No one had seemed to notice that the rain had stopped; they were all buried in mounds of books. Mostly ancient Wiccan rituals. There was a knock at the door.
"Who's there?
" Giles asked cautiously, knowing that the gang usually just opened the door and came in as they pleased.
"Giles, it's Angel. Just open the door,
" he said impatiently.
"That sounded genuinely Angel. Rude as always,
" Xander said.
"Fine then. Come in,
" Giles said. They did.
"Cordelia!
" Xander exclaimed. Cordelia rolled her eyes.
"I think you can handle being in the same room as me, Alexander Harris,
" Cordelia said coldly.
"Nice to see you've been storing up plenty of venom just for me,
" Xander said. Angel gave Cordelia a look, like he was warning her not to continue this.
"So! Guys! Nice to, uh… see you all – again,
" Cordelia said. The awkward silence continued for another minute or so. Willow couldn't handle it, so she continued the research.
"So! Amy's mom, huh? Didn't she, like, get sucked into a portal or something?
" Cordelia asked.
"Cordelia, we don't have time for small-talk. This is far more important. If you have anything to contribute, we welcome it. If not, I suggest you go. Many peoples' lives hang in the balance and I'm not going to sit here and listen to you bicker all night,
" Xander said, then inhaling sharply, waiting for her outraged and spiteful come-back. Cordelia was going to respond to that in the way she would've if she had been high school Cordy, but now she was adult Cordelia.
"You're right, Xander. Angel, show them the knife thingy and someone hand me one of those incredibly old books that have been around since Giles was a kid,
" Cordelia said.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa – back up. Did you just say that I… was right?
" Xander asked in utter disbelief.
"I've changed – you'll just have to deal,
" Cordelia said. She smiled at him.
"What knife?
" Buffy asked.
"I believe that she would be referring to the one that the guy in the very convincing Oz disguise was holding,
" Xander said. Willow pretended to be completely emerged in research. Pushing aside the feelings that so easily came with the mention of the name
"Oz
".
* * *
Tara approached Miller's Woods cautiously. When she saw her mother, her face brightened. Despite how badly her Mother had treated her before, she still liked to believe that her mother loved her.
"Tara! Why have you come? You have not yet brought me anyone,
" Catherine Madison said crossly.
"I will try even harder to get the ones joined with the slayer, but I do not believe that the only person who needs to, Willow, will not come freely. She doesn't love me,
" Tara pouted.
"Now, now. She doesn't actually have to mean it, she only has to say it. But no magic may be used. It must be her genuine words. Now, as for the others, they are easily taken care of. You simply touch this knife,
" she presented Tara with one of the mystical daggers and continued,
"to their flesh and they will have the sacred symbol magically carved into their chest, be transported to here and have their decoy in their place all within one second. My dear, it shouldn't be hard. Don't you just love the sight before you?
" she asked, motioning to the nearly lifeless Oz. Then, she went close to Tara's ear and behind her and whispered in her ear so gently it made Tara's cold, dead heart hit the defrost button for a second.
"If you want, you can kill him yourself when the ritual is completed,
" she said. When she had, Tara smiled was about 2000 watts bright.
"I feel goose bumps growing. That thought delights me. I will not fail you.
"
"I don't doubt that. You are so much more powerful than your sister. I only wish that the two of you could've joined together with your magic. Twin magic is far more powerful than you've ever witnessed. But I guess that putting Willow in Amy's choice was not a bad idea. Remember: she is bound to you forever if she promises her love to you while this spell is activated,
" Catherine said. Oz now had a new determination. Willow wasn't going to be tricked by that lying, cheating, and sneaky little bitch. He tried to work the ropes even harder but felt his energy slipping away. It probably wasn't magic, he was just very tired. The sun was nearly about to come up.
* * *
Riley Finn hadn't gone to Iowa, just as Riley Finn had no family in Iowa. He had betrayed the Initiative to be with Buffy and was now betraying Buffy so that he could become more powerful. Riley was a power-seeker. Buffy was a powerful fighter. She was also pretty. She got him out of enough jams, and so, technically he was using her. Catherine had promised him more than Buffy could ever provide. He lived off people, but he had grown to like, or even love Buffy. Maybe. This, however, was far more important than some girl, whether or not she was the Slayer. He had hid from view for a while, now. But he had to move fast. He needed to find Buffy. The sooner she was imprisoned in Miller's Woods, the easier it would be to trap the others. Unfortunately, not only had he not seen Buffy in the past day, but he was sure that if he had, he would not see her alone. An idea popped in his mediocre mind when he spotted the pay phone close to the magic shop.
* * *
The phone rang at Giles'. They were all scattered on the floor, or couch, asleep. Even Angel. He'd been up for the past three days straight. No one heard it. Around the seventh ring, the person just gave up. There was a silent pause for all of about ten seconds, and the phone started up again.
"Oh, shut up!
" Buffy groaned in her sleep. There was a flash of her dream shown. Everyone except Willow, were tied to poles and hanging limply. The parts of their shirts close to their lower stomachs were ripped open and a symbol was carved into them. Another flash and you saw a blood moon overhead. There were many trees surrounding the clearing. A final flash and you stayed in her dream. Catherine was drawing a symbol on her forehead. Buffy glared at her. She noticed Willow didn't care. She was getting a spell ready with Tara on a stone table in the middle of the circle.
"Don't fight it, Buffy,
" she said.
"She won't kill you for another two hours, when the ritual is over.
" Tara nodded in agreement. She looked to her right. Oz. He hung limp from working the ropes so hard. To her left was Cordelia. She was crying. Directly across from her was Xander. He looked sick and pale. He didn't dare make a move. Angel was next to Cordy and Wesley was next to Angel. Then, next to Oz was Giles and that completed the circle. Catherine was in the direct center in a black robe with the hood covering her features. She had just finished drawing the symbol on everyone. To her right was Tara and to her left Willow. They quickly slipped the hoods over their heads. All you could see of Willow was an evil grin playing on her mouth. Buffy woke up in a cold sweat. It took her a moment to register her surroundings.
"Willow!
" she yelled. She rose to her feet quickly. He eased her pulse when she saw Willow asleep with everyone else. Everyone else began to wake, although not as violently. Xander sat up and stretched. Buffy sat back down on the couch where she and Angel had staked claim. They're all okay. That'll never come true, Buffy assured herself. Xander gave her a concerned look.
"What's up, Buffster?
" he asked, sleepily.
"Bad dream. Nothing to space over,
" she said, and managed a small smile.
"Uh-huh,
" he said sarcastically, not believing her. She was going to wait until she could talk to Giles alone. She curled up in a ball and tried to get back to sleep for a couple more minutes. She definitely liked this dream better. She was in Angel's mansion. He had been training with her, just like old times. And, just like old times, she had him pinned in a second. He looked in her eyes and kissed her. It was warm and nice and she liked it. She kissed him back. He brought her to her feet and she wrapped her arms loosely around his shoulders and they continued to kiss. She was rudely woken up by Giles.
"Buffy! Buffy, you need to get up!
" he said. She sighed and slowly opened her eyes. He was over her. That was definitely not the first thing she needed to see in the morning. She didn't know how Olivia dealt with it.
"Yes?
" she asked impatiently and a little sleepily.
"How can you sleep at a time like this?
" he demanded.
"I'm human? And at a time like what Giles?
" she asked. She rose up and stretched.
"We may know where Oz is,
" he said.
"Oh! So do I. In some… wooded area,
" she said excitedly.
"Well we think we may have more than that. We know it's a place close to the outskirts and that the beast she's releasing thrives off supernatural power,
" Willow said.
"So, for example, werewolves, vamps, slayers, watchers and anyone who's been shown these things and knows how to use ‘em?
" Buffy asked.
"Well, yes. But how do you…
" Giles was cut off by Buffy.
"Talk later, thorough search now,
" Buffy said.
"Well, we can't just go in and expect her to have no protection,
" Angel said.
"And she also, we assume, needs us for this incantation, so if we all charge in their like a swat team, she'll have everyone she needs,
" Willow said.
"Good thinking. So we should sacrifice someone invaluable. Cordy, wanna be bait?
" Buffy asked.
"Nice try, but we already have a plan,
" Cordelia said.
"Oh, I'm all ears, naturally, but can I bring to light that if we don't do anything, they can get us, ‘cuz we're like sitting ducks, if we do something, we could get captured just as easily,
" Buffy said, raising a criticizing eyebrow.
"We have decided you would be better off if we split the group down the middle,
" Giles said.
"Can I at least pick teams?
" Buffy asked.
"Go ahead,
" Giles said.
"Okay, Giles and I are team leaders. Giles' group does research and tries to stay out of harm's way. My team hunts and destroys. Any questions? Okay, Giles gets Willow and Cordelia, ‘cuz they can both use a computer, and I get Xander and Angel,
" Buffy said.
"Grab a weapon, boys,
" she said. All three walked over to the trunk and pulled out their weapon of choice. Angel found a sixteenth century battle ax, and Buffy and Xander grabbed crossbows.
"Here's the plan: We try to find out where she's keeping her little cub scout meeting, we report back. Willow and Cordelia make a lay-out of the area, and we lure one of her guys out and get info until I get an urge to snap the evil bastard's neck. Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
" Buffy asked.
"You're a fast thinker,
" Willow said, approvingly.
"Tends to come with the job description,
" Buffy said, proudly.
"And what should I do?
" a voice asked from the door.
"Wesley! Oh, this party has plenty of fun surprises,
" Xander said.
"Wesley, we're pretty much covered,
" Cordelia said.
"I insist. Now, I ask again – what can I do?
" Wesley demanded.
"You call the council and get any info on Catherine Madison and when Giles figures out what it is she's trying to do, you get more info on that. We don't have much time, I think we have about a day or so to stop this thing,
" Buffy said.
"Right,
" Willow said, who was already clicking away on her laptop.
* * *
"Nice try, Slayer,
" Catherine was saying to herself. Catherine could see the slayer in the center of the stone table in front of her. It pleased her that the slayer was trying, but failing in truth. Though the woods were visible, there was a cloak of invisibility over the ritual site. Only those who were her minions could see it. But she had persistence, this slayer. Much more than when she had first gone up against her.
