Disclaimer: Right now I'm too disgusted with myself and my Muses to make something up.

Author's Note: (glaring DEATH at Muses (who are all cowering in a corner) as she holds a few handwritten pages and waves them about in her fury as she rants) I can't believe you forget to add this! We needed this 'cause it's IMPORTANT to the story! Imbeciles! (turns apologetically to Readers once she calms slightly) I'm so sorry, but Part 19 isn't done just yet. My Muses forgot to remind me to do one more scene. So enjoy this small offering before Part 20 truly makes its appearance.

Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who is beyond ticked off at her Muses for the moment)

Part 19, Act I 1/2

Sunnydale: Unknown Underground Cavern, 5pm, Day 7

Dora struggled in D'Hoffryn's tight grip, trying to get away as tears silently and freely fell down her face. Roughly, the Demon continued to drag the twelve year old girl along to his intended location. They passed many small and large caverns within the torch-lit cave system, before stopping in front of one door-barred entryway. With a negligent wave of his hand, the demon lord opened the door and jerked the girl inside as he stepped through the entrance. Lanterns immediately flared to life as the door slammed shut behind them with no assistance.

"I know you're in here, Halfrek, especially since I blocked your teleportation power. Show yourself," D'Hoffryn said coldly.

There was a faint disturbance, then a young seeming woman with kinked dark brown hair stepped unhappily into the cavern from a side-entrance. She stared at D'Hoffryn, then – as she heard a faint sob – to the girl by him. Her expression immediately softened to grave concern.

"This is her, then," Halfrek asked.

"Yes," the demon lord replied, "she is."

Looking back up at D'Hoffryn from the quietly weeping and still struggling weakly Slayer, and inquired with slightly fearful curiosity, "Why bring her here to me?"

"Because you have a vital role to play in my plans, Halfrek," the demon lord said casually, then continued speaking in a more serious tone as he pulled the Slayer to stand in front of him with his hands on her shoulders to keep her there. "I'm not lying about that. It's the reason you are not dead right now for going to Anyanka and revealing what you did. I need for you to watch over this girl, and the baby when I get the child. You're the only one of all my demons that I can count on to not hurt her. And I must have her unharmed, especially with where I intend to take them after the transformation has happened."

Halfrek visibly perked up in interest, as she echoed, "Transformation? What transformation, and to who?"

D'Hoffryn narrowed his eyes, shoved the Slayer towards Halfrek, and said curtly before leaving, "You'll learn that when everyone else does. Take care of the girl. Make sure she doesn't escape, kill herself, or be killed. If any of these things happen…your life will be terminated. You have no second chances left."

As the door slammed shut behind D'Hoffryn, Halfrek looked at the Slayer curled up at her feet as the girl tried to keep from crying. The demon's face lost its fearful look, to be once again filled with concern. Kneeling, she gently laid a hand on the thing girl's quivering shoulder, and said softly, soothingly, "I'm sorry you have to be stuck in the middle of all this…and I wish I knew why!"

"They want what I have," the girl admitted in a muffled and shaking voice.

Carefully drawing the girl into her arms, Halfrek asked, "What's your name, and what do you have that D'Hoffryn could possibly want?"

Sitting up straight while putting some distance between herself and the demon, the young girl answered quietly, "I'm Dora. It's short for Pandora, and they want my necklace."

Tilting her head to the side, Halfrek gazed at the necklace Dora had mentioned, and inquired, "It's a pretty thing, but why does D'Hoffryn want it?"

Now tightly gripping the necklace in one hand, the Slayer answered, "I'm the last direct descendant of Pandora, and this' the Box."

Halfrek stilled in sudden horrified realization, her mind now spinning with the possible consequences of this – Pandora's Box – being in Evil's hands…and how it might affect two children—one now in their custody, and the other pending. It would have ramifications in the very balance of Good and Evil.

The only thought that came to the demon guardian's mind in that moment – as she stared at the necklace that would decide the fate of this dimension's power struggle – were three very simple words.

"We're so screwed!"

Next Part (for sure this time! Seacouver. Two women seeking revenge, two frantic Immortals, one dumbfounded vampire, and a grim Watcher. What else could possibly happen?

Author's Responses to Reviewers
responses will be given in Part 20, so hold on for a little bit

(muttering darkly to herself as she uses a fine-tooth comb while going through the outline, then nods in satisfaction when she finishes) Nope, nothing else for this part. See you soon.
TU