FF: Guardians of the Veil part 5b/5

["belgin_tei" <belgin_tei@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Guardians of the Veil. Part 5b
Sequel to: A New Beginning.
Author: David A. Knapton.
E-mail: belgin_tei@xxxxxxxxxxx
Archive: Full House Slash plus Any others that want it but drop me a 
line so I can see my name in lights!
Spoilers: Set after the end of S5. Then it follows along different 
lines. Also crossover with Angel I don't think there is much if any 
spoilers, because although there are some indications about some 
character relationship issues in the series, mine were planned the 
way they are some time before I saw any of it on the show.
Rating: Probably 18 overall.
Pairings this part: Buffy/Willow/Tara Xander/Anya Louisa/John 
Sarah/James Olivia/Giles Hank/Jennifer plus a few I don't want to 
reveal here.
Disclaimer: I own none of the people in this story, but if I did then 
the show would probably never be shown again!
Special Disclaimer: See part 2.
Summery: Buffy, Giles, and their friends must try and rescue Willow 
and Tara as well as the coven of the Goddess before the Warlock can 
bring about Armageddon. Buffy, must choice to save those she loves 
the most or place all mortal animals in danger. <> = Thought.
Warning: Characters deaths (Don't assume its Buffy etc.)
Notes: I have twisted the legend of King Arthur for my own reasons. 
If it's of interest the mine mentioned in this story is located at 
Bannerdown just outside Bath; I use to play paintball in it some 
years ago. MI5 is the UK equivalent to the US NSA I think? and MI6 is 
as the CIA. I'm sure everyone knows about the SAS, which stands for 
the Special Air Service, SBS is the Navel equivalent and stands for 
the Special Boat Service. As far as I know there are no secret cells 
under the Tor!
A Very Special Note to Any Pagans: I am using different aspics of the 
Goddess for my own ends not to offend anyone. May the Lady forgive me.
A Special Note to any religious fanatics: This story is only a STORY, 
I apologise if any part of it upsets you, if you are a fanatic of any 
religion and cannot except my apology, maybe you should look at what 
some religious fanatics are doing in some parts of the World, flame 
them not me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Home of Hank and Jennifer, San Diego.

Dawn was lounging on her bed chatting with Lisa on the phone; Lisa 
was telling her about the slaying she was helping Angel with in LA 
and what was going on at the moment.

"You had to sing! Lis I've heard you sing, your bad, worse than me 
and Buffy," laughed Dawn when Lisa told her about her visit to 
Caritas the demon Karioke bar.

"I'm not that bad," retorted Lisa, Dawn could just see her friend 
pouting.

"So what did this Lorne tell you?" Giggled Dawn.

"He said that I'm here in LA for something big, he wouldn't say what 
but that it involved Cordelia and it would happen sometime tonight," 
said Lisa.

Dawn could hear the worry in her friend's voice and knew she hadn't 
told her everything, "And what else?"

"And.... he said we would be given choices that either changed us 
forever or everything will be lost, Dawn I wish Buffy or Giles was 
here to tell me what to do, what if I make the wrong choice?" sobbed 
Lisa.

"Lisa all Buffy or Giles would tell you is to try your best and do 
what your heart tells you is right not what anyone else wants you to 
do," stated Dawn.

"Dawn there are some visitors here to see you," came her dad's voice 
from downstairs.

Dawn held the receiver away from her ear, "Be right down dad," she 
called out, before turning her attention back to Lisa, "Sorry Lis I 
gotta go there's someone who wants to see me. Good luck for tonight 
and call me when its over, I love you... ah I don't mean like Buffy 
loves Willow and Tara but like best friend love, I mean I love Kevin 
like Buffy lov..."

"Dawn I know what you meant, I think you've been around Willow to 
long," laughed Lisa, "I'll call you first thing tomorrow okay."

"Ok, be safe," smiled Dawn hanging up, she went downstairs and into 
the living room. Three women in their early to mid twenties were 
stood by the window, sat on the settee was Xander and Anya, and 
sprawled in an armchair was Spike.

"Hey little bite how's things?" Asked Spike.

"What are you three doing here and who're your friends," exclaimed 
Dawn.

"This is Helga," said Anya pointing at the tall muscular blonde woman.

"We can speak for ourselves," interrupted Helga, she had a German 
accent, "As your friend said my name is Helga and these are my 
sisters Maria and Gillian," Helga indicated the two brunettes; "Your 
friends insisted on coming with us when we came looking for you in 
Sunnydale." Helga frowned before continuing, "We were told to say it 
is to do with Scooby business."

"Why were you looking for my daughter and what do you mean Scooby 
business?" Asked Hank.

Dawn spun around to see her dad and Jennifer stood by the kitchen 
door, "Dad ah you remember Xander and Anya right, this is Spike a 
friend of Buffy's," she heard Spike snort, "Can you give me sometime 
to talk with them... in private," she pleaded.

"Hank and Jennifer should stay, this will involve them as well," 
interrupted Helga.

"What do you mean? What is going on here?" Asked Hank.

"We were sent here by a friend of your daughter's to protect Dawn," 
stated Helga.

"What! Who wants to harm my little girl?" Frowned Hank coming forward.

"Many things will try and kill her before dawn," stated Helga, "My 
sisters and I will try and prevent that, with our lives if need be."

"What are they after," said Dawn worry on her face, "Are they after 
me because they know I'm the key?" she whispered as if she expected 
something to jump out at any moment.

"Key? What key? What the hell are you all talking about?" Demanded 
Hank raising his voice slightly.

"No Dawn, but you must make a choice before sunrise that will change 
you forever or all mortal animals are doomed," Helga informed Dawn.

"You've made a mistake I just got off the phone with my friend in LA 
she and Cordelia are suppose to make choices not me," sighed Dawn 
with some relief.

"They also must make choices tonight, in fact many people must make 
choices tonight, but only yours and your four sisters choices will 
decide the fate of mortal animals," said Helga shaking her head at 
Dawn's statement.

"I think you should all leave or I'll call the police," said Hank 
pointing towards the door.

"Please dad they need to stay, you must trust me, we've dealt with 
this sort of thing before in Sunnydale," Dawn said pleading with the 
man she still regarded as her father even though she knew he wasn't.

"Young lady I think you should go to your room and your friends are 
leaving," stated Hank using a tone of voice he had not used since 
before his divorce.

"No dad I'm not going to my room and my friends are staying," growled 
Dawn facing her father.

Xander smiled, Dawn was getting more like Buffy every day, "We don't 
have time for this, Spike why don't you show him your other face," he 
suggested.

"Yes good idea Xander," smirked Dawn before turning back to her 
dad, "Dad, Jennifer, my friend Spike isn't human he's a vampire, but 
a good vampire..."

"Hey watch who you're calling good, I'm a vicious killer that would 
suck you dry in a minute if it wasn't for my damned chip," 
interrupted Spike.

"Yeah of course you are Spike, with or without the chip I know you 
wouldn't hurt me," smirked Dawn before continuing. "Buffy is a 
vampire slayer, her and her friends including Xander and Anya have 
been fighting them for years and she let me and three of my friends 
join them a few months ago," finished Dawn.

"Dawn I don't know what Buffy and her friends have done to you, but 
first thing tomorrow I'm seeing my lawyer and getting custody of 
you," stormed Hank.

"Spike show him your face," shouted Dawn.

"There's no need to shout little bite, I'll do anything for you," 
Spike smiled at Dawn before standing and facing Hank, "Wanna see your 
worst nightmare mate," he said as his face morphed into his vampire 
vestige.

Jennifer screamed as Hank paled and stepped back, "Wh-at are you?" 
asked Hank.

"As little bite said I'm a good vampire," he smirked at Dawn, who 
smirked back as he returned his face to human. He turned to 
Helga, "How long have we got? And what are we facing?"

"The attacks will start within an hour, as for what we are facing I 
don't know? But at least vampires will not be a factor," replied 
Helga.

"Right then love while your sisters help wimp and bimbo get the 
weapons from the van what say you and I look over the house so we can 
set up the best line of defence," said Spike rubbing his hands 
together in anticipation of a good fight.

"Hey if you don't stop calling me that I'll tell Buffy, Willow and 
Tara I saw you spying on them in bed, even if Buffy doesn't stake you 
on the spot can you imagine what Willow would do to you?" Said Xander 
getting up.

"How did you know?" Asked Spike frowning then started cursing before 
looking back at Xander. "You didn't know did you?"

"No but I do now," smiled Xander leaving with the others.

"Do you and Jennifer need a drink or something?" Asked Dawn a worried 
look on her face.

"What? Oh no thanks honey. So how long has this been going on?" asked 
Hank sitting down next to his still shaking girlfriend.

"Well Buffy has been a slayer since she was fifteen, that was what 
was behind all that trouble in LA. Willow, Xander and Giles since we 
moved to Sunnydale, Giles is Buffy's watcher, its his job to train 
her, I think Anya joined them last year at about the same time as 
Tara. Buffy let me and some of my friends join them a few months ago, 
my friend Lisa is also a slayer, we go on patrol destroying vampires 
and other demons," explained Dawn sitting down on the coffee table in 
front of her dad.

"And Spike what about him?" Asked Hank.

"Well he's complicated, he was captured by a secret government 
organization, they put a chip in his head that stops him from biting 
humans, but he can still fight demons. One thing I know with all my 
heart is that with or without the chip he won't hurt me, he promised 
Buffy awhile back that if she died he would protect me."

"Did your mother know all this?" Frowned Hank.

"Yes she found out just before Buffy ran away from home during her 
junior year, she didn't get involved but was just sort of there for 
Buffy." Dawn looked closely at her dad, "Are you sure you're ok with 
all this?"

Hank shook his head, "Not really, this is all coming too fast, I'm 
just beginning to realise how little I know you and your sister."

At that moment the others returned, Spike took charge much to the 
obvious annoyance of Xander, "Right mates it looks like the most 
secure place for Dawn is the basement, it only has one entrance and 
the windows are barred. So Xander, Anya, her dad and his fluff down 
there with her the rest of us guarding the door," he ordered.

"Lets get rid of the kitchen knives as well so they can't be used 
against us," suggested Xander.

Spike smirked at him, "Good idea, hanging around me must be rubbing 
off."

"Shut your mouth bleach boy," shouted Xander.

For some reason Spike and Xander's constant bickering lightened 
Hank's mood, he turned to his daughter with a smile on his face, "Are 
they always like this?"

Dawn rolled her eyes, "Yes, sometimes Buffy has to separate them, I 
think they like each other really," she laughed.

"What! Don't be ridiculous," they said almost at the same time.

"I'll get my gun," said Hank starting towards the stairs.

"Won't do any good, ever used a sword?" Said Spike stopping him.

"I did a little fencing at college," nodded Hank taking the 
broadsword from him.

"Bloody good for you mate," said Spike, "Now lets get this show on 
the road, shall we."

As Dawn went to follow the others into the basement Spike stopped her 
and handed her a baseball bat, "Don't worry Dawn, I won't let 
anything hurt you," he said solemnly.

Dawn looked into his eyes for a second frowning, then she lend 
forward and kissed him on the cheek, "See you later and be careful," 
she turned and went down the stairs.

Spike stood staring after her, he held his head to one side as he 
placed a hand on the spot Dawn had kissed, frowning he closed the 
door and turned as something began banging on the front door, with 
his vampire hearing he could hear people screaming somewhere outside.
--------------
Angel Investigations LA.

Lisa hung-up the phone and smiled to herself, talking to Dawn always 
lightened her mood. She walked out of Wesley's office, he was leaning 
on the counter talking with Gunn while looking at Cordy who was sat 
at her desk.

"Thanks for letting me use your phone, Dawn's fine, where's Angel?" 
Lisa asked as she joined them.

"He's down in the training room, Fred's with him," answered 
Wesley, "How are you feeling?" He asked worry on his face, even 
though he was no longer a watcher he felt a certain amount of 
responsibility for this young girl.

"I'm a little bit scared, I shouldn't be I'm a slayer."

Wesley turned to face her, a small smile on his face, "When I first 
met Buffy, I was arrogant and self-opinionated," he laughed, "I'm a 
little surprised that Buffy or Giles didn't kill me sometimes back in 
Sunnydale."

"I know I thought about it a few times and a couple of times since," 
came Cordelia voice from the otherside of the counter.

He smiled at her, "Yes quite," he said before turning back to 
Lisa, "The thing is there is one thing that I learned from Buffy, its 
that fear that keeps you alive. Now I think you should go and do a 
work-out with Angel," finished Wesley.

Before Lisa could reply they heard the door open, they all looked 
towards the young woman that had just entered, she was about 
Cordelia's height with the olive complexion of a southern European, 
she was dressed in leather pants and jacket, her walk was like that 
of a predator it reminded Cordelia of Faith.

Cordelia smiled at Wesley and Gunn and the look of pure lust in their 
eyes; she turned back to the stranger, "Good evening welcome to Angel 
Investigations, can we help you?"

"Yes, I am Rosa, I am here to help protect you so you may make your 
choice with your sisters Cordelia Chase," the stranger announced in a 
strong Italian accent.

"What do you mean? Protect me from what?" Asked a very nervous Cordy.

"Before sunrise you and your four sisters must make a choice, in that 
choice hangs the fate of this Universe, the darkness will try and 
kill you and your sisters before you can make your choice, I will 
protect you with my life if I have too," stated Rosa.

"What choice could Cordelia possible make that would save the 
Universe?" asked Gunn.

"I am not privy to that, I was just told to come here and protect her 
until she makes her choice," answered Rosa.

"Who sent you?" Asked Angel who had just entered the lobby.

"The Seer of the Goddess," nodded Rosa acknowledging his presence.

"But the Seer is a myth, the council confirmed years ago that the 
Seer did not exist," insisted Wesley.

"The council suppressed the knowledge a thousand years ago, only the 
leaders know the truth, if we have time later, I will be happy to 
provide you with all the information I have, but now we must get 
ready for the attacks, we have less than an hour," explained Rosa.

"Ah Rosa a friend told us earlier that both Cordy and I would have to 
make a choice tonight but all you've told us is that Cordy has a 
choice to make," interrupted Lisa.

Rosa turned her piercing brown eyes towards Lisa, "Everyone here must 
make a choice before sunrise as will many others throughout the 
World, but none are more important than Cordelia and her four 
sisters, their choice will decide the fate of all mortal animals," 
she answered.

"I don't have any sisters?" stated Cordy, the worry visible on her 
face as she thought about Rosa's statement.

"These are not sisters of blood but of destiny I speak, the one known 
as Dawn is being guarded by three of my sisters in San Diego the 
other three are in England," smiled Rosa.

"You don't mean Dawn Summers do you?" Asked Wesley.

"Yes from the time the key was given human form the fate of mortal 
animals has been moving towards this night," explained Rosa.

"How do you know that Dawn is the key," asked Angel, "We have kept 
that a closely guarded secret."

"Nothing is hidden from the Seer of the Goddess unless the Lord and 
Lady wills it," smiled Rosa.

"Hey what's going on?" Said Fred coming into the lobby drying her 
hair.

"You're the daughter of chaos," exclaimed Rosa going pale.

Fred squeaked and began to back away from the strange woman, she was 
about to turn and bolt for her room when Cordy wrapped an arm around 
her shoulders pulling her into a hug. "Its alright Fred she's not 
going to hurt you she's here to help us with what Lorne told us 
earlier," explained Cordy gently holding her, before turning angry 
eyes to Rosa, "I thought you were here to help not frighten my 
friends."

Rosa walked over and gently placed a hand on Fred's shoulder who 
flinched, "I apologise Fred, I did not mean to frighten you, I was 
warned you may be here by the person that sent me but it was still a 
shock. Your choice is the choice of chaos, you are outside that which 
is known and unknown."

"Do you wanna run that by me again," asked Gunn.

Rosa sighed, "All I was told was that because your friend here was 
not in this dimension when the key was given human form, what Fred's 
choices are or even what they will do is not known even to the Lord 
and Lady," she explained.

Fred looked up a frown on her face, "So when you called me the 
daughter of chaos you mean it as in the theory of chaos."

"What!" asked Cordy.

"Basically it means that however much you plan for any eventuality 
something unforeseen can happen," piped in Gunn, all his friends 
looked at him in shock, "What I can't have knowledge."

"Well it is unusual," smiled Wesley.

"I am sorry to interrupt but we have very little time," said Rosa 
looking around at the others.

"Yes of course," nodded Wesley then looked at Angel, "What do you 
suggest, make our stand here where there is room to manoeuvre but 
lots of ways for vampires and demons to get in or in the training 
room with only two entrances but little room to move," he offered.

"I prefer here but we could use the training room as a fallback 
position," answered Angel, Gunn nodded his agreement.

"If it would help I could magickally seal some of the entrances," 
offered Rosa.

"You're a witch?" asked Cordy.

"Yes, Stregheria."

"What!" asked Cordy.

"Italian witch," smiled Rosa.

"Right then I think the entrance to the gardens, the windows on that 
side and the doors to the kitchen, will you be able to do that in the 
time available?" said Wesley.

"Yes just about, I'll begin with the kitchen doors," nodded Rosa 
walking towards the back.

"Gunn can you watch the front so we have some warning. Cordy, Fred, 
Lisa gather the weapons take all those we can't use down to the 
training room, there's no point in giving our opponents weapons," 
asked Wesley.

"Sure and what are you oh great leader going to be doing while we are 
doing all the work," said Cordelia sarcastically.

"I have some things in the office that may be of use," he replied 
even as he walked towards his office.

When he returned the rest had finished their tasks and armed 
themselves, Gunn stood by the front door holding his homemade axe, 
the others stood next to the door that led to the training room, 
Angel had a large two-handed sword, Cordy who stood at his side held 
a Katana. Lisa and Fred had strange contraptions of Fred's own 
making, hers looked like a combination of a crossbow and a 
supersoaker, while Lisa's looked like a combination of a large 
knuckle duster with long spikes along the finger-side and a wooden 
stake on one end. 

He walked over to them and handed several vials of holy water to each 
human then took the broadsword Cordy held for him, "We figured you 
would prefer a sword to a crossbow."

He nodded, "Yes thank you I think this will help protect you," He 
held up an amulet which Cordy took and placed around her neck. "I 
think I'll check on how Rosa is doing," he said walking towards the 
back. He returned about 10 minutes later with the Witch, Wesley 
turned to her, "You should hurry to the training room and find a 
weapon you are comfortable with."

"That will not be necessary," she smiled at him, reaching into her 
jacket; she pulled out a silver dagger with an 8" blade followed by a 
strange wavy shaped stake.

"Very well," nodded Wesley.

"Their coming," shouted Gunn leaving his place by the door to join 
them.

"How many?" asked Cordy.

"A lot," Gunn simply said as the doors crashed open, half hanging 
off, several dozen demons and vampires rushed in.
--------------
San Diego

Spike grabbed the short horn demon by its neck and smashed its head 
through the wall, when he pulled the stunned demon back out he 
grabbing its head in both hands he snapped its neck, dropping it to 
the ground he looked to see how the others were doing.

Helga was just plunging a dagger into the last of the hellhounds that 
had led the first attack, while Gillian was helping Maria bandage a 
vicious cut to the latter's forearm that one of the now dead 
hellhounds had given her.

Helga wiped her brow, turning to Spike, "Let us move the bodies out 
of the way while we have time," she said.

Spike nodded as he grabbed the demon whose neck he had broken, "How 
long do you think we have before they attack again?"

"Maybe 10 minutes, then they will come in force, I don't think they 
expected us to be ready last time," she answered as she pulled a 
hellhound along the hall towards the front. "Lets put then all by the 
door, it may cause problems with their footing giving us the chance 
to get a couple of crossbow shoots off first," she suggested.
--------------
LA

Angel easily blocked the clawed hand of the talon demon with his 
sword before sweeping its head off and kicking the body back into the 
two vamps coming up from behind. A flash of energy lit up the lobby 
as Rosa blasted two chaos demons as they moved on Fred who was 
struggling to change the bottle of holy water on her 
crossbow/supersoaker, Fred looked over to her and smiled a thank you.

Gunn swept the head off a vampire in front of him, but missed the one 
coming from his right but Lisa didn't, she did a flying kick sending 
it to the ground as it went to rise she swept its feet from under it 
and plunged her stake into its chest, as she rose she quickly ducked 
a right cross from another vampire and staked it before it could try 
again.

Cordy found herself fighting back to back with Wesley, she was doing 
quiet well, Angel's training was really paying off, she had already 
killed a demon and two vampires. Wesley had never fought so hard in 
his life having so far managed to kill four demons, suddenly he saw a 
vampire near the doors throw a spear at Cordy's back, he had no time 
to think, he just shouldered her out of the way but before he could 
get himself out of the way it hit him in the side.

Cordy turned intending to ask Wesley what the hell he was thinking 
when she stopped going pale, "Wesley," she shouted as she saw the 
spear sticking out of his side.

"NO," shouted Fred as she saw Wesley fall face down on the lobby 
floor, she ran over as the vampire advanced on him and Cordy knelt by 
his side. She fired on the run, the bolt from her weapon missed the 
vamp's heart sticking in his stomach, he smirked as he stopped to 
pull the bolt out, "Missed," he said.

"No I didn't," said Fred as she pulled the trigger again sending a 
bolt into its heart turning it to dust.

"Fall back to the training room," shouted Angel, "Gunn, Lisa get 
Wesley," he said sweeping his sword in wide arcs, keeping the half 
dozen demons and vamps remaining from the first attack at bay, he 
could see dozens more heading for the door.

Gunn and Lisa ran over to Wesley who lay quietly moaning, Gunn pulled 
the spear out quickly hoping that they could get the bleeding wound 
bandaged before he bleed to death.

Gunn looked on in surprise as Lisa easily lifted Wesley and placed 
him across her shoulders, "I got him, go help Angel," she said 
heading for the door Fred held open.
--------------
The Tor

As she ran towards Ethan and the Warlock Buffy drew a knife and threw 
it at Ethan, as it reached the outer edge of the circle it hit an 
invisible barrier and bounced back at her, she just managed to dodge 
it.

The Warlock stopped for a moment to look at the slayer, "You did not 
think I was unaware of your little group of soldiers were you," she 
said with a snigger. "Meet my soldiers," she declared waving her arm 
to the east, where about a hundred demons appeared over the brow of 
the hill. She and Ethan then continued their ceremony ignoring 
everything else.

Buffy lifted her crossbow and fired hitting a large green scaled 
demon through the left eye, she then threw the crossbow with such 
force that one of the corners embedded in another demons chest, both 
fell dead before they were both trampled under the mass of demons 
coming up behind. The next ten minutes were a blur to Buffy as she 
went into automatic, jumping, ducking and dodging the demon horde, 
she was vaguely aware of the others fighting near her and the tazer 
blasts hitting demons. As she got to the other side of the circle she 
realised that there were no more demons in front of her, she looked 
behind her to see the remaining dozen or so demons being finished off 
by the soldiers, she saw that she was with Giles and Riley both of 
them were breathing heavily.

"I hope I don't have to do that again anytime soon," said Riley 
between ragged breaths.

"Yeah it was a pretty intense workout," smiled Buffy who wasn't even 
breathing hard.

"Buffy, help us," shouted Willow bringing her out of her musing.

Buffy looked towards the circle in time to see some kind of energy 
leave the chest of several of the priestesses, she ran at the circle 
but was thrown back into Giles and Riley, she got up and tried 
pushing her hand through the barrier, it felt like she was trying to 
push it through rubber.

"You are a fool slayer you have not got the power to break the 
barrier," laughed Ethan, as she watched helpless as the same type of 
energy was drawn from Maggie and the two priestesses next to Willow 
and Tara, she thumped on the barrier.

"Buffy the sword, maybe it can destroy the barrier!" said Giles as he 
and Riley joined her at the barrier's outer edge.

Buffy nodded drawing the sword from over her shoulder, bringing it to 
the barrier she pushed the tip into it, there was a flash of light 
and the barrier vanished.

With Riley and Giles flanking her she advanced on Ethan and the 
Warlock, Riley fired his tazer at the Warlock as Buffy started 
running towards Ethan, seeing her he pointed a hand at Buffy sending 
a bolt of energy into her, it drove her to her knees, it seemed to 
sap her of strength for a moment.

The Warlock turned when the tazer blast hit her an annoyed look on 
her face, her eyes went wide when she saw the sword in Buffy's 
hand, "That is not possible that sword was lost to this world a 
thousand years ago," she stated.

As Giles helped Buffy rise she looked at the Warlock, she didn't know 
how but she knew the answer, "It was returned to this world with the 
daughter of chaos," she smiled when she saw the look on the Warlock's 
face.

"It is already to late, Ethan do what you were brought here to do, 
While I deal with these fools," she said beginning to chant something 
under her breath.

Riley saw Ethan raise his hands as he began to speak in some strange 
language and the Warlock point at Buffy and the energy begin to leave 
her hand, without a second thought he dived between them intercepting 
the bolt, his body crashing into Buffy and Giles. 

"RILEY," screamed Buffy. She sat up and rolled his body over, she 
knew he was dead, but she had no time to mourn his passing as she 
heard both Willow and Tara scream as the Warlock began to draw 
energy, that she knew via the bond was their life force, out of them. 
As she sprang to her feet, she knew she had no time to reach the 
Warlock so out of desperation holding the sword in both hands she 
threw it, it struck the Warlock in the chest and exited through her 
back, the scream she let out sent Buffy to her knees, placing her 
hands over her ears she watch with a morbid kind of interests as the 
Warlock's body turned to dust.

As Buffy rose once again as she looked around to check that Willow, 
Tara and Giles were okay she began to see strange things, swirling 
energy of some kind, it seemed to move in and around and even through 
people and objects but did not seem to hurt anything.

"You have lost slayer, the veil is coming down soon Summerland and 
the souls that dwell there will be vulnerable to my master and his 
demons, he will feed on them for an eternity. You made the wrong 
choice and now all mortal animals are doomed," he laughed a manic 
laugh.

"Ethan, eat pain," came Willow's voice from Buffy's left, before she 
or Ethan could turn to look at her, he was sent backwards into the 
altar as a stream of energy leapt from Willow and wrapped around 
Ethan, who began to scream.

Unobserved, while Ethan was talking to Buffy, Giles had gone around 
the surviving priestesses as well as Willow and Tara releasing them.

Buffy walked over to her girlfriends, she looked at Willow, eyebrow 
arched, "Eat pain? How long have you been around me, you couldn't 
come up with a better line than that," she smiled hugging them both.

"Well I was sort of annoyed at him and in a hurry, I wasn't sure I 
could take him if he saw me," explained Willow.

Buffy put her arms around her girlfriends looking over at Ethan as he 
withered in pain on the ground, "So how long will the spell last?" 
she asked.

"For as long as I'm conscious and I'm not feeling the least bit 
tired," smirked Willow.

"Willow no, release him please," pleaded Tara.

"If I release him what are we to do with him, we can't kill him and 
he can cause untold suffering in the world," said Willow.

"Trust me, you and Buffy join hands with me and then release him," 
she said.

"Alright baby if that's what you want," smiled Willow as she grabbed 
Tara's hand and Buffy the other, she looked at Ethan for a second and 
the energy dissipated.

Ethan snarled as he stood up eyes blazing, "You'll pay for that 
Witch," he said advancing on the three of them.

"Recite after me," said Tara to the others in a voice that sounded 
somehow different, older and wiser.

"Solid as a rock, 
Safe within the harbour,
Ancient as a stone,
Strong as the sea,
Solid as a rock,
Safe within the Mother,
So moot it be."

Ethan frowned, he couldn't move, his eyes went wide, "What are you 
doing to me?" he almost begged.

Tara answered in a voice that was not hers, it was at once the 
sweetest and the most scary voice anyone on the hill had ever 
heard, "You will be imprisoned as the Warlock before you was 
imprisoned within the bosom of your mother for all time."

Ethan screamed as the stone slowly enveloped him, within seconds 
there was a pinnacle of rock where he had stood.

Buffy heard a whimper come from Tara as did Willow, she frowned at 
her, "He deserved all he got Tara," she said hugging her girlfriend.

"No one deserved that Buffy not even Ethan," replied Tara tears 
streaming down her face.

Willow frowned as she looked around, "Ah guys I think we have a 
bigger problem," she said.
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