BLUEBOY

MINDO

Ingelram watched the four men poke and jab at each other. From the stables, he could not hear them, but it seemed that they were arguing. The four men turned from the closed gate and walked through the orchard. At the far end of the orchard, they helped each other up to the top of the wall. Suddenly, there was a cry and a thud and a yelp as one of the four slipped over the wall and landed on the rocks at the river's edge.

Ingelram jerked his head up. The three men still on the wall called down to the fallen man in his father's accent. "Hey," he started to say, then hushed as he saw a shadow move out from the darkness surrounding the main castle and silently approach the three remaining men. Ingelram froze, his dark blue shirt and darker blue trousers blending with the darkness of the interior of the stables. The shadow did not even glance at him, but without a sound moved from the shelter of tree to tree through the orchard.

From the walled garden, a figure in a long white robe opened the gate and walked across the yard to the castle door. This figure did not look at the orchard or any of the other men as he hurried into the dimly lit castle. Ingelram looked back at the wall. No one was there. Quickly, but not as silently as the single shadow, he slipped from the stables, across the service road, through the kitchen garden and into the circle enclosure.

"Mommy!" he said. "Mommy, I want to come home." The pale circle in the dark moss started to glow. "Mommy! I don't like it here." A gleaming ring of light slowly brightened above the stone circle. He stepped through the ring and emerged in daylight.

***

Chapter 1 - Little Boy Blue

SUNNYDALE

"Hey," Dawn said. "Why did you follow me? Now what are we going to do? Where's your mom?"

The boy teared and started to cry softly.

"Oh, don't do that. We'll go ask Giles what to do. Come on." She took the little boy's hand and, matching her steps to his, walked off to the Magic Box.

"Little bit and littler bit," Spike said. "Why's he crying?"

"I think he's lost. He followed me from the playground in the park on the way home from school."

"Did you check there after you found him?"

"I was mostly here, so we came the rest of the way," Dawn said. "I'm going to get him a tissue."

"And a face flannel. Hey, kid, what's your name?" Spike lifted the boy and sat him on the counter

The boy looked at Spike, but was silent.

"Maybe your name is on a tag somewhere," Spike suggested, looking inside the boy's collar. The boy's clothes were somehow wrong, beyond looking as if he had slept in them. It took Spike some time to work out what was disturbing about them, but eventually he realized what was bothering him--no knits, no zippers and no underwear. The boy's wide-collared shirt buttoned down the back. It had long sleeves, with buttoned cuffs. The pants buttoned up over both hip-bones and had no pockets. His shoes were pull-on boots of waxed leather, with an unusual sole that came high on the upper, worn over strange felt socks. He wore no jewelry and had no visible tattoos or scars.

"And nothing in your pockets, obviously," Spike said. "I guess you get to pick a name, then. What do you want to be called?"

"What's this?" Giles asked.

The boy shrank away from him and buried his face in Spike's chest.

"It's a boy. Remember? You were one, I was one."

"Why is it here?"

"He followed Dawn home. I think she wants to keep him. Stop scaring him. Ugh," he added, looking down at his shirt.

"Let me," Dawn said, returning, and applied first a tissue, then a damp wash cloth, to the boy's face. Cleaned up, the boy had long, tousled hair that was pale as electrum and still baby fine. His eyes were a blue so dark as to be startling in his pale face. "Better," Dawn judged, lifting the boy off the counter and standing him on the floor. She held his hand again.

Spike took the wash cloth, located a clean area and mopped his shirt.

"Dawn," Giles started.

"I know what you're going to say," Dawn said. "You're going to say I have to avoid the attention of the police and the child protection authorities, because of my precarious legal position. The authorities may ignore the will you all forged for Mom, and take me away from you, but, Giles, he's lost now. He can't wait until I'm eighteen."

"Well, that is, in fact, much of what I was going to say, Dawn," Giles said, wiping his glasses and putting them back on. "However, I was going to add: His parents will be worried about him."

"Oh, yeah. Well, we'll just have to find them."

"Young man, what is your father's name?" Giles addressed the boy.

"Rupert," Spike said. "Stop acting like a headmaster. He's too young to be sent to Eton, I mean he's what? Five?"

"Maybe. A kindergartner, do you think?" Dawn said. "Spike, you watch him while I go get an ice cream cone for him." She picked the boy up and handed him to Spike.

"Hey," Spike objected.

"Ice cream cones are traditional," Dawn said, and ran out the door.

"Then get me one, too," Spike called after her.

"We do need to discover his name and his parents," Giles said.

"He didn't come labeled," Spike said. "Maybe he'll feel like talking after the ice cream."

A customer approached Giles. Spike took the boy to the table in the lower level and sat him on a bench. Looking at the result--the boy's eyes peering over the edge of the table--he frowned. He selected Albrecht Brechenmacher's 1597 edition of Encyclopedie des Dämonen und Unserer Gheists, a good thick read, and moved the boy on to it. "Better?" he asked the boy.

The boy nodded.

"Do you like ice cream?"

No reaction.

Spike decided not to press his luck any further and sat down across the table and picked up his Sunnydale Evening Gazette.

***

Spike's Viper was parked just beyond the Magic Box. Dawn sighed with relief. She had been afraid she'd have to wait around, but Ann Grove had arrived by the time Dawn was returning from the ice cream shop.

Ann got out of the car as Dawn approached. Dawn had never had the problems of envy for Ann's clothes that Buffy had occasionally expressed, but even she had to admit Ann always looked good.

Today, Ann wore very dark purple raw silk, jean-cut pants with a silk broadcloth man-tailored shirt in lavender. Her hair had been braided and wound around her head. She wore black short boots and a black belt. She never carried a purse and although she made and gave away jewelry to lovers and friends, she never wore any but the single platinum earring she wore today. "Hi, Dawn. I haven't forgotten about your school clothes, but I thought we could do that next week, maybe in San Francisco."

"And the open house? Did you forget about that? You know that's important!"

"No, I haven't. It's this week, and we're going. So what's the current problem?" Ann asked.

***

"I called Ann."

"Ann, you must convince her that we should call the police," Giles said, ignoring a new customer at the counter.

"Giles, foster homes are horrible," Dawn said. She handed the boy a vanilla cone. The boy looked at it, but did not take it. "It's ice cream," she said.

"No," Ann said. "Many of them are wonderful. The foster care system itself, on the other hand, can be confusing." She walked over to the table and looked down at the boy. "Oh," she said. "In any case, the foster care system for this one is out of the question."

"What do you mean?" Giles asked. The customer at the counter hit the bell again. Giles left the table and went to him.

The boy floated up off the chair and held his arms out to Ann.

"Oh," Spike said.

"Let's go to the back room," Ann said, slipping her arms around the boy.

Ann sat down on the ugly brown leather sofa. "Hi," she said.

The boy looked at her.

"All right," she said. "Given your looks, let's try this: Guten tag."

No response from the boy.

"That was a long shot," Ann said calmly. "Let's try an even longer one." She continued speaking, but Spike couldn't understand a word.

The boy could: He smiled and spoke. He and Ann spoke together for a few minutes. Eventually, Ann looked up. "He's lost; he speaks a very formal Alvish, with some strange loan words; and he's hungry."

"Alvish?" Spike asked.

"As good as Berengar's, allowing for his age."

"He doesn't look like Berengar," Dawn objected.

"And you don't look like me and I don't look like Olivia and Spike doesn't look like himself--"

"Hey, I put a lot of thought into this look," the vampire protested.

"-- and we all speak English. There's something else about him." She switched back to Alvish.

The boy began to fight Ann's embrace.

"Ann," Dawn said, "You're scaring him."

Ann spoke again, her voice firm but not raised or strident.

The boy started to cry.

"Dawn, step back," Ann said in English.

"No, Ann, he's just scared."

"Spike," Ann said. The vampire wrapped an arm around Dawn's waist and pulled her back.

Ann spoke one word, very softly. A clear chime sounded in Buffy's old training room and the boy's clothes vanished. He turned blue all over and his proportions changed, his head staying about the same size while his torso and limbs shrank slightly.

"Well," Spike said. "That's interesting as hell."

"That's better," Ann said, smiling down at the child. "Lying to me, to us, is not a good idea, and I'm not going to let you do it again." Ann caressed the child's head, ruffling the dark blue down. "Don't worry about it, just tell us the truth."

"He's a baby," Dawn said.

"A toddler, you could say," Ann said. "Walking, definitely, he's got leg muscles and his feet are a little toughened--but still ticklish, aren't they--possibly he's at the start of the active babbling stage, which would be just about perfect."

"Mammal?" Spike asked. "He's got a navel, but then so does Gang Long when he's a boy."

"Mammal enough," Ann said.

"He's not an Arlack Armel, is he?"

"No, he's a different sort. I'm not sure he's a demon at all, but then I'm not sure of what the Sunnydale definition of demon is this week," Ann said.

"He needs a bottle," Dawn said, as the baby's small fist hit Ann's breast. She put the vanilla cone back in the cardboard carrier.

"Right, this should work," Ann said, mostly to herself. "I'll give him a language lesson and feed him. Dawn, what do you have in your backpack?"

"Well, you know, stuff," the girl said shortly. "Private stuff."

"We need a piece of good prose. He needs an adequate grounding in English." Ann unbuttoned her shirt.

Dawn pulled some books out of her backpack, while carefully keeping anything else hidden. Spike looked over Dawn's shoulder. "Pride and Prejudice."

"That's make-up reading for social studies," Dawn said. "Not English."

"It's a classic, no matter why you're reading it," Spike said. "Will that do?" he asked Ann. "I think Giles has some Dickens in the office." His voice trailed off as Ann unfastened her charmeuse and lace bra.

"Perfectly," Ann said. "Dawn, read aloud, if you please. Start anywhere. If you're going to stare at my breasts, Spike, get out of here."

Dawn handed Spike the ice cream cones and took up the book.

"Sorry. No, I'm not exactly sorry." Spike said with great dignity, holding the melting ice cream carefully. "Except for being a vampire, I'm a normal male. That bust is worthy of notice. However, this is beginning to look all witchy and weirdly maternal, so I'll leave you to it." Having had the last word, Spike turned to go, ignoring Ann's soft laugh.

As Spike hurried out, Ann ran a thumb down her breast and arranged the boy against her. Dawn started reading. Spike risked a glance back as he neared the door: Ann, Dawn and the boy were surrounded by a soft violet glow.

Back in the shop, Giles was finished with the impatient customer. "What's going on with the boy?"

"Lunch," Spike said. "And an English lesson."

"I know Dawn wants a real family, whatever that may be in her mind, but we cannot go about plucking children off the streets."

"You're going to have to take that up with Ann and Dawn," Spike said cravenly.

"I will," Giles said, heading for the back room. He walked in, and about 5 seconds later, walked back out.

"I should have known it wasn't as simple as it looked," he said.

Spike nodded. "Ice cream?"

"Thanks."

Chapter 2 - Name That Baby

SUNNYDALE

"Dawn, what will we call him?" Ann asked, buttoning her shirt.

"Don't we ask him now?"

"We aren't going to know his real name, not for a while. We're going to grow accustomed to referring to him by a use name, and you get to pick it."

"Me?"

"Right of discovery, if nothing else."

"Darcy," Dawn said. "Is that all right?"

The toddler shifted back to the blond, blue-eyed kindergartner.

"Fine. Your public name, your use name, is Darcy," Ann told the boy, handing him a pair of boys' briefs.

Darcy looked at them, then up at her. Ann smiled at him, then dressed him quickly: briefs, undershirt, black jeans, royal blue long-sleeved T-shirt, white socks and black running shoes, with Velcro straps. "Now, before we settle down to relating our full histories, I need to know immediately: Are people chasing you?"

Darcy spoke in Alvish again.

"No," Ann said. "English now."

"I just wanted to go home," the boy said.

"So what did you do?" Ann asked.

"I went back the way I came, but I got lost."

"You cut school?" Dawn guessed.

"I wanted my mommy. I wanted real brambleberry jam."

"Will they want you back?" Ann asked.

"I don't want to go," the boy said, which Ann took as an affirmative answer.

"What do they look like? The people you don't want to stay with?"

"Like both of you, but with darker skin."

"Come and meet the others," Ann said. "Are your guardians humans?"

"What's a human?"

"Like Giles," Dawn said. "The tall man."

"You're not a human."

"No, neither of us is a human," Ann said. "Just Giles."

"Truant officers?" Giles asked

"Or the equivalent," Ann said. "And depending how open the temporary caretakers are, possibly his parents or their direct agents."

"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.

"The people from whom Darcy has run away may not wish to admit they have lost track of him. They may look for him themselves, and not tell anyone, or they may tell the equivalent of truant officers, they may even tell Darcy's parents. Darcy's parents may hire searchers. We may have three or more groups of people looking for you, Darcy." Ann smiled at the boy.

"So I can go home?" Darcy asked.

"What are you going to do?" Spike asked.

"Help them," Ann said.

"How?"

"Posters," Dawn offered.

"Lost and found won't work for a human boy, Dawn, even if he only seems human," Giles said. "He's not a kitten, where if we feed it and no one claims it, it's ours. He's a person, he has a family."

Dawn looked stubborn.

"Dawn, if we say we've lost him, we will have to state who he is and why we had him; and we do not have a believable or a reasonable story. If we say we found him, again, we don't have a reasonable story, and he will be removed to an institution of some kind immediately," Giles was patient.

Darcy shrank a little and held Dawn's hand.

"Darcy, do your guardians know roughly where you are? Are you just lost? Or have they a somewhat better idea of your location, such as southern California?" Ann asked.

"Worst case scenario," Giles muttered.

"And you work from there down to the best," Ann said. "How about it, Darcy? Do they know your whereabouts generally?"

"I don't think I got lost here," Darcy said.

"Oh?"

"I think I got lost there, when I was trying to find the way back home."

Ann frowned. "What sort of way were you looking for? A road? A ship, to take you home? What were you looking for?"

"A circle. A silvery circle."

"A gate," Spike said softly, remembering how Filis and Berengar had left the world from Ann's north terrace. Ann nodded again, meeting his eyes.

"A gate?" Giles asked. "Is that what I think?"

"A portal," Ann confirmed. "Either between worlds or dimensions, or sometimes between locations on the same world. There are more of them around than most humans imagine, Rupert. I've never heard of vampires or Watchers using one until Angel, Wesley and Gunn went through one last spring, when they were searching for Cordy. Berengar and the rest used a different one a couple of weeks ago."

"What color was the sky?" Spike asked Darcy.

"Clouds, all the time clouds. It rained a lot. I don't like it there."

"Where is there, Darcy?" Ann asked. "What is the place called?"

"I don't know. It wasn't home."

"Did you go through a gate, a circle, to get where the clouds are from where you lived before, from home?" Ann asked.

"Yes."

"Did you go on purpose that time?"

"Yes."

"Were people waiting for you when you got where you were going?"

"Yes."

"All right. We have two gate traveling cultures," Ann said briskly. "I think we can safely assume the guardians can monitor their gates, including when they are used and where the gate is focused during that use. Depending on how long you were lost there, Darcy, how busy the gate you used to get here is, and how many other gates were available within your possible random path area, it may take a long time before someone from there finds you, but you will be found. We will first assume that there was only one gate and that you were the only person to use it."

"And do what with that assumption?" Spike asked.

"Some immediate action, since the searchers may be here already. Now, Dawn's idea is not without merit," Ann said. "With a few subtle changes. Darcy, do you know about paintings? Images? Have you any objections to us making a picture of you?"

"No."

"Good. Dawn, call Willow: the two of you will go buy a T-shirt printing program for my computer. You will also buy anything else you need to make it work and get the right kind of T-shirt in a couple of sizes, so we get one that fits Darcy."

"What are we going to do?"

"We're going to take a picture of the blue toddler, stylize it, put it on the T-shirt, put the T-shirt on Darcy, put a picture of Darcy on a flyer advertising a juggler for birthday parties or school fairs or whatever."

"Clever girl," Spike said.

"Who's going to juggle?" Dawn asked.

"We'll pick somebody out of a magazine and change the picture around a little. Who isn't important," Spike said "Actually, no one is going to juggle. We could advertise pony rides or balloon art. The picture and the contact number are what's important." He grinned over at Ann, who smiled back at him.

"I don't get it," Dawn said.

"Say we give the shop number--"

"No!" said Giles

"--we just tell whoever calls about juggling or pony rides they have the wrong number. We only talk to whoever calls about the cute kid in the ad."

"Or whoever asks where the cute kid in the ad got the wonderful T-shirt," Ann said.

"Oh," Dawn said. "That is clever." She went to the office to call Willow. Darcy followed Dawn.

"Both of him, at once," Giles said. "Yes, very clever."

"And no one will take a T-shirt seriously," Spike said, "unless they recognize Darcy in one shape or the other."

"Well, that was simple," Giles said.

"Oh, Rupert," Ann said quietly. "There are many assumptions in this course of action, any one of which may be totally wrong and invalidate our attempt at a plan: the people pursuing Darcy may be killers, prison guards, or slavers; his pursuers may not understand telephone numbers; he may not be pursued at all, in which case, he'll need to grow up and be taught and trained before he goes searching for his home and family. Several other problems may come to mind if I pause to think for even a moment."

"Take him up to the house?" Spike said.

Giles nodded. "Away from Dawn until we know why he picked her to follow home and if the people you feel may be following him are any danger to her." Spike glanced at him, and nodded.

"Yes," Ann agreed, "my home is safer, for all involved, and also, it is more isolated from human observers. If he stays with you, all your neighbors on Ravello will want to know where the cute kid came from and how long he's staying with you. Besides, Carlotta has her hands full looking after you and Dawn and you only signed on to be Dawn's guardian, Rupert, not anyone else's."

"I was thinking of the lions," Spike said.

"Yes, they'll be useful," Ann said. "I have an announcement: The eldest cub has chosen a name. She wants to be known as Gina."

"Nice name," Spike said.

"Don't get attached to it, it's sure to change. She's still very young."

Dawn and Darcy reentered the main shop. Dawn said, "Willow says she'll be glad to help with the computer, but that she and Tara are over on campus, at the housing office, and the car is way over at her parents' house. What do you want her to do?"

"Spike, you have the Mercedes, would you drive them, please?" Ann asked. "And charge the equipment and supplies, so Willow won't have to front the money."

"That works. Find out when and where we can pick them up, short stuff, would you?"

"OK."

"And Darcy and I will go to my house," Ann said. "I drove down in the Viper."

"He's awfully little for a sports car," Dawn said. "Maybe he should wait and go up with us."

"He's riding, not driving, Dawn. We'll be fine."

"Ann," Spike said, "he is awfully young. Is he old enough to be continent?"

"Why didn't you think of that before you sat him on the Brechenmacher?" Giles asked.

"I didn't know how young he was," Spike said. "What if he's carsick? I mean those seats are real leather, not some cheap plastic."

"I'm well aware of that, Spike," Ann said dryly.

"Oh. Right. That's fine, then."

***

"What are we advertising?" Tara asked.

Spike had driven the Mercedes, containing the Witches and their purchases, but not, to her extreme annoyance, Dawn, who had been left at the Magic Box with Giles, to Ann's house on Los Robles Road, arriving in time for the early supper Ann was serving. Ann had had to separate the lion cubs from Darcy, who was happily playing with them in the library, and send them off to their mother for their dinner before seating him at a chair somewhat higher than the rest. The meal, containing of a wide variety of finger foods, in deference to Darcy's age and probable unfamiliarity with Californian utensils, had been excellent.

Darcy didn't like tomatoes or potatoes. He had eaten all the horseradish sauce, but not on the grilled shrimp, which he dipped into the applesauce. Spike, eyeing this act with his own hot smoked pork, already dipped in Chinese mustard, resting motionless and suspended over his dish of sesame seeds, was startled, but said nothing. Spike finished what he had in his hand and watched Darcy take up another shrimp.

Ann was also watching Darcy. She shrugged, took a shrimp, dipped it in the applesauce and tasted. After a moment's thought, she produced another dish of applesauce, into which she dipped a second shrimp. This time, after she tasted, she nodded.

Curious, Spike tried a shrimp in each sauce. The second dish had a tang of lime juice, a grating of ginger and a hint of red pepper. It was delicious with the shrimp. Darcy didn't like it as much as the original.

After dinner, they went to the library, where the French doors were open. The three dark green cubs of the guardian lions had come in after their dinner and were waiting to play with Darcy again. As Willow installed the program, Tara asked her question.

"Juggling, for birthday parties," Spike said.

"While I was waiting for you to get home, Nancy arranged for an 800 number for this," Ann said. "With a few cut-outs. She pointed out that this was a much safer way of handling this stunt."

"And it will relieve Giles's mind, about tying up the shop phone," Willow said, looking up from the computer.

"Hey, Darcy," Spike said. "What did your guardians call you?"

Darcy was already rolling on the floor with the three lion cubs. He looked up at Spike: "Bargomiliskan."

"I couldn't hear that," Willow asked.

After an initial wariness, Darcy had relaxed with the Witches enough to look at them, at least sideways, and even to talk at them. A direct request was still something he did not deal with comfortably, however: "Bargomiliskan," he mumbled.

"Say again?" Spike asked.

"Bargomiliskan," the boy said, raising his head and his voice to answer Spike.

"Bargomiliskan the Magnificent," Spike tried. Darcy grinned up at him.

"How do you spell that?" Tara asked.

"I don't know."

"That's not Alvish, I have no idea what it is. I guess you get to spell it first. I suggest you sound it out and don't use `C'," Ann advised Tara. "Use `S' and `K'."

"Bargomiliskan," Tara said, writing it down. "There's a certain beat to it. `Have Bargomiliskan make your next party a success.' Unless that sounds too much like an ethnic caterer."

"Immaterial," Ann said. "We need some sort of name and that may do very well. Does it mean anything, Darcy?"

"The other kids said it meant `Blondie,' because of my hair; but they didn't like me."

"Can we use that, Darcy, to put on the ad?" Willow asked.

"I don't care. I like Darcy better."

"You know about ads?" Spike asked.

"Ann showed me in the paper, pictures and words." Darcy began to tickle Gina, who carefully kept her claws sheathed as she wrestled with the boy.

"Mug shots," Willow announced, producing the digital camera. "Change and face me, Darcy. Look up. Now look at Spike. Turn and look at Tara. OK." Willow turned back to the computer. Tara and Spike followed her, standing in back of her and looking over her shoulders.

"Don't make him look like something out of Ripley's," Spike cautioned.

"I need to keep him blue," Willow said.

"He reminds me of something drawn by J. P. Toomey," Tara said.

"More like early Walt Kelly," Spike said.

"Who?"

"Or a spear carrier in one of the space operas, when they want to demonstrate the inclusive nature of the future society," Willow said.

"The one who dies first?" Spike grinned.

"Always. How about this?"

"That's good, Willow."

"Bargomiliskan," Willow mused. "In a big arch over Darcy's head, I think."

Eventually, Willow produced a flyer. The name was prominent, as was the 800 number, but what caught a viewer's eye at once, was the blue baby logo and the blond party guest.

"Notice how I put the logo on table holding the juggling equipment?" Willow asked.

"Very nice," Ann agreed.

"I put it on all the balls, but that looked too spooky, little blue heads flying around, so I took them off again."

"Thank you, Willow."

"So, shall I print out a ream or two or do you want to have an overnight repro service help out?"

"Now that I know what it looks like, I'm just going to conjure it, Willow," Ann said. She gestured, and the library sported flyers on the free space on the walls and the doors, a poster version was propped against the crystal phone, and a huge A-frame double poster stood below that. "And once they get ripped or rained on or covered up, they'll vanish." She waved, and the library was neat again.

"Where are you going to put them up?" Tara asked.

"Darcy, where did you first find yourself, once you came through the gate?"

"I saw some swings."

"Right around you? What was closest to you?"

"A wall. A little wall, and a table." Ann and Spike looked blank.

"Windbreaks, Ann," Willow explained. "As if a huge playing card was upright on the windy side. Otherwise, your paper plates go flying all over. It's the park on top of Cerro Reynaldo. The playground is downhill from the picnic area and Dawn's school is just north of that."

"I went down to the swings," Darcy said.

"I'll start there, work a spiral pattern downhill, then concentrate on store windows."

"I've been wondering," Tara asked. "Why are your two forms both human? I mean Gang Long is a dragon and a boy, but Spike is still Spike when he's a vampire. One has two really different forms and the other has really similar forms and you're sort of in between. I was just wondering."

"Sometimes I look like my mommy and sometimes I look like my daddy."

"If you grow at different rates in each form, your adolescence may prove to be really interesting," Willow said.

"An excellent point," Ann agreed.

"So which is real?" Tara asked.

"I'm real all the time," Darcy said, unarguably.

Tara opened her mouth, shut it, and looked over to Ann, who grinned.

"Right now, it's bedtime, I think." Ann looked at Darcy. "Cocoa may not be a good idea. How about some warm milk?"

"OK."

"Then bed."

"By myself?"

"No, I thought the cubs could sleep with you. Spike will sit with you all as you quiet down--"

"I will?"

"Please?"

Spike shrugged.

"Spike will sit with you while I talk to Willow and Tara, then I'll bring you some milk and sit with the four of you until you fall asleep."

"I guess."

"Cubs?"

"Jingwu? Does our mom say it's OK?" the littlest cub asked.

"Yes."

"OK," Gina said.

"Go up with Spike, then," Ann said.

"Where?" Spike asked.

"West suite. Thank you, Spike."

Ann watched Spike take a book from the fiction section. He held out his hand to Darcy and they walked slowly up the stairs. The three cubs, about the size of fully grown Neapolitan mastiffs, but with slightly shorter legs and longer tails, followed behind, to the side and in front of the vampire and the little boy.

"What else is worrying you?" Willow asked Ann.

"The gate on Cerro Reynaldo," Ann said. "Have you been up there since you became a witch?"

"No. It doesn't have a reputation, though. No one tells stories about it. No strange beings walk up and steal your fried chicken or lemonade or anything like that."

"So it's probably not a permanent gate, at least on this side. It may access a sophisticated society, where visitors make some preparations before coming."

"How about lost kitties?" Tara asked. "Sometimes they fall through."

"I went to different grade and middle schools. Who do I know who lives over there I can ask?" Willow said. "Susan Gonzales! If she's in town. I haven't seen her since we blew up the old high school; she was going to Berkeley; or was it Reed?"

"In the morning," Ann suggested. "It's past ten."

"Oh, so it is. In the morning; I can call the Sunnydale SPCA then, too."

"What did you decide about housing for the school year?" Ann asked Tara.

"Well, we have options, maybe too many options," the girl said. "But we know we have to decide soon."

Ann nodded. "Would you like a sherry before I port you back to Willow's?"

"I'd like a cider," Tara said.

"Cider sounds good," Willow agreed.

"I'll join you," Ann said, handing Tara and Willow tankards and producing one for herself.

***

Chapter 3 -- Appearances and Disappearances

SUNNYDALE

"Ann," Spike said, hurrying into the library. Ann was examining Darcy's original clothing and boots. "Hey, where'd those come from?"

"I moved them here when I took them off him," Ann said, looking at the fine stitching on a french seam in Darcy's shirt. "Linen shirt and wool pants, dyed with natural dyes. Linen thread on the boots and beeswax as a finish. Interesting. Low tech and practical, but not primitive. The colors are beautiful and fine for Darcy's coloring; someone dressed him carefully. What is it, Spike?"

"Right: I've upset the cubs. I didn't mean to and I don't know how I did, but I'm pretty sure I've upset them."

"How? Are they hurt?"

"I was reading The Jungle Book," the vampire said. "I was part way through "Mowgli's Brothers" and I saw they were all staring at me."

"Ah, that would upset them. I can explain," Ann said. She started up the stairs. Spike walked up by her side. She smiled over at him: "Why The Jungle Book?"

"People don't read enough Kipling," Spike said seriously. "And it sort of struck an echo, given the situation."

"I can see that."

"What's happening?"

"They're used to hearing about a different kind of tiger."

"Oh?" Spike asked.

"It's a little abstract."

"Oh?" Spike asked again, patiently. Getting information out of Ann was always difficult, even if she didn't just stop breathing in mid-sentence.

"The tiger is a yin symbol. It's often paired with the dragon, a yang symbol. They also represent east-west, fire-water; many dichotomies. The cubs will have seen depictions of tigers all their lives, but they may not know about non-symbolic tigers, even in the vague way they know about prosaic lions and Pekinese dogs. The cubs would find a tiger who threatens the hero and his friends upsetting."

"Especially," Spike realized, "when the hero and his friends are so young."

"Good point," Ann said.

"Maybe I should pick a different book."

"You have to finish this one," Ann said. "Not tonight, though." She walked through the sitting room in the west suite, into the bedroom, where Darcy and the cubs were in a big, low bed with guard rails on the sides. "Hi," she told the cubs.

That was the last word Spike understood for a while. Ann cuddled Darcy, sat him up and handed him a glass of warm milk, scratched Gina's ears, and switched to Chinese, which was not one of Spike's languages.

"Step over here, Spike," Ann said, just before a pair of African lions appeared at the foot of the bed.

Spike, standing beside Ann, stayed very still. He didn't know if lions liked vampire meat, in the first place and he had absolute confidence in Ann, in the second place, but why take chances?

The cubs' noses twitched and their short manes and tails fluffed. The lions disappeared, replaced by a Pekinese that barked at the cubs, who moved to the foot of the bed and sat in a row, peering down at it. Ann spoke a little more, then the Pekinese was replaced by a Bengal tiger, which was replaced by a white Siberian tiger and her cubs.

Gina and her siblings looked at the tiger and looked at the tiger cubs. Gina stood up, Ann spoke sharply to her and the cub settled back down. The tiger and her cubs disappeared.

Spike relaxed, moved over to the chair by the bedside, and sank into it.

"So," Ann said, "that was the kind of tiger Spike was reading to you about."

"Jingwu! We don't look anything like that dog," Gina said indignantly.

"You don't look anything like the lioness, either," Ann pointed out. "All you youngsters go to sleep now. Darcy, if you wake in the night, just call my name, and I'll come to you." Ann turned on the night light.

"OK, Jingwu," Darcy said.

"G'night, Spike," the young lion said.

"Good night, kids," the vampire said.

Ann waved one hand over the four children. The cubs curled around Darcy, who shifted to the blue toddler, stuck his thumb in his mouth and fell asleep. Ann frowned, and pointed one finger at him. A bulkiness under his pajamas seemed to indicate a diaper.

The vampire and Ann left the bedroom, leaving the doors ajar so the cubs could get out if they wished. "We need an au pair," he told Ann.

"I'll ask the lioness to stay in the sitting room while I'm out."

"You're leaving?"

"I have to see a telephone pole to put a flyer on it," Ann said. "I'm going for a long walk."

"I'll come with you."

Ann looked at the vampire, about to say something, then she obviously changed her mind. "Sure, I always enjoy your company, Spike."

"What did you start to say?"

"Something short sighted, ill-omened, hubristic and ungrateful," Ann shrugged. "You do have to be careful in Sunnydale."

MINDO

In the castle town of Mindo, the disappearance of Ingelram, nicknamed variously Bargomiliskan and Darcy, was noticed after breakfast when the nursemaid discovered an uneaten bowl of porridge. Since this was the only bowl sweetened with an approximation of brambleberry jam, the nursemaid went to Ingelram's room, where she found his bed empty and neatly made. The nursemaid checked the three other beds in the room, still unmade, sighed, and went directly to the governess.

The governess inspected the bed and the bowl, then summoned the three small boys who shared Ingelram's room, the five oldest boys under her governance, and the captain of the guard.

The three small boys said they hadn't done anything and they hadn't seen Ingelram since just after supper. The governess dismissed them. The five oldest boys looked up at her with such innocent faces that her internal alarms went off. Without too much trouble and a minimum of foot shuffling from the squirming boys, she extracted the story of what had happened the night before.

The captain ordered all but the next night's guards out on search, then went to Simio, the foremost of King Sagard's advisors. Simio listened, clutched his head, tossed his cap in the fireplace, listened, put on a new cap, and went to the king.

The captain of the guard, whose name was Baudier, walked up the hill, using the service road, which had a gentler slope but was much longer than the direct road. Moving amid the delivery wains, he found the walk relaxing after the events of the morning. At the kitchen door, the supplies were unloaded by the servants and carried away into the castle, and Baudier suddenly wondered if anyone had searched the storerooms.

Attempting to do it himself, he was rebuffed by the butler, who claimed that the pantry had been searched twice already and that he, the butler, wished to report pilferage by the searchers. Baudier told him to file a complaint and went out to sit in the kitchen gardens.

Most of the activity in a well-tended kitchen garden takes place in the morning --vegetables are gathered, the plot is weeded and watered before the sun gets too high. From the kitchen door, Baudier could see the vegetable beds, the fish ponds, and all the way to the south end of the enclosed area, across the service road, the orchard. Off to his left, in the wall of the keep, was a private door. Just south of the keep proper was a high secondary wall, enclosing the fane of the Order of Walahfrid the Scholar. Selecting a bench against this wall, the captain sat down and thought. The quiet failed to help him.

Ingelram had not stolen a horse and ridden away. No carter admitted to giving him a ride or to having seen him. The boy was not in one of the apple trees or lurking in the stables. Baudier was supposed to report back to Simio before early dinner. He did not have anything positive to tell him.

Baudier's attention was arrested by a muted shriek from within the walled fane, followed by a hurried exit. He glanced up as one of the weedy novices, dark robe hiked up, raced out of the garden and through the private door into the keep. The novice failed to shut either the gates to the garden or the door to the keep.

That was unusual, Baudier thought. This was certainly not one of the festivals of the Scholar. The festival dates were scheduled years in advance. What had alarmed the novice? Baudier walked through the gates into the garden. The white marble circle set into the mossy ground was glowing softly, and even more faintly, above the circle, a silver ring, upright in the air, also glowed.

At a bustle from the keep behind him, Baudier looked around. The novice, actually all the novices, the three wardens, and the Sage, crowded into the small, shady area.

"What happened," Baudier asked. "Why is the circle activated?"

"We don't know yet," the Sage said.

"I am in charge of security. If something got in, I need to know about it."

"Nothing got in," the Sage said.

"Walahfrid be praised," the first novice said. "What escaped? What got out, then?"

"Out?" Baudier asked.

SUNNYDALE

"It occurs to me," Ann said, gesturing at the last windbreak on Cerro Reynaldo and nodding as Willow's flyer appeared in a checkerboard pattern over the textured concrete, "that we should become a bilingual household, and you don't speak the other language."

"Which language?" Spike asked. "I do know one or two, other than English."

"Alvish."

"You just taught the boy English."

"And we are attempting to return him to his home, where they speak Alvish. At his age, it's almost as easy to get rusty in a language as it is to learn one. I was thinking English while the sun is up and Alvish at night."

"And what about the cubs' Wednesday night TV? They aren't going to forgo that, even to play with Darcy."

"It's August, they're still in reruns. Do you want to learn Alvish? I can teach you."

"The way you taught Darcy?" Spike asked warily.

"With a difference. The student learns best if he is comfortable, secure and relaxed. I could put you into a learning state, but you'd be able to wake up whenever you wanted."

"Sounds like hypnotism."

"It's similar."

"Does Gang Long speak Alvish?"

"Yes, he learned when we went to Brezeliande to meet Berengar the first time. I taught him the same way I'm willing to teach you."

As Spike thought about Ann's offer, they walked on down the hill, Ann plastering telephone poles and retaining walls with the flyers. "All right," the vampire finally said. "And you're the only person I trust enough to even try this with."

"When we get back to the house, then."

"But I'm not sure anyone can hypnotize me," Spike said.

"We'll give it a try," Ann said.

***

In the library, Spike sat up on the long sofa and looked over at Ann. "Sorry," he said. "I told you I wasn't sure if I could be hypnotized."

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"Fine."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Your accent is just like mine. That will probably change over the next few days. I put another spell on the house, we'll all be reminded, subtly, to switch languages at sundown and sunrise."

Spike frowned at her, thinking. He replayed the conversation in his head. "Oh," he finally said.

"I taught you formal Alvish, what Berengar would speak at his sister's court. If you decide to visit him, you'll fit right in."

FERENC

In the sunny minster-complex of Yakeshon, in Ferenc, Ingelram's cousin Æduin gasped as his hired assassin seemed to materialize out of the shadows in front of him.

Magal was beautiful and strange. Shorter than Æduin by a head, the assassin was several shades of metallic taupe--skin, hair and eyes, his eyes being darkest and most brilliant. He had a strong, round, jaw, emphasized by a narrow, neatly trimmed ring-beard. His brows were straight and angled up at the ends, following the sweep of his strong cheekbones. He had small lobe-less ears, slightly pointed at the top and pressed neatly against his head.

"Gireg!" Æduin called.

His secretary opened the door from the anteroom and entered, stopping short as he caught sight of Magal. "Your grace! I didn't know you were..." plotting politics, being murdered. Gireg, realizing there was nothing he could say that the other people in the anteroom should hear, let his voice trail off

"Get out," the assassin said.

Æduin waved Gireg out. The secretary pulled the door shut behind himself.

Magal was coldly angry. "I do not hunt as part of a pack." He tossed three blond heads at the duke's feet. "Your friends have complicated and possibly compromised this operation."

"No friends of mine," the duke lied.

"The quarry has ported into a new world," Magal said. "Transdimensional assassination requires patience. The schedules of inter-world gates are even more restricted than those for intra-world travel and they does not change on demand; that fact should be obvious even to you. Now, I will proceed to Earth, locate and terminate your young cousin; as agreed, there will be no body and no way for anyone to know what has happened to him. You will keep your friends out of my way. Do not yield to your impatience again."

"Is he gone?" Gireg asked

"He left these," Æduin said, indicating the three heads.

"Oh, god."

"Do something with them."

"Uh, Æduin? Where's the other one?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"Four of them went: Ardon, Leger," he pointed at the middle head, "Deron," the first head, "and Rhomo," the last head. "Ardon isn't here."

"Well, I hope he's dead, wherever he is."

Chapter 4 - Preparations and Analysis

MINDO

"Our preliminary findings, sire, indicate that a living body of approximately 15 ters was the last to pass through the ring."

The king glanced over at the governess, who said, "That is Ingelram's weight."

King Sagard nodded and returned his attention to the Sage. "Where did the circle exit?"

"We are more concerned with how the boy activated the gate," the Sage began.

"No," the king said. "That matters only to your Order. You may make that determination only after you tell me where the boy went. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sire, of course."

"You will tell me as soon as you know, whatever the hour you are successful. You will also be prepared to send a party after him at the earliest possible moment."

"Certainly, sire."

The king waved the Sage and his novices away and gestured Baudier closer. "Once they discover where the boy is, you and a small group will find him and bring him back. Alive and unharmed."

"Yes, sire."

"One of the nursemaids should accompany them, sire," the governess said.

Sagard nodded. "An excellent idea. Also, a witch."

"Sire, this is already somewhat more than a small group," Baudier protested

"Handle it," the king ordered. "And remember, since this involves gate travel, to include a scholar."

"Yes, sire."

SUNNYDALE

At sunrise the next morning, Ann arranged with Gang Long to watch Darcy. He was not enthusiastic about the task, but he agreed. Like Spike, he made a suggestion that they get help with childcare; Ann told him to see to it. Ann ported out to Seattle, where she had breakfast with Claire Galen:

"Blue?" the healer asked at the end of Ann's recital, handing her a cup of tea.

"Between RAF blue and the best turquoise. Do you know of any beings who are bilaterally symmetrical, upright postured, naturally blue skinned and capable of interbreeding with blonde blue-eyed beings, who are even more human in appearance? Both groups are Earth compatible and at least one of them has world gate traveling ability."

"No. I think I need to see him myself. Let me check my appointments," Claire said. After looking at her book, she said: "I'm free from 9:30 or so, to 11:00. Move me down there, feed me a quick and early lunch, and I'll give him a look."

"Give me a call when you're ready to go," Ann said.

"I have a report to discuss with Spike. Is he going to be available?"

"Yes."

"Good. Take this one with you, though. I'll trust your judgment about when and what to tell Dawn." She handed Ann a manila envelope.

Ann opened it, read the contents. "Huh. Those Monks were good. I'm told that not all of them died. I wonder if I can safely look for them, or if my controllers will panic again. I'd like to talk to them about what exactly they did and what Dawn can expect as she matures."

"If the opportunity arises, I should like to accompany you," Claire said.

"Certainly," Ann said, and blinked out.

****

"Good morning, Spike." Claire said as she arrived in Ann's library several hours later. "I'll need to talk to you after I examine the boy."

Claire Galen was about four or five inches shorter than Ann, with curly dark red hair up in an insecure bun. She had a warm, rich, color to her skin and faint freckles on her cheeks and nose. She was rounded rather that muscular and always had a brisk, alert and interested air, no matter where she was. Even when he was calling her an `over-educated sadist,' or when she was turning him into a birdbath, Spike had had to respect her. Now, he counted her as one of his few friends, and he smiled at her.

"Hi, Claire. What about?"

"Your latest test results."

"OK. Gang Long and Darcy are out in the pool."

Ann led Claire to the French doors in the north wall. The two women went out, leaving the doors open. Spike walked over and looked out.

For all Gang Long's reluctance to be charged with looking after Darcy, after he agreed, he did a good job: the blue toddler and Gina were riding around the pool on dragon back. As Spike watched Darcy caught sight of Ann and waved, losing his grip in the dragon's scales and tumbling into the water. Gang Long dived, tossing Gina into the pool, and turned, surfacing beneath the boy and raising him up. As Darcy laughed, Gang Long stretched out his neck to Ann, who caught the boy as he levitated up to her and stood him before Claire.

Gina paddled over to the shallow end, walked out of the pool and shook herself. Her brother and sister were asleep in the sun on mats spread out on the terrace. The young lion looked up as Gina sprinkled him, but the other young lioness paid no attention.

"You're publishing?" Spike asked.

"Just an announcement of the study."

"Claire, if humans know I can't defend myself, how long do you think I'll stay alive?"

"Ann has already insisted I can't publish this part of the full study until we remove the chip from your head," Claire said. "Although your anonymity will be protected, Spike."

"Yeah, sure. What's the title?"

"The first title is: Classic Vampirism: An introductory study of an infectious syndrome encompassing certain permanent and abrupt physical, metabolic and mental aberrations. The one about you is: An examination of Modified Vampirism; detailing how societal, historical and cultural expectations can be modified by rituals, family support, autosuggestion, bio-feedback methods and dietary supplements."

"You're including Angel, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Where would it be published?"

"The Cauldron, the Journal of the New World Healers Association."

"Which doesn't have that wide a circulation, Spike," Ann Grove said.

"Small favors," the vampire said. "I suppose anyone who will read it will already know how to kill vampires, but anyone who does read it and knows me or Angel will know exactly who you're talking about."

"This paper will come out after the full general study, which is scheduled for the first quarter of the new year. I think you, Angel and Ann are all worried needlessly, since it's the first study that will generate the most interest and probably suggest other studies to other healers."

"You're hoping there will be so much commotion, he and I will be unnoticed? Not a chance. Neither of us is a low-profile type."

"It won't be published until you're free of the chip. Suppose she mentions that it was removed, in the footnotes?" Ann suggested.

"Oh, certainly, I can do that."

"I think I'd better change my hair," Spike muttered. "And my name and residence and profession."

"Be sure to drive different cars," Ann reminded him. "Like VW's or Hondas. Oh, and don't wear leather, or black."

"Funny," he growled.

"Now, Spike: these are your CAT-scan images. Ann? Could I have a display light, please," Claire asked.

"How big?"

"Long, I have a full set of films."

Ann spread her hands, the lights dimmed and a short, wide viewing screen, glowing softly, hung in the air in front against the west wall. Spike pushed his chair back from the computer as Claire walked the length of the screen arranging a series of transparent films in their proper order.

Finished, Claire asked for a table.

"Bridge? Dining? Coffee?" Ann asked.

"Dining." Claire said, and nodded approval as a chair and a small table appeared in the library, between the phone table and the west wall. Claire sat, put her healer bag on the table and, opening it, removed a foil packet. "Air foam," she said. "Ann, can you freeze this when I tell you? Otherwise, it lasts only a moment, and I didn't bring my stereo cameras."

"Of course," Ann said, moving up beside the healer.

Claire held the packet, waved at the X-rays with her other hand as she chanted briefly. Using both hands, she opened the packet and gave the transparent contents a gentle push upwards.

The flat film rose a little in the air and began to inflate, from the bottom up. Spike's head, life-size, transparent and bald, took shape above the new table. Spike didn't recognize himself until his eyes were complete, then: "Hey! Where're my eyebrows? And where's my hair?" He rolled his chair over to Claire's table and inspected his image more closely.

"They aren't important for this," Claire said. "Now, Ann."

Ann froze the air foam balloon, which remained suspended over the table.

"Huh," Spike said. "I look sort of Egyptian."

"More faun-like," Claire said absently. She rose and walked around the table. "Very good," she said. "Now. Here is what I wanted you to see, here is what our problem is. That spot there."

"The chip," Spike said, glaring at it.

"What's it made of?" Ann asked.

"Exactly. It is a bio-mechanical construct. I believe it was tailored specifically for Spike."

"Spike, let me touch you," Ann said.

"All right," Spike said.

"Stay sitting," Ann said, moving behind him. She placed her hands on his head, just above his ears, sliding them forward to meet just above his forehead. Her hands were very warm. "No, I can't sense it at all, even knowing what parts of it look like. That may be mostly Spike's aura." Ann dropped her hands and stepped back.

"What may?" Spike asked, brushing his hair back in place.

"It affects me as sort of a fog. Vampires are not part of my original briefing. The magic that keeps you alive and the magic I use aren't totally compatible. I can't locate you as well as I can locate Gang Long or even the Viper; I can't heal you as well or as fast as I can heal a human."

"What about Angel?" Spike asked. "Can't you find him as well as you can find Giles?"

"No," Ann said. "It's not a matter of familiarity or intimacy. I can't sense Angel at all at this distance, while I can tell that Wesley Wyndom-Price is in the office and is keeping his temper only with some difficulty at the moment. From that, I would surmise that Angel is also in the office, but I can't tell for certain. If you were still fully human, I think I could port the chip out."

"Ah. Of course, if I were still a human, the Initiative wouldn't have installed the chip in the first place."

"Who knows what those fanatics would do?" Ann growled.

"The rest of the bad news is that I am unable to locate a surgeon who is knowledgeable enough to remove the chip who is not also an ex-Initiative member or a current member of a semi-official military organization," Claire said.

"Keep looking," Ann said.

"Spike?" Claire asked. "You are my patient. Ann has a problem with encouraging the remnants of the Initiative by informing them that their program was a success, at least with you, but they are the only competent surgeons I can find."

Spike glared at Ann: "You think it was a success?"

"Why do you think I object to Claire's paper?" Ann asked. "Yes, I'm afraid I do. You're not totally controlled by the vampire syndrome any longer, you have a lot your human free will back. You don't automatically attack humans when you're hungry, you don't even try to feed on any of the non-human people you've met recently--not me, not Filis, not Berengar--and even when you beat up people for information, like poor Mudar, you can stop short of killing them if you want. The fact is, the Initiative restored much of your former freedom of action by violating your free will, which is a paradox I'm glad I don't need to resolve. You decide."

Spike turned to Claire and shook his head: "No, Ann's right. Keep looking. I won't encourage them. I won't willingly trust my head to anyone who could install that damned thing in the first place. God, I do want it out, though."

"It does occur to me, Ann, that the Initiative may have implanted chips in non-human, non-vampiric, beings," Claire said.

"Yes, they did," Ann said. "I may have more success with pure demons. I'll ask around at Willy's. There was certainly enough time from your party's escape, Spike, to the arrival of the military re-inforcements for any surviving demons to make their way out of the ruins."

"They may not want to cooperate," Claire said.

"I'm easy to talk to," Ann smiled, "and hard to avoid, when I put my mind to it. If I can examine a sample, I may be able to visualize the chip in Spike's head. If I can visualize it, I may be able to port it into my hand."

"Ann," Spike said, "if you remove a demon's chip, you may get an uninhibited demon. The Initiative was staffed by humans, you look human. A demon may remember only what the Initiative did and not that you helped them."

"I'll explain the conditions, offer repatriation, whatever. Don't worry."

"I'll come along."

"Later--I'm taking Darcy and the Mercedes over to Northwoods, to the Montessori kindergarten a woman I know runs over there."

"You're sending the boy off to school?" Spike asked. "He's a little young."

"He'll play with other five year olds, have lunch, take a nap and play some more. That's not an arduous schedule. If we can't find his home, he'll need to become more at ease around humans, at least while he's here, so we may as well start now."

"What do you mean?"

"Spike," Ann said. "Darcy is at ease with Dawn, you, me, Gang Long and the cubs. He is nervous around Giles, the Witches, and even Claire. There are more humans than there are people like us in the world and many of them have something to teach."

***

"Hey, it's been swept," Spike realized. "It's better lit, and the license plates are gone. Is this the right place?"

"There have been a lot of changes over the last few weeks. There's a new owner, for one thing."

The place had been rearranged: there were more tables, scattered around the edges of the room, there was a new pinball machine near the back door behind a pair of lattice-work screens and the old one had been moved to the right of the front door where the row of booths along the south wall began.

"Why do you let this bloodsucker hang around with you and the dragon?" the bartender asked. He put a selection of bottles down behind the bar.

"He amuses me?" Ann asked. "You have to admit, Jason, he hasn't killed anyone here in a very long time."

"He hasn't been let in here in a very long time, but Willy says he can come back as long as he behaves himself," the bartender said, pulling the door in the west end of the wall behind the bar shut and fastening it.

"Baboon blood and a shot of bourbon," Spike said. "Thank god there isn't a mirror. I hate seeing my glass floating in mid air. That's a new mural, though."

"And pays his tab," Jason growled. "All of it."

Spike produced his VISA card. "What is it?" he nodded at the mural. "It's not really an Escher, is it?"

"The Maze of Art. Now," Ann said to Jason. "I have two things I want you, Joshua and Jesse, to do for me."

The bartender growled again, but nodded.

"I want to talk to survivors of the Initiative experiments. Whoever arranges the meet gets a fee and the survivor gets paid for her time. I'll come here, and I'll use the back room, which I will rent. The rent goes to Willy."

"God, that's awful," Spike said, putting down his empty shot glass.

"Why here?" Jason asked.

"Why not? It's centrally located and the new privacy spells make it eminently suitable."

"Humph," Jason said. "And the other thing?"

"Gate traveling strangers. If any show up, let me know."

"From any place in particular?"

"Alvish speakers," Ann said. "Tell me about them at once."

"Let's get back," Spike said. "I have to finish the kids' bedtime story before Gang Long and I go out."

Jason's eyes flickered at the vampire, then down at the bar.

"Just so," Ann said. She and Spike left the bar, walking out the back door into the alley.

"I thought you said there was a new owner?"

"Who is also called Willy," Ann said. "It's complicated."

Chapter 5 - Packing

MINDO

"Let me understand this," Baudier's lieutenant said. "We--you, me and Tivon--are going to attempt a covert retrieval of a small boy--who is apparently a magic worker or scholar of some sort himself or how did he operate the gate in the first place?--in unknown territory, while we're burdened with a witch, a scholar and a nursemaid? Is that right?"

"More or less, although we're not sure the boy opened the gate himself."

"Do we really need all those people?"

"The scholar gets us there and back, the witch helps with finding the boy, and unless you want to change the diapers, or whatever the boy wears, we take the nursemaid," Baudier said. "Besides, she's seen him, no one else has."

"So? He's got that white hair. He'll be easy to find."

"Maybe."

"Anything else?" the lieutenant, whose name was Mante, demanded.

"We have to recover the boy before his parents discover he is missing or the treaty is void and the war starts again."

"Have you any good news?"

"Well, yes and no. The Scholars have discovered what world the boy reached. There is no real-time intelligence, but it's not completely unknown and we can eat the local food. However, we seem to be in the middle of a territorial dispute: The College of Witches has also visited there, which displeases the Scholars. Sagard is trying to keep the two groups separate, but we need to talk to each of them. Attempt tact. The College of Witches says they have enough samples of the local languages that they can bespell translation amulets for the party, which is good."

"Translation amulets always have problems with idioms, and they work on only one other person at a time."

"They're what we've got."

"How many languages?"

"The witch staff claim seven, which seems unlikely."

"Why so many? Why would the people on the other side of the gate speak so many languages?"

"We'll ask," Baudier said. "Our clothes should not excite much comment, so that's good."

"Sandals are stupid."

"Linen or hemp pants, in drab blue or brown, and sandals, that's what the scholars say are fairly normal for the society we'll find. Our weapons will attract notice, and that's bad. The witches will provide us with a general covering spell which supposedly will encourage a `state of indifference', which sounds good, but which hasn't been field tested. Last and worst, the situation on the other side of the gate is unsettled and complex: There is at least one other intermittently active gate in the area."

"That's not good. Do we know where this other intermittently active gate gives access?"

"No."

"Now," the Sage said to the group, "the gate you will all be using is what we call a changeable gate. That means travelers other than those who leave from the Scholar's fane here can arrive there. In the interest of safety, we have decided you should us the back-up gate."

"The back-up gate? Where is it?"

"Near the main gate, but at a lower elevation."

"Why are there two gates so close together?"

"There is only one gate, it just has two manifestations. You could call them entrances."

"Why don't they call them that, then?" Mante said softly.

Baudier kicked him into silence.

"Actually," Cham, the novice traveling with the group, said, "you can say that any gate has an infinite number of manifestations, but this gate has two stable positions. Which may indicate that the gate itself is long established and stable."

"You will only approach the main gate after a careful reconnaissance of the surroundings," the Sage said.

"When are we going to have time for that?" Tivon asked.

"We have to do it before we use the gate to return here," Cham said.

"Now," the Sage said, "gather at the fane. We will prepare the detector and the activator and join you there directly."

"That's too much stuff," Baudier said, eyeing the packs the nursemaid had ready.

"A child takes twice as much gear as an adult. I've cut it down to the absolute minimum, we can't get along with any less."

"Antrag," Baudier said, "you have to get it down to one pack--a change of clothes, another pair of shoes, some travel bars, for each of you and if there is any spare room, some gold."

"She can take those," the witch said.

"Gries," Baudier began, annoyed at the interference.

"Once we get it through the gate I can store most of this in a spatial fold, a pouch. It won't be totally handy, but I can access it in less than half a lyud," Gries said.

"All right," Baudier said. "Antrag, repack: a bag to keep with you, as I described. The boy's gear can go in the second pack, which we can put in this spatial pouch thing."

"Along with a lot more gold," Mante said.

"No," the witch said. "There is a limit. A little more gold, and maybe some travel bars, but that's all. I'll be putting my gear," Gries indicated her three packs, "in there, too."

"How secure is this spatial fold?" Mante asked.

"Very. Only I can access it."

"Things ever get lost in there?"

"No."

"Why don't we take some diamonds?" Mante asked Baudier. "Or other gems. Take the gold to sell first, and the gems once we know our way around a little. Diamonds are lighter than gold."

"I hope we won't be staying that long, but that's a good idea, just in case we do."

"So are we ready?" Mante asked.

"Here comes Cham," Tivon said.

"A ritual? Now we're having a ritual?"

"Shhh," Baudier told Mante.

The ritual was short. Cham, wearing heavy silk gloves, laid a silver disk, about the size of a dinner plate, on top of the disk already set into the mossy ground. The Sage handed him a wide and short sealed jar, with what appeared to be limp rectangles of black foil hanging down from the center plug. The Sage then gestured the others into a ring around the disk and had them join hands.

Cham cleared his throat, said the activating word, and the castle of Mindo faded out.

SUNNYDALE

"Where are we?"

"I think we're in a dungeon."

"A pantry," Tivon said, nodding at a rack of wine bottles.

"Strategy training center," Mante said indicating the ping-pong table.

"A dwelling, in any case," Baudier said, listening to footsteps on the floor above. "And someone is home." He eyed the scholar in a grim and annoyed manner.

"There wasn't a house here when the last survey was done," Cham whispered.

"And when was that?" Baudier asked.

"About forty-five cycles."

"Hell," Baudier said.

"How do we get out of here?" Mante asked.

"Just a minute," Cham said, touching the top of the bell jar to the silver disc on the floor.

"Hurry up," Baudier said.

Cham watched the black foil leaves stand away from each other, then stuffed the jar into his pack. He picked up the silver disc and wrapped it in silk, then put it into a different part of his pack. "Ready."

"Look behind that arras," Gries, the witch said.

"Big window," Baudier disapproved. "Not defensible."

"It's a door," Gries said. "See, it slides."

"Good eyes. And this is the lock," Mante said, unlocking the patio door and opening it. The house alarm system sounded.

"Possibly defensible after all," Baudier said, waving the group out.

"You asked for safe," Mante said. "You didn't say quiet."

"The idea that we're safe here is appalling," Cham said, looking around Willy's.

"Well, we don't stand out here. Try talking to the bartender," Baudier told Mante.

When Mante came back to the table, carrying a pitcher of beer and several glasses, he said: "The amulets work. The bartender says we can take the girls next door."

"What do you mean?" Antrag asked. "Take us? Take us where?

"Across the alley, to something called the `Flamingo Lodge -- a hot sheet dive'. Apparently an inn of some kind."

"He thinks we're harlots," Gries said calmly.

"What?" Antrag demanded.

"It's a reasonable assumption to make," Gries said.

"No, it isn't. I'm not going."

"If you stay here, anyone may approach you."

"This is just so awful."

"I'm sure we were cheated, but we have a hole to hide in," Baudier said.

"I can work here," Gries said, looking around at the "housekeeping unit" they had rented.

"Good."

"So what is my first priority?" the witch asked.

"Travel bars," Tivon said. "I'm starved."

"The landlord said we have some sort of kitchen," Antrag said.

"Unpack," Baudier told the witch. "Put the wards up. Feed Tivon. Antrag, Mante and I will go shop for some local food and to get a general idea of the current layout of the town."

"Not much of a kitchen," Antrag said. "Stew," she decided, looking at the dented pots and the tiny stove.

"Alarms," Gries said, "not active wards. Alarms aren't noticed until they sound."

"Whatever," Baudier said. He, Mante and Antrag went out.

"A more current map," Baudier said, spreading it out on the low table in front of the sagging couch.

Cham frowned at it, then said: "I'll assume the watercourses didn't shift." He turned the group's smaller map until the shore line and the two small and one large rivers flowing into the harbor were in the same orientation. "So," he said, "ah, up here is the main gate and here is the back gate, and uh..."

"We're here," Baudier said. "Roughly. The man at the posting station--they call it a gas station--could read this; Mac says he was here, at this red mark, and we're only three streets over and two streets up or down."

"The area is much more developed than the last survey noted. I cannot estimate what the population is today."

"Overgrown," the witch said, "to the point of instability. We should not linger here, unless we wish to be caught in the collapse."

"What's that?" Tivon asked, seeing Mante take a jerky stick out of a large bag he was carrying.

"Dried meat, with seasoning," Mante said, handing Tivon one.

"Not bad."

"What are those?" Cham asked, seeing that Mante had more items in the bag.

"Blue jeans," Mante said. "Most of the people around here wore them, not trousers like ours. We managed to get some for everyone, and if they're too big, we hold them up with belts, that's what the funny loops are for."

"So we can blend in better," Baudier said. "And this is a trench coat. See here, the sword hangs here, it's a little lumpy, but we don't need to go around unarmed. Mante and Tivon can share this one, and this one's mine."

"You look like a man with a sword under his coat," Cham said.

"We're not sure we'll be noticed at all," Gries said.

"We get twitchy, walking around without our swords," Tivon said.

"How are you coming on locating Ingelram?" Mante asked the witch.

Gries re-oriented the maps, putting north, north and took a tiny square-based pyramid, placing it where Baudier had indicated the group was. On the sharp apex, she balanced a thin gold arrow, which spun gently, then pointed steadily in one direction. "He's that way."

"Excellent," Cham said. "We'll have a bite to eat, go get the boy and leave."

"Any indication how far?" Mante asked the witch.

"Less than twenty leagues," Gries said.

"Can you make do with a three league base?" Baudier asked.

"Certainly for a start."

"Twenty leagues!" Cham said. "That's five days walk."

"Two days and a half, but we don't know that Ingelram is twenty leagues away, we just know he's that way somewhere," Baudier said.

"So tomorrow we go up or down from this line three leagues, do the spell-search again, and draw another line. Ingelram will be where the lines cross."

"Tomorrow?" Cham asked.

"Gries is tired," Tivon said.

"Magic is different here," the witch said.

"Tomorrow," Baudier decided.

"Stew," Antrag announced.

***

Chapter 6 -- Movement

SUNNYDALE

"Huh," Gries said.

"He's moved," Baudier said.

"I believe so," the witch agreed, looking at the golden arrow.

"Have you some idea of the distance?"

"A somewhat lesser distance than the first casting; towards the sunrise."

"Let's walk back. The first casting was south and a little west of us. Is he due east?"

"More or less. I'll be able to do another search after a nap. This world takes a lot out of me."

"Ingelram isn't walking," Mante said. "He's a small boy. He isn't walking these distances."

"He's half Damasi," Gries pointed out. "Walking's easier for them than it is for us."

"He's a baby Damasi. Antrag said he could levitate a little, but not anything else."

"The cars," Baudier said. "Someone has him? And is moving him around?"

"I was wondering about the gates."

"Absolutely not," Cham said. "Our gate is not anywhere near either path and it has not opened since we arrived."

"There are other gates here."

Cham looked over at the black metal foil leaves, still standing stiffly away from each other under the glass dome. "No gate within five leagues has opened since we arrived.

"Cars, then," Baudier said.

"Considering the distances involved, perhaps we should hire a driver," Tivon said, eyeing Gries, who dropped her pack on the floor and went to the women's bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

"I'll go talk to Mac, the native at the posting station," Baudier nodded. "He may know of someone. Or I'll ask the bartender."

"Oh, and I paid the rent," Tivon said.

"So did I," Baudier said.

"I'll kill him," Tivon said.

"Who?"

"The landlord!" Tivon said.

"Wait," Mante said. "I don't think he cheated us, I think it's the spell."

"Oh," Baudier said, frowning. "You may be right."

"Which spell?" Tivon asked.

"The `state of indifference' one. The landlord may not have paid enough attention to us to notice when we pay the rent," Mante said.

"Right. So, only I will pay the rent, and I'll get a receipt."

"I wish we could read," Cham said, from the table. "I wish I could read."

"Which language?" Baudier said, waving a hand at The Sunnydale Evening Gazette, Registro Ocupacion, The Sunnydale Press, two papers in Chinese and one in Korean.

"At this point, I don't care. I've been reading since I was four. I don't feel totally like me, if I can't read."

***

Spike looked up as Ann let herself into the kitchen. "You're up and about early," he commented.

"I took Darcy to kindergarten, for a short session. I'll bring him back for his nap."

"I was wondering," Spike said. "Why do you know about a kindergarten?"

"As I said, I know the woman who runs it," Ann reminded him.

"For how long?" Spike took his Cambells out of the microwave and added Tabasco and celery salt.

"Some years."

"Three or four figures?"

"Clever boy," Ann said. "I've known Moly all your life."

"And longer than that, probably. Why does she run a school?"

"She enjoys it, even as different as contemporary schools are."

"What do you mean? Different from what?"

"Well, she ran on for a while, about how simple it was when she took the baby from the back door of the castle, raised her up and returned her to her parents when the queen or king sent the nurse with the signet ring," Ann said, putting the teakettle on the stove. "Now, Moly has to bother with vaccination certificates, test scores, accreditation of teachers, safety inspections and the other human rules and regulations. Which reminds me, Nancy is coming around this morning; we have to generate various papers."

"Forgery as a way of life?"

"More or less. Back to Moly: she does what she can--the school is nearly as safe as this house, at least as far as strangers and non-custodial parents not equipped with either a letter from a custodial parent or a court order, but to some degree, she misses the old days."

"How safe is this house?"

"There's a careful balance between adequate safeguards and flashing neon signs saying Don't touch! This is valuable. Do you want some tea?"

"Thanks, no, I'm headed for bed. Are there flashing lights pointing at us?" Spike asked.

"No. I go more for camouflage and misdirection, but with lots of alarms and detectors. We are never impervious to the point of attracting attention. In any case, at the moment, we want anyone looking for Darcy to be able to find him, but in a way that lets us look at her first."

The vampire nodded. "What sort of test scores does the state expect from kindergartners?"

"Moly will handle that."

"Does Darcy like her?"

"Yes," Ann smiled.

Spike smiled back, then said: "Willow called, she asks that you call her back."

"She was looking into rumors about Cerro Reynaldo. I wonder what she found out."

***

Ann called Willow, who said: "Can you come over? Susan is out of town and still not opening her e-mail, but it turns out I know the girl who is a new clerk over at the SPCA, and I met her for lunch yesterday. She just e-mailed me a bunch of data, about missing pets."

"Hold on," Ann said, and appeared in the Rosenberg dining room, where Willow had installed her computer for the summer. "Hi."

"Hi. Look here: see the cycle? I graphed the data, number of missing pet reports, with the phases of the moon--and the calendar date and the temperature, which don't seem to correlate at all--and we get these peaks every seventh full moon."

"This wasn't a full moon," Ann said. "At least not here."

"This graph," Willow said, "is stray animal reports; arrivals, I figure. They peak every fifteenth first quarter."

"Over what time span?"

"Twenty years or so," Willow said. "The senior clerk got her first computer back then. She's a counter."

"And it doesn't matter what she counts?"

"Not really, not to her."

"This wasn't first quarter, either."

"Yes, it's no help, but it's beautiful data."

"It may help in the long run. If I sit there next fifteenth first quarter, I may be able to identify the other side of the gate. When?"

"Another four moons."

"Something to look forward to," Ann shrugged. "Good work, Willow, thank you. Now, I have some strange, possibly welcome, news for you."

***

"He's moved again," Gries said.

"That's the direction he was before, isn't it?"

"Yes," Gries said.

"Take a walk, take a nap. In the afternoon, we'll locate him again, and start looking for a pattern," Baudier said.

"How are we going to get him if he keeps moving?" Cham said.

"If there is a pattern," Baudier said, "at some point we will know where he is going to be, and be there first."

"I'm going shopping," Gries said. "According to Raquel, down the hall, there's a witchcraft supply shop near the main part of town. I want some local simples."

"Mante, go with her. I think I will go talk to Mac."

"This is going to take forever," Cham said.

***

"You achieved saturation coverage, it appears," Giles said, picking some papers off the floor and putting them back on the desk. "Scarcely a telephone pole, wall or store window lacks a poster or notice showing Darcy and the phone number."

"The 800 number has been busy already. It appears there is a greater than average number of birthday parties this month," Ann said, buttoning her shirt. "And none of the hostesses have any imagination whatsoever."

"There must be a reason Martha Stewart is so popular," Giles said.

"With whom? I found two local jugglers who are willing to accept subcontracts, so everyone is happy." Ann found her boots and sat in the rickety second chair to slip them on.

"Not even a request for T-shirts?"

"Well, yes and no. The new jugglers wanted some. I had Willow make separate versions--with a different color baby for each of them--and since this was a commercial transaction, she gets a commission from each sale."

"How do you find local jugglers?"

"You call the local juggling school, which is in the Yellow Pages, between Jewelry Repair and Juices."

"I see."

"You always seem disappointed when I do anything the simplest way."

"You use magic so easily and so often, I am surprised when your explanations are so prosaic."

Ann laughed at him. "This will please you: Gang Long asked his grandmother for some yunü, to be Darcy's nursemaids. They'll arrive later today."

"Yunü?"

"Jade maidens, celestial attendants. You see them in paintings, standing around Xiwangmu or one of her fellow gods, holding incense burners or sunshades."

"I suppose a nanny, even a proper British nanny, would flee screaming into the night the first time Darcy changed."

"Rupert, Mary Poppins would find my household disconcerting."

"Have you come to a decision about Darcy? Are you trusting him?"

"Not completely. My truth spells are fallible," Ann said. "You weren't present when Harmony declared everyone loved her but Buffy."

"Are you worried?"

"He's very young. He may not understand. He may understand and may be trying to deceive us. He may be deceived himself. Someone else may be using him to deceive us... The possibilities are many. Claire says he's healthy, as far as she can tell, in both forms, and his teeth, when he's the blond, indicate he can eat a mixed diet of meat, grain, fruit and vegetables. We don't know what is normal for his type and what are his idiosyncratic tastes."

"Did Claire have any idea what he is?"

"No, and neither did Nancy when she stopped by. I ported Lorne, the host from Karitas, here yesterday, and even he has no idea what Darcy is. All we discovered is that Darcy has a pleasant enough singing voice, if you like childish trebles, and a good ear."

"What else did he tell you?"

"He tried to shy off, saying he doesn't like reading anything to do with me, but I insisted. He finally said Darcy likes us and doesn't really want to go back where he came from, but he does want to go home. To get that much out of him, I had to threaten to program his karaoke machine to play nothing but `Hyperdrive' or `Freewill'."

"That's a telling threat."

"It appears to be. I sent a message to Berengar, but I haven't heard from him yet, and I may not for a week or so. Where's Dawn?"

"Up at her school, helping get ready for the open house. She's a little anxious about it."

Ann nodded. "I had to promise to be normal."

Giles looked at her and raised one brow.

"I said I would be as normal as possible. I'm off," Ann said, kissing Giles. "I'm picking up Darcy."

"I wondered why you had the Mercedes." He rose and unlocked the door to his tiny office.

"Some of the staff and most of the children are human," Ann said. "If Darcy and I port in and out, we may alarm them. I'll save it for emergencies." She kissed Giles again, and left the office.

***

"Look," Mante said.

Gries inspected the poster the guard had indicated. "I cannot read the language."

"Does the boy look like Ingelram?"

"He somewhat resembles the sketch the governess gave us, I admit, but so do all the white haired children here. I have never actually seen him."

"What I find astounding is the variety of skin colors that go with the same white hair. I've seen every skin shade from unhealthy pale to golden brown to a sort of eggplant, all with hair like electrum. The picture on the container of milk looked like him, too, and that was really done in black and yellow," Mante sighed.

"I wonder what the red baby on the tabard is supposed to represent."

"Why did we come here?" Mante asked.

"I'm wondering if local supplies will help my spells work more easily," Gries said. The pair fell silent as a tall, pale skinned, black haired woman exited the shop and passed them. She stepped into the street, got into a silver colored car, and drove it away.

"Driving doesn't look that difficult," Mante said, holding the door for the witch. "If we had a car. I was watching the little theater last night. Cars can be stolen, apparently quite easily."

"Also hired," Gries said, going in.

***

Chapter 7 -- Visitations

SUNNYDALE

"So no one's looking for him?" Gang Long asked later that afternoon. The young dragon was in his man-form and had dressed with more care than usual. Today he had grown his hair down to his waist and was wearing a long tunic over loose pants, in two tones of gold, with red trim. His long hair was bound off his face with a gold clasp, and a ruby, set in gold, was in his right ear.

"We don't know that, all we know is that no one has called the number looking for him."

From the north terrace came a soft chime. "Ah," Spike said. "The au pair."

Ann rose and opened the French doors. "Greetings," she called.

Many voices answered her with laughter and giggles.

"Oops" does not need to be translated. The first girl through the door caught sight of Spike, said something to the people behind her, and assumed a grave and mild demeanor, hands still and eyes lowered.

Ann smiled at her, then at seven other girls who followed the first. They assembled themselves with the three shortest in front of four next tallest, with the eighth, the very tallest, to one side.

They all had black hair, put high in elaborate chignons and pinned with jeweled and carved hair pins. Each of them carried or wore a small round silver mirror, about six inches in diameter. Their long robes matched the colors of the jewels--ruby, sapphire, emerald, amethyst--with accents of white and black, silver and gold. They seemed to range in age from 15 to 20. Their complexions, whether cream pale or coffee black or in between, were clear and perfect. Their eyes, green, gold, brown or black, gleamed briefly, then were hidden under demurely down cast lids and long lashes.

The tallest girl stepped forward, bowed to Ann and said something Spike didn't understand and could barely hear. Ann replied, and again, Spike didn't understand. All the girls bowed to Ann. The tallest girl bowed to Gang Long and spoke softly again. Gang Long bowed back and replied briefly. All the girls bowed to Gang Long. Ann spoke again: "But we speak the language of the country in my home. This is Spike, Gangdao Shaolong's friend and mine, who frequently stays with us."

All eight girls bowed to Spike.

"I do not insist on so much ceremony," Ann said, "as you should remember, Xiuling. Greetings."

"Greetings, Jingwu," the tallest girl said, raising her eyes and smiling at Ann. "The Eldest did tell us we would meet her grandson's immortal human friend. Greetings, Spike."

"Xiuling," Spike said, carefully matching Ann's tones. "Hello."

While Spike had no problem telling the eight jade maidens apart, he did have some trouble putting names to faces. Xiuling, with her golden eyes, coffee skin and greatest height, he could always name, but he confused Roujin--green eyes, chocolate skin--and Lijin--black eyes and pale skin--mostly because they were about the same height and their names had the same finial sound.

Binwen and Huixin each had brown eyes, but Huixin was nearly as tall as Spike, with café au lait skin, while Binwen was only up to his shoulder and had skin the color of jasmine tea. Liangde had green eyes, and skin the coppery color of maple sugar and was nearly the same height as Yanghao, who had paler skin, like blonde caramels, and gold eyes. Jiding was taller than Huixin and could meet Spike's eyes on a level. She had black eyes and dark brown skin, like bittersweet chocolate.

Ann made the matter slightly simpler by saying: "Your task may involve going among the local human population. You will attract less notice if you dress in contemporary California styles when you are outside these walls. Here at home, while we're private like this, you may dress as you please."

The chignons and long robes vanished, and Spike was surrounded by Vogue and Harpers Bazaar models whose hair ranged from punk to pageboy and whose clothes included biker leathers, granny dresses, classic avante garde unisex, corporate upper echelon chic and the more ornate designs of Tim Yip. They still carried their mirrors, now changed to charm size, at most an inch and a half wide, and worn as earrings, pendants or pins.

Ann produced a variety of small foods, tapas, hors d'oeuvres, and appetizers, and some of her changeable wine, and they all relaxed and ate and drank and laughed.

After about an hour, Ann gathered everyone's attention and returned to business: "Now, in case you are wondering why you are here, you are about to meet the reason."

Darcy, as the blond kindergartner, appeared in the library. Apparently he had just awakened from his nap when Ann brought him down. He glanced around at the crowd, but didn't seem at all intimidated by the newcomers. He went directly to Ann, holding his arms up to her. She lifted him to her lap and said: "We gave him the use name Darcy, and that is how you will address him and refer to him."

"Darcy," eight beautiful voices said.

"He is separated from his parents and his usual caregivers. You will see that he is safe, cared for, and attends the Montessori kindergarten down in Northwoods. Now, Darcy, show the yunü your other form. No, it's safe."

The blue toddler appeared in Ann's lap.

"Oh," the yunü all cooed.

"Isn't he cute."

"Poor baby."

"We'll look after you."

"He looks like this only in this house," Ann said. "Nowhere else. We are avoiding the attention of the municipal authorities and the human crowds. You understand that, Darcy?"

The baby nodded and shifted back to the human looking boy.

"I have all his necessary papers, as well as any you might need. You can arrange your schedule as you please, with some limitations. Do any of you not drive cars?"

"Me," Yanghao, whose suddenly turquoise hair had become arranged in several smoothly coiled knobs scattered over her skull, said.

"And me," Jiding, now with cornrow braids alternately natural black and hot red, like licorice whips, with perfect columns of color continuing in the loose hair that fell below her waist, seconded. "We're too young." They looked at each other and grinned.

"Then you two get night or weekend duty only," Ann said. "We will speak English during the day, but after sundown, we will speak Alvish here, at least when we are alone. I've decided Darcy should maintain his fluency in his first language. Do any of you have any difficulty with that requirement?"

"No," from all the yunü.

"Good. Come with me now: I'll show you what we've done about a nursery and you can pick out your rooms." Carrying Darcy, Ann led the girls upstairs.

Left alone in the library, Spike turned to Gang Long: "The girls are sort of overwhelming."

"At least around Jingwu they're not bowing all the time. At my grandmother's, even playing with them is formalized. This will be a lot more fun. I'm going to swim."

"I'm going to see Dawn and the rest of the crew down at the Magic Box."

***

"But when do I get to see Darcy?" Dawn asked.

Leaving Darcy with the yunü, Ann had traveled with Spike in the Mercedes down to Sunnydale and the Magic Box where they found Dawn, Giles, Anya, Willow and Tara.

"Whenever you visit me," Ann said. "Weekdays after kindergarten. Lots of times."

"And who is watching him now?"

"Gang Long's grandmother sent me some help. He's being well cared for, Dawn."

"Why kindergarten?"

"There's much to be said for school," Spike said.

"He's a baby," Dawn said.

"He'll be with other five-year olds," Ann said, "and still carefully watched, since the Montessori school has a teacher for every four kindergartners."

"And what does he eat?"

"Claire had some fruit and nut bars that seem to agree with him and that he's willing to eat. He takes some to school for milk and cookie time and he eats the vegetarian lunch the school offers."

Dawn looked over at Ann, then said: "It's just that I found him, you know."

"It's proper for adults to look after children," Ann said. "I will take good care of him, Dawn. Why don't you come home with me after the open house, for swimming and dinner?"

"Yes, Dawn," Giles said. "You'll see Darcy's fine."

"Why don't all of you come? Giles? Tara? Anya?"

"I do like your dinners," Anya said, "we'll come."

"OK."

"I'm going to buy and fix another sedan," Ann said. "Vehicle scheduling has suddenly become complicated." She blinked out.

"I'm going to be sixteen pretty soon," Dawn said, à-propos of nothing as far as Spike and Giles could tell.

"Next year is not, technically speaking," Spike said, wondering where this was going, "pretty soon."

Dawn obviously considered saying something else, but decided against it. Instead, she asked: "What is the nursemaid like?"

"Yes, what are the celestial nymphs like?" Giles asked.

"First of all, there are eight of them," Spike said, then went on to describe each of the yunü. After he finished, Giles eyed him with interest.

"Spike," Giles asked, "are there any of them you do not liken to a confection?"

***

"So you want to learn to drive?" Mac asked.

"How hard can it be?" Mante asked. "I can drive wains."

"Never heard of it," Mac said. "We'll take the Vega. When we get to the parking lot, you can try. If you do OK there, you can take it out on the street."

Chapter 8 -- Lessons

SUNNYDALE

"It's an auto, so..." Mac started to say.

"I thought it was a car," Mante said.

"It's an automobile," Cham said.

"It's an automatic shift," Mac said. "Before we start, let me say that I don't put up with back seat drivers."

"What are they?" Baudier asked.

"All right!" Mac said. "Only Mante can talk. You two, in the back seat, shut up."

"I didn't think I was that close," Mante said.

"That was pretty good. Let's try Baudier."

"Can I talk now?"

"Yes."

"That one makes it go," Mante said.

"Hey!" Mac said. "You're in the back now. Shut up."

"I was backing up," Baudier said.

"What is this parallel to?" Cham asked.

"What does the little red light mean?" Mante asked.

"Oops."

"Where did that lamp post come from?"

"I'm not getting paid enough for this."

"Look, we'll buy the car."

"Who's the best driver?"

"Cham," Mac said.

"Are you sure? He goes so slow."

"Remember what I said about the speed limit? And staying in your own lane? You two will be stopped the first time you tear down the center of the street. Cham is the best driver of all you three."

"I'll drive us home." Cham said smugly.

***

Spike drove Anya, Willow and Tara over to the Bronze after Giles told Anya she could go. Xander Harris eventually joined them, kissing Anya before he said, "Hi."

"Hi, Xander," Willow said.

"Harris," Spike said. "How's the job going?"

"The client's dithering about the wood," Xander said. "We sat around, getting paid, sure, but it was a waste of time. She'll probably end up going with wallpaper, anyway."

"She should appreciate you more," Anya said. "Only not too much."

"Baby," Xander sighed, meeting her eyes and smiling goofily. Anya smiled back the same way. They leaned across the table and kissed again.

"Spike, is that a friend of yours?" Willow asked.

"No, but you're right," Spike said, following the Witch's eyes.

"Oh, god, he's after the dumb blonde," Tara said.

"And she's falling for it," Xander said.

"Well, he is cute," Anya said, "in a fifties bad boy sort of way."

"I'll handle him," Spike said. "Someone grab the girl."

"Me," Xander said.

"Got a stake?" Willow asked.

"Oh, yeah," Spike said.

"You can't do that here," Spike said.

"Slayer's dead, who's going to stop me?"

"We will," Xander said.

"Why do you care?"

"We like the Bronze peaceful and quiet. If you're hungry, have some Cambells. In any case..." Spike broke off as the vampire swung at him. Spike shrugged and staked him.

"You're getting good," Xander said.

"Practice."

"No, your style is changing."

"A stake isn't that different from a dagger."

"You have to be a little more precise about where you put it."

"Only if you're fighting vampires."

"Thank you," the girl said.

"Stay out of alleys," Xander said. "Especially with someone who just picked you up."

"He was only going to show me his car," the blonde huffed.

"Sure."

Xander and Spike returned to the others.

"Are there more vampires than usual around?" Anya asked.

"About the same, I think," Spike said. "We don't migrate with the seasons, you know."

"I'm surprised you don't go dormant," Tara said.

"That would just make us easier to stake," the vampire pointed out. "Contra-survival. Who wants a lift home? I'm leaving."

"Us?" Willow said, looking over at Tara.

"Yes, I think so. It's late."

***

Ann parked her new Jaguar down the block from Willy's. She entered the bar and approached Joshua.

"What do you have for me?" she asked him.

"A morlik, a taldis and a kardo. They say they're willing to listen to you, and Willy says you can use the room."

"Good. Introduce us."

Antrag, sitting with Baudier and Cham, watched Ann, the bartender and the three demons. "Is she one?" she asked.

"No," Baudier said.

"How can you tell?" Cham asked.

"She's paying them."

"I hope my father never finds out about this," the nursemaid worried, watching Ann and the humanoid morlik, leave via the paneled door to the right of the bar. The demon's scaly skin glimmered with a silvery cast in Willy's improved lighting.

***

Spike had a private errand to run after he dropped the Witches off at the Rosenberg home, but eventually he drove down the long driveway off Los Robles Road, hearing the lions roar. There was a new building, situated off the north and west corner of the house. Apparently Ann had found a car and decided she needed a place to put it. She had added a double garage, white stucco with a roof of photo-voltaic panels that looked like a standard metal roof in a light gray color and that matched the house as if had always been there. The new garage was joined to the main house by a covered walkway with three graceful stucco arches and a metal roof. Spike put the Mercedes in the old garage, entered the main house through the kitchen, then went upstairs to his room.

When he had returned to Sunnydale, after stealing the Viper from Ann and disappearing with it for more than six weeks, he had been captured by rogue Watchers bent on murdering Buffy and Rupert Giles. Getting free of them and deciding Ann was the best ally he could find, if he could convince her of the seriousness of the problem, he had driven the car back here, hoping he could explain before she staked him, stoned him or just took back her car and kicked him out.

This was the room she had locked him in, while she brought first Giles, then Buffy here to safety. It had been just another of Ann's guest rooms then. Since that time, she had made some changes: It was bigger, the walls had shifted out when she added the en suite bathroom and enchanted the closet. He was pretty sure the set back French balcony in the sitting area hadn't been here at first.

After that situation had been resolved, after Arlack Armel had disappeared, he had been free to go. Feeling contrary, unappreciated and wanting to make a nuisance of himself, he'd stayed. Without comment, Ann had let him. Well, mostly without comment: Rupert Giles had reminded him once, in Ann's presence, that Willow and Tara would be glad to cast a spell on the house that would keep any vampire out. Ann had said mildly that the Witches' spell probably wouldn't work and that anyway, she liked having Spike around, since she thought he was a good companion for Gang Long.

He opened the drapes and the balcony doors. A waist high railing filled the opening. He leaned on it and looked north, over the terrace. Gang Long, Roujin and Binwen, playing in the pool, gave no sign they had noticed him, and certainly they had every excuse for being preoccupied.

Well, Spike thought, digging far back into his classical education, shades of Krishna and the Gopis, or maybe Hercules and the daughters of Thespius, an incident the recent TV series had completely ignored. The activity in and around the pool was definitely dalliance, but it could also be termed informal play, since there was a lot of laughter and no bowing. One might even call it good, clean fun, considering all the soap bubbles in the spa. He turned off the lights and watched for a while. He could still appreciate a good orgy, at least as a spectator.

He didn't hear the door open, but from behind him came a giggle. He turned. Licorice stripes and turquoise knobs. Shit. "Oh, no. No. This is a bad idea," Spike said in Alvish. "I do a lot of really bad things, but I draw the line at little girls. A friend of mine is about your age. Out, and find your clothes."

"I'm as tall as you are!" Jiding said, also in Alvish.

"Jingwu said..."

"Ann? Ann sent you? That bitch. No," Spike insisted. "Thank you, but this is a really bad idea. Out. And put on some clothes."

"Lout!" Jiding said, as Yanghao burst into tears. The yunü vanished.

"God," Spike said, running his hands over his hair. The worst part was, he had been really tempted. He was still really tempted. Jiding was right, she was as tall as he was, which didn't lessen the guilt he felt for lusting after someone as physically immature as she appeared. He went down to the library, shutting the French doors on the north wall and pulling the drapes. He settled down at the computer and found the London Times editorial page. Intellectual argument, that was what he needed; failing that, he needed to exercise his innate idiosyncrasies.

Chapter 9 - Preparations

MINDO

Ressent, the acting Captain of the castle guards, stood up. "When was this found?"

"This morning."

"No one saw the fire?"

"Not that we've found. It is secluded and visually blocked, rocks here, hill over there."

"Who found it?"

"A pair of lovers. As I said, the place is secluded."

"Have they used it before?"

"Yes. Last time was two days ago, in the afternoon."

"Good job," Ressent said. He turned to the senior witch. "Can we move him?"

"He was stripped," Kailea the witch said. "And the fire was enhanced. There are still faint traces."

"Enhanced how?"

"Hotter and smokeless. I have no idea of when."

Ressent nodded. "Can we move him?" he asked again.

"No."

"Why not?"

"This is one end of his journey. I'm going to try a back-track spell."

"Aren't those really short term?" Ressent said.

"It's what we have," Kailea said. "Get some trackers and followers ready. Once I release the spell, they'll have to follow the marker."

With a gesture, Kailea directed the smoke from the censer over the body, from the feet up to the head. Over the head, the smoke gathered in a small globe, which began to glow.

Kailea cut the circle with her knife. The globe of smoke, glowing softly, levitated up slightly, then moved across country, back towards the castle. It moved faster than a horse or a man walked, but not as fast as a running man.

Witches and guards followed it. Kailea watched them go. "When the globe disappears, the body can be moved. I'll send word. I'm going back to the castle."

***

"Are you certain of the times you have given me?" Sagard asked.

"Yes, my lord. From three lyuds after sunset to three lyuds after midnight, a novice was there, in penitential meditation, contemplating the wholeness of the circle. No one could have entered or exited the castle through the gate during that interval."

"And the body that was found on the pyre?"

The senior witch answered as the Scholar held his hands up helplessly. "Was tied to blood we found at the base of the cliff and to the scrap of fabric we found on the top of the wall. The marker disappeared after it entered the fane."

"And do you know who he is?"

"My lord, we do not know what he is, except that he is not Mindoan. The body has been brought to the castle. We are attempting a cosmetic restoration spell, after which we will know what he looks like."

"I wish to view him, as soon as your spell is in effect."

***

"This is what he looked like just after he died," Kailea said.

"Ferenckian," Ressent said.

"How accurate is this?" the king asked. "His leg is at a strange angle. Is that an accurate representation of a broken leg or is it an inaccuracy in your spell?"

"His leg was broken," the witch said.

"And the ritual suicide wound?" Ressent asked.

"The wound is there; whether it was in fact suicide, I cannot tell."

"Immaterial," Sagard said, looking down at the blond human seeming male. "Theories?"

"They attempted to retrieve their hostage and flubbed it. They arrived via the gate. Somehow, the boy went through the gate alone and arrived on Earth. The novice entered the precinct and blocked access to the gate, so the intruders exited the castle over the wall. This one broke his leg at the base of the cliff. Later, he was killed, possibly suicide or murder, and burned."

"Who activated the gate the boy used, that Baudier and the novice Rolt found ready?" the king asked.

"We have no idea."

"And why was the gate focused to give access to a place other than Ferenc?"

Ressent held his hands up and shook his head, admitting ignorance.

The king nodded. "If the group here was prepared to go to Earth, they may have gone there through another gate, or there may be another group who went there from Ferenc." He turned to Kailea: "Can you send a message to Baudier?"

"Only by hand-carrying it. I will go," the witch said. "I can locate Gries."

The Sage looked at her: "And the spell of indifference? The one that is keeping our party safe from hostile notice?"

"The College thought of that. Gries and I are exempt, as far as one of us finding the other; we are the emergency cutout. I can locate Gries, and go directly to her, whereas Ressent must search out Baudier by mundane means, which, since Baudier would probably not be noticed much, if at all, would be difficult."

King Sagard considered, then nodded. "Assist her," he told the Sage.

Simio stepped forward. "If they did in fact attempt to retrieve their hostage, they may mean to restart the war. In any case, the safety of our hostage is in doubt," he said softly.

"The boy is on Earth, apparently alone. For all they know, we still have him," the king said. "The peace holds."

"And if their ambassador asks to see the boy?"

"Measles," the king said. "We had them last year. We can have them again."

HOVE

Magal considered his outfitter: "I loathe green."

"Earth frequently pairs brown and green. Any male `human' who lives in the northern half of the western hemisphere would appreciate this gear. It is almost a uniform for `men' your apparent age."

"I do like the boots," Magal said. He shrugged. "Styles change, I haven't been to Earth in over ten cycles.

"Trust me," the outfitter said. "With the second pair of trousers, and a change of shirt, you can go anywhere on Earth with these clothes."

"And local currency? Dollars," Magal said.

"Dollars," the outfitter agreed. "We have about $100,000 in `bills,' of various denominations. The numeric system is still decimal. Are you familiar with it?"

"Yes, but I want a refresher."

"We set one up for you, after your language and transportation briefings. We are supplying European Commonwealth papers, to support a cover story of `bird watcher.'"

"Bird watcher, again?"

"It rarely fails. If we knew which gate you were using, we could be of more help. May we brief you more particularly on what you will find on the other side of your gate?" the outfitter asked diffidently.

Magal frowned. "No," he decided, trading more precise information for greater security. "Thank you," he added.

"And your locating device," the outfitter said, placing a rectangular box, with a white bottom and a clear top. "This is the top of the line spellware specializing in tracking. It cannot be blocked, except by a very strong specific counter spell, which very few witches are capable of casting."

"Earth is relatively free of witches."

"Some areas are quite free, others are more of a problem," the outfitter said. "In any case, your homemade hedge-witch protections will be of no use in confusing this combination. The hardware is state-of-the-art. It opens thus:" He flipped the lid back and unfolded it twice sideways and three times up, resulting in a clear screen with a circular grid marked off in faint gray radii and concentric circles. There was a white dot in the center.

"Have you the targeting information?"

Magal handed the outfitter a lock of fine electrum hair and a pacifier. The outfitter opened the base of the locator and withdrew a wand on a flexible extension. He passed the wand over the hair and over the bulb of the pacifier. The screen flashed blue, and then cleared.

"And are you likely to encounter any known gate traveling persons?"

"Ennea, Damas, Ferenc, Mindoan, Atellun, and Maoli."

The outfitter opened a book of settings, selected the ones Magal had indicated and readied the locator to register the innocent bystanders. The device did not indicate the local population, who would have to take their chances. The outfitter said, "The device will assign indicators in this order: circles, stars, squares and triangles; in these colors in this order: green, red, yellow, orange, and purple. If you encounter any more known races than we expect, it will begin on a timely basis starting with a red star and continuing the sequence."

"Excellent."

"Thank you. Now," the outfitter said. "Will you want a consultation with one of our mages?"

"No, thank you," Magal said. Magicians and witches made him uneasy. Magic, human generated magic, was dangerous and unpredictable. Magal thought the only safe way to use magic was to separate magic from magicians. Put just enough magic to accomplish a desired result into an amulet, and you did not have to worry about a mage or a witch having a bad day or not being in the mood. The standardization of magic made it safe and usable by everyone, not just a few erratic individuals.

In his opinion, Ferenc made inferior protective amulets. Their productions were too individual, too undependable. The best protections were from the factories on Maoli, always, no matter where you were going. The Maolian amulets were predictable and reliable. An amulet made twenty years ago and one made yesterday, worked the same way and gave the same results. He had ordered his usual protection from a firm that had always given satisfaction.

"And your inoculations?"

"Up to date."

"Then, your reservation with the wardens of the gate is about 1/6 local day from now. We look forward to serving you again upon your return."

BREZELIANDE

Ricard, Berengar's aide, walked into his commander's office: "This came, from Earth," he said.

"Your family all right?"

"It's for you, from Meliora."

Berengar broke the seal and read Meliora's letter. "Interesting. She wants to know about blonds, brunettes and blue-skins."

"With that specific mix, she would have to mean Freneckians, Mindoans and Damasi, but the war's over. Oh, the final treaty's still being discussed, but there's a truce--hostages were exchanged and the armies went home. Didn't you send an observer?"

"A guest. To the wedding. That was nearly ten years ago." Berengar walked over to the window and frowned at the inoffensive scenery. "Without exactly asking, find out what the parties have to say, about the treaty, about the war and about anything else they're willing to talk about."

"We only have ambassadors and their staffs here, they never know anything."

"Go to Hove. Take Ambroys with you. Buy something."

"Well, obviously. You can't get out of Hove without buying something."

"Then go directly to Meliora. I'll prepare a background paper for her, and I'll have Gahariet deliver it."

"Can I come home by way of Seattle? I want to see my grand-daughter."

"That's fine. Take your time. Greet Claire for me."

Chapter 10 - Introspections

SUNNYDALE

At dawn, Spike kicked open Ann's door and stomped in, ignoring the growing daylight that had begun to fill her room. "I want to talk to you," he said.

"This is early for you, Spike. Or is it late?" Totally unperturbed, Ann yawned and waved one hand at the windows on three sides of her bedroom. Curtains appeared on the south and east, blocking the first shafts of morning sunshine.

"Late. I was too mad to sleep. I'm still mad. Did you decide I needed to get laid? And that I needed your help to get laid?"

"I did form opinions on those subjects," Ann said. "But if that is actually a question, if you mean did I slip a girl into your bed, the answer is no."

"The baby yunü with the punk hair mentioned that you had said something to them. They're about Dawn's age, dammit!"

"Yanghao and Jiding?" Ann tossed the sheet back and got out of bed, white silk pajamas appearing on her tall figure as she stood and glared at the vampire, who didn't retreat and glared back at her. "Yanghao is almost three times Angel's age and Jiding is more than twice yours. They just like being 15; once you get the hang of it, it's a comfortable, irresponsible age, not unlike being a surfer drop-out or an idiot vampire."

"Oh. Ah..."

"Yes?" Ann snapped.

"So what were those kids doing in my bedroom?"

She gave a short laugh and relaxed a little. "They're not children. The way they look is not indicative of their age, even if they were human, which they certainly are not."

"I hadn't thought of that. So why were they there?"

"They were trying to take you to bed, yes. Apparently they won the draw." Ann looked at Spike and smiled at his surprise. "The last time Gang Long was home, his grandmother wanted to see what you looked like. He conjured an image for her. All the girls saw it before they volunteered to come."

"His grandmother wanted a picture?"

"That was in the spring, when you were all dealing with Glory. He was very worried about you and the Eldest Dragon wanted to know what you were like."

"Because I'm an idiot vampire?"

"Because you're not a dragon."

"Well, there's nothing I can do about that."

"Spike," Ann said. "In human terms, Gang Long is a very rich and potentially powerful youngster, who is willing to share anything he has with you; and you have a very great influence over him. I don't think you realize how much he's changed since you've met him. His grandmother was worried you'd exploit the friendship. You could do very well for yourself."

"You make him sound like a Kennedy."

"More like Prince William or Athina, the Onassis heiress."

"I just like the kid. I enjoy running around with him."

"I know that. So does he. He likes you, too. Not only is his house your house, his yunü are your yunü. These yunü all say so, too. No one is making them sleep with you, but each of them expressed an interest in at least meeting you."

"Ah..."

"Now, you're right: I did speak with them. I have interfered to this extent: the girls will not use magic to seduce you."

"What?"

Ann smiled at him and, very softly, whispered his name.

Heat washed over him and everything but Ann and his immediate need to possess her fell away. All he could see was her, all he could hear was her breath and heartbeat. Her scent went straight to his head and his hands tingled as he reached out for her. He took a step forward.

Ann clapped her hands.

He almost stumbled, the change was so abrupt. Ann was just Ann again, friendly, enigmatic and dangerous. As calmly as he could, he asked: "Oh. They could have done that to me?"

"Yes. I didn't think that was fair."

"Bloody hell. No, that's not fair." He was silent for a moment, then said, "Sort of ecstatic, though, and I bet it can get even better. But you're right, it's not a fair thing to do." He heard Ann chuckle. "Thank you."

"My prohibition only limits their preliminary tactics, Spike. It will not stop them making sexual advances to you or inhibit them after you agree; if you choose to do so."

"That's all right. Are any of them as young as they seem?"

"No. Each of them is older than you are, and they all are counted as consenting adults in their home. I certainly consider them all old enough to make up their own minds about any lover they may wish to take, and you can handle your love life without any further interference from me."

Spike nodded. "Right. Ann? Why have you never taken the Viper back--I mean permanently? Or canceled the credit cards I stole from you?"

Ann laughed. "What brought that up?"

"I've been worrying about it off and on for some time, and you seem sort of accessible at the moment."

"I owe you one because I damaged your dignity just now?"

"That's pretty much my thought."

"You're pressing your luck. All right: I do not second guess Fate."

"What?"

"Do you recall what I once said, when we were discussing your use name?"

"William Parker? The bit about omens?"

"Yes: Omens come to everyone and only a fool ignores them. Willow has never satisfactorily explained why she picked that extremely inopportune moment to release you from my stasis spell, but her act did enable you to steal the car and the wallet at the only time they were vulnerable to theft. I repeat, I do not second guess Fate. That's only asking for trouble. The car and the cards are yours."

"I see. Actually, I don't."

Ann shrugged. "Don't worry about them. I would appreciate it if you didn't steal anything else in Sunnydale till further notice, however."

"You serious?"

"Please. This isn't a whim, Spike. I have reasons I won't discuss at the moment."

***

Spike came out of his bathroom, looked at the woman seated cross-legged on his bed, tossed the towel he had been using to dry his hair back through the bathroom door, and looked over at the door to the hall. He checked the lock. It was still locked. He turned back to the woman.

"I don't know why Ann bothered to put a lock on my door when almost everyone in this house but me can teleport," he told Xiuling.

"Possibly it figures in some arcane human ritual?"

"Everyone in this house, including me, is not human, so I don't think that could be the reason." He pulled a robe out of the closet and put it on.

"That lock would stop most of the people who have been trying to kill you recently, Spike."

"That's true, but how do you know?"

"I wanted to know more about you, so I spied on you."

"How?"

"My mirror."

"Vampires don't show up in mirrors."

Xiuling looked at his closet door. Spike followed her eyes.

"Ann's mirrors are special," he said.

"As are mine. I helped her with that," Xiuling said, nodding at the mirrored door. "Not just to show vampires, that was simple, but to integrate the mirror into the supply spell. Everyone has a favorite way of expressing magic. We use mirrors. You were very popular."

"Like Spikecam?" The vampire was appalled.

"Life size display," Xiuling said.

"How long did you watch?" he asked, wanting to know how bad it was, how much she knew about him.

"I backed up a bit, so figure, oh, from the time you first met Anyuanjun Jingwu until about two days ago."

"That's quite a while. I hope you can adjust the playback speed." He had met Ann--somewhat informally, it was true--shortly before he tried to get Buffy killed by spreading lies about her and all her friends, more than a year ago. The Buffybot? Cheating at solitaire? Extorting sex from Harmony? Oh, shit--Harmony? Petty theft, although he had mostly stopped that.

"I zipped over a lot of the dull spots. You're cute when you're asleep and you made a charming birdbath, although you were a really ugly lamp." She considered silently, then added: "A lot of that was the awful shade, although your pose didn't help at all."

"I'm glad I was so entertaining," he said bleakly.

"I didn't like a lot of it," the yunü said.

"I've done some bad things." God, she would have seen everything he did, from simple lapses in taste, to stupidity and venality, to real treachery.

Xiuling nodded again. "Yes, you have." She was just stating the truth, not judging him, not condemning him. "Some bad things were done to you." She uncoiled from her lotus-style posture, her brocade trousers and tunic rustling as she rose to her feet and approached him. With both of them barefoot, and her hair loose and not up in her high chignon, he could see that she was still nearly two inches taller than he was. She touched the corner of his mouth, tracing the faint scar the god's hand had left on him. A tingle ran through him. It was nothing like what Ann had just done to him, nothing like what he had felt for Buffy, but it did make him remember that he was male. Xiuling continued: "You defied Glory to keep your friend safe -- the little girl Yanghao and Jiding remind you of. That was a spectacular, if painful, initiation into adulthood. I liked it when you tricked the god into freeing you."

"I was lucky."

"Luck is real, so is resolve, endurance, and a willingness to give up childish things. I liked much of what I saw of you, Spike, and I would know you better."

"You may not like what else you find out."

"I may not," Xiuling agreed.

"If you can risk it, maybe I can. I'd like it if you stayed."

***

"He's south again," Gries said.

"All right," Baudier said. "Can you do another casting?"

"Yes, at least one more," the witch said. "The local supplies are working more smoothly for me."

"Rest, while Cham drives east."

"East it is. How far?"

"We want a nice long leg," Baudier said. "I'll keep track of the turns, and you drive for at least a lyud, or two, always keeping the sun at your back."

"The lines cross here, on the street named Sacramento and the one labeled Fremont," Gries said.

"And we're here," Baudier said. "Go that way," he directed Cham.

"All right," Cham said. "We're here."

"There," Gries said.

"What?" Baudier said.

"It's a school," Cham said. "That yellow thing--it's a school wain, it takes children to school every day. I saw one just like it on the little theater."

"And those are teachers," Gries said.

"Yes," Baudier agreed. "They couldn't be anything else."

"Certainly a lot of them," Cham said.

"However, that," Baudier said with great conviction, "is a guard." He indicated a woman, wearing pants and a stiff little cap.

"Yes, I agree," the witch said.

"There he is," Cham whispered.

"Where?"

"The blond boy, over there."

The witch sighed. "Unless he's the blond boy over that way."

"Or one of the two blonds coming out the door," Baudier said.

"Not the one with blonde pigtails down to her waist, I bet," the witch said.

"The guard is looking at us," Cham said.

"Let's go," Baudier said. "We need Antrag. She's the only one of us who can tell one blond boy from another."

"And then what?" Gries asked. "Get in a fight with that guard? We need Ingelram alive, unharmed and ready to travel."

"We'll watch some more today," Baudier said. "Put the car on the road that leads to where we think he spends the night. You two, stay in the car and keep track of the cars that travel that road. I'm going to get closer through the woods and see what the rest of the school looks like."

***

"Ann's cooking something interesting," Spike said, in Alvish.

"That's not Jingwu, that's Yanghao and Lijin," Xiuling said. "And what they're preparing for dinner is roast suckling pig with peach and peanut chutney. One of their specialties."

"How old is Yanghao?" Spike asked.

"Older than you are, younger than I am. More to the immediate point, she's a very good cook."

"It must be dark out. Did we sleep all day?"

"Among other things," Xiuling smiled and kissed him. She left the bed. "I'm hungry. Are you coming down to dinner or going back to sleep?"

Watching her, Spike wondered how old she was. Xiuling looked as young as Jiding. Well, she seemed to enjoy him and he certainly enjoyed her. Ann has said the yunü were adults and he believed her.

"Is Yanghao likely to poison me?"

"Well, she should, but Gangdao Shaolong probably won't let her." Xiuling opened his closet and removed a rectangle of lined silk, black on one side, gold on the other. She shook it and tossed it up in the air. It floated up, spread out, dropped slowly around the naked yunü, and wrapped itself around her.

She brought the ends around herself, twisting them up between her breasts and passing them around again to tie at her back, like a Tahitian pareu. She reached into the drawer he usually found T-shirts in, and pulled out a gold ribbon, which she used to tie her hair back.

"I should apologize?"

"What do you think?" the yunü asked, putting her mirror, now a stick pin, on her dress.

***

Spike spoke quietly with Yanghao, then wandered over to Gang Long.

"Where's Ann?"

"Jingwu is visiting Taos, with Lindsay," the young man said.

"I thought he was going to trial?"

"A plea bargain was arranged at the last minute. Human justice is complex. And occasionally silly. He called, she left, she'll be back tomorrow morning. We're to stay alert and to keep Darcy's schedule. If Dawn calls, we're to tell her that Jingwu hasn't forgotten about the open house tomorrow."

Spike looked around: Gang Long, wearing only a red and gold robe, was on the chaise longue, with Roujin and Huixin seated next to him. Xiuling was over at the table, pouring wine while she talked to Binwen. It was all very pleasant, possibly a little decadent even, but not necessarily up to Ann's normal standards of safety. "What about security? Do we have someone on watch?"

"Besides the shouyu and all the wards and alarms? Yes. Jiding. Liangde is with Darcy and the cubs. You worry too much, Spike."

"A careless vampire is a staked vampire," Spike pointed out.

"No, it's not your vampire status, it's your Victorian upbringing," the dragon said.

"It's probably both," Xiuling said, handing Spike a glass.

"We're serving," Yanghao called.

***

Chapter 11 - Open House

SUNNYDALE

"Good morning," Ann said.

"Hi," Spike said.

"Good morning," Xiuling said, looking up from the stove. "Shall I make enough breakfast for you?"

"No, we had a quick breakfast before I sent Lindsay home. I'm going to bed."

"Jiding wants to talk to you before you sleep, even if you have to wake her."

"And Dawn called yesterday about the open house," Spike said.

"I thought she might. Did you talk to her?"

"Yes. She's a little nervous."

"It will be all right. I can do normal, even if she doesn't believe it. No one wake me before one. Good night." Ann left the kitchen and went upstairs. Jiding was in the red room, and still awake. "Good morning. You have a report?"

"Well, Spike apologized for hurting our feelings."

"Good. Excellent, in fact. And?"

"A searching, yesterday afternoon."

"Right. I didn't seal us off, since I assume Darcy's caretakers or parents will be searching for him and our long range plan is to return him to his home. So. Taste? Feel?"

"Sort of human, but maybe not Earth human."

"Did the searcher notice you?"

"I couldn't tell."

"Get some sleep. I think I want you with us this afternoon."

***

"That car," Mante said.

"That symbol, the one that sticks up on the front, is a Mercedes, and it's the same car we saw yesterday," Baudier said. "And that could be Ingelram."

"Take another look."

"Oh, hell."

***

Ann ported into the Magic Box later that afternoon. Dawn greeted her with relief.

"I thought you'd forgotten," the girl said.

"No, of course not. You look nice."

Dawn did. She was wearing ragged jeans, -- not the low, low kind, but the sort with the knees mostly ripped out -- and a white tube top under a crocheted sweater. The sweater was an irregular mesh, with so many beads strung on the thin black yarn she had used to make it, their weight pulled the neckline down off her shoulder. She was very proud of her creation, which managed display and concealment in a comfortable ratio. "You too," she told Ann generously.

Ann wore black and two shades of green in her usual silk pantsuit and shirt. "Respectable?" she asked.

"Very," Dawn agreed.

"Your teachers will like me, Dawn. Don't worry."

"Where's Spike?" Dawn asked.

"He's still in bed," Ann said. "He is a vampire; they're sort of nocturnal, after all."

"We're going off to the open house," Dawn told Anya.

"Have fun," the ex-demon said. "Although why your school is having an open house before school starts bewilders me. I don't like being bewildered."

"It's mainly for the new kids who don't live in the neighborhood, and their parents," Dawn said.

"You're not going," Anya told Ann.

"We're waiting for Darcy."

"I thought I wouldn't get to see him until tonight. Neat."

"Since we're going up to your school, I thought he could see you and show me where his gate was, if he can remember."

"Oh, customers," Anya said. "In a Mercedes. Rich customers."

"Sorry, Anya, that's who we're waiting for."

"That's not your Mercedes." Anya was definite.

"It's the new one. We needed another car."

Binwen, Jiding and Darcy entered the Magic Box.

"What happened to his hair?" Dawn said.

"Color envy," Ann said. "He likes Jiding's hair a lot."

Dawn and Anya saw an American-Chinese mother and daughter pair: The mother, Binwen, slightly shorter than Jiding, was dressed in an elegant Yves Saint Laurent pantsuit in red linen. She wore a pair of round silver earrings and a single strand of pearls.

Jiding, as the daughter, still had her licorice hair but her skin was as pale as Binwen's. She was wearing a peasant blouse in gold with black accents and a pair of black pants with gold accents. She wore a necklace of many strands of black beads supporting a pendant, a three inch carved silver disk, showing Chinese characters and glyphs in concentric circles around a central boss. She held Darcy's hand. Darcy pulled free and ran to Dawn, who picked him up, hugged him, then put him down and held his hand, stroking his bright purple school-boy cut with approval.

"Your hair is really neat," she said.

"Jiding did it last night," the little boy said. "I wanted it like hers, but then we did it this way. I like this way."

"It's nice. Did they like it at school?"

"Yes. Beth said it was the purplest hair she'd ever seen."

"Who's Beth?"

"One of my teachers. I like her."

Ann introduced the yunü and the Key, then the yunü and the ex-demon.

"I really like your hair," Dawn said to Jiding.

"You should see Yanghao--turquoise knobs. Jingwu says we're young enough to get away with extreme hair styles."

"Do you really look after Darcy? Aren't you like me? About 15?"

"I'm older than I look--sort of like Jingwu."

"Most importantly, they like Darcy and he likes them," Ann said.

"Do they look after you all right, Darcy?"

"Yes," the boy said. "And the human kids at school are nicer."

"Giles says you're like nymphs. Is he right?"

"In what respect?" Jiding asked.

"The yunü do resemble classical western nymphs," Ann said. "They also agree with some Sunnydale definitions of demon. For example, they can shape-shift. The way Jiding and Binwen look right now is their formal terrestrial guise, except for Jiding's hair. Before we start, please display your informal and classic guises for Dawn."

Binwen didn't change much: in her classic guise she was shorter, and her hair was in the elaborate chignon that was the standard style for yunü. In the private, informal guise, she wore her hair in an elegant pleat and looked as if she should be carrying a brief case and firing whole boards of directors.

Jiding shot up a couple of inches, becoming nearly as tall as Spike. Her skin turned to bittersweet chocolate and her hair was entirely black. In the informal guise, her hair was licorice stripped and she wore black leather.

"Wow," Dawn said. "That is so neat. Ann shape shifts, too. I wish I could."

The women and Darcy left the shop. Ann held the back door of the Mercedes for Darcy and Dawn, while Jiding slipped in the other side.

Binwen got behind the wheel and Ann sat in the passenger seat.

"Bad idea," Ann said. "You may not get back to human form, which would upset your friends. Under no circumstances is the Key to apport or to go through a world gate," she told the yunü.

"Gangdao Shaolong warned us. He said she might come apart under simple gravitational stress," Jiding said.

"I bet I could teleport. I'm not really a Key anymore," Dawn said.

"Maybe, maybe not. You might still be a Key, or you might become a Key again. Read this."

"What is it? I don't understand most of it."

"The blood Claire drew the last time she saw you? Remember?"

"Yes," Dawn said, unhappiness plain in her voice. Claire and she had met just after Buffy died.

"What this says," Ann explained, "is that your blood is Summers blood, yes, but only physically. That was what the first vial told her. It's when we move into the realm of metaphysics we run into problems. Claire apported the second vial, moving it from one side of her backyard to the other. That one arrived empty, with the seal still intact. She asked Nancy to carry the last vial from her yard to another place and back. Nancy returned to Claire with plastic shrapnel in her hand, where the vial had exploded."

"Oh. She was hurt?"

"She's fine, don't worry. But." Ann turned in the seat and looked fully at Dawn. "But, you're not totally human. We don't know if you're just not totally human yet, or if you're permanently not human in some ways. We'll run the tests again after the turn of the year, about six months. Until we know otherwise, no gating, no porting. Sorry, Dawn."

"So how do we get to San Francisco?"

"We take my new Jaguar, we spend the night at the condo and we drive back the next day."

"Can we go to the No Mirrors Bar?" Dawn asked.

"No."

MINDO

"You're going to be using the main gate. The Sage is worried about using the same manifestation twice in a row and he can send you there alone, without a guide. You'll come out on the top of a hill. The main town is south, a walk of four lyuds or so." Ressent handed Kailea her pack.

The senior witch nodded and slipped the pack on her back.

The governess handed Kailea a sketch of Ingelram. "This is a good likeness of him, although we don't know what clothes he'll be wearing after all this time."

"Pretty normal looking boy," Kailea said. "For a Ferenckian."

"With silver colored hair."

"Ah."

"And sometimes he looks like a Damasi," the governess said. "But he's only a baby in that form."

HOVE

"What is the delay?" Magal asked.

"Traffic," the gate warden said. "You get too many people using the same or closely neighboring gates, either the starting or the destination gate, and there's a slowdown. That's all. Nothing to worry about. There she goes."

SUNNYDALE

The hills east of town, where Ann's house was, were part of a series of ridges running roughly diagonally to the coast. Ann's house was directly south of the start of Coyote Canyon County Park, which was situated on several ridges and the valleys between them. It ran in a long flat arc from about due east of town to the coast some distance north of the harbor. The park had horse trails, hiking trails, an antique and very famous merry-go-round, and even an artificial lake for freshwater swimming and fishing.

Access was limited, as were the roads, which were narrow and prone to washouts in the rainy season. The crumbling canyons were full of oaks, madrone, poison oak, and eucalyptus, with a few stands of single-needle pine. The canyons and hills regularly burned and threatened the wooden-sided and asphalt-shingled houses that were built as close to the open area as legally possible.

Cerro Reynaldo, while not included in the park, was far enough north of the center of town that several churches, a church school, Dawn's city school and a small city park, including the playground and picnic area, found room to perch atop the hill. About half way down the hill's north-west side was the city limit and one of the entrances to the county park.

Binwen parked in one of the parking lots that had been terraced out of the hill's slope and the five of them walked up towards the playground. With the scarcity of level ground, the school's playgrounds and all the churches' parking lots, rather than being large and always adjacent to the buildings they served, were small and scattered around the top third of Cerro Reynaldo. There were children running around, and even adult pedestrians, far more than one would find in any similar neighborhood on more level ground.

It was not unusual to see hikers coming and going here, and even Ann, Jiding, and Binwen paid no attention to Kailea, dressed in boy's pants and short tunic and carrying a large backpack, come down the hill as Binwen, Ann, Jiding, Dawn and Darcy left the parking lot and walked towards the playground.

Glancing at the walls and the telephone poles, Ann noticed all her posters were gone. So were the graffiti that had been sprayed on the retaining wall. "Did they clean up for the open house?" she asked Dawn.

"Yeah, I was here yesterday, running the pressure sprayer. We did a good job, didn't we?"

"An excellent one," Ann agreed.

Chapter 12 -- Arrivals

SUNNYDALE

Magal, looking as if he was just walking to his BMW to go to a game of handball, in khakis by Dockers, short boots by Florsheim, and a really nice dark green turtleneck by Malo under a tobacco leather blazer by Calvin Kline, walked around a windbreak and surveyed the area. Humans, he remembered, were what the natives were called. What a lot of colors they came in. A weapon was concealed on his body, but ready for quick use, should he get the opportunity. He carried a leather duffel which did not contain sports equipment, but did contain other useful objects.

Two women with black hair were approaching the playground, accompanied by their children. One woman had a warm, amber skin, while the other, taller, woman had a pale, cold complexion. The three children were mixed, and displayed very different hair colors, two of them obviously artificial.

Passing them on the way out of the playground was a solid young woman with dark tan skin and dark red hair. She wore a backpack and sturdy sandals.

Magal decided he could take a quick survey. He sat down at a picnic table and opened his leather duffel. He removed the locator and unfolded the screen. "Perspex", he said, and the pale gray grid appeared on the screen, coincident with the searching magic which the object utilized to find its targets. Two glowing, overlapping circles, one blue and one orange, appeared on the surface, nearly touching the white dot at the center which represented Magal's location. Blue! Right here! Almost on top of him! Orange, too, he realized. Someone from Mindo is also here? And has already found the boy? That made his job a little harder, a little messier, but one he could still perform.

Kailea sensed the magical surge, recognized what it was, stopped, and turned around. If someone from Ferenc was here, searching for Ingelram, she could explain that she was here to help and even suggest joining forces so the boy could be recovered sooner.

Ann, Jiding and Binwen also felt the tracking device power up. They did not know what was happening, but Jiding stepped back and around Darcy, so the children were inside a triangle of adults.

"Ann?" Dawn asked, taking Darcy's hand.

"I don't know, Dawn." After a moment, Ann said, "Let's go back down."

Binwen took up her mirror, which she was wearing as an earring. Jiding glanced over at her and removed her mirror from her necklace.

"No magic yet," Ann ordered.

"All right," Binwen said.

"Jingwu?" Jiding said quietly, as the woman hiker neared them.

The blue dot suddenly disappeared from the grid. Magal smacked the base and said, "Perspex!" again. The grid blinked out, then reformed with a misty white glow over the entire screen. Through the haze, the orange dot, now pale and fuzzy, was moving towards him. The Mindoan had to be a witch! He left the picnic table and walked east, looking down at the women with their children and the woman hiker, now all standing in a loose group near the entrance to the area with the strange metal pipes and chutes.

Ann, Binwen and Jiding glanced carefully at Kailea as she walked past them. There was a trace of power about her, but nothing like the flux that had swept over them. This time, however, Ann noticed the fine linen shirt and the heavier linen pants, cut in the same style as Darcy's wool ones.

Kailea walked past the locals, intent on the source of power she had sensed. There was a man on the top of the hill, near the source. He was short, a mix of shades of grayish beige, and very attractive, in a strange, foreign style. He was neither Ferenckian nor Damasi, but he was intriguing, certainly. Strange. Maybe he had nothing to do with the missing hostage at all.

Darcy clung to Dawn's hand.

"Take Darcy and walk back toward the car," Ann told Binwen. "Be ready to port directly home."

"Jingwu?" Darcy asked.

"Binwen and Jiding are going to take you home, Darcy," Ann told the boy. "You can show me where you arrived another time. Go along with Binwen."

"OK," the little boy said.

"Come on, Dawn, we're going this way. Walk on my other side, please."

"Ann?" the girl asked, letting go of Darcy's hand.

"He'll be fine, Dawn," Ann said, leading Dawn over to the old fashioned steel slide. "Sit down and tuck your legs up."

Magal's locator suddenly cleared, showing the orange circle below him and a blue circle moving south away from him. His eyes moved along the path leading down towards the parking lot. The amber skinned woman with black hair was carrying her younger child, the one with purple hair, while the older child, the one with the strange red and black hair hurried along by her side. None of them could be his target--his target had blue or blond hair.

He looked directly down the hill. The orange circle was moving toward him, the blue circle still moving farther away. The other local woman and her child had disappeared.

Artificial! That crazy native, not content with painting her own child's hair those clashing stripes had turned the target's hair that weird purple for some reason. He closed the locator and stowed the small box in his inner jacket pocket. Gripping his duffel, he set off after the target. He would have to kill the native and her child, but he would get the job done and return to Ferenc in record time. He drew the air pistol.

Kailea, nearly at the top of the hill, saw the gun. Why would anyone so carefully dressed carry around gardening equipment? "Excuse me," she began.

Magal pointed the weapon at her.

Kailea stared. Maybe it wasn't a plant sprayer. She flung her hand up and shouted one word. The man did not freeze, as she expected, but he did slow down. Right, one part of her mind recognized. I'll need to adapt my magic for this world. She turned and ran down the hill

Magal flinched back as his Maolian amulet rose off his chest and flared, then recovered and struggled to free himself from the remnants of the damned witch's stasis spell. The amulet dropped back to his chest, its glow slowly fading. Gods of all stars, he hated witches. He hated all magic.

"Stay put," Ann told Dawn. "I'm going to take a closer look."

"Ann?"

"They won't see me," Ann reassured the girl, and slowly turned invisible.

"Oh."

Ann ported up the hill, ending up near the man coming down the hill. The man turned his back fully on Ann as his gaze followed Binwen, Jiding and Darcy as they moved clockwise around the hill, back toward the parking lot. She watched the woman with the backpack freeze the man, then turn and run down the hill. What had brought that magical attack on? Ann wondered. She switched her attention back to the man, who was not, in fact, frozen. Ann watched the man, ignoring the running woman, at first very slowly, then with increasing speed, continue after Binwen.

Ann shape-shifted--becoming a very young--and she hoped a very non-threatening--woman, slender, shorter than Willow, with a shining cap of red-gold hair, huge turquoise eyes under darker brows set at a slant in a pale, ovoid, elfin face, and changed her clothes. Now she wore a bright turquoise dress with a flared skirt and long sleeves, with high purple boots and a purple and gold print vest--and ported between the man and Binwen, Darcy and Jiding, becoming visible as she landed.

Binwen, Darcy and Jiding vanished.

The man looked down at her, surprised into stillness for a moment, then raised the strange device in his hands as if it were a weapon. Ann waved one hand. The weapon, if that is what it was, vanished, reappearing in one of the cells beneath Ann's house on Los Robles Road.

What? Where was his weapon? Magal took in the girl in front of him. She didn't look like a witch. She looked innocent and outdoorsy, like a picture book young milk-maid, with a dusting of freckles, even. Where had she come from? There was a readiness and confidence about her that worried him. He started a hand strike, which should have killed her. The girl's own hands flickered, then she caught his hand and held it, without hurting him at all, as if it were cast in stone. His feet seemed mired in thick mud. Stepping forward and keeping him off balance, she spoke:

"Talk with me," Ann urged gently, softly. "I mean you no harm. We must talk."

Her voice was beguiling, seductive. Magal started to speak to her, wanted to obey her, but his Maolian amulet flared again. He freed his arm and stepped back, his feet suddenly free.

Ann made no effort to hold him.

He turned and ran around and down the hill, veering west. He sped past St. Agonie's School, where the monks and students in their robes of dusty rose stared at him, then up the hill to see what he was fleeing.

Kailea, feeling several almost overlapping surges of magic, risked a look behind her. Who was that, where had she come from and what was she doing here? Later, she decided, and ran.

Ann glanced over at the woman who was running down the hill, angling away from Magal. People in the parking lot watched her go. From Dawn's school, a group of children ran out the door and up the hill in a noisy pack. Some adults followed them more slowly.

This was getting entirely too public. Ann walked to the top of the hill, shifted back to her usual self as she walked around one of the tall windbreaks, and walked down to Dawn. "Hi," she said. "Let's go."

Before Dawn could respond, the new contingent of children had climbed the ladder to the top of the slide. Ann and Dawn walked north out of the playground, down to Dawn's school, joining in the straggling incoming line of new guests.

"What happened is this," Ann said, and spoke briefly.

"Oh, my god!" Dawn said. "Really? Oh, my god!"

"Yes. You know," Ann said calmly, "being your trustee is much more educational than I had imagined it could be. I'm always learning something new. I certainly didn't expect an open house, even at a magnet school for creative and original students, to be this exciting."

Dawn giggled.

***

Chapter13 - Alarums and Excursions

SUNNYDALE

Xiuling put a hand on Spike's chest, holding him off, and sat up.

He started to ask her what was wrong, when he saw she was already listening to something. He settled back on the pillows and waited, drawing a strand of ebony hair through his white hand. After a brief time she turned back to him. "What?" he asked.

"Jingwu sent Binwen home. There was an inconclusive incident out on the hill."

"Is everyone all right?" he asked, starting to sit up.

She pushed him back down. "Yes," she said, "but when Jingwu and young Dawn get back from her school, we're going to have a council."

"They went on to the open house?"

"Yes." She bent over him, hands and mouth gentle and warm on his skin.

"Sounds as if they're OK," he managed.

"Darcy was a little frightened, but Jiding is comforting him."

"All right, then," and he pulled her down beside him and kissed her.

***

Kailea ran down the hill. At Terrace Avenue she veered south and raced on. When she came to the first intersection, she turned east, onto Hillside. Panting, she slowed and walked up and over the low ridge. On the other side, Hillside T'd into Skyline Drive, which ran north and south. A strange narrow lane, very straight, paved, with occasional sets of steps, and with tall barricades on either side, continued down the ridge. She could not read the sign but went east and down into Coyote Canyon County Park.

***

At the Y-intersection immediately below St. Agonie's school, Magal took the north- bearing street. He continued down Cerro Reynaldo, always taking the north or west street whenever there was a choice.

Magic! No one had mentioned magic might be used against him. The target was too young to be a magician or warlock, he had made sure of that before accepting the contract. Two witches in a row was unnerving. He wasn't ophiophobic or acrophobic or agoraphobic or claustrophobic or hedonophobic or poinephobic but he did find facing loose magic unsettling in the extreme.

His first weapon was gone. All he had left were a couple of knives, a garrote, two kinds of poison, a local 9mm handgun--with a silencer, three boxes of bullets, $100,000, a pair of binoculars, a book on local birds, a box of ammunition for the vanished air gun, the tracking device and a change of clothes.

The street he was on angled north and leveled off, becoming narrow, with fewer houses. There were signs showing silhouettes of people walking and also of horses. Eventually, the road went over a graceful stone span, crossing a shallow, but wide river. On the other side, the elevation fell rapidly and the road turned west. Magal kept going.

***

"I must get up," Xiuling said. "Jingwu is coming home."

"What's the rush?"

"I have something to do before she gets here." She gave him a quick kiss, then disappeared.

Spike decided there was no reason to stay in bed alone and wandered off to the bathroom. The shower reinvigorated him. He felt ready for anything as he dressed and when he heard the lions roaring to announce Ann's return, he went down stairs.

***

"So it was really great, and everyone liked Ann and agreed that she is like totally respectable," Dawn said. "I just called her my trustee and everybody nodded just like they knew what I meant or had a trustee of their own, which I know for a fact none of them do, and after summer school, I get to go on to tenth grade at the new high school and I get to pick my own courses, or at least three of them, and I don't know what to take. Wow, I'm so grown up!"

"We have nearly four weeks to discuss what your class schedule will be," Ann said, leafing through a sheaf of handouts. "I'll show these to Rupert when he arrives." The papers vanished.

"And Malinda's mother found out about her sister's navel ring, and was really pissed. Where's Darcy?"

"Out in the pool, with the cubs and Binwen and Yanghao," Spike said.

Dawn rushed off to the downstairs bathroom, where Ann kept a large selection of bathing suits. Ann caught Spike's eye, and he waited with her.

"Council," she told him, and went to the dining room.

In the formal dining room, the French doors were shut and the drapes drawn. Gang Long and the other yunü were seated on two sides of the long table. Spike took a chair across from Gang Long and waited as Ann sat at the head of the table. She nodded to Jiding, who released her mirror,

The mirror, spinning slowly, rose against the interior wall and grew in size. Cerro Reynaldo appeared in it. Ann provided a flat street map of the area, on the wall to the right of the mirror. A white dot appeared on Ann's map.

Jiding gave the basic data of who, where and when. The white dot moved out from the parking lot while the view in the mirror's POV changed, rather like a hand held camera.

"Darcy said he didn't recognize either of these people, Jingwu," Jiding said.

"Freeze that," Ann said.

"What is she?" Spike asked.

"Look at her clothing," Ann said.

"Ah. Right," Spike said, seeing what Ann had seen.

Ann, the children and the yunü stopped. Jiding took her mirror in her hand and moved around Darcy.

The young woman in clothing like Darcy's turned around and walked up the hill. The mirror followed her, the POV becoming more and more jerky.

"Freeze that," Ann said.

"Why is it always in focus?" Spike asked, looking a small, dark man, dressed in unremarkable Earth clothes.

"It's a mirror, not a camera," Jiding said.

"What's he holding?" Gang Long asked.

"An air gun," Liangde said. "More or less, but not a very good one."

Spike noted that Ann and Gang Long accepted Liangde's statement without question. The action in the mirror resumed. "And what was that?" he asked.

"An attack," Ann said, "and a defense. See the amulet? It did that with me, too, just a little later."

The hill blinked out. "And we left," Jiding ended. She restored the man in the mirror and left him there.

"After that, what happened was this:" Ann said, and spoke for four minutes, ending with: "And then we went on to the open house."

"What is he?" Gang Long asked. "Human?"

"No," Ann said. "Not Earth human." The dragon and the vampire nodded.

"He ignored Dawn?" Spike asked.

"Totally, as far as I saw."

"Was there anyone at all on the other side of Darcy?"

"Not that I could see. We were surrounded by humans, but they were all lower down; at the time, we and the man and the woman were the only people on the hill."

"You said, way back on the first day we saw him, Darcy might be pursued by murderers. Do you think he's one?" Spike asked.

"I can't tell yet," Ann said.

"There's a gate on Cerro Reynaldo," Spike said. "Is that still one of our givens?"

"Yes."

"Did it open while you were there?"

"I'm not sure I would notice," Ann said.

"They don't ding like elevators, to announce their arrival," Roujin said.

"We're not attuned to them," Gang Long said.

"Why not?" Spike asked.

"We don't need them."

"From what I've seen, a well constructed, fully integrated gate is almost seamless with both realities, the way that arch," Ann indicated the arch between the dining room and the foyer, "is with this room and with the hallway. The one we stopped with Angel was crowded, rushed, poorly planned, very noticeable even before it was completed and probably destructive. The one on Cerro Reynaldo appears to be quite old and very smooth in its operation."

"It's sort of like a mouse hole, Spike," Roujin said. "It's there, but you may not notice it, and if you're not watching it, all of a sudden there's a mouse in the room, and you have no idea how it got here."

"So did these two--Grayman and the woman--just pop through right before you saw them?"

"They could have," Ann said. "I can't tell."

"OK. What's the air gun shoot?" the vampire asked.

Liangde tossed some balsa balls onto the table. "Fragile, hollow balls, this size."

"Like paint ball?" Spike asked.

"The one I have is filled with powder, not gel. But you wouldn't have fun with this, fighting or marksmanship, the gun is so miserable."

"What's in them?"

Liangde plucked a brocade box out of the air. "This is what we have."

"It's a single shot?" Ann asked.

Liangde nodded and gently lifted the top of the box. Inside, on a lot of padding was a small pale green glass globe, nearly full of powder.

"Cocaine, radio-active cobalt dust or cornstarch?" Spike asked.

"Not cobalt, because of the weight," Liangde said. "It could be either of the others, though."

"Neither seems likely," Ann said. "Where is it from?"

"I don't know," Xiuling admitted. "When we took it apart, we found only one maker's mark. I don't know it and I couldn't find it."

"Show us," Ann said.

Xiuling took her mirror and expanded it to about dinner plate size. One gesture of her hand left a black glyph filling the whole of the surface. It had three long lines, two parallel and joined by a shorter one at mid-length. The third long line touched the bottom of the long line on the right and angled away from the top, like a skewed V.

Ann shook her head. Spike shrugged, and turned his attention back to Jiding's mirror. "Ann," he asked after a time, "did you notice his clothes?"

"Yes. They're nothing special. You can buy them or others just like them a lot of places around here, exactly where depending on the quality you want," Ann said.

"They're not the best colors for him, but they go together," Lijin said. "And they fit local custom. Good enough choice."

"So why didn't he buy the gun here?" the vampire asked.

"If he just arrived, would he have had time?" Xiuling asked.

"Guns are a little more difficult to obtain than clothes, but not that much. If he bought the clothes here, he could have also purchased the gun here," Ann said.

"Why would he buy such a lousy gun?" Liangde asked.

"And one that stands out like that?" Lijin said. "The style doesn't go with anything else he's wearing, even in California, and that's saying a lot."

"He didn't buy anything here," Spike answered his own question. "He came ready, with those clothes and that gun."

"It's a really rotten gun," Liangde insisted.

"Do you know of any other weapon that can shoot that?" Spike nodded at the glass ball.

"Not offhand," Liangde said. "I could make a better delivery system, though, both the ammunition and the weapon."

"Yeah, but you're good, I bet," the vampire said.

"Is that why the gun?" Xiuling asked, looking at the glass ball.

Ann nodded. "I think so. The ammunition is the constraint, the limitation. I can't see any other reason."

"Find out who it will poison or addict or affect or whatever," Spike said, "and we'll have a better idea of whom he's after."

"He seemed to think it would stop me," Ann said. "Or he was ready to shoot just about anyone."

"Not very professional," Jiding said severely.

Huixin was looking at the ammunition, holding one hand above the ball. "It's not a poison."

"A drug? A sleeper?" Jiding asked. "A tag?"

"I don't know. It's sort of alive. though," Huixin said.

"In what sense?" Ann asked.

"It can be alive, under the right circumstances."

Ann gazed at the yunü for a moment. Then: "That may not be so good." She gestured around the box holding the ball. A faint glimmer of crystal surrounded the box. She gripped the larger sphere and gave it a gentle shake. The powder in the smaller sphere swirled like snow in a snow globe. Ann lowered the sphere but did not remove it from around the box. "Light and fine; and potentially alive. Right," she said. "Huixin, get a blood sample from Darcy, one from each of his forms; one from yourself, and one from a human."

"Jingwu, there are no humans in the house," Roujin pointed out.

"We'll stop at Rupert's on the way, then," Ann said. Huixin left the dining room, going through the butler's pantry, the kitchen and out the back door.

"On the way where?" Spike asked.

"To a place where they are more practiced in quasi-magical bio-hazard procedures than I am. It's the lab Claire uses. While we're gone, study the man, study the woman. Just because he no longer has this weapon, doesn't mean he's harmless; and we don't know anything about her beyond the possibility that she's a gate traveler, and that she may also be a witch. We'll want to get them some place private and have a calm, reassuring, talk with them. Jiding, tell everyone about the searching yesterday. Whoever has kitchen duty, remember I've invited six more for dinner." Ann and the ammunition disappeared.

"A search?" Gang Long asked.

"Yesterday afternoon. Jingwu's wards held," Jiding said. "Which is to be expected, so whoever tried didn't find out much, but it did happen."

"And the target was?" Liangde asked.

"Here," Jiding said. "I don't know more than that."

"If we're right about when the two on the hill arrived, that means there was someone else here running the search," Spike said.

"Yes," Gang Long agreed. The yunü all nodded.

"I wonder what Jingwu did to him? If that amulet can block her, it will block us." Jiding looked worried.

"From what she said, from her words, she was trying a very mild persuasion," Gang Long said. "Minor magic."

"She wouldn't want to treat him like an enemy right off. After all," Spike said, "Darcy has caretakers and parents, and we have assumed at least some of them are looking for him. Either Grayman or the woman may work for the caretakers Darcy ran away from or for his parents. Or one of them may be one of Darcy's caretakers come in search of the boy."

"Why not even one of Darcy's parents?"

Spike shook his head: "Something he said the first night, before you arrived, about sometimes looking like his mother and sometimes looking like his father."

"His parents are also either blue or blond?" Xiuling asked.

"I don't think it works exactly that way. One of each, apparently," Spike said. "But not shades of grayish-beige and not dark haired and dark eyed."

Liangde looked over at Gang Long: "Who are invited to dinner? And when should we plan on serving?"

"Rupert Giles, Tara and her friend Willow, and Xander and Anya. And young Dawn, of course. Serve an hour after sunset, so Spike can join us on the terrace. Wear clothes, of some kind."

***

Chapter14 - Translations

SUNNYDALE

"I realize," Ann told the lilac guardian lion gravely, "that what I request is contrary to all your instincts, but I do need any invaders captured alive."

"They cannot harm you or your home if they are dead."

"Quite true, but neither can I question them if they are dead. The matter of contention between us may be a misunderstanding," Ann said, "and if I am able to examine their reasons for attacking us, I may be able to resolve the conflict before casualties occur on either side. You know I do not kill for the sake of killing, nor do I fight for the sake of fighting."

The lioness growled.

"In any case, there are certain standards we maintain. We should discover who we are fighting, if only because we need to know where and to whom we send the death notices."

"Very well. We will give warning to you and help you to capture any invaders, alive and able to talk."

"Thank you."

***

Liangde, Jiding and Roujin were cooking tonight, although Ann seemed to have created the appetizers, Spike noted. He kept out of the cooks' way, loading a plate with his favorite small foods and pouring two glasses of Ann's wine. He went over to Xiuling and Anya.

"Well," Xiuling said. "It sounds to me as if it may be a good thing. You can get stuck in a rut, even immortals."

"I always found it interesting," Anya said. "And then there was the live forever part."

"Change, even that major a change, always offers a chance for improvement. Thank you, Spike," Xiuling said, taking her glass. "You just have to be alert for it." Spike kissed her bare shoulder and sat on the wide arm of her chair. She shifted the glass to her other hand and put her free hand on his knee. Spike handed Anya the other glass and he and Xiuling shared hers.

"I am enjoying planing the wedding. Thanks."

"What sort of ceremony are you thinking of?"

"Civil, but with formal dress. I was at a wedding back in the early 16^th century, in Germany, they had to have it in church, which was awkward, but I got in. Anyway, the day before, in the bride's father's house, they signed all these wonderful pre-nuptial agreements, concerning money, and who paid the bride and how much. We're going to do that part, in a white dress and veil."

"You're going to be attended by a pack of bride's lawyers?" Spike asked.

"That's a very good idea."

"Xander, what exactly are you complaining about?"

"Spike." Xander indicated where Spike and Xiuling were in each other's arms, her dark skin and white pareu contrasting with his white skin and black shirt and pants.

Ann glanced at the vampire and the yunü, standing beyond the torch lit terrace in the darkness at the east end of the hill, then back at Xander. "More explicitly, please."

"He's crawled into bed with the first good looking babe to come along after Buffy dies. So all that love he said he had for her was just a big show."

"Harris, my first impulse is to tell you to go boil your head."

"Hey!" Anya said. "What good would he be after that?"

"Well, he doesn't use it now," Ann snapped. She shook her head and continued: "More calmly, I do realize the group feels it can exercise oversight control of any member's private life and the members of the group tacitly consent."

"Well, yes," Anya said. "Only stuffy and inhibited loners like you and Giles don't let us analyze your sex lives. Not that you have any," she added.

Giles managed to look both affronted and amused. He did not glance at Ann, who ignored him and Anya and spoke in a tart and crisp tone to Xander:

"Before you open your mouth and risk appearing foolish again, I think you should observe a little more closely so your comments have some basis in reality. Spike is seeking some physical comfort, yes, but with a woman who is as unlike Buffy as he is likely to find: Xiuling is older than he is, taller than he is, black skinned, black haired, not human, and has never killed anyone. She is also not a vampire, so he hasn't gone back to Buffy's enemies, either. I think the very care he's taken in his choice, even if all this was subconsciously done, makes plain that, whatever his feelings for Buffy, he has not forgotten her in the least. My personal observation is that Xiuling is very good for Spike's nerves."

"He hasn't got any nerves," Xander said.

"He would like you to think so," Ann said. "Which isn't really an adequate reason for letting him fool you, however."

"Besides," Anya said, "Xiuling can turn him into a toad, if she wants."

"Can she?" Xander asked.

"We were discussing my former life."

"Oh?"

"She said if you gave me any trouble, she'd be glad to come around."

"That's kind of her," Xander managed.

"Please come to table," Liangde called.

"Rupert, logically, you cannot both insist on discretion and complain when we are successfully discreet. If you wish us to be discreet, we'll continue to be discreet; if you want to take out an announcement of our affair in both papers and the local cable access, do so. It's up to you."

Anya and Harris, citing work the next morning, had departed soon after desert. Dawn was with Jiding and Yanghao, who were showing her how to play the milfoil fortune telling game. Gang Long and Huixin had slipped away, and Xiuling and Roujin had told Spike to get out of their way as they cleared the table. Liangde and Binwen were sitting at the far west end of the terrace, beyond the outdoor kitchen, with Tara and Willow, where they could look across the low hills at the lights of Sunnydale. Lijin had taken Darcy and the cubs up to the nursery.

"Bad idea," Spike said, joining Ann and Rupert across the terrace from the pool. "Considering Dawn, forged wills and everything. You'll just have to settle for being known everywhere as `great and good friends', or whatever the accepted euphemism is now." The vampire stretched out on the chaise longue and grinned over at Ann.

"That isn't exactly what's bothering him," Ann smiled. "Anya said neither of us has a sex life."

Spike laughed.

"I just felt over-familiarity was a mistake in an employer-employee relationship; not to mention the adult-minor relationship."

"God knows Anya's over twenty-one. So's Harris now, for that matter. Do you want me to tell him you and Ann are having it off in the back room every night after closing?" Spike volunteered. He was merely being annoying and was surprised when Giles said:

"It's the office and no." Giles polished his glasses, put them on and added: "No, thank you, actually."

"Each of you has a perfectly good home to go to," the vampire said, wondering what was going on. "And if you remember to lock your front door, Rupert, no one can walk in on the two of you again."

"If you had knocked, no one would have walked in on us in the first place. It's the possible perception of collusion between a trustee and a guardian that make me nervous," Giles said.

"He no longer has a bachelor estabilishment, Spike. He doesn't want to shock Carlotta Rivera; and, understandably, he worries if we're both away from Sunnydale."

"What am I, helpless? And what about Willow and Tara?" Spike demanded. "We'll be glad to sit with Dawn."

"Thank you, Spike, but that's not the problem. Carlotta is there all the time already, it's just that he would worry."

"It's the legal position that makes me uneasy. You know the Council threatened to have me deported and fear stays with you. Having involved the mundane authorities, I'm reluctant to disturb them again."

"It's only for another three years, at the most, after all. When Dawn is eighteen, we can spend a week in Taos or Olympus," Ann said.

"Olympus?" Spike asked.

"The one in Washington. We walk on the beach and are wet and cold and miserable, like a perfect English holiday, but with better food. Think about this instead," Ann said, then turned and called to Dawn, in Chinese.

Dawn looked up and replied, also in Chinese.

Ann said something else, obviously dismissive, and Dawn turned back to Jiding and Yanghao.

"You taught her Chinese?" Giles asked.

"I didn't; however, Darcy speaks it, too."

"The first night?" Spike asked. "When you talked to the cubs?"

"Possibly," Ann said. "It's also possible he and she learned it just today, up on the hill when I was speaking to Jiding and Binwen."

"You didn't mention this," Giles said.

"I didn't know," Ann said. "I've never used that ritual on a shape-shifted Key, or on whatever Darcy is, before."

"Darcy called you Jingwu, when we left, after you explained about the tiger," Spike said. "I noticed at the time."

"Well, that would work, in fact, that's more likely," Ann said. "He was safe and relaxed and he heard a long passage of a new language. Not today, then."

"So when did Dawn learn it?" Giles asked.

"I don't know."

Dawn came over. "Jiding and Yanghao just taught me Chinese."

"We were talking about that," Ann said.

"It was easy. Is this because of the way I helped you teach Darcy English?"

"I think so," Ann said calmly.

"Neat. Listen, I was thinking about my electives: what we'll do is, you'll teach me one of the languages they offer in school, I'll ace it, and I'll have a better GPA. Good idea, right?"

The three adults were silent for almost a moment too long, then Ann said, "Speaking a second language is always a useful skill. Rupert and Spike started learning their second tongues when they were years younger than you are now."

Dawn giggled. "Two tongues?"

"An idiom," Ann said.

"What's that?"

"What languages do they offer?" Giles asked. "Greek? Latin?"

"No way! I want something European, so when I'm hitchhiking around after I graduate, I won't need to go with a group."

"Well, that limits you to French, Spanish, and German," Ann said, plucking the papers she had brought from the open house out of the air and locating the section on languages.

"German, then," Dawn said. "I can practice with Giles, get a good grade, raise my GPA, and be eligible for drivers' ed in the spring. That way, I can get my license right on my birthday, when I'm 16."

Light dawned. Spike sat up and swung around to face the girl squarely, but Ann caught his eye with a sharp, intent stare before he could open his mouth. He kicked Giles, who was taking a breath to object.

"You can also practice with Spike or me or Gang Long," Ann said calmly.

"Sure. This is going to be so easy," Dawn said, and went back to Jiding and Yanghao.

"Ann," Giles started, "she is not getting a license at 16. I can barely keep track of her now."

"And what," Spike demanded, "is this hitchhiking around Europe after she graduates nonsense? She's going to college."

"Is Spike really sleeping with Xiuling?" Dawn asked quietly, looking back where Xiuling was smiling at the vampire as she sat beside him on the chaise longue.

"Well, yes, I guess he is," Tara said. "But, Dawn, in some ways, he's been the loneliest of us all, you know. Willow has me, and Xander has Anya."

"I don't like it."

"Despite whatever Xander says, Spike did not grab at the first girl who would have him."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Filis..."

"Filis? She was after him? But I liked her."

"She's nice," Tara agreed. "And she wanted him, but it was just too soon for poor Spike. What is most important, though, is that even if we all have someone special to love, we all love you, too, you know."

"Do you think he's in love with Xiuling?"

"I don't know. I'm sure he likes her."

"I don't think she's very pretty."

"Oh, Dawnie."

***

"I'm going out and post more flyers," Ann said. "The ones I put up on the hill were washed off by the students and the ones downtown are covered by other posters by now. After I walk the town, I'm heading for Willy's. Joshua says he has one demon for me to interview late tonight and three tomorrow."

"This is about Spike's chip?" Yanghao asked. "The one the Initiative installed in him? Claire told me and Huixin about it. Curious, and nasty. Want company?"

"Certainly."

"And Roujin said she wanted to see the area of the gate. She knows more about them than any of us. Which isn't, you know, very much at all."

"It's generally useless knowledge for us," Ann agreed. "Which just reminds us that study is never wasted in the long run."

"Of course, sometimes the run is very long indeed and it helps if you're immortal," Yanghao said.

***

Chapter 15 -- Locations

SUNNYDALE

Kailea woke at daybreak, but didn't remember at first where she was, or why she was up in this tree, which she didn't recognize. She had heard the local coyotes last night, and had mistaken them for wolves. Scrambling up the nearest tree, an oak, as it happened, she had tied herself to the trunk and passed an uneasy night.

Lowering her pack and following it to the ground, she wondered what to do now. She ate a travel bar and surveyed the lake below the hill her tree grew on. Her first move, she thought, was still to locate Gries. A quick cold bath first, then a hike, either back or up, so she could run the locator spell. A calmer look around amended that thought: either back and up or sideways and farther up. She decided on back and up, and went down to take her bath.

***

Magal spent the night on the coast, north and slightly west of Sunnydale, beyond the point that sheltered the north end of the harbor. He was awakened by a group of surfers, driving past in a pick-up with outriders on motorcycles. They parked north of him, and quickly unloaded their boards, pulled on their wet suits, and went out. Magal unobtrusively folded his survival blanket and put it in his leather duffel, removing his binoculars at the same time. Scanning as if for shore birds, first away from the surfers, then beyond them, he surveyed their transportation. Motorcycles were bigger than he remembered, but not impossible to steal, he thought.

Magal rolled the last body under the pickup truck.

Keeping the pickup between the road and him, he put his leather sports coat in the duffel and put on a black leather jacked he had found slung over one of the motorcycles. It was much too large for him, but he managed the zippers and pushed the sleeves back. Every motorcycle had a helmet and all the riders had been wearing one, so he put one on, strapped the duffel on the pillion seat, started the cycle up and rode out.

***

Kailea braided her hair and put on her sandals, then started up the hill, where she should cross the trail she had used yesterday. Once she found that, she would go in the direction of the sunset until she found paved streets. After that, she could cast the search spell for Gries, and go to her.

***

"Volvo," Cham informed Baudier and Antrag.

"This one is a BMW," was the novice's next statement.

"This is a Mercedes, but not the one we're looking for," Cham commented.

"What funny hair," Antrag said.

"That's natural."

"This is the right Mercedes," Cham said.

"How can you tell? It looks just like the other one."

"The letters, on the back. See. TAN-461, black and gold.

"Look, with the woman."

"That's Ingelram," Antrag said. "Purple hair and everything. But how did he end up with the strange Earth woman?"

"A standard Earth varietal," Baudier said. "I was watching the National Geographic Channel last night. A great proportion of Earth's population resemble her."

"Not here, on the other side of the world," Cham said.

"She's here," Baudier said. "And now she's leaving."

"And Ingelram stays." Antrag said. "It looks a little dirty, for children, but the fences are good."

"Dirt does not hurt kids. He stays till later in the day," Baudier said.

"That's a different wain, the non-yellow one," Cham said.

"It's bigger," Baudier agreed.

"Look at that: They're getting on," Cham said. "The children are getting on the bigger bus."

"Just the older children; and many of the teachers," Antrag said.

"And the guard is actually the driver. Good," Baudier said. "We're going to do it, now, while so many children and teachers are gone. We'll pick up the others, return, pick up Ingelram, go directly to the gate and return home. Can you open the gate later this afternoon?"

"Yes, it will take me about half a lyud.

"Then let's get Mante and Tivon, and the witch, so we're ready to leave as soon as we get the boy."

***

Kailea frowned as she found a trail running roughly north-south. This wasn't the one she had fled east on yesterday. After some indecision, she went south. The path kept to the hill crest, and shortly angled south-east. Eventually, Kailea arrived at a junction of three paths: the one she was walking, running more or less north-west--south-east, one running east-west, and a third, running west-south-west. Right. Kailea sat down on a picnic table and considered her options.

She rinsed her hands, using water from her canteen, and spread out her casting gear--a white cloth, a gold pyramid and a gold arrow. She listened, and hearing no one, proceeded. The arrow pointed south-west. She stowed her gear away and set out on the west-south-west path.

***

"What do you mean, you can't go?" Baudier glared at the witch.

"Cham, look at your jar."

The scholar did so: The black foil leaves were drooping against one another. "Ahhh! A gate, our gate. Our gate opened."

"Yes. And someone is searching for me."

"You or all of us?"

"All I can tell is me. So I think it's another witch, one who knows me from home. I can't go. I can't leave here, this place, where she found me, which is where she'll come. And we can't leave her here, possibly trapped and not knowing what's happened to us."

"All right," Baudier said. "I'll stay with you, in case it's not someone from home. You four, go get Ingelram and come back here. Once we have the boy and the new witch, if that's who it is, we're out of here."

"And if it's not a new witch?" Mante asked.

"Depends on who it is. You four, don't separate and don't hurt the hostage."

"We need to get gas."

***

Magal rode south along the coast highway, back towards Sunnydale. He debated going back to the area of the gate to operate his locator, but decided that since the gate was the end of his escape route, he should avoid it until he was ready to go.

So where could he stop for a moment, at least a quarter lyud or so? Not on the hill, not too near the beach either; after all, the bodies would be found eventually. Slightly inland, and still north of the center of town would be fine.

He came to the river. Fine. It was broader, shallower and slower than it had been under the old stone bridge he had run across yesterday. He'd wondered when he would recross it and there seemed to be a long park running along both banks. He turned off onto the southern bank and followed it upstream until he came to a place with many of the strange table-bench combinations. Good enough. He stopped the motorcycle in the parking lot and, taking his duffel, sat down at one of the picnic tables.

He got no results at first, and changed the scale, increasing it once, then again and again.

South. The target was far to the south. Magal thought for a moment, then decided to abandon his transportation. After running the motorcycle into the river, he walked over to a small, round sort of car. It would do, he thought.

***

"Are you sure he'll come to you?"

"He's always been a very good little boy," Antrag said.

"A teacher, sometimes two or three teachers, is always with them down by the pond," Mante said.

"But they get to and from the pond by that path, where they're out of sight for nearly a minute."

"Between the rock and the bushes, yes," Tivon said.

"All right, we'll get Antrag over the fence, and wait by the rock, she'll call Ingelram, we grab him--"

"Not hurting him," Antrag said.

"Not hurting him," Mante agreed. "--and get him over the fence to Tivon, who carries him off to the car. As soon as it's safe, Antrag and I go back over the fence and we're gone."

***

Since there was no summer school on Fridays, Dawn woke up late. Giles was finishing his huevos rancheros as she came down.

"Not kippers?"

"Carlotta gave us kippers last week. I hesitate to upset her by insisting again so soon. What are you going to do today?"

"Malinda was talking about the beach, with her older sister, after lunch."

"That's acceptable. Have you homework?"

"Just some reading."

"Get started on that this morning and be sure to carry your cell phone. Also, be home by five."

"Five? I was thinking of seven."

"No. Five."

"Oh, all right."

Dawn read two chapters of the first book and three chapters of the second, ate lunch and told Carlotta she was going to Malinda's. "And I'll be back by five."

"Is your bed made?"

"Yes."

"Then have a good time."

Dawn walked to Malinda's house, where Malinda's sister had changed her mind about the beach and had gone shopping. Dawn shrugged and said she was going for a walk. Malinda declined to go and Dawn, in a bad mood, set out alone.

***

"At least the children get milk and cookies," Tivon said.

"Also a nap," Cham said.

"You both can nap," Mante said. "They probably won't be out for a while. I'll cut through the woods again and keep an eye on the playground."

***

Kailea looked at the wall. Apparently taking the west-south-west path had been a mistake. She had continued on a direct course, following the arrow, and come up against a tall wall on the other side of a long street with many streets T-ing into it from the east. If there was a way west from where she was, she had missed it. There was a strange sliding door in the cement block wall and she approached it and peeped around its edges.

Well, she didn't want to walk there, anyway.

There was a wide road, with a greensward down the center, each half of the road being at least twice as wide as the street she had been walking along. Many cars, traveling at high rates of speed, went to and fro on the road. Some distance further south was what looked like a bridge over the road.

Should she go south or retrace her steps north? South, she decided, and walked south along the frontage road.

***

Magal drove the little car south along the coast. His driving was not as good as his riding, but he managed to blend with the traffic pattern, so thoroughly he went much farther than he intended. Making a successful turn off the highway, he parked and opened his locator.

The blue dot that was his target was now north of him and slightly to the east. There was a strange smudge on the screen, but he ignored it when it proved impossible to wipe off. He turned around and drove north.

***

Dawn, feeling annoyed with everyone from Ann Grove, who wouldn't take her to the No Mirrors Bar, to Spike, who was paying attention to Xiuling, to Malinda, who was too lazy to come on a walk, went to the south part of the harbor, which had undergone urban renewal. She had not attended the inauguration of the much publicized Sunnydale portion of the Coastal Trail, the Harborwalk, which ran the length of the western city limit at the highest tide marker.

She started at the very end of the harbor, where the new marina was situated. Two young men whistled at her and she decided to walk around the whole harbor, heading back to the center of Sunnydale. She passed the new sail-in-boatel and restaurant and wondered what sailing would be like and if Ann or Giles knew how. Probably, she thought.

The Harborwalk pathway changed to a pair of painted lines on the street as she crossed into the dry-dock and chandlery section. She didn't start dodging forklifts for another three blocks, but after one of them nearly ran her over, she decided to turn east.

She was passing a two-story, gray stone building when she saw the sign next to the door: WILLY'S. It wasn't the No Mirrors Bar, but Buffy, and even Xander had gone in here, when they were about her age, so she would too.

***

"Huixin said it was interesting."

"She and Claire Galen seem to regard any pathology as interesting," Spike said. "All right, we'll go; after we have something to eat. Willy's shouldn't be experienced on an empty stomach."

"I cooked breakfast yesterday," the yunü reminded the vampire.

"So?"

"You cook today."

"Uh..."

"Spike, you're over an eighth of a millennium old, you have an opposable thumb and a Cambridge degree. You can boil an egg. Four minutes."

Spike wondered how Xiuling had known he had gone to Cambridge. He hadn't been aware either Ann or Gang Long had known that. He said, "There's no hurry, in fact. The place never closes, and it hits its worst between three and six in the morning. How about it, Gang Long? We could go to the casino over in Sylvandale, where we could also have dinner, and then hit Willy's on the way home."

"We're going to Australia tonight, sorry."

"Boil Xiuling an egg, Spike," Binwen said.

"All right. How hard can it be?" the vampire asked.

"Four minutes, no more."

***

Ann, after having breakfast with Darcy and Roujin, who was watching him that day, and spending the early afternoon in Los Angeles, ported to Claire.

"So far," she said, "the pure demons with implants are easy, or at least easier. I can locate the chip and I don't think I will have any trouble porting it out. The only problem is that none of them wish to return home."

"What do you do then? Let a killer demon run loose in Sunnydale?"

"If they don't agree to repatriation, they don't get the chip out. So far, I haven't removed a chip from a demon's head. "

"That sounds like a reasonable compromise."

"But not helpful," Ann pointed out. "The whole point of the exercise is to gain facility in chip removal, which I am not acquiring."

"Have you found any vampires?"

"No. They seem to have disappeared soon after the collapse of the Initiative. I think the scarcity of food may have been why. Willy's didn't stock Cambells then, and there are only two custom butchers in Sunnydale. I think most vampires, implanted like Spike, would have gone elsewhere, looking for cheaper blood."

"So they're scattered."

"Possibly not beyond discovery. Lorne can't remember any arriving at Karitas, but he's willing to ask around. I'm going on to the lab from here, and to the No Mirrors Bar from there. They may know where the escapees are."

***

Chapter 16 - Willy's

SUNNYDALE

Magal stopped and inspected his locator. Something was wrong. The target was still north, although not east anymore. For a small boy, the target got around with considerable alacrity. Magal drove north.

***

Kailea crossed the freeway on an overpass. On the other side, she checked her arrow. West, not south-west. She walked on. For the first time, she began to see other pedestrians. Almost everyone she had noticed today had been in a car.

***

"Flesh-eating bacteria," Ann, still at the lab in Seattle, told Huixin, on the large crystal phone in the library. "I'm immune, you're immune, but Darcy would disappear into a puddle of goo, and we don't know for sure about humans. The Grayman is an active danger. If you can, stun him; if you need to, kill him. We could use the information in his head, but we can get along without it."

"Understood. Shall we still attempt a locating spell, using the air gun as a possession?"

"Yes, and that's become slightly more urgent. Also, travel in pairs or trios, please."

***

Wow, Dawn thought. This is awful. Why would anyone want to come in here? The mural behind the bar looked as if the painter had been drunk or stoned, the wall to the east had dingy red-flocked wall paper which clashed with the bright yellow naugahyde banquettes in the booths against the south wall. There were, she realized abruptly, a pair of vampires at the other end of the bar and the magenta gofer who had burgled the Magic Box last month in a booth near the door. Maybe visiting Willy's wasn't such a good idea after all.

"Wha'dyawant?"

"Ginger ale," Dawn managed.

"Ten bucks," the bartender said, drawing her a beer and a shot of gin.

Oh, Dawn thought and shut her mouth firmly. If he didn't want to card her, she wasn't going to demand to be carded. Fine with her. Considering this newest datum, she was surprised not to find most of the senior class here. She handed over a twenty and took her gin and ale and ten dollars change over to the darkest corner and sidled far into the booth.

Bleeh. If that was beer, it was awful. She tried the gin. Yeuch.

***

"No," Roujin said. "We expected to find him here. We did not, in fact, give permission for him to go on a field trip."

"Who wants to see a field?" Yanghao said.

"Probably a saying," Roujin said.

"Moly," the young teacher said, "didn't Darcy go with Beth, on the beach field trip?"

"He wasn't scheduled to, but he is very attached to Beth and might have slipped onto the bus. Search the grounds and the empty rooms, and ask the other children if they have seen him. Let me call the bus," Moly said, picking up her phone. "I just returned with the other group, the one to the petting farm, where we watched a demonstration of milking goats." She put down her phone. "The bus is still outside the calling area."

"Is he near?"

"Not near enough for me to find him," Yanghao replied.

"Or me. Moly, there is an assassin after the boy," Roujin said

"No one like that was here. My school is warded. If someone took the boy from here, it is someone with parental permission. And he may be with Beth, remember."

"Anyuanjun Jingwu did not give permission for anyone but us to remove Darcy."

"Ann is not his mother, is she? Which means he has a father and a mother out there somewhere. Um. We didn't think enough about that."

***

"So who is Willy?" Xiuling asked.

Spike tossed off his blanket and said. "Well, if you mean the original Willy, it's was. Willy was the owner. Maybe he's dead, but maybe he's just hiding." He nodded at the magenta gofer, who cringed deeper into the booth.

"Why?"

"His wife found him. Right, Jesse?" the vampire asked the bartender.

"We don't talk about Willy, either Willy."

"This is Jesse. The wife's--or maybe the widow's--name is Wilhelmina Wilson. She's called Willy, too, just for the sake of confusion. What's the worst thing you stock?"

"Stop complaining or go drink somewhere else. I can't recommend the Argentine vodka."

"We'll try that."

***

Oh, shit. Dawn cowered back in the corner booth. She could usually get around Spike and Giles with no problem, but she didn't think Willy's was in the get-aroundable category. At least it was the vampire and not Ann. She might have to shed tears, but Spike would probably relent. Eventually.

***

"Gries," Baudier said. "You're getting on my nerves. I'm going for a walk around the block, see what's happening outside."

"And get away from me."

"Unless you want to come next door and have a beer or a fizzy water."

"The beer isn't that bad. Thanks."

***

Magal, nearing Sunnydale from the south, pulled over and consulted his locator. The target was now inside the smudge. He intended to have a talk with his outfitter, once he returned to Hove. The orange dot had reappeared, slightly east of him, but he ignored it.

***

Kailea, having walked across Sunnydale from the east to the west, saw Willy's and recognized it as a tavern. Good. There were floating privacy spells surrounding the tavern and what appeared to be an inn across a small alley. She had finished her water some time past and decided to go in, get a beer, gather her forces, then slip outside and spin her arrow again.

***

Ann ported directly into the back room at Willy's. Jesse had a taldis demon waiting for her, this one a female.

***

Chapter 17 - Bar None

SUNNYDALE

Kailea walked down the shady alley between Willy's and the Flamingo Lodge. She entered Willy's through the back door in the north wall, ordered a beer from Jesse and sat down at a dim table between the end of the bar and the rear door, across from a strange metallic and glowing table. Every few minutes, the lights on the upright portion of the table rippled. This was a strange place. She sighed and drank her beer.

Two lumpy looking persons, bundled up despite the clement weather entered the bar and went directly over to a booth, where a strange purple being tried unsuccessfully to slip away from them.

A blond young man at the bar glanced at the booth, then caught the bartender's eye. The bartender looked over at the trio, then spoke quietly to the man at the bar, who shrugged, but still watched the booth.

A human male, wearing a strange billed cap entered and handed the bartender a board, with some paper held down on it.

***

Magal's locator showed the target, now a fuzzy blue blur, north and west of him. He turned toward the ocean. The orange dot had disappeared again.

***

Jesse took the invoice from the delivery man and nodded. "I'll open the storage room for and see you out back."

The delivery man went out and Jesse locked the cash register and went through the door behind the bar.

***

Magal saw an old car just ahead of him. The car's progress was erratic and Magal stayed a safe distance back. Suddenly, the old car U-turned and stopped in front of a gray stone building. Magal watched as the purple haired target exited the car and enter the building. Magal had a vague impression that the target was not alone. He frowned. The boy could not drive the car, someone must be with him. Concentrating, Magal managed to notice a woman wearing a long blue skirt and a man wearing a long coat. The woman was holding the boy's hand. Magal had no idea who these people could be. His amulet jumped slightly on his chest, then was still. He turned at the corner and parked the car. He didn't bother checking the locator again, since he had a visual on the target, so he missed the fact that the blur was more pronounced and the target's marker had disappeared.

Carrying his duffel, Magal continued around the block on foot. He saw a truck parked in the alley. From the truck three men were unloading brown or white cartons and shiny barrels. Watching carefully, he waited until the three men were at the front of the truck, then slipped through the open door.

He found himself in a storage room. Fine. He saw a door at the far end, and headed for it. If there were only the two adults with the target and the three men out back and he killed all of them, the target would probably be ignored in the general carnage. He drew the 9mm and checked the silencer. His amulet started to heat up, slowly at first.

***

"Who is he?" Xiuling asked.

"I don't know his name, but he's a gofer and a snitch. I hope he's not in over his head with those two."

"And what are they?"

"Uneands. Despite their looks, they're vegetarians. The worst I know about their dietary habits is that they eat oak trees. Doesn't mean they can't be nasty other ways, though."

The front door opened again.

"Spike's here! See, Spike! I found Traggy, but she's lost, too and doesn't know how to get home and Roujin will worry."

"Come here, Darcy," Spike said at once, standing up. He entered full display as he moved quickly to the boy.

***

Mante saw Ingelram pull free of Antrag and run towards the strange blond man. "Hey!" he yelled. "We found him. We're supposed to have him. He's ours."

"We found him first," Spike said. "And we're keeping him." He picked up Darcy and took a step back.

"Is that the hostage?" Kailea asked, leaving her table near the back door and approaching the main room.

"Who are you?" Spike and Mante asked.

Kailea answered Mante. "Kailea, from the College of Witches. There may be another attempt to take the boy," she said, rushing her message. "We should get back as soon as we can."

Spike recognized the woman from Cerro Reynaldo.

Xiuling rose and stood near Spike. "The woman."

"Yeah," Spike said.

"Give me the boy!" Kailea ordered.

Spike shook his head. Compared to Ann's command voice, this girl was a beginner.

Kailea gestured at him. Xiuling took up her mirror. It quickly grew to its normal size, about six inches in diameter. She held it with both hands and flashed it in the witch's eyes. Kailea blinked and her hand fell.

"Hey," Mante said, stepping up to Spike.

Darcy shifted to the blue baby, swamped in clothes too big for him. His shoes fell off as Spike avoided Mante's sudden grab. Holding Darcy firmly with his right arm, the vampire hit Mante, knocking him into the table against the west wall.

***

Entering the main room via the same door behind the bar as Jesse had used, Magal emerged from the storage room.

Behind him, Jesse yelled: "You! What are you doing there?"

Magal ignored him. One swift look around revealed many more people than he had expected. His amulet started to be uncomfortable. Looking down at it, he saw that it was flickering with changing glows and flashes.

He located the target, or tried to. The target must be that thing over there, the blue baby, his other form. Well, that tore it. That corpse would be noticed. There was no way to complete his mission here. He decided to leave. A glance behind him took in the delivery men and the bartender crossing the storage room. He pulled the door shut and slid the bolt. The delivery men started to pound the door. Jesse turned and opened the loading door, then went around through the alley to the north door.

Baudier, seeing the bartender enter the north door, wondered what was happening. Following Jesse, he held the door for Gries, then went in himself.

***

In the back room, next to the storage room, the taldis demon, hearing the pounding, had the jitters. "What was that?"

"Don't move, don't talk," Ann said. "This is a fairly delicate point."

***

"Kailea?" Gries called, as she peered around Jesse.

"This man has the hostage," Kailea said, trying to indicate Spike. Xiuling's mirror flashed again.

"What was that?" Gries asked.

"The woman with him, she's a witch."

Antrag, seeing Ingelram turn blue, called: "Ingelram! Stop that!"

The two strange vampires approached Dawn. "Listen, we're going out the side door, want to come?"

"Uh, no thanks, I'll wait here."

"Come on," the female vampire said, taking Dawn's arm.

***

"There," Ann said, looking at the chip in her hand.

***

"You," Jesse said. "Get out from behind my bar." He reached for the assassin.

Magal shot him, knocking the bartender towards the back door, where he collapsed on the floor.

Gries chanted and gestured at Magal. "Who's this?" she asked Kailea.

"No idea. I think he may have arrived yesterday, when I did, but I don't know from where. He's somewhat immune to us. Concentrate on the man holding the hostage."

***

"How do you feel?" Ann asked.

"Gravid," the demon said, eyeing her. "I need to lay my eggs. I prefer males, but you'll do."

"No, I won't. You agreed to leave."

"Home is so crowded. The competition for food is ..."

"Don't come back," Ann, hearing the muffled shot from the main bar, interrupted the taldis. She froze it temporarily and opened a passage to the correct dimension. She freed the demon as she pushed it home. She closed the passage, ported the chip she had just removed to a safe place in her library, and opened the door to the main bar.

***

"No!" Dawn yelled, trying to jerk her arm free. Filis had showed her some releases, but she couldn't remember any of them right now. "Spike!"

The first thing that caught Ann's eye was Dawn Summers, wriggling in the grip of a female vampire at the corner booth, directly across the room from the paneled door. Ann noted the fright in the brown eyes and the beer and shot on the table.

"Release the girl," Ann ordered. The two vampires looked up. Ann waved one hand at them, pressing them flat up against the ceiling. "Remain," Ann said.

"Dawn!" she continued. "Stay right there!" Ann whispered quickly, holding up one hand, palm out toward Dawn. Suddenly, there was a gray stone wall surrounding the back booth, the same gray stone as the rest of the building. Ann glanced around, saw Xiuling and Spike, and Darcy in his blue baby form.

Magal's amulet rose off his chest at the full extension of its chain and flashed.

The booth changed around Dawn. She was in a round stone hut, with one tiny window, where the south wall of Willy's had been, and no door. There was a cot, a table and chair, and that was all. Dawn had the strangest premonition she was seeing her future.

When he heard first, Dawn's voice, and then Ann's, Spike risked a look back toward the corner booth. There was a new wall in the corner, Dawn was not visible and Ann was walking quickly up to him, looking around. With his back covered, Spike turned to the Grayman, the witch and the two strangers in back of her.

Magal looked beyond the two witches. There was a man with a sword under his coat behind the second witch. Magal decided to use the front door. He staggered as the mirror the black haired woman beside the target carried flashed. His amulet flashed in reply. Another witch! He had not expected so many witches. Blinking, he tried to aim at Xiuling.

Ann came up behind Spike and Xiuling, noting Mante, crushed against the table on the west wall; Antrag, dithering just inside the front door; Kailea, Gries and Baudier in an almost straight line from the end of the bar to the back door, and Jesse on the floor beyond them.

"I'm here," Ann said. "I'll take the Grayman." She stepped around Xiuling's right and faced the assassin. She put her left hand over the gun and forced it down until it pointed it at the floor. Her right hand snared the amulet, now dancing and jerking on the end of its chain. A crystal globe enclosed the amulet and its lights started to die. She pinched the chain in two and slid the amulet down the length of the bar. She touched Magal's head, freezing the assassin.

"Give us the boy!" Kailea ordered again. Xiuling's mirror flashed at the two witches.

Ann moved behind Xiuling to Spike's side. "Hi," she said over the vampire's shoulder to Darcy. "I'm going to send you home and I need you to do something for me. Please? Tell Gang Long to come help me and Spike, would you?"

Darcy shifted to the blond kindergartner. "Jingwu?"

"It'll be fine," she reassured the boy. Darcy disappeared from Willy's.

Cham and Tivon finished parking the Vega and entered the front door. "What is this?" the scholar whispered.

Antrag answered him: "It's a fight. I knew this wasn't a respectable place."

Baudier, drawing his sword, stepped around Gries and approached Xiuling. Spike stepped in front of Xiuling, who moved to her left, keeping a clear view of Kailea and Gries. Baudier, who hadn't seen Spike knock Mante across the room, dismissed the smaller man and struck at Xiuling's mirror. Spike twisted and kicked, sending Baudier back against the

screen in front of the table where Kailea's beer still stood. Baudier shifted his stroke, managing to slice across Spike's thigh with the tip of his sword before he and the screen landed on top of the beer.

Ann, turning to the front door, couldn't tell if Cham, Tivon and Antrag were opponents or by-standers, so she only froze them and moved them to the west wall, near Mante.

The two uneands harassing the magenta gofer started to get up. Ann glanced at them and froze all three of them.

Spike fell to the floor, looking at his ruined jeans and the wound in his thigh.

Ann glanced at Mante, left him for later and joined Xiuling as she stepped forward, facing Kailea and Gries. "No more," she warned the witches. Kailea ignored her and Xiuling's mirror flashed again. Kailea stopped moving. Ann stepped around her, facing Gries, who managed to make one final gesture before Ann froze her.

Baudier's eyes widened. Catching Ann's gaze, he let his sword drop to the floor. Ann nodded, then moved to Jesse and knelt beside him. She put a hand over his gunshot wound and began to whisper. She and the bartender started to glow with a soft golden light.

Baudier tried to sit up, then suddenly grabbed his ribs, where Spike had kicked him.

Xiuling dropped down by Spike. "Spike!"

"Don't worry," the vampire said. "Hey, I mean it, don't worry. It hurts, but it's not too serious." He returned to human and lay flat on the floor.

In the main bar, Gang Long, Jiding and Liangde appeared. Gang Long was wearing only a pair of loose black silk pants, Jiding was in her leathers and Liangde was wearing a long cream silk tunic with slit sides over a pair of pants similar to Gang Long's. The yunü carried their full sized mirrors ready in both hands. "Jingwu! Spike!" the young dragon called.

"Hi," Spike said, not moving.

"It's over?" Jiding asked.

"More or less. How's Jesse?" Spike asked.

"Getting better," Ann said. "Check the man on the table over here and the one on the west wall."

"Probably a concussion," Liangde said, looking at Mante's eyes.

"Hey, the Grayman," Jiding said, passing the frozen Magal as she went to Baudier. "Hi."

"Ribs," the man said softly.

"Now," Ann said. "How did Darcy get here?"

"The woman, over there," Spike waved at the statue against the west wall, "Darcy called her Traggy, came in with Darcy. The man with the concussion came in with her and the other two statues came in later and joined her. Did I hear Dawn?"

"She's safe. I'll deal with her later."

"The woman from the hill, came in the back door, I guess, bought a beer and sat down just out of sight around the corner of the bar," Xiuling said. "When Darcy came in and ran to Spike, she came out of the shadows and tried to order Spike to give him to her. The last two, the third woman and the man with the broken ribs, came in the back door and spoke with her."

"Why didn't you tell us about these guys?" Spike asked, as Jesse, leaning on Ann, walked a little carefully over to a chair at the table above the man with the concussion.

"I thought they were Chicano. Raquel said that they were, that they speak Spanish. I thought they were hiding from Immigration."

"No, these are the ones we were looking for."

"I told Willy letting him back in was a mistake," Jesse said to Ann as she helped him sit.

"Did he shoot you? Did I shoot you? Be rational, Jesse. You would have been shot today no matter where Spike and I were. We had nothing to do with bringing them here, either to Earth or to Willy's. Drink this," Ann said, handing Jesse a glass of her wine.

"There are two vampires on the ceiling," Jesse complained.

"I'll take care of them before I go."

"And those three customers were just innocent by-standers."

"Not bloody likely," Spike snarled up from the floor. "They just don't seem to be involved in our current problem. Ah, Ann? Let the magenta guy go first, I think the other two were bracing him about something."

Ann nodded and unfroze the slender gofer, who wriggled under the table and out the door without a backward glance. "Gang Long? Come here a moment, please." Ann and the young dragon stepped out of hearing. She spoke briefly, then Gang Long nodded. Willy's disappeared from Spike's vision and the foyer at 3 Los Robles Road appeared around him, the dragon, the yunü, the statues, the wounded out-worlders and Darcy's shoes.

***

Chapter 18 - Blue Genes

SUNNYDALE

Spike arrived standing and immediately sat down on the stairs.

Xiuling ripped the cut leg of his jeans away from his wound. Huixin and Binwen, each carrying a tray, came in from the kitchen.

"Let me see that, Spike," Huixin said. She looked his wound over, then opened a small bottle, containing a pink fluid. "This may sting."

"Uh. It does."

"And it works. Xiuling, give him a glass of wine. You there," Huixin addressed the man Spike had kicked. "Who are you?"

"I think I'll leave."

"No," Gang Long said. "Even if you could, we won't let you leave. Consider yourself a prisoner of war. Do you want us to fix your ribs or just throw you in a cell the way you are?"

"He tried to kill Xiuling," Spike said. "Lock him up now."

"I was not trying to hurt the girl, I was just trying to disarm her."

"Break my mirror?" Xiuling asked. All the yunü looked appalled. "That's a bad idea."

"Really bad," Liangde said.

"Damn dumb," Jiding said.

"That would have had serious consequences," Binwen said. "At the very least, you would have died."

"Oh," the man said. "Call me Baudier."

"Drink this," Huixin said, handing him a glass of Ann's wine.

"Spike," Gang Long said, helping the vampire to his feet and speaking softly, "go talk to Darcy, would you? He was a little upset."

"Sure."

"And Jingwu asks that without scaring him," the dragon added, "you find you what you can from him."

"Well, yeah," Spike grinned. "Don't worry."

***

"So you know Traggy?" Spike asked Darcy.

"Traggy got mad at me when I fell in the river."

"Why?" Spike asked.

"Something about my good clothes," the boy said.

"Well, that's understandable," Xiuling said. "Does she take care of you?"

"She's like one of my yunü in the other place," the boy said. "She says I have to go back. Do I?"

"Well, are you supposed to be there?"

"Is it dinner yet?"

Spike eyed the boy. He could tell a stall when he heard one; on the other hand, he wasn't ready to force the topic. Ann could do that. "Dinner sounds fine. Let's see what we can find in the butler's pantry. I think cooking is a little confused today."

"OK."

"Has Traggy got another name?" Xiuling asked.

"Antrag, is what the governess calls her."

"Do you know Baudier? The man we put in the red room?"

"He gives orders to the other guards. I saw him every day, but he's never talked to me. For desert, can I have cake?"

"Vegetables first," Xiuling said. "Cake later."

"But not fish," Darcy said.

***

"The shouyu say Jingwu is coming back," Darcy said, poking at a green bean.

"I hear them," Spike agreed. "She had to drive the Mercedes home, after we left it at Willy's and ported back here."

Soon Ann joined the trio in the small north room. "Hi." She sat down, relaxed and comfortable. She smiled at them all.

"Hi. How is Willy's?"

"Back to normal. Dawn's at home."

"Traggy, Antrag, looked after Darcy before he joined us here," Spike told Ann. "What I wanted to mention, now that we're alone, is the hostage part."

"Really," Ann said, calmly.

"Yes, the woman from the hill used the word, at least twice. I haven't asked about it yet and I didn't want to mention it earlier, with Baudier--the guy whose ribs I broke--around."

Ann nodded. "One of the best things about you, Spike, is that you have a mind and are willing to use it. I was wondering if it was something like that. How long do you have to be a hostage, Darcy?"

"Until the treaty is done," the boy said, "but it's taking a really long time."

"Sometimes they do," Ann said. "We can call you by your real name, now. What is it?"

"Ingelram, but I like Darcy better."

"Then we'll still call you Darcy. What is your mother's name?"

"Naeva, and Lache is my father. Do I have to go be a hostage again? I don't like the food there."

"What did your mother say?" Ann asked.

"That it wouldn't be for long, but it was."

"We talked about this. I think you probably have to go back," Ann said quietly. "But you already know that. We'll see about everything else. We can probably do something about the food."

"Can I have cake?"

"Xiuling?"

"Yes."

***

"If it weren't for the Grayman," Ann said, "this would be simple."

"Oh, him," Spike said. "Right. Have you seen the local news?"

"No."

"Five surfers were found shot today. The police got enough of a description out of the only witness that a sketch artist could produce a drawing."

"No," Ann said, in a totally different tone.

"Take a look."

Ann said, "Off."

"I think it's him," Spike said, as the TV went dark.

"Oh, I'm sure it's him," Ann said.

"I was thinking of Frank Paterson," the vampire said. "We could build up the favor account."

"We'll see. I have to do something with him, something a little more permanent than simple stoning. First, we'll have a talk with Baudier."

"Baudier? Why him?"

***

Baudier, having been ruthlessly stripped by Jiding and Liangde, was wearing clothes supplied by the closet in the red room. He looked up as Ann, Xiuling and Spike came in. He was seated at a small table, with the remains of a light dinner in front of him. Spike blinked a little. The red room faced south, and had two windows, or had had two windows. Now the south wall was blank. Very cell-like, the vampire thought

"Well," Baudier said, in Alvish, "the clothes are nice, but if you want to talk to me, you have to give me back my translator amulet." He smiled at them and held his hands up.

"We'll manage," Ann said, also in Alvish.

"How are your ribs?" Spike asked, in the same language.

"Some Alvish speakers call me Meliora, others Alvereda."

God, Spike thought. Another name. When did she get this one?

"My current use name is Ann. You should know Spike and Xiuling. You're Baudier, and you give orders to the other guards. What are you? Duty officer? Captain?"

Baudier was silent.

"You've come to retrieve your hostage, Ingelram, who escaped you."

Silence.

"I will not return him to you," Ann said

"You cannot interfere!"

"I already have. There is at least one complication you do not seem to have considered: The eighth combatant at Willy's, the Grayman with the gun. He is an assassin, and his target is the boy. What happens to your hopes of a treaty if Ingelram dies in your care?"

"They're gone," Baudier said.

"Grayman isn't human, he's not from Earth. Look at this, please," Ann nodded to Xiuling, who took up her mirror.

Baudier didn't flinch, but he did brace himself. When the strange maker's mark appeared on the face of the mirror, he eyed it carefully, then nodded. "Hove."

"Never heard of it," Xiuling said.

"It's quite close to us," Baudier said.

"This is on an air gun Grayman had. It would have delivered a fatal dose of a flesh-eating bacteria. Ingelram would have ended as a puddle of dissolved flesh, and you could not have produced his corpse to demonstrate that he died of semi-natural causes."

"It occurs to me that if you have the Grayman, Ingelram is no longer in danger from him," Baudier said.

"It should further occur to you that whoever hires one assassin can hire a second or even a third," Spike said.

"There are a lot of assassins for hire in Hove," Baudier muttered.

"There's always a place to hire an assassin, and sometimes you can get a package deal," Spike said, thinking of the time he had hired the Order of Taraka to go after the Slayer.

Ann grinned at the vampire, then turned to Baudier. "We have a suggestion and a condition. First, the condition: Ingelram stays here, until I speak with his parents."

"That's difficult," Baudier said slowly.

"Handle it," Ann ordered coolly.

"And the suggestion?"

"Cover your ass," Spike said.

"Oh, sure."

"Return home for instructions," Xiuling said.

"Point out to your superior that keeping a possible assassin's target safe is more complicated than keeping a young boy from running away or falling in the river," Spike said.

"And not what either of you signed on for," Ann said. "Think about that. I'm going to be sending you all home. I think you will be able to get more out of Grayman than I will, since you know the situation that led up to his being hired to kill Ingelram and at the moment I do not. I would say, considering Ingelram's youth, that the motives for his murder must be financial or political, rather than love or safety. If Lache and Naeva are rich or powerful, as they probably are if their son is a hostage for a treaty of some kind, that may be where to look; in addition, of course, at any trouble-making idiots on either side."

Ann shrugged. "Decide if you need to take Grayman with you, or if I can turn him over to the local authorities for a different crime. Oh, and if you want to be sure I send you home and not somewhere else, let me consult with your gate navigator. I'll be back for your answer shortly." Ann went out.

Spike started to follow her, but turned back as Xiuling stayed.

"Is there anything you need?" the yunü asked.

"No, thank you, I'm fine," Baudier seemed a little dazed. "She doesn't know the situation?"

"She will," Spike said. "She always finds out whatever she wants to know."

"So those suggestions were just random?"

Spike and Xiuling glanced at each other. She spoke: "That's experience. She's done things like this before."

***

There was a chime from the north terrace.

Spike, at the computer in the library, looked out. He recognized Ricard. Binwen and Jiding appeared by the door.

"It's Claire's grandfather, Ricard, He's one of Berengar's aides. I hope Berengar's all right. I don't know the other Alv."

"Oh, she wrote to Berengar, she said, for some help identifying Darcy and his family and caretakers," Binwen said.

"Hi," Spike called, opening the French door.

"Greetings. Is Meliora available?"

"She's sending some Mindoans home," Spike said.

"Oh, you know," Ricar seemed disappointed.

"Hey," Spike said. "It's Ann."

***

Spike looked up as Ann walked into the library. "You have guests," he told her.

"Who?"

"Ricard and Ambroys arrived first. They brought you Hove on 5 Thalers a Day, and Bargain Hunting in Hove, and a paperweight, a rock with Souvenir of Hove, painted on it. They heard a lot of rumors, bribed a lot of people and say the Grayman is probably a notorious assassin from Omapool and if you turn him in to the right authorities, you get a huge reward. A little while after they arrived, Gahariet, another of Berengar's aides showed up with these," the vampire waved one white hand at a couple of wooden chests, stacked on the long table where the big crystal phone stood, "which contain a very complete background briefing, including the menu from the wedding feast of Darcy's parents. They're all having breakfast, or dinner, in the formal dining room."

"I'll join them." Ann smiled. "I never have trouble finding out whatever I want to know, eventually. It's the timing and coordination that occasionally need work."

***

Chapter 19 -- Departures

SUNNYDALE

"It's not quite that simple," Ann told the female shouyu.

The guardian lion snorted. "You know who they are now, don't you?"

"Yes, but we're no longer enemies, at least for the moment. We have a truce. Baudier, the guardsman, may return. I don't think anyone else will. The witches seem upset with us as does Cham, who doesn't like it that we don't use gates. Antrag says we let Ingelram get too dirty and we shouldn't let him turn blue."

"Foolish woman. He is a fine enough cub, for a human or whatever he is."

"I like him, too. His parents may come here; or I may go to them. That is unsettled. You know what Darcy's two forms are. Now, there are two things my mind: First, all of Darcy's relatives may not be his friends. Second, Darcy's family now knows where he is. Again, delicacy and restraint must govern our actions. If his mother arrives here looking for him, we must invite her to come in; also his father. His aunts, uncles and cousins are to be permitted to come to the door, where I will speak with them."

"Grrrr."

"It is not perfect, but we are in the world, and perfection is very rare here."

"Very well."

"Baudier may be accompanied by one or two strange men, men like himself. Again, they may come to the door, where I will speak with them."

"Very well," the shouyu repeated. "It is not as incautious a modification as I feared."

"I would not endanger any of my household, if I can avoid it. Are the cubs becoming too fond of him? He must return to his parents at some point."

"He is interesting, and they enjoy his company, but they will not be unhappy too long when he goes home."

"Good. Now, with those exceptions, you may return to full defense mode. Communication has been achieved and we can concentrate on safety."

"Excellent. Someone is coming."

"Tara's car," Ann said. "With Tara, alone. I think I know what this is about."

***

"It's just that she's upset," Tara said.

"Dawn is careless," Ann said. "I am aware she has had very little actual practice in human behavior, but her carelessness could have endangered her friends."

"No real harm was done and she is very young."

"Tara, parts of her are older than Gang Long and any of the yunü. She has no reason not to know that in this body, she is mortal and can die; and she is not ignorant of the fact that one girl's death can cause a great deal of pain to other people. However, being very young, empathy is just a word to her. She cannot understand that her case can apply to people beyond herself. At the very least, she endangered herself and refused to consider anyone's feelings but her own." Ann shrugged and continued: "Very well, she is upset. Nonetheless, I will not withdraw my comments. Those things being so, why are you here?"

"She would rather I took her shopping for her school clothes."

"As planned?"

"What do you mean?"

"Can you drive in San Francisco?"

"Oh, sure."

"I agree, but with these conditions: Gang Long goes with you, Alice Kearney joins you in San Francisco, you all spend the night in the condo, and no one goes to the No Mirrors Bar."

***

The shouyu's roar was chopped off abruptly. Ann, Spike, Yanghao and Gang Long, in the small north room, having a late supper, all looked up.

"Expecting anyone?" Spike asked.

"No, and I've never met this person," Ann said, standing up.

"Just one?" Yanghao asked.

"Yes," Ann said. She left the room and went out the back door. The vampire, the dragon and the yunü followed her.

"Greetings," the tall blue woman standing on a silver disc on the terrace said. "I am told you speak Alvish."

"Yes, we do. I am called Ann, this is Spike, Gang Long and Yanghao."

"I am Naeva. Ingelram is my son."

"Fruit bars, and a vegetarian lunch."

All the yunü, except Xiuling, who was in the nursery, watching over the sleeping Darcy and the cubs, had appeared on the terrace. While Spike had told Naeva of Darcy's arrival, Ann and the yunü had produced chairs, tables and torches. As Naeva sat and accepted a glass of wine, Ann took a chair facing her. Spike moved to a chair by her side. Gang Long did the same, on Ann's other side. Yanghao stood by Gang Long's side, while Jiding stood by Spike. The other yunü stood beside the serving table.

"I understand he is sometimes a finicky eater." Untroubled, Naeva smiled around at her hosts.

"To some degree, but we found foods he seems to enjoy. Fruit bars, and a vegetarian lunch when he is at school. We've been offering him a selection of items at dinner."

"It seems extremely fortunate that he found you," Naeva said mildly.

"It was, but this is Sunnydale. What is unusual in other locations is normal here."

"Why did you want to talk with me, or Lache?"

"What do you know of a man called Magal?"

"It is not an uncommon name," Naeva said.

"The one I have in my basement, the one who was trying to kill Ingelram," Ann allowed the faintest hint of impatience to color her deep and beautiful voice.

"Ah." After a moment, Naeva continued, "As I said, it is not an uncommon name. For example, my husband's brother's son, who will be taking Ingelram's place in Mindo as one of the hostages, recently materially aided an Omapoolian refugee of that name." Naeva smiled gently at Ann. "It is not, of course, the same man."

"Of course," Ann agreed, smiling back.

"I had a long and fruitful talk with that charming young man, Baudier, who arrived with your invitation."

"I hoped that you would."

"He showed me a sketch of a body that had been found in Mindo. I recognized Ardon, a close friend of my husband's nephew, but I could not help Baudier determine what he had been doing in Mindo. Baudier was disappointed but not surprised."

Ann nodded. "For so young a man, he is very wise. It sounds as if Darcy's life at home will be uneventful."

"Yes," Naeva said, with cool certainty. "It will."

***

Darcy hugged all the yunü, then Gang Long and the cubs. He bowed formally to the female shouyu, who purred loudly. Darcy then hugged Spike, who hugged him back and handed him to Ann.

Ann whispered to the little boy and set him on his feet.

Naeva, taking Darcy's hand, stepped onto the silver disc. She and Darcy vanished.

"That was interesting," Spike said. "In a way, I'm almost sorry it's over."

"It's not," Ann yawned. "Oh, Darcy's safe, but I still have to do something about Grayman. I admit I was hoping Darcy's parents would want him."

"Why do you think she didn't? I mean, I can see Naeva ordering off with his head. That's one icy and determined lady."

"Oh, easily."

The shouyu and her cubs disappeared. Gang Long and the yunü vanished. Ann gestured the torches out and the food and wine away and went into the library. Spike, eyeing the paling east, also went in.

"She didn't," Ann continued, "want any fuss. Darcy's cousin tried to have him killed, but now may not be the best time to make a point of that by having a trial and execution. I guess I'll give him to Frank, if Frank wants him."

"It's comfortable, having the balance in our favor. How are you going to do it?"

"Get a slug, from the 9mm and give it to Frank. If it matches, I'll arrange delivery."

"Don't you have one already? Didn't you take one out of Jesse?"

"It was in the wall behind him, we found it when I was straightening up Willy's. Jesse wanted it. He thought it would look good as a pendant, with a lot of gray and black diamonds and a few inset 24 carat gold stars in a platinum setting on a heavy snake chain. Gaudy, and useless as evidence."

"You bribed him? You saved his life and you had to bribe him, too?"

"It never pays to have a bartender mad at you, Spike. Be sure to admire it."

Ann ported out.

Spike went up to his room, which was not empty.

The waiting yunü was in her celestial guise. She smiled at him. "I stayed to say good-bye. Everyone else has already gone home."

"I'll miss you. I enjoyed having all you girls around."

"If the Eldest Dragon invites you to guest with her, as she may, and you accept, as you may, you should know I get you first."

"All right. I'd like that."

"Good," Jiding said. "I thought you were going to be recalcitrant again."

"Next time, I'll know better," Spike said.

Jiding kissed him. Eventually stepping back, the yunü smiled at him. "See you," she said, and vanished.

The names of the yunü have meanings

BINWEN bin/refined, courteous wen/ elegant, suave

HUIXIN hui/ intelligent xin/ heart, mind

JIDING ji/ foundation ding/ stable

LIANGDE liang/ enlightened de/ heart, mind

LIJIN li/ beautiful jin/ brocade

ROUJIN rou/ gentle jin/ spirit

XIULING xiu/ beautiful ling/ intelligent, skillful

YANGHAO yang/ support hao/ kind