Eden woke up in the dark hotel room. Her stomach was growling. Rolling on her side, whimpering softly, she willed it to stop.

It didn't.

Then she willed a bowl of ambrosia and a cup of nectar to appear before her.

That didn't happen either.

She began to cry. She'd been at the hotel for almost two days and hadn't eaten once. One of the witches had asked if she wanted anything, but she hadn't eaten mortal food in almost three years and found the thought degrading. She hadn't known The Powers That Be wouldn't let her go to the heavenly court. They told her she was in hiding and she shouldn't use her powers unless she had to.

They were being mean.

There was only one thing left to do.

Eden rose and pulled the dress the red haired girl had given her. It was, in the Oracle's opinion, a bit shabby, but it was all she had. If Daniel didn't wear his robes at the hotel, perhaps she shouldn't either. She wanted to make him like her.

The guard followed her silently through the halls. She found his presence comforting. It was easy to find Daniel's room: he had a guard too.

The guard let her in. It was dark in the room, but she could hear sounds coming from the bed. The covers were moving a lot. "Daniel?" she called.

There was a muffled moan, but it wasn't an answer.

Feeling nervous, she walked over to the bed. "Daniel?" she hesitantly touched the mound of covers.

It jerked back. "What the fuck?" A head popped out.

She blinked at the vaguely familiar visage. "I want Daniel," she said.

"Eden?" Oz squirmed out from under the covers. He was breathing heavily and covered with a sheen of sweat. The other man was too, Eden noticed. "What are you doing in here?"

"I'm . . .I'm hungry." She felt her face crumple and tears rose to her eyes.

He was glaring at her. "Hungry? Then what are you doing here? The kitchen is downstairs."

"I'm afraid to go down there by myself."

A strangled cry escaped the male Oracle's throat. Eden took a step back, afraid. Her partner's lover stroked Oz's face gently. "I'll go with her."

"Graham," Oz began to protest.

The man kissed Oz lovingly. "You stay here." He got out of the bed.

He was naked.

Mortified, Eden covered her eyes, feeling her face grow hot. Oz groaned.

"Sorry; I'm dressed now. Let's go." Graham touched Eden's shoulder gently, leading her from the room.

She followed him, her face still warm. He took big steps, which made him hard to keep up with, but Eden didn't want to be left behind. In a strange way, she found him comforting; her father had been in the military and, deep in the recesses of her mind, where she locked away memories of her past life, she missed that. Her consorts lover was like her father.

"So, do you get off on being a brat, or is it a natural thing?" asked Graham.

"What?"

He looked down at her, his blue eyes hard. After a moment, the creases around them eased. "You really are afraid, aren't you?"

"Yes. And... I miss home."

"Home?"

"The temple, the court. It's all light and soft there, and closed in. This is too big and so many people. I watch you all, but I don't like being out around you."

"Well, not many people are here tonight. Angel, Buffy, Xander and Spike are slaying and the rest are taking the night off, in bed." He paused. "So you know who I am."

She nodded. "Yes. You are the mortal that my consort dots foolishly on."

"He is not your consort."

"The Powers That Be said he could be. It is only a matter of time before he realizes that."

Graham stopped and looked at her. "Are you really so hot for him? Do you want him that badly?"

"I don't understand."

"What? Don't Oracle's have sex?"

Eden flushed. "That's... that's just rude. It is none of your business."

"You're the one who wants my boyfriend. I just want to know how badly you want to fuck him and if that's really worth driving him crazy."

"I don't want to... do that. I just want-" she broke off, confused.

Graham watched her, his face odd. "You don't know what you want, do you? Were you even given a choice to become an Oracle?"

"It is my sacred duty."

"That's not what I asked."

Eden didn't answer.

The ex-solider watched her for a long moment, then threw his hands up in defeat. "Fine, don't answer. Here's the kitchen. What do you want?"

The Oracle looked around. "I don't know. I don't eat mortal food anymore." She made her voice haughty.

"Fine, then I'll just make whatever, how's that?"

"Okay." Eden bit her lip suddenly and looked down, flushing. "Unless... Would it be a bother... Can I... Do you have grilled cheese?" She suddenly sounded young and hopeful.

Graham grinned down at the girls bowed head in spite of himself. "Yes, I think I can do grilled cheese."

* * *

Graham was making himself a grilled cheese to eat along with the girl. She was eating, looking happy, if guardedly so. On the short side, her feet didn't reach the floor, so she was swinging them. In Willow's soft blue dress, without the haughty look on her face, swinging her legs, Eden looked almost cute. Almost.

"You should probably train," Graham said suddenly.

"Train what?"

He turned, walking to the table with his food. "To fight. Well, not fight, I guess. But you should learn some basic self-defence. It is the house rules; I don't think Angel would want you to be exempt."

She shook her head. "Explain to him that I'm an Oracle, not a Warrior."

"Oz can defend himself. He's even fought."

"He should not be putting himself in danger. It is a foolish risk."

"Do the Powers agree with you?"

She looked suddenly doubtful. "Well, no, but... I do not agree with him."

Graham gazed at her speculatively for a moment. "Maybe if you could defend yourself you wouldn't be so scared."

"No. I just want to stay in my room."

The ex-solider opened his mouth to say more when there were voices from the front hall.

"Will you stop looking at me like that?" Xander snapped.

"Like what?" Spike asked back.

"Like I'm food, you idiot."

"Come on, luv; you told me once you were a nummy treat and now you're bleeding all over the place. Just one little taste."

"Angel! Make him stop."

"Spike," came the sire's warning voice.

Eden was froze, a look of terror on her face. Graham reached across the table and touched her hand gently. "It's okay. They're the good guys."

Xander, Angel, Spike, and Buffy strode into view. They were going for the first aid kit stashed under the lobby desk. Xander was bleeding from his shoulder.

"Sit," his lover ordered.

"Yeah." Xander sat, facing the kitchen. "Hey Graham. Hey Eden, right?"

She nodded a fraction of an inch.

Angel's eyes flickered up to see her. "That's the other Oracle?"

"Yup. She's been hiding in her room since she got here," Buffy told him, helping Angel clean Xander's wound. She hit Spike away. "Don't even think about it."

"Just a little taste."

Buffy pushed him harder. "I can't believe you're flirting with him in front of me. You really do have a death wish."

"Ouch," Xander complained as she accidentally stuck him.

"Sorry," Buffy answered.

Spike wandered into the kitchen, going for the 'fridge. He winked at Eden who turned even more pale. She hid her face in her hands.

"What happened?" Graham asked the vampire.

"That demon Cordy saw had some nasty claws. He took a big chunk out of Xander before the kid took the demon's head off. Pretty cool; blood and guts all over the place."

"Thanks Spike," the ex-solider said as Eden turned even more pale.

Spike's grin widened. "No problem. Where's your pet wolf?"

"He's not a wolf!" Eden snapped, looking up for the first time.

Graham shook his head. "Upstairs. Eden needed food so she came to us."

"Bet Oz appreciated that."

"Why do you think I'm down here?"

Eden turned away from the two men and looked out at the rest. Taking small steps, she walked over to the doorway leading from the kitchen to the lobby.

Angel looked up. "You're Eden?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"I'm not going to bite you."

"I know." She took a breath. "Who is going to England?"

"What do you mean?"

Eden looked confused. "Who did you decide is going to England? To help them?"

Angel stepped away from Xander, closer to Eden. His face was very serious. "I don't understand. Why do we need to go to England?"

"I... didn't she tell you?"

"Who?"

"God! If there is anything worse than a vision, it's a vision in the middle of the freakin' night! I was asleep, peaceful and now, ow!" Cordelia was complaining as she entered the lobby. She was holding her head with one hand.

Leaving the terrified Oracle, Angel walked over to the first aid kit, pulled out the aspirin and tossed it to the seer. "What'd you see?"

"And still he forgets to ask if I'm okay."

"Cordelia, you've got a headache - you had a vision, they are painful. We all know this, so why bother asking?"

"To show that you care.

Sighing in barely contained frustration, Angel closed his eyes and said, "So, Cordelia, are you okay?"

"No. I just had a vision and it hurt." Her voice was teasing.

Angel opened his eyes and glared.

"Fine. It looks like the Watcher's Council is in danger. The PTB want someone to go help them."

"Help how?"

"Save the Watcher or the books. It wasn't too clear. They also have some powerful talismans there that we might want to get hold of." Cordelia downed the aspirin, chasing it down with some water that Graham brought out for her. "And it needs to be soon, like leaving tomorrow morning. Gunn's calling the airline, trying to track down the best flight."

"Did they say who should go?"

The seer shook her head. "I think that's up to us."

"Wake everyone; we're having a meeting in a half an hour."

*****

"So, Spike and I are out for obvious reasons. If we need to have someone there fast, two vamps aren't going to make it. We need to chose who's going to go," Angel summed up.

Everyone was silent for a moment, before Wesley said, "I'll go."

"No," the dark haired vampire answered quickly. "No, I don't want you going."

Lindsey blinked. "That sounded a bit possessive."

"It has nothing to do with possessiveness, although maybe I'm being overprotective. I just think that it would be better if Wesley stayed here in relative safety, training."

"But I know England and I know the Watcher's. It was my home."

"Wesley-" Angel started.

Giles interrupted him. "You never told him, did you?"

The vampire looked at Giles for a long moment, and then shook his head.

The Watcher sighed. "You are a bloody fool. Wesley, the Watcher's put out a contract for your death a few years ago, right after the whole thing with Faith. It took a few months before I was able to convince them you weren't a danger. They still didn't trust me, but the listened, at least. Still, they aren't very happy with you. After I explained your connection with The Powers That Be they agreed not to harm you, but walking into the lion's den would be foolhardy."

Wesley was pale. "There was a contract on my life and you didn't tell me? Did you know?" He demanded of Lindsey.

"I knew because they contacted the firm to see if we could help them; I don't think they realized what Wolfram and Hart really did. I cancelled our agreement, though. I figured that if they found out about the firm, they'd try and destroy us. I didn't know Angel didn't tell you; that I wouldn't have kept it a secret. You should have been told."

"Wesley, I just thought it best not to worry you."

"I am not a fucking child!" he shouted.

Everyone got very uncomfortable.

Angel gazed at his friend through sad eyes. "I know, but I worry. You're strong, I've got that, but you've got the fragile edge to it. My first impulse is, always, to keep you safe."

"I'm not yours to protect."

"You're my friend, Wes, my family. Of course you are mine to protect. I am sorry though."

Wesley glared a moment longer, then nodded. "I accept. But that doesn't solve our immediate problem. Rupert?"

"Yes, I'll go. They don't like me, but they don't want me dead. We are on cordial relations. I'll go."

"I will too," Buffy said.

"But..." Spike began to protest, but the Slayer shook her head.

"I'm strong, I'm fast, and I'm good. You need a fighter, who better than me? I'm not trying to insult Gunn or Graham who are, let's face it, the two strongest next to the vamps and me, but this is my calling. I may have my disagreements with the Council, but I am connected to them. And besides, it's for the fate of the world, not them, right? If they weren't important in some way, the powers wouldn't be sending us to help them. So, I'll go."

Spike leaned his head against Buffy. "I don't like this."

She kissed his hair gently. "I'll be fine, don't worry. I'm a big girl and can take care of myself and a bunch of stuffy old people."

Angel nodded. "Okay, Giles and Buffy. I think that's all we'll probably need."

"No. I'm going to," Willow announced.

"What?" Oz said, surprised.

"You may need someone with magic to help. Giles, you're good, but I'm better. I can help with all the magic stuff, transporting, spells, that sort of thing. Wes can't come, and Tara... I think you should stay here and start learning how to use your powers, become the sorceress you were born to be. So I'll go."

"Willow," whispered Tara, squeezing her wife's shoulder.

Giles nodded slowly. "You are right; I will need help."

"Okay, then we've got our team. Cordy, call the airline and book them. Gunn, help Buffy with weapons. Oz... where did Eden go?"

"She went back up to her room to hide. There were too many people," the Oracle answered.

Angel shook his head. "She needs to learn to fight, at least to defend herself. It's house rules. Get her out of her room long enough, got it?"

"Angel, I don't think I can." Oz looked up at the vampire, an almost helpless expression in his eyes.

"I'll do it," Graham volunteered.

"Good, but now we need to get the team out of here. Do you have passports?"

Willow and Buffy shook their heads. "Not here," the witch elaborated.

"I'll take care of that," Wesley said, rising.

Everyone began filing out of the war room, finding the place they could help most. In a moment, Buffy and Angel were left alone.

"So, I get to go to England to save the people I hate. And yes, even though I technically work with them, I still don't like them." She sighed. "Life is definitely interesting."

"I'm proud of you, Buffy. It takes a big person to realize that where they are needed most may be the place they least want to be."

She smiled, looking down. "I've said a lot and done a lot of things in my life I'm not too proud of. Sometimes, I feel too much and think to little. Now, I I thought first and I know what I have to do."

Angel walked up and hugged her. "I love you, you know. It's different now, but no less than before."

The Slayer held onto Angel tight, a lump forming in her throat. There were so many things she wanted to say, but all she said was, "Yeah. I love you too."

*****
Part 8: Sudden Changes: Two

Wesley walked into the Hyperion, carrying a bag. "Tara, good, you're here. I bought that book Oz was telling me about. It looks like it may have some suggestions of ways to use our powers. According to Oz, I should be able to do more than just throw power."

"Yes, he was saying, um, something about using the elements and stuff. I don't know; there's no way I'm going to be as powerful as you. I don't want to butt in on your time or anything."

The sorcerer smiled gently. "I don't think it works like that. He mostly runs me through breathing exercises and such - the power develops on it's own."

Angel walked across the lobby, talking on the portable phone. "Xander?" he called.

Xander, who was sitting behind the front desk typing, looked up. "What is it, Deadboy?"

"Cordelia wants to know if we have Harry's number on file."

The author began flipping through the roll-a-dex. "Why didn't she call the front desk?"

"The ringer must be turned off. She said no one answered."

Xander pulled the number out, handed it to Angel, and fixed the phone. "Why did she need that?"

Angel finished giving the number and hung up. "A group of orphan demons were brought to the shelter last night. She figured that Harry, our demon expert, might be able to help."

Wesley looked up from the book he and Tara were looking at. "I'm a demon expert."

"Yes, but these are children. They might find you scary," Angel answered.

Wesley made a face at him. Angel grinned. "Harry's got a background in social work too, Wes. It fits."

"Perhaps Cordelia should hire her."

"She's getting more and more demons coming in lately. It's probably a good idea."

"I guess that Azazel and the rest don't find the children important enough to recruit," Tara said.

Wesley shook his head. "The three haven't been into town lately, but they could be sending minions in."

Oz walked into the hotel from the outside. He seemed to be studying his shoes intently. "Hey Oz," Xander greeted.

"Hey Xan. Hey all." He looked up quickly then walked over to the stairs, sitting down. "Eden still hiding in her room?"

"The rumor is she came out again last night to eat. Spike thinks he saw her," answered Angel. "Other than that, no, she hasn't come out. Is there something wrong with her?"

Oz shrugged. "I think something may have happened to her when she was still a normal human and now she uses the temple to hide. She won't tell me, though,"

Tara looked up as if she could see through the floors to where Eden was. "Poor girl. It must be hard, being so scared and not having anyone."

"Is that a rebuke?"

"No, Oz, it isn't. I didn't mean it to be, really," Tara assured him.

The doors were flung violently open, banging against the walls. Lindsey dropped his briefcase and ran across the room, flinging himself into Wesley.

Wesley found himself thrown against the wall, Lindsey firmly attached, kissing him passionately. The lawyer's tongue slid inside Wesley's, caressing the sorcerer's with rough strokes and reckless abandon; his shirt was untucked as Lindsey ran his hands up Wesley's back, massaging his skin. Strong emotion poured off onto Wesley, filling him, overwhelming him until his legs began to buckle, unable to stand and control the power at the same time. He slid to the floor, Lindsey following, still kissing and stroking him.

The sorcerer felt the power building around them as it felt as if Lindsey were attempting to crawl inside him. He began to grow hard even as he fought to maintain a semblance of equilibrium. Wesley knew he had to get control or something big would happen. He brought his hands up to Lindsey's chest, torn between pushing him away and holding him tighter. He didn't understand what had happened, but he could tell that his lover was deeply upset.

"Lin; you're going to make him blow up the building," the Oracle said softly.

With one final probing kiss, Lindsey pulled back. His eyes locked onto Wesley's, and he smiled tremulously. "Hey, baby."

"Lindsey?" Wesley gasped. "What... what's the matter?"

"You look so beautiful when your eyes glow. All silver and perfect." Lindsey's eyes clouded suddenly with tears, but he pushed them away. Smiling, he rose to his feet, pulling Wesley to his. "Sorry for attacking you. I just... I couldn't help it."

"Did something happen?" Angel asked.

Lindsey shook his head. "Nothing bad. I need..." he stopped and took a deep breath. "The Powers That Be need me to go to Jerusalem."

Wesley felt as if he'd been hit. All the air left his body, but he managed to keep himself from losing control of his powers. "What?"

Lindsey faced his lover. "They need me to go. I have to be their Prophet, convince people that, I don't know, that they exist and not to kill each other. It's very vague, another of those I'll know what to say when the time comes things."

"When are you leaving?" Wesley heard Angel ask as the world closed in around him.

He stepped into Lindsey, holding him tightly, burying his face in his lover's neck.

"Pretty much as soon as possible. There's a flight leaving tonight. I'm going to take that one." He squeezed Wesley.

He lifted his head, looking into Lindsey's eyes. "Why? Why you?"

"I'm their Prophet, baby."

"Don't! Not now! Just... Will you be alone?"

"They're giving me guards, like Oz and Eden have."

"Oz... Oz told you, didn't he? He's the one who delivered the message."

"I asked him not to say anything. I wanted tell you."

"How long have you known?"

Oz walked over. "Just a few hours. I only found out today."

"Babe. . . Wesley I've only known today. I swear. I would never keep something like this from you."

"But will you be alone? Or will there be... will there be two of you? Prophets?"

Lindsey looked confused. "I think just be me, why?"

"Because I don't want you to die, that's why it matters." He fought very hard not to cry, not to embarrass himself any more than he knew he would.

Xander spoke up. "Two is better, right? Safety in numbers."

"No. Two is bad."

"Why?" the author asked. Wesley had the sneaking suspicion that he was taking mental notes and someday all this would appear in a story.

"'I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesise a thousand two hundred and three scored day. . . .And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city...'" Wesley quoted by way of an answer.

"Christ, Wes, that's not a prophecy," Lindsey said.

Wesley glared at him.

"Ok, maybe it's a kind of prophecy, but it's not going to happen. This isn't the end of days."

"It may be. A demon wants to release a beast to wreak havoc on the world. They are killing people all over the place to overthrow the Powers; if that isn't then end, then what is?"

"'And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood on their feet...'" said Angel.

Everyone looked at him.

"What? I'm not allowed to have read the Bible?"

Lindsey shook his head and put his hands on Wesley's shoulders. "I am not going to die and the world is not going to end. Revelations is about the world ending because God wants it to end; the Powers that Be have us to stop Azazel and the Leviathan. It is not the same." He looked earnestly into Wesley's eyes.

The sorcerer turned suddenly and began walking up the stairs.

"Where are you going?"

"You need to pack."

Lindsey walked back and picked up his briefcase. "Angel, can you drive us to the airport? He's going to want to come and I don't want him driving back alone."

"Of course. I'll take care of him, I promise."

The Prophet nodded. "Thanks." He ran after his lover.

Wesley was in their room, the dresser drawer's open, taking clothes out. "Where's the suitcase?" he asked when Lindsey walked in.

"The closet, I think. I'll get it." Eyeing his lover warily, Lindsey pulled the desired item out of the closet. "You okay?"

"No." Wesley continued pulling Lindsey's shirts, underwear and socks out of the drawer. He placed them neatly on the bed. Then he brushed past Lindsey and went to the closet. "You'll need a few garment bags. Your suits are so damn expensive, I don't want anything to happen to them."

"Wesley..."

"Giles will have some. Oh, he left. Perhaps he left some behind. Or Angel or even Xander. You'll need at least two." He began pulling dress shirts out. "Wear red a lot; you look so good in red. Don't wear black, you tend to come off as arrogant and sinister. You're trying to get people to listen to you; I know you do that well, but still, clothing will have an influence. And blue... when you need to bring out your eyes, wear the blue. And-"

"Wesley," Lindsey came up behind his lover and put his arms around him. "Relax, please."

"I can't. If I relax I start thinking about what comes next and that's the part I don't want to think about. So, I'll think about how to pack your things and how you'll look. You need to take your good things, I don't want you in fucking sackcloth, no matter what the book says."

Lindsey kissed Wesley's neck tenderly. "I'm going to miss you. I'm sorry I have to leave like this; the PTB are so fucking unfair. One days warning, that's all we needed." He began running kisses up his lover's neck. "Let's go get married now. You can use your magic to make them think we've got all the right papers and everything. I know we had it all planned, but maybe... maybe we should do it now, today. Just in case. Everyone will understand."

Wesley turned. "No. No, not now, not like this. You're... you're going to come back to me. When you're done and the Powers allow you to come home, then we marry. We'll do it here, on the roof just after the sunsets, with our friends around us, like we planned. Not now."

"Are you sure?" He laced his fingers with Wesley, holding his hand tightly.

"Yes. You are coming back to me, you have to. If you don't, I will hunt you down and you don't want to know what I will do. Do you understand?"

"Yes. Yes, Wesley, I understand. And I'll come back to you, I swear." He hugged Wesley tightly.

Wesley hung onto Lindsey for all he was worth, feeling as if he were being torn apart.

* * *

A few hours later, Angel, Lindsey, and Wesley stood facing each other. Angel could tell Wesley was struggling not to cry.

"So, you'll call?" the vampire said.

"Yes. Every day." He was clutching Wesley's hand tightly looking pale.

"I thought you said you were going to have guards. When exactly are they going to start protecting you?"

"I don't know."

"They're already with him," Wesley said. "I can almost see them next to you."

Lindsey glanced over his shoulder. "Will I be able to see them?"

Wesley hesitated before answering. "They say yes, when you are alone or in danger. God, I hope you aren't in danger often."

"I'll be fine. I'm just the messenger."

"The Prophet. Look out for whales, my love."

"I will." Lindsey pulled Wesley to him. The kissed for a long time.

When they pulled apart, Wesley was crying. "Fuck," he said. "I'm sorry."

"Shhh, baby, shhh. It's okay. I'll call when I get there. And... and I love you." There were tears in the Prophet's eyes as well.

He held his hand out to the vampire. "Angel."

Angel grasped his friend's hand tightly. "Lindsey. Take care. You're a good man."

Lindsey nodded. "Take good care of my baby," he asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Angel returned the smile faintly. "I promise."

The Prophet and the sorcerer kissed one last time, then Lindsey boarded the plane.

"Good bye," Wesley said softly as the plane took off.

Angel hugged Wesley. "He'll be fine."

Wesley nodded silently.

"Come on. You need ice cream and then... why don't we have a "Star Wars" marathon? Xander bought that big TV and he claims that everything is a new viewing experience on it. We can even watch "Empire Strikes Back" all the way through."

Walking through the airport with Angel, Wesley managed to smile. "I've been sneaking the ending when Lindsey's not at home. I hate having to stop before the end; it ruins everything. You never should have cut off his hand."

"Wesley, if I had known at the time that he would become not only our friend, but your lover, I never would have cut it off. Unfortunately, I may have had to cut something else off."

"You better be talking about his head."

"Yeah, head, that's right."

Wesley hit Angel lightly in the stomach. "You are incorrigible."

"That's why you love me."

"Well, that and free ice cream."

"Oh yeah, I would never forget the free ice cream."

* * *

"Look at him. Damn, that is one beautiful man. And he does grief so well. Ah, the agony of it all." Azazel clutched his heart. "It gets me, it really does. What about you?"

Xavier was gazing at his master dispassionately. "Utter foolishness. The Prophet leaves and he falls to pieces. He is weak."

Azazel cocked his head and gazed thoughtfully at his servant. "They are in love. It's written all over them. Even you could see it when the Prophet worked for you."

"I read the fact that the Prophet loved him, yes, but I had no way to ascertain thesorcerer's feelings. One would think..." he stopped talking.

"One would think what? Please, go on. One would think what?"

Xavier sighed the sigh of the long suffering. "One would think that a man of the sorcerer's education and status would have better sense than to fall for one as low born as Mr. McDonald."

"You really don't like the Prophet, do you?"

"No, I don't. He is devious, sneaky, dirty, and lowbrow. He pretends to be what he is not, and he cannot even be the least be sophisticated or elegant about it. He simply lies."

"And you think that the sorcerer deserves better?" Azazel stepped closer to his servant, his eyes piercing.

"I really don't think much on it."

"What would you say if I decided that instead of killing the sorcerer, I first decided to fuck him. What do you think then?"

Xavier stiffened noticeably, something flaring in his eyes. "I would say that is foolish. How will you keep his powers in check?"

"Let's just say I've found a way. Would it bother you?"

"Why should it?"

Azazel exhaled, shaking his head. "All right, let's say that instead of me taking the sorcerer, what's his name?"

"Wesley Wyndom-Price."

"Right, Wesley. Pretty name for a pretty man."

"If you say, master." Xavier's voice and expression were completely non-committal.

"Ok, lets say that instead of me taking Wesley to my bed, I find a spell to check his powers then give him to you. What do you say then?"

Xavier's eyes flared with lust and longing as he gazed at Wesley's image in the dimensional window. He managed to keep his face expressionless, but his eyes gave everything away.

Azazel grinned. "Well? Would you enjoy that?"

"I would not be adverse to such a prospect," Xavier answered carefully. "However, I think it would be an unacceptable risk."

"You don't worry about it. I'm not saying I have the spell - I'm just looking. You are a good servant, Xavier, and have served me faithfully. I simply wish to reward you."

"Then let me kill the Prophet. Now, while he is in Jerusalem."

"You'll make Wesley sad." Azazel mock pouted at the thought.

"Please, master. Just to get him out of the way,"

"No, not yet. As long as the sorcerer continues to channel power through him, we need the Prophet alive. Besides, I have other plans for him. When the time comes, he will make a good tool. Now, we still have Oracles to killed and the Watcher's to destroy. I want the Oracles of Europe dead by tomorrow got it?"

Xavier bowed, his eyes flicking back up to Wesley's image once more. "Yes, Master. I will do that right away." Xavier bowed and left.

Azazel pulled out a cigarette, light it and inhaled deeply. Things were going perfectly according to plan. First the Oracles, then the Watchers, then on to bigger game. Easy as one, two, three.

*****