A/N Kenn, that's far too simplistic an answer, twenty years and Giles with all his knowledge and resources and Ethan with all his magical knowledge couldn't find a way to get rid of the Mark? And no mention of the Mark still being there after the episode? All they said in the episode was that Eyghon was defeated, not destroyed, it could have come back at any time. Nothing was explained, so questions remain.

But the point of the episode wasn't Eyghon or the Mark or Giles' and his demon summoning friends idiocy, the point was for Joss to show the audience proof that Angelus was still there and not going anywhere.

A point they ignored to get what they wanted, Buffy and Angel together.

######

To the south of Sunnydale in Los Angeles was the main headquarters of a multinational, multidimensional corporation and law firm known as Wolfram and Hart. At first glance they seemed to be just like any other nest of bloodsucking lawyers, the kind that delight in giving lawyers a bad name. And that was before you found out they represented demons that hid among humans, worked for demons and actively tried to morally corrupt other humans.

Which were mainly hobbies compared to their main goal, help humanity destroy itself. To that end they had a multitude of projects, short and long term, some as long as centuries long term, designed to bring about that goal.

Or that is to say, they had many long term projects, the sudden worldwide destruction of every last vampire on Earth had derailed a large number of their plans and now, six weeks after that event they were calling a meeting to update the various departments on the fallout from that one act.

"Let's start with the Works of Aberjian." Holland Manners, a Senior lawyer who'd been with the firm for more than two decades nodded at a Junior Associate to begin his report.

"The Works or Scroll of Aberjian was created over 4000 years ago and includes numerous prophecies, prayers, rituals and spells. We planned to bring about the Raising, the return of a destroyed vampire to use against an ensouied vampire on the path of the Shanshu Prophecy." He nervously began. "The Raising would have been the first step toward the coming of a fallen power, who would have attempted enslaved world peace."

"Yes." Another lawyer agreed. "Humanity would have either been destroyed as the fallen power consumed them or it would have been defeated and the loss of its peace would have driven many to destroy themselves."

"We had identified the ensouled vampire as the cursed vampire Angelus." The nervous one continued. "Cursed by the Kalderash People nearly a century ago with a human soul to cage the demon Angelus. He was calling himself Angel and lived in a gutter for nearly a century." He took a sip of water before continuing. "Than in January of last year he disappeared from the New York gutter he'd been living in. It took some doing but our Seers eventually found him. He appeared to have become fixated on the newly called Slayer, Buffy Summers of Los Angeles. He followed her to Sunnydale."

"The Hellmouth." Several people began to murmur but a look from Holland Manners silenced them.

"We'll discuss the Hellmouth soon enough." He reminded them. "Please continue." He instructed the Junior Associate who swallowed and obeyed.

"The Shanshu Prophecy from the Works of Aberjian was believed to be about him. It spoke of an ensouled vampire facing many challenges, overcoming them and becoming human once more. The unexpected and total destruction of the vampires worldwide on Halloween is believed to have also destroyed him as well as our Seers have been unable to locate him since Halloween. The last known location was in Sunnydale."

"That's two parts of the Works that will not be happening than." Holland summoned up. "The Shanshu and the Raising, which also means the fallen power and its peace cannot manifest. Most disappointing. Is there anything we can salvage from the Works?"

"Our Seers are still searching the world for the three blind children who's innocence could destroy us." The Junior Associate assured him. "Unfortunately they still haven't located any of them."

"That's too bad." Holland murmured. "Maybe they just need some incentive. Anything else from the Works that may still occur?"

"The Beast of Amalfi may still arise in Reseda in 2003." He answered. "Aside from that, no, it looks like the Works may mostly be defunct."

"Too bad." Holland drawled lazily, drawing out the man's nervousness. "I was looking forward to both the Raising and the chance to meet such a unique specimen as an ensouled vampire. If you have nothing more to contribute, than I guess we have no further need for your services. You're dismissed."

"But - I'm sure there's something I could - ahhh!"

"Hmmm, failure must be discouraged." Holland smiled at the silent humans who'd just witnessed the Junior Associate's painful death. "Even if one had nothing to do with the failure itself. Now, where are we on determining just what did cause the total destruction of the vampires, a good number of which were our clients?"

"All we know is that the spell may have been anchored to the Hellmouth in Sunnydale." Another sacrificial victim was pushed forward by the others. "As it appears to have been drained and is no longer functional as of that night."

"May have and appears to be don't answer the Senior Partners questions." Holland said sternly. "And don't explain why we had to jettison an entire division to recoup the financial losses from the destruction of the vampires, given the large number of them that were our clients." He waved his hand and another Associate died at his command. "Figure it out! Or the Senior Partners will take it out on us!"