"When will he be back?" Xander asked.

Ethan shrugged and slipped behind Giles´ desk. He glanced over the drawers. Only the locked draw interested him. He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket for his skeleton key´s, Rippers´ gift from a Halloween past.

He looked off into the distance picturing the lock in his mind. The drawer sprang open he smiled. His hands swept over the contents, several sealed envelopes addressed to the Slayerettes and one addressed to him. He picked up Ripper´s Will and then he cast it aside. He wouldn´t need that for a long time.

He found what he was looking for a thick book with plain pages. Ripper´s diary. He opened it and sat back to read, sighing he glanced round and put on his spectacles. He glared at them daring the laughter to escape.

"Um, Ethan." Buffy managed to bite back her giggle. "Do you think you ought to be reading that? It look´s private."

He peered over his glasses at her she was smiling. They were all smiling he was secretly pleased. They would need a respite from the task confronting them.

"It is private. I have to see what they both did to him, so I can undo it. But firstly one of you make some tea?" Willow volunteered, as he knew she would. He needed to get her out of the room. He leaned forward his face was serious.

"The situation is delicate. Ripper´s poised on a knife-edge. He could go either way. Into light or shadow´s. It is critical that he not have contact with Willow. She is his strength and his weakness. I want your pledge that you will protect her, both of you!" They nodded. He shook his head did he have to explain everything? "Pledge it! Speak out loud now, before she returns."

"I pledge." Buffy and Xander said together. Ethan made a sign in the air between them.

"So mote it be."

Buffy and Xander gasped and smiled. Ethan frowned and got back to his reading. Tea arrived at the most exciting part as always.

"Thank you Willow. Bikkies too? Thanks love."

Willow smiled as she poured the tea. Ethan drank and read in silence completely forgetting the other´s there. It was deathly quiet.

"What happened in the cave?" Ethan asked after two hours reading. Buffy and Xander were asleep. Ethan glared at them. Some bodyguards they were! A sprinkling of magic and they´re unconscious. Willow answered.

"Giles didn´t know how to defeat a demon family. Dominique helped us she knew who they were. She called them by name until the last one. It knew her name" Willow paused as if trying to puzzle it out. "She froze and Giles had to save her that´s when he got squished. Abigail healed him. Do you think she´s evil? I think she´s nice. I mean she helped him when Dominique first came and and babbling sorry." She took a breath. "Then we came back and Giles started having major moods." She shuddered remembering his earlier outburst.

Ethan nodded. Everything checked out with his conclusions. Dominique had helped Giles to destroy her family. That´s the only way she could have known their true names. It looked like one of them got wise to her scheme and tried to stop her. Giles had signed his own death warrant in saving her. She had wanted to create a dynasty and was waiting for the right breed of man, librarians were close but a Watcher was perfect.

With the destruction of her family she couldn´t return to the Shadow world without a suitable mate to replenish the numbers. Ripper was that mate!

Ethan shivered the room began to grow cold. He lifted his head from his arms. Buffy, Willow. Where was Xander? He got up and went out of the door. Xander waited quietly at the edge of the shadow´s standing guard. Good Lad. Ethan crept down the steps. Xander started at Ethan´s approach lifting the Blood–Axe.

"Ooh, good weapon choice but it´s not that bad yet." Ethan smiled and the boy relaxed.

"It´s what Giles was going to use on Her. He didn´t. Abigail pleaded for mercy. He couldn´t kill Her. He´s been ruled by Dominique ever since. In the cave, it was pathetic, cleaning blood off her boot! It sickened me."

"Xander, some men. Even the strongest men need someone to be stronger than they are. They need to be dominated. Someone else is making all the decisions, it´s a very comfortable feeling to trust someone that much. You´ll understand one day." He looked into the shadows he thought he heard a tune being hummed. Danse Macabre? There were two sets of footfalls. Xander´s grip tightened on the Blood- Axe, as the footsteps got nearer.

Then they emerged from the gloom arms linked, head´s up proudly surveying their new kingdom. His eyes darting round the library in search of Willow. Xander dropped the axe. Willow came from the office drawn as if by an invisible thread. Giles wasn´t Giles anymore. This was Giles as a Demi–god!

His hair curled more than usual giving him a sexy unkempt look. His ear was decorated by a hoop of silver linked to an ear cuff by a small length of chain similarly his nipple ring had been replaced by one with an "ankh" threaded on it.

He wore black leather trousers that laced up the outer seam. The waistband was barely above his prominent erection; this was only kept at bay by the laces at his fly. A belt was slung loosely at his hips from which hung a stiletto knife. On his right hand he wore silver bands on each finger. His nails were long, filed to a point and painted black. His feet were clad in black Crocodile skin boots.

Dominique was no less impressively dressed than her mate. Her laced black leather corset made Ethan´s mouth water. The boots she wore were black leather and thigh length with heels of needle sharpness. Her trusty whip was at her waist. She wore a tiny g-string that showed the outline of her clit-ring. She tossed her head and her long hair, freed of its bondage fell in a dark cascade to her waist. Ethan was close to passing out.

"We have an audience, my love." She breathed to Shadow-Giles. He smiled showing his sharp white teeth.

"We do, shall we play for them Dominique?" He whispered her name seductively as he placed a kissing nip on her shoulder breaking the skin.

"Yes, let´s."

Buffy stormed out of the office and grabbed Willow. She held her tightly. Then she saw Him and wanted nothing more than to drop to her knees in worship! He was just so MALE! Buffy was sure she had to do something like saving the world. Y´know something trivial. All she wanted to do was STARE.

Dominique pirouetted prettily on her toes as he danced her to the library desk. He unsheathed his knife and with one delicate touch he slipped it beneath the tie that held the g-string in place. The ridiculous garment fell to the floor and he got on with his real task of the night. Ravaging his Mistress on a library table whilst an audience watched spell bound.

Ethan glanced at Willow, Buffy was with her. Xander to his left was looking extremely hot. The boy was in some discomfort as was he.

"Domination huh?" he looked at Ethan who was looking at Xander´s groin Xander took a step back from the older man.

"I´m in the same boat Xander, can´t do anything about it though. We can´t leave Willow alone with him."

Shadow–Giles had loosened the laces at his fly and was sliding his knife in a seesawing motion over and through Dominique´s clit-ring. Each time he pulled at the ring she would groan a little louder. He slowly withdrew his knife and gave it to Dominique hilt first. She scraped the blade over his flesh leaving tiny nicks. He entered her with a loud groan and she began to writhe and buck beneath him. She slid the knife over his back making longer and deeper cuts as his thrusts became more desperate.

Willow was sobbing quietly on the balcony still held by Buffy, whose eyes had long since died.

With a gut–wrenching shout it was over and Shadow–Giles pulled out of his lover and tied his laces. He locked his eyes on Willow as he fingered the blood from one of the cuts and licked his fingers.

Dominique got to her feet gracefully and looking at Willow she also began to lick the blood from his wounds. He smiled and whispered in his partner´s ear she nodded and unfurled her whip. He looked alarmed. That´s not what he said!

Willow lurched from Buffy´s grasp and flew down the steps.

"Willow!" Ethan´s shout stopped her. "They´re trying to goad you into action. He needs you. Don´t let him near!"

Xander pulled her away and made her sit on a chair facing away from the scene. She could still hear them. She flinched at every whiplash and sobbed at every cry that escaped Giles´ lips.

Dominique was going to kill him. "Still think she´s nice?" Her mind asked. No, Abigail wouldn´t whip him! She counted the lashes. Four and he fell on his knees two more and a louder scream testified that that lash hit somewhere sensitive. His cries stopped.

That was more chilling because the whiplashes continued. She flicked her head round only to have her vision blocked by Xander. His face a mask but his eyes revealing his pain.

Giles lay on the floor deep red welts like jagged lightning strikes covered his upper body and chest beads of fresh blood were laced along each wound. He was gasping supported on one muscular fore-arm Dominique stood above him and he fell back in shock hissing as the cuts on his back made contact with the floor. She lowered her boot heel to his chest.

Ethan stepped forward horror–struck. She wouldn´t. Shadow–Giles lay helpless and panting his eyes closed. His face wracked with pain. She slowly increased her weight on her heel it dug into the flesh of his chest and sank. Shadow–Giles´ eyes flew open his hands lifted desperately to dislodge her but he was pinned.

The heel continued its sickening sinking journey as blood erupted from Giles´ mouth. Dominique freed her boot from his chest and walked back to the shadows coiling her whip as she went. Shadow-Giles was still; a perfect round hole just under his heart bled a river that pooled on the library floor. His breathing was shallow.

"Willow." he whispered, the blood gurgling in his throat. She turned round in her chair and saw Giles. He was hurt. He needed her. Buffy and Xander were stunned he was dying. Ethan looked grim.

"Willow? Just a touch, sweet Willow is all I ask." He smiled gently, gasping as a new and more virulent pain swept through his body.

Willow fell on him pouring kisses and tears on his face.

"No!" Abigail lamented from the shadows "Willow No!"

The girl froze where she was. Shadow-Giles had opened his oily black eyes and laughed at her.

"Thank you Willow!" He raked his nails over her arm and licked away the blood. Willow fell back from him as he launched himself at the shadows.

Abigail paced anxiously at the back of the library. Xander leant up against a pillar with his head bent straining to hear any sound. It had been half an hour since Shadow-Giles had disappeared. Abigail was back within ten minutes. What was keeping Giles? Xander glanced over to where Ethan and Buffy worked to stanch the flow of blood to Willow´s wound. They couldn´t stop it. Buffy was getting frantic.

"You must be able to do something!" She cried at Ethan her lip trembling. Willow was the palest she´d ever seen her.

"I´ve slowed the blood loss down we will have to wait…" Ethan said quietly. Willow clasped his hand.

"Thank you." She murmured. "What will happen if he doesn´t come?" Ethan looked grimly at her.

"You´ll die" Ethan quietly stated, "But he will come if I know my Ripper he´ll be here. He never ever let´s you down."

"Ethan!" Xander´s shout brought him to his side in an instant. "Hear that?" Ethan held his breath he heard a sort of slithering sound and laboured breathing.

Buffy looked towards the shadows expectantly. He´d come back with all the answers just like always. She smiled through her tears as she raced to the rear of the library. She screwed up her eyes to pierce the gloom. Something touched her foot she looked down to see a blood stained hand.

Xander and Ethan pushed her out of the way and hauled the body upright dragging its dead weight to a nearby chair. Abigail strode to Giles´ side ready to heal him.

Giles´ hateful glare stopped her in her tracks. He took several gasping breaths before he could speak.

"GET away from me, Harpy. I tire of this sport!" He turned away from Abigail to gaze at Willow sitting in the next chair.

"What´s gone wrong Ethan? I thought as soon as he touched Willow he would be healed to wreak havoc again." Xander questioned. Ethan stared at him. Xander was asking some very pertinent questions that he didn´t have an answer for.

"Apparently he still needs Abigail to heal him and he´s not letting her near. He´s keeping them both weak so that when he dies they all die." He swallowed and continued with an ironic smile. "Bloody typical Ripper. Always the martyr!" Ethan went and sat down in front of Ripper to fix him in his memory. He was ashen and shaking. Ethan shut his eyes to remember the last time he saw him like this. His memories flowed with Rippers shallow breaths.

Abigail was becoming desperate. She needed him didn´t he know that? She tried to get close but Xander pushed her roughly away.

"HE said he doesn´t want you!" His eyes regarded her with cold disinterest. Giles´ breathing was becoming tortured. He slid out of his chair finding himself driven to Willow´s side. The jolt to the floor renewed the flow of blood to his chest wound. He rolled to a sitting position with his back to the chair that he had been sitting on.

He locked his eyes on Willow. She would be the last person he saw as he died. No one else mattered. She was smiling down at him. He reached out his hand and let it drop to the floor smiling sadly. To touch her would mean his damnation.

He didn´t want to be Shadow–Giles. A puppet that hurt everyone he loved. He tilted his head up (when did it fall) to gaze into those amazing green eyes a mirror of his own. She was as close to him as his own reflection. He could look on her but never touch her now and it was ripping his heart in two.

She smiled and everything was right. Everything would be OK. We´ll be together in just a little while. His eyes closed and his breath all but disappeared. From far away someone was weeping. Don´t cry, Buffy.

"I´ve got it!" Ethan leapt out of his seat and landed by Rupert. Giles opened his eyes in annoyance. He was drifting off into such a warm comfortable dream.

Ethan knelt by him willing him to live. "Rupert, neither of them can have you. Remember just before Eyghon? You are mine." Ethan searched Rupert´s eyes. Come back Ripper, please.

Giles´ head rolled back and he swallowed trying to think. His breathing quickened becoming a little painful. He smiled at his friend in wonder he had forgotten. "I am yours and you are mine forever. Blood and soul to soul." He took a deep breath and laughed weakly. Ethan sighed happily.

"What just happened?" Asked Xander, his eyes moist "One minute Watcher dying the next he´s not."

Abigail stepped round the furniture with balled fists. "Mr.Giles." She threatened. He nodded and she grabbed his head possessively. The exchange was almost orgasmic the change in Giles was miraculous. Rupert couldn´t wait to break the connection with Abigail once he was healed.

He walked lithely to Willow´s side and knelt before her. Rupert kissed her and she answered his kiss eagerly lifting her hand to caress the back of his neck. She moaned into his mouth as his finger´s moved to her injury. She broke off the kiss reluctantly he held her chin gently.

"Thank you Willow. We have work to do. Up for it?" He whispered. She nodded his warm lips met hers in a promise of pleasures to come.

Giles turned round to be met by Buffy and Xander smiling at him. Giles glanced down at himself and blushed. Willow´s arm slipped round his waist and she smiled up at him.

Ethan stood next to Abigail and followed her gaze to Giles.

"He´s moved on and left you behind, like me. Perhaps if you told me Her name I could stop you from imploding, exploding or whatever hybrid demons do when they die." She was no longer intimidated by him, couldn´t have that.

"You can´t have him." He said harshly as he shoved up his sleeve reveal his tattoo. "We are joined by this. I will never give him up! I have travelled to many hell´s for him and I will go to many more."

Abigail stared at the tattoo it had a life of its own. It coiled and smoked on his arm as he spoke.

"Tell me the name or I will let the demon loose in you." He said darkly flinging his arm round her. He smiled over at Ripper and Willow. The tattoo began to burn into the bare flesh of her neck. She resisted for a few seconds only, and then whispered the name in his ear. He smiled and let his arm drop to her waist.

Abigail fled to the shadows dodging round Xander who swung the axe but missed.

"Xander!" Giles´ shout made him drop the axe. He hurried over. "My God Xander whatever possessed you? She could have hurt you."

"I just wanted to take a swing at the bitch for what she did to you!" Xander sounded hurt. Giles beamed at him.

"Thank you! Now come and help with the campaign." From the corner of his eye he saw Xander giving his clothes the once over. "Something wrong with the way I´m dressed, Xander. It´s what all the best S&M Watcher´s are wearing this season. The girls like it." Xander muttered something about “shagging” and followed him to the research zone.

End of part 2

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