AUTHOR'S NOTE: (sigh) Since I have not received any answers for my question, I've decided to just write the longer version. It will end up making the story about two chapters longer than the short version (though the story is turning out longer than I thought it would anyway). Still would like to see some reviews. I won't stop writing it or anything, but review would motivate me to faster. "I know you're out there!"

CHAPTER 14 -JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT'S OVER-

The cars of both Angel and Cordelia drove to an appropriate clearing in the Warehouse District. The gang ambled out of the vehicles and looked around themselves.

"Well, thing isn't going to be easy," Gunn said and hoisted his axe onto his shoulder.

"We don't have much time. If the Casotrosians have the people from the bus, it won't take them long to finish the rituals."

Angel scanned the surroundings. His senses were tuned on anything out of the ordinary. Then his ear picked up the sound of several people talking somewhere in the west.

"I think I might have found them. About two hundred yards to the right."

"I agree," Mabon said quietly. "There are definitely people there."

"Then lets move out."

Angel led the way to a warehouse. "This is the place."

"There should be a side entrance somewhere," Wesley mused and headed for the alley between the warehouse and its neighbour. "Here we are."

The others moved to form a semicircle around the door.

Before Wesley could lay his extended hand, Fred spoke out, "maybe we should check the situation out before we barge in?"

Wesley looked up at the windows placed on the edge of the warehouse's roof. "Mabon, do you think you could float up there and take a look inside?"

"Of course." Mabon flew to one of the windows and peered inside, he then descended back to where the gang was waiting. "It looks like there are about a dozens men dressed in robes."

"That would be the Casotrosians," Cordelia said with clear distaste.

"And about fifty people placed on the centre of the floor. I think they're unconscious, I could see them breathing."

"Good. What were the robed men doing?"

"They were gathered around what appeared to be a makeshift altar."

Wesley pursed his lips. "They've started the ritual. Any ideas?"

"Storm in at random and start hacking?" Gunn suggested.

Angel shrugged. "Sounds like a plan."

"We should attempt to circle them from behind," Wesley said.

"There are boxes lining most of the walls. If we won't make much noise, it would be possible to sneak around them."

"Okay." Angel held up his sword and opened the door.

The gang snuck around behind the stacked boxes until the Casotrosian Brotherhood was sufficiently surrounded. Fred observed that the intended victims were loosely tied together and guarded by three members of the brotherhood. She looked to Mabon who was on her left and nodded her head towards the guards. Mabon glanced at them and nodded back at Fred. They would take care of the guards while the others worked on the members performing the ritual a little further away.

The man who stood closest to the altar, upon which the Hound of Sorino was laid, muttered on in a tedious voice. "From the voids we call you, forgotten army. Arise from your resting place and take our fresh offering of flesh. May you find them pleasing..."

"Now," Angel whispered.

The gang ran forward, weapons raised. Fred and Mabon went straight for the three guards. Fred took one of the guards down with her crossbow and began loading it again.

Meanwhile Mabon kept the remaining two guards busy and a safe distance away from Fred. When it looked like this opponents were about to overpower him with their size and strength, Mabon released a strong wind around him allowing himself and advantage of fighting through the swirling air. Fred was done reloading the crossbow and finished off one of the guards. Mabon used the staff end of his spear and knocked the last guard unconscious.

"Help me untie them." Fred had already rushed to free the slowly awakening captives.

Mabon kneeled close to a middle-aged woman and laid his hands on the ropes binding her to the man next to her. With careful control his hand burned through the rope and he gently removed most of the remains.

Fred and Mabon made quick work of the ropes, but the others were having more difficulty subduing the larger part of the Casotrosians. They were severely outnumbered and their way to the leader was constantly blocked by badly trained, but unrelenting, followers.

Gunn was about to reach the altar when one of the member, wielding a spiked club, moved to stop him. Gunn avoided one swing from the club, but lost his footing and stumbled backwards.

The club came down again, Gunn rolled out the way and blocked the subsequent blow with his axe. The club weighted on the axe's sharp blade and Gunn was sure that if he did not get back up soon, his attacker would simply slip the club across the axe's curved form. He tried to move backward and get his feet underneath him, but his opponent was expecting this. At a vulnerable moment he raised his club to smash Gunn's legs, only to find Mabon crouching down before, his spear deep within the attacker's stomach.

Mabon growled and pushed the attacker away so that he fell on his back and would not be getting up any time soon.

Gunn panted and got to his feet. "Thanks."

"Your welcome." Mabon smiled.

There was a howl of rage as the leader of the Casotrosians' was knocked down by Angel. It seemed like the brotherhood's every last member was either unconscious or dead. Wesley quickly pocketed the statue from the altar.

"This ought to teach to raise ancient armies," Angel said as he bunched the leader in the face.

Cordelia lowered her katana and surveyed the mess. "Our job looks to be done. These trousers are so ruined."

The now safe victims were waking up and looking around in bewilderment.

"We better head out and call the police over here." Fred moved for the side door.

"Agreed."

"Can we pick up some Chinese on the way back to the hotel?" Gunn asked.

"Yeah, I'm starving," Fred said.

After retrieving some well earned Chinese takeaway everyone headed for the Hyperion to discuss what should be done with the statue. As the gang entered the court yard, they were met with the sight of two purple eyed men surrounded by six Kaliff demons. The man on the right, a big hulking thing, stepped forward. Angel heard Mabon gasp and move behind the others.

The large man, a full head taller than Angel, spoke, "you must be Angel. I believe you have something that belongs to us."