"Can this thing go any faster?" Angel asked when he had hung up the phone after talking to Gunn "We'll never get there at this rate." He was agitated. Gunn had said Conner was safe and they were going to New York. Angel had reluctantly acknowledged the validity of this plan. But when Angel tried to press Gunn for more information the man became evasive. Angel in turn had become edgy. There was no one to take that out on except for Faith.

"I'm going twenty miles an hour over the speed limit." Faith said calmly

Angel sighed and rubbed his face. "I'm sorry. I'm freaking out."

Faith nodded. "I get it, me too." She was so accepting of Angel's behavior because she was also holding in barely constrained panic. She couldn't endure the thought of Wesley's new baby being brought into the world just to be snatched away as part of some demon's plan to end that world. She couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him or his family. Faith pressed a little harder on the accelerator. "Buffy won't try anything before the baby is born."

Angel nodded. "Of course not, no matter what effects the first is having on her she would never do anything that might kill an innocent child." Angel said

Faith stared at the road ahead. It never seemed to change, the distance between them and their destination appeared to stay constant. She knew it was just a trick of the mind, but it was a damn effective one. "I hope so." Faith blurted out without meaning to

Angel stared at her. "She wouldn't. Buffy… Buffy isn't the kind of person to..." Angel turned back to the window. "We were really happy together, I don't know what happened."

Faith nodded. "Me either, as far as me and Robin are concerned. I guess a part of me always knew it wouldn't last." Angel flinched and Faith felt a twinge of guilt. "But things are different between you and Buffy. You guys are soul mates or whatever. I'm sure when this all blows over you'll find a way to work it out. I mean you got past her sending you to a hell dimension after running you through with a sword. This is nothing compared to that."

Angel slowly nodded his head. "Thanks for trying to be comforting."

"Emphasis on the trying huh?" Faith asked

"Ye-ah," Angel said "But it was a really good try."

"I'm sure it'll work out." Faith said again "But if it doesn't I'm single now." She said in an attempt at levity "Come on Angel; that was funny. Laugh a little."

Angel gave Faith a slight chuckle. "You're right, everything will work out."

"That's the spirit." Faith said

"Yeah," Angel saw a road sign proclaiming the distance they had to go. "Yeah,"

Fred gasped when she saw the window to her hospital room open. Faith jumped through the opening. "Faith! Wh-" She stopped when the slayer put her index finger to her lips and shook her head. Faith walked up to the door and peaked through the window. "Say something."

Faith grabbed a wheelchair from the supply closet in the room. "We're leaving."

"My baby is getting her check-up." Fred said "I'm not going anywhere."

"Angel's got it handled. We have to go." Faith wheeled the chair over to Fred's bedside.

"What about Wesley?"

"He's distracting Buffy and will meet us at your car in twenty minutes which is why we have to leave now. Buffy wants your baby and I don't think either of us want that to happen."

Fred got into the wheelchair. "I can walk if I have to."

"This is faster." Faith assured her "But don't ask any questions until we're out of the hospital, I want to keep a low profile." Faith wheeled Fred out of the room and took off down the hall at a rather unsafe speed. Fred squeezed her eyes shut, hoping she wouldn't vomit. There was very little about the leather-adorned young woman pushing Fred down the hall to the background of hospital staff telling them to stop or slow down that kept a low profile. Fred tried to focus on something other than the tumultuous ride, but all she could think of was how badly she wanted to be holding her baby right now. She wanted to hold her and keep her safe from harm.

For a single panicked moment Angel wondered what would happen if he couldn't find Fred and Wes's baby among the many bassinets, but she was easy to find. The chart at the end of her crib read 'Wyndham-Price, Cordelia P," and the little hospital band around her wrist read the same. Her blue eyes were very familiar. Angel started to reach into the crib and stopped. He remembered the day many years ago when he'd handed his own baby to the man who had those same blue eyes. He's never seen that baby again, not until he wasn't a baby anymore. Angel picked up the little girl with as much delicacy and care as possible. "Hi Cordelia." He whispered

"Oh the bitter irony," Angel turned around to face Giles. "I'm sure it's not lost on you."

Angel stared at the man as he took off his glasses and cleaned them. "You know why I'm here." Giles said "Give me the baby." Giles shortened the distance between them.

"You must be out of your mind." Angel said

"He deserves it." Giles said "Give me the baby."

"No,"

"We're not going to hurt it. Buffy just wants to make sure the world is safe."

"Her, she's a her. Her name is Cordelia."

"That's a nice name." Giles said "Did you ever wonder what would have happened if Wesley hadn't lost your baby to Holtz, if he'd managed to get him away like he was trying to do? Would he have raised the child as his own do you think? It isn't right to punish the man for an accident, but how about the intent. Take the girl, raise her like you didn't get to raise your own child. You and Buffy would make much better parents than that broken man."

"Get out of my way Giles."

"They'll kill her." Giles said "The child is damaged goods and when they find out they will kill her. The bits of Illyria still in Fred were transferred to that child. There is evil in her that her parents will not abide. They will strike her down. Only you can save the girl. Oh, the bitter irony." Giles laughed. "Do you get it? The prophecy he thought was condemning you for your poor parenting was actually condemning him for the same crime. Now to stop it from coming true you must separate him from his child as he did you from yours. It has poetry."

"You really think I'd believe that?" Angel asked "You think I'd betray my friends for your well-spun pack of lies. And before you go saying that's what Wesley did, save your breath okay? Sahjhan put a little bit more effort into his scam than you did. Get out of my-" Angel stopped talking when he saw a familiar Englishman flee from where he'd been watching through the window. "Giles?" Angel stared at the man in front of him with a dawning comprehension.

"Oops," The first said, and then vanished

Angel swore. He ran out of the room toward the parking lot while cradling Cordelia with the utmost care. Giles was on his way to warn Buffy. Angel hoped Wes was already gone.

Conner lay in the truck bed with his eyes shut tight. He'd convinced Anne and Gunn that he was more comfortable with the fresh air than cooped up in the cab, but he was really just trying to make sure they had the best chance of the survival if the thing inside him lashed out again. He needed to be safe, chained up somewhere. Conner focused all of his energies on beating the change. He felt as though he'd been in this truck for years, but knew in reality it had probably been only a couple of hours. There were probably many more to go. He clutched his head. "Get out you bitch." He growled "You can't have me." He felt the truck slow. Why were they stopping? Hadn't he made it clear that time was of the essence? Conner looked up at a giant glowing sign that read 'Caritas' in pale blue and neon green. Gunn and Anne got out of the truck.

Gunn opened the truck bed and offered his hand to Conner. "I guess we really were on the road for a long time." Conner said as he let Gunn help him down.

"Thirty-six hours, but who's counting?" Gunn said "I'm starving."

"I have to pee so badly." Anne said as they ran for the back door.

Lorne was waiting in the back where they unloaded the weekly supply trucks. "It's been too long." He said cheerily as he embraced Anne and gave Gunn's hand a hearty shake. "Conner my lad," He said warmly "You look like crap." He pulled the kid into a hug.

"I feel even worse." Conner said

"I can imagine. Sick as a dog, demons trying to take over your body, and one of the most powerful organizations in the world wants to abduct you and do God knows what to ya."

"That about sums it up." Conner said while shivering

Lorne led them into the supply room. Conner could hear music coming through the door from the other room. "Well don't you worry." Lorne said "Caritas is a sanctuary."

Teresa opened the door to the bar itself from the other side, letting in bright lights and loud music. Conner flinched, but Teresa shut it just as quickly. She ran for the newcomers. "I'm so glad to see you!" She shrieked "Anne," She hugged Anne who happily reciprocated. "Charles Gunn," Gunn let Teresa hug him. "Oh Conner," Teresa hugged him for the longest.

"I told him not to worry." Lorne assured Teresa "After all," He returned his attention to his old friends. "Helping the helpless is what we do here. Now let's get you upstairs."

"So uh how do yall know each other again?" Patricia asked Buffy

"We used to work together." Wesley said

"Yeah," Buffy said "We were exterminators."

"Like you exterminated demons?" Roger asked

Buffy jumped in surprise. She shot Wesley a look and he couldn't help but give her a self-satisfied one in return. "They know about the supernatural Buffy."

Buffy nodded. "Ah-huh," She said "We exterminated demons and vampires."

"Wasn't Angel a vampire when you worked with him?" Patricia asked

"He was a special vampire." Dawn said "He had a soul."

"I remember you telling me about that." Patricia said "When we were running from-" She stopped talking when an elderly Englishman ran up to them very quickly.

"Angel has the baby and was talking to the first." Giles panted

"What?!" Patricia said "Are you talking about my granddaughter?"

Wesley knew he should run while he had the chance, but he couldn't just leave the Burkles with only that information. He pulled them aside quickly. "It's okay." He said even though the fact that Angel was talking to the first petrified him "Angel was just protecting-"

Buffy grabbed Wesley and threw him to the floor. She picked him up by his neck, choking the man. "I'm only going to ask once, so listen very carefully. Where is the kid?"

"Put him down!" Patricia demanded

"You can't do this." Roger added

"Do you know what that thing you brought into the world is destined to do?" Buffy asked

Wesley struggled to breath. "She's my daughter." He choked out "She's a human baby."

"A healthy human baby," Patricia said "That's what the doctors said."

"Be quiet," Buffy snapped at the couple before returning her attention to Wesley. "Tell me what I need to know or I will make you bleed." Buffy promised "You know I can."

"I guess it's a good thing we're in a hospital." Wesley gasped

"I see coming back from the dead made you feel a little immortal, I can fix that."

"Buffy please listen, the first is manipulating you. It wants you to do this."

"The first wants me to stop his disciples from crossing over? The first wants me to keep those foretold to destroy the world from doing so? I highly doubt that." Buffy said

"It wants to weaken us by dividing us. We defeated the senior partners by working together. We don't stand a chance against them while we're at each other's throats." Wesley struggled to keep breathing. "Literally," He pulled uselessly at her hand.

Buffy dropped him to the ground. Wesley pulled in a deep painful breath. "We'll go after them." Buffy said as group of hospital guards rushed in that she proceeded to ignore "We'll take him with us." Dawn pulled out a pair of handcuffs and approached the former watcher.

"Now see here." Roger said "You've got no authority-"

Buffy turned to face him and he clammed up. Buffy's fearsome demeanor gave him pause. "I don't like to hurt civilians, but when the fate of the world is at stake, things happen."

"Leave them alone." Wesley said as Dawn cuffed him "They're good people."

"So are you." Patricia told her son-in-law "They can't do this."

"Agreed," Buffy watched Faith approach from down the hall. "I'm gonna kick your ass so hard every slayer called from now on is going to feel it."

"Wow Faith," Dawn said "As one-liners go, that's pretty weak."

"Not as weak as her punches." Buffy said as she threw one of her own at Faith

Angel ran up to Wesley and Fred's car and pulled open the back door. Fred was sitting next to Faith with her head resting on the slayer's shoulders. She looked exhausted and frail when she lifted her head to look at him, but she still managed to smile. Angel felt a pang of guilt over her haggard appearance. She should be resting in a hospital bed, not on the run from his girlfriend. Fred reached for Cordelia and Angel gently transferred the baby into her arms.

"Isn't my little girl beautiful?" Fred whispered

Angel nodded. "She is." Angel looked at that baby and knew that everything the first said was a lie. Cordelia was a normal healthy human baby. Angel smiled at mother and daughter.

"Where's Wesley?" Faith asked

Fred looked up in panic. "Is he in trouble?"

"I'll go look for him." Angel promised

Faith got out on the other side of the car. "You stay here." She ordered as she strode toward the hospital. "Watch the kid and her mom. I'll be right back."

Angel thought about protesting but heard the futility of it in her voice. He got into the car and sat next to Fred. Fred cradled her baby close to her chest. "She's perfect." Fred said

"She is." Angel agreed "She takes after her mother."

Fred giggled as she leaned against Angel. Her eyes drooped shut. "Don't let them hurt my baby." Fred whispered "She's all new. She can't take care of herself yet."

Angel draped his arm over his old friend. "Nobody is going to hurt your baby." Angel promised "Nobody is going to hurt your family. I personally guarantee it."

Faith blocked Buffy's punch and countered with her own. While the slayers decked it out hospital security tried to figure out how to approach the situation. "Hey," Roger said "That psycho cuffed my son-in-law. Our daughter just gave birth and we were waiting in here when she just cuffed him for no reason. Can we get a hand here?" A guard approached Wesley

"Don't listen to him." Dawn said "My sister was trying to stop a madman."

"I saw it." A nurse said "She was choking him, he didn't do anything."

The guard helped Wesley to his feet and pulled out a key that unlocked the cuffs. He released Wesley. "Thanks," Wes said "I appreciate it." He took off running down the hall. "I'll call you!" He shouted at his in-laws. "Don't worry about Fred or the baby, they'll be fine." Faith shoved Buffy and ran after Wesley. "Thank you," Wesley said as the guards as well as Buffy and her posse ran after them. "Is everyone all right?"

"Yeah," Faith said "Let's get the hell out of here."

Teresa led Conner to the bathroom where she had run him a hot bath. "The towels are in there." She pointed to the linen closet. "There are fresh bars of soap in a variety of fun scents under the sink. We have spare toothbrushes and toothpaste in that drawer."

"You don't have to do all this for me." Conner said "You should just tie me up."

Teresa kissed his sweaty brow. "You're safe here." She left him to his devices, not acknowledging the tears running down his face.

Wesley yanked open the driver's door as Faith got into the passenger side. He pulled out his keys and started the car. Wesley tried to feel relieved that they had escaped, but until they were off the hospital grounds he wouldn't really feel safe. Fred was asleep in the backseat leaning on Angel, who was making sure she and her baby were secure from any unnecessary jolting. It was a good thing he was, because when Wesley slammed on the brakes Angel made sure Fred neither fell off her seat nor dropped the baby in her arms. Wesley stared bug-eyed at the figure in front of his car. Faith stared in disbelief. Fred opened her eyes and screamed.

"Oh my God," Angel said

"Illyria," Said Wes

They didn't have time for much else. Illyria was faster than a slayer, faster than Angel had been as a vampire, and much, much faster than a mortal man. She pulled the driver's side door off the car and yanked Wesley out of the car. She tossed him to the ground.

Angel and Faith both got out of the car and ran toward the old one. Illyria looked exactly as she had when they'd killed her. She had Fred's appearance, but none of her demeanor. Fred herself remained in the car, clutching her baby and squeezing her eyes shut tight. On the day she'd brought her child into the world she was being confronted with the thing she feared most.

Illyria threw Angel into the air. When he hit the ground her heard a snap that he was pretty sure was his wrist. "So much easier when I was a vampire." He mumbled

Faith stood in front of Illyria. She managed to dodge two blows and deflect one, but Illyria finally landed an uppercut under Faith's chin that would have killed most people. Faith staggered back. Faith wasn't just a slayer, she was a mythic figure in supernatural circles. She did not go down easily. She pulled a stake from her pocket and drove it toward Illyria's neck. It may as well have been a sewing needle, for it only scratched the woman.

Illyria grabbed Faith by the shoulders and threw her as well. She turned to Wesley, who was still climbing to his feet. "Have you been enjoying your second life?" She kicked him. Angel threw his arms around Illyria while Wesley clutched his now broken ribs. Illyria easily batted Angel aside. "You are all weak and pathetic creatures." She said "You do not deserve life."

Faith attacked Illyria again. Illyria turned to deal with the slayer. Angel helped Wesley to his feet. "Come on." He led the man back toward the car. Wesley got into the back seat while Angle hopped into the doorless driver's seat. He backed up in such a way to align the passenger side door with the skirmish. Faith hopped into the car and Angel peeled away at an unsafe acceleration, leaving Illyria behind. "Can she outrun a car?" Angel asked

"Dear God I hope not." Wesley wheezed

"She's behind us." Faith said as she watched her mirror. "Small miracles right Angel?"

"Right," Angel said, panting "Right,"

"Oh Wesley," Fred said "What she did to you," Fred looked horrified.

"I don't care." Wesley winced as he spoke, but he then leaned forward and kissed his wife. "I don't care as long as you're both safe." He leaned his forehead against hers.

"I think we should switch cars." Faith said

"Good plan," Said Angel as wind came at him through where the door had been

Spike closed the clasp on Conner's chain. The basement was cold and damp. The only room down here with any heat was the office where they met clients. The rest of the rooms were living space for Harmony and Spike. Since the vampires had no body temperature it was pointless to heat up the rooms. Conner felt the cold water chill his burning skin. "Thank you,"

"Can I get you anything?" Spike asked with uncharacteristic kindness

Conner shook his head. "You've done enough."

Spike nodded and headed back up the stairs. He didn't even pause at the door to the bar, continuing up to the second floor. This was where Teresa and Lorne lived, as well as where they met their clients for their psychic consultation business. At the dining room table the two demons entertained their human guests as well as one blond vampire. "What's the news?"

"They managed to evade Buffy and they're almost here." Gunn said

"Angel said Fred isn't looking so good." Anne said "No one needs a day long car trip right after giving birth." Spike flinched. He had a soft spot for Fred.

"She needs a good bed and some good food." Lorne said

"Both of which we have and freely give." Teresa said "They can rest and regain their strength while we plan for what's to come. All will be safe here at Caritas."

"Because of the sanctorum spell?" Gunn asked

"Right!" Harmony said excitedly "It's been super useful this last year and a half."

"Yeah," Spike muttered "Not sure if it will keep out Buffy's lot though."

"Well why wouldn't it?" Lorne said with a nervous laugh

"They've got red on their side." Spike said "Maybe she can break the spell."

"Let's not be negative now." Lorne said

"That's exactly what we should do." Gunn said "We have to prepare for any eventuality."

"Like that Buffy might be right." When Spike finished that statement you could hear a pin drop in the room. Anne grabbed Gunn's hand. He squeezed it while staring at Spike. The glare was both appraising, angry, and wary. Lorne wore his anxiety on his sleeve. Teresa held his hand and seemed completely calm. Harmony just looked confused. "Conner is in pretty bad shape. In time Faith will look like that too. We have to consider that Buffy knows what she's-"

Gunn didn't let Spike finish. "Cordelia wasn't even conceived in L.A. There is no way she's infected. Buffy tried to kidnap her anyway. She forced Wes and Fred to flee their home, jobs, and family. She tried to kill Wesley. The first got to her and she's lost it."

Spike frowned. "If the prophecy is real…" Spike trailed off. He hated prophecies as a general rule, hated relying on them to back up a point. "We don't know the first's game."

"We know it wants us to turn against each other." Anne said "And we have."

"It couldn't be avoided." Gunn said "They attacked us." He glared at Spike. "Without cause," He added for the vampire's benefit. "They didn't even tell us what they wanted at first."

Spike nodded. "The first is definitely at work here. But that still doesn't-"

Gunn rose to his feet. "Are you saying we should turn Conner over?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "I didn't say that."

Teresa stood up and clapped her scaled hands together in glee as though nothing tense or frightening were happening. "They're here." She said "Let's go say hi." She ran from the room.

When Angel pulled to a stop he let out a breath he felt like he'd been holding all day. For the first ten hours Faith had driven her far too cramped car. Angel had taken over after that and promised Wesley he's wake him after ten hours and let him drive the last eight. Angel had possessed no intention of keeping that promise. Faith sat in the passenger seat, sleeping. The Wyndham-Price family was finally getting some sleep as well. Between the baby's crying, Wesley's broken ribs, and Fred's rapidly deteriorating condition, it was a wonder they could.

Faith's eyes snapped open. "We're not moving." She observed

"We're here." Angel explained unnecessarily as he parked next to Gunn's truck in view of the flashing sign. "And so's the welcoming committee." Angel saw everyone but Conner.

Faith couldn't get out of the car fast enough. She stretched, feeling her joints snap and pop, her muscles extend. Her stiff bones bent slightly. "I just have to say." Gunn said "That's really hot." He kissed Anne on the cheek to show he wasn't hitting on Faith.

The teasing grin fell off his face when Angel helped Fred out of the car. Her skin was now almost the same color as Teresa's scales. Wes got out holding his baby and limping with the pain of his broken ribs. Anne and Gunn rushed over to their friends. "Let me help." Anne said

Wes allowed her to take the baby after a slight hesitation and then Gunn helped the man inside. After a few weak steps Angel just picked Fred up and carried her inside. The bar was closed at the moment and the room's many tables available for their use. The second they all gathered at a large table little Cordelia began to cry. Faith suppressed a groan. She's been listening to that for over a full day on and off. But she was glad the baby was safe and present enough to cry, so she didn't complain. Anne tried to shush the baby to no avail.

"You all need a hospital." Gunn said

"Buffy can get to them there." Angel said

"I know a place." Spike said "Off the books, they mostly cater to demons, but they have guys who know human anatomy. They can patch you up."

"Yes please," Fred whispered weakly as she sat at the table

"I'll drive you." Lorne walked behind the bar and grabbed his keys.

"No, no more driving," Fred moaned "Hurts,"

Lorne knelt in front of her chair. "It's just a little drive, I promise."

Wesley took her hand and helped her to her feet, no mean task for someone barely on his own two. Faith grabbed the man's arm to steady him. "I'll go with you." Faith offered

"Bad idea," Angel said "We should keep the number of people out there Buffy wants to get at to a minimum." Faith scowled but nodded.

"I'll go." Gunn said "I make a pretty intimidating body guard."

Lorne, Gunn, Fred, Wesley, and little Cordelia departed. An oppressive silence fell on them as the gravity of their situation leered at them. Angel faced Anne. Before he could ask the phone rang. Everyone jumped. Spike went to pick up the phone. "Yeah? I'll be right there."

Spike put the phone down. "Where are you going?" Anne asked

"I've got a job."

"Are you serious?" Angel asked "The first is back. Illyria is back and with a vengeance not to mention a hell of a lot more powerful. Buffy has gone nuts and wants to abduct my son, Faith, and an innocent newborn baby. You have a job? You must be joking."

"Vamp nest, wanna come?"

Angel gaped at the man. "Yeah okay,"

The two men left, Harmony running after them a few seconds later. "Wait up!"

Teresa, Anne, and Faith were alone in the room. "Can I take a shower?" Faith asked

"Follow me." Teresa said "We have many bars of soap in a variety of fun scents."

"So basically," Buffy said "We have nothing."

"I wouldn't say nothing." Willow said "We have Wesley's abandoned car which happens to be disconnected from its perfectly serviceable door indicating a big fight."

The assembled glared at Willow. "So to reiterate," Dawn said "Nothing,"

"Pretty much yeah," Willow agreed

"I am curious about that door though." Giles said "It was ripped from its frame."

"We have bigger problems." Buffy said "Where would they go?"

"They can't have gotten far." Willow said "Not with Fred in that condition."

"They wouldn't have risked staying close." Robin said "I know Faith."

"No way they risked endangering Fred's health, or that baby." Kennedy said

"Cordelia," Dawn said

Buffy and her friends turned their eyes to Dawn. "That's her name."

Buffy nodded. "We don't want to hurt anybody." She said out of nowhere, perhaps in an attempt to convince herself. "We're trying to help. If the senior partners cross over again…"

"Hellfire, death, destruction, chaos, end times," Xander said "The basics,"

"Nothing is more important than stopping that." Buffy said

They all nodded in agreement, Giles, Dawn, Xander, Willow, Kennedy, and Robin. "So who would they turn to in their hour of need?" Giles asked "Who would they trust enough?"

"Lorne," Willow said suddenly "It has to be."

"No way," Buffy said "Angel would never go to Spike for help."

"It has to be Lorne." Willow said "They trust him completely."

"But they don't trust Spike." Xander said "They know he's in good with Buffy."

Dawn gave a small sarcastic laugh. "So was Angel. Where is he now?"

"He gave us a pretty good beating." Robin said

"For trying to hurt Faith." Kennedy said "Seems clear where his priorities lie. I kind of thought there was something between those two."

Buffy flinched. She clenched her fists and tried to suppress any reaction. "We check out New York. If they're there, we take them down. If not, maybe we get some help from Spike."

They all nodded in agreement. Willow grabbed Xander's and Kennedy's hands. Dawn took hands with Buffy and Xander. Giles latched onto Buffy and Robin who took Kennedy's free hand. Willow muttered a spell and the seven people teleported to New York.

Illyria stepped through the Hart's door. On the other side was a battlefield full of desecrated corpses. The Hart was in the middle of a desecration, her pure white dress unblemished, when she looked up and smiled at Illyria. "Do you need transportation?"

"I do." Illyria said

The Hart nodded at the door Illyria had come through. "It will take you where they went." She said "They won't arrive for a day, but you have shown remarkable patience."

Illyria hesitated for a microsecond before taking the doorknob in her hand. She remembered something she knew about the Hart. "You can read my mind." Illyria didn't turn back around to face her fellow old one, she knew the creature was nodding. "You know what I was thinking when I came in." She now turned to face the Hart.

The Hart smiled at Illyria. "I kept my promise. Your fears are only that, baseless. You are clean of any residual humanity. You are as you were Illyria." The Hart assured her

"Then why do I still remember her thoughts?"

"You only remember remembering." The Hart said "You remember your time with them and so remember what you were thinking, including your exploration of the Burkle woman's memories. But look inside and see that they are gone. She is nothing to you now, I promise."

Illyria nodded. "Good, that's what I want."

Illyria opened the door and looked upon a body of water and a suspension bride towering over it. The door opened onto one of the bridge's support structures. "Of course," The Hart spoke up "If it was you, not her residual parts, that loved that man, then you still love him."

"I am incapable of love." Illyria said "I am above love, emotion, anything human. I obey the ancient laws. I hunt and I kill, that is all. I yielded to the prophecy that foretold my resurrection and I yield to the purpose of it. I was betrayed, so I will destroy my betrayers. He is nothing to me but prey. I will flay his skin and suck the marrow from his bones."

"I love it when you talk dirty." The Hart said "Have fun." Illyria stepped through the door. The Hart watched it close and disappear. The smile slipped from her face. She knelt down to dine on the blood of the fallen. She watched her slayers dance among one another, so unaware.