Wesley’s teacup rattled in its saucer as he reacted to the sudden reappearance of Giles and Buffy in their midst.

Willow embraced her husband; as he gave her a brief kiss and exchanged a nod of thanks with Ethan and Oz. Willow’s hands slid from Giles’ back to his forearms and noticed the tension there.

"It’s not over Willow, I had to leave in a hurry. Jack and the others need rescuing… Ethan? A circle if you please. Oz… Ah, stinky herbs at the ready I see." Rupert smiled as Oz cracked a grin at the old joke. Rupert glanced at the sofa holding Cordy, Wesley and Xander.

"Feet up!" Rupert snapped. Each one of them snapped their feet off the floor as the sofa flew back to the far wall revealing a pentagram beneath the rolled rug that followed it.

Ethan, Oz, Willow and Rupert took up their positions. Four. Each one of the spectres grew still, their forlorn faces shocking the onlookers.

"We need a fifth…" Ethan intoned unnecessarily.

"We’ll have to manage without!" Ripper ground out.

Buffy fidgeted on the sidelines, she knew that in order to be in a circle one needed to have mythical or magical powers and she had neither.

"Mr.Giles? I have some magical knowledge… Could I help?"

Wesley approached the circle and Rupert looked at him, then shook his head sadly. "I’m sorry Wesley, need’s a spirit and we have…no…one…" Rupert’s voice died away as Xander pointed frantically to the door of the secret room.

A dark shadow crept along the gap beneath the door and began flowing across the hardwood floor. Cordy folded her legs beneath her and Xander became more agitated, hoping and praying that the new spectre was Anya.

Spike and Angel flattened themselves against the dungeon walls to escape detection from the Watcher Guard. Spike discovered Gorgon’s fallen body.

Jenny and Jack held silent and steady whilst the Watcher Guard roved around them disposing of the remains. Rose breathed slowly as she made her way stealthily toward Angel and her father, resting at Spike’s feet.

Gorgon’s opalescent eyes stared ahead, his serpents weakly writhing and his breaths ragged and rare. Rose knelt at her father’s side. "Father…" She whispered.

One of the Watchers halted in his task and took a step nearer. Angel threw a stone across the floor and the man turned to investigate the sound, he shrugged and completed his task.

Gorgon struggled to draw breath, his chest heaving with the effort. Angel slid carefully down the rough wall and held the man close to him as his death drew ever nearer.

Rose was agonised in grief, her fist trapping her sobs deep within her whilst her silent tears ran their course.

The door clanged shut and Rose shook her head violently as Gorgon breathed his last. "No…." she moaned aloud and Spike hushed her, still fearful of discovery.

Angel hoisted Rose up and carried her to the centre of the dungeon, Spike, Jenny and Jack followed, to await rescue.

Rupert held his breath as the newcomer flowed and roiled over the floor toward the fifth point in the pentagram. The shadow grew in stature until it stood and solidified.

Hands joined in joy and sorrow as they welcomed Anya to the circle.

Anya’s powerful voice leant strength to their daring rescue attempt. Her eyes were clear and flecked with the magic of creation. A rift appeared in the space before them and they could see the dungeon and the people trapped within. Rupert’s voice cleaved the tear deeper and Anya’s held it open while the others stepped through into Rupert’s sitting room.

Anya chanted the closing incantation and turned to smile at Xander. He took tentative steps toward her that she halted by the upturn of her hand. "Xander don’t grieve for me or our baby. He is here." She pointed to his heart, and gestured to encompass the spirits in the room.

"He will be coming here as well, Ethan told me." She smiled at the sorcerer and he bowed gallantly. "But in the meantime…" She grinned and beckoned him to her with a sexily upturned eyebrow.

The rug rolled back at Ethan’s gesture. He was about to deal with the sofa when his hands stilled and he glanced round the throng. Someone was missing. His eyes rested on Rose. Angel held her while she wept.

"Gorgon…" Ethan held Rupert’s gaze as he said the name in quiet reverence.

Willow paused in hugging Jack, her arms suddenly chilled with the passing of a unique spirit.

"Gorgon…" Rupert groaned sorrowfully. Willow stepped into his arms to remember their old friend.

"He turned Laurel to stone. Never saw the like before!" Spike exclaimed. "I’m glad I never pissed him off." With typical Spike grudging respect, he wrote the epitaph of the Gorgon.

End of part 8

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