Disclaimer: The same as before guys. I'm neither Joss nor the Highlander guys.

Author's Note: Got an extra long part here for ya! It's what you get when I have no computer and me in a writing frenzy – and I mean frenzy! –. Which means this was (almost) all hand-written, then typed up on a public computer…ugh!

P.S.: This turned into the part that would not end!

Notice: slight language warning in this one. That's all I'm saying.

For Those Who Really Don't Know: the Seal of Solomon is most commonly recognized as the Star of David or Jewish Star. In other words: A six-pointed star. It is also used in Wiccan lore to help symbolize the elements. Especially when separated into four kinds of triangles and colors.

P.S.: You've no idea how much research goes into these stories that I write…enjoy!

Author's Note 2: Happy belated/non-belated Holiday Season (whatever it is you celebrate this time of the year)!

Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who finally has a new computer (after over half a year of not having one)! Yay!)

Part 14, Act II

Sunnydale: Magic Box (Training Room), 7pm, Day 5

"You guys sure you've got everything you need?"

"Yes, of course we do," Willow said in exasperation to Anya's nervous question.

"We've done this before, Anya," Tara said soothingly. "There's no need to worry."

"I'm not worried! I'm just, just–" Anya threw up her hands in defeat and sighed, before saying softly, "I'm scared about what we'll find out," while placing her hands protectively on her belly.

"What you're feeling is quite understandable," said Giles, as he studied the spell that the witches were going to use. "I'd be more worried about you if you weren't feeling this way."

"Sorry I'm late," said Xander as he rushed into the room. "That staff meeting went longer than I expected. I hope I didn't miss anything."

"We haven't done anything yet, except get everything setup," Willow said. "We're still waiting for Gunn's group."

"They were just getting in their vehicles when I drove by the mansion," Xander supplied. "They should be here any minute."

"I hope so. We need the twins here in order to perform this."

"If everyone's going to be here tonight," said Tara, "then is Eve patrolling alone?"

"Raven is accompanying her," Giles supplied, "from my understanding."

"She'll be fine, then," said Willow as she sat back on her heels, after drawing the last symbol needed on the floor. "I've never seen anyone so good with archaic weapons than Rave...except Slayers and some of Adam's Immortal friends."

"Yes, and Adam himself," added the Watcher. "If he is to be believed, he created many of the fighting styles used in this day and age."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he had. He's probably one of the smartest people in this dimension," Anya commented. Off of everyone's looks, she then said, "Remember guys: he was the brains of the Four Horsemen. I also knew him before I came here. He was one of my assignments.

"He'd pissed off this really powerful Immortal woman... I think she's either a witch or shapechanger too. Well, I went to do what she wished, and somehow he wrangled out of having the wish granted.

"D'Hoffryn later explained to me that for the past three thousand years – at one century intervals – this woman would seek vengeance on Adam. Always the same wish too: that he'd have a final death. And every time, he'd manage to escape the cursing. He also said that I was the only one to almost succeed."

"No wonder he's so wary of strangers," Tara murmured.

"What I'm wonderin'," said Gunn, as he and the twins stepped into the room, "is what he'd do to tick off this Immortal chick."

"I believe I know the answer to that," Giles said as he took off his glasses and began cleaning them. "But I would recommend you not ask him. It is a private and personal matter, as well as a difficult and painful subject for him to talk about."

"Got plenty of those running around as it is," Xander muttered quietly to himself.

Willow frowned as she glanced at Xander, then turned to Gunn, asking, "Where's Remo? Shouldn't he be here?"

"He would be, if he'd shown up," Gunn said. "He's the reason we're late, 'cause we were waiting for him. When we saw Xander drive by, we finally left. Rave and Eve promised to keep an eye out for him, and bring him here if they find him."

"I hope he's alright."

"Knowing Remo," Sara said, "we'll find him crashed out at the mansion when we get back."

"It would be just like him," Marie added, while rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"Right," Gunn said abruptly. "So what're we supposed ta be doin' here, while you girls do the mojo?"

"Look menacing and stand guard over Anya, pretty much," Willow supplied. "I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's important."

"Gotcha," Gunn said. "Now what's this spell you girls're doin' gonna do?"

It's a containment spell," Marie said as she studied the symbols on the floor that formed the Seal of Solomon surrounded by a circle.

"It'll pull anyone trying to get into this room magically into the center of the circle," added Sara. "They'll stay there until we release them and send them elsewhere."

"The spell will also remain activated – once we do it – until we command it to dissipate," Tara said as she stood up from where she had been sitting beside Anya. "Are we ready, then?"

"As ready as we can be," said Xander, as he, Gunn, and Giles went and stood near Anya.

Willow nodded, then gestured to the other girls to take their places outside of the circle drawn on the floor. Seeing all but herself in place, she picked up a shallow bowl of oil from a small table next to her. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Willow went and stood before Tara. Holding the bowl in her left hand, she dipped her right forefinger in the oil, then drew an inverted triangle with a horizontal line through it on Tara's forehead. While she did this, she spoke in a quiet, but power-filled voice, saying, "Tara, you who stand upon the North Corner. I anoint you to represent the Element of Earth."

As Willow finished speaking, and drew her hand away, the oil-drawn image on Tara's brow glowed green for a moment, before disappearing. Tara nodded as Willow followed the outer edge of the circle until she came to Sara. Standing before the first twin, she again placed her forefinger in the oil and drew a triangle with a line through it on the younger girl's forehead, this triangle being upright.

Speaking as she had before, Willow said, "Sara, you who stand upon the East Corner. I anoint you to represent the Element of Air."

Upon Sara's brow, the oil glowed yellow before disappearing. Nodding in satisfaction, Willow continued to follow the outer edge of the circle, until she was directly across from Tara's position. Turning to face the center of the circle, Willow drew an upright triangle without a horizontal line through it upon her forehead.

Quietly, but firmly, the red-haired Wiccan said, "I, Willow, who stand upon the South Corner, do anoint myself to represent the Element of Fire."

Like the two before her, the oil-drawn mark upon Willow's brow glowed before disappearing...the color being red. Turning after a moment, she again followed the circle's edge until she reached Marie. Standing before the second twin, Willow drew an inverted triangle on the girl's forehead. She then said, "Marie, you who stand upon the West Corner. I anoint you to represent the Element of Water."

As with the others, the triangle upon Marie's brow glowed blue before disappearing. Satisfied, Willow followed the circle clockwise – placing the bowl of oil on the table where she had first picked it up, as she passed it –, until she reached her position on the South side. Once settled in her place, Willow looked at Tara, and said with a faint smile, "Your turn."

Tara nodded her understanding, then closed her eyes and bowed her head. After perhaps a minute, she raised her head, then slowly opened her eyes...which were now silver on the left eye and gold on the right. When she spoke, her voice that was normally soft now echoed with great power.

"Lord and Lady of Light! You who watch over all who follow You. We call upon You to watch over us and let harm come to none. So mote it be."

At the ending of Tara's words, the circle – and the symbols within – glowed. First green, then yellow, red, and blue. Once the circle turned blue, the color changed to purple, then silver and gold, before finally turning white, where it remained, glowing softly. The four women gazed at each other, their eyes gleaming with satisfaction of a spell well done.

Staring in near slack-jawed awe, Gunn said quietly in a long drawn out breath, "Damn!"

The four blinked in startlement, before turning to gaze at Gunn. They had forgotten the presence of the others in the room.

"You guys done, then," Anya asked, before biting her lip in nervous anxiety. Xander gently rubbed his wife's back as he tried to sooth her.

"Not quite," Willow answered. "We've activated the circle, but we haven't yet set its purpose. It won't take us long."

"Oh."

The four Wiccans turned back to facing the center of the circle.

"Sara, Marie," Tara said, "show us now what you've learned and come to understand since last we were together."

The twins nodded, then simultaneously pulled out identical crystal pendants. They then took the crystals out of the silver netting that encased them. Cupping the crystals in their hands, the twins said commandingly, "Join!"

The moment the word was spoken the two crystals shot out of their hands and seemingly collided within the center of the circle in a flash of light. Slowly the light rose until it was fifteen feet above the floor. Once the light reached that height, the twins said in a chant-like manner, "Crystal light over circle true. Bind within they who by power come through."

A hum filled the air, as the light from the joined crystals slowly spread out and down until it reached the edge of the circle. Once the light touched the floor, it flashed brightly, then was gone.

All that could now be seen of the spell was a design drawn on the floor and a crystal floating above the design.

After a few seconds, Marie said, "Now the spell's done."

"I was afraid of that," came Anya's quiet reply.

Willow shook her head as she moved away from the circle and sat down on one of the couches set up in the corner of the room. Tara soon followed with the twins.

"Time to do your part, Anya," Sara said.

The ex-demon frowned, nodded curtly, then grabbed Xander's hand. Drawing in a deep breath, she then shouted – startling everyone –, "Halfrek! Hallie! I need to speak to you. Get your ass down here…NOW!"

As Anya's voice echoed in the room, there was a sudden puff of smoke, then a shocked exclamation from within the spelled circle.

"What the Hell?"

In the circle, a woman with dark curly and frizzy hair lay sprawled out on the floor. Her face was mottled in color, with visible and prominent veins.

"Long time, no see, Hallie," Anya said calmly.

The demoness sat bolt upright and twisted around to fully see the group. She quickly stood and starred at Anya. In clear shock and some fear, she gasped out "Anyanka!" and then tried to teleport out of the room. The attempt failed, as a half-sphere of light shimmered into existence around the trapped vengeance demon, causing her to jump. The light disappeared as quickly as it came.

"Not gonna work, Hallie," Anya continued. "You're not going anywhere until we let you."

"What do you want?"

"Answers to our questions," Giles said as he took off his glasses and put them in his shirt pocket.

"What questions," Halfrek inquired warily.

"Why is D'Hoffryn calling demons to the Hellmouth in such great numbers?"

"I don't know," came the instant reply.

"Oh, come off it, Hallie," Anya said crossly. "You're the worst gossip of the lot of them! If you don't know at least half of what he has planned, then I'm not pregnant."

The demoness gave a nervous, half-hysterical laugh as she eyed Anya's very prominent belly.

"Well?"

Gazing warily at the group in front of her, Halfrek said, "Just so you know, Anyanka, you've just condemned me to death…even if I don't tell you anything."

"Why do you say that?"

"D'Hoffryn expressly forbid me from seeing or speaking with you until after everything he planned was finished. He said he'd kill me himself if I disobeyed."

"If that's true, then why didn't you just ignore my summons," Anya asked, perplexed.

Halfrek looked down briefly, then up with a heartfelt sigh, before saying quietly, "Someone had to tell you."

Anya gripped Xander's hand anxiously, as her husband said in a tight voice, "Tell her what?"

"D'Hoffryn plans to kidnap your baby within the first week of its birth."

"WHAT?" Anya shrieked, as Xander demanded angrily, "Why?"

"I don't know," Halfrek said earnestly as she threw her hands up in the air. "I've been trying to find out, but he won't tell me! All he'll say is that I'll learn why when everyone else does."

"Is there anything else," asked Giles.

Turning to the Watcher, the demoness said, "Yes. That new Slayer that's coming here, he plans to take her, too. Why: I don't know. But I do know that he plans on doing both kidnappings at once. It's the reason D'Hoffryn's called so may here."

Shock and stunned silence followed these words.

"He plans to overwhelm us then, while taking what he wants."

"Yes."

"There is no more that you can tell us?"

"No. I've told you all I know."

Nodding, Giles turned to Anya, and asked, "How much do you trust her?"

"She's my best friend," Anya replied. "I trust her. It's the reason I called her, and not someone else."

Giles nodded his understanding. Putting his glasses back on, he studied Halfrek before saying, "Release her."

Sunnydale: A Cemetery, 10pmish, Day 5

"Down!"

Eve dropped and rolled to the side as Rave stepped forward and beheaded the demon that had been sneaking up on her. As the Slayer rose to her feet, she gutted another demon running in her direction. Once standing, she went back-to-back with Rave. Both breathed heavily as they gazed warily about, and simultaneously dropped their guard when they saw no one else to fight.

"Well," Rave semi-gasped out, "I'm glad we waited on this one."

"Aye," Eve agreed as she knelt on the ground. "I do no' know wha' we woulda done if those vampires 'adn't o' showed up."

"At least we know that the vamps are finally getting fed up with all the demons being here. The question will be though: is if this is a good or bad thing for us."

"Aye."

Rave sighed as he gazed about the nearly decimated graveyard at the various kinds of demons that lay dead all around them. He then said with a grimace, "I suppose we should start getting rid of all of this before someone comes along."

Eve nodded her agreement, then crawled over to the nearest carcass and began dragging it to the one clear space in the cemetery that was away from any gravestones or anything flammable. Rave quickly followed suit. It took them nearly a half hour to get all of the dead demons into one large pile. Once that was done, Rave pulled out a well-worn leather pouch. Softly chanting a few words in his native tongue, he threw a handful of powder over the carcasses. Within seconds, the pile had been incinerated in silver flames that gave off barely any light or heat.

"I still do no' understand why ye won't let me tell th' others abou' tha' spell ye use ta get rid o' th' bodies. 'T'would make things a lo' easier for them."

"I know it would, Eve, but they can't. It's a spell that only my family knows, and I would be in a lot of trouble if they knew I was showing it to even you."

Shaking her head, the Slayer went over to where they had placed their weapons while they cleaned up, and began to wipe the blood from her sword. She tossed Rave his knife as he came up beside her.

Catching it with the ease of long practice, and then settling down beside the Slayer, the Native American said, "I think we can call it a night after this battle. I don't believe we'll see any more action tonight."

Eve hummed her understanding as she concentrated on getting a particularly stubborn spot of demon blood from the edge of her blade. Rave, meanwhile, was trying to flick orange blood off of his own weapon…with no success.

"The only thing I hate about fighting demons," Rave grumbled, "is the clean-up."

"Aye, makes me glad tha' it's usually vampires tha' I fight 'ere," Eve said. "I'll be glad when these demons leave."

"I hope you don't mean that about all demons, Slayer," a male voice said in a Bronx-like accent. "'Cause I know for a fact that a good deal of your friends are of that persuasion."

Immediately, both warriors rose to their feet with their weapons before them, gazing at the speaker and the other one with him. Eve was the first one to lower her sword, as she spoke the person's name as if it were a curse, "Whistler."

Rave lowered his own weapon as he gazed at the one with Whistler, head tilted to the side. After a long moment, he stepped up to the stranger, and said, "Raven Coyote."

The other gazed nonchalantly, then said placidly, "Oz. Wolf. You?"

The Native American nodded, and replied, "Coyote, and when I'm in the mood: a raven."

"Cool."

"What's goin' on," Eve asked Rave in confusion.

Rave half-turned to look at the Slayer, and said, "He's a shapechanger like me."

Eve looked at the werewolf, then said in sudden shock as a realization hit her, "Oz? As in Willow's Oz?" He nodded his agreement. "Shiite!"

Whistler clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention, then said, "Right! Now that introductions are over, shall we go somewhere more private? Say: where the rest of the defenders of this city are?"

"That'd be the Magic Box," Rave supplied.

"Ye think they're done with gettin' tha' information they were needin'," Eve asked Rave.

"Probably."

"Well, we won't find out just standing around here, people," Whistler said. "So let's get moving."

They had been walking for some minutes when they heard a commotion coming down the street in the opposite direction they were heading, and moving towards them. In exasperation, Rave said, "What now?"

It did not take them long to find out as a lone figure could be seen running for all he was worth, a horde of demons following behind.

"Isn't tha' Remo," Eve asked as she squinted her eyes to see if she could see the person better.

"Yep," Rave drawled. "Trust him to find a group of demons while by himself."

"Shall we go aid 'im?"

"We'd better, or Gunn'll have our heads."

"You guys go right on ahead, I'll just wait here for you," Whistler said.

Rave and Eve looked at the Messenger demon, then turned their attention to Oz, their eyes questioning. The werewolf shrugged and said, "Why not? I haven't had a good fight in ages."

With those words, the three took off in Remo's direction.

Sunnydale: Magic Box, 11pmish, Day 5

"Anyone here," Rave called out as he and Remo aided Eve into the shop. "We need some help!"

There was a moment of silence, then the sound of people moving about hurriedly upstairs. Seconds later those that had been upstairs were coming down the steps.

"Good Lord!" Giles exclaimed as he caught site of the three entering the shop. "What happened?"

"Remo ran into a vicious group of demons, and we happened to run into him," the Native American said calmly as he helped the Slayer onto a seat, with Remo getting out of the way. "We dealt with them, but the noise brought out another group, and Eve got hurt in that scuffle."

"Let me see," Giles said as he knelt in front of Eve. As he took the bandages Willow handed him, he asked, "How many groups did you encounter tonight?"

"Around eight," Rave supplied. "Three, no: four, were just within two hour's time before we got here."

"That's a whole lotta demons," Gunn said, frowning.

"Yeah, it is."

"'Specially when each group's abou' twenty ta thirty each," Eve said, then gasped slightly as Giles wiped a particularly deep wound.

"I'm sorry, Eve, but these wounds need stitches. They're too deep."

"I was afraid o' that," was the resigned reply.

"You know: I think it's a Slayer thing to not like hospitals," Xander said.

"Considering how often they get injured," Sara commented, "I don't wonder why."

"Thankfully, I've received some medical training and know how to at least stitch a wound," Giles supplied wryly, then said seriously, "But I would ask you not to patrol for the next few days, until these are healed, Eve."

"I understand."

"Good."

"So where were you, Remo," Gunn asked. "We waited a hour before heading over here."

"I was just getting some groceries, man, when those damned demons saw me," Remo answered, suddenly scowling at the ground.

"That's all?" Gunn said in disbelief. "There's gotta be more to it than that!"

"This is Remo we're talking about," Marie stated. "What more excuse do you need?"

"Hey," Remo shouted angrily. "Just 'cause I'm not perfect at this doesn't mean I don't know nothin'!"

"Then why were they after you," Rave asked. "You never did tell us on the way here."

"They recognized me as one of the ones that've been killing their kind," the Rookie answered sullenly.

"Told you," Marie said mockingly.

"THAT'S IT!" Remo shouted in sudden fury as he glared at Marie. "That's fucking it! I've had it! I'm not taking this shit anymore! I quit! You can take your fucking holy quest and shove it! I'm going home. Don't ever expect to see me again!"

With those words, Remo stormed out of the shop, leaving a stunned silence behind.

"Someone needs to go and make sure nothing happens to him," Willow said in concern after a moment.

"I'll go and make sure he gets to the bus station alright," Rave volunteered, then left to follow Remo.

"Man, I knew he wasn't happy. But I didn't think he was that upset," Gunn said in shock.

"Some people just can't seem to take knowing about the darker side of our world," Tara said as she helped Anya finish walking down the stairs.

"Kinda like that former-cop-turned-detective friend of Angel's," Willow said, then asked with a frown, "What's her name, Gunn?"

"Kate Lockley," Gunn answered thoughtfully. "Yeah, she was a handful until Angel finally straightened everything out with her. She's been a real help in keepin' the cops off our backs when we're workin'."

Just at that moment, the bell to the entrance of the shop jingled as someone entered. Everyone turned to see who it was. At the sight of Whistler standing there, there were many looks of surprise and shock.

"Who're you," Sara asked suspiciously on noticing the Sunnydale group's reaction.

Whistler shrugged and said in reply, "Just your average Messenger demon."

"Like 'Ell ye are!" Eve exclaimed as she sat up straight. "In all tha time I've known ya, ye've always brought trouble!"

There was a chorus of agreement from many of those present as Whistler looked offended, causing him to say, "Hey! I can't help it if the only time I see you lot is usually when the shit's already hit the fan, ok! The Powers only bring me in when there's nothing else that can be done."

"And he says he's just an average Messenger," Anya said scornfully. Off of everyone's looks, she then said, "He's been the Powers That Be's head Messenger and clean-up guy for what seems like forever. He was around before even D'Hoffryn was, from my understanding."

"Thanks for making me feel old, Anyanka," Whistler muttered, then said out loud, "What she says is usually true, but not this time. The Powers don't want what D'Hoffryn has planned to happen…at all. That's the reason I'm here."

"And what is D'Hoffryn planning," Giles asked. "We know that he's planning to kidnap Anya's baby once it's born, as well as the new Slayer Dora. But that is it."

Whistler winced, took off the hat he was wearing, then said with a grimace, "That I can't tell you. But I can say that what he's got planned has gotta be stopped at all cost."

"That's a load of help," Anya snarled. "I want to know why he wants my baby!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm sworn to secrecy on this, alright! I'd tell ya if I could, Anyanka."

"This argument isn't helping, people!" Willow said sharply, drawing everyone's attention to her. "If we don't – and can't – know the why, then let's focus on the how of the situation. Like, like how are we going to stop this plan, ok?"

"Willow's right," Giles said quietly.

"But not now," Tara said firmly. "We all need rest, and to think clearly. We can't do that in the state we're all in."

"The girl's right," Gunn commented. "Let's get some shuteye and get back together in the morning."

"Evening," Xander said. "Some of us have to go to work."

"Very well, then," Giles sighed tiredly. "Tomorrow at our usual time we will get back together and begin to figure out what we need to do.

Sunnydale: Outside the Magic Box, 11:48pm, Day 5

Willow and Tara made sure the door to the shop was closed and locked, as they were the last to leave – it being their turn to shut down the store for the night –, when they both heard the scuffing of a shoe not their own near them. They quickly turned around to face whatever had made the noise, and instantly froze in shock. It took a moment for either Wiccan to speak.

In a stunned voice, Willow choked out, "Oz?"

"Hey," the werewolf answered.

"Wha—Why—What brings you here," Tara stammered out nervously as she moved behind Willow.

Oz's gaze flickered back and forth between the two women as he said seriously, "We three need to talk."

Next Part: LA, and all that entails…hehehe!

Author's Note 3: If anyone was confused about anything I described in the spell I wrote, let me know what about. I'll do my best to explain.

To Harry2: (stares at Harry's review, and takes a few calming deep breaths) Ok, first off: FAITH'S DEAD…at least in this story. If you need a Faith fix, go read my A Challenge Fic Answered series. Plenty of Faith in there (in the second story). I will admit, though, to having thought – quite a few times – of writing an alternate version of Immortality's Gift where Faith is alive (but not Immortal). An AU of an AU, I guess. As for Wesley: hehehe! Let me just say that it will not be what it was on Angel, but it shall be shocking nonetheless. (smirk!)

To Anna and Doc4: I know it's been awhile. At least it wasn't over a year like last time! (laughs evilly) Oh, you've no idea what I've got planned for the whole Pandora's Box/Lineage thing. Let's just say that my imagination ran wild with an idea I had from watching one of Buffy's final season eps, and leave it at that.

To EL CHACAL: As ever, your reviews are most interesting. But I'm going to have to say sorry about bringing in this Paladin guy. I've got enough people in this story as it is…and that's not including the ones that have yet to make an actual appearance! Gah!

To All Those That Emailed Me: Thanks one and all! I'm sorry if I didn't reply personally, but when Real Life gets you, it gets you good!

TU