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Time had slipped by quickly and the gang had yet to come up a viable reason for what was going on. Several hours researching was making the future seem dismal. Cordelia was on her feet again, pacing the floor, trying to keep her calm despite the anxious aching in her gut.
"This is all useless!" Cordelia exclaimed suddenly. "None of these books are of any value. I know. Spike and Willow have studied every volume in this library. Only one book could've helped and that was the Book of Demios. But it is gone and now I'm going to fulfill my mission."
As Cordelia started for the door, Buffy blocked her exit. "Cordelia, you can't go. He's done nothing wrong."
"Buffy please, get out of my way. I don't want to fight you, but I will do whatever I have to get to Giles."
Buffy stiffened. "And I'll do whatever I have to to keep you here." Buffy didn't want to fight Cordelia, but she knew that future girl was intent on killing Giles.
Cordelia prepared to charge Buffy when Willow spoke up. "Did you say The Book of Demios?"
Cordelia spun on her heels. "Yeah, why?"
"Giles has that volume in his personal files." Willow looked down guiltily. "I've been going through them while he's gone. It's the book of prophecy leading up to the apocalypse if I remember correctly."
The three of them ran to the office where Buffy proceeded to break the lock on the filing cabinet. Willow pulled the book out and handed it to Cordelia. She held the book carefully, as if not wanting to damage it. "This was the book Giles caught Xander trying to steal. He killed him because of this. Spike said it held all the answers, but we could never get anyone close enough to take it. After Xander, we stopped trying."
Cordelia took the book to the table and flipped through its pages with vigor. Oz and Cordy came through the library doors with Amy and without Angel, this Buffy noticed immediately.
"Where's Angel?" Buffy asked quickly.
"He wasn't there. It looked like a scuffle, but I couldn't track him."
Amy moved quickly to Willow's side and Willow brought her up to date on all that had occurred, including the events of the future and the part she was to play. Cordelia, Willow, and Amy sat in the office reading the book and Buffy moved to the weapon's storage. In her gut, she knew something was going to happen, and when it did, she would be ready. There was a noise behind her and she turned to see Giles coming through the library door wearing a face of defeat.
"Giles, are you all right?"
"Yes, Buffy," Giles said matter-of-factly, "I know what is happening. A demon has captured Angel and they plan to use him to release the Master from his eternal prison. You must go immediately to stop this."
Buffy never hesitated. Reaching for her crossbow and a stake she proceeded towards the door. Giles watched her move gracefully. "Good luck my darling." Buffy did not notice the queerness of Giles' stance or in the words he spoke. She had Angel's fate on her mind and there was nothing that could stop her.
"Buffy, no!" Cordelia shouted, blocking the exit.
"Cordelia, get out of my way," Buffy said angrily.
"You can't go, Buffy. They need you to fulfill the prophecy."
Giles stepped forward. "Don't listen to her. She doesn't know what's going on. Her mind's been polluted by false rumors from Spike all these years. There was no betrayal. Spike killed me and pretended to be a savior in order to save himself from your wrath. Her words have been all lies, Buffy. Trust me."
Buffy listened to Giles and the logic of his words sank in. *Giles was no killer. This had to be the reason.* She turned, but Cordelia grabbed her by the shoulders.
"I am not wrong, Buffy. Angel is only half of the prophecy. They need your blood. You go down there to rescue Angel, you're walking into a trap. That was what the Book of Demios has written as prophecy. That is why Giles was so quick to kill because of the book. All the answers were there."
Giles swiftly came upon Cordelia tossing her to the side. His eyes were on fire. "Your lies make me sick!" He turned to Buffy. "Go, time is wasting away."
From the floor, Cordelia spoke, "Traitor! I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance." She got to her feet quickly, a blade in her hand.
Buffy got in her way. "Cordelia, you're wrong. It had to be Spike."
"Buffy, move." Cordelia lunged forward and Buffy sidestepped snapping a kick to Cordelia's stomach. The blow was not as damaging as it could have been, but Cordelia retaliated with a blow opening a cut above Buffy's eye. To the side, Giles tried to suppress his laughter with his hand.
Cordelia fought passionately, but Buffy was the Slayer. It didn't take long for Buffy to put Cordelia down in pain. Giles stepped forward looking down on Cordelia with satisfaction. He applauded the Slayer's craftsmanship. From the floor, Cordelia nursed her wounds. She stared into Giles' eyes and it was there that she knew she was right. A demon from *her* past was watching her.
"Corrupter? Giles is a demon!" Cordelia screamed, lifting herself to her feet.
Giles stepped back. "Buffy, destroy her. She's gone mad."
Buffy picked up Cordelia's blade hesitantly. She was confused.
"DO IT!!"
"Kronos, Lord of the Corrupters, share your deceit not before our eyes." Willow chanted from across the room. All turned to watch her.
"Uncover your mask, your cloud, and cease with your lies." Amy finished Willow's start from the other side of the room. At that second, lights began to swirl around the two witches. Giles stepped back in fear.
"DEMON BE GONE!" Willow and Amy shouted in unison as beams of light flowed from their hands towards Giles. His body was rocked with convulsions and he was momentarily lifted off the ground. Giles screamed, but it was not a human scream. It was a terrified bellow of a demon near death. The spell succeeded, and the demon, Kronos, was ripped from Giles' body and hurled to the darkest regions of the netherworld. Giles collapsed to the floor.
Buffy ran to his side and lifted his head into her lap. Willow walked over, flanked by Oz and Xander. Cordy (from the present) wrapped her arms around Xander, peering over his shoulder cautiously. Buffy looked to Willow.
"Cordelia was right. Giles did betray us, but it wasn't Giles. A demon had infested him. A Corrupter demon. It possesses human bodies. We're lucky we got to him, any longer and that demon would have *become* Giles."
Amy continued. "I've studied these incantations before - demon castings, exorcisms - but I've never used them. I wasn't sure it would work." She smiled uneasily. "Thank God it did."
"Thank you so much," Buffy told them, tears in her eyes. She looked down on Giles who was still unconscious. Then she looked over at Cordelia who was moving slowly toward them. "Cordelia I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"
Cordelia smiled. "There is nothing to forgive, Buffy. We were both right. I respect that you tried to protect your friend."
"But the things I did . . ."
Cordelia waved it away. "There are more pressing problems. Angel is still a prisoner."
Buffy slowly let go of Giles and got Willow to watch him. "You're right, what do we do?"
"You can't go, Buffy. I'll go for him," Cordelia answered.
"I can't let you go alone."
"She isn't going alone. I'm going with her, "Xander said, despite Cordy's objections.
Cordelia agreed with her younger self. "Xander, you shouldn't risk your life in this way." Buffy nodded silently.
"He came for me or he's going to come for me, I'm not sure what it is now.
But I'm gonna be there for him . . .because he'd be there for me." He turned
to Cordelia, grabbing the crossbow, "Let's go."