48 hours earlier.
Xander slowly opened his eyes, a small moan escaping from his lips as he closed them again just as quickly, he lay motionless for a moment as the sunlight from the window bathed him in a warm glow. Stretching his arms as the previous night's events came rushing back to him.
'Morning.' He said softy, as he rolled over.
Finding the bed was empty his mood suddenly changed as sad smile crossed his features.
'…Of course.' He muttered before pulling the covers over his head and retreating back into the bed.
Upon exiting the warehouse Hope took a moment to watch the sunrise from her perch on the roof, her mind running a mile a minute as she remember the previous nights events and the events that would soon follow over the next few days. She quickly became alert of the presence behind her and remained still as the creature approached before turning at the last moment.
'Easy.' He grinned holding his hands up in mock surrender.
'You're still here.' Zahn spoke, as he took in the horizon.
'And you're observant.' She replied her voice an equal measure of wit and impatience.
'He asked that I give you this...' he said holding out a folded black garment.
'My very own robe... just the thing my wardrobe was missing.' she joked as she took it from him.
'And you're sure you don't need anything from us?' he asked.
'Just keep your brother out of my way…' she told him.
'As you wish.' He said, his grin becoming wider by the second.
'Although if you're up for a little mutilation, I could always hold him down.' He suggested.
'I'll hold you to that.' She said, not even trying to disguise her amusement.
'So this secret weapon of yours, feel like sharing?' he asks out of curiosity.
'What, this?' she asked holding up a vile of green liquid, before throwing it to him.
'Might want to be careful with that stuff…' she informed him as he sniffed at the contents.
'Who knows what effect it will have on your…species.' She said warning him.
'…And on yours?' he ask raising what she guessed was his eyebrow.
'The vile in your hand… nothing.' She shrugs as he hands it over, causing a look of confusion to spread across his features.
'You didn't think I would hand over the finished product did you?' she smiled, clearly having outsmarted him.
'You never answered my question.' Zahn called after her as she walked way.
'That's for me to know and you to…' she paused at the fire escape.
'Well you get the picture.' She smiled descending to the street below.
As her feet hit the street below the mask quickly fell away, she was alone as she wandered into town, with no need for her to keep up the act her mind quickly returned to the task at hand as she made her way towards the Summers residence.
She'd done a lot of things since she'd come back, things that she wasn't proud of... but one thing that she had learnt over the years is that you have to do what you can to protect your family. Sometimes that means you have to kill... you have to work with demons... you have to betray them.