Author's Note: Now that I've figured out how to include one of these in the beginning: Hello! I'm a rather new member of the wonderful Fanfiction community and would be thankful for any reviews or tips concerning my writing. As always, thanks to anyone who gives their time to read.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, everything belongs to their respected owners and the mighty Joss Whedon.

Ripper's jaw clenched tightly when the man who had asked the question stood up and began approaching him. He didn't know what this small group of people was capable of but if they had the same skills as Ethan, they were powerful enough to do some real damage. This, he was interested in.

"My name is Philip," The man outstretched his hand. Ripper made an obvious face of discontent, his lip turned up slightly. He had this distaste for shaking hands. Not only did he see it as a waste of time as a formality, but it reminded him too much of how his father tried to raise him up. Always was he to present himself as a proud and posh member of the Giles' family. His mother had always been relatively modest, as he had been, but his father with all the watcher duty and position of power tended to make sure that Rupert knew the shoes he was going to one day fill. But that was all in the past, he was a new man now, free from destiny. . .

"Name's Ripper," He shook the man's hand reluctantly, pulling away immediately and stuffing them into the pockets of his loose jeans.

"Ripper, eh?" Philip raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah well his name was bit rubbish so I gave him a better one." Ethan suddenly interjected. He ran his hand through the back of his hair as he walked toward them, a habit he had seemed to pick up from Ripper. They were more alike than he led himself to believe, and yet at the same time they were so utterly different it was like trying to get along with your worst school mate. It had only been a few weeks since they'd run into each other but since then they had rarely spent their days or nights apart, often spending the afternoons looking for quick ways to make money and then at night familiarizing themselves with the dark magicks. They were mostly just doing it for fun but on the rare occasion they were able to earn a little cash for their tricks.

Philip shrugged his shoulders at Ethan's sudden intervening and went to sit back down in the circle. It seemed that with Ethan and Ripper the magick circle would be complete. As Ripper approached, the rest mumbled their names. To be honest he was barely listening, only catching a 'Thomas' and a 'Randall'. He wasn't particularly interested in them anyways, it was the magick.

Ethan gave a small tug at Ripper's shirt, signaling for him not to join the circle just yet. Ripper turned to face him with curious eyes.

"Look, I'm not sayin' you won't be able to handle this but it's a hell of a ride the first time, and the weaker you are the easier it controls you." Ethan tried to sound as genuine as he could, but the lack of faith in his voice masked any hint of concern.

"I can handle myself, Ethan." Ripper brushed away the hand that clung to his shirt. "Just watch." He had a fierce look in his eyes, certainly a look of defiance he had perfected using against his father. He would show Ethan and his mates just how 'strong' he was. It was no time to back down, to falter or question, to succumb to the chaos within. No, now was the time to demonstrate and show-off, to prove. He took a seat next to Thomas and gave a nod, "c'mon then."

Despite Ripper's little flair of aggression, Ethan couldn't help to form a sly grin. It seemed Ripper was turning out to be every bit of the man he predicted he would be, easy to trick, easy to lead, and hopefully strong enough to wield a little power. They were to be dealing with the demon known as Eygthon, a rather interesting demon who possessed the ability to enter their body and minds. They had even gone as far as to tattoo a mark that would strengthen the connection on their bodies. Ethan vividly recalled several nights where he received visions due to the psychic link.

Ethan silently took his place and the final tip of the symbol,

"Let's begin."