"I killed him Giles!" Buffy cried the next day at the library. "I killed him and then crushed his bones so that he couldn't ever come back! This is so not happening."

Even though she stayed home from school and slept all day, she still wasn't feeling any better. The possible resurrection of The Master weighted heavily on her brain.

"I fear that it is." Giles said, sitting down in front of her, cleaning his glasses. "You see, your crushing the Master's skeleton preluded any further attempt to reanimate him as a being of flesh and bone. But it is possible that a skilled necromancer could resurrect him in a disembodied state, as a kind of phantom. On the bright side, however, the Master would be in a relatively weakened state in this spectral form and the collapse of the church may have well terminated his resurrection at a critical point."

Buffy stared at him blankly.

"You're completely guessing, aren't you?"

"Call it an hypothesis. Frankly, what truly baffles me is Spike's involvement in all this. All of this - the regrouping of the Order, the summoning of Matereani, the possible resurrection of the Master - logic dictates that this isn't Spike's plan. But if not Spike's, then whose? And to what dark purpose?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Wait, wait. The Master was in a dream I had the other night. That's not a huge surprise; he's made dream cameos that didn't mean anything. But maybe there's more to it. Besides the Master, there were these three nasty demons, like the patron saints of S&M and self-mutilation or something. They had these weird symbols on their noggins that looked something like this."

Buffy showed him a sketch of the symbol she drew from her dream.

"It appears to be a sigil of some kind. I'll add this to the research I'm doing on the tattoos worn by those two distinctive vampires you fought."

"Hey, Giles, maybe I should work with this talisman?" Willow perked up, indicating the talisman Buffy had in her hand, the one she took from Matereani last night.

"If I can muster the spell that controls it, I might be able to reverse it."

Giles shook his head.

"That isn't quite how the Tedarke talisman works, Willow. The necromantic power was in the necromancer. The talisman is charged with magical energy that allows the wearer to focus on his or her mystical abilities. It is a potent tool for witchcraft, but I'm afraid that it can also prove quite dangerous. Unless properly controlled, the talisman's power can corrupt the wearer. I'm not entirely convinced that you're ready to handle so powerful a tool. However, in light of recent events it may be prudent for you to begin training with it immediately."

Willow grinned eagerly.

"With my supervision of course." Giles added.

"Of course! Gotta keep me from going to the dark side. Or just, Y'know, turning everyone into pigs and making the school disappear."

"You will need to take every possible precaution if you are to attempt to master the power of the talisman."

"Gotcha. Precaution, now my middle name."

Buffy walked up to Willow and handed her the glowing talisman.

"You heard Giles, be careful with that thing. Practice safe magic."

"Not a single worry. I'm all about the caution."

"Oz is gonna want his girl in one piece when he gets back." Buffy said. Willow's cheeks reddened.

"And now I've got all kinds of exciting images in my head…And, I'm blushing."

Buffy thought about the situation for a moment.

Angel would know what to do.

She turned back around to face the rest of the Scoobs. Giles was still sitting in his chair, and Xander and Cordelia were sitting at the desk, listening intently.

"Okay. You guys keep up with the research. I'm gonna go see Angel. If anyone can figure out why Spike's back in Sunnydale, it'll be him."

"Sure, that oughta be constructive." Cordelia said. "Time well spent, provided you don't Y'know, succumb to temptation and turn him evil, again."

"Now, Cordelia, we're all a bit wary of Angel, and with reason. But you well know it's far more complicated than that." Giles said. Buffy was glad he was on her side.

Thanks Giles.

"I just know I could never spend that much time with him…or anyone else who might suddenly decide to kill me in my sleep." Cordelia said.

"And yet you're here with us. Imagine that. Look, while everyone bones up on sigils and resurrections, I'll head over to the mansion and bone up on Angel." Everyone stared at her, disgusted. "That so didn't come out right."

Cordelia rolled her eyes.

I swear one day, that girl's eyes are going to roll to the back of her head.

"That's right. Trot off to the lair of your broody Jekyll & Hyde demon lover in the middle of a crisis. Talk about priorities."

"The last time demons attacked the library, you and Xander were canoodling on Giles' desk while the rest of us tried to avoid decapitation." Buffy said.

"Good lord! Could we please stay out of the librarian's office?" Giles piped in. "And what happened to my antique letter opener? I'd always assumed that one of the Fraxis demons took it, but, perhaps I don't want to know."

"Just try to make yourself useful, Cordelia." Buffy said.

"Are you sure we need to involve tall, dark and brooding?" Xander asked.

"If anyone can predict what Spike will do, it's Angel." Buffy answered

"Is he the good Angel or the bad Angel this week? Sometimes I forget." he said sarcastically.

"Not helpful, Xand. Hitting the books? That's helpful."

"Actually, I've developed this bizarre narcolepsy. I read about dusty old magic, fall right to sleep."

"Okay, Angel's got the dark broody thing going on," Cordelia said. "But he's so pale and depressing. It wouldn't kill him to smile sometimes, maybe get some sun." she looked up to see the gang staring at her in disbelief. "Okay, that would kill him, but still…"

Xander jumped up from his seat, attempted to kill the uncomfortable silence.

"So, if nobody needs me for a snack run, I was thinking I'd head on over to the Alibi Room to see what kind of info I can intimidate, or possibly beat out of our favorite snitch, Willy."

"Or possibly buy. Cause intimidation is not your strong suit." Cordelia said.

"Hmm, and if I must resort to the buying, that would require cash." Xander thought out loud.

"Take Cordelia with you then." Buffy suggested. "But try not to take the scenic route."

"Buffy, it's a crisis. What do you take me for?"

"Go. Do not stop for nookie."

"Going." Xander said. Cordelia rose up, and the both of them walked out the library.

Buffy turned to face Giles.

"I'm headed over to the mansion now. Find all you can about the sigils. I'm counting on you, Giles."

"Yes, Buffy, of course. I believe there's a tome by Kraus that could give me some insight into the sigils. Though it may take me some time to find it."

Buffy shrugged her shoulders.

"Could be someone checked it out."

"Of here?"

---

Angel meditated silently in his dojo. He let his mind flow freely as he slowly and quietly, moved about the room, broadsword in his hand. He found himself doing that often, especially since after he came back from the Hell dimension and recovered from the trauma of years of torment. He would come into the dojo, tie a blindfold over his eyes, and practice with his sword. It helped take his mind off of things. Things were going to start getting hectic now that Buffy's friends found out about his return.

He eased his mind and thought about the beautiful things in life: his favorite Barry Manilow songs, his favorite poems, Buffy…

Angel snapped his arm back quickly and connected with the demon that snuck up behind him. The demon screeched and fell back. He performed a full 180 with the sword. He felt little resistance as the he cut through the demon's midsection, slicing him in half.

Angel took off the blindfold. Over a dozen Hanoch demons stood in the dojo, some of them clinging to the high walls. He turned around and noticed at least a dozen more dotting the walls all around him.

There's too many of them, there's no way I can kill them all.

The Hanoch demons looked down to see what Angel did to their fellow comrade, and attacked. The first of them took the end of the sword to its throat. Angel quickly withdrew and swung the sword around, fending off the other advancing demons as it dropped to the ground in gurgling, gasping, breaths.

Angel managed to hack through three of the advancing demons. He swung the broadsword in a long arc, decapitating a few more of them. He continued to maneuver the sword, slicing through their spiny bodies, but there were still too many of them. It seemed like two would replace everyone he killed. He was starting to grow tired.

A demon from behind him leaped high in the air and kicked out at his hand, knocking the sword from his grip. Another demon in front of him took advantage of the opportunity and lashed out at him. Angel yelled out in pain as its long claws rammed into his abdomen. White, hot pain jolted from his pierced gut and traveled along his body.

He lashed out in anger, swiping through the crowd of Hanoch blocking the way out. He couldn't fight them all off, not without a better weapon. He fought his way through the dojo, eager to reach the weapons closet in his bedroom.

---

Buffy opened up the double doors to the old estate where Angel currently resided. The large room was deserted. Buffy walked in, looking around for signs of Angel. The whole room was silent, except the crackling sound from the fire in the fireplace and her own shallow breathing.

"Angel? Anybody home?" no one answered. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Angel suddenly appeared, walking slowly into the large living room. He was holding his stomach, blood spilling from the wound onto the marble floor.

"Buffy! Go! You have to get out of here." he said in a strained voice.

"Angel, what is it? What's wrong?" she asked him worriedly.

"Get out while you can. If they take me, you'll be the only one who could save me."

"Angel, what are you talking about? Who's they?"

A spiny figure launched from the corner of the room and struck Angel in the side of the head. His eyes rolled to the back of his head. He fell limply to the floor. The double doors leading out to the courtyard opened up. Spike and the long-haired vampire Buffy fought back in the library walked in.

"Hey, Slayer. Nice to be seeing you again. If you don't mind, me and my friend here will take him off your hands for you. One less load for you to carry."

The other vampire hoisted Angel up over his shoulder, and headed out they way they came.

"Oh, and don't try to follow us."

Spike closed the door behind him. Buffy ran after but was stopped as the demon jumped in her path. He let out an ear piercing scream. Green smoke spilled out of his maws, engulfing the double doors Spike and the other vamp went out of. The green smoke formed a gelatin-like barrier around the door. Buffy didn't know how powerful it was, but she was sure the demon really wasn't planning on letting her out.

"Time to thrash first, ask questions later."

The demon leaped up and clinged onto the walls. It skittered across the walls on all fours.

Then it quickly leaped off, towards her. Buffy dodged out of the way, barely avoiding it as it landed on the floor where she one stood. The demon came at her, slashing at her with its sharp claws. Buffy swiftly dodged each of it swings, then came in with a powerful blow with both palms onto its chest, causing it to flail back, and into the fireplace. The demon screamed in pain as its frail body burned in the fire. Green smoke emitted from the burning corpse, and the demon stopped screaming.

Buffy turned to see the barrier dissipating from the glass double doors. She jogged up to them and opened them up into the courtyard, keeping her eyes peeled for Spike.

---

Willow held the Tedarke talisman in the palm of her hand, studying its power. She felt the talisman's power and understood Giles' concern. She could almost feel the talisman trying to take her over, to swallow her up in its darkness.

Giles walked in from the library, holding a big bag of supplies from the local magic shop.

"I found all of the stuff we are going to need for the spell, Willow. Study the instructions carefully. What we are about to attempt may be very dangerous."

"Yeah, got that part already. I studied the talisman a little more while you were gone, I see what you mean. I think I can handle it though. When I get done with it, I will be able to control it enough to help Buffy. Of course, with you looking over my shoulder."

"Yes, of course. I'll look up more information on the sigils from Buffy's dream."

"Good. Let's get crackin."

Willow pulled out the spell book and studied the ingredients.

This is going to be harder than I thought.

---

Buffy grabbed the green rectangle she found on sitting by the wall in the hallway.

"This has gotta be a key. Now, if I can just find the lock it fits into."

She ran through the doors straight ahead and made a left, into a stone chamber. On the far wall were three protrusions, each colored differently.

"All right! Ye old 'n' wacky security system."

Buffy stuck the rectangle into the green hole. A click sounded somewhere in the mansion.

"Damn. Why do the bizzarro antique security systems all require more than one key?"

She walked out of the room, and headed back to the courtyard. Once she got to the double doors leading out to the yard, another barrier of green Jell-O formed around the door, blocking the way out.

Buffy immediately kicked out as the demon leaped into the air over the railing by the stone steps where she now stood. Her foot connected with its chest. It fell back down and landed hard onto a wooden table, splintering it in the process. Buffy leaped off the staircase, landing by the fallen demon on the broken table. Buffy locked the demon's scrawny head in her arms and twisted. Its neck snapped with a sickening pop.

Buffy waited for the barrier to dissipate, wondering why it wasn't after she already killed the demon, when something struck her in the back. Buffy fell forward. Another demon struck her again in the back of her head and she fell face first. The demon jumped on top of her, claws planted firmly in her back. Hot spittle dribbled on top of her head as the demon brought its face forward to snap her neck in its jaws.

Buffy snapped her head back, smashing it against the demon's face. She put both palms on the floor and jumped up, knocking the demon on its back. Buffy grabbed her stake and slammed it down on the back of its neck. The demon gurgled and spasmed in pain, then it stopped. Green mist spilled from its dead form, and the barrier lowered.

Buffy walked out into the courtyard. She walked past the pool of water, and made a right towards the single door leading to Angel's bedroom. Another demon jumped out, catching her off guard. It slapped her hard across the face. She fell back and landed into a pile of gardening equipment. She picked herself up, and reached down and grabbed a rake.

"When in doubt, try a garden implement."

She charged forward and swung the rake in an arc, towards the demon. The demon was flung through the air from the impact, and slammed hard against the wall. She heard its skull crack from the impact before it hit the ground. Buffy came up and rammed the handle of the rake into its spine. The demon released one last screech, and died.

---

Angel woke up suddenly. The last thing he remembered seeing was Buffy. She had just come in through the front. She wore a purple and black tank top with grey sweatpants. She was staring at him worriedly, wondering what was going on. He had just finished fending off a huge group of Hanoch demons, only to be stabbed in the gut by one of them with its long, sharp claws.

Angel sat up, but was brought back down quickly by the blinding pain in his abdomen, the wound still fresh.

"Don't bother getting back up, mate." someone said. He recognized the voice.

"Spike."

"Glad to know you still remember me, Angel. Makes a person feel all soft inside. Good thing I'm not really a person, yeah?"

"You're right. You're a monster." Angel retorted.

"Thanks. Wow Angel, even after kidnapping you after allowing my demons to beat the bloody hell out of you, you still decided to exchange a few kind words."

"What are you doing here, Spike?" he asked.

"The question is, Nancy Boy, what are you dong here? Word on the streets is you managed to piss off your ex-girlfriend enough for her to banish you to hell. How is it down there, by the way? Did you manage to spread out my good name while they were torturing you?"

"You've made a bad mistake coming here, Spike."

"That's where your wrong, Angelus." another voice said.

Angel snapped his head up at the familiarity of the voice. A spectral form of his grandsire, The Master, hovered up to him, next to Spike.

"It is YOU who made a bad mistake. Ah, but of course, its all how you look at it." The Master said.

The Master floated up to him and transformed into a cloud of smoke. The smoke trailed to his face, and entered into his nostrils. Angel could feel the Master's essence within him as he invaded his body. He fought back, keeping the Master from taking over his mind. The Master was too strong, even in spectral form. Angel felt himself getting weaker. He began to lose control of his actions. His body gave in and the Master took over. He could still hear, see and smell all that was happening around him, but he couldn't do anything. He watched as the Master stood up to face Spike.

"That was bloody impressive." Spike said.

"I am in control now, Spike. For now on, everything that I say, goes. Do you understand me?" The Master in his body said.

Spike looked like he wanted to protest, but gave up, knowing the effort would be fruitless, even fatal.

"Sure, you're the master. No pun intended, by the way. What now?"

"We will hunt the Slayer. She is the reason why I am in this situation. She killed me awhile ago, and I will not stand for that. It is time to return the favor."

Spike let out a pained smile.

"Your call. I'll get my boys."

---

"Angel?" Buffy called out as she entered the dojo. Inside was a mess, limbs and torsos of the spiny green-spitting demons were scattered all about. She saw a long sword sitting on the floor on the opposite end. Next to it, stood the vampire slut she whooped on earlier. Buffy noticed with hidden amusement that she was still bruised up. She turned around to face Buffy. She walked slowly up to the center of the room. Buffy stifled a laugh as she noticed the vampire's limp.

"Looking for you lover, Sssslayer?" the vamp asked her. "The vampire with a sssoul. An abomination. Sssorry he won't be yoursss for much longer."

The vampire suddenly changed form. Her mouth opened inhumanly wide, growing into a huge maw. Her fingers curled up into long claws. The bottom half of her body melted together then stretched out at least seven feet wider. She looked like a snake with arms.

"Now that is just gross."

---

Xander and Cordelia walked into the Alibi Room. The bar was a place where most vampires and demons came to drink and share stories. Willy, the owner of the bar, would occasionally overhear them talking, and get a lot of info on nasty stuff going down on the Hellmouth. He gave out all the information the Scoobs needed, in exchange for an ass-kicking from Buffy, thus branding him the nickname Willy the Snitch. Xander went with her on occasions. He loved watching the little weasel buckle under pressure from Buffy's threats. He studied Buffy when she threatened him, to see how he himself would be able to do it in case an opportunity like this one would come up. Time to show his stuff.

Willy looked up nervously as he saw him walk up with Cordelia, but he calmed down a bit after noticing Buffy wasn't with them.

"If it isn't our favorite snitch Willy. How you doin?"

"You know, business as usual." Willy answered. "How about you?"

"We need some information, and you are going to give it to us." Xander said in his best tough-guy voice. "What do you know about the Order of Aurelius and their little plans?"

Willy looked at him as straight as possible.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Let me help you refresh your memory."

Xander reached over and punched Willy in the side of the face. He brought it back quickly and cradled his tender hand in his arms.

"Okay, ow. That was dumb."

"Tell me about it." Cordelia said rolling her eyes. "Let me handle it."

She put on her award-winning May Queen smile and turned to Willy, who was holding his cheek in pain.

"Hi there! My name is Cordelia Chase. We're friends of Buffy's, you may know her. Anyways, we're having a little problem back at the school and we were wondering if you could give us some help. We would be so grateful."

"I'm not telling you nothing. He hit me! I don't appreciate that!" Will said angrily.

"Yeah…and I'm sure he is really sorry, but we really need your help."

"No way! Not without paying me first!"

"Okay then…how does twenty dollars sound?"

"Fifty."

"Forty, bucko. Take it our leave it."

"Alright. Sounds good." he replied.

"Great! Xander give him the money."

"What! Why do I have to pay? You're the one with the wealthy parents."

"You're the one who decided to go all Arnold Schwarzenegger and hit the man, after I told you fighting wasn't your strong suit. Now cough it up so we can get out of this smelly place."

"Fine. Whatever." Xander reached into his wallet and took out the money. Willy snatched it greedily and stuffed it in his shirt pocket. He leaned against the table and faced them.

"A couple of Aurelius vamps were here awhile ago. I overheard them talking about some package they were supposed to be picking up at the docks. The box is supposed to contain some kinda evil voodoo in it or something like that. They never said what kind, they were kinda hush-hush about it, y' know?"

Cordelia put back on her award-winning smile.

"Thanks Willy. You're a big help. You will be safe to know you probably saved some innocent lives tonight."

"Hey, that's what I'm here for. You can come to me anytime. Tell Buffy I said hi."

"We will. Take care."

Xander shook his head, amused by Cordelia's act. He turned around and followed her out.

"Hey kid." Willy called. Xander turned around.

"You have a pretty good left hook. Keep it up and you might be able to beat information out of me one day."

"You really think so?"

"Sure. Of course."

"Thanks!" Cordelia walked up to him and yanked him back, pulling him to the car.

---

Buffy spun in the air and landed on her back. The vampire-snake chick was quick. Buffy was going to have a hard time killing her. Buffy looked up to see the sword lying on the ground directly in front of her. She quickly snatched it up, and got back on her feet.

Buffy brought the sword back and ran at the snake, lashing it out at her when she reached her. The sword slashed through the snake's chest. The snake screeched in pain and lashed out her with her claws. Buffy jumped back against a wall, dodging the snake's attack. She turned her head to see a long string on the wall that belonged to the curtain on the window above. She had an idea. She just hoped the snake was stupid enough to fall for her plan.

Buffy swiped at the string with the sword. The string cut in two, and the curtain to the high window drew open. Then she rolled out of the way in time to avoid another one of the snake's attacks. She dropped the sword and sprinted to the opposite side of the room, right in front of the section of the room where the now-open window lit. She turned around to face the snake. The snake squealed in rage and charged at her. Her plan was working. As soon as it got close enough, she rolled out the way. The demon charged past her, into the sunny area of the room. The snake roared in agony as it burst into flame. It rolled on the floor, attempting to put the flames out. The snake finally busted into a cloud of dust.

Still a vampire

The doors opened up, and Angel limped into the room, still holding his stomach. Buffy ran up to him and embraced him.

"Angel! God, are you okay? Did Spike do anything to you?" she looked up at him. He didn't look like himself; he looked a lot paler, if that was possible. "Angel? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Angel grabbed her roughly on her shoulders, and glared at her menacingly. But they weren't his eyes. There was something else familiar about them. When he spoke, it wasn't his voice.

"No. But I will be, Slayer. I will be."

The Master. Oh no…The Master has Angel's body!

"Let go of me!" she screamed out in panic. The Master hardened his grip.

"You wound me, Slayer. Surely one last kiss isn't too much to ask?"

"What part of 'let go' don't you understand?" Buffy said as she escaped from his grip.

Panic and sadness wavered in her voice.

"Obnoxious brat. You will feel my power! I killed you once before, I'll do it again!"

"Looks like we're both hard to get rid of. Difference is, you're just an echo." Buffy said confidently, even though she tried to hide the panic in her voice.

The doors opened up again, Spike, Drusilla, and the long-haired vampire walked in. There was something about Drusilla that looked different, though Buffy couldn't point it out.

"Hold it right there, Slayer. I can't afford to have you bollocksing this up." Spike said.

"Sorry, no can do. Gotta fly."

Buffy ran up to an open window and leaped out into the courtyard. She heard the Master call out as she ran out the yard, into the streets of Sunnydale.