Chapter 40
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I claim no rights to any television show, movie, or book. I write for fun not profit. All television show, movie, and book characters are owned by their production studios, television stations, and authors. No copyright infringement is intended. Again, I write for fun not profit. I am not getting paid for this. This goes for all chapters past, present, and future.
Early Saturday night Giles Buffy and Willow headed to the teleport room to head to Africa so they could be there ahead of the other delegations. Just yesterday Giles had sent Oz back to Texas to the Cherokee and then sent Jim, Blair and Peter Caine back to California to collect the Shaolin priest that would form their delegations. All had been informed that the safe zone had been found, and that their delegations were invited to a property the G.C. had quickly purchased. They were asked to come along to see if they could purchase something around their own property if they so wanted as there would be safety in numbers.
Everyone now had portkeys that would take them back and forth between their home and Congo in Africa in the form of a coil of rope to take as many monks or Cherokee as needed. Hermione had quickly gone to work making them on the hidden island of the Macboon and would go back to make more as needed.
It took less then ten seconds for them to arrive in Africa. They found themselves at an abandon rail way station. Willow had informed the others that Xander had explained that the building they were working on was behind the station and down the hill. As they made their way down the dirt road they found themselves overlooking a ghost town. As they got closer they heard power tools. Giles had a sinking feeling, Willow was disbelieving, while Buffy held her judgment in reserve. All in all they weren't in a very good mood when they saw the building they heard the construction work coming from. As they entered the bank they saw Harry and Xander working on scaffolding as they pried away a piece of masonry that hung precariously and was ready to drop away on its own. They had planed to fill that cavity left behind with new cement, as soon as they did the same with all the other dangerously hanging pieces and when they received said cement from the G.C. of course. Right now it was all about demolition and clean-up since the G.C. was taking their time sending the supplies. Harry and Xander nearly jumped out of their skin when the others called out to them. They had been there for weeks all on their own, to hear other human voices shouting out their names nearly had them falling off the scaffolding. They hadn't been expecting anyone to show up today.
"Way to give a guy a coronary there guys." Xander said. "Hang on we'll be right down."
Giles wasn't about to wait to tear into Xander.
"Tell me this small peace of African Congo didn't cost us $550,050." Giles hissed.
"It didn't." Xander replied.
There was a short sign of relief in Giles, Willow's and Buffy's mannerisms until Xander continued.
"It actually cost $1,100,100" he said with a smile. "Harry and the other wizards chipped in the other half.
"What!" Willow and Giles shouted.
"I know it looks rough at the moment but once you send the materials we can have this place looking half way descent by the end of the year."
"How the hell can you have spent all that money on this run down place? have you both lost your minds?" Giles nearly shouted.
Xander and Harry looked at each other and realized that Giles never once looked at the reports they sent back to the G.C. Xander actually expected that from Giles as he had done the same thing the last time he was in Africa. He never understood why at the time, but he expected better of Willow. He decided to have a little fun with them.
"Xander," Harry called. "I'm going to use this opportunity to render some of the rubble outside into concrete dust so we have something to work with tomorrow."
"Sure Harry, that sounds like a great idea." He replied. He then turned to address his friends.
"Actually we own all the run down buildings around here and since you haven't sent the materials we need for use in fixing them up we've been cannibalizing the other buildings to fix this one but can you just imagine the whole town as a campus."
"Xander, listen to yourself." Giles said getting red with anger. "You make it sound like it was money well spent. I should have never trusted you with any sort of finances you just pissed the G.C.s money away on condemned building that would fall down around your ears should you sneeze too loud."
"I don't know, you're pretty loud at the moment and the building is still standing." Xander said with a smile.
"Jokes? You're making jokes about the biggest blunder you've made to date." Without warning Giles took a swing at Xander.
The women were in disbelief as they watched Giles do it and yelled his name. They were too shocked to even move.
Xander saw the signs and interpreted them for what they were but still couldn't believe he was blocking a punch from his mentor. A couple more came his way until he realized what was happening. He pulled out the tazer he kept on him in case he was attacked by someone or something out in the wild. The next moment Giles was convulsing from the electrical current coursing through his nervous system on his way to the ground.
Buffy and Willow watched as their father figure helplessly dropped to the floor. He was still conscious. Buffy and Willow then looked to Xander as if he had betrayed them.
"When was the last time Giles took his withdrawal medicine?" Xander asked.
This shook Willow out of her betrayal as she realized that had Giles took the herbal potion she supplied him he wouldn't have attacked and wouldn't have needed to be tazed. If he did take it as she directed and this happened anyway then she would have to look into increasing the dosage.
"Was it really necessary to subject him to that?" Buffy asked hotly.
"This was an agreement Giles and I had with each other Buff. If he ran his mouth without provocation or in a derogatory way or if he became violent I get to taze him." Xander explained. "It was either that or he asked to have a slayer break his jaw before his mouth ran so far away that he would never be able to swallow what he said."
"Well, you got to admit that a street full of buildings that would fall over in a stiff breeze isn't worth $1,100,100." Willow said.
"Yeah, sorry for not making my self clear on that. But we did send a report explaining in detail what we did which apparently none of you read. We don't just own the street we own all of the three and a half miles surrounding the street. Harry and I are just trying to get this building put together before we move on to the next one. Hopefully we can have enough fixed up as a livable shelter before the main event and the slayers get here."
"Three and a half miles?" Buffy asked shocked.
"And you only spent $1,100,100?" Willow added also shocked.
"Yeah, we were kind of thinking of the future. Starting out as a small campus and over time we could build it up into a small town. We actually have our real-estate agent looking into helping us buy some of the surrounding land from the Belgians."
"Buffy, this place is almost as big as Sunnydale was. We can have a city of slayers and magicals." Willow said excitedly.
" Even Giles was impressed as he picked himself off the floor. The thoughts that ran through his head at this information were even getting him excited."
"Giles we can even invite the monks and Cherokee to build here. There's more than enough space." Willow suggested.
"Yes, that is a possibility but they may not wish to build here. We'll have to see how they react to the information." He replied still a little shaky.
"Are you sure you're alright Giles." Buffy asked out of concern for her watcher. To which he nodded a bit embarrassed.
"You know this misunderstanding wouldn't have happened had even one of you read my report on what Harry and I were doing. It also said what materials we would need on a steady bases as well as a request for some of the Sunnydale slayers help with construction."
"We knew you would need materials and we would have sent them by cargo ship but now I can see how desperately they are needed. I'll have someone send them here magically as soon as we get back but all the slayers have their assignments and can't be taken away at this time." Giles told him and then made a suggestion. "Perhaps Harry can invite some of his friends to help."
"They all have their own assignments Giles but it would be problematic anyway. Harry can't do any magic directly in front of me without the wizard police showing up." Xander informed him.
"What are you talking about? I told him I took off all the traces." Willow explained.
"Oh, well that's good news. He was under the impression that you only took off the other two traces the ministry used to keep tabs on him. But as I said we need materials and help. Right now Harry is out there making rocks into cement so we have something to work with. That kind of transfiguration magic really wares him out even more so if he's transfiguring woo…"
"XANDER, YOUR EYE!" Willow screamed just noticing Xander wasn't warning an eye patch under his safety goggles which he had jest taken off. Both Willow and Buffy had been looking at him strangely since laying eyes on him and knew something was different but with everything that just happened they had been distracted and couldn't put their finger on it until now."
"I thought the doctors said they couldn't do anything that wouldn't be just cosmetic." Buffy said.
"I was wondering when you'd notice. Katie came by and popped it in my socket. The doctors may not have been able to do anything but the magical world had other options."
"You mean you can you actually see with it?" Buffy asked.
"Yep, and Katie even made sure the eyesight of the other eye was perfect as well. It took a bit of time to get them to the point where I wasn't seeing double but I now have perfect vision."
Hearing that, both women ran up to him and hugged him in celebration.
"This is fantastic news we should celebrate. Throw a party or something." Buffy said.
"I'd love to but there's just too much to do here to stop even with magic. If you guys can find some way to get us a few extra hands that would be great."
"I really wish I could help with that but every single person we have that knows about the main event has their assignments and can't be taken away from them at this time. Perhaps in a few months but I just can't remove them from their tasks right now." Giles announced.
"What about hiring some contractors, Giles?" Buffy asked.
"I know most of you think that the G.C. can afford almost anything but the more we spend on this endeavor the tighter the money is becoming. It just isn't in the budget."
"Willow and Buffy looked at each other in silent conversation. Willow looked worried and Buffy nodded. While Giles was oblivious to this, Xander witnessed it and knew he'd have to ask about it when Giles wasn't around. Just then Harry came running in.
Um… Guys we have about ten people coming down the road from the train station. He said.
"That would be the delegations from the Shaolin and Cherokee." Giles informed. "We invited them to come and scout for a place for themselves. I was going to put them in touch with the real-estate agent you found but now we may have a better offer for them. Let's go out and meet them, shall we."
"Actually I'm a little worried. I think they saw me using magic before I noticed them." Harry announced.
"Harry, don't worry about it. I took all traces off you and your wand. The ministry won't know anything about it. And anyone that comes here will be people that can be trusted with the knowledge of magic."
"Well, that's a relief and will make everything run so much easier." He replied.
"That reminds me, Buffy. Remind me to take all the traces off the rest of the wizards and witches wands when we see them again." Willow pleaded.
"Sure thing Willow, I'm sure they'll appreciate the freedom but let's get out there and meet the neighbors."
"Everyone walked outside just in time for the delegations to be in front of the building."
"Hey Giles, Buffy, Willow." Oz said in greeting. "You remember Nina Ashe, from the Hyperion."
"These are the delegates from the Cherokee nation and the Shaolin priests." Jim Ellison announced. "These three men are the elders of the Cherokee nation, White Eagle, Tom Running Squirrel, and Robert Flat Snake."
"And these three are Shaolin priest. You obviously know Peter Caine. The man next to him is Master Kahn and this is Master Poach." Blair announced pointing to the last man in the group.
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I'm Rupert Giles this is Buffy Summers, Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris and Harry Potter."
"Forgive me, but is this the best your real-estate agent was able to find for you?" Robert Flat Snake asked a bit skeptical.
"Don't let the looks fool you. We got this and three point five miles of the surrounding area for $1,100,100." Xander announced.
"Wow that is a good deal even if it is in the Congo." Peter Caine replied.
"Which brings me to my next announcement, we didn't have any idea how much land Xander and Harry were able to obtain until just a few minutes ago. With this new information we can afford to offer you some of our property to build on. If you wish and you wont have to pay anything. You can all fall under the Guardian Council. All we would ask is mutual cooperation between us, the sharing of knowledge and resources."
"We would have done that without incentive however, we would wish to pay for our own property. No offense but in the past our neighbors have turned on our good will and tried to force us from our home." Master Poach explained.
"And the Cherokee are also of this mind set. We have lived on a reservation for so long that we would like having our own land." Tom Running Squirrel announced.
"Well of course that is your right but I had hoped that you would have been nearby." Giles announced.
"Perhaps you could buy piece of our property. I'm sure we can spare the acres. It would be really nice to have your groups as neighbors." Willow suggested.
"As a matter of fact our real-estate agent is looking into getting more of the nearby land. Perhaps you could buy that for us but build somewhere around here if you find a place you like." Xander added.
The two groups whispered among themselves for a few moments. When they broke Peter announced. "I think we can agree with that provided your agent can get a reasonable price. Neither of our groups are noted as being rich."
"Well, why don't you have a look around and see if there is a peace of property you'd like to stake out and when news of available property comes along we can give you a call with the information."
"If it's alright with everyone Master Kahn and I believe we already see the place where we would like to build our new monastery. That hill top over there, it overlooks a ravine does it not?" Master Poach asked.
"Yes, there's an offshoot of the Nile River down there and then on the other side we own a mile past that where the actual Nile River runs."
"Is the wild life near by?"
"Sure, all kinds of animal gather at the river for a drink but they take there chances ever time because the crocodiles could attack at any moment." Harry said.
"I would like to see the land on the other side of the ravine. If we could even purchase a portion of it we might have a place for our people."
"Well, let me point it out to you from this side. But I wouldn't advise crossing to the other side. It's just too dangerous because the cliff is just too steep and then there are all the crocs in the river."
"They all came to the ridge and looked down at all the animals gathered too drink. Many were gazelle which pleased the Cherokee delegation very much. There reservation was blessed with enough deer to supplement the food stores so they didn't have to spend so much of their hard to come by money in town, but this land was overflowing with meat. Even so they would have to be careful not to over hunt the area or they could damage the local ecosystem."
"I wish to see the other side."
"But I just told you it would be dangerous."
"What is life without some excitement?"
"Couldn't you make a portkey over there." Peter asked.
"Actually I was just going to suggest that Willow or I could take them over." Harry said.
"Harry, why don't you take Giles and the Cherokee delegation across? I want to catch up with Willow and Buffy."
"With that said the Shaolin delegation moved up the ridge to look over the location they planned to build on."
Once everyone was out of earshot Buffy asked. "What do you want to talk about Xander?"
"I want to know what that look you two shared was all about back in the bank. You seemed worried."
"Both women stiffened. They were unaware they were caught but they should have known you couldn't hide anything from the one who sees."
Willow broke the uncomfortable silence. "Well… when Giles said that money was tight he wasn't kidding. We had just enough to finance getting ourselves moved here and into a large building. But now we're talking about a small town. The extra space is fantastic and all but I don't know how we're going to manage unless…"
"Unless what."
The silence continued with Xander looking between both women until Buffy had enough.
"Willow and I, along with a bunch of the Sunnydale slayers got together and tried to figure out how to cut corners too, and or generate a hell of a lot more money…"
"And what did you come up with?" Xander asked which was greeted by another round of silence until Willow broke it.
"They want to use magic to steal stuff." Willow eventually replied.
"Not steal, magically rescue things that would otherwise be destroyed by the upcoming cleansing." Buffy explained.
Xander had been a little surprised but showed no other emotion.
"Which one of you came up with that?" He asked.
Buffy smirked while looking at Willow she ducked her head and Xander quirked an eyebrow.
"Willow wanted to lead a magical heist at Wolfram and Hart for the amulet that destroyed Sunnydale. She thinks it's an important weapon for fighting the darkness." Buffy explained.
"Well I can see your point but taking on Wolfram and Hart is crazy." Xander replied.
"That's what I told her." Buffy said.
"But they wouldn't expect it and if we took a mixture of slayers and witches I know we could grab it and any other weapon they got. Angel gave us a complete set of plans of the inner working of the place I know right where we would need to be and when. We could totally catch them off guard." Willow explained in one breath.
"And then it would be a big old fight trying to get out because as soon as they detect the magic their wards will keep you from even using a portkey from getting out." Xander said trying to burst her bubble on the idea.
"That's what the slayers would be for." Willow said.
"Well, we're still not doing that, but her idea gave us ideas of rescuing building materials from several of the home improvement centers in different cities across the states and England." Buffy announced
"Why stop at just the states and England why not Europe." Xander asked.
"See, I told you he would be on board with this." Buffy said.
"The stuff will only go to waste if we don't and we can really use it if we're beginning to get strapped for cash. I mean we're trying to build a town here. We're going to need the materials and lots of them. I'm all for rescuing anything you guys can. Heck, if you guys hang around I'll write you a list of things a town will need to function or I'll just send an E-mail if you can't." Xander said.
"I can't believe you guys are actually agreeing to do this. You're talking about stealing stuff and justifying it as a rescue." Willow said.
"Okay Willow, what about all those books at the Great Library of England? Once the main event hits, all those book and all their knowledge would be burnt, soggy, and or buried under tons of rock at the bottom of the ocean." Xander taunted.
"No, not the books." Willow said looking at Xander in horror before turning to Buffy. "Please Buffy, we got to save the books."
"Buffy chuckled. Of course we'll save the books. Maybe you should work it out with Hermione. She works there after all."
"Yeah, yeah maybe I will. Oh maybe she already has a plan. I mean she loves books as much as I do, maybe even more." Willow said excitedly.
After a while of Buffy and Willow exchanging ideas Xander excused himself.
"I think I should call our real-estate agent to find out how far he got in getting any more land." Xander said. "Since our new friends are still here maybe I'll have some news for them before they go. Wouldn't want them to think we were lax in our duties." Xander walked away for some privacy as he called Theodore Billings. Ted picked up in two rings.
"Xander, I was just going to hop a plane to come and talk to you. I have good news." Ted announced.
"You could have just called."
"I've tried but nether of you ever answered."
"Oops. I left my phone in our tent so it wouldn't get damaged also because I wouldn't hear it with the noise we were making during demolition. So, what is it you wanted to talk to us about?" Xander inquired.
"Well, I just found out the Belgian that owns some of the land that borders the one you have, is willing to sell some of it on the north side. It's only a mile and a half but combined with this you'll have five miles of land so I thought you would like to know."
"That great news but how much is he willing to sell it for?"
"Well he was a bit more expensive per mile but still reasonable. I was actually surprise when he said he would let it go for $275,050 American money but then this is the Congo. I'm telling you, you people definitely have someone upstairs smiling down upon you. You seem to be getting what you ask for at reasonable prices."
"Yeah, that's the way we were looking at it as well." Xander replied.
As Xander was still on the phone the shaolin and Cherokee returned pleased with the land they saw. Putting the phone on mute Xander turned to them and told them what he found out. Everyone was surprised at the price.
The Shaolin priest and the Cherokee were in a huddle discussing this new information. When they turned back to everyone White Eagle became the spokesmen for the two groups.
"The Shaolin priest and the Cherokee believe it is in our best interest to pay for this piece of land so that our place in this new town is secure. But we will need to have a third party draw up contracts that will be legally binding to all of us. Please believe us when we say that we do trust you however there may come a time in the future when our descendants may not see eye to eye and try to force us off. History does have a habit of repeating itself that way."
"We take no offence. What your talking about doing is just good business. We happen to know just the people to do draw up the contracts and they will be more than legally binding." Xander said. "We can set up an appointment in a little while; there are just a few things we have to finish up here first." He took the phone off mute and on speaker so everyone could hear the conversation. "Mr. Billings, it looks like our friends will take the land to add to our own. Tell the Belgians we'll take it."
"Fantastic news, do you still wish for me to continue trying to obtain more of the surrounding land?"
"Xander looked to the others in the group who all shrugged because they didn't know if they could afford anymore or if it would be needed."
"I'll tell you what. Get us a list of what's available and how much they are asking for it and we'll discuss it and let you know."
"Very good, well I must be going. I need to get down to the cape of good hope to check on a shipment of perishables from England. We Brits do love the packages from home which the queen sends. I become quite uncivilized without my morning and afternoon tea."
"Yes, we know someone like that." Buffy said looking a Giles.
"Like any of you youngsters are any better without your morning coffee." Giles replied. "Americans." He sighed.
Mr. Billings chuckled. He could hear these people knew each other so well that they bantered like family. "Well, I must be off but I'll keep in touch."
"Goodbye Ted." Xander said.
Mr. Billings hung up and Xander turned to the others and told them that he would take them to Gringotts via portkey.
Harry, Oz, Nina, Jim, and Blair decided to stay behind and wait for the group to return. While Giles, Buffy, and Willow needed to get back to G.C. England. Everyone was excited about the day events.
Harry summoned the Gringotts portkey from their tent and handed it to Xander. Everyone going to the bank grabbed the portkey and Xander said the password. The group was flung as though picked up by hurricane like winds as they traveled to Gringotts in Egypt.
Once Giles and the girls left for the G.C. Oz looked over to Harry and asked how he liked working with Xander.
"He's Okay. He's like the brother I never had. We have a lot of similarities. We both like working with our hands and he's been teaching me loads of stuff about construction as well as killing demons. We both like gardening and cooking and it would seem we have similar family lives."
"If possible Oz's naturally stalk face got even more so. Although he never had the displeasure of meeting them he remembered Xander's family as being abusive drunks."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Oz replied. The sentiment behind that statement wasn't lost on Nina Blair or Jim. Nina decided to break the uncomfortable silence with redirection.
"So, is everyone supposed to live in the bank?"
"It's the biggest building in the area and the one that has the most potential to be rebuilt by the end of the year."
"Will it be enough to hold everyone the G.C. plans on bringing?"
"Well, we weren't told the number of people coming yet."
"Well, I'd plan for at least one hundred just to be on the safe side." Oz said.
Harry looked back at the bank with a raised eye brow.
"That could be a problem but then again we do have magic to work with and Xander said something about requesting prefab homes that we could assemble quickly and easily."
"Hmm… the G.C. has been shelling out money like crazy since this thing started. I don't know how much is left in the budget but I think that it has to be getting pretty low." Oz said in concern.
"The Guardian Council doesn't have to rely on its own coffers. The wizarding community is going to live here as well. We are capable of paying our own way. We can help out."
"I'm sure you can. You should make that clear to Giles though." Oz said.
"I'll make sure to do that during our next check in." Harry replied.
"You know that little building across the road looks like a nice place I could fix up and call home." Nina announced.
"That would be easier said than done. The front of the building is all that's left standing and we're having a hard time getting the supplies sent here. It seems the G.C. just put us here and forgot about us." Harry informed.
"Well then, we'll have to keep on them to remember you guys, won't we fellas. After all, in the end this is the place we're going to be calling home." Nina announced.
"Yeah sure." The men replied as one.
"Let's go look at some of the other buildings. To see what this place could be in the future." Nina told Oz.
"Sure." He replied as they walked arm in arm across the street.
Just as they got there the Morrog demon appeared and attacked throwing Nina five yards away and lashing out with its claws at Oz just missing him.
Oz began his transformation and Nina began to follow his lead while Harry pulled his wand. Blair yelled out to them.
"Nina, Harry no. This is our fight."
"Oh great just what we need some macho B.S. just to protect the females and the newbie." Nina replied.
"No it's not Macho B.S. the Morog wants to kill the ones responsible for killing its mate and that would be us. Oz, Blair and I, if anyone else interferes then it will do a runner." Jim replied
"Isn't that a good thing?" Harry asked.
"Then it might reappear when the other two aren't around to help fight it."
"Well then go help Oz you morons!" Nina shouted speaking from worry as she wouldn't normally insult Jim and Blair. A fact Jim and Blair understood.
Jim and Blair pulled out their silver blades and charged into the battle.
The Morog demon made sure to stay away from the lethal blades as the small wounds it suffered from the last attack were slow to heal. A make shift bandage consisting of dirt and moss packed the wounds negating the purity of the silver. The weak humans would normally be the better targets to attack but one of them was strong and knew how to fight better than the other one. With the silver blades in their possession it made them more dangerous than the werewolf. The wolf however was an oddity, as a beast it fought like a human. It was very dangerous but these creatures needed to pay for its mate's death. They needed to die. Oz bit down on the demons shoulder and it howled in pain as it punched and clawed Oz. Oz finally let go and backed away to make his next move.
Harry had seen the slayers attack demons before but seeing a demon and a werewolf fight was viscous and brutal. The claws and teeth being used made Harry fear for his friends and he was tempted to fire off a spell to chase away the demon to stop the life or death battle. But out of respect for his friends he held himself in check.
Oz lunged at the demons neck but the Morog put its arm in the way. Oz bit down, sinking his teeth deep into that arm as he viciously moved his head back and forth to cause as much pain and damage as he could before the Morog was able to dislodge him. The demon spun and flung Oz about fifty feet but Oz was able to land on his feet and charge right back at him.
Nina was frantic; her sometimes boyfriend was in a battle for his life that she could help with but was told to stand back. She was so eager to join in the battle that she kept partially transforming into her wolf form before she caught herself and changed back. She caught Harry looking her way with a raised eyebrow as she looked like a hairy woman half the time. Her emotions went from worry to embarrassment because of her loss of control.
The Morog charged Oz but Oz was ready and swiped his claws deep into the demons abdomen. The Morog backed away but quickly reversed his direction and tackled Oz to the ground
Blair and Jim tried to strike the demon when they thought they had a good shot at slicing it but just as they were about to lash out the Morog demon quickly turned so that Oz would take the slice. It was a good thing that Jim and Blair had been practicing with their blades which were slightly smaller than a short sword. They were able to stop just a hairs breath from touching Oz with them. Blair was the one to nick the Morog in the back of its leg which came up to meet the blade. It would be the one and only strike from the silver blades during the entire battle because while the strike was minor it was very painful, painful enough that the Morog knew it wouldn't be able to continue the attack as it would be off balance for the remainder of the fight. So, the Morog called off the attack by disappearing through the dark corridor.
"Damn it!" Jim exclaimed.
"What just happened? Where did it go?" Nina asked.
"I'm going to guess it went off somewhere to lick its wounds." Blair said. "Oz took a nice chunk out of its shoulder and the claws across its abdomen couldn't be too comfortable."
"Yeah well, Oz doesn't look too much better." Harry replied.
"Take a closer look, his wounds are already closing." Nina pointed out.
"To continue his accelerated healing Oz has to stay in wolf form for a few minutes before he can become human again." Blair announced.
"It would take another minute or two before Oz could turn back to his human self." Nina explained.
"That strike to the leg really hurt it. Probably more than anything I did." Oz informed Blair.
"But I barely nicked it. It's more likely the chunks you took out of it." Blair replied.
"That's the power of silver. It won't heal so it's going to walk with a limp from now on." Oz announced.
"Or maybe it was a combination of both. Nether injury will heal to well." Jim replied.
"Who are you talking to?" Harry asked.
"Oh, we can understand Oz when he is in his wolf form."
"That could be useful." Nina said filing the information away for later use.
It wasn't long before Oz transformed back to his human form and took clothes out of his back pack to dress. The clothes he wore before were now shredded in taters from not only his transformation but the Morog ripping them even further. Oz was lucky enough to throw the bag to the side and get his shoes off before the attack and transformation. Harry waked over and waved his wand over the shreds to try and repair them. What he ended up with weren't perfect as there were rips and tares here and there but they could be used. Harry realized that this was why Remus's cloths looked the way they did when he first met him.
Oz looked at them and was surprised. "Well that's useful." Oz said.
"It won't be featured in any fashion magazines but it can get you across town without giving everyone a free show." Nina replied.
"Thanks." Oz said as he shoved the repaired cloths into his backpack.
"No problem. It's my pleasure. I had a good friend who was a werewolf. He was like family. He died during the war.' Harry announced mist eyed. He shook it off and said. "He was a wizard and his cloths looked like that a lot of the time."
"Are you sure you're alright Oz." Nina asked.
"Sure." he replied. "Do you still what to have that look around?"
"Okay." She replied as Oz stuck his arm out for her to take as they toured the grounds.
"Nothing seems to shake you guys does it?" Harry asked.
"I think we've all seen too much for something like this to shake us."
"It's just that I never thought that mug… non-magical people would adapt the way you guys have."
"You don't give non magical people enough credit. Besides we can talk to werewolves, we get visions and we have animal spirit guides. Who said we weren't in some ways magical." Blair replied.
Harry smiled and nodded at that.
An hour and a half later Xander and the two delegations came back from the bank as everybody left behind had been enjoying a cold soft drink from the cooler as they swapped stories under the hot African sun. As the delegations approached Harry asked them how their business with the Goblins went.
"Meet our new neighbors Harry. Everyone seems to be happy with the way things turned out. So they'll be here in a soon to begin work on the piece of land they picked out."
"Are you six the only people working on the Guardian Council's interests?" Tom Running Squirrel inquired.
"Actually, it's only Harry and I." Xander replied.
"If you two are all that there is then you must be miracle workers. You both must have powerful magic?" Tom asked.
Xander looked to Harry to field that question. And Harry figured that since they knew about muggle Warlocks, he could play along with that.
"Actually, I'm the only one with the magic but even with my skills it's a bit beyond my magical abilities to resurrect building this far gone. Luckily I'm also good with my hands and learn new trades pretty quickly." Harry replied
"Still, if the end is to happen by the end of this year you won't have enough time even with magic if it is just the two of you." Peter Caine commented.
"Yeah, we've been telling the G.C. just that and they still haven't sent anyone yet. But I plan to rectify that soon." Xander said. "Real soon."
/Scene Break/
Guardian Council Cleveland Ohio
Melinda Gordon, her husband and son were playing a board game when she felt a cold chill. One of the signs of a spirit was close by Aiden also felt it and recoiled a bit.
"It's okay sweet heart I'll take care of it." Melinda said.
"I take it we have visitor." Jim said but was obviously a question.
"Yeah. I haven't seen her yet but she's coming."
"She?" Jim asked.
"I have been at this a while Jim, I can tell when the entity is ether female or male with some degree of accuracy…sometimes." She finished with uncertainty.
Aiden laughed which made his parents smile. Their son was getting better since he came here thanks to Buffy's therapy sessions. Just then the ghost appeared and Melinda was shocked that she knew her. As a matter of fact she had breakfast with the young slayer early this morning in the cafeteria.
"Roxana…what happened?"
"Melinda?" Roxana replied. "Where am I? How did I get here?"
Melinda had seen this before. The recently dead who didn't realize they were dead sometime had to be told.
"I'm sorry honey but you must have died tonight." Melinda said as softly as she could.
"Died!?" Roxana shouted shocked to find this out.
"What's the last thing you remember before you found yourself here?" Melinda inquired.
"I…I was on patrol with my group…my team. We were ambushed and separated. The demon that came at me had huge hooves they looked like they were made of some type of bright yellow plastic that glowed. The last thing I herd was my watcher yelling to me to watch out and that it was a Vargogh demon. I knew I cold take on a Vargogh because I had just read about them and know just how to slay them but the next thing I know I felt a bolt of power go through me and then nothing before I found myself here. There was nothing in what I read that said anything about them having any magical powers and now I'm dead. What happens to me now?"
"I'm not sure at the moment usually it all about unfinished business or saying goodbye. Do you feel you need to say goodbye to anyone?" Melinda asked.
"No, I think I came here for something else." Roxana said confused.
"Well, while we try to figure that out I think we should tell someone about you being deceased I'm sure the department heads will want to know." Melinda said
"Their called the Scoobies." Roxana corrected.
"Right the Scoobies. Do we know who's on call tonight?" She said turning to her husband.
"That would be Faith." Jim said.
"Oh my gosh! She's going to be so mad." Roxana said worriedly.
"Well I don't think there's much she can do to you under the circumstances." Melinda explained.
"Oh right." Roxana said uncertainty in her voice.
"Come on lets go find her." Melinda said motioning for the door. "Jim, this might take a while so don't wait up."
"When have you known me not to wait up unless I was exhausted to begin with?" he said.
"Well at lest get Aden to bed." Melinda replied
"That I can do." He replied.
As they left Roxana was headed the wrong way.
"Roxana, where are you going?" The scoobie offices are this way.
"I don't know. Something is drawing me this way." Roxana replied.
"There are only more guest rooms down that hall." Melinda explained.
Melinda watched as Roxana moved to a specific guest room.
"Oh my gosh, I think I know what or who your being guided to." Melinda announced. She walked forward and knocked on the door. A few seconds later Tru Davies opened the door.
" Melinda, what's up I was going to get ready for bed."
Melinda looked to her side where Roxana stood but Tru couldn't see that.
"There's been a death tonight. It was one of the slayers. Her name is Roxana. Her spirit has come to me for help. I think she needs your help too."
Catching on quickly Tru asked. "Where's the body."
"As far as I know it hasn't arrived yet. That is if this is where it will come."
"I think they built a morgue out back. But I think we should see my sister first."
"That's where we were going until Roxana felt the need to seek you out. Come on, let's go find her."
They walked down the hall and down the stairs to the on call slayers office. They knocked on the door when they herd Faith say "Come in." When they entered Faith had her feet up on the desk reading a magazine called blades.
"Hey sis, hey Melinda what can I do for you?" Faith asked
"I guess you haven't heard yet but one of your slayers died tonight."
"Fu%#!" She said jumping out of her seat. "Who…who was it? Which girl died on my watch?"
'It was Roxana."
"S*#T! I'm going to beat the hell out of Eddie. Where is that stupid watcher?"
" I'm not sure; we only know that she died because her spirit is her with us. She said she got attract by a Vargogh demon."
"Vargogh? Those should have been an easy slay. How did one of them best Roxana?"
"She said it hit her with a blast of power. And she died instantly."
Faith looked at the pair stunned for a moment then she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Roxana said it was a Vargogh demon? Is that what she said Eddie called it?"
Melinda looked to Roxana who nodded.
"That's what she said." Melinda replied.
Faith sighed because she had her suspicions of what happened.
"What did this demon look like?"
"She said something about huge yellow hooves that glowed. She said she read about them and knew they were an easy take down."
"Dammit, that's not a Vargogh demon it's a Vargoth demon. Son of a… Eddie should have known that. Roxana could have easily slain a Vargogh but she obviously didn't read the description of the demon otherwise she would have known it wasn't a Vargogh which puts her at fault too."
"We want to bring her back." Tru said.
"Who? Roxana? You mean bring her back to life…? No…! No way! Buffy would have my head. The scoobies brought 'B' back to life once and from what I heard it devastated her. They thought she was in a hell dimension but they pulled her out of heaven. I can't let you do that." Faith said adamantly.
Melinda and Tru were completely stunned by this information. Melinda looked almost ready to cry at that thought. Gathering herself she began to speak.
"First off, she isn't in heaven or hell at the moment, she's right here." Melinda said.
"And second," Tru continued. "We wouldn't be bringing her back so to speak, we would just be preventing her from dieing in the first place."
"This is that time travel thing you do right?" Faith asked.
"Yeah it is." Tru stated.
"I don't know, I think I should ask the rest of the scoobies if it's alright. There is a standing order never to bring slayers back from the dead."
"But I won't be bringing her back she will never have died. Totally different than a resurrection I would assume." Tru explained.
"Make the call if it makes you feel better but we're wasting time here." Melinda said.
Just then a slayer rushed in with tears in her eyes.
"Miss Faith, there's been a death and a kidnapping. Only one slayer from team nine came back carrying the body of another the demons caught slayer Becky and Watcher Eddie."
"S*#T!" Faith said as she rushed out the office door.
She came to the lobby of the building and saw the only slayer of team nine to have returned looking dissolved and devastated.
"Marie, can you tell me what happened?" Faith asked as gently as possible.
"We went to our assigned graveyard to wait for any rising vamps when we came upon a group of demons. They were hiding and laying in wait for us.
They knew we were coming."
"How do you know that?"
"I didn't until the end. Because they were spread out we each found one at the same time. Roxana found a Vargoth only Eddie said it was a Vargogh and I tried to warn her but it was too late. There was a flash and Roxana was dead."
At this point Marie started sobbing and Faith let her go for a moment but she needed the information so she tried to calm her and coaxed her to continue. And with a shaky voice Marie tried.
"The demon that Becky and I came up against has what looked like a jewel in its forehead and when it raised its hand to us the space around its hand sent out a warp. It was like a circular wave of energy."
"Damn! Sounds like a Blean demon. I fought one of them in Wisconsin once." Faith said.
Marie nodded excepting that that was what it must have been and continued.
"Becky caught the brunt of the wave and fell unconscious but because I was behind her I fell but I was still conscious. It felt like my brains were scrambled inside my head. One of the demons I didn't get a look at told the others that they only needed one of the Slayers and the watcher for the ritual. He said the Guardian Council will rip themselves apart by the witching hour, and then two Feral demons carried them off. When I was able to move again and stopped throwing up from the vertigo I grabbed Roxana's body and came straight back here"
"Crap! There must be a hundred rituals that require a slayer and a watcher and all of this spells trouble for us." Faith announced.
Faith looked back at Marie who was softly crying looking down at her lap as Faith said.
"Hey, it's not your fault and you did good." Faith then looked back at her sister and Melinda before she continued. "And we're going to get them back… All of them. Trust me."
Faith walked over to Tru and Melinda and said. "It's almost the witching hour. If they're going to cast this thing tonight then we won't be able to find them in time. Your way might be the only way to stop them. What do you need? How do you go back?"
"I need to see the body."
"It should be out back in the morgue. Come on lets go." Faith said.
Faith Tru and Melinda were about to exit the front of the main building when the church bells began to ring.
"It's later than I thought. We better hurry." Faith said as they stepped down the front steps of the building.
They ran around the back and Faith had to unlock the gate surrounding the morgue with her swipe card as well as the outside door to the building.
Faith had been feeling a subtly building wave of magic since the bells started ringing. She suspected that it was the effects of the ritual. As they got to where the body would lie Faith realized it was missing. She heard people mulling around in the next room and got a bad feeling. They charged in to find the watcher who doubled as a mortician and his two slayers.
"And what can I do for you ladies?" the mortician asked.
"Lenny there was a body delivered here tonight where is it?"
Lenny pointed to the cremation furnace and said. "It's being cremated as per policy just seconds ago."
"That's not policy!" Faith shouted.
"Well it should be. I've brought it up several times at the management meeting." He said.
"We need to get her out of there before there's nothing left." Tru said.
"I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that." Lenny said pulling a revolver from under the table and firing it at Faith from six feet away. Tru and Melinda jumped back in shock as the bullet penetrated Faiths left shoulder spinning her around and draping her self over the exam table.
"Fu%#! ... Lenny, if you're trying to kill me, you're a terrible shot."
"Quite the contrary. My slayers need practice but you're to seasoned, too accomplished. I needed to give you a disadvantage if my slayers were going to have any chance of killing you."
Said slayers smiled in anticipation.
"Why are you doing this?" Melinda asked Lenny but it was Faith that answered.
"It's that demon ritual, the demons said they needed a slayer and a watcher and that the Guardian Council would tear itself apart. They're all under its influence." Roxana replied.
"I'm doing it to show my Slayers I care and that I want to see them having fun. Children and animals need to play with their food sometimes and slayers are both."
Faith saw she was next to the table with Roxana's effects under a cloth sheet. She noticed the hilt of Roxana's field weapon, that of her short sword.
She looked to her sister and her sister looked back in concern. Faith motioned with her eyes that she need a distraction. But there was nothing to make a distraction with nor could she think of anything to say. Truth be told, Tru was frightened. She was frightened for her sister her friends and even herself and couldn't get her mind to work. It was then Lenny pointed the gun in Melinda direction who was trying to turn off the gas to the furnace. Lenny fired hitting the wall to the side of her.
"Don't do that." He said.
Faith took her chance and grabbed the sword. She spun around, her arm extended Roxana's sword in hand. The blade cleaved through Lenny's neck like a knife through tissue paper.
The other two slayers in the room stumbled back in shock.
"Get Roxana out of there." Faith yelled to Tru and Melinda.
Melinda and Tru snapped out of their terror and did as Faith asked. Both had seen death but to watch someone die so horribly right in front of them had shocked and stunned them.
"Faith!" One of the other slayers screamed. "You killed a human again, you killed our watcher. You and your friends will die for that." She charged at Faith looking like she had never been slayer trained at all. Faith hit her in the face with the hilt of the sword. The slayer hit the ground hard.
Tru and Melinda were able to shut the gas off and were beginning to open the furnace when the other slayer started to charge at them yelling "Stop you can't deprive the gods and butterflies of their dinner!" like a crazed zealot. Faith swung out Roxana's sword at the slayers abdomen which doubled her over when she backed away she was rewarded with the gruesome sight of her guts falling from the slices in her belly skin, making the sound of someone dumping a bucket of mud on the floor.
Tru and Melinda concentrated on getting the body out of the furnace. To further distract herself and Melinda of what just happened Tru tried to concern herself with her sisters well being.
"Are you aright Faith?"
"As well a person with a hole in her shoulder can be sis, just peachy." She replied. Grabbing a cloth and pressing it to her wound.
"Why aren't you affected by the spell or ritual whatsoever?" Tru asked as they finally got the door open.
"Don't know. The demons needed a watcher and a slayer. I'm guessing that slayers that have watchers went crazy and visa-versa. I never really had a watcher after Wes died." She explained in obvious pain.
"Oh no!" Melinda exclaimed.
"What? What is it?" Faith asked.
"There's not enough left." Tru announced. "Her skin's gone. Her jaw is not only disconnected from the rest of the skull it's almost non-existent. She can't ask for my help."
Melinda looked toward Roxana's ghost and Roxana looked devastated as she faded away into nothingness. Melinda hoped she made it to her reward.
"What do we do now?" she asked.
"We can't go back to the main building. The affected slayers would cut us to ribbons." Faith replied.
"Oh my god, Jim, Aiden!" Melinda exclaimed with worry.
"I'm guessing the ritual will only make the slayers attack each other. If your husband and son stay out of their way they might be alright." Faith said trying to calm her.
Tru's mortician instincts kicked in. She couldn't leave the bodies lying on the floor while they figured out what to do next. Busy work always calmed her nerves. She stooped down to pick up Lenny's head when she heard Melinda start to retch. She looked over at the poor woman who had to be more nervous than Tru had been. Just then someone grabbed her arm, which was odd as she was still crouched to the floor. She turned her head to see Lenny's bodies hand around her forearm she felt the head move in her hands as the jaw opened and said "help me" at the same time as she herd her sister's shocked voice exclaiming some colorful language because of the scene. It was then that Tru's day rewound to find herself waking up nearly sixteen hours earlier.
A.N. (Reviews can make a story even better.)