Sarah made her way towards the desk where the book used to sit, her hand running across the smooth surface. She thought it strange that someone would come and take the book and Giles. A flash sent a sharp pain to her mind as images came to play. She now knew who had taken Giles and the book and how they had gotten into the castle in the middle of the day.

Jareth was at her side as he saw her waiver, “What is it?”

“I…It was Navea. She and some other vampires came and took Giles and the book but why the book. I can see her taking Giles as a way to use him as some kind of bargaining but why the book?”

Buffy waved her hands in the air, “Whoa, wait a sec! How do you know this? Are you sure Navea took Giles?”

Sarah rubbed her slightly aching temples, “I think I can somehow see into the past or something. I just had a flash and saw everything that happened not to mention feeling it. That I definitely don’t care to do again.”

Willow frowned as she was worried about Giles, “How can they have come here in the middle of the day?”

Sarah started towards the door, “There is some kind of secret entrance that leads from the underground tunnels up to the library. Well, it looks like we’re going to go after Navea and the others sooner than we thought. We need to hurry though, I have a bad feeling that we need to get to Giles and the book as soon a possible.”

No one argued as they followed Sarah out of the study and to the back of the library. Jareth was well aware of what secret entrance Sarah was referring to and cursed himself for not thinking of putting a magical guard on that secret entrance.

As they reached the back of the library Jareth waived his hand in front of a large panel. With a slight grinding noise of brick grinding against brick a small doorway opened up into a dark hallway of stairs that led downwards.

Sarah turned to the others, “Guys, don’t try to confront Navea, leave her to me and Jareth. I’m going to need you guys to concentrate on getting Giles and the book back.”

Jareth in turn tossed a crystal to each and as they caught it a weapon formed in each hand. Buffy and Willow were rewarded with a wooden stake, Riley with a crossbow, and Xander with an axe. Turning to Sarah Jareth took her hand squeezing it in reassurance, “Let us go then.”

Dressed in black leather Navea smiled wickedly to Giles as he had been tied ceremoniously to a large pike that stood in the room’s center. Book placed on a tall altar she flipped the pages as she allowed her powers to guide her to the appropriate page for the ritual. So they were going to try and stop her want for power, she would just have to show them a lesson in meddling in her affairs.

The other vampires stood in a circle surrounding Giles as they made ready for the coming evils that Navea would summon forth. They just loved the prospect of chaos and were eager in the destruction that they would soon be participating in.

Giles struggled against his bindings not at all happy about the fact that he was about to be put in the middle of a very powerful summoning spell, not to mention that he was the intended sacrifice. Head slumped back against the pike he was tied to he started his little prayer for a miracle. If he had just recognized that passage to begin with he might have not been in this predicament.

Sarah shivered as they neared Navea’s lair, she could hear her softly chanting some words she did not recognize. Jareth’s jaw tightened at the sound of the chants, recognizing the words immediately.

Sarah noticed him tense, “What is it? Do you know what she’s doing?”

Jareth quickened his pace, “She’s trying to awaken the sleeping evils. If we don’t hurry…”

He didn’t have to finish that statement as the rest of the group hurried after him. As they approached a growing light at the end of the walkway they slowed their pace careful not to give their arrival away.

Navea smiled, as she knew that their guests had just arrived with a wave of her hand she signaled the hidden vampires allowing them to know that they had arrived.

Sarah nervously peeked around the corner seeing Giles tied to a pike and a large amount of vampires circled about the room. This was not going to be a walk in the park. Pulling her head back she looked to Buffy with dismay, “Giles is in the center of a lot of vampires tied to a pike.”

Buffy nodded her head knowing that they were in for a fight of their lives, not that it hadn’t happened a few times in the past. It always felt like déja-vu when she was about to enter situations like these. Looking to the others she signaled for them to get ready.

Each tightened the grip of their weapons as they readied themselves. Xander smiled weakly whispering, “Well, here we go again.”

As they were about to make their presence known and ruin the vampire’s party they were surprised as they were suddenly surrounded by vampires. Sarah and Jareth both cursed under their breaths as Navea was at the group’s center.

Navea smiled sweetly to the surprised group before her, “Oh, how good for you to join us. You’re just in time for the finishing of the ritual. Pity Sarah, we would have made a good team you and I but alas…” with those words the vampires lunged forwards in attack.

Immediately they were jumped on by hungry vampires, each being dusted one after the other. Flinging a crystal at a large number of vampires Jareth watched with a satisfied smirk as they burned disappearing to dust in seconds. Sarah groaned as she heard Navea continuing with the ritual she had to get to her but it was kind of hard when ones fighting off a pack of blood thirsty vamps.

Willow shrieked as one lunged for her, plunging her stake into the vampire’s chest she was rewarded with a dust shower. Waving her hand in front of her face she choked slightly disgusted by the fact she just breathed in some vampire dust. “Eeeww,” she coughed as she was suddenly thrown to the floor vampire on top of her. Summoning her power she flung the vampire off of her. Getting to her feet she concentrated on the stake in hand as it lifted from her hand. With a swift movement the stake was flying through the air impaling several vampires in its wake. Catching it in hand she grinned satisfied with her magic, “Cool!”

Riley shot off his crossbow surprise rising as another arrow just appeared in the discharged place. He definitely liked his new weapon.

Buffy rolled coming up to her feet as she staked another vampire. It was starting to look like no mater how many she dusted more would just take its place. Worriedly she looked to Giles seeing that she was no closer to getting to him.

Sarah’s back met Jareth’s as she dusted another vampire, “I need to get to Navea.”

Discharging another crystal Jareth nodded his head summoning his powers. Magic surrounded them transporting them to Navea’s side.

Navea was ready for their arrival as she blasted her dark power at the Goblin King sending him flying across the room. Sarah stood shocked but only for a moment as she lunged for Navea. Navea in turn used her power as she forced the Slayer to dangle in mid air.

Sarah kicked at the open air concentrating on her powers as she saw Navea returning her attention to the book. Dropping to the floor Sarah stumbled back as she felt the ground beneath her feet tremble and shake. “Oh shit, this is not good!”

Navea laughed at Sarah’s words, “Your too late Slayer. I’ve done it now watch as I kill your friend.”

Sarah watched with horror as the floor that surrounded Giles crumbled and broke apart. In the floor’s place was nothing but a pit of fire a large round shaft of stone holding the bound Giles in its middle. Navea appeared right behind Giles, dagger grasped in hand.

Both Sarah and Buffy screamed out as they saw her rise the dagger to his throat, “No!”

Sarah was in action before she even knew what it was that she was doing. In a flash of light she was on the same pillar with Giles and Navea. Grabbing at the Elfin Vampire she pulled her away from Giles. The dagger was knocked out of Navea’s hand as it slid to the edge of the pillar of stone.

Navea growled in frustration as she found herself interrupted from finishing the sacrifice for her ritual of awakening. Quickly she summoned her powers forcing the Slayer off of her roughly.

Sarah stumbled back head hanging off of the side of the pillar, looking down she quickly got to her feet away from the pillars edge. It was definitely not the way she wanted to end the day. A blast of energy came her way her arms shooting up for protection. As her arms shot up the energy directed at her was consumed by an invisible wall of her own energy. How she did that she didn’t know but right now she really didn’t have the time to ponder as Navea lunged forwards.

With rage from seeing Sarah unharmed she lunged forwards fist contacting with chin as she sent Sarah flying back.

Sarah frantically grabbed for something, anything to stop her fall as she was propelled back her jaw stinging from Navea’s blow. Hand grabbing the edge of the pillar as she dangled helplessly at its edge she swallowed hard as she felt the slight sting of heat hitting her feet as fire licked at their bottoms. Looking up she visibly paled as she saw Navea standing over her with a sadistic grin on her face.

Giles frantically moved his foot towards the dagger that lied close to his foot. It had been knocked there during Sarah and Navea’s confrontation. Relief overwhelmed his being as his foot successfully pulled the dagger closer to him. Sliding down towards the ground still bound he was able to grasp the handle of the dagger. Seeing Navea standing over Sarah as she dangled helplessly on the edge he quickened his task of cutting himself free.

Navea crouched down, a wicked smile across her face with her head tilting playfully to the side, “Oh, what to do, what to do?” She tapped her fingers against her chin as if in deep thought. Stopping in mid tap she reached out her hand to Sarah’s pulling at one of her fingers, “Hmm, what would happen if I took this little finger?”

Sarah winked in pain as she felt her finger being broken trying her hardest not to let go of the edge. Sarah screamed out in agony as Navea pulled back another finger.

“Oh, did that hurt?” Navea laughed maliciously as she tugged at another digit.

Tears welled up within her eyes as she was lost on what to do. Hand losing its hold she screamed out as that hand let go of the edge and she was now dangling with one hand. Concentrating with all she had she tried to remember how she had transported herself to the pillar but was unable to duplicate her task.

About to reach for the other set of digits Navea screamed out as she felt something hot sear her flesh. Looking up she saw the Goblin King standing on the other side of the pit reading another crystal to be thrown at her. Navea shook her finger at his efforts, “Na…au bad Goblin King!” with that she flung him back with her power watching with satisfaction as his back hit the cavern wall hard his body falling to the ground beneath him.

Turning her attention back to Sarah she started to the edge looking down to the now sweating Slayer, “Now, where was I before so rudely interrupted? Oh, yes!”

Giles finally freed himself from the ropes as he started towards Navea’s back ready to push her over the edge.

Sarah worriedly watched as Navea’s hand started to lower to her good hand. Flexing her other hand she knew that this would be close but she had no other choice. Ignoring the pain that shot through her hand she reached up grabbing Navea’s wrist as she pulled her over the edge.

With a scream she found herself falling her back to the flames as she saw Sarah still dangling from the edge of the pillar. A satisfied smile crossed her face as she saw that Sarah was about to fall as well and then there was darkness.

Sarah cried out as she felt her grip with her good hand loosening. Frantically she tried to grab hold with her other hand but she couldn’t. Just as she was starting to slip two hands reached over from above grasping her hands.

Giles flung himself to the edge as he grabbed for Sarah but as he tried to pull her up he was starting to get pulled with her.

Jareth shook his head the pain shooting through his body like a sharp rod had been stuck through his being. Standing on weakened and shaken legs he quickly looked to see Sarah dangling from the edge of the pillar with Giles trying to pull her up but being pulled in the process.

Weak from using his power and the attack from Navea he had only enough power for one more crystal. He just prayed that he would be able to throw it at them in time. Crystal slowly forming in hand he winked in pain with the effort but continued none the less. As the crystal finished forming he flung it at them with all the strength he had left.

Sarah saw that Giles was being pulled over the edge and knew if he didn’t let go that it would be the end for both of them, “Giles, let go! You can’t pull me up you’ll only get us both killed.”

Giles tightened his grip refusing to let go of her, “No! I won’t let go. Hang on.”

Pulling one hand free from Giles grip she started to pull the other free not wanting to get her friend killed in an attempt to saving her life. Dangling with one arm held in both of Giles hands she looked down and could she the flames of the pit writhing beneath her. Reaching up she tried to pull her other hand free.

“What are you doing? Stop, Sarah hang on!”

Before she could make good of making Giles let go she felt a surge of magic surrounding them and then her vision was replaced by the image of the cavern ceiling as her back was lying against the cavern floor. Rolling over to her side she watched as the rest of her party were making their way towards both a bewildered and confused Sarah and Giles.

Jareth was at her side in moments gathering her in his arms, “Don’t you dare ever try that again. What were you thinking?”

Sarah hugged Jareth relieved to see that he was all right and the others looked pretty good as well minus a few cuts and scrapes. Looking over his shoulder she watched as the writhing fire pit closed itself and was now replaced with solid ground. With a sigh of relief she closed her eyes, “It’s over.”