Disclaimer: (riffling through her ownership papers) Muse, Muse, Muse...and more Muses! (looks up from filing cabinet) Nope, no show characters are mine. But the Voodoo Twins, Rave, Eve, and Dora are mine (as well as any miscellaneous demon that pops up (except for a certain demon lord))!

Author's Note: Quinton really isn't one of my favorite characters, but somehow his Muse keeps making appearances! (grumbles and scowls)

Author's Note 2: Heh, here's an extra long and action-packed part for ya. Enjoy, 'cause my Muses sure had fun at my expense (meaning: I should've been studying for an American Government exam (four friggin' chapters worth of dry textbook reading), and wrote the second of four sections in this part instead! I'll learn if it was worth it on Monday).

Question: I finally remembered to ask this (after three months): did anyone else know that they've come out with an Angel soundtrack? It's called Angel: Live Fast, Die Never, and is pretty cool to listen to...and over an hour long!

Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who can't believe she's reached (for the first time in one of her stories) the 100 page mark and passed it! (TU dances around happily while Muses stare at her and wonder if their Writer hasn't finally lost it))

Part 19

Sunnydale: Airport, 4:10pm, Day 7

"Look! There he is, Giles," Willow said as she pointed.

The Watcher turned from where he was studying the flight arrival and departing times to where the red haired Wiccan pointed. He saw Quinton Travers with a young girl picking up their luggage, and noticed as they caught site of them. He nodded, and led the way over to the two—who were now coming towards the group. Upon reaching them, he said, "I'm glad you could make it on time, Quinton."

The Head of the Watchers Council made a noncommittal sound of agreement, and replied, "I will be glad once we have reached your safe haven, and the girl has officially been transferred to your keeping."

There was a look in the resident Watcher's eyes that were equal parts anger, frustration, and disproval, as he suggested with an expressionless face, "Perhaps introductions should be made before we head over to our base of operations?"

"That would be wise," Quinton agreed, "as I only recognize two out of the five before me, not including yourself."

Nodding curtly, Giles said as he gestured to each person, "Willow and Tara you are aware of. The twins are Marie and Sara. And the Native American is Rave. They are here to help escort the new Slayer, and make sure she reaches our planned destination safely."

After gazing at the five young people before him, the head Watcher commented, "I take it that there is more to them than meets the eye?"

"Yes," Giles said in concurrence, "there is. The four girls are all competent and practiced witches, and the boy comes from an old line of shapechangers."

Ignoring the presence of the four Wiccans, Quinton gazed intently at Rave, and murmured, "Most interesting. I thought our organization had accounted for all the shapeshifting families in the world. I do not recall a Native American lineage being named among the old lines."

Openly frowning in disproval, Giles said firmly, "Despite the age of the Watchers Council, Quinton, our organization is not all-knowing! Living upon the Hellmouth has taught me that. Now, will you introduce our young Slayer here, so that we may get underway?"

"Once you have answered one question," Quinton answered, his eyes dark with suppressed anger, "I will. Where is the Slayer of this place?"

Practically growling, Giles replied, "Eve was injured a few days ago while in battle and could not be here. She is waiting for us at our destination. Now, will you please introduce her!" the Watcher concluded with a jerk of his head at the girl beside Quinton.

Gazing at the other Watcher coolly for several seconds, Quinton then turned to the five who had been listening to the exchange between the two older men with growing unease and some disgust. Gesturing imperiously to the one beside him, the head Watcher said in an inconsequential manner, "This is Dora."

As the group murmured and mumbled their greetings, Tara stepped forward and took the incredibly young Slayer's hands into her own, and said with a warm smile and kind eyes, "Welcome, Dora. I'm happy to meet you."

The Slayer smiled hesitantly as she ducked her head. In a lightly Greek-accented voice, she whispered shyly and forlornly, "I'm glad to be here."

Willow made a faint cooing sound, moved to stand beside Tara, and took one of the twelve year old girl's hands into her own, Speaking softly as she placed a hand on Dora's cheek for a moment, the Wiccan said softly with compassion, "So sad," before looking at the one beside her, and silently communicated with her.

"She grieves," Tara thought to Willow before the red-head could say anything.

"Giles said that she has no immediate family left. She's lonely," Willow replied.

"Perhaps it'd be better if she stayed with us, instead of with Giles and Eve as we were thinking," the taller Wiccan suggested. "We have the room to do so."

"A good idea," the red haired woman commented. "I'll ask."

Willow turned to look at the two Watchers, and said, "Giles, Tara and I think it might be better if Dora came to stay with us. We have the space, and she'd probably be better protected at our place with all the shields and wards we have there."

Giles nodded, then said, "I was going to suggest that. I know the protections you have placed around each of our homes is sufficient, but that yours're the strongest – outside of the Magic Box's – to do what you both do there."

"As interesting as these conversations are," Rave said as he drew everyone's attention to him, "but we really need to get moving. I know for a fact that demons followed us here. The longer we waste time, the more time they have to get backup."

"Yeah," Marie said while Sara nodded, "let's split while we can."

"Yes," Giles agreed, "let us go."

As one, the group began to weave their way through the airport. While they were doing this, Giles leaned in close to Quinton, and asked in a barely heard whisper, "Where is the Box? I see no baggage large enough to contain it."

Speaking just as quietly – if not quieter –, the head Watcher answered, "We altered it before coming here."

"Then where or what is it?"

With a nod of his head towards the center of the group, Quinton hinted, "Look at what the girl's fiddling with, and you'll know."

Giles frowned, and did as suggested. Looking at the young Slayer, he saw her playing with something on a carefully wrought chain about her neck. As Dora let go of the item, he took a more intense look at it. A small cylindrical crystal container of about two inches long and a half inch wide was cunningly wrapped in thin strands of gold and silver weaved together to form a net about the crystal. Within the vial, a milky black and white substance swirled, neither color mixing.

The Watcher gazed horrified at the necklace, and breathed out in dismay, "Fools!"

Sunnydale: Airport Parking Lot, 4:25pm, Day 7

As the group consisting of two Watchers, one newly called Slayer, four witches, and a shapeshifter walked through Sunnydale's airport parking lot – looking for the vehicle they would be traveling in –, almost all – but the two Watchers – were in a single group talking animatedly to the new Slayer, trying to draw her out of her shyness.

"I did not realize that the Box would be so noticeable," Rupert Giles said disapprovingly in a near whisper to the man walking beside him.

Quinton Travers, head of the Watcher's Council, looked away from the group walking ahead of them, and replied as quietly, "Only if you know what you're looking at would it be so."

"Even so…a necklace? You could have made it a ring!" the resident Watcher hissed out incredulously.

"It was the quickest thing we could do on such short notice," Quinton growled out. "The Box as it was is too well known! Also: a ring has been used too often to hide something important. We needed an object not done before."

"So you made it even more obvious! I like not this situation."

The head Watcher stopped and rounded on Giles, his expression cross, and snarled, "Neither do I, but we have no choice in the matter! Demons had already attempted to take her in the last safe haven she was in. The Box has nearly fallen into darkness' hands too many times for our comfort. There is no telling what Evil would do with what is contained within Pandora's Box."

"Giles?" Willow said hesitantly.

The two Watchers looked up from their argument to see the others staring at them in either curiosity or concern—except Rave. Quinton stared at the group in stony silence, while Giles immediately took his glasses off and started cleaning them as he cleared his throat and asked quickly, "Yes, Willow?"

"We really do need to get Dora to the Magic Box and put her under our wards for protection," the red haired Wiccan said. "We can't do that if we just stand here."

"I think we're a little too late for that," Rave said with forced casualness as he gazed towards the end of the parking lot.

At the Native American's words, everyone looked to where he was gazing intensely, and started in shock and some fear. A great multitude of demons was walking openly in the daylight towards them. People screamed as they caught sight of the demons and ran in the other direction…those that were lucky, that is. The Sunnydale group formed a tight protective circle around the new Slayer.

"Anyone have any weapons on them," Rave asked tightly. "I'd really hate to fight these guys with just my hands."

"What're you talking about," Marie snarled. "At least you can shapechange!"

"I can teleport our weapons to us," Willow said helpfully with anxiety in her voice.

"Like that's gonna save us from this, it'd be better if we just ran for it," Marie exclaimed.

"That's enough, Marie Sarah Vasquez," Tara snapped suddenly. "We don't need your wisecracks right now!"

Several turned their heads in shock to gaze at the normally calm Wiccan to see Tara tense and grim as she gazed at the horde coming towards them fearfully. It only took a second for Willow to realize why her love was acting like this, and she said softly, soothingly, "This is reminding you of Glory, isn't it?"

The almost blonde brown-haired woman nodded jerkily once in confirmation, then said in a slightly shaky voice, "Yeah."

"Teacher?" Sara asked timidly.

"Yes?" Willow replied distractedly.

"Can you possibly teleport the weapons from the van to use, like, now?"

Several others confirmed Sara's request urgently as Willow looked up to see that the demons were getting far to close for comfort without them having weapons. Drawing in breath sharply, the Wiccan asked, "What weapons do you want? Just have the image in your mind, and I'll get them to you!"

"If you can teleport the weapons to us, why don't you just get us out of here," Rave asked roughly.

"I would if I could," the red-head said sharply, "but I can't! For some reason, my powers aren't strong enough to teleport animate objects. Something's missing when I attempt it without far more help than we have here. Now, if everyone wants to live, concentrate on what you need, and you'll have it in a moment!"

All concentrated hard as they continued to gaze uneasily at the multitude steadily making their way towards them. Moments later, the weapons of choice were in their hands and/or upon their personage in a soft shimmer of light. In tense silence and with drawn weapons, the group watched as the demons finished coming closer. At about ten feet, a lone demon in front of all the others raised a clawed hand and those behind him stopped.

Lowering his hand, the demon said nonchalantly, "Greetings. I am D'Hoffryn, Demon Lord of Vengeance. I have come for the young Slayer. You have two choices in this matter. One: you peacefully hand the girl over, and two: we take her by force. You have no other options."

"There is always another option," Rave said defiantly.

The demon lord turned indifferent eyes to the shapeshifter, which then became keen with interest. Curiously, he said, "You're one of his get! What did your family want for the Trickster to demand a child off of them as payment?"

Rave's eyes narrowed as he growled out dangerously, "That's none of your business, demon!"

D'Hoffryn merely raised an eyebrow before turning back to the group as a whole, and inquired, "Well, what's your answer…or do I even need to ask?"

All were silent and still, until Giles reached up, took off his glasses, put them in his pocket, and said with quiet intensity—his normally soft British accent becoming more pronounced and concise, "You'll not have her, demon lord. We will fight until the very end, if need be, before she'll be yours."

Shrugging, D'Hoffryn said in indifference, "It's your funeral." The demon lord's eyes then turned cold as he ordered the demons behind him, "Deal with them, and bring the girl to me the moment you grab her," and disappeared in a flash of smoke.

For a moment, neither man nor demon did anything, then the vile creatures slowly grinned their hideous grins and surged forward eagerly. In a matter of seconds, the small group of defenders found themselves very close to being overwhelmed.

Rave – upon seeing their situation – threw back his head and let forth a war cry unlike any they had ever heard, for it was part human defiance and part animalistic fury. In a split second, the shapeshifter leapt forward and became a coyote; one that was twice the size of what was considered normal for that species. He immediately set about destroying the demons around him. As other demons attempted to take advantage of the sudden opening in the guardians' defenses, they were met with firm and swift resistance.

Throwing a fireball at a pretty revolting demon lurching towards her, Willow commanded mind-to-mind to the twin girls behind her, "Sara, Marie: form a shield around yourselves and Dora. Keep it up as long as you can while we get rid of these guys!"

The two did not even waste time with a reply as they immediately stepped to either side of their charge, and clasped hands with the terrified Slayer between them. In a trice, a half-sphere of luminous silver surrounded the three, as the twins' halved crystals glowed brightly. The moment this was done, those that were defending switched their focus to simply killing the demons as quickly as possible instead of protecting.

Long minutes passed in this manner, and the number of demons did not seem to be diminishing in the slightest—despite the number of bodies now littering the ground. By this time, most of the demon horde was around the glowing shield, trying to somehow destroy it and get to their target.

"Teacher," the twins called out desperately in one single mind-voice. "We cannot hold much longer. They're pulling our strength from us too swiftly for us to replenish ourselves!"

As one, Willow and Tara turned around to see their former students' plight, and instantly called out to the rest of the group with their twined mental voice, "We need to get back to Sara and Marie. Their shield won't hold much longer!"

Straightaway, the group began fighting their way towards the shielded girls…but they were too late. In horror, they watched the silver-lighted shield flicker momentarily, then go out. The twin girls collapsed to the ground helplessly in utter exhaustion as the demons surged forward and grabbed Dora as she screamed. In a moment, she was gone as the demon who held her teleported them out of the area.

The Sunnydale group stood frozen as the demons scattered, their task done. Willow whimpered, and then ran in a stagger swiftly over to the twin girls, Tara close behind her. The others followed in a near run. Falling to her knees before her fellow Wiccans, Willow quickly assessed them for injuries. She sighed in relief upon finding none.

Silence fell, then in the distance sirens were heard. Looking at each other, the group quickly scrambled and arrived at the van that Oz had lent them. As they got inside, Tara cast a glamour over the vehicle so that they wouldn't be noticed and pulled over by the cops.

They left the massacred bodies behind them as they fled.

Sunnydale: Magic Box (Training Room), 4:50pm, Day 7

Eve sat up straight on the couch where she had been lounging and reading one of her high school textbooks in alarm at the sight of the group walking morosely into the room. Quickly placing the book down on the table beside the couch, the fire-haired Slayer asked, "What 'appened?"

"They got her," Sara said as she plopped herself and her sister next to Eve.

"We didn't have a chance," Marie added grimly and wearily as she laid down, using Eve as a footrest and Sara as a headrest while closing her eyes.

"If we had had Gunn and Oz there, we might have had a better chance," Rave commented as he placed himself in front of the couch on the floor and stretched out his legs. "But I don't think it would've made much difference in the end. They still would have gotten her. The numbers were just too great for our small group."

"D'Hoffryn thought this out well in advance," Giles admitted as he settled tiredly into a chair nearby. "He no doubt had previously assessed each of our strengths and weaknesses before putting this plan of his into motion."

"It's like when Dawn was kidnapped all over again," Willow said as she sat down in the loveseat with Tara cuddling up beside her.

"How can you all be so blasé about this," Quinton exclaimed incredulously.

Giles looked at his superior irritably as he said, "We've just been in a battle, and watched what we tried to prevent from happening happen! We need a moment before we even begin to figure out what to do next."

"We cannot take a moment when Evil has Pandora's Box you fool!"

Time seemed to stand still as everyone stared from Quinton to Giles, waiting for the resident Watcher's response with baited breath. Ever so slowly, Rupert Giles rose from his seat, walked over to stand in front of the Head of the Watchers Council, and said in a menacingly even tone, his eyes hard and unforgiving, "They did not know about that, and I would have liked to have kept it that way until the very last minute, Quinton. They had enough concerns without adding that to them!"

The head Watcher sneered and hissed out, "I don't believe you. The reason you didn't tell them is so that you wouldn't have to think about the Box! You are a coward."

Rage consumed and burned within Giles' eyes as he growled out, "Bullocks! It is you who are the coward! Hiding behind your desk, and ordering your minions to do everything for you! You and your kind will not even acknowledge that the Slayer is an actual person but a possession. They are the very reason that our organization exists! Just because the first Slayer was a slave doesn't mean all Slayers are such! When will you and the others realize this! You are not gods to command the lives of others, but caretakers meant to protect humanity and all good things from Evil! How can you do such when you are slowly but surely falling into the ways of Evil yourself?"

An electrified silence fell, before Quinton shifted back, and said in open disgust and loathing, "Being in the Americas has corrupted you more than I had thought it could, Rupert, if your thinking has turned this way. The Watchers Council is one of the last remaining strongholds of Good left in this dimension, and it is our duty to see that not all that is of the Light is destroyed by Evil's grasping fingers. If that means that we must be harsh in our endeavors at times…so be it!"

The air between the two Watchers seemed to veritably shiver with the charged emotions between them. None dared move, but Raven Coyote. Standing, the shapeshifter said in revulsion, "That is the worst load of bullshit I've ever had the displeasure of hearing in my life! Even the lies my parents told me as a kid to protect me couldn't match this crap!"

Rave's words were like opening the floodgates on a dam, as all within the room began to shout their own opinion on Quinton's words. This went on for several minutes before the shrill ringing of the telephone broke through the heated words being exchanged. Swiftly, Giles walked over to the phone, and answered it in a clipped tone.

"Hello?"

"Yes, Giles, is that you," a familiar voice asked over the multiple arguments that could be heard in the background.

"It is. Wesley, may I ask why you are calling…and what's all that shouting?"

"Of course, as I was going to tell you anyway. Cordelia's had a vision about what's just happened in Sunnydale, and a select few from our area will be coming down to aid you and the others."

At that particular moment, Giles heard another familiar voice bellowing loud enough to be heard clearly, saying—this one with a Bronx accent, "I'M NOT A DAMNED POWERS THAT BE! QUIT ASKING ME STUFF I CAN'T TELL YOU AND DON'T KNOW!"

Suddenly feeling strangely light-hearted, Giles fought to keep a smile off his face as he inquired in a curious tone of voice, "D-di-did I just hear Whistler?"

A frustrated sigh escaped the LA Watcher, before saying, "Yes."

"I take it that your group are the reinforcements he said he was retrieving for us?"

"Correct."

Closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, Giles breathed out, "Thank the Lord," then said normally and hopefully, "When should we expect you?"

"Midnight tonight at the latest. We're waiting until Angel's doctor clears him for duty, which won't be until nine…'though Cordelia's trying to get him here sooner. We'll leave once we've received the okay."

"Very well. Is there anything else you wish to tell me?"

"No."

"Then we'll see those coming around midnight tonight."

Next Part: Seacouver. Two women seeking revenge, two frantic Immortals, one dumbfounded vampire, and a grim Watcher. What else could possibly happen?

Author's Note 3: I don't know, was that fight alright guys? Oh, if anyone watches Smallville, the shield the twins used works like that. I already had the idea, but couldn't quite picture it until I saw that episode. Weird how these things happen, isn't it? And I kinda imagined the end of the kidnapping like the scene with Boromir when he's defeated and the Uruk-Hi are taking off with Merry and Pippin in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. Talk about angsty!

Author's Responses to Reviewers
 To Harry2: Hehehe! This isn't war, this only leads up to war (as I said before). The true big battle will be in the third story, these are just skirmishes. Actually, Cordy was just shocked by what she saw, as well as by the force of power used to give her that vision. I know I didn't explain that too clearly in the last part. Whistler reacted like he did 'cause he knows the stakes, and what could possibly happen if it's not stopped soon enough. As for the (extra) reserves: (smirks) more help's coming, don't worry...just not exactly how you're thinking it!

To El Chacal: I understand about being too busy. The only reason I'm writing as fast as I am right now (besides finally knowing what I'm doing) is because I'm writing during my college classes (when I really should be taking notes!), then typing it all up when I get home. Mr. Gordo: Well, you suggested, and I gave! Amanda-Cassandra: Sorry, but no. They never cross paths. Harmony: (grinning manically and sniggering) So glad you enjoyed that! It just came to me, and I was laughing my head off for about an hour before being able to write it. Wes' proposal: Well, I always saw them as a really cute couple, and I just couldn't pass it up (damn Joss for messing that up too). Cliffhanger: (looking about in wide-eyed innocence) Cliffhanger? What cliffhanger? I don't see one. (falls over cliff edge) Oh, that cliffhanger! Word of advice: You might want to pay attention to those rhymed verses the Muses and I keep divulging. They come in handy! Seer-Sister: You'll find out who it is for sure in the next part.

To Buffy-CrazyaboutAngel: That enough action for ya? Angel: Yeah, I'm a fan too (as if you haven't noticed!). He's the reason I started writing fanfic. In fact, Guardians of the Night 1: Eternal Soulmates started out as an original work, then in the end of the first chapter I saw a clear opening to make a fanfic with Angel in it (I agonized three days over whether or not to do it), and took the chance. The rest (as it is so often said) is history.

(grinning wickedly) See you in the next update everyone!
TU