Forever Anne: 10: Deal
by Timan
“Oh Ripper you have far out done yourself this time,” Ethan said as he examined the scepter in his hand, “This is the genuine Talidar Scepter I assume.”
Giles was less then impressed with Ethan’s enthusiasm. Giles leaned against one of the rails as Ethan examined the two items Giles had brought him. They had agreed to meet in an abandoned hotel in L.A. bearing the name ‘The Hyperion’. Ethan had told him the reason he chose the building was the air of chaos that surrounded it. Giles stormed up to Ethan and slammed his hands down on the table.
“You got what you want Ethan now tell me where Buffy is!” Giles snapped
“Patience old mate,” Ethan said as he walked around the table, “as any collector of antiquities will tell you, you have to make sure the items are genuine before you pay the asked price.”
Ethan pointed the scepter at one of the two stairways. He yelled a word in Latin and the ornate orb of the end began to glow. A broad lightning bolt shot out from the end. It struck the stairway at full force causing it to collapse entirety. Giles stepped back cautiously as Ethan laughed. Giles was determined not to loose his resolve.
“Tell me where Buffy is right now or the deal is off.” He said forcefully
Giles moved in to collect the second item but found himself staring down the orb of the scepter.
“Easy ripper,” Ethan said, “you wouldn’t want to do something foolish now would you like take items that, now, belong to me . . .”
Slowly Giles stepped away from the second item. Ethan lowered the scepter and unwrapped the second item. On the table lay a stone slate, rectangular in shape, in the center is a section carved out in the exact shape of the Prophet Stone and around it runes of a similar nature cover it’s surface. Ethan ran his hands over the surface.
“Don’t worry old mate you’ll get your slayer,” Ethan said as he looked up at Giles with purpose, “I have a feeling she’ll be coming to you.”
“She better not be harmed Ethan,” Giles threatened, “or I will be coming for you and, mark my word, you will not survive the encounter.”
“Sounds like fun. Should I bring the beer or will drinks be provided?”
Giles glared at him for a moment before he turned and stormed out of the building. Ethan went back to examining the scepter as Gwendolyn stepped out of the shadows.
“You know he’s put a tracking spell on those items,” She stated, “He’s becoming more determined since word form the council is that Buffy’s going to be replaced with another slayer in Sunnydale.”
Ethan smiled to himself.
“Please I would be more offended if he didn’t put some kind of tracking on these items. Speaking of Miss Summers how is our little adventurer faring?”
“That’s why I’m here. We might have a problem with the lawyers.”
Ethan turned and faced Gwendolyn casually.
“What kind of problem?”
“It seem that two from their ranks have become a little to ambitious and have taken Buffy and her male companion captive.”
Ethan thought about this seriously.
“If you cant trust lawyers ‘ay?” he commented
Gwendolyn walked up to him.
“What are we going to do?”
Lilah walked around Buffy slowly. She tapped the Tome lightly in her hand. Buffy frowned as she watched Danny pace around in his cell down in the basement levels. Lilah leaned in next to Buffy and scrutinized Danny closely.
“He’s cute,” she commented, “Not my type but, hey, we all have our tastes.”
“Let him go he has nothing to do with this.” Buffy replied anxiously
“Oooo, sorry, can’t do that. See if we just hand him back we lose all leverage and they take away our evil cards.”
“It’s just a simple answer Buffy and we let him go,” Lindsey said casually, “What are you trying to copy with the tome?”
“I don’t know,” Buffy replied, “I only found out the book existed a day ago.”
Lindsey stood up and shook his head.
“Sorry that’s not going to fly with us Slayer,” he commented, “You came here specifically for the book what are you using it for?”
“I told you I don’t know! How many times do I have to say it?”
Lilah and Lindsey looked at each other.
“Looks like she doesn’t want to play” Lilah commented
“Maybe the stakes are too low?” Lindsey replied
Lindsey walked over to his desk and picked up the receiver of his phone. He dialed a number and waited for a moment.
“Send him in.” Lindsey said
He hung up the phone and rejoined the women.
“Watch this Buffy,” he exclaimed, “You’re gonna love it.”
Buffy watched in horror as Danny’s cell door opened. A large vampire stepped into view and stood menacingly over him. Buffy looked at Lindsey strangely.
“What the hell kind of law firm are you guys?” she snapped.
“This is nothing you should see what we do to people who don’t pay their fees.” Lilah replied, “Now this is how the game works. You tell us we call off our guard vamp, you don’t and everybody’s favorite boy becomes the newest creature of the night.”
Buffy frowned anxiously as she watched Danny back up against the corner. She had to do something now. After quickly scanning the room Buffy got an idea.
“Okay, okay,” she said, “I’ll tell you.”
She stood up form her chair and leaned against Lindsey’s desk.
“It’s part of this ritual.”
“What’s the ritual for?” Lindsey asked
Buffy sighed. Slowly she moved her hand across the desk.
“It’s to . . . get rid of something?”
“And what’s that?”
Buffy gripped the phone tightly. She turned and looked at Lindsey purposefully.
“Head injuries”
Buffy ripped the phone cord out. She tossed the phone hitting Lindsey in the face. She kicked out behind her sending Lilah into the bookshelf. Buffy walked over to the stunned lawyer and snatched the book out of her hand. The sound of smashing wood echoed down the hallway as Buffy charged down the hall. She tacked a couple of security guards, who were investigating the crashing sound, and bolted to the elevators.
It took Buffy about forty-five minutes to find the floor that Danny was being held on. By now the two lawyers had raised the alarm and sirens had begun to sound. She charged down the concrete bunker. Rounding the corner she stopped dead in her tracks as she saw the large group of zombie guards slowly make their way slowly towards her. Buffy couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Buffy turned to double back but was confronted by a second group of zombies. Buffy readied her self for a fight.
Suddenly the zombies became very animated and rushed the unprepared slayer. Buffy managed to take down five before she was forced onto the ground. She struggled as hard as she could but it was no good.
“Such a shame,” Lilah said as she stepped around the corner, “and you were so close as well.”
“Pity close enough isn’t good enough in this case.” Lindsey replied as he leaned against the wall.
“If you hurt him . . .” Buffy threatened
Lilah looked at her confused.
“If?” She replied
Buffy struggled as Lindsey pulled out his radio.
“Let them go.” A voice called out from behind them. The lawyers turned to see Holland Manners standing, arms folded, looking seriously at them.
“Mr. Manners” Lilah commented, “We were going to come to you . . .”
“Let . . . Them . . . Go.” Holland replied forcefully.
Lilah and Lindsey looked at each other.
“Sir with all do respect,” Lindsey replied insistently, “We finally have access to a slayer. This would be a perfect opportunity . . .”
“Am I talking to myself here?” Holland snapped, “You two are going to release the Slayer and her male companion, give them the tome and let them leave without incident.”
“Sir, I don’t understand. Why are we letting them go?” Lilah asked.
Holland glared seriously at Lilah.
“This request came directly from the partners. If you want to take that up with them feel free to do so.”
“No . . . Sir.”
The zombies climbed off Buffy and Holland helped her to her feet.
“On behalf of Wolfram and Hart I wish to apologize for the way you and your friend has been treated. If you like to follow the security guard we will lead you back to the lobby.”
Buffy stared at the senior lawyer cautiously. Something was seriously wrong with this victory and it didn’t sit anywhere near right with her. After she was lead out of the corridor Lilah swung around and faced Holland.
“What the hell is going on Holland?” Lilah snapped, “We had the slayer where we wanted her why did we just let her go?”
“Because, a few minutes ago, the partners received a better offer.”
“That’s most certainly correct” Ethan commented from the sidelines
“Lilah, Lindsey I want you to meet Ethan Rayne.”
Holland walked over to Ethan and shook his hand.
“You will make sure we can put in the first offer.” Holland remarked.
“I’ll do better then that,” Ethan replied, “I’ll make sure you are front row center when the first become available.”
Buffy hugged Danny tightly.
“Are you alright?” she asked
“I still have all my limbs so, yeah, I’m good.” Danny replied, “I don’t know how you got me out but thanks a lot.”
“This had nothing to do with me.” Buffy replied
“What?”
“I’m saying somebody else saved us.” Buffy replied, “I got a feeling we should be on guard.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Gwendolyn replied, “I took a lot of negotiating on my behalf but I managed to secure your freedom.”
“Thanks. How did you know we were here?”
“I was trying to find out where you were and one of my contacts informed me you entered this office. I knew they weren’t going to be with the book so I sacrificed some freedoms. Did you get the book?”
Buffy held up the Tome. Gwendolyn reached out for it but the slayer pulled it back.
“Tell me why we need a book of copy spells?” Buffy asked insistently
“Insurance.”
“Insurance for what?”
“The power. The transfer ritual is very specific,” Gwendolyn explained, “one mistake and we risk destroying it permanently. I was planning on using the Tome if something goes wrong and we needed to reinsert the power back into you.”
Buffy scrutinized the ex-watcher closely. After a moment she handed her the book.
“Alright,” she replied, “This is the last thing in the diary what’s the next move.”
“This is why I was trying to find you. I found the prophet stone.”
Buffy looked hopeful.
“Where is it?”
Gwendolyn looked at Buffy remorsefully.
“Sunnydale.” She replied
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