Gorgon glanced up from the table as they came from the bathroom, holding hands and laughing. How he wished he could be like them, happy and carefree. His destiny weighed heavy on his shoulders. He would live another year, possibly eighteen months, as a man, then he would metamorphose into the traditional Gorgon of legend. He would lose his hair and his skin would slough away to reveal the scales beneath. Only the deceptive human countenance would remain. As Willow had said the archivists of antiquity had always associated ugliness with his kind. He turned all flesh to stone on eye contact, surely that made him evil and evil was ugly. He shook his head; he had argued this point with himself for years.

"Gorgon?" He stared at the Watcher, fearing the worst. Willow exchanged looks with Rupert, both smiled. "We’re going to help you." Willow said simply, her eyes shining with love for Rupert and their new friend.

Gorgon gazed at them for what seemed an age. He had not dared hope they would agree. His serpents were quiet for the first time since he had known Willow and Giles. He bent his head and reached out to grasp the hands of his friends as his tears came. Willow put her arm round Gorgon and his shoulders shook with the force of his relief and gratitude.

They stood outside Coutts bank. Rupert looked up at the imposing structure. Gorgon smiled. Willow pulled at his elbow. They went inside and the world hushed to a reverent whisper.

"What am I doing here again?" Rupert hissed to Gorgon.

"The sorcerer has left you funds and the deed to a house he wishes you to purchase. He said he did not want you to live in squalor." Willow guided Rupert to the teller desk; she and Gorgon then left him to conclude his business, trying hard not to look like bank robbers.

Rupert looked shocked on his return. Willow took his arm and lead him outside.

"Do you know where this house is? Do you know where Ethan wants us to live?" He thrust the deed at Willow; she looked at them, mystified. Gorgon peeked over her shoulder at the address.

"Where is it, I don’t understand. What’s the problem?"

"Willow, it’s only a couple of miles from the Watcher’s Headquarters! Hell, you can see the bloody house from where I used to sleep! When I get hold of Ethan!!" He let the threat hang. Gorgon smiled.

"What’s up with you? This is a bad thing y’know!" He snapped at the monster.

"Not necessarily, they will never think of looking for you on their doorstep. They have missed a saboteur in their midst for forty years …" Gorgon’s lips hiked up as he saw the Watcher catch on. Rupert grinned at Willow, grabbing and kissing her. All three marched off down The Strand to organise the move to their new home. It seemed to be swift and easy, but then money talks and Ethan had been extremely generous with his ill-gotten gains. Giles said it was guilt, Willow knew it was love.

Giles looked out across the tangled expanse of garden that Gorgon was helping Willow to clear. He could see the craggy outline of the Headquarters’ roof from their bedroom; he and Willow shared the bed. Soon he hoped to do more than sleep in it.

Gorgon had his own room. The day they had moved he looked in wonder round the room; he had never had such riches. This was a sanctum from curious stares and unwelcome comments. He felt safe enough to forego his glasses. So long as he did not look directly at them, his friends would also be safe from his petrifying stare.

Giles finished his drink and went downstairs to the kitchen. They had planned their attack round the table the night before. He picked up the small flask of Gorgon serpent venom. This colourless liquid when drunk, delayed the fossilising gaze of the Gorgon that donated it. That sounded like a good idea, but Giles wanted Claude Sebastian to turn slowly to stone in front of his peers.

For his plan to work it meant getting close to Sebastian, close enough to slip the venom into a drink. Ethan had taught him sleight of hand so he was confident he could do it, but he would need Willow and Gorgon with him. Perhaps, a glamour spell would suffice? They could make themselves look like the Watchers who had attacked him, reporting back that one of them had died in the attempt…

Suddenly he was dizzy. His cup dropped to the floor. He saw her. The new Slayer being greeted by Sebastian. She was so trusting and innocent. He shuddered. Sebastian wanted her. Gorgon entered the room after knocking softly on the door. His eyes focused past the Watcher.

"What ails thee? Shall I get Mistress Willow?" Gorgon took a step towards him. Giles halted him with a gesture. His gaze shifted to Giles chest.

"The new Slayer has been called. Sebastian wants to train her. She’ll die by his hands. I’m not going to let him kill another!" His angry tirade brought Willow into the kitchen, fearing another fight.

"Willow, do we have the ingredients for a glamour spell? We’re going tonight."

"Tonight?" She looked at him doubtfully, then smiled as she saw a resolved Ripper before her. "I’ll start gathering!"

Gorgon stood next to Willow and Giles. Rupert struck a match and flung it into the crucible containing the spell ingredients. An orange flame flared briefly, fading to turquoise with wisps of silver smoke. All three inhaled the vapour and changed. They still looked the same to each other, but to outsiders they were men in dark suits.

"How long will it last Rupert?" The short man asked in Willow’s voice.

"Uhm, Willow, perhaps you’d better not talk." He grinned. "It will last as long as belief is suspended. If you do something out of character the illusion will shatter," he turned to Gorgon "Venom?" Gorgon patted his pocket. He wore his shades beneath the spell; it wouldn’t do to turn guards into statues!

"Ready?" His companions nodded and followed Giles out of the house.

They managed to bluff their way into the Headquarters without incident and were now waiting in the main conference room for a meeting with Sebastian and two other senior members of the council. Giles stared at the oak boards behind the dais. There was one for past Slayers and one for their Watchers. Both his name and that of his Slayer had been omitted from the roll of honour. Giles felt Ripper rising at the insult. Gorgon’s touch on his arm alerted him of the Committee’s arrival. The new Slayer was with them. Glancing at Giles, Willow tried her best not to look anxious. Gorgon lifted his eyes to the lofty windows of the domed ceiling where he saw storm clouds gathering. Magic was creeping steadfastly near.

Giles began his coughing fit. He was so convincing that Sebastian offered him some water from the carafe on the table. Giles came to the table, red in the face, and poured himself a glass of water. He palmed the small flask emptying the venom into the bottle. Another cough disguised the crafty shake he gave the bottle as he replaced it. He finished his water, then with a small, hardly noticeable gesture, created thirst in the mind of his adversary.

Sebastian downed the last of his water. His thirst quenched, he asked the assembled team of Watchers for their report.

"Did the slaying go as planned?" Giles’ eyes shifted to the teenage girl, Slaying? That was her job wasn’t it? She looked so like Buffy. Sebastian frowned as he caught his subordinates gaze. He told the girl to wait outside. Gorgon smiled. Even odds.

"Why did you want him killed, sir?" Giles asked. He had no idea whether the other Watchers were in on it or not. By their reactions he guessed not. Sebastian was working on his own.

"You sent Watcher’s to kill Rupert Giles, why? We had agreed to care for him. Let him retire …"

"He had served his purpose," Sebastian protested irritably. "Improvement in his condition was minimal. I wanted to spare the Councils funds for something more productive. He left the institution I selected for him. An American girl helped him, that man Ethan helped her! It took me weeks to track him down. I’m not pleased that he’s eluded me again."

The older Watchers stared at their colleague in disbelief. Giles could barely control his anger. Willow and Gorgon flanked him forming a triad of Wizard- Gorgon-Witch. His fury allowed him but one word.

"Gorgon!" His voice rang out clear, echoing to the glass roof. The illusion shattered. The darkened sky plunged the room into eerie gloom.

The Watchers seated to the left and right of Sebastian, tipped their chairs back in fright as they recognised the Gorgon of legend about to strike. Sebastian shook his head refusing to believe the evidence of his own eyes.

Gorgon narrowed his stone cold gaze to Claude Sebastian, already frozen in his seat with fear. Their eyes locked for a few seconds then Sebastian let out an inane laugh. He felt himself, still flesh.

"Your mythical creature is false. I feel no worse," He poured himself another glass of water and drank. "You’ve failed again, Giles."

"Have I?" Giles quietly asked. Gorgon replaced his shades and stepped back to view his latest ocular statuary. His serpents hissed their satisfaction of a truly superior feast.

Sebastian shook his numb hands. They were paling from tan to white, bleaching like bones in the sun. Rupert smiled.

"Gorgon venom," he murmured. "You don’t have much time." Leaning on the table he looked into the older man’s grey eyes. A moment before they had been blue. "Why did you want to kill me. What did I ever do to you?"

"You remembered. That Rayne creature figured everything out. He helped you. I was in danger …" Sebastian’s chest heaved painfully, dragging breaths through cinder-filled lungs. Giles leaned closer, eager for every syllable of his confession before it halted in Sebastian’s gravelled throat.

"Marie discovered my heritage and held me in thrall. She insisted I betray all Slayers." The remaining committee members stared at the statue Sebastian. Giles leapt from the dais and searched the room. His eyes shone with a green-gold iridescence. The colour reminded Gorgon of dragon scales reflecting sunlight. He grabbed a sword from a weapons display on one wall and hurried back. Heaving the weapon above his head, he cleaved the statue in two as it exhaled its last dusty breath. Giles gripped his sword and glared maniacally at the Watchers.

"What’s my name?" He demanded explosively, his glittering eyes reflected the lightning flashes overhead.

The Watchers exchanged puzzled looks. Giles repeated his question.

"What’s my name?" He intoned.

"Rupert Giles …" Willow answered. She joined her hand to his, eager to share in his vengeance. The Watchers followed her lead, announcing his name.

"Willow, write it there!" He pointed to the board with his sword tip. She summoned her power and felt his power flow and fuse with hers. Green electricity flashed through her body and exited through her fingers. Spidery letters appeared on the board with a high pitched crackle of static. The Watchers looked relieved when they saw his name appear on the board. Was that all he wanted?

No! He drew the lightning from the heavens that struck his sword, imbuing it with mystical energy. He turned on his heels with the sword held aloft. His face was no longer human, it had almost supernatural grace and revenge fused together. All three creatures, for that was what they were, Wizard, Gorgon and Witch, were joined in their task to bring down the wrath of the Gods on those who had caused such sorrow and anguish.

The rumbling thunder carried into the building as the stonework tipped dust over the remaining Watchers. Slowly a frieze was being carved round the perimeter of the domed ceiling. Their gaze turned to where they could read one name emerging. It was costing Rupert dear to carve it but he would not leave this place without evidence of her existence! Willow and Gorgon gave him strength to complete his task. The stone grumbled and whined, resisting any change to its surface. Rupert persisted, carving deeper.

At last coming full circle, his chest heaving from the effort, he glared at the Slayer board behind the Watchers. They dropped to the ground as it shattered into stake sized splinters at his command. Gorgon gazed at Rupert in shock. He had channelled that energy into a look! He aimed the sword at the far wall and blew a hole in the masonry. Only then did his countenance return to normal.

"My Slayer is dead. You will never know how she died. You never wanted to know how she lived." His voice was quiet and controlled, "I am no longer a Watcher." The sword fell from his grasp…

"Rupert? Come on, come home." Willow urged him toward the hole in the wall. He let himself be lead out of the Watchers compound. Gorgon glanced up at the roof where the stone still smoked, and smiled. "Buffy Summers, Buffy Summers" encircled the room. He spared a glance for the cowering Watchers. He knew now from whence Rupert gleaned his power, the resting place of ’the once and future king’

Silence cloaked the room, muffling the attempts of numerous guards to enter. Willow, Giles and Gorgon were far away when they finally broke in.

End of part 5

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