Buffy didn't go completely unconscious, though Richard wasn't aware of that fact. Her Slayer metabolism was burning through the roofie like a wildfire and it wouldn't be long until it was literally sweated out of her system. Which would make it even easier for Alex and Cordelia to track her. It was reassuring to know they weren't far behind her and that Jesse and Aura were just a little ways down the block waiting for a signal that there was a problem. And beyond them were the police officers and Mayor Chase waiting for word that something or hopefully someone, had been found that would allow them to move in and arrest someone. Buffy stayed limp and let Richard carry her through the house, down into the basement and than beyond the basement into a cavern under the frat house.

'Oh what the Hell have we stumbled into?' Buffy thought as Richard chained her to the wall of the cavern. She managed a slit eyed peek and saw Kami and another girl also chained to the wall. Her hearing was much better than average and to her relief she could hear them both breathing. Another slit eyed peek and she saw Richard join a group of robed figures.

Than it got weird. Richard took off his shirt and knelt down on the cavern floor. One of the robbed figures approached him with a sword in his hand and began to carve symbols on his chest and back. Blood ran down from the cuts, but he didn't so much as flinch. Than he stood up and two of the robed figures helped him into one himself.

Tom picked up a bag and shook out three stones, he poured water over them.

"He's the one to watch out for." The girl on the other side of Kami whispered. "He's evil."

Tom spoke. "Machida."

The robed figures answered. "In his name."

Tom again. "We who serve you, we who receive all that you bestow, call upon you in this holy hour."

The robed figures. "In this holy hour."

Tom again. "We have no wealth, no possession...except that which you give us."

The robed figures. "Except that which you give us."

Tom again. "We have no power, no place in the world...except that which you give us."

The robed figures. "Except that which you give us."

Tom placed the sword in Richard's arms. He hugged it to his chest, arms crossed.

Tom again. "It's been a year since our last offering." Richard lowered the sword and rested the tip on the floor.

Tom again. "A year in which our bounty overflowed. We come before you with fresh offerings."

"Offerings?" Buffy heard Kami murmur groggily beside her. "Oh shit."

Tom again. "Accept our offering, Dark Lord, and bless us with your power! Machida!"

The robed figures. "Machida!" Tom tossed the stones into a tunnel one at a time.

"What's in there?" Callie asked, shaking.

Tom again. "Come forth, and let your terrible countenance look upon your servants, and their humble offering. We call you, Machida!"

The robed figures. "In his name, Machida!"

A half man, half snake appeared, growling at the girls. It spread its arms wide.

Tom again. "For he shall rise from the depths, and we shall tremble before him. He who is the source of all we inherit and all we possess. Machida!"

The robed figures. "Machida!"

Tom again. "And if he is pleased with our offerings, then our fortunes shall increase."

The robed figures. "Machida! Let our fortunes increase."

Tom again. "And on the tenth day of the tenth month he shall be enhungered. And we shall feed him."

The robed figures. "And we shall feed him!"

"Oh, I so don't think so!" Alex announced, as he and Cordelia stepped into the cavern, as Buffy yanked on the chains and tried to pull them from the wall. "Demon worshiping is a big fat no-no in Sunnydale these days or haven't you heard."

"Harris," Tom snarled. "what are you doing here, trash?"

"Oh, I was thinking something like this." Between one breathe and the next two gray wolves were leaping at the robed figures and Buffy succeeded in yanking the chains free from the wall and swung at Machida, who reared back and hissed at her. Kami abruptly straighten up and shifted herself. Her now slimmer arms slipped out of the manacles. Alex and Cordelia were tearing through the robed figures knocking them down like ten pins and Buffy connected with the chain, striking Machida on the chest and he hissed again. Kami's razor sharp, serrated arms lashed out like twin swords and one stabbed into Machida's chest next to the wound the chain had made and the other sliced into his neck. Buffy swung again and hit Machida's head and wrapped the chain around it slashing across his face as he screamed or tried to and collapsed sideways onto the floor. Kami stabbed down into his chest again and twisted, hopefully, if Machida's heart was in the same place as a human's, destroying it completely. Alex and Cordelia were growling and keeping the terrified robed figures from getting up.

Callie fainted.

Cordelia straightened up and shifted back into human form and glared at the assembled figures. "Just for the record, I don't date trash, which is what you jackasses are. I'm going to go find something to wear and call the cops. If you idiots know what's good for you, you'll be good little boys. You think the four of us are scary? Kami's mother will eat you alive. She's done it before."

Alex straighten up and transformed himself. "Yep, definitely a fierce eyed lahini. And demon worshiping really isn't allowed in Sunnydale anymore guys. You should have gotten the memo."

A/N Ceremony quotes from tv transcripts dot com.