines, then the Slayer gasped in sharply. She screamed. It sounded as though she was being torn from the inside out.
Angel held tighter, and wondered what kind of trial Faith was enduring.
Faiths' eyes were filled with immense light, and her head hurt. Her body was on fire. She felt like she was rolling in the very flames of Hell, but could not get away. Then, out of nowhere, the intense pain stopped.
Suddenly, an unseen thrust to her gut belted her, and knocked her out of Angel's arms. Angel lunged to grab her. Blood spewed from her mouth as she clutched her stomach, and as she began to shake uncontrollably. Her body was so cold she could not move. She tried to move, to once again be assaulted by an unseen opponent. She was kicked backed as Angel went flying with her.
Their bodies were slammed against the plane wall. Faith looked up in her mind's eye, and saw as two hands came towards her. They grabbed her, and thrust her up into the air, as -- once again -- Angel grabbed for her. A wind that should not have been took hold of her, and ripped her flesh as if it were rice paper. She screamed in agonizing pain as the wind disappeared, and landed harshly on the plane's floor. Blood was running everywhere.
Angel kept to her side, his heart ached to see the pain that she was in. Then before he could help ease her pain, an unseen force pulled her away from him. Her body went up into the air, as -- out of nowhere -- lighting flashed and began striking her.
It was then that Faiths' body went erect, and things became calm.
"Faith," a voice murmured soothingly within her mind.
The voice was so angelic to her. She turned to the sound. There stood before a man and woman. They smiled. Faith was not sure who spoke next.
"We are so glad to see our precious one again."
Faith noticed -- for the first time -- that she felt no pain, and that all the wounds were gone. She looked at the man and women again, and they motioned for her to come towards them.
Cautiously, she moved towards them. Then she tried to speak to them. Again, she did not know who spoke.
"Think, don't speak, our childe. As you do with the Souled One."
"Who are you? And why am I here?"
"We are the Oracles... Your parents."
"No... I have no parents... They died a-a long time...a long time ago."
Faith looked at them closely, and at their peaceful faces. She turned away, unable to look upon such peace. The female moved towards Faith.
"Those were your mortal parents, child of our spirits," she softly said.
"You may be of their blood, but your soul was created from our ethereal forms," the male Oracle said. "A form you must be prepared to take upon in time."
"Then what does this make me right now? I ask again who am I...and what role do I have in all of this?"
"These answers can only be answered when the Champion receives the Sword of the Kells. You have only passed the first test of truth. The next test will be the test of heart."
The female brushed Faith's face and smiled with pride. Faith saw them moving away from her, farther and farther away.
She could feel her Angel for the first time. She was in his arms and was looking into his anxious filled eyes. She tried to move, and winced pain.
Angel stilled Faith's movements, and murmured softly, "Don't move Faith. I wish I hadn't made you take this on."
"Angel, it is alright. It is only a scratch that a band aid or twenty couldn't fix."
For once Angel smiled, and held her close, wishing he could take upon him the burden she must bear. A faint growl from Drusilla made Angel look up at Maeve and the other Watchers. The look within their eyes told him that they had something planned, and that he should be even more wary than he had been before. For Faith, as well as himself.
Just then, a Watcher from the cockpit said, "We're there."