31 CH.31

The next few days were hectic. Willow and Tara took Ryan shopping. Several changing room events led to him buy a lot of clothes and jewelry. Leaving the bags in his car they noticed Giles pulling up with Buffy and Dawn.

Ryan was reminded of the spell that someone cast and thought better of his decision to tell the group. As far as he could tell someone sacrificed a lot to protect this girl and it shouldn't be up to him to ruin it. When they pulled up Ryan asked." So what brings you to town? Checking up on the magic shop or are you picking up Jenny something?"

They got out while Giles spoke." We're picking up stuff for Buffy's new training regimen. I ordered some books for her on the slayer and we decided to use the magic shops back room for training."

Ryan snorted." You do remember she owns several dojo's around town, right? If their not good enough you can use the basement though I'd watch out for my cases of alcohol. Otherwise it's all yours and when your done there's even said alcohol and food. I make a mean steak now."

" So Dawnster how's life been treating you?"

Ryan asked curiously.

She rolled her eyes at the mention of her problems. " Mom wants Buffy to watch me, as if I need watching! I'm fourteen!"

Nodding his head in understanding." When I was your age I was considered an adult. I left home and blew up half a mountain trying to get it to fly. I totally understand. I was sent back to my parents house until I would swear not to make mountains fly. Now look at me! I still can't make them fly but I can do a pretty good float before they fall or I catch them."

Dawn went on." I know right why wasn't I born like you."

Turning away Ryan said." Be happy you weren't, I barely survived and I regretted that for the longest time."

Tara stepped behind him and gave a comforting hug.Willow said." But you don't regret it now, right?"

He kissed her." Indeed I don't! I'd live it a million more times with a smile on my face just to see you both one more time."

Turning he kissed Tara as well. They walked arm in arm until they were a few feet from the magic shop. He stopped cold." Willow and Tara take Dawn to my car. Sit with her. Giles call the police tell them theirs been a PCP attack, it seems you've been robbed."

Understanding what he was talking about they got busy. Allen, the temp Giles hired through Lyndsey was dead and the place was smashed up. Giles made the appropriate call and him and Buffy searches the place. After a quick inventory, Giles announced." The only things taken were the books I ordered and a gaudy unicorn statue that came with the place when you gave it to me."

Thinking for a moment, Ryan asked." Do either of you know any vampires who are dumb enough to only steal a few books and have a liking for unicorns?"

Buffy looked gobsmacked for a second before laughing her ass of. "Hahahahaha, you were robbed hahaha by ppfff, Harmony!"

Giles took off his glasses and joined her. After several minutes, Ryan asked." Who is Harmony and why is it funny enough to laugh over a corpse?"

They straightened themselves after the last question before Buffy answered." Harmony Kendall is a vampire Spike turned, that has about as much brains as a mosquito! And your totally right it wasn't appropriate to laugh here. But you'll understand if you ever meet her."

Giles whipped a few tears out his eyes saying." Yes, quite. Anyway, I'll order another set of those books and you need to start looking for her hideout. I suggest asking Spike, even if he's no longer with her, he may have seen her."

Buffy stood up after looking closer at the body agreeing." It looks like four or five vampires fed on him. I'll take Dawn home then grab Riley and head out looking for Spike and patrolling."

Ryan nodded." I'll give you a lift, I'm heading home in a bit anyway. Giles while we're here, the girls have a list of herbs they want. Would you mind stepping out and talking to them?"

Giles shrugged." Sure why not?"

While they headed out he asked Buffy." So what do you know about Sineya? And would you be willing for me to borrow your body for a bit to let her speak to me another day?"

Buffy looked at him for a minute and said." Not much, Giles only knew the basics and even some of that was biased or gibberish. I'll get back to you sometime about the body thing. Giles would want to be there at least. And if I'm not available soon enough, you can try Faith."

Shaking his head he told her." She approved of you enough to send a message, I don't know how she would react to Faith and while I trust her, what I'd need to do to force a face to face would leave my body very vulnerable, and I can't risk loosing Willow or Tara if she attacks. If Faith were to falter the entire slayer line would die off. Were as if it were you, I trust you to fight harder not to kill me."

Hearing him out Buffy said." Your place tomorrow, and try not to kill us! Giles will be there to ask her some questions."

Nodding, he told her." Giles can ask his questions, but then he has to leave. I need to ask her personal questions of my own. Don't worry Willow and Tara can bear witness."

Sighing, she told him." Sure but try to be gentle? If you break my body my mom will kill me and Riley, you."

Barking out a laugh he agreed. Buffy's mom was terrifying for some strange reason, even to someone like himself." Sure and on the bright side if you die it means I died first."

Willow heard and asked." Whose dying? There's no need to be so cynical! It was just a anti-fertility spell to make sure we don't end up with kids before we graduate!"

Buffy's eyes bugged out. Looking at Tara and Willow she asked." You can do that? Wait, how much have you guys been having sex that pills stopped working?"

Both Willow and Tara blushed and Ryan laughed. Tara answered." It puts less stress on our bodies then the pills do and about as much as you slay."

Dawn spoke up from the car." I heard that! Guys are grouse!"

Willow smirked." You hear that honey? Guys are grouse!"

Ryan laughed." Be still my heart! Dawn do you think I'm grouse?"

Dawn blushed and turned away mumbling. "I meant other guys."

Buffy chuckled a little and whispered." Wait till she finds out we had our own fun."

Willow looked scandalized and winked. "You know what Buffy perhaps she's right guys are so grouse! All that's left for us is each other! Kiss me so that I may get rid of Ryans grouse taste."

Acting all into it they started making out in front of Dawn. She looked appalled." I'm telling mom!"

Giles was at his car and when he saw them, he dropped his glasses and didn't even try picking them up. Ryan laughed his ass off for a minute and told him." Tomorrow is Wednesday so you may need to call Lynsey or Andrew to set up a new temp. And when Buffy gets up tomorrow or later tonight she can fill you in on what I'm planning. Or at least the basics of it."

Everyone hopped in the car accept for Giles and he drove over to Buffy's house. After dropping them off he said." If you need a babysitter tonight, call Lyndsey, he's hanging out with Faith so it's a two for one and if he complains tell him he can always join me in getting ready for tomorrow! He'll fold easily, he wouldn't be caught dead doing what I have to do, with me."

Buffy look at him curiously and nodded before heading inside. When the got back at the house, he told the girls to tell Xander Anya Oz and Bay to stay out of the basement and for them to remove all their clothes if they come down. Jewelry and all.

After getting their agreement, he set himself to work. Taking a scalding shower and only wrapping in a robe before grabbing bowl and heading to the basement. Right outside the door he took off his robe and headed down.

He cleaned up the basement, everything that wasn't tacked down was put in the wine cellar or closet after that he bit his wrist and bled into the bowl. After a few bites, and the bowl was full, he started painting sealing runes in his people's language on the wine cellar and closet doors.

He did a powerful cleansing ritual on the basement ground and walls then started writing Enochian warding sigil's on the walls and ceiling in his blood to boost their strength. After that was over, he started writing warding and summoning sigil's in a spiraling formation starting from the center of the room and spreading outward.

By the time he was done, the girls had come down to watch in amazement and dread at what he was doing to himself for this goal. He was several shades paler, and shaking a little. Night had come and gone by the time he drew the last sigil.

The girls helped him up the stairs and dressed. He did one last rune on the door leaving blood dripping on his robe. Tired and more than a little hungry he set out after the fridge and ate more rare steaks and protein shakes then Oz and Bay had all week.

By the time he finished eating, he was almost back to his normal color, and Buffy arrived with Giles, Jenny, Riley and Dawn in tow. He sent a message to Lyndsey that everyone was here and ready. They showed up in a blur, before stopping in the living room.

Sighing he spoke." What I'm going to be attempting, hasn't been successfully done since the fall of my people. I'll be forcing a part of Buffy's soul to inhabit her whole body while suppressing it and us both. If it goes well, Sineya will be forced into her almost fully. She will be just at the edge of what they did to her so long ago. In doing so, it will force both of us and anyone inside the basement to speak the absolute truth. You can ask your questions from her then I ask that you be silent and at no point interfere. Because after I start the second part of the ritual any and all sounds and movements may set the demon she was forced to fuse with free to kill us all. And I do mean all of us. At that point I'll already be at the edge of death. The closest I'll have been since I killed my brother. If you can't do that then after your rounds of questions I suggest you leave. Oh, and one more little kicker, I hope none of you are shy because it's a nude party and no one enters the basement with so much as a worldly possession."

Faith smirked." I new you people weren't as prudish as I first imagined."

Ryan laughed." That's funny because your her anchor. And Lyndsey will be up here insuring no one gets past him including friend or foe. If anyone were to interrupt, in all likelihood we'd end the world."

Everyone went pale at that. Ryan laughed." Relax, I trust Lyndsey with my life and all of yours as well. And at this point it would take an army just to distract him. Oh and sorry Dawn, but Anya is going to be watching you up stairs."

Dawn frowned." Ah, I never get to do anything fun! You guys suck."

Giles cleaned his glasses." Indeed we do."

Ryan told them one last thing." Robes are in the bathrooms leave them in a pile outside the basement door. And remember not so much as glitter. If you need a shower do so before heading down, we can wait till just before the full moon rises. Oh and Lyndsey, Oz and Bay are upstairs. If they're attacked tonight, kill all comers. Even if it pains me to say it. We're risking a lot more than a few werewolves souls now."

Nodding Lyndsey pulled out a sword, kissed Faith and went to stand by the basement door, vigilant and stoic.

Looking at the group he asked." Any questions?"

Giles raised one." I know what I'm asking but what could she possibly tell you?"

Shaking his head Ryan answered." That's the second part of the ritual, I won't be asking her questions. That's all I'll say."

Giles nodded, and when no one had another, he turned to head to the basement. When he went by Lyndsey he whispered." If this goes truly bad, I'll send them up in a portal, get everyone out of the house ASAP and I'll pull the house into another dimension before it kills me. It's been a pleasure knowing you, o meu fillo!"(my son)

Lyndsey nodded and whispered back." me honras mestre."( you honor me teacher)

With that he disrobed and headed downstairs. Over the course of several hours several of the group trickled in until Giles and Jenny came in last. When they all entered and the door sealed all the runes lit up, pulsating red light. The enochian on the walls, lit up white.

He began to instruct them." Buffy you sit three feet directly in front of me, Faith you directly behind her. Everyone else make a clockwise circle around us sitting down,by age, ten feet away from us using Buffy as the radius. Giles as the questioner you sit to the side by one foot on her right so that your exactly between us to my immediate left and her right. Everyone remember no speaking unless I directly address you. And absolutely no moving once I start."

When everyone was ready, he began speaking in a language so old, time itself had forgotten it. When he finished a chant ripples of power rolled off of him into the formation making it shine brighter, after twenty chants Buffy started shaking involuntarily, after thirty her eyes rolled back in her head after forty the room went dark except fo the sigil's glow, and after fifty her features changed to that of Sineya.

When he finished he fiftieth chant he stopped and waited. When Sineya came forward as the host and asked." Why do you summon me in this manner?"

Ryan answered." I seek answers from your other half but they have questions for you first."

He turned to Giles and told him. " You may begin."

Giles nodded and turned to Sineya." What is the current slayers duty, if all the old ones were beaten back by you?"

Sineya looked at him." She is to guard the gates and prevent their return and guard against it."

Intrigued Giles asked." What is the it your referring to?"

Sineya answered." Twilight."

Giles went pale at that." How do we prevent Twilight from coming here?"

Sineya." You don't! She does, by not giving in to prophecy."

Giles went on." What is the slayers essence, its core?"

Sineya." Death! We are at our core, a piece of death."

Giles continued." What do you mean by death?"

Sineya." The great reaper of souls, the final sleep."

Giles went considerably paler at that." How do I teach her to become a better slayer?"

Sineya." You don't teach death to be death. You stand aside and let it be as it was meant to."

Giles finally understood exactly what this ritual was meant to do now. He was truest scared now." Are there a way to help the slayer become stronger?"

Sineya." Their are two."

Giles asked the obvious question. "What are they?"

Sineya." The first is to accept our core essence and the second is to find deaths scythe in this mortal plain."

Giles looked back to Ryan and nodded. Seeing this he began a long light chant that sealed himself, Buffy and Faith in barriers powered by the formation.

After they were up he spoke." All those that don't wish to be here for this next part leave now and don't speak."

With that, Jenny, Giles,and Riley left. That left Xander, Willow, Tara, Faith, Buffy and him. When the door unsealed itself roars and howls of agony could be heard. At some point before the door closed again, something that sounded like a bomb went off.

The rest of them down here looked worried except those in the barriers. When the door closed and sealed itself he spoke one last time." This is your last chance to leave if you don't do so and move later, we all die."

Seeing no one move he sighed and began the second half of the ritual. Every ten chants from here on took more than a hundred times more power than the last. When he finished th 90th chant he was panting from the excursion, yet he continued on. At the hundredth chant, Sineya was consumed from the inside by a shadowy figure.

It asked, in his peoples language ." Why have you summoned me, Titan."

Ryan was at the very edge of death now when he answered." I seek answers for past crimes against my people."

Taking a gasping breath he asked." Were you the being that drove my brother insane?"

Death sneered." Yes and no."

Ryan started bleeding from his nose." Who was responsible?"

Death laughed." The first evil and I."

Ryan was bleeding from ears now as well. "Why did you work together to destroy my people."

Death chuckled. "I needed a host to be born to fight the coming battles against Twilight and The First sought a host for himself amongst your people."

Ryan started bleeding from his eyes." Was my people's death necessary to find you a host to battle Twilight?"

Death smiled." Yes."

Ryan was coughing up blood now."What did the first evil gain from it all, if not a body?"

Death cackled." It gained a body it cannot form. It needs a certain amount of darkness in this world now, to take it's true shape."

Ryan was barely conscious now, he knew he didn't have enough time to ask another question so he mumbled his way through the chants as evenly as possible. When he finished, the shadow slammed back into Buffy's body and the room went back to normal.

All the magic left in the floor runes purified the earth around the house for a block. Several demon nests were destroyed in the process.

When Buffy came back to herself she saw the sight of Ryan laying in a pool of his own blood. Willow and Tara rushed to him telling Xander to go get help. Xander ran up the stairs and Buffy and Faith helped carry him up as fast as they could. He weighed nearly a metric ton. So it was a little slow-moving.