Part Eight

One by one, the Slayerettes returned to the safety of the Library, although without Giles or Willow, it just didn’t seem the same. The only other people missing were Wesley, who had called, telling Angel he was going to stop and pick up some needed supplies, and Faith, who hadn’t bothered to show up, yet. So now, came the hard part...figuring out how to stop the newest threat to the Hellmouth.

“Sorry I’m late,” Wesley said, carrying a large plastic bag.

His hair was still damp, as though he hadn’t bother drying it before he left. This small detail was something that Cordelia took great notice of, along with the lack of tweed. He was dressed slightly more casual, wearing only pants and a shirt. And even that was loose and free flowing. She supposed that it was probably more practical for what they were going to face tonight.

Tonight!

With only about six hours before the sunset, the Scooby gang didn’t have very much time to plan their defense. And no time to work out an attack.

“I still don’t know why I’m here,” Cordelia said wearily. She might have been showered and changed, but she was still exhausted from the night before. “I mean, I should be far, far away from here. LA maybe. I hear the drive-bys are lovely this time of year.”

“Believe me,” Wesley said, placing the heavy bag on the table, “I wish we all could escape to a better place. But the Hounds have our scents, and they won’t stop until they have found and killed us all. We have to stop them right here and now, or we won’t be able to.”

Buffy pulled out several stakes, knives and other various ‘Implements of Destruction’ from her Slayer bag, and looked at Wesley, “So, I brought my party favors, what did you bring?”

“These,” he answered, pulling out hand radios, “No matter what happens, we need to keep in constant contact with each other,” He handed a walkie talkie out to each one in the room and continued, “The Hounds will try to separate us, making us vulnerable. If that happens, these will help. Do not go anywhere with out them.”

“Okay, it’s a start,” Buffy said, tucking the radio in her belt, “Now,” turning to Amy, “did you find the books?”

Amy shook her head, “No. Where ever Willow hid them, she didn’t want anyone knowing where they were. I’d need at least three hours to tear the house from top to bottom, and then it would take even more time to find the spell. We just don’t have enough time, do we?”

“No,” Buffy said sadly, “I’m sorry Amy...this is real bad timing.”

“That’s okay...I’ll live...I hope. Besides, now that I know the original spell doesn’t work, you can tell that to Willow, and maybe the two of you can find the right one.”

Buffy looked at the Witch, and sighed. That is, if they all lived through the night. And if Willow is even still alive.

******

Willow sat curled up in the corner of the dimly lit room. Several hours earlier, the Beastmaster untied her and placed her alone in this locked room. She didn’t know why he did that, but it felt good not to be bound. So, she wasn’t going to argue. But this new sense of freedom didn’t ease her growing fear. She wanted to be brave, Buffy would be brave, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she might not see the light of day again.

She really wished she wasn’t so alone!

Suddenly she heard the clicking of the lock on the door, and a creak as it opened. She, then saw a figure being tossed into the room, like a limp rag doll. The body rolled several times before coming to a stop in the center of the room. She couldn’t see who it was, and she was too frightened to get close enough to identify the unknown visitor, but the soft moan coming from the stranger, made her ears prick up.

It sounded like...

“Giles!” she cried out, scrambling toward the still figure.

She helped turn him over and gasped at the sight. Even in the poor lighting of the windowless room, she could see that the Watcher was in poor shape. One eye was closed shut, and there were fresh cuts and bruises on his body. He looked at her through the haze of pain, and his expression brightened.

“Willow!” he exclaimed, painfully sitting up and touching her arms and hair, to make sure she was real, “Oh, thank God you’re okay! You haven’t been mistreated have you? Are you all right? It’s so good to see you!”

Willow smiled, and brushed stray hair from his bruised face, “I-I’m okay. They’ve treated me pretty okay. Better than you. Giles what happened to you? Did, you see that big demon? Do you know what he wants?”

“The Beastmaster, yes,” Giles nodded, allowing Willow to help him over to the far wall, where he groaned and slid down to the floor. Being able to prop his back on the cool wall, eased his pain slightly, but deep down he knew this was only the beginning. “And yes, I do know what he wants. Do you? Did he show you the book?”

“Yeah. The language was weird, but I think I know what the spell is. It’s some kind of Release for him, right? To break a curse. I told him that I couldn’t do the spell on my own...I didn’t know he would kidnap you. I’m sorry, I should have just done the spell...”

“NO!” Giles said, grabbing her arms, and turning her to face him, “We mustn’t cast the spell, no matter what he does to us.” His tone softened, as he let her go, “Willow, I know you’re frightened, but we must remain resolved in this. If the Beastmaster gains his freedom, then there’ll be no stopping him. He’s an immortal demon. The only thing that keeps him in check is the curse that was placed on him centuries ago. We can’t set him free. Do you understand?”

Willow gulped, “Yes.”

They sat in silence for a while, side by side, not wanting to leave each other’s touch. In the darkness, and insanity that they were thrown into...at least they had each other for strength. And that, they hoped, would be enough to get them through this.

“Giles?”

“Yes?”

“Are they going to...” she paused, not really wanting to think about what she was going to say, “you know...t-torture us?”

Giles heart broke when he heard that, “Oh, Willow,” he sighed, stroking her hair gently, “I’m so sorry. This is the last thing I ever wanted for you...”

“But are they going to torture us?”

“Most likely...yes.”

Then, Willow did something that surprised Giles. She curled up next to him and rest her head on his chest, looking to him for a sense of protection, and comfort. He wasn’t sure if it was helping her...but somehow this small act, brought about by need and fear, helped to ease his own fears, and made him forget about the pain...at least for a short while.

Nothing more needed to be said.

Giles wrapped his arms around the teen, and they remained huddled together, waiting for the next move.

******

“So, what’s our next move?” Xander asked, picking up one of the many books that littered the table.

“We have to figure out where Callisto is hiding, find her and Slay her,” Faith stated, as she pushed open the doors of the Library.

“Short, simple and to the point,” Xander huffed, rolling his eyes, “Good of you to join us...finally”

Wesley shook his head, “The problem is, we aren’t even one hundred percent sure that Callisto is indeed the Summoner. It would be very convenient if that were the case.”

“It is the case,” Buffy emphasized, “She all but said it.”

“Yes, I understand,” the young Watcher agreed, “but, why would a powerful demon like Callisto need the Beastmaster to do what she is quite capable of doing herself?”

“Because, in the end,” Angel pointed out, “it’s our unity that gives us strength. Callisto knows this. She can’t take us all on by herself, no matter how powerful she is. And besides, there’s something else...”

“What?” Buffy asked.

Angel put down the book he was researching, and sighed, “I can’t explain it, but I have a feeling she’s holding back.”

“Okay, what battle did you fight in?” Faith asked.

Wesley’s eyes grew wide, as he began to pace, “You’re absolutely right! If she wanted to, she could have killed both you and Buffy, when she had the chance...but she didn’t.” he looked through a large leather bound book, reading it’s contents out loud, “‘She was the harbinger of death to all those who crossed her path, striking fear in the heart of the Pharaoh, and bringing darkness to the temple of Ra. Then, the Pharaoh’s priests cast the demon into the great Abyss, ending her reign of terror.’”

He turned the book toward the gang and showed them a drawing of the four thousand year old demon. They all stared at the picture for some time, looking at the horns, and the claws and the size of this ancient threat.

“This is a far cry from Emily,” Xander said, cocking his head, “What did she get a face lift, or five?”

Angel shook his head, “The physical form can’t exist in the Abyss. When the priest sent Callisto there, her body was destroyed, but her soul wasn’t. Somehow, she must have possessed Emily’s body, and escaped the void.”

“But Emily is a vampire, right?” Oz asked.

“Yes,” Wesley said, nodding, “which is the problem. When Emily was turned into a Vampire, her soul must have gone to the Abyss, while the vampire took control....”

“But Callisto hitched a ride,” Faith added.

“And now,” Buffy agreed, “she’s in the driver’s seat.”

“Great,” Cordelia stated, “We have Sybil of the undead. So, what do we do?”

Buffy got up and grabbed her Slayer’s bag, “Nothing changes. We dust her. That should break the connection between her and the Beastmaster, right?”

“Yes,” Wesley nodded.

“Well, I’m not gonna get anything done sitting here. Angel, Faith and I will go to track down Callisto. You guys stay here, and prepare for the Hounds. Hopefully, we’ll take care of her before the sun sets. But if we don’t...”

“What about Willow and Giles?” Oz asked.

“If we can send Callisto packing,” Buffy said, “that won’t be a problem.”

“But killing her might be,” a new voice came from the entrance of their ‘head quarters’.

They all turned around to see a man in his late fifties, dressed in, what Buffy could only assume to be, a fairly expensive suit. He stood very still and straight, looking at the group with sad eyes, brown eyes.

“Who the hell are you?” Faith asked, unconsciously taking up a defensive posture.

Edgar sighed and answered in a soft English accent, “Someone who can help.”

“Excuse me?” Buffy asked, eyeing the stranger, “Did you just say you can help? With what? And, how did you get in here?”

The dapper man, straightened his tie and said dryly, “This is a public library...”

“No,” Cordelia corrected, “This is a school library...and it’s closed.”

“Then why are you all in here?”

All those in the room looked at one another in awkward silence. “Way to go Cordy,” Xander said, at long last, “Why don’t you just post a sign that says... ‘hey everyone, if you want to trespass...come here’!”

“Guys,” Buffy shushed, “can we stay on topic for a few minutes,” then turning toward the stranger she said, “So, who are you, and what can you do to help us?”

The man looked at Buffy, then at Wesley, “My name is Edgar Hampton, and I can help you stop Callisto.”

Faith folded her arms, her eyes narrowed, “What, you? You don’t look like you could help us get out of a wet bag, never mind fight Mega Demon.”

“She has a point,” Buffy agreed.

The man walked over to the table and replied, “I may not be as young as I used to be, but I have something of some use.”

“And that would be, what?”

“The knowledge of Callisto’s where a bouts.”

For a brief moment there was silence in the library. Then Oz spoke, “I’m thinking, he’s is our new best friend.”

That was all that was needed for the others to chime in. Buffy knew that she had to keep her cool, amid the flurry of inquiries, but she too was finding it difficult to keep her excitement in check.

But it wasn’t Buffy who was the next person to speak, “How, may I ask, do you know?” Wesley asked suspiciously. All eyes turned to him, “What’s your role in all this?”

The older man sat down, “My role, as you so eloquently asked, is that of a concerned...guardian...”

“Guardian?” Wesley interrupted, “You’re human, how can you-”

“I was hired to care for the child.”

“I hate to tell you this,” Angel said, shaking his head, “But that ‘child’ can take care of herself pretty well.”

“I know,” Edgar shook his head, sadly, “But this is not the same child, Mister Trick hired me to take care of. She’s changed.”

“No kidding,” Xander said, “Being a demon will do that to you, right Dead Boy.” He added, giving Angel a side glance.

Angel didn’t bother to respond to that remark. He knew how Xander felt about him, and he wasn’t sure that the young man was wrong. He just wished he would stop calling him Dead Boy. “I recognized Callisto, soon after she spoke,” Angel said to the man, “Every demon would. She’s very powerful and dangerous...and there is a darkness about her that is unmistakable to those who live in darkness...”

“Or those who fight it,” Buffy agreed, “I felt something too. Like a cancer. It was nothing like a vampire though, and I thought Emily was turned into one by Trick.”

“Right,” Wesley said, “But if Callisto did manage to escape the void by riding on the coat tails of the vampire...”

“Then, she is definitely NOT the same little girl,” Xander said.

“No, she is not,” Edgar sighed.

Buffy began to pace, her anger in the situation was mounting. She was angry at this stranger for working with the very demon who was now threatening them. She was angry at the Hellmouth for helping to make, what should have been a normal night, into something...well....Hellmouthy. But more importantly, she was angry with herself, for not being able to save Emily before she became a vampire. Perhaps if she had gotten to her sooner...

“Let me get this straight,” she said, focusing her anger on the only person she could, “You were hired, by Trick to care for a Vampire that HE made? And you did it with open arms?! Your human. How can you work for a vampire?!”

“How can you love one?” He answered simply.

Buffy was flustered by that surprising remark, “T-that’s not the same. Angel has a soul. He doesn’t walk around trying to kill my friends.”

“No?” Edgar said, “From what Mister Trick told me, Angel murdered Miss. Calendar, and tortured your Watcher, and yet you still love him. Why?”

Buffy looked painfully at her friends, her mother and her former lover. In a split second, with only a few words, this stranger had managed to speak for all those in the room. “It’s complicated,” was all she could say.

“Yes, I know,” Edgar said, sympathetically, “It usually is. I don’t particularly get any pleasure out of working for vampires, but it keeps me alive long enough to accomplish my task.”

“And that task is?” Wesley asked.

“To find the one who will bring balance.”

“Okay...huh?” Buffy said confused.

But Wesley and Angel knew exactly what the man was referring to. Angel looked at Wesley, then back at Edgar and asked, “And you think, she’s the one?”

“Yes I do.”

“Of course!” Wesley exclaimed, “That’s why she was holding back! There must still be a part of Emily left inside.”

Edgar nodded, “When I first met the child, I knew straight away that she was special. That, she was the one I was looking for all these years. Even though she was a demon...a vampire...there was still an innocence about her. There was still some purity left. Trick hadn’t noticed, and I was not about to bring that to his attention.”

“But, how do you know about the Prophesy? It’s not common knowledge, even to those who are in the ‘business’, as it were,” Wesley asked, “The Council has been trying to find this person for centuries. We were beginning to think it was all a lie.”

“And so would I, had a demon named Whistler not contacted me,” Edgar explained.

“Boy, Whistler gets around,” Buffy huffed, “Let me guess...he told you about this person who will bring balance, but he can’t help you, or interfere. Am I close?”

“Yes, quite,” Edgar said astonished, “But how do you know about-”

“Whistler?” Buffy finished, “I met him last year, when...well, when my life got complicated. He showed up, said a few things, I had no idea what he was talking about, and left. Great guy, really. Big help.”

“And the sarcasm was so great, it took a week to cross it.” Xander snickered.

“After my wife and child were killed by vampires,” Edgar continued, “I sank into a deep depression. When I decided end it all, Whistler came to me and told me about the prophesy. He told me that if I could find this child, that it could be the greatest victory against evil. At the time, all I could think about was revenge...but if finding this child/vampire was the key to achieving that, then who was I to argue? I employed myself with various vampires over the years, gaining their trust, until I finally came across Emily.”

“And the Prophesy,” Buffy said.

“Yes. But I couldn’t do anything while Trick was around. I had hoped that he would eventually make a mistake and meet his fate...”

“Or Faith,” Faith smiled.

“I was going to try to perform the Purity ritual...”

“What’s that?” Buffy asked.

“It’s used to cleanse a vampire of evil,” Angel explained, “It’s like a stronger version of the Gypsy curse that’s on me...only it’s for good.”

“Oooo,” Xander said gleefully, “And no ‘Happy Clause’. Now, why didn’t the Gypsies just do that on you? Would have saved us a lot of trouble.”

“Because the spell is not something that is commonly known,” Wesley explained, “In fact, the only place that it can be found is in the Book of Champaere.”

“And that book has been lost for centuries.”

“Figures,” Buffy snorted.

“So,” Wesley asked, “If we can’t find the Book of Champaere, then how are we to stop Callisto without harming Emily. And we still need to know who summoned Hell’s Fury...”

“That would also be Callisto’s doing,” Edgar said, “When Callisto took control, she summoned the Beastmaster to help her get rid of you all. She knew that she alone couldn’t fight all of you at once. She’s a powerful demon, but not a true demon, therefore she doesn’t have the strength of one.”

“I don’t know,” Faith said, “She seemed pretty strong to me, when she threw us twenty feet.”

“Yes,” Edgar agreed, “Now imagine if she were a true demon.”

“That would not be a pretty sight.” Oz said.

“Well,” Buffy said, “If we can’t do this spell, then the only way to stop her is to slay her...right?”

“Yes, but-”

“Then, we dust her,” Faith said, “That’ll kill two birds, and send the Beastmaster packing.”

“But the prophesy...”

“Screw the prophesy!” Faith growled, “Callisto is trying to kill us. These demon dogs are trying to eat us. And the Beastmaster kidnapped Giles and Willow. I don’t know about you, but it’s payback time for me!”

“I know nothing about your friend’s kidnapping,” Edgar explained, “And neither does Callisto. If the Beastmaster kidnapped them, then he’s working on his own.”

“Working on his own?” Xander said, “I thought he had to work for the person who summoned him? And what would he want with Giles and Willow?”

“What would he want with two spell casters?” Oz pointed out, “I’m guessing he has a little spell he wants them to cast.”

“Oh, my,” Wesley gulped.

“You gonna share, or are you gonna make us guess?” Buffy asked her new Watcher.

Both Wesley and Angel looked at one another and said simultaneously, “THE BOOK!”

“The book?”

Wesley began to pace, “Yes...yes. The book of Champaere. In it is a spell that could set him free. HE must have the book!”

“I don’t get it,” Buffy asked, “If he has the book, why does he need Giles and Willow? Why doesn’t he just cast the spell himself?”

“Because the book is protected by a Veil spell,” Wesley explained.

“No demon can read it,” Angel finished.

“Which means,” Xander added, “he needed to place an order for a Watcher with a side of Witch, to cast the spell for him.”

“And if the spell is cast,” Wesley continued, “and the Beastmaster is freed...”

“Then there would be no stopping him!” Buffy, finally caught on. This was getting more complicated by the moment.

“But Giles won’t cast the spell,” Cordelia piped in, “not if he knows what it is. And Willow may be many things, but she’s not a coward. She wouldn’t cast it either.” Then she looked at the group and added grimly, “Unless they’re tortured.”

Oz’s eyes almost turned red at that statement. The thought of his Willow at the hands of a demon...being tortured was more than he could stand. He got up and headed for the door. “Well, you guys can discuss how to stop them all you want,” he said, unable to contain his anger, “I’m going to find Willow!”

“Oz, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Wesley cautioned, “You’re still injured and weak. Even if you could find her, you wouldn’t be of much use to her.”

“Well it’s better than sitting here and waiting,” Xander said, following his friend.

“Xander,” Buffy warned, “it’s too dangerous for you guys to go off on your own. And, as much as it pains me to say it, Wesley’s right. I know you could track them down, but what then? How are you going to rescue them? And what if he has more Hounds with him? I don’t think this is a good idea...”

“I have to do something.” Oz said quietly as he left.

Grabbing two walkie talkies, Xander was quick to follow, “Don’t worry,” he tried to sound reassuring, “I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“And who’s gonna keep an eye on you?!” Buffy called to him, with no avail. She really wished Giles and Willow were all right. Because if not...god help anyone who got in Oz’s way!

******

Willow wasn’t sure how much time had passed since the two large demons dragged Giles out of the room, but it seemed far too long for her liking. She was more afraid now, than when she was alone. She wasn’t too worried about herself, she had been treated fairly well during her capture, but she was concerned for Giles. Willow tried to push thoughts of him being tortured out of her mind, and found that every time she did, newer and clearer images sprang up.

She knew that Giles was trying to be brave for her, but she also knew that deep down inside he was just a frightened as she was. But, if he could be brave, so could she. She sat in the corner, trying not to cry, and trying not to think of the horrible things Giles must be going through. Then the door opened and Giles was thrown into the room. He laid there on the cold ground, moaning softly.

“Giles!” She cried out, running over to him.

“Willow,” he groaned, trying to lift his head. He vaguely saw her running toward him, but his vision was blocked by the demon captors, as they grabbed Willow. Giles got to his knees trying to grab a hold of closest demon, “Let her go! Willow!”

“What?! No! Giles?!” Willow screamed, struggling against the demon, wanting to reach him, “Giles!? GILES!!!”

The one demon that Giles reached for, gave him a hard kick in the stomach, sending him flying back in agonizing pain. He tried to call out her name, but couldn’t get enough breath to do so. He could only watch helplessly, as they dragged a screaming, terrified Willow out the door.

“Willow!” he gasped, before blacking out.