This story is set between the Buffy: The Vampire Slayer episodes 'Dopplegangland' and 'Enemies' in the third season. It is also set at some point after 'Turning the Page' in the Blood Ties universe.

Special thanks to Denise; who actually came up with a good half of this story, and the title. She then compounded this brilliance by beta-reading. Also, a big thank you to Shirl and Denise for their help with the scene near the end with Giles and... Well, you'll see...

by Ninjababe

"A high school? Why are we at a high school?" Stephanie asked as she got out of the rental car.

Rolling her eyes, Triona followed her sister up the steps. "We're here because you insisted that Methos might need our help."

"Stephanie, are the sunglasses necessary? It's pitch dark out here," Methos asked. "And ladies, remember to call me Adam."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Stephanie said as the three walked up the steps. "Just because I can't go out into the sunlight, doesn't mean I can't enjoy sunglasses. I happen to like sunglasses."

"Fine," Methos replied, stopping himself from rolling his eyes. After scanning the hallway, he turned to the right. "I think Rupert said the library was this way."

"Okay, I can deal with the fact that we're in a high school. But, does anyone but me think it's just a tad bizarre that the front door of said school is unlocked?" Stephanie asked.

"We'll have to ask," Triona replied. "There's the library."

Methos pushed the door open and strode in, followed by the two women.

"Nice," Stephanie said with a low whistle. "Gloomy. Great atmosphere."

"Can I help you?" a blonde teenage girl asked.

"We're here to see Rupert Giles," Methos said.

"You're Mr. Pierson?" a teenage boy asked from the table in the middle of the library's first floor. "You so don't look old enough to have taught Giles at Oxford."

"You were at Oxford?" Triona asked. "What did you teach?"

"Ancient languages," a British voice said from the side. "It's good to see you again, Adam," a tall, lanky man said as he exited what seemed to be the librarian's office. He came forward and to shake Methos' hand. "I didn't know you were bringing others with you. I'm afraid I only fixed up room at  my place for you."

"Thank you, but we've already checked into a hotel," Methos said with a shrug. "This is Stephanie and Triona," he continued, motioning to the two women who were looking around the place. Triona was reading the spines of the books waiting on the counter while Stephanie had started to wander over to the shelves. "Ladies, Rupert Giles."

"Yes, this is Buffy, Xander, and Willow," Giles said in reply, pointing to the three teenagers as he made introductions.

"Hiya," Stephanie said as she stopped at the first bookcase. "Since when do high schools have books on the levels of hell? Oh, here's a book on blood sacrifices!" Grabbing the book, she started to flip through the pages.

"Looks like you've found a soul-mate, Giles. Someone else who gets excited over the supernatural," Xander quipped.

"Yes, well.... You see, the reason I brought you here is..." Giles stopped for a moment to collect his thoughts before beginning his story again. "This town is situated on a portal that leads to Hell itself. Beings of the supernatural are drawn here by the energy emanating from this portal. Especially vampires."

"Really?" Stephanie asked as she looked up from the book she was scanning, putting her finger on a page to keep her place, wondering why she didn't feel drawn to this town.

"Yes," Giles replied, glaring at the young woman slightly for the interruption. "And, we have a feeling that something else is on the Hellmouth, using it to gain power."

"I've never felt drawn to a portal of hell. A dress sale, yes, a mouth of hell, no," Triona muttered, causing Stephanie to choke back a laugh.

"What is it you're looking for? And why did you call me here?" Methos asked, giving his companions a sidelong look.

"Someone is decapitating people, leaving behind their bodies.... And a lot of shattered glass," Giles replied.

"Oh dear," Triona said, looking at Methos, wide-eyed.

Stephanie snorted at some passage she had read before putting it back on the shelf. "Some people have way too much imagination." She then turned to the others. "So, you have a homicidal maniac on your hands. Big whoop. That's what the police are for."

"The cops are saying it's gang related, just like the majority of the deaths in this town," Willow said, speaking up for the first time.

Methos grimaced before turning to Giles. "So, you called me here to give you some information?"

Giles nodded. "I need to know what we're dealing with before we can figure out how to stop it."

"I'll look over a few of the crime scenes and see what I get," Methos said with a nod. "Coming, ladies?"

"Of course," Triona replied with a smile.

"Do you mind if I stick around here?" Stephanie asked as she picked up another book. "This is an interesting collection."

"Why not?" Methos said with a shrug. "If it's okay with you, Rupert?"

"I can see no harm in it. It's good to find someone besides myself who wants to broaden their mind," Giles replied.

Methos nodded. "Then, give me a list of the locations these beheadings took place, and we'll get this over with."

Giles motioned Triona and Methos to follow him into the hall.

"So, Giles. You left a promising career at the British Museum to become a high school librarian and fight the forces of darkness?" Methos asked after the library doors had shut behind him.

"Actually, I came to be the Watcher of the Slayer," Giles replied.

"The Slayer? Who... Buffy," Methos said. "And, you're her watcher. That's a big coup. Congratulations."

Giles nodded. "Yes, Buffy is the Slayer."

"The Slayer? I don't understand," Triona said, perplexed.

"I'll explain while we're looking the crime scenes over, love," Methos replied before turning back to Giles. "The sites?"

"Yes, I've written them down," Giles replied, handing a piece of paper to the Immortal. "I wish to tell Buffy and the others about your kind."

Methos cocked his head to the side. "The others know she's the Slayer? Isn't that against the rules?"

"You taught me that rules had to be flexible to survive the change of time," Giles replied with a grin before continuing. "The others help Buffy and me quite a bit. I don't know if she, or I, would be alive now if it weren't for them. And, it would be dangerous for Buffy, and the others, not to know what they're up against."

Methos thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes, tell them."

"Adam!" Triona exclaimed. "What happened to keeping things secret?!"

"Trust me, I'll explain later," Methos said soothingly.

She relented. "Okay, he can tell them. But you better have a damn good reason!"

"So, Stephanie," Xander said to break the silence. "You go to school anywhere near here?"

Stephanie grinned. "No, I'm out of high school. I'm older than I look."

"And how much older would that be?" Giles asked as he re-entered the library.

"I'm in my mid-twenties," she replied with a shrug.

"Giles, is he clairvoyant?" Willow asked, nodding her head toward the closed library doors. "How will he know who or what decapitated those people?"

"He's not clairvoyant, not exactly," Giles replied before turning to their guest. "Ms... I don't know your last name."

"Stephanie will do," the woman replied as she wandered back down the steps and leaned against the railing at the bottom stair.

"Well... Stephanie... I've been given permission by Adam to tell these people what he is and the reason I called him here."

"I see.... Did he say why?" Stephanie asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes. You see, the only reason Sunnydale hasn't been taken over by the powers of darkness is because of Buffy," Giles said in reply, waving a hand in Buffy's direction. "She's the Slayer."

"The Slayer?" Stephanie asked. "Sounds like the name of a wrestler."

"She's the chosen one. The one girl in all the world that can stand against the powers of darkness. She fights against the demons drawn by the Hellmouth."

"So, you're trying to tell me that the horror movies are real? Thinks go bump in the night here?" Stephanie shook her head. "Pull the other one, it has bells on."

"I assure you, demons exist," Giles replied.

"We've fought them often enough," Xander muttered.

Stephanie looked around the room, incredulous. "Did you guys forget your medication?"

"If vampires, which the world sees as legend, can exist, why can't demons?" Willow pointed out.

"Oh," Stephanie replied after thinking a moment. After a few more moments of thought, she continued, "That's why you have all these books on the supernatural."

"Yes," Giles said before turning toward the three teenagers lounging around the table in the middle of the library. "Adam is an Immortal."

"What do you mean, 'immortal'?" Buffy asked.

Giles sighed, "Exactly that. He'll never die. The only way he'll ever die is if someone beheads him."

"So, that's why he doesn't look old enough to be a teacher at Oxford," Xander replied. "Woah! Imagine looking sixteen forever!"

"You'll be carded for eternity," the youthful vampire replied, wrinkling her nose in resentment.

"The victims were all beheaded!" Buffy said. "That means they could have been Immortals. But... the blown out windows?"

"Some Immortals go around attacking others to behead them. Beheading an Immortal releases what's called their 'quickening', which is their power," Giles continued.

"Are they demons?" Buffy asked.

"No," Giles said with a shake of his head. "They're human. Some are good, some are evil."

"So, you think some Immortal is going around tracking others down to steal their power," Willow said.

"So, what is this power? Flying, x-ray vision?" Xander asked.

Stephanie started to giggle. "No, that's Super-man. You see, they all play what they call 'the game'. Supposedly, sometime or another, there will be only one of them left, and he or she'll have the quickenings of all the others. That's what they call 'the prize'. Until then, they just gather quickenings."

"So, he can't die? You can disembowel, shoot, or stab him, and he won't die?" Buffy asked, trying to grasp the concept.

"He'll die. It just won't be permanent," Stephanie answered. "The only permanent death for an Immortal is decapitation."

"And you, are you an 'Immortal'?" Willow asked.

Stephanie grinned. "Nope." She then bounded back up the stairs and wandered off to look through some more of the books.

"Well, let's see what we can find out about the victims so far," Giles said. "Willow..."

"Computer girl, that's me," Willow said before going over to the computer.

"Xander, Buffy, you can help me research Immortals. Maybe we can find the reason one of them would be killing on the Hellmouth."

The two teens groaned as they grabbed the books Giles held out for them.

"We're definitely dealing with an Immortal," Methos said as he surveyed the third crime scene on the list.

"So, we have a headhunter," Triona replied with a nod.

"Looks like it," Methos said as he got up from where he was crouched. As he brushed his jeans clean with his hands, he continued, "Let's get back to the library."

"I still can't believe that slip of a girl is the world's defender against demons."

"Yes, they can be pretty surprising. The last Slayer I met was fifteen and looked like a gust of wind could snap her in half. Then I saw her take down three demonlings and not get out of breath."

"Demonlings?" Triona asked. "I've never heard of those." The two had reached their car and started back towards the school.

"LaCroix never told you?" Methos asked. "Which means Stephanie doesn't know either. I'll have to tell him he's getting lax in his teachings. She, especially, needs to know about them. Demonlings are demons that take over a dead person's body. They like to pretend their vampires."

"I bet the real vampires love that," Triona said in amusement.

"Vampires see demonlings as things to be killed or ignored, depending on the situation. They're lower than carouches. The demon in the body survives by drinking blood, and they can be killed just like a vampire can. Sunlight, wooden stake, beheading. Holy symbols drive them back, while holy water and garlic burn them."

"So, how can you tell the difference?"

"Demonlings' faces go from looking human to looking... demonic when they feed. They develop brow ridges, and are just plain ugly."

"Ah. I bet Stephanie is going to be interested in hearing this," Triona said as they pulled up in front of the school and got out of their car.

They both froze in place at the same moment as they felt the presence of another Immortal. Drawing their swords, the two looked around.

"Well, well, well. Not one, but two to add to my power base," a woman dressed in a pair of skin tight jeans and a sports bra said with a grin. Clapping her hands, she motioned to the men skulking in the shadows behind her. "I want them alive!"

Grinning, the men came out of the shadows.

"Demonlings?" Triona asked, nodding at the faces of the men.

"Demonlings," Methos replied.

Stephanie leaned against the library's book cage flipping through a book on air demons while the three teenagers and Giles continued their research. Hearing a noise, she raised her head and stared at the wall where it joined the ceiling and frowned. "Do any of you hear that?"

"What?" Buffy asked. "I don't hear anything."

A man came running into the library. "Buffy!"

"Angel, what is it?" the Slayer asked as she quickly got up from her chair.

"There's a group of vampires in front of the school attacking..."

The man was interrupted by Stephanie, who quickly got to her feet, dropping her book as she exclaimed, "Trie!" She then rushed out of the room.

Buffy grabbed a handful of stakes from the duffel bag beside her chair and followed the woman, the others quickly following.

Stephanie got to the school's front lawn and grabbed one of Triona's attackers by the neck and growled before throwing him against the wall of the school.

"You have to kill them like you would a vampire," Triona panted out as she held off two more with her quick sword work.

"I hope you'll explain that later," Stephanie said as she kicked another attacker in the knee, knocking him to the ground. "Now... Wood... Wood... I need some wood." However, her search for wood was cut short by Willow's scream.

"Willow!" Buffy yelled, trying to get to her friend before the demon holding her could kill the young woman.

"Too late, Slayer. This one is mine," Willow's attacker said as he started to drag the teenager off.

"I don't think so," Stephanie muttered. But before she could move, Xander jumped into the fray and pushed a two-foot cross into the demon's face. Screaming, the demon let go of Willow and staggered back.

"Here! To keep them away!" Giles yelled to Stephanie before throwing her another cross. Stephanie backpedaled away from it, not wanting to be near the holy symbol.

This move brought her into the sights of the woman leading the demons, who aimed a pistol at Stephanie and shot her in the stomach. Growling, the young vampire became a blur as she ran to the woman and punched her, knocking her across the lawn, where she hit a tree.

"Darde's been hit!" one of the demons yelled. After grabbing their leader, the bad guys quickly left.

"You all right?" Stephanie asked her sister.

Triona nodded as she tried to catch her breath. "What about you?"

"Fine," Stephanie replied as she looked down at her stomach. "Damn it, I liked this shirt!"

"What are you?" Buffy asked Stephanie, wide-eyed with shock.

"She's a vampire, Triona's an Immortal, any more questions?" Methos replied testily. "And yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking."

"Oh, I know you can handle yourself," Stephanie said, grinning at the huffy Immortal.

"She's a what?!" Xander yelled.

"I thought my identity was supposed to be secret?" Stephanie asked wryly as she scratched at her stomach. A look of horror suddenly overcame her. "The bullet went through!"

"Yeah, so?" Methos asked, still miffed that no one thought to ask if he was all right.

"I just ruined my trenchcoat! My brand-new leather trenchcoat!" Stephanie whined.

Rolling her eyes, Triona patted her sister on the shoulder. "We all feel your pain."

"Can someone tell us what's going on?" Angel asked.

"Sure," Triona said. "But can we do it over some food? I'm hungry."

"Let's go to the Bronze," Angel replied. "You can eat there while you explain."

Half an hour later, the group had commandeered a large table in the back of the club. "So, explanations," Buffy demanded.

"Hey, don't look at me," Stephanie said waving her hands in front of her. "I have no idea what's going on. I'm only along for the ride."

Triona shook her head. "You insisted on coming with Adam."

"You didn't have to come too, you know," Stephanie retorted.

"Like LaCroix would have let you come along without a chaperone!" Triona snapped.

Stephanie looked outraged. "Hey! I'm a good girl!"

"Uh-huh," was Triona's reply as she sipped on her coffee. "You've only been a vampire a few months. You know you need to be watched."

"Ladies," Methos said quellingly before turning to others. "What do you want to know?"

"How come she's a vampire, yet she's on the good guy's side," Willow replied.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Stephanie asked, perplexed.

"Because, vampires are demons!" Buffy exclaimed a little too loudly, causing a passing teenager to look at the table, shaking his head.

"Oh... That's right. I'd forgotten that the Watchers and Slayers are under that misconception," Methos said with a nod.

"Misconception? What misconception?" Giles asked.

"The things you're fighting aren't vampires," Methos replied. "They just pretend they are."

"Excuse me," Angel interrupted. "But, drinking blood, allergic to sunlight, a stake to the heart kills. That sounds like a vampire to me."

"No. Back in the Dark Ages..."

Methos was interrupted by Willow. "Don't you mean the Middle Ages?"

"I lived through them. They were the Dark Ages," Methos replied, giving the young woman a look for interrupting. "As I was saying, during the dark ages, the learned men of those times re-wrote the majority of the texts on the supernatural. They combined vampires and demonlings into the same thing, because, to them, they were."

The table was silent as everyone digested this information.

"So, those things we fought were vampire wannabes?" Stephanie asked. "They're really demons?"

"Yes," Methos said with a nod.

"So, those things think they're like me?!" Stephanie asked, offended. "Well, then..."

"Where are you going?" Triona asked, putting a hand on Stephanie's arm to stop her from leaving the table.

Stephanie turned to her sister, her eyes narrowed. "I'm off to find some wood."

"Sit down, Stephanie," Methos said with a sigh. "You can hunt later."

"But, wouldn't the... 'demonlings', as you call them... know that they aren't vampires?" Giles asked, glancing at Angel, who shook his head in a negative.

Methos shook his head. "The majority of the old ones have been killed by the Slayers. So, the new ones don't know the difference. To them, they're vampires."

"So, you're a vampire," Xander asked Stephanie, leaning closer.

Stephanie nodded in reply.

"Can you fly or turn into a bat?" Willow asked, wide-eyed with curiosity.

Triona started to choke on her mouthful of food.

Methos pounded her on the back while Stephanie answered with a shrug, "I'm a normal girl."

"Except that you drink human blood," Buffy replied. "Give me a reason I shouldn't stake you."

Stephanie raised her eyebrows. "I don't like pain?"

"If you were able to kill her," Triona replied coldly, "I'd run you through."

"What do you mean 'if I was able'?" Buffy asked, rising from the table. "I'm the Slayer!"

"Now, now, now. No one is going to stake anyone else," Giles said, trying to diffuse the situation while Methos placed a hand on Triona's arm to stop her from pulling her sword.

"Wow, and here I was about to open a betting pool," Stephanie said with a grin, unconcerned at the confrontation.

"I'm sure Adam wouldn't be associating with anyone that kills people, just like you don't associate with anyone that kills," Giles told Buffy, an unusual emphasis on the second half of the sentence.

Stephanie and Triona looked at the rest of the table, eyebrows raised. The young vampire's eyes widened and she quickly drew her breath in.

"What?" Methos asked.

"He's not breathing. His heart isn't beating," Stephanie said, pointing to Angel.

"What?!" Triona asked. "But..."

"What are you?" Methos asked, glaring at Angel.

"Let me explain," Angel said, hands raised in a non-threatening manner. "I'm one of those demonlings you talked about earlier."

"A Slayer working with a demonling?" Methos asked, incredulous.

"Well, you see, it's like this: I'm under a curse. It made my soul return to my body," Angel replied.

"So, That means?" Stephanie asked.

"He's a good guy," Buffy replied. "And you, you don't kill people?"

"Not unless they really get on my nerves," Stephanie replied with a wide grin, showing all her teeth, none of which were fanged.

"Stephanie!" Triona exclaimed. "No, she doesn't kill people. Vampires these days live off of bottled blood, for the most part."

"Oh, all right then," Buffy said with a nod.

"Back to business," Giles said, taking his glasses off to polish them. "Did you come to any conclusions from the crime scenes?"

"Yes," Methos said with a nod. "You're definitely looking for an Immortal. In fact, the woman that led the demonlings to attack us tonight... I bet she's the one we're after."

"How can someone make vampires..." Xander stopped and quickly reworded the sentence after seeing the look Stephanie gave him, "I mean demonlings follow them? Wouldn't they chomp first?"

"Not if she was controlling them somehow," Giles replied.

Triona sighed before taking another bite of her pizza, a slightly bored look on her face.

"Yes, well," Methos said, giving Triona half annoyed, half delighted looks. "How would she be doing that?"

Stephanie looked at the two Immortals, trying to figure out what they were up to.

"Wait," Willow said as an idea dawned on her. "You said that Immortals gather energy from beheading other Immortals. What if the Hellmouth increases the energy output, and she's actually getting supernatural energies at the same time?"

"Interesting theory," Stephanie said as she played with a napkin. Suddenly dropping it on the floor, she bent over to grab it. A big grin on her face as she sat back up, the young vampire shook her head at the two Immortals. "But, if that's true, doesn't that mean she now has special abilities? And, how can we prove she does or doesn't?"

Methos nodded. "Why don't you guys continue to brainstorm. Triona and I need to have a private discussion." He got up and pulled Triona toward the dance floor.

"Was it something I said?" Willow asked, concerned.

"Nah," Stephanie said with a shake of her head. "Triona always gets twitchy after a fight."

"I'll say.... Do you think they should be dancing that close? I mean, this is an all ages club," Xander said, nodding toward the two on the dance floor.

"Ah, I've seen them do worse," Stephanie said with a shrug. "There was this time in Paris..." She trailed off, causing the teenagers to wonder about her relationship with the other two. Giving herself a shake, the young vampire changed the subject. "Anyway, back to the theory.... If this woman can do some spooky stuff, how can we find out? And, how can we stop it?"

"You want to help us?" Giles asked, surprised.

"Of course!" Stephanie replied. "Some of my best friends are Immortals. I definitely don't want some psycho bitch going after them on a quest for power."

"Well, we need to do some more research," Giles said as he got up.

Stephanie hopped up and grinned. "Can I help?"

"Of course," Giles replied, taken aback that someone was volunteering to help. "But, what about your companions?"

"Oh, them? I'll go see if they want to join us," Stephanie said as she waded into the crowd.

"Can those jeans be any tighter?" Willow muttered to herself.

"I like her," Xander said with a grin as he watched Stephanie's backside sway as she walked.

"You would," Buffy replied, rolling her eyes. "What about you, Angel? Do you think we can we trust them?"

"I don't know," Angel replied with a shake of his head.

"I would trust Adam with my life, not to mention my soul," Giles stated. "In fact, I have done both in my life."

"Bet there's a story behind that," Xander said.

"And one we're probably not going to hear," Willow replied as Stephanie wandered back over.

"The two lovebirds are going to stay a while longer. They'll check in later," Stephanie said with a long suffering sigh as she picked up her trenchcoat.

"Then, let's get back to the library and see what we can find," Giles said, leading the teenagers and the two undead out of the club.

On reaching the library, Willow went straight for the computer while Giles started to make book piles for the others to go through.

"Do you guys have another computer that has 'net access?" Stephanie asked, standing in the middle of the library.

"Yes, why?" Willow asked, curious.

"I want to e-mail some people, see if they know anything about Immortals and Hellmouths," Stephanie told her as she pulled a floppy disk case from her trenchcoat and draped the coat over a chair.

"Good idea," Giles said. "Willow, show Stephanie the computer."

"Sure," Willow said, getting up and motioning the vampire to follow her. Sitting down at the other computer, she booted it up and started to show the vampire where the programs were.

Stephanie leaned over the back of the young woman's chair, her head close to Willow's. "Okay, I think I got it."

"Good," the girl said with a gulp, not sure she liked having a vampire so close to her neck.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to bite you," she said with a grin as she sat in the seat Willow vacated. "Unless you want me to?"

"No, no, that's all right," Willow said as she rushed away, missing Stephanie's evil grin.

Stephanie pulled out one of the three disks the case held and pushed it into the computer's disk drive. After transferring her e-mail program to the computer's hard drive, she entered her password and downloaded her mail. She quickly ran the decryption program needed to read her mail and scanned the chatty messages from her sisters, who were all off training with Immortal friends of Methos'. She composed her own e-mail message in reply, telling them the situation and asking them to show the message to their teachers.

After fifteen minutes of rapid typing, she had finished her message and sent it off. Shaking her hands to loosen her fingers, she then set the e-mail program to play her 'you have mail!' message loudly if she received any new mail and went off to help Giles and the others look through the books.

An hour later, everyone was startled by the computer suddenly saying, "Death awaits you with nasty, big, pointed teeth!"

"Oh, my mail's here!" Stephanie said with a bright smile before bouncing up and rushing over to the computer.

"What's that from?" Buffy asked. "And why is it your new mail message?"

"It's from Monty Python and the Holy Grail," Stephanie replied distractedly as she opened her e-mail. "I use it because I just like it."

Angel shook his head. "You have a bizarre sense of humor."

"Yeah, I've been told that," Stephanie said before turning her full attention to her e-mail. "This is interesting," she said a few minutes later.

"What?" Giles asked.

"Well, one of my... friends," Stephanie gave a snort before continuing, "says that a few hundred years ago, an Immortal was going around trying to lure other Immortals to someplace called 'Boca del Infierno'," Stephanie returned to the computer screen to read some more. "It seemed that this guy knew some sort of spell that allowed him to use quickenings to draw power from Hell itself, making him stronger and giving him abilities no normal human had."

"Like what?" Willow asked.

"Umm... the e-mail says that by the time this guy was stopped, he could control demons, had enhanced reflexes, and could control people's minds," Stephanie replied after re-reading a few more paragraphs. She then muttered to herself, "Except for the demon bit, he could be me." She gave herself a shake before continuing loud enough for the others to understand her. "But, this says there were probably more powers he would have gained, but someone decapitated him."

"But, wouldn't that just transfer his powers to the next Immortal?" Giles asked.

"Well, Duncan says he's never known the Immortal involved to show any extra powers, and they've been friends for a quite a few years," Stephanie replied with a shrug before turning back to the e-mail.

"Well, that does give us a bit more to work on," Giles said as he turned back to his books.

A few hours later, Stephanie was still sending e-mail, giving her sisters more detail on the situation she had found herself in, including in-depth descriptions of all the people. Terese and Lauren both insisted that she take photos so they could see the people involved. With a laugh and a shake of her head, she sent her last e-mail, telling her sisters not to train too hard. "Okay, everyone," she said as she got up from the computer. "Dawn is in a little while, and it's time for all good creatures of the night to scurry home. See y'all tomorrow night."

"It's that late already?" Giles asked, putting his hand under his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, Giles, it's that late," Xander said, rolling his eyes. "We've been hinting at that for the last few hours. What a way to spend a Friday night."

"Well, gotta book," Stephanie said as she pulled her trenchcoat on. "I'm sure Adam will be by sometime today to check in."

"Not Triona?" Buffy asked.

Stephanie shrugged. "She might show up. You never know." She said as she left the library.

"That is one good looking woman!" Xander said emphatically.

"Xander, she's a blood-sucking creature of the night!" Willow exclaimed.

"So? Doesn't mean she can't be good-looking," Xander replied before yawning. "I'm going home and crashing. I'll see you guys in the afternoon."

"I'll see you all tomorrow night," Angel said as he too got ready to leave.

"I'll walk you home," Buffy said, grabbing her coat.

The group broke up as everyone went home to catch some rest.

"Come on, you two. Up and at 'em," Stephanie said, prodding the bed with her foot.

"Go away before I cut you in half," Methos growled from somewhere under the covers.

Stephanie shook her head. "Oh, come on! It's already three in the afternoon. You guys have been in bed since I got here. Up!"

"Stephanie, why are you awake?" Triona groaned. "You usually sleep till sundown."

She shrugged, even though she knew Triona couldn't see it. "No idea. I just feel... really awake."

"I would ask if you've been in the sugar, but I know that's impossible," Methos said as he sat up in bed.

"Maybe it's the Hellmouth. It could be making you more energetic," Triona said as she got up with a yawn.

Stephanie made a disgusted sound. "Man, I hope not. That's just too creepy."

"So, what's for breakfast?" Methos asked as he crossed the room.

"Hmm?" Triona asked distractedly, watching his boxer clad form enter the bathroom.

Stephanie rolled her eyes as she answered the question. "Breakfast? No idea. I seriously doubt you guys want my breakfast."

"No, thank you," Triona said as she rummaged in the kitchenette for a tea bag and some coffee to make her and Methos' morning drink before peering into the fridge. "You know, Steph, these bottles of yours take up the majority of the fridge."

"Well, I could always get rid of them and get some fresh stuff," she replied impishly.

"Don't you dare!" Methos exclaimed as he came back out of the bathroom and grabbed a pair of pants.

Stephanie protested, "I'm kidding!"

"I can never tell with you," Methos replied as he finished getting dressed. "What do you want to eat, Triona?"

"You're buying me breakfast?" Triona replied with a grin.

"For you, sweet, always," Methos replied, pulling her close for a kiss.

Stephanie rolled her eyes as she grabbed the television remote. "Can't you two keep your hands off each other for even ten minutes?" Turning to MTV, she sprawled across her bed and waved her feet in the air in time with the music.

"Oh no you don't," Triona said as she left Methos' embrace and grabbed the remote. "We're not watching MTV. I'd rather watch grass grow."

Stephanie sighed. "Well, we're stuck here for at least three more hours. What are we going to do until then?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something," Methos said with a broad smile before leaving to get breakfast.

The three spent the next four hours bickering, reading books, and flipping through the television. Finally, the sun went down and they left the hotel room to go back to the school library.

"We're baaaack!" Stephanie stated dramatically as the three entered the library. "Miss us?"

Triona and Methos both sighed as the other people in the library raised their eyebrows.

"Oooo! New guy," Stephanie said as she bounced over to the black haired boy sitting at the table. "I'm Stephanie."

"Oz," the boy replied, shaking her hand.

"He's the last member of our group," Willow replied.

"Is he up to date?" Methos asked, nodding to Oz.

"Yeah," Xander said as he got up and pulled a chair out from the table for Stephanie. "For you, my lady."

Stephanie giggled as she sat down. "Thank you, kind sir."

"New coat?" Buffy asked, nodding to the short, leather jacket Stephanie was wearing.

"Yeah," Stephanie said with a grin as she rearranged her coat to lay flat over her lavender t-shirt. "We passed this really bitchin' shop on the way here, and Adam treated me to a new one."

"You mean 'Leather & Lace'?" Buffy asked. "I love that store."

"They had the greatest pair of boots that I was going to buy," Willow sighed in reply.

"Why didn't you?" Oz asked, grinning at his girlfriend.

Willow shook her head. "Oh, I didn't think I'd be able to walk in them. The heels were way too high."

"Oh, come on, Wills, I could have helped you learn to walk in them," Buffy said.

"So, have we gotten any further in the research?" Methos said pointedly over the talk of shoes and clothes.

"No," Giles sighed as the others took the hint and quieted down. "There's no mention of Immortals gaining power anywhere. The only reference we have is from the e-mail Stephanie received last night."

"What e-mail?" Methos asked, looking at Stephanie expectantly.

"Oh, I had forgotten to mention that, didn't I?" she said sheepishly. "Well, I got an e-mail from Lauren. It seems Duncan heard of an Immortal that tried to do this. Here, let me pull the message up."

Stephanie wandered over to the computer and pulled her computer disk case out of her jacket pocket. Opening her e-mail program, she pulled the message up and motioned Methos over. "There you go. Have a field day."

"Stephanie, this is about cute guys in Paris," Methos said after reading a few sentences. "I seriously doubt I need to be reading about 'ass-meters'."

"Oh!" Stephanie said, with an embarrassed look. "I forgot to page down." She pressed a button on the keyboard a few times. "Here you go."

"Thanks," Methos said distractedly as he started to read the e-mail.

"'Ass-meter'?" Buffy asked.

"It's nothing.... Something Lauren and I play around with," Stephanie said as she sat down. "So, what's the plan?"

"We have no idea where this woman is, or how to defeat her," Giles replied.

"Well, it's been done before, which means it can be done again," Stephanie said before pulling a book towards her. "So, time for more research?"

"Of course," Buffy said with a groan.

An hour later, Triona pushed away the book she was searching through. "I'm hungry. Anyone want Chinese?"

After the majority of the room said, "Yes!", Triona got their orders and pulled Methos out of the library to go get the food.

"Where are they? I'm starving!" Xander asked an hour later.

"They should have been back by now," Giles added, concerned.

Stephanie, who had been getting increasingly agitated for the last half hour, suddenly got up. "I don't know why I didn't understand it before. Damn it!"

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Triona's in trouble," Stephanie said as she started to leave the library. Stopping suddenly, she turned to the others. "Where did they go to get the food anyway?"

"Come on," Buffy said as she got up. "I'll show you."

"If you think you guys are going without back-up, you are sadly mistaken," Xander said as he and the others also got up.

"Whatever," Stephanie said impatiently. "Can we just go?"

The group quickly traveled the five blocks that were between the school and the town's only Chinese restaurant. "They're not here," Willow said, stating the obvious.

"I need to concentrate," Stephanie said as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Damn! I can't smell them! All I can smell is the food."

"You can smell people?" Giles asked, fascinated.

Stephanie nodded. "Yes, I can. But, there's too many interfering smells in the way."

"Why don't you try going a block in each direction, then try again," Angel suggested.

Stephanie smacked herself on the forehead before jogging to the corner. After sniffing a few times, she nodded, "They went this way. Coming?"

The others followed the vampire through town to an abandoned warehouse. "They're in there."

"Then, let's get in," Buffy said as she tugged on the doorknob. "It's locked, but that shouldn't be a problem." She continued to turn the doorknob and there was a grinding of metal as the lock was broken, and the door swung open.

"Nice," Stephanie said before rushing into the dark warehouse.

The others followed to find six demonlings arrayed around the inside of the empty warehouse, two standing over a tied-up Methos. Triona and the Immortal that had captured her were in the middle, each holding a sword. "Now then, my dear. You get a fighting chance. The spell that transfers the energy of the Hellmouth to me will only work if you can defend yourself. Something about balancing between good and evil."

"Oh great," Stephanie muttered before turning to the others. "Shall we kick some ass?"

"Well, we're ready when you are," Willow said, taking a deep breath.

"Yoo-hoo! Bad guys!" Xander called out. "Over here!"

"If they interfere with the fight, kill the other one," the Immortal ground out to her minions.

"Great," Stephanie muttered.

"Let's get started," Triona said as she raised her sword into a guard position.

The other Immortal grinned as she started to speak. "You don't need to fight me. You are tired of living. There's no need to defend yourself."

"I... Excuse me?" Triona asked, confused.

The woman grinned. "You don't want to fight. You don't need to defend yourself."

"Don't listen to her!" Buffy yelled.

"She can't hear you," Triona's attacker replied with a grin. "She can only hear me." Focussing on Triona again, the woman continued, "You don't want to live any longer."

"Get real, Darde," Triona said in exasperation. "You aren't good enough to control my mind."

"What?!" the female Immortal exclaimed.

Triona didn't answer. Instead she raised her sword above her head and swung down, trying to cut into Darde's shoulder. Her opponent was barely able to parry the blow.

Still in shock, Darde spent the next few minutes parrying Triona's attacks. Finally, the Immortal regained her composure and started to return Triona's attacks.

"Ow!" Triona exclaimed as Darde's sword nicked her upper arm.

"First blood is mine, just as your quickening will also be mine," Triona's opponent said, crowing in delight.

Triona stayed silent as she tried to get under Darde's guard with a side sweep from the left. However, this caused the two womens' swords to become entangled together. They glared at each other over their weapons before Triona kicked the other Immortal in the knee, sending her skittering backwards.

Darde quickly regained her balance and glared at Triona before charging, her sword upraised. Triona simply stepped out of the way and pivoted, driving her sword into the other Immortal's back. Darde fell to the ground, screaming, her sword flying away from her.

Triona gathered herself before she swung her sword, beheading the other Immortal.

"Oh shit," Stephanie muttered before yelling, "Everyone down!"

"What?" Buffy asked as the first bolt of lightning hit.

Giles pulled Buffy to the ground as the others dived for cover. The teenagers watched in fascination as Triona reeled from the effects of the quickening.

Stephanie hurried around the warehouse wall until she reached Methos. The demonlings had abandoned the warehouse after their leader had been beheaded, so the young vampire was able to reach the Immortal without a fight. Pulling a knife from the sheath hidden in her boot, she cut the ropes tying the his hands and feet together.

After his hands had been freed, Methos pulled the gag from his mouth. "Get everyone out of here, now! We don't want her going after one of them."

Nodding, Stephanie hurried back to the other side of the warehouse, again hugging the walls. By this time, the quickening had almost stopped. Hearing a low growl from Triona as she got to the others, Stephanie quickened the pace. "Everyone, get out of here, now!"

"But, we need to help Triona!" Willow exclaimed.

"You can help her best by getting out of here!" Methos screamed as he got closer Triona, who was on all fours in the middle of the room, her head bent and gasping for breath.

Stephanie started to pull people toward the door.

"What the hell?" Buffy asked as Triona's head snapped up to stare at the humans leaving.

The other teenagers stopped and turned to look. Triona's eyes were now reddish-yellow, and she had inch long fangs.

"We're leaving, now!" Stephanie said, pushing everyone out of the warehouse.

"But, Adam is still in there!" Giles exclaimed.

"He'll be able to survive it -- you guys won't," Stephanie said in reply as she forcefully pulled the Watcher from the warehouse. After everyone had passed the doors, the vampire shut and leaned against them, her arms crossed.

"What is going on?!" Buffy exclaimed.

Stephanie didn't know how much she should tell the others. "Well, you see... Triona isn't like other Immortals."

"You don't say," Oz said with a nod.

"Yeah. She's... special," she said with a shrug. The next ten minutes passed with Stephanie stonewalling any questions the Slayerettes asked. Finally, there was a loud knock on one of the steel door just as she was starting to think it was time to look in on the two.

Stephanie looked confused and concerned. After slaking the vampire side of her nature, Triona always fell unconscious, and Methos was definitely in no shape to get up and walk. Pushing herself off the door, Stephanie opened it, her eyes widening as Triona waltzed out of the warehouse.

"Triona?" Stephanie asked, concerned.

"Of course," Triona said with a grin. "How about you and me go have some fun? Maybe play a little cat and mouse?"

"Are you okay?" Willow asked.

"I'm feeling better than I have in years!" Triona purred as she looked hungrily at the young woman.

"Is Adam all right?" Stephanie asked, turning to look into the darkened warehouse.

"Oh, he'll wake up sooner or later," Triona said dismissively. "Now then, sister of mine, let's go party."

She stared at Triona. A look of horror suffused her face as she figured out what had been out of place. "Triona, you're still a vampire."

"Isn't it great?" Triona said, grinning broadly.

"How did this happen?" Giles asked, confused.

"Does it matter, little man?" Triona said, looking down her nose at the watcher. "You're annoying me. Stop."

Everyone looked at each other, trying to figure out what was wrong.

Triona ignored the looks as she slinked over to Giles. "You know, now that I think about it, you're kind of cute."

"Umm.... Thank you," Giles said with a weak smile.

Stephanie watched wide-eyed as Triona swayed close to the older man. "You have the prettiest eyes. I just want to drown in them."

Giles started to silently sway closer to the woman, an unfocused look in his eyes.

"Triona!" Stephanie exclaimed, grabbing her sister's arm and pulling her back.

Triona turned to her sister and hissed, her fangs extended and her eyes the color of blood.

Buffy moved forward, a stake in her raised hand. "She's out of control!"

"Then we'll teach her control. Just back off," Stephanie said with a low growl in her voice.

"Since when did you become so parochial? This is what you are, what you do. Why are you trying to deny me the same?" Triona asked heatedly, still staring at Giles' neck.

"He's a friend. A friend of Adam's!" Stephanie exclaimed.

"He's a mortal," Triona said with a shrug. She suddenly lunged forward, trying to grab Giles.

"Angel, help me restrain her," Stephanie said, locking her previously loose grip on her sister's upper arm.

"Let me go!" Triona screamed, trying to struggle out of the other vampire's grip. Angel reached over and grabbed Triona's other arm, causing her to struggle harder. "Let me go, damn it!"

"What's wrong with her?" Buffy asked.

"I'll explain in a bit. Is there anyplace we can restrain her?" Stephanie asked, using both her hands to hold her sister in place.

"Yeah, we can take her to Angel's," Buffy replied.

"What about Adam?" Oz asked.

"Can you two handle Triona?" Giles asked.

"I think so," Angel said with a nod.

"Then, we'll get Adam and bring him to your place," Giles replied, motioning Buffy and the others to follow him.

"Let go of me, you poor excuse for a creature of the night!" Triona yelled, still trying to free herself.

"Is she talking about me, or you?" Angel asked.

"I don't know. But I wouldn't take anything she says in this state seriously," Stephanie replied as she and Angel started to half-carry a struggling Triona away.

"You know, we could ditch the demon and go off by ourselves, have some fun. I'm sure there's some mortals out there somewhere who are crazy enough to wander around alone at night, even on top of the mouth of Hell," Triona said conspiratorially.

"This way," Angel said, nodding his head down a side street. "We're almost there."

Triona turned to look at Angel. "Look, nothing personal, but when I get free, I'm going to tie you up and watch you burn in the sun."

Turning back to her sister, Triona glared. "And you, if you don't stop this, I'll tell LaCroix, and you'll get into trouble. And you know what happens when you get into trouble."

"I think I can talk my way out of it," Stephanie replied calmly.

"LaCroix?" Angel asked as the three reached an abandoned mansion.

"He's our master. And he's going to have fun torturing you and all of your little friends," Triona said with a snarl.

"Trie, shut-up," Stephanie said, rolling her eyes. "So, Angel; how are we going to restrain her?"

"I have some manacles we can chain her to the wall with," Angel replied.

"I'm not even going to ask," Stephanie muttered.

"I am!" Triona said gleefully. "So, Angel, my boy, into bondage are we?"

"Just ignore her," Stephanie said. "I think I can hold her while you set them up."

"Okay, if you're sure," Angel said, letting Triona's arm go. Stephanie quickly swung behind her sister and grabbed her other arm. Triona started to struggle harder.

"Triona, if you don't struggle, I'll bring you a present," Stephanie said into her ear.

"Alive?" Triona asked, looking over her shoulder.

Stephanie nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

Triona thought for a moment before doubling her efforts to get free. "I'd rather be free and find my own present!"

Stephanie growled as she exerted all her strength to keep Triona captive until she could be chained to the wall.

"Damn it!" Triona yelled, trying to pull the manacles from the wall.

The others arrived a few minutes later, having gotten Methos settled in Angel's bedroom.

"How's Adam?" Stephanie asked.

"He'll be fine, with bed rest," Giles replied before turning to look at Triona, who was glaring at everyone and licking her lips every few minutes. "What about her? What's her condition?"

Stephanie also turned to look at the captive woman. "Well, the vampire who made me tried to bring Triona across before she became Immortal. It turned her into a half-immortal, half-vampire. Her vampire self only manifests itself when she takes a quickening. Only, this time, she didn't revert to her Immortal self."

"So, we need to find a way to turn her back to normal?" Willow asked.

"As normal as she gets," Buffy added, half to herself.

"Research?" Xander groaned.

"Research," Giles replied with a nod.

"Angel, do you think you can handle loopy-girl?" Oz asked, nodding toward Triona.

"Sure, no problem," Angel said with a nod.

"Besides, I'll be here to help keep an eye on Adam, make sure no one tries to get to him while he's out of it," Buffy said as she got up to go sit in Angel's bedroom. "Call me if you guys find anything."

"Let's get cracking!" Oz said, leading the way out of the house.

"Yah," Xander said unenthusiastically.

"It's been hours, and we've found squat," Xander groaned as he slammed a book shut.

"We'll find something. There has to be a cure here somewhere," Giles replied, trying to calm the teenager down.

"Yeah, you're right," Stephanie said, a far off look in her eyes. "You guys continue searching. I've got to go."

"Why?" Willow asked, looking up from her computer screen.

"It's Triona -- She's getting peckish," Stephanie replied as she left.

"How does she know that?" Xander asked.

"They must have some sort of link," Oz said before returning to his book.

Stephanie, having overheard the conversation, shook her head and grinned as she left the school. A quick flight later, she was back at the hotel. She grabbed one of her bottles from the fridge in their room and was off again. Another quick flight, and she was back at Angel's place.

"Knock, knock," she said, peering into the room.

"Sis!" Triona said, starting to get up.

"Stay. I'll join you," Stephanie said as she crossed the room and slid down the wall to sit next to Triona. "Here, wanna share some dinner with me?"

"Need you ask?" She grabbed the bottle, tore the cork out with one hand and threw it into the fire. After taking a large swig of the contents, she passed it back to Stephanie.

"You know, it's going to be dawn in an hour or so," Angel said to Stephanie.

"I was going to stay here today, if that was okay with you? Keep Trie company. I know that Adam won't be up and about till this afternoon at least," Stephanie replied.

"Yes! Stay! Keep me company. That demon over there just sits there, stares into the fire, and broods," Triona said, nodding empathetically.

"I can't stop you," Angel said with a shrug.

"Good!" Triona said happily. "You know, I'd be a lot more comfortable if I wasn't chained up."

"Can't help you there. Angel has the key," Stephanie replied.

"Then fight him for it! Show him what a real vampire can do!" Triona exclaimed.

Stephanie snorted in reply. The two shared the rest of the bottle and talked quietly together.

Hours later, Stephanie started awake as she heard a human approach. Lifting her head from Triona's shoulder, where she had fallen asleep, she listened in to Buffy and Angel's conversation. "I thought you were watching Adam?"

"Giles took over," Buffy replied with a yawn.

"They just finished researching?" Angel asked from where he was slouched beside the fireplace.

Buffy nodded. "For now. Everyone went home to get some rest. I came over here to sit with you."

Stephanie didn't hear the rest of the conversation as she fell back asleep.

Waking up several hours later with her head resting against the wall behind her, Stephanie leaned forward and stretched. She noticed Willow sitting at a table across the room. "I take it Adam hasn't woken up yet?"

"He woke up for a bit, but went back to sleep. He doesn't know what happened yet," Willow said from her laptop.

"Where's Buffy and Angel?" Stephanie asked as she looked beside her to see Triona starting to wake up.

"Right here," Angel said as he and Buffy entered the room from behind a heavy curtain.

"Awww, look at the little lovebirds," Triona said sarcastically before she started to pull at her chains again.

"She's really starting to annoy me," Buffy said, glaring.

"Buffy, she wouldn't even be like this if she hadn't come to Sunnydale to help us," Angel replied.

"Don't listen to anything she says. The sudden shock to her system has just made her loopy," Stephanie told the Slayer before turning to Triona. "Trie, stop that."

"I'm hungry!" Triona whined.

Willow jumped up. "Oh! I forgot!" Reaching into the cooler on the floor beside her laptop, she pulled out a soup take-out carton. "I got this in case it was needed." The young woman edged her way toward the two vampires, holding the carton in front of her.

"Here, let me take it," Stephanie said, leaning forward so that Willow didn't have to come into Triona's range.

"Don't you want any?" Buffy asked.

"I'll get some later. Triona's too uncontrolled at the moment to go hungry," Stephanie replied as she handed the carton to her sister.

Eagerly pulling the lid off the container, Triona took a big sip. A look of horror overcame her as she spewed the blood out. "That's disgusting!"

"What?" Willow asked, wide-eyed with shock.

Stephanie saved the carton before it could be thrown across the room and took a sip. She swallowed the blood, a look of disgust on her face. She then started to laugh, "Oh... This is... Oh man...."

Angel looked at the two. Triona was glaring at Willow, her eyes narrowed, and Stephanie was still trying to stop laughing. "What's wrong with it?"

"She tried to poison me!" Triona shouted.

"Willow!" Buffy exclaimed.

"I didn't! It's just pigs blood!" Willow said as she backed away from the furious vampire. "I went to the butcher's shop on the way here."

"It's not that," Stephanie said as she wiped reddish tears from her eyes. "Vampires -- real vampires, that is -- don't like the taste of animal blood. It's... icky."

"Oh," Willow said softly. In a louder voice, she said, "I'm sorry, Triona. I didn't know."

Triona growled and started to pull at her manacles.

With a sigh, Stephanie got up. "I'll be back in a little bit."

"So, if you don't like the taste of animal blood, what was in that?" Buffy asked, nodding toward the green bottle that had rolled a along the wall the two vampires had been resting against.

Stephanie gave a big smile. "Don't worry. It came from a blood bank. It's just easier to carry bottles than it is to carry IV packs. Less questions that way too."

Willow looked at the windows, all of which were covered with black out curtains. "You're leaving now? Has the sun gone down yet? What will we do if it hasn't? I mean, she's going to get more and more agitated..." She stopped her babbling to take a breath.

"Don't worry," Stephanie said, smiling at the young woman. "The sun's gone down." She then turned to Triona. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Oh," Willow replied as Stephanie left.

After a quick flight, Stephanie arrived at the hotel and pulled a couple of bottles out of the fridge. After quickly drinking half of one of them, she returned it to the fridge and left the room, carrying the other bottle.

She arrived at Angel's place a few minutes later to hear raised voices. "Oh hell. Methos is awake," she muttered to herself as she entered the room. "Here," she told Triona, handing her the bottle and nodding to the new arrivals. "I see the gang's all here."

"And you!" Methos said, turning to Stephanie. "This is all your fault!"

"I see you're up to speed," Stephanie said coldly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh, they've told me the whole sorry affair!" Methos yelled in reply.

"Sorry?" Stephanie mouthed as Methos continued to yell.

"If it hadn't been for you insisting on coming with me, Triona wouldn't have come along, and this wouldn't have happened!"

"Wait a damn minute!" Stephanie yelled back, moving forward to stand almost nose to nose with the Immortal. "I may have asked to come, but you could have said no. But you wanted to spend time with Triona without LaCroix hovering around, and you and I both know it!"

Methos glared into the eyes of the vampire in front of him and opened his mouth to retort. But he was cut off by the ring of a cell phone.

"Saved by the bell," Willow breathed from where she and the other Slayerettes were watching the fight with wide eyes. Triona pouted, wanting to see how the fight would have ended.

Stephanie pulled a compact cell phone from her jacket pocket and flipped it open. "Hello?"

"Hello, my dear. What have you three been up too?" the male voice on the other end of the line asked.

Stephanie's eyes widened. "LaCroix."

"Yes," LaCroix said. "What is happening? I know something is wrong."

"Well, You see..." Stephanie stammered, trying to find a way to tell her master.

"Give me that," Methos ground out, grabbing the phone from the flabbergasted vampire and putting it to his ear. "LaCroix, when you make mistakes, you make really big ones."

"I beg your pardon?" LaCroix asked, his voice like ice.

Stephanie winced and wondered if listening in on both sides of this conversation was such a good idea.

"Do you know what's happened to Triona?" Methos asked. "She's a vampire."

"And you noticed this when, Methos?" LaCroix asked in reply. "You really should try and keep up."

Methos ground his teeth together before adding, "A slightly insane vampire."

"Hey! Not all of us are perfect!" Triona yelled.

"Is that Triona I hear?" LaCroix asked. "I wish to speak to her."

"Yes! Let me speak him! Or, when I get out of these chains, I'll rip your throat out," Triona growled.

"Did she just she was chained?!" LaCroix yelled, outraged.

Methos glared at Triona. "LaCroix, she took a quickening that left her as a vampire; one with no control or desire for control. She's not the Triona we all know!"

"I resent that," Triona muttered, glaring hard at Methos.

"Release her at once," LaCroix growled.

"Listen to me, you soulless blight on mankind! She's a threat to you, to herself, and to that god-damned community of yours. Unless we figure out some way to turn her back!" Methos stopped yelling and took a deep breath. "Well, I don't know what we'll do if we don't."

There was silence on the line as LaCroix mulled over Methos' words. Finally, he asked, "May I speak to Stephanie?"

Methos wordlessly handed the phone to the woman in front of him.

"Yes?" Stephanie asked.

"Do you agree with Methos? Is Triona out of control?"

"Yes, sir. She's not herself. She's not crazy, per se. But, she's... loopy," Stephanie replied. "I see only two options to solve this situation. Turning her back to the way she was, or figure some way to bring back her normal personality if she stays a vampire."

"What?!" Methos exclaimed. "We're not even thinking of that option!"

Stephanie glared at Methos. "So, you're saying if we can't turn her back, we should keep her chained up until she gets free and kills someone, making us have to kill her? You are such a bigot! You can't even accept that she might not end up the way you want her to!"

Methos recoiled from the vampire's heated words, his face pale. The teenagers, still listening to the conversation, looked at each other with wide eyes and wondered if they should interfere.

"Calm down, child," LaCroix said. "I'll be there as soon as possible."   Stephanie's eyes widened.

"What is it?" Methos asked.

"LaCroix is on his way. He's leaving shortly," Stephanie replied, moving the phone away from her mouth.

"Here, give me that," Methos said. After Stephanie handed the Immortal the cell phone, he put it to his ear. "LaCroix. Give us thirty-six hours."

"Why should I give you the time?" LaCroix asked coldly.

"Because, you can't do anything to help, and you know it. Give us the time to find a solution to the problem. If, at the end of the thirty-six hours, we haven't found an answer, we'll bring her home and see if you can help her. You should stay there to arrange things," Methos replied.

With a sigh, LaCroix agreed. "Let me speak to Triona."

Methos gave the phone to the chained up woman, who snatched it from his hand. "LaCroix, when are you going to get here?"

"I'll see you in a few days, love," LaCroix said soothingly.

"But, why can't I see you now?" Triona asked plaintively.

"I'll only be in the way. Don't worry, I'm sure the others will find a way to help you," LaCroix said, still sounding soothing.

"What do you mean?!" Triona shouted.

"Just do what they say, little one," LaCroix replied.

Triona stared at the phone for a moment before screaming wordlessly and crushing the piece of electronics with her hand.

"That went well," Stephanie said ironically.

"Let... me... out... of... here!" Triona screamed, each word punctuated with her pulling at her chains.

"Triona, stop it. You can't get free," Stephanie said, exasperated.

Triona glared at her sister, then slumped, defeated.

"So, how are we going to get out of this?" Methos asked the others, turning his back to Triona.

This started a conversation among the group on the best way to find a cure for Triona's condition.

Oz, however, had the misfortune of meeting Triona's eyes. He slowly blinked and stood in place for several moments before wandering along the fireplace, seemingly natural.

He took the chain of keys to Triona's manacles from the wall and started to shuffle toward Triona, who was grinning like the cat who ate the canary.

Willow turned to Oz to ask a question and noticed what was happening. "Oz!"

Buffy turned to see Oz almost in range of Triona and grabbed his arm. Pulling him back, she grabbed the keyring from him and shook him by the shoulders a few times. "Oz! Wake-up!"

"Oh hell," Stephanie grumbled, moving toward the dazed Oz, who was struggling to get out of Buffy's grasp to give the keys to Triona. "Oz, look at me." Stephanie growled when it didn't have an effect then commanded, "Look at me!" His head snapped around and he looked directly into Stephanie's eyes. "You gave her the keys," the vampire said.

"I gave her the keys," Oz replied in a dazed voice. He then suddenly jerked and blinked. "Uh, Buffy, why are you holding me? What's going on?"

"That was very bad," Stephanie said, turning to her sister.

Triona glared at them, saying nothing.

"Let's continue this discussion at the library. We'll all be in danger of falling under her spell if we stay here," Giles said, motioning everyone towards the door.

"I'll stay with her," Angel offered when Methos hesitated. "I'm immune to her, and you'll be much more help trying to find the cure."

"Thanks," Methos said with a nod as he followed the others.

"Why did you tell Oz that he gave her the keys? Why not just break her hold?" Giles asked as the group started for the library.

"Triona's mental powers are stronger than mine. I wouldn't have been able to break her hold on him, but I could... warp it, make him think he'd given her what she wanted," Stephanie replied with a shrug.

Giles nodded. "Ah, I see."

Three hours later, everyone was intensely involved with their research when Giles suddenly pulled his coat on. "I need to go back to Angel's. I need a book I let him borrow."

"Be careful, Giles," Buffy said.

Giles nodded as he left. "Of course."

"Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored," Triona sighed, rattling her chains.

Angel just shook his head as he left the room.

Seeing this as her chance to escape, Triona made a fist with her right hand and slammed her thumb against the wall, breaking the bone. Hissing in pain, she pulled the manacle off her wrist and waited for her thumb to heal before doing the same with the other.

Seconds after she had completed her escape, Angel returned to the room. "Here, I got some books for you to...." He trailed off as he noticed the vampire standing up, totally free of the chains.

Growling, Triona grabbed Angel before he could react and threw him across the room, where he hit the mantle and fell to the floor, unconscious.

Giles entered the room. "Angel, I was wondering... oh dear." He started to back away from the vampire.

"Giles, dear, there's no need to run," Triona purred. "I can show you such delights."

Giles froze, his eyes wide.

Triona moved forward and slowly moved her hands up Giles' arms to his shoulders. Gently pushed downwards, he slowly dropped to his knees, giving her access to his neck. She then tilted his head up, brushing her lips against his forehead before staring into his eyes.

"Now then, I promise that you'll like this. A lot," Triona said, trailing a finger across his shoulders as she slowly walked behind him. She ran the fingers of one hand through the older man's hair, then delicately pushed his head to one side. Bending down, the vampire whispered into his ear, "It's one of the greatest thrills of life, and death." She paused to savor the sound of her victim's hurried heartbeat and shallow breathing before sinking her teeth into his throat and drinking, Giles slumped in Triona's hold, moaning, as he felt her fangs pierce his flesh.

Triona reared back a few moments later, feeling the presence of an Immortal nearby. Letting Giles' body slump to the floor, she turned and hissed at the intruder.

"You and I have a debt to settle, bitch," the man said, sweeping his sword in front of him, trying to catch Triona off guard. "Darde was my teacher, and my lover."

"Oh, yes, the slut who was headhunting," Triona hissed as she calmly stepped out of the way. She continued with a feral grin, "She did me a favor. Maybe you'll do me one too."

The man screamed as he charged Triona, who calmly flew past the man and into the garden surrounding the mansion. "You'll have to do better than that!" she taunted.

"What the hell are you?" the man asked, wide-eyed.

"The person who's going to kill you," Triona said sweetly before she became a blur and disappeared from the man's sight. The next moment, he felt a vise-like grip on the back of his neck before it was snapped.

"That was fun," Triona said with a grin as she held the dead body by the throat. After draining him dry, she picked up the Immortal's sword and quickly decapitated him.

Angel woke up with a groan and shook his head. Looking around the room, he saw the empty manacles and remembered what had happened. "Triona!"

Quickly getting up, he crossed the room to go and search for the out-of-control vampire and discovered Giles' barely conscious form. "Oh hell," he muttered to himself as he bent down and found the two puncture wounds on the Watcher's neck. Reaching to check the man's pulse, he heard an unusual sound. His head snapped up to see Triona standing over a headless body and lightning starting to appear from no-where. Diving to cover Giles, Angel watched as Triona went through another quickening.

After it was over, the woman was sitting slouched on the ground, taking deep breaths to calm down. She then slowly got up and looked around, her opponent's sword still in her hand.

Catching sight of Angel, she gave a watery smile. "It seems that I've been a bit... out of it lately." She then saw Giles on the ground. "Oh no!"

"I'm quite all right," Giles said, trying to push Angel off.

"Are you sure? She did bite you," Angel said, helping the other man sit up.

"I'm positive. She only took a little," Giles replied before giving Triona a piercing look. "And you were right, Triona. What you said before."

It took Triona a moment to figure out what Giles meant, then she turned away, embarrassed. "Yes, well.... Shouldn't we go find the others and tell them that I'm all right now?"

"Yes, I think that's a capital idea," Giles replied as he stood up, swaying slightly.

"Are you sure you're all right? We can take you to the hospital," Angel asked, concerned.

"I'm positive. It's just a dizzy spell. It'll be gone soon," Giles replied. "Let's get to the library."

Methos' head snapped up from the volume he was poring over. Scrambling out of his chair, he pulled his sword out and stood, legs apart, in the center of the library.

"What the...?" Buffy asked.

"It's Triona," Stephanie replied as everyone watched the door swing open.

"She's loose?" Willow gasped.

"It's all right. I'm fine," Triona said with a kind smile.

"How do we know that?" Methos asked, his sword still up.

"I guess you'll just have to trust me," Triona replied, looking into Methos' eyes, her smile turning sad.

Stephanie became a blur as she ran and hugged her sister. "Trie!"

"Stephanie!" Buffy warned, "We don't know if she's all right."

"She is. She's back to normal," Angel said from where he and Giles were standing behind Triona.

"Well, as normal as I ever am," Triona replied.

"What happened?" Xander asked.

Triona told them the story of her escape and fight with the other Immortal.

"So, the quickening cured you?" Methos asked.

"Of course!" Giles said, excited. "The quickening she took first was full of Hellmouth drained energy. It must have latched onto her vampiric side, seeing that as the mystical part of her nature, causing her to become a full vampire. Her mind couldn't handle it, so she partially shut down."

"Which is why she was acting so differently," Methos interjected.

"Exactly," Giles replied with a nod. "Then, when she received a normal quickening, it reversed the process by balancing her two natures again."

"So, that means you don't want to take any more heads of bad guys who have supernatural powers," Stephanie told Triona.

Triona turned to Angel. "I'm sorry for flinging you across the room. I hope you weren't hurt too badly."

"That's OK," Angel replied wryly. "I'm used to having blondes throw me across rooms."

Triona then turned to Giles. "And, I hope you can forgive me. My actions were...."

"Nonsense," Giles said with a shake of his head, interrupting Triona's apology. "It was an experience that, since I survived, I wouldn't have missed. I now know why so many of the old stories about vampires were full of their 'seduction'. It was quite incredible."

"What are you talking about?" Oz asked.

"Ms. Triona... well...."

Triona, who looked embarrassed, interrupted Giles. "I bit him."

"You what?!" Buffy exclaimed, moving threateningly toward Triona.

"Buffy, I'm quite all right," Giles said, standing between the two women.

"Are you sure, Giles?" Buffy asked, concerned.

"I'm fine. If I wasn't fine, I wouldn't be ambulatory," Giles replied.

"Huh?" Xander asked the room at large, confused.

"He means that he's walking," Willow explained patiently.

"So, this is all over?" Oz asked.

"Yes," Giles nodded. "It's over."

"Well, I say this calls for a celebration!" Buffy exclaimed.

"The Bronze?" Willow suggested.

"The Bronze," Buffy replied with a decisive nod.

"You children have fun," Giles said as he turned back to his books.

"Stephanie, would you mind if I spent the evening with Adam, alone?" Triona asked, pulling the vampire aside.

Stephanie nodded and grinned. "I'll phone the room before I go home so you guys will have some warning." She then followed the teenagers out of the library for a night of relaxation.

"Adam, can we go back to the hotel?" Triona asked Methos. "I think we have a lot to talk about."

"Of course, love." Methos nodded then turned to Giles. "We'll come by tomorrow before we leave to say good-bye."

Nodding, Giles watched the two leave his library and sighed, hoping they would be able to work out the last few days.

"It was an... interesting time," Methos said with a grin the next evening, giving Giles hand a firm shake.

"Yes, it was," Giles replied with a grin of his own.

Stephanie grabbed Giles by the hand after Methos had released him and pulled him aside. "I hate to ask, but I think I'd better. Have you been noticing anything strange in the last twenty-four hours? Sunlight hurting your eyes, holy objects make you itch, you can see better in the dark?"

"No, nothing," Giles replied, getting worried. "Why?"

Stephanie sighed in relief. "I just want to make sure. If you notice anything, anything, like what I just said, call Adam and ask him to tell me, all right?"

"I, I will," Giles said with a nod, started to get scared.

"Hey," Stephanie said, linking arms with the older man and pulling him back toward the group. "Don't worry, it's only a precaution. I don't think she took enough from you to start any changes, but I wanted to make sure."

"Thank you," Giles replied before suddenly stopping. "What would have happened if that Immortal hadn't shown up when he did?"

Stephanie shrugged. "No idea." She then slipped away from Giles to go say good-bye to the others.

"What did she want?" Buffy asked, nodding to the young vampire, who was laughing over some joke of Xander's.

Giles, who had been deep in thought, gave a start. "Hmm? Oh, to make sure that I was feeling all right after last night."

"You are all right, aren't you?" Buffy asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, just fine," Giles replied, giving the young woman a smile.

"Buffy," Triona said as she came up to the two. "I just wanted to thank you for your help these last few days."

"It's my job," Buffy said with a shrug.

"Yes, well, from one person who lives between two world to another, I know how difficult it can be, and how lonely," Triona replied before handing the Slayer a slip of paper. "Here, if it every gets you down, or if you need another woman to talk to about stuff men won't understand," Triona glanced over at Giles before continuing, "contact me, I'm a good listener."

"Thanks, I may have to take you up on that," Buffy said.

"That, and if you and Willow ever need to get away, give us a call," Triona added with a grin.

Buffy grinned back as she went over to join the others grouped around Stephanie.

Triona turned to Giles and gave him a piercing look. "I take it Stephanie has warned you what could possibly happen?"

Still looking worried, Giles nodded. "Yes, she has."

"I don't think it will, I didn't take enough to harm you." Triona paused before continuing. "You should be very careful, though. Once you've been bitten, it can become a craving," she said very softly.

"You speak as if you've had experience," Giles said gently, eyebrows raised.   "I have," Triona replied with a small smile. Taking a deep breath, she shook hands with the Watcher. "If you ever have trouble, or need my help, contact me."

"I wouldn't want to trouble you," Giles said with a shake of his head as Methos came over to the two.

"Trust me," Triona said wryly. "If it's something you need help in, my family and I would want to help."

"Ready to go, love?" Methos asked, looping his arms around Triona's waist and interrupting Giles' next question.

Triona leaned her head back and rested it on Methos' shoulder. "If Stephanie is?"

"You know her, she'd stay and chat all night," Methos said with a grin.

"True." Triona patted the hands around her waist and stepped forward. "Come on, Steph, time to go."

"Coming!" Stephanie called back.

"You sure you can't stay a few days longer?" Xander asked, starting to pout.

"No," Stephanie said with a shake of her head. "I don't think I should be out by myself at this time of my life. Maybe in a few months."

"But, the chaperones let you go out without them last night," Buffy pointed out.

Stephanie shrugged. "That shocked me. Maybe they thought the Slayer was chaperone enough. But, I've got to go."

"Darn it," Xander said, kicking a loose stone. "All the cute ones are either taken, or disappear."

Stephanie, who had been walking away, turned back with a devilish look on her face. "You never know, I might show up some time when I'm bored. Killing demonlings sounds like a great way to relieve tension."

"Oh lord," Methos muttered as Stephanie bounded the rest of the way to the car and got into the back.

"Stephanie, don't even think about it," Triona warned, looking over her shoulder at the younger woman.

"Think what?" Stephanie asked innocently. "Oh, you mean him? Ah, he's too young for me. But, it is fun to flirt." She grinned and looked out the window to watch the passing scenery.