Chapter 7

RUPERT GILES' APARTMENT

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

(12 HOURS EARLIER)

"It's called 'Queen Bessie's Lucky Charm,' because it used to belong to Queen Elizabeth I," explained Willow Rosenberg. She showed them the picture she had found, in one of Giles' tomes, of a silver bracelet with a matching figurine fashioned in the likeness of a unicorn.

"Legend has it," she continued: "...that it was carved from the horn of the last unicorn to survive Noah's Flood. That it was given to Queen Elizabeth, as a birthday gift, by Sir Walter Raleigh, himself. And, that he explained to her how wearing it would make England prosperous. But, only so long as she kept her virginity!"

"Whoa!" exclaimed Xander Harris: "Rough trade."

"Says the boy who almost became Purina Mantis Chow," countered Willow, with a good-natured tongue poke for emphasis.

"In any event," added Giles: "...the bracelet disappeared after her death in 1603. Not turning up again, until it was recorded as being given to the governor of Hong Kong, by Gen. Charles 'Chinese' Gordon, following suppression of the Taiping Rebellion. It has been passed down to all successive governors of that former Crown Colony right up until the Reversion, two years ago."

"And, this little thingie can turn Amy back to normal?" asked Buffy, looking at the picture once more.

"If it truly was carved from an alicorn, then yes. It would be one of the most powerful all-purpose counteractants of magic, in the world!"

"But, how do we find out where it is, in the here and now?" asked Xander.

"The usual way," replied Buffy: "You help Willow surf the Net, while I go beat up Willy the Bartender."

WILLY'S BAR,

12 HOURS LATER

MICK ST. JOHN'S P.O.V.

The Shrikes' apparent leader lifted his visor, and looked me straight in the eyes.

"You are Michael St. John of the Toreador Clan?"

"Only by Embrace," I answered, with a smile: "Can I help you guys?"

He nodded: "We have a mutual quarry; Angelus the Aurelian. The Shrikes don't like competition. So, we want you to head back to Los Angeles, tonight. Starting now!"

"Competition?" I asked: "Since when did bloodhunts become a sport? I thought it was mandatory, for everyone in the town where it was declared, to join in."

"We don't care what you thought. Return to L.A. Or, we stake you and behead you, right where you stand. Your choice!"

"EHHHHHHHHHH!" rang out a loud, decidedly female voice, in imitation of a game-show buzzer: "How about none of the above?"

I looked to my right, and saw a teenager girl standing in the doorway of the bar. She had on a brown leather outfit, with a blonde ponytail slung over her left shoulder. And, in each of her hands?

She held a wooden stake.

tbc