See Part One For Disclaimers

Gathered in the kitchen, the rest of the members of the San Francisco House assembled for a hasty meeting.  Derek's absence and the reason for it weighed heavily on all their minds.

Gripping her chair tightly, Rachel asked, "Where is he now?  Tell me he's not loose."  

"Upstairs, locked in the analysis lab."  Moira confirmed.  "But it won't hold him for long.  If I used my power, I could break out, so I know Derek has the power to do it."

"What happens if the demon, or whatever it is, gets access to Derek's Gifts?" Rachel demanded pointedly.

Moira met the assembled gazes grimly.  "Then we are in serious touble."

"So what do we do?"

As always, Nick was the first to demand action.  "We have to stop him.  Before he escapes the House."

"That goes without saying, but how?" Having been the only other one to receive the vision, Alex squirmed uneasily.  "It has Derek.  Anything we do to It, we do to him."

In the issuing silence, Phillip spoke thoughtfully, "What do we know about this demon?  Is there a way we can get it t' let Derek go?"

Speaking for the first time, Lissa pounced on that.  "I have no idea, Pip.  That's your area of expertise -- find me a way."

Nodding slowly, the former priest promised gravely.  "You got 't."  With that, Phillip left the room, heading for the library, Kat following him, determined to help, even if was only to turn the pages while he wrote down whatever it was they would need to get Derek back.

Looking back at the assembled group, the former cop placed her hands on the table, declaring firmly, "In the meantime, we have plans to make."


------------------------


The vault.

So.  What he needed was even closer than he had anticipated.

Once again retaining his hold over the mind he now inhabited, the demon smiled in smug satisfaction at the thought that this society would be destroyed by the very things it had fought and defeated in the past; the power from the numerous evil relics locked away in the vault downstairs.

Moving with a purpose, the demon was annoyed and then angered as the door refused to move in front of him.  Trying various codes, wrenched violently from his host's mind, It growled in rage as still, the object wouldn't budge.

Pounding on the door, the demon set to work on making a way out.


--------------------------


Moira had solicited Rose's help and advice, Alex volunteering to help Phillip and Kat with a computer search while the other's decided what to do should all their efforts fail.  Nick paced, not being able to follow the more complicated discussion as the topic grew more toward the arcane, the terms growing more involved and intricate as the hour wore on.

Everyone ignored the banging going on upstairs.

Until it stopped.


-----------------------------


Glancing up from the manuscript where he was transcribing notes from archaic French, Phillip looked in concern as his precept strode angrily into the conference room.  "Ummmm. . ..Derek.  Ev'rythin' alright?"

Eyes snapping over to him, Phillip felt an unexplained chill thread down his spine at the cold, dead look in them.  Felt even colder as the older man advanced on him, giving no indication whatsoever that he even recognized him at all.  The feeling was confirmed as a hard hand wrapped around his shirt collar, jerking him up from the chair.

"The vault.  Where is it?"

"Kat -- run!" Gasping out the warning, Phillip fought to breathe as he fought the hand holding him.  

"Phillip!"

"Run. . .Kathrine!"

Unable to track the little girl's progress, Phillip fought now to simply stay alive as Derek increased the hold, snarling again.  "WHERE?"

The last thing the former priest saw as his world went grey was the gleam of a demonic presence behind the hazel-grey eyes of his precept.


---------------------------


"So you agree then?" Moira asked her again, hoping that there might be something they had overlooked.  She had only brought this plan to Rose in the hopes the young witch could come up with something a little less likely to land one or more of them in the morgue.

But Rose only shook her head, her soft brown curls lank and lack-lustre.  The heavy sigh she emitted had no right coming from someone so young.  "I wish I didn't, but it's the only way.  Moira. . .I'm sorry. . ."

Although her throat tightened around the words, Moira Rayne spoke around them; her voice low and deadly.  "No choice and no time.  I know. . .but if this doesn't work I swear to all the gods at once that I will chase this demon to the ends of the earth for my revenge."

"Then bring it here for the rest of us."  The flat statement low, Nick's rough voice startled the two women out of their intense reverie.  "If what doesn't work?  You still haven't told me what you were planning on doin'. . ."

"Lissa, what's wrong?" Rose, who had been facing the doorway into the hall, spotted Phillip's childhood friend as she entered the work room.  After the noise from the lab had stopped, Lissa had gone to make sure the demon was still trapped upstairs.  The look on the other woman's face sent chills up Moira's spine.

The two women locked gazes.  "Derek. . ."  Lissa shook herself.  "The demon. . .has Phillip and Kat trapped in the library."

They had just ran out of time.

Behind her Rachel uttered a choking sound.  "Katherine?  My God -- Katherine!" And ran out the door.

"Damn."  Moira bit back the curse.  "Rachel, wait!"

"Let's do it."  Nick double checked the clip in his gun while on the run, the others already ahead of him and out the door.  

They arrived in time to see the demon using Derek Rayne's mage power to knock his godson forcefully into the wall.  Phillip gasped as he hit the bookcase, the wind knocked out of him before he slid to the floor.  Weakened by the mage-blast, the demon rounded on the new arrivals, snatching at Kat before she could run to Phillip's side.

But It was too late and Kat scampered over to Phillip, helping him sit up shakily.  Instead of reclaiming his hostage, or trying to, the demon only snarled.

Rachel, heedless of the danger, ran to her daughter, running her hands over the little girl's face, wiping away her tears, making sure she was alright.  Rose followed, Lissa taking up guard position between them and the precept, never taking her eyes off him.

The demon made another futile pass at the little girl.

"No!" Rachel ran to safety behind Nick, leaving Lissa and Rose behind, the witch helping the priest to his feet.  On the other side of the room, the ex-SEAL placed an arm behind him, covering mother and daughter.

Something's wrong.  He shouldn't be this weak. . .  Lissa lock-sent the Legacy's other mage, burning for answers.  //Moira?  Why is It just standing there?  What's It up to?  //

Moira cocked her head slightly, studying the demon behind Derek's eyes.  // I'm not sure. . .unless. . .// Suddenly she cursed.  // It's Derek -- he's fighting It.  //

// And if I know my father, making it pay for every scrap of ground it takes.  // And every bruise on Phillip's body.

"So.  You return to torment me.  Surely you know my terms -- release me.  Release me and I will take what is rightfully mine and leave you and yours in peace.  I grow tired of waiting. . ."

Again Lissa sent her thoughts outward.  // Phillip?  //

And received a shaky reply.  // Here..  //

The demon narrowed Derek's hazel-gray eyes dangerously.  "Make your decision, child.  The Legacy for Derek Rayne.  Anything else and this body. . ."  the demon gestured with the precept's own hands, "will be ripped apart from the inside out."

"Noooo. . ."  Crying out from her mother's arms, Kat sobbed uncontrollably.  "Derek. . ."

Flashes of light and sound as Lissa is transported back over twenty years into the past.  Once again she is that five year old girl, witnessing her Aunt Alicia's death through her father's helpless and horrified eyes.  Watching her being ripped apart by some type of large hideous creature.

Nothing she could do.

Lissa shuddered and forced her mind beyond the nightmare images.  She saw Nick leveling his gun at Derek, uncertainty mirrored in his dark gaze; though he gripped the stock tightly to keep his hands from shaking, his aim never waivered.  Moira stood beside him, the grim look on her face hiding the grief that mirrored Lissa's own.

The sorceress knew as well as she did that if things when badly, both women would lose the man they loved.

"That's it?  That's the deal?"  Years of police training took over, causing her voice to calm, her focus to narrow.  Keep its attention.  Keep it talking.

"He said you would be the one I would need to. . .deal with."  The dutch accented words emerged through lips twisted in Derek's bemused smile.  "That's it.  Either give me what I want. . .or watch your father die -- slowly and in as much pain as I can devise.  And I must warn you -- pain is a great hobby of mine."  The smile grew malicious, no more her father's than the young priest's at her side.

Phillip gasped as if in pain at that smile and Nick's jaw clenched, his fingers tightened then released on the trigger.  Lissa and Moira traded a look filled with shared sorrow as Lissa Rayne turned back to face the demon.

The Legacy's surrender in exchange for her father's life.  Billions of innocents or the death of one man.  Precept in Derek's 'absence', the decision was hers to make; a decision that wasn't.

She only prayed he could forgive her.

"No deal.  Rachel, take Kat and go."

Rachel Corrigan looked at the younger Rayne with disbelieving eyes.  "But he -- he's your Father!  Surely you can't. . ."

Lissa angrily cut off the doctor's words, the grief and guilt nearly closing her throat.  "Things are happening around here, Doctor, that I don't have the time to explain to you right now.  Take your daughter and get her out of here.  Now!"

"Moira. . ."

But Moira only shook her head tightly.  "I follow my precept, Rachel.  As should you."

After looking from one grim, determined face to another, at last Rachel did as she was told.  Stunned, she grabbed Kat and backed slowly from the room, taking the library stairs to the first floor two at a time.

The only sound in the House was of Kat's loud sobs and the slamming of the front door.

The demon only laughed mockingly.  "Do you honestly think that will stop me?  You think they are safe from me?  I meant what I said, child; one way or another, this world shall be mine."

Lissa's chin firmed and jerked up in a way Nick knew well.  It was a look Derek wore often when facing a challenge he would not back down from.  But what surprised him was the slight, bitter smile.

"So did I.  And I'm not your child."  Dying inside from the pain she would not show, Lissa shouted, "Moira, now!"

Without giving the demon a chance to do more than snarl with rage, Moira shook her right arm, dropping Rose's antheme from it's hidden sheath.  They had faced this possibility and both she and Rose had placed spell after spell in the blade, infusing the steel with Power.  With a flick of her wrist, the little dagger sailed through the air, lodging securely in Derek's chest.

A part of Nick's mind that was coldly analyzing the scene, identifed it as a heart shot as Derek crumpled to the floor.  Once there, he twitched sharply, then lay still.

And Derek Rayne died.

A moment of stunned silence followed by the tortured scream of air being ripped apart was all it took for the Legacy members to snap out of their shock.  The demon emerged from the lifeless body, It's claws clenching in thwarted anger and frustration as it howled It's rage.

Not this time.  Lissa's own fists clenched.

"Alex, now!  The box!" Locking down the grief and tears, Lissa snapped the order and the researcher leaped into action.

Opening the demon's former prison retrieved from the lab, Alex's face streamed the tears the other two women would not shed.  "This is for Derek, you bastard!" she cried out as Phillip moved forward stiffly, chanting the words that, now the demon no longer had a host, would allow them to trap it there forever.

The chant grew louder as the young priest fiercely spoke around the knot lodged in his throat; giving voice to the words that would bind the demon forever to the box and the shadow worlds.  As it fought the spell, Phillip's tone grew stronger, more commanding, until the demon -- with one final howl -- disappeared into the box and the lid slammed shut on it's own.

Time resumed it's normal pace.

It was then Nick's knees buckled, giving way, and the gun fell from nerveless fingers, clattering on the floor.  He mouthed Derek's name as Rose rushed to the precept's side, checking for a pulse.  Bracing herself, she placed one had on his chest, the other taking a firm hold on the hilt, drawing the dagger from his flesh with one clean move.  It, too, clattered to the ground as, heedless of the blood, the young woman placed her hands on the wound.  

Moira checked on Nick, bending over and flicking on the safety of his gun before tucking it into her belt.  "Come on, old friend.  Can you get up?"

"Moi -- " Phillip whispered hoarsely, "we need you."

"What's going on?" Nick demanded hoarsely, his voice raw with supressed anger at the now banished demon.  "It's over -- Derek's dead!"

Rose's anxious voice cut off the answer she was about to make.  "Phillip. . ."

"Here Rose."  The former Catholic priest placed his hands atop hers, soft gray-green healing energy flowing from him to the young witch in a steady, albiet weak, stream.  "All I have -- take it."

Lissa stood a little ways away, unable to bring herself any closer to her father's side.  Moira squeezed her shoulder gruffly, nodding to where Nick stood watching the battle being waged for the older man's life.  "Explain it to him.  God willing, we may save him, yet."

Nick watched in amazement as she moved quickly to kneel on the floor, joining the two Healers in their trance.  Even without the Sight, he could see the flow of power steady and grow stronger as Moira channeled energy from the very air around them, giving both Healers a boost; the equivalent of a second wind.  He knew how much his chosen brother would sacrifice for the man who had been surrogate father to both of them and hope stirred in his chest.

They stayed there for what seemed like hours, unmoving as Nick got himself under enough control to check on Derek's daughter.

"Lis?  Lis, you okay?" She nodded once, woodenly, her eyes locked on the prone figure and he placed a hand on her shoulder.  "What's going on, Lis?  Talk to me."  

"It. . .it was the only way."  She whispered softly, still not looking at him.  "The only way to get it out of his body.  It -- it needed a host. . .without one. . ."

"The demon couldn't survive."  Nick finished flatly, without inflection.  He understood better than anyone how the guilt had to be tearing her apart.  Lissa's body was as tight as overstrung piano wire and full of enough nervous energy to run the entire House, control room and all, for a year.  Drawing the young woman into his arms, Nick held her tightly as she shuddered once, the tears escaping against her will.  The dam broken, her entire body shook with them as she poured her heart out on her friend's shoulder.  "Lis -- Lis, it's okay.  It's okay. . ."

"Can they Heal him, Nick?  Can they?"

So that was what was going on.  "I'm not sure, kiddo.  Maybe.  But I know Rose; she doesn't give up without a fight.  That's why Derek doesn't argue with her.  And I've learned not to underestimate Phillip.  He may not be much to look at, " Nick joked, eliciting a wan smile from her, "but he has a way of suprising people."  Especially lately, Nick mused vaguely.

"I -- God, Nick.  I did this.  It's my fault -- I could have found a better way.  If only. . ."

"No."  He countered firmly, cutting her off before she could start down that path.  "No 'if's'.  As much as would like to smack him when he makes that comment, it's true; we all do what we must.  You did what you had to, Lis.  If not for you, we'd all be dead and the world on an express elevator to Hell."  The former SEAL took her face in his hands so that she could see he was deadly serious -- and meant every word.  "Trust me, Lis -- Derek would be proud."

"Am. . .proud. . ."

Whirling at the unexpected voice, Lissa and Nick gaped in shock as Derek spoke tiredly, attempting to sit up despite the others efforts to get him to lie still.  Giving up the attempt, the precept lay back, supported by his wife as Rose sank into Phillip's arms, sighing weakly.  

"Am. . .proud.  My. . .daughter. . .saved us. . .all."

Heedless of the guilt, Lissa all but ran to him, throwing herself and him off balance as she assured herself he was indeed recovered.  Or recovering; that wound was a nasty one and would take lots of time and bedrest to heal properly.  Her eyes darkened as the guilt again resurfaced.

//Silly one.// Derek chided gently and she blushed.  //Your thoughts earlier. . .one man for billions -- I knew the choice and excepted it.//

//Then. . .I did the right thing?// She hated the helplessness in her voice; hated the feeling of uncertainty that question evoked in her.  But she had to know or forever wonder what it was he would have done in her place.

//Of course you did the right thing; absolutely right.  I am very proud of you.// His mind voice tender, the Derek gently wiped away his daughter's tears as she sobbed quietly on his uninjured shoulder.  //Nick's right.  We all do what we must.  To make the choice would have been hard enough, but to carry it out. . .took both great courage and an unselfish heart.  You have shown me what a brave and special woman my daughter has grown into.//

Moira caught Lissa's eyes over Derek's head.  "Alright you two; enough of this."  She scolded father and daughter, her voice rough with more than fatigue.  "You both need your rest."  At the younger Rayne's protesting expression, Moira caught her gaze again firmly and spoke only to her.  //Lie still if you can't sleep, but your father needs to recharge.  The demon took alot out of him, before and after It through Phillip into the wall.//

Unbidden came the image of the gentle priest crashing into the bookshelves, trying to protect Kat from Derek's Gift.  

Lissa nodded weakly.

"Nick, I'll need your help getting Derek to his room.  Phillip?  Can you see to Rose?"

"Wait. . ."  Derek coughed weakly.  "The box. . ."

Alex turned, for one panicked moment wondering if Derek had seen something they had missed.  But no; the box was still safe.  And sealed tight.  "Here Derek."

The precept closed his eyes in obvious relief.

Moira nodded, continuing to hand out orders.  "Right.  Phillip. . .?"

"'f course.  We c'n see t' each oth'r, I think."  Phillip slurred, his burr much thicker than normal.  He stood up experimentally and helped Rose to her feet.  Since she had been the one doing most of the actual Healing, Rose would be feeling most of the strain.  Leaning on each other, the pair made their way cautiously down the hallway.

"Alex. . ."

"I know. . .go with them.  Count on me Moi.  C'mon kiddo," Alex replied as Lissa released her father.  "And no lip, either!  Aunty Alex is going to put you to bed."

With one last look at Derek, Lissa managed a watery smile for her former roommate and stepped back as Nick carefully lifted the precept in his arms.  "I love you, Dad."  The words were only a whisper, but he heard them anyway.

A smile of infinite tenderness crossed his face.  //And I love you, my Lissa.  And since Moira is determined to take Rose's place as 'Little Mother', try and get some sleep now.  Rest.// His hazel gray eyes twinkled as Moira gave up with an exasperated sigh.  // Before your step mother decides to send us both to our rooms.  //

"Which is exactly what I'm trying to do."  Moira muttered, the tender smile taking the sting out of the words as she ruffled his gray hair fondly.  "I. . .suppose I should go find Rachel."

"Nonsense."  Alex shushed her.  "You stay with Derek.  I'll round up Rachel after I get Lissa tucked in.  Lis, can you walk or should I put you in a chair until I make sure Phillip has Rose settled?"

"I'll be fine Xan.  Just steer me in the right direction and check on the others."

"If you're sure. . ."  At her nod, Alex trailed after Phillip and Rose, determined to make sure the two Healers had made it their room intact.

"Elizabeth?" Lissa looked up startled as Moira gazed at her sadly.  The ex-cop had forgotten she was still standing there.  She knew immediately, what she was about to say.

"It was not your fault; no more than it was mine.  I know what is running circles around your mind and you have to stop it.  You are not to blame for any of this."

"If he had died?  Would you be so sure then, Moi?  I wouldn't. . ."

Once more, Lissa felt the other woman's mind on hers.  // I would.  Kitling, in sending there is only truth.  I won't lie to you; if Derek had died I would have been devastated.  Then I would have hunted the demon down and ripped It to shreds with whatever happened to be at my disposal.  // The sheer brutallity of Moira's truth shocked her before the other sighed wearily, dropping her gaze.  She switched to less intimate vocal speech.  "Then I would have somehow picked up the shards of my heart and gotten on with my life."

"As simple as that?"

"Hardly."  Moira snorted and the two women shared more than pain as their eyes locked again.  Guilt, grief, rage. . .the horrible realization of just how close they all had come to death and eternal damnation was enough to daunt them both.  "But it's what Derek would have wanted of us."

Lissa said nothing.

Moira tried again.  "No one blames you, Lis.  If they do, then I'm just as much responcible if not more so."

"I don't see how. . ."

Moira's smile was bitter and direct.  "It was my plan to begin with.  And I threw the dagger that killed him."

She would have said more but Alex was back.  

"Ready kiddo?"

"Yeah, just a sec."  She turned to Derek's wife with a small smile, but a real one.  "Thanks Moi.  I owe you one."

"Just remember what I said."

Lissa nodded solemly.  "It goes both ways.  You remember that."

In her room, Lissa protested she was fine.  "Xan, really -- all I need is a few minutes to recoup.  I'm fine."

"You are not fine, young lady.  Although I hope Moira managed to convince you that none of this was your fault."  Alex clucked, firmly tucking the covers into place around her old friend.

"How did you know. . .?"

"That you were blaming yourself?" Alex chided.  "Simple -- it's what you always do Lis when something goes wrong.  Only this time something went right, so stop worrying.  Everything's fine.  Derek's fine,and already asleep.  The love birds are asleep, safely tucked into bed, I checked."

"I know but. . ."  How could she explain how alone she felt?  How Rachel's reaction, the horror in the doctor's eyes, nawed at her until there was nothing left but the doubt?

"Don't worry, I'll stay.  Go to sleep, " she crooned, brushing back the younger woman's hair with long, dark fingers.  "I'm here for you, Lissa.  Right here."

Lissa had intended to fiegn sleep long enough for Alex to leave and check on Rachel, but as she closed her eyes, real sleep, accompanied by the feel of soft hands stroking her hair and the sound of her old friend's soft humming, crept up on her and dragged her down into a dreamless slumber.

Conclusion

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