Buffy read from the large book in front of her. "The Box of Gavrok. It houses some great demonic energy or something which His Honor needs to chow down on come A Day." She glanced up as Willow and Giles came into the library. "Hey, guys. Any new plans now that we've actually got some information?" the Slayer asked.

"Perhaps," Giles answered. He glared at Wesley until the pompous young man cleared the books from the table. "These are maps of City Hall."

"Yeah," Willow chirped. "I found them in the water and power mainframe."

Smiling at her friend, Buffy pointed to a small room on the map. "The Box is being kept under guard in a small conference room on the top floor. Unfortunately, that's all the information I could get out of my informant before his aggressive tendencies forced me to introduce him to Mr. Pointy."

Straightening his tie and clearing his throat, Wesley said, "Well, now, here's what I…"

Interrupting the other man, Giles commented, "Perhaps you could enter through the skylight?" When Buffy nodded, he continued, "Take Angel with you, my dear."

Xander quietly joined in the planning. "There's a fire ladder over here, on this side of the building."

"Alright, then," Buffy declared. "Let's get the Box and we can all graduate without worrying about an Apocalypse."

"Well, I'm not sure just gaining possession of the Box will be enough," Giles cautioned.

"Yeah," Willow agreed. She grinned and nudged Buffy's shoulder. "We have to destroy it physically and ritually, with some down and dirty black magic."

"Now, hang on," Wesley interjected. "We don't know what such a ritual would require."

Giles smirked, taking a great deal of pleasure in over-ruling his replacement. "I think the Breath of the Entropics is standard for this sort of thing." He looked up from his book, and handed it to Xander. "Fairly simple recipe."

"I know," the young man responded with a sigh. "I'm ingredient getting guy." He headed for the exit.

"Hold it! Stop!" Wesley raced toward Xander, jumping in front of the boy. "I demand everyone stop this instant. I'm in charge here, and I say this is all moving much too fast. We need time to fully analyze the situation and devise a proper stratagem."

"Wes," Buffy commented, "hop on the train or get off the tracks."

The Englishman stared at her in astonishment. However, he pulled himself together. "The Mayor will most assuredly have supernatural safeguards protecting the Box."

Xander, path still blocked by the Watcher, said, "You know, Buff, he's got a point."

"Wow. OK, Wes. We'll get it covered." The Slayer looked over her shoulder at Willow. "Sounds like a job for Wiccan Girl. What do you say, Will. Big time danger…"

The perky redhead smiled. "Hey, I eat danger for breakfast."

"Yet, oddly enough, she panics in the face of breakfast foods," Xander taunted before finally leaving the library.

"Let's get to work, then," Buffy ordered. The Scoobies filed out, leaving Wesley standing alone, clutching the maps of City Hall.

Faith stared at the Mayor in shock. "What the hell, Boss?"

"Now, Faith, I apologize if I startled you." He stood up and straightened his jacket. "But I really don't think it's a good idea to open that just now. It needs to wait until my Ascension."

"Sure, whatever you say." The Slayer backed off and sat down. She'd never really been curious about the whole Ascension deal, but those spiders and the Mayor's weird behavior had her wondering. "Hey, ya' know how you're always trying to get me to read and everything?"

"Yes? Found some books you want me to get you?" The Mayor smiled indulgently.

"Nah. Don't spend any money 'til I know if I'm gonna like it. I was just thinking you could recommend one of them books you got in here." Sweat ran down her back, and Faith hoped she could pull this off. "That way, I get to learn more about what's going on with you and maybe pick up some stuff to help with the Slaying."

Sandy eyebrows rose sharply. "Faith! That's wonderful." He moved from behind the desk, pulling the brunette up and into a hug. I knew you'd come around." Letting the stunned Slayer go, he bounded over to the wall, quickly opening the hidden compartment. "Now," he mumbled, rifling through the collection of tomes on the shelves, "what would be a really good introduction for my little girl?"

Faith rubbed sweating hands on the legs of her pants, grimacing at the way the moisture slicked the leather. All the intrigue of the past few days was making her edgy. Her right leg bounced up and down and her fingers drummed on the armrest.

"Ah, this one is perfect," the Mayor announced. "Here, Faith, you'll love this one."

Gently taking the old book from the Mayor, the brunette glanced at the cover. In spidery print, she read, Demonology: A Treatise of Magickal Creatures. "Thanks, Boss. Maybe I can learn something about the local demon population. Could come in handy."

"I'm so proud of you, Faith." The Slayer froze, an unknown feeling expanding inside her. No one had ever told her that. "It takes guts to try improving yourself." Closing the paneled wall, he crossed the room, sitting behind his desk. "Now, Faith, let's talk a little bit more about the next job I've got lined up for you."

Buffy glanced across the storage room at her best friend. Willow was staring furiously at the rows of herbs and potions, mumbling under her breath. "Hey, Will," the Slayer said.

At first, the young witch didn't hear her.

Buffy tried again. "Um, Will? Can we maybe talk about that empathy spell?"

Hands full of tiny bottles, the redhead turned to the blonde. "Sure, but I haven't been able to do any more research, you know."

"That's OK. I kinda did some of my own."

"Oh! You talked to Angel. What did he say?" Willow placed the fragile items in a carryall and picked up a couple of spell books, just in case.

Buffy twitched at that. Gee, Will, nothing good for my nerves. "I didn't really come out and ask him about the spell. It just sort of came up."

Something in the Slayer's voice told the witch this was big news. She stopped fussing with the supplies and dragged the shorter girl over to a couple of boxes. "OK, Buffy. That sounded way serious. So spill." Sensing some resistance, she frowned. "Better tell me now, Buff. Otherwise I'll have to use Resolve Face on you."

The blonde laughed at the threat. Holding her hands up in surrender, Buffy said, "OK, Will, you win. Keep the Resolve Face under control." Dropping her hands and getting serious, she continued, "I basically asked Angel to explain why I couldn't sense his thoughts last night. I got way more information than I wanted."

She looked at Willow. "The spell worked, Will. It just didn't work like we planned."

"How, exactly, did it work?" the young witch asked fearfully.

"According to Angel, vampires are immune to telepaths and empaths. Something to do with the soul departing after death." When her friend started to ask a question, Buffy shrugged and said, "Don't ask for more. I didn't really understand everything. There was a mirror and then something about no reflection…Anyway, the spell let me feel emotions; I just wasn't feeling Angel's."

Eyes wide, Willow whispered, "Buffy, the only other person in the room was Faith."

"Yep."

"Oh, my God, Buffy! You said…I mean, Faith was…" the witch blushed fiery red.

Her own face flushed pink at the memory of the other Slayer's desire during their night at the Mansion. "Exactly, Will. I'm feeling Faith's emotions, and she's got more than just a crush on me."

"Got another demon for me to kill, Boss? Cause I gotta say, this last one was a breeze," Faith admitted.

The smile twisting the older man's face sent chills through the Slayer. "No, Faith. I think it's time you stopped decimating the ranks of my future servants. I need you to take care of a human hindrance this time."

If the words hadn't sucked the energy from her limbs, Faith would have bolted. That wasn't an option, though. Heart pounding and bile dancing in her stomach, the Slayer put all of her skills to use keeping her face expressionless. "Somebody giving your grief, Boss?" Her voice came out almost normal, just a little quiver betrayed her unease.

Hazel eyes watched her reaction closely. "What's the matter? Long forgotten morality rearing its head?"

Dragging in a slow, deep breath, the brunette fought to remain calm. "Hey, it's all good." Loosening her death grip on the armrests, she leaned forward a little. "Let me know the when and the where. I'll make sure you got no problems left."

Slowly, the Mayor's smile grew more relaxed. "You know, Faith, when you first came to work for me, all the vampires told me it was just a ruse. They said you wanted to spy and you'd take my secrets back to your little friends." He leaned back in his chair. "I think you just proved them wrong."

"If you're questioning my loyalty, Boss," the brunette bluffed, "tell me who I gotta kill and I'll take care of it tonight. Can't stand the thought of you doubting me."

"Oh, it can wait a day or two. There's a professor at the University who may just have found a way to defeat me, even after the Ascension."