Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and all characters from the show are the property of Joss Whedon, 20th Century Fox, and the UPN Television Network. The Cthulhu Mythos material is loosely based on the "Call of Cthulhu" role-playing game (copyright Chaosium Inc.) and the book "Encyclopedia Cthulhiana" by Daniel Harms.
Sunday March 31, 2002, Afternoon: Magic Box Buffy, Tara, Xander, Dawn, and Anya are in the back room of the Magic Box. Anya tells the others "I set up that table over there. You know where more books are if you need them." Buffy says "Thanks, Anya." She pauses. "Willow died by mystical means, so we can raise her by mystical means. We're going to keep looking until we find an answer." Tara cautions "There might not be an answer." Buffy glares at Tara. "We'll find one. If it weren't for Willow, we'd all be dead." Dawn notices Anya's blue-stoned pendant. "Can't we just wish Willow back to life?" Anya shakes her head sadly. "I'm sorry. It isn't that easy. I can't bring someone back to life unless I caused their death." Saturday April 20, Night: Magic Box Buffy, Tara, Xander, and Dawn are in the back room of the Magic Box. Dawn says wearily "It's been almost three weeks and we still haven't found anything." Buffy responds "We've found several things. Tara vetoed all of them." Tara says quietly "Because none of them would work." Saturday May 4, Evening: Magic Box Buffy, Tara, and Xander are doing research in the back room. Buffy asks "What about this?" Tara reads the spell carefully and then shakes her head. "It won't work for us. We need a consecrated priest of ..." She pauses. "I can't even pronounce the name." Buffy says "Maybe it'll work without the consecrated priest." Tara shakes her head again. "You can't just experiment. Not with magic this powerful." Buffy looks frustrated. She snaps at Tara "You object to every idea I have. Do you even want Willow back?" Tara responds angrily "What did you say?" Xander adds firmly "Buffy. That's not fair." Buffy calms down. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." She pauses. "I should go patrol." After Buffy leaves, Xander reassures Tara. "Buffy didn't mean what she said. She's just frustrated." Tara nods. "I know. I ... I'm worried about her. She's becoming obsessed." Xander replies "I'll talk to her." Saturday May 4: Night Buffy is patrolling in a cemetery and notices Spike following her. "Spike, what are you doing?" Spike grins. "Thought you could use some backup." Buffy considers a moment. "Fine. Just don't get in my way." Buffy senses something and heads to a nearby building. She cautiously enters the building, followed by Spike. She carefully examines one of the walls and finds a hidden door. Buffy and Spike go through the door, down a staircase and down a corridor. The corridor opens up into a room. Buffy sees seven demons surrounding three bound figures. One bound figure wears a silver-looking mask and a purple cloak. The other two have canine features, hoofed feet, and claws. The leader of the demons holds a dagger and a small statue and chants. "We dedicate these sacrifices to the Crawling Chaos. Let him devour the power of the pretender and let the Black Wind come and cleanse Sunnydale of the human pests." The demon leader smashes the statue and raises the dagger to strike. Then he notices Buffy and Spike approaching and sends three demons to kill them. Buffy dodges a blow, then stakes one of the demons and then a second, as Spike breaks the neck of the third. The remaining four demons attack. Spike throws the first demon against a wall. Buffy stakes the second demon, tosses the third demon back into the leader, and kicks the leader's dagger aside. The first demon charges Buffy but Buffy stakes him. The leader pushes the third demon aside and charges Buffy. Buffy dodges, lands a kick on the leader, and dives for the dagger. She stabs the leader as he attacks her again. The remaining demon tries to run, but Spike grabs him and breaks his neck. Buffy cuts the three bound figures loose and takes a step back. The masked creature gestures. A cloud of darkness appears and the temperature drops. The cloud moves over each demon body and devours them. Then it pauses and speaks directly to Buffy and Spike's minds. "The ritual might have caused some inconvenience if you had not responded to the call of my servant." It tells Spike "You wish a change. There is a demon I know of in Africa. Pass his tests and he will grant you your true desire." Then it asks Buffy "And what of you?" Buffy replies "My best friend died recently." The cloud continues "The witch who drove back Yog-Sothoth. You would like her back. I will grant you this favor in return for an additional service. My priest will give you the details." A paper appears in the cloaked figure's hands. He hands the paper to Buffy and she reads it over. Buffy asks "How long do I have to decide?" The cloud responds "Come back here tomorrow night with your answer." Sunday May 5, Morning: Summers' House Tara and Dawn are sitting in the kitchen. Tara says "I was thinking we could head to the mall for some shopping, catch a movie, and then go out for a milkshake." Dawn nods. "Sounds great." She pauses. "I thought Buffy was going to come." Tara tells her "She wanted to do more research." Dawn says sadly "That's practically all she does lately." Tara reassures her "Xander is going to talk to her." Dawn shakes her head. "It isn't going to help. When she gets like this, nothing is going to stop her." Sunday May 5, Afternoon: Magic Box Buffy and Anya are in the main room. Buffy hands a paper to Anya. "Don't tell anyone else about this but I need you to read this over. It's a contract." Anya looks at it and says in an alarmed tone. "This isn't a contract. It's a mystical pact. It says ..." Buffy interrupts. "I know what it says. Just tell me if there are any hidden traps." Anya studies the pact carefully and then reports "No traps that I could see. But do you really want to do this?" Buffy replies firmly "Yes. It's for Willow." Sunday May 5, Night: Summers' House Tara, Xander, and Dawn are sitting in the living room. Dawn asks "Does anyone know why Buffy wanted us here?" Xander shakes his head. "She's been avoiding me all day." A few minutes later, Buffy walks in, followed by Willow. Dawn gives a squeal of delight and rushes to hug Willow. Tara says happily "Willow! How?" Buffy replies "I found a spell." She pauses. "I have to go patrol." Less than an hour later, there is a knock on the door. Tara answers and sees Giles. Tara says "Giles! Come in! When did you get here?" Giles replies "Just now. A coven in Devon gave me some of their power so I could get here immediately." Willow and Dawn enter. Giles stares at Willow for a moment. Dawn asks "Aren't you happy to see her?" Giles pauses and then smiles. "Willow. I'm very glad you're alive. It's just that ..." Willow finishes. "You're worried about how I came back." Dawn thinks for a moment. "Is that what your message was about?" Giles nods. "Yes to both of you. Did Buffy tell you anything?" Tara shakes her head. "Just that she found a spell. Then she went out to patrol." Giles asks "Did anything happen before that?" Tara nods. "Last night Buffy was patrolling and she rescued three creatures from some demons. The creatures fit the description of ghouls." Giles looks alarmed. "Ghouls. Oh, dear lord." He pauses. "I ran across a prophecy." He starts reciting. "The Thriceborn shall enter into the service of the Charnel God. His power shall wax and his folk shall flock to his side. The time of his awakening shall be at hand." He pauses. "The Charnel God is another name for Mordiggian. The traditional god of the ghouls." Willow breaks the silence. She says in a shattered tone "Buffy sold herself to Mordiggian. To bring me back." Giles replies "We don't know that." Sunday May 5, Night: Summers' House Buffy returns and sees Willow, Tara, Xander, Giles, and Dawn sitting in the living room looking grim. Buffy asks "Giles? When did you get here?" Giles answers "Just now. Buffy, we need to talk. How did you bring Willow back?" Buffy reluctantly hands him the pact. Giles reads it over and then summarizes "It says that Mordiggian will bring Willow back. In return Buffy agrees that in ten years she will become a ghoul and follow Mordiggian." Dawn looks horrified. "Why? How could you?" Buffy answers firmly "Ten years. Did any of you really think I was going to live that long? I did my research. Ghouls don't usually prey on living humans, just on the dead. Mordiggian himself isn't much concerned with living humans. And some of me would still survive." Willow pleads "Isn't there anything we can do?" Giles shakes his head. "No. Buffy made a pact with a deity. There's nothing anyone can do about it." Willow says hesitantly "If I ... I wasn't alive." Giles answers "It wouldn't matter. Don't even consider it." Sunday May 12: Night, Giles' House Giles is in his new home, writing in his private journal. "I heard from Quentin today. Reports suggest that Mordiggian is gaining adherents among ghouls as news of the pact spreads. At some point this is likely to become a problem. Buffy has been very conscientious about both training and practice. Strangely enough, she seems to have found new contentment. The rest of us are having more trouble dealing with the situation. In particular, Willow still looks a bit haunted. She's been throwing herself into her magical studies. At least she has developed some caution in its use. Anya has been curiously helpful, for a vengeance demon. I think that what Buffy did shook Anya up a little. Meanwhile, Spike seems to have left Sunnydale. Buffy thinks he went to Africa."