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Chapter 20
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"I was sure you wouldn’t take just my word, Ace." Lilah reached into her purse and handed a sheath of papers to Giles. "Our boys in research were working on this all the way up to the time of the great slaughter. You remember, big, horned stone beast rained fire on LA, destroyed Wolfram & Hart, killed everybody but me, and sent me into hiding? Thought I’d just keep their notes when all the dust settled. As far as the Partners know, the research went bye-bye along with the researchers."

Giles looked at the papers she had given him. "I don’t suppose the original manuscript is still in existence anywhere? I would much prefer to attempt a translation myself. You do understand why I can’t simply trust the work of your employees."

"Sure, I figured you wouldn’t take the research at face value, any more than my word. I have the original all tucked away, safe and sound. Protected it with
those symbols Lindsey was good enough to discover and try out. But I’m not just handing it over. I’ll let you look at it and copy what you want, but I keep the scroll. Insurance, you understand. There’s lots more on that scroll, but this is the part that concerns your particular battle. Things work out for me and I may leave the whole scroll to you as a parting gift. Whattaya say, we have a deal?"

Willow tried to look over Giles’ shoulder at the notes. "What is it, Giles?
Does it tell us where Buffy is?"

"These are translations, or partial translations, of an ancient scroll of prophecies. I’ve heard of this scroll but never seen it." Giles was engrossed in the notes.

"Is that the scroll of Aberjian, ‘cause if it is, it’s about the souled vampire--me--and the apocalypse I help stop." Angel worked his way over to Giles to get a look at the notes.

"Will you stop thinkin’ everything’s about you?! Besides, I thought Percy had that scroll; not likely there’d be two copies." Spike was more than a little
irritated with Angel’s insistence that he was the major player in any and all prophecies with a champion.

"Got it in one, champ. No, this isn’t that scroll. This one is far older. Prophecies on a lot of things and people. Most of the world’s history in there; it’s like Nostradamus, only easier to understand. Most of it was in Proto–Sumerian, but some segments were newer copies sewn in to replace sections that had deteriorated. Those are in the languages of whoever was keeping it at the time. I think you can see from the section of notes I just gave you,
they’re talking about Spike here. Unless there’s a softer side of Angelus…sorry, Liam…we don’t know about. Just don’t see him as ever being a poet, even a bad one."

"What? What’re you sayin’? Those scrolls say somethin’ about a bad poet? Can’t see how that’d be anybody here." If possible, Spike became a whiter shade of pale.

"Okay, ‘bad’ may not be fair, it only says failed. Guess he could have been good and still failed." Lilah looked anything but apologetic as she smirked at Spike. "We have better records on the life and times of William the Bloody than the Council did, cutie. I probably know more about you before and after Drucilla
than anyone here…except you, of course."

"No, the poems were bad, trust me." Angel had to get a dig in after having been on the receiving end of the snark for so long.

"Hey, you said you liked my poetry." Spike said in a hurt voice.

"And you reminded me that I also like Barry Manilow. Figure the source." Angel mentally high-fived himself for using Spike’s own words to win the round.

"So Spikey is sorta the president of the real Dead Poets Society, huh?" Xander quipped. Oh, the mileage he was going to get out of this piece of information!

Dawn, seeing how distressed Spike was at this public revelation, leapt to her friends defense. "Spike’s always been a romantic, plus he’s Victorian, naturally he’d write poetry. Right, Spike?"

"Actually, the age of poetry written by every person with a pen came and went in Spike’s grandparents’ era. William was just behind the times." Angel was so loving this.

"He’s just a classic", defended Dawn.

"Yeah, Mandy, let’s talk about embarrassin’ moments, why don’t we? Actually, I am embarrassed and wishin’ everyone would just shut up about it, okay? I kinda
came out back in L.A., just before the battle anyway."

Spike missed the look of alarm on Xander’s face at that comment.

"The people at the poetry slam applauded, I’ll have you know." Spike glared at Angel and Xander. "Even went back with Charlie Boy and your sprog a few times after that last battle. May not have wanted to advertise it to the whole world, but there it is. Got the name ‘bloody’, ‘cause they said I was a bloody awful poet. S’pose you’re never gonna let me live that down, huh, Whelp?"

Xander was speechless at not only WHAT Spike had just revealed, but that he had admitted it at all. He sort of felt sorry for Spike being outed the way Lilah had done it, with Angel using it to poke at Spike even though they had just risked their lives to rescue him. "Can’t see how I can keep from bringing it up every once in a while, but I’ll try to restrain myself in the interests of our newfound truce. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with writing poetry, I guess."

This time Spike was speechless. Xander letting prime taunting material go signified a genuine change in their relationship. "Thanks, mate. I appreciate
that", he said softly.

"Yes, well, now that we’ve gotten all the mileage we can out of taunting Spike for the present, perhaps Lilah can take me to this scroll so I can compare these notes to what I myself can make of it", Giles said.

"Giles, I’ve been studying languages for a couple of years and I kinda did well with all that Sumerian when we were taking on the First Evil. Can I come too? Maybe I can help." Dawn was eager to be more than a spectator.

"Of course, Dawn, I would appreciate your help. Perhaps Willow can join us, too…for multiple reasons." Giles looked sternly at Lilah as he spoke.

"Ooh, an Attack Witch! I’m all aquiver. If it makes you feel safer, Councilman, why not bring her along? Okay by me. Let’s just get this deal moving before the
Senior Partners get wise to us. They aren’t stupid." Lilah got up from the chair and headed for the door, looking back to make certain she would be followed. "Make sure you’re all wearing your pretty talismans, kiddies. We don’t want to make it too easy for them."

"While we are gone, perhaps you gentlemen can find out whatever information Illyria may have on the Wolf, Ram and Hart, as well as their home dimension. You won’t mind sharing that information with the team, will you, Illyria?" Giles asked politely.

"It is logical to share such information. I shall reveal what is necessary to these beings."

"Good. Then we shall meet here again tomorrow afternoon. That should give us all time to have some new information to share." Giles turned to leave.

"Rupes, does it really look like that stuff might be about me?" Spike pointed to the notes and asked. He had an almost childlike look on his face as he asked. "Never thought I’d warrant a prophecy is all."

"Yes, Spike, if the translations here are correct, it would appear to be about you." Giles thought it odd that Spike should be surprised. Actually, the Watcher was ashamed that he hadn’t looked for prophecies about the vampire years ago. How many vampires in history had been artificially prevented from killing and feeding, after all? How many chose to actively fight alongside the Slayer? How many then proceeded to go and re-acquire their soul? Giles was also regretful that he had never bothered to ask Spike just what he had done to gain that soul. He had been so blinded by his prejudices against the annoying vampire and his fears for Buffy in light of the obvious attraction between her and Spike that he never even considered the likelihood of Spike figuring in prophecy. Time to turn a new leaf and make up for lost time.

~~~

"The Wolf, the Ram and the Hart are beings, not gods as they would have humans believe. In my time, they were barely above vampires. They found ways to convince the ooze that eats its own that they were to be worshiped. For this alone they deserve to be dismembered! As I slept in the Deeper Well, I knew not of their doings. When I was released, I cared not until they attacked me and took power from me through Wesley. I cannot speak to the green any longer, cannot bend time to my will. They dared challenge a true god! I learned of the deeds they had undertaken while their true betters slept. Their infamy reeks of lies and betrayal. I found the recordings of their deeds in Wesley’s library in Los Angeles and I will choke them with their written lies."

"Just a reminder, Blue, we were only tryin’ to keep you from going Chernobyl on us. Your new body wasn’t able to hold all that power you had. That Hamilton birk seemed to have the answer, but Wesley changed it so it wouldn’t kill you, just release the pressure a bit. We meant well, Bluebird, and you still have more power than anyone I know, for what it’s worth." Spike didn’t want Illyria to think he and Wesley had meant her harm. Indeed, Spike truly had come to like the demon god.


"I am aware who intended my destruction. Now I shall ensure theirs." Illyria stared off to a place no one else could see and fixed a hard gaze on the unseen Partners in her mind. Illyria was more than happy to expose the sordid past of the Senior Partners to those who would use the information to destroy
them. She continued with the requested information.

"When the Old Ones passed to the Deeper Well, these vermin rose up and assumed powers and stations that were not theirs to assume. There were more than these three initially; many, in fact. These three are what remain in this dimension. The others went to places better suited to their kind. These three kept their influence here, and in some other dimensions, using their borrowed powers to make the weak buckle."

Xander turned to the lovely demon god and spoke for the rest, "Would you mind sharing their lies with us? You’d save us a lot of research if you could tell us what you found out in those records."

"You are wise, Cy, to not waste time doing what I have already accomplished."

"Cy?" Spike looked at Xander, his eyebrow lifted in question.

"Never mind, Robert Frost. It’s her idea of a pet name for me. Let it go, okay?" Xander looked sheepish, which only fueled Spike’s curiosity.

"Think I’ll have a little chat with your new girlfriend ‘bout that little gem later. And hey, nowhere near Robert Frost in style or content, illiterate! More like Byron, least that’s what I was aimin’ for." Spike stated firmly.

"What makes you think she’ll tell you anything if I ask her not to?" Xander asked. He was becoming a bit alarmed thinking of Illyria’s bluntness.

"I’m her pet, remember. People always tell their pets everything." Spike smirked at the look of fear that passed over Xander’s face. Whatever the origins ofthis ‘Cy’ were, Spike bet it would be good enough to shut the boy up about the poetry when Buffy came back.

Illyria ignored the exchange between the two men and looked annoyed to have been interrupted. When they finally shut up, she began to reveal what she had discovered in the records room of the Wolfram & Hart offices.

"The Wolf, the Ram and the Hart have had many names in your world. They masqueraded as gods, usurping powers of others using magic and tricks. They ruled your human societies, taking tribute that did not belong to them and playing games with your people. The begat ill-formed offspring with human women, sullied the name ’god’ with their capriciousness. Their antics besmirch the
word ‘god’, making a mockery of it among the learned."

"The Wolf had his largest number of worshipers using the name Apollo. He joined others, who later withdrew from this dimension when the days of their godhood
passed, and was worshiped throughout what you call the Greek empire. Before the writer Homer ever breathed, Apollo in wolf form was known. His mother Leto was a shewolf, according to the legends, when birthing Apollo and Artemis. In time, as that empire fell and the cult of Apollo began to wane, he took other names in other locations, always as a godlike figure. The Vikings knew him as Fenris, son
of Loki. Native American peoples knew him under many a name."

"The wolf was always his chosen appearance. His true appearance is not far off from that of his Fenris state. He is large, with jaws able to crush ten strong men. His paws, however, have talons, much like many of the creatures known as dinosaurs had. He has a voracious appetite for flesh."

"The Ram was best known as Khnum, the creator god of pre-dynastic Egypt. He claimed to have brought humans into being on his potter’s wheel. The ooze that were your ancestors were foolish enough to believe and worship. His reign was not as long as the Wolf in this place, but the variously named ram-headed gods dominated the Middle Eastern regions of your early history. Many sacrifices were made in his honor."

"The Ram always appears as some creature with a ram’s head and curved horns. His true form is as a winged beast. His ram’s head is true, as are the horns. He spits a form of toxin that will paralyze those it touches. "

"The Hart, or Stag, was honored as a nature god in many lands of what is now Europe. The Celtic peoples called him Herne. He was the Lord of the Hunt, the Horned God, Lord of the Forest. Many are the people who still revere his name as they worship nature."

"The Hart appears as a man with a deer’s head and a full rack of antlers. The true form is much the same. The antlers are of unbreakable metal, however, and sharper than the finest blade. He is quick-footed. It is difficult to move quickly enough to land a blow on him, whereas thrusts with his deadly antlers readily find their target."

"The other deceivers and pretenders of their kind moved from this plane, being replaced with new gods and other myths, yet these three remained. As humans began to place their faith in things other than gods, such as money and power, they formed the beginnings of Wolfram & Hart to continue as objects of worship and might."

"In time, they moved themselves from this plane to another one cloaked for their safety. Humans no longer feared them as they once did and power can make many enemies. They used minions to carry out their orders and edicts while staying within the safety of their dimension. They have branches of power that reach across many dimensions, but none provide satisfaction to them as does this one."

"They have power and formidable abilities, but they can be defeated. If you are to battle them, you will need to prepare and learn of their weak points." Illyria looked at Spike closely. "The white-haired one has had much practice in battling me, yet it has been a while. Perhaps we should hone your skills, pet."

"Sounds fine to me, Blue. Figure they can’t touch you for skills and sparrin’ with you’ll likely keep me alive. You up for some rough and tumble, luv?" Spike wiggled his eyebrows at Illyria, who merely looked at him with incomprehension.

"If you are requesting that we begin training you for the battle, yes", she replied.

"Hey, why is everyone assuming that Lilah is right and it’s Spike that’s going into battle? I’m the one who’s been fighting Wolfram & Hart for years! I’m the one they’ve been afraid of all this time." Angel was fed up with all the attention being paid to his wayward offspring.

"Reckon we’ll know for sure when Rupes finishes checking out that scroll. Meantime, you wanna tag along and let Bluebell knock you around a bit, I won’t stand in your way. She’s got a powerful right hook, you’d best prepare to get your hurt on", Spike said to Angel with a laugh.

Xander walked briskly behind the trio saying, "Personally, I’m just going to enjoy watching both of you get your undead asses kicked by my lady."

~~~

The following afternoon, the group gathered around a conference table in the Council meeting room. Xander shared the information Illyria had passed on to them the day before. He had taped it and had a secretary type it into the computer. He passed out copies to all present.

"I’m thinking Willow can work with Illyria and we can get some decent illustrations to go along with this, too. Maybe even some showing the best kill zones and points of weakness. Spike and Angel worked out with Illria yesterday and she concentrated on that angle. I figure, with some training time, the appointed champion can take out these clowns." Xander started to sit down when Illyria spoke up.

"Why do you mention humans in strange paint and large shoes? I do not understand why such should be present." Illyria was looking at her guide in puzzlement.

"Another figure of speech, ducks. Xander’s full of ‘em. He means that the Senior Partners are bloody wankers of no importance," Spike explained.

Illyria nodded in comprehension, "It is a fitting description then. You may proceed."

Giles stood and began to discuss the scrolls and the prophecy. "I was up late last night going over these portions repeatedly, seeking to ensure the smallest possibility of error in the translation. Dawn has concurred with me that the notes left by the employees of Wolfram & Hart were largely correct. There were minor differences in word choices, mostly based upon my personal knowledge of Spike and Angel. The prophecy is written in what appear to be a series of couplets. They are rather crude in rhyme and meter, but they do get the point across."

Giles cleared his throat and began to read the translations of the scroll,

"Sons of Sekhmet, Lilith’s get,
Root of this tree shall split."

Giles looked at the group and explained, "In many myths and chronicles, the origin of vampires was Lilith, the first wife of Adam according to Hebrew mysticism. She is the mother of all demons in that belief. Sekhmet is the lion-headed goddess of ancient Egypt, the wife of Ptah. Her worship center was in Memphis. According to legend, humanity rebelled against Ra and he sent Sekhmet in the form of a lioness to destroy those in rebellion. It is said that she drank the blood of the human prey. There was so much carnage that Ra spilled jugs containing a magic potion Sekhmet mistook for human blood. This inebriated Sekhmet and stopped the slaughter, saving the human race. There is a school of thought that believes there were humans who turned rather than died under her attack, creating the first vampires. This is, of course, pure speculation. Whether true or not, the meaning of this prophecy is clearly meant to imply vampires." Giles went back to the scroll translations and continued to read.

"Both for love turn to light
In her cause do fight."

"Angel in face, demon in act
excess cause the spark put back"

"Eldest of two, the soul is forced
dwells deeply in remorse."

"Opens portal, closed with her sword
Fights for good, looking toward reward."

Giles looked at Angel and suggested, "This would seem to be you, Angel. Your soul was cursed upon you and your love for Buffy led you to help in the fight for good. The portal must refer to the Acathala incident when Buffy had to send you through with her sword to close the vortex. I assume the reward you look to is this Shanshu. That is another prophecy altogether, a different scroll in fact. There are a couple of others seeming to deal with a miracle child that likely refer to Connor. Nothing about this current situation, however." Giles bent to read, avoiding Angel’s rather hurt look.

He returned to reading from the translations. "Spike, the next portions appear to refer to you, the other part of the split tree."

"Finding death in love and love in death,
dark beauty’s embrace ends his breath."

"Buries deep, failed poets soul
seeks the light to make him whole."

"Learns again to love and burned
What was lost seeks returned."

"For love will fight, then burn to ash
Believed gone, yet returned in flash."

"For that same love, fights still
blood of Wolf, Ram and Hart will spill."

"So it would seem that Miss Morgan has indeed been correct in her assertion that the champion to battle the Senior Partners is Spike. Indeed, she has proved quite helpful in many respects and should we continue to be successful, it is my intention to try to assist her in improving her lot as she requested." Giles closed his notebook and sat down.

"Well, children, what’s it to be? You going to start trusting your Auntie Lilah? I want you to succeed. You take them out and I get the only chance to improve my afterlife. Hell, I want you to get your Slayer back. It’ll be funny watching what happens with the testosterone festival when Spike and Angel face off for the hand of the fair maiden."

"Just to further prove good faith on my part, I’m going to give Sparkles here the address where the portal to their plane is located." She pointed to Spike as she said this. "You can’t see the portal or the number on the door to it without a special mystical device though, so the address won’t exactly get you in. Since getting this nifty gizmo might just attract more attention than we want, I vote that Giles and I go alone to pick it up. The last thing I want is the Partners to catch on to us and even if you don’t trust me, you do him." Lilah wrote something ona piece of notepaper and handed it to Spike. "Here’s the address."

Spike looked at the paper and rolled his eyes. "Bloody hell! You have got to be joking! What the bleedin’ hell do you take us for, you miserable bitch? I’d rip your lying lungs right out of your chest, but seein’ how your already dead, there’d be no point."

Angel came to look over Spike’s shoulder at the note Lilah had given him. "What the hell is this supposed to be, Lilah? Some last practical joke?"

"Gee, you boys really didn’t look closely at your client list, did you? Don’t blame me for someone else’s idea of a funny. Why do you think Henley wrote
it anyway? He wasn’t too happy we didn’t get him off that string of charges; that ‘contributing to the delinquency of a minor’ really stung. Also, after they
recorded all this dirty laundry, what makes you think the Senior Partners didn’t get even? Why do you think they broke up just three years later, even with all those top ten hits?"

"What’s she talking about? What’s the matter? Won’t we find Buffy?" Dawn was nearly frantic.

"Here, Bit. Lilah’s idea of a bad joke", Spike handed the note to Dawn. She looked at the paper and read, "Hotel California, Room 666, Todos Santos, Baja, California. Sur, Mexico". Dawn promptly slapped Lilah.

"My, aren’t you the little cat fighter. Your big sis would be so proud! Really, do you think I’d make something this silly up? It’s no joke. The portal’s there. You won’t find Room 666 without the device though and that’s why Giles needs to come with me. He’ll also get proof that the address is the truth. So, you coming, Watcher?"

"Yes, I think we had better clear this up once and for all. If I don’t return, carry on with the search for Buffy. It is my hope that I’ll be back with this device and confirmation that however unlikely this address appears, it is indeed the location."

~~~

It took about a half an hour to arrive at the site where Lilah claimed the necessary mystical assistance would be given to them. She again reassured Giles that confirmation of all she had said would be forthcoming.

Lilah went with Giles into the dark underground chamber of the hidden location, paid the required tribute and lit the flame. "I can’t go in there of course, but you can tell him ‘hello’ from me. Being damned has its drawbacks. The oracle is the conduit to the Higher Powers. He’ll give you the amulet that will let Spike see the room and the portal. He’ll also back up what I’ve told you. Tell him … tell him I’m finally trying, okay? He’ll understand."

The setting was unusal, it looked much like a Grecian temple. A dumbstruck Giles was face-to-face with someone he thought to never see again, at least not in this life. The powers had chosen well, Giles decided. "I don’t quite know who I was expecting to meet here, but I must say you were amongst the least expected. I was told you died in battle, how is it that you are here, and in this position? How are you Wesley?"