Jonathan’s blood ran cold. He couldn’t even guess what Anya would deem acceptable punishment for him and Andrew. She had spent an entire millennium inflicting vengeance for other people. How much worse would her vengeance be when she was acting on her own behalf? Would she feed them to Hellhounds? Skin them alive? Force them into a Groundhog Day scenario of eternal torment?

Angelus lifted his weapon by the handle so that the sharp metal ball jingled on its chain next to his face as he addressed Ripper. “Spike and I will be taking the mace and the sword on a little field trip. Our clairvoyant got a picture of the slayer back in town, so we’re going to go take her down. I’ll front the bill for the weapons. Just send an invoice over to the Bronze, will you?”

Hatred plain on his face, Ripper gritted his teeth. “I suppose if I were to turn you down, the coroner would need to make a second trip here today.”

“Let’s not find out.” Angelus grinned. “Why don’t you just hop on team Save the World? You did your best with your books. Let us take care of the rest.”

“Whatever gets you out of my shop,” Ripper said, holding the vampire’s gaze.

“About that,” Spike said. “We’re leaving the living with you.”

“I don’t think so,” Ripper scoffed. “Take your forging Renfields with you!”

“We’re not Renfields,” Andrew corrected, holding his index finger in the air.

“And how are you going to get into our house without an invitation?” Jonathan asked Angelus.

“Do you want us to kill the slayer loose in your house?” the vampire asked.

“Yes! But—”

“Then issue the invite before we make you,” Spike said.

Jonathan gulped. “You’re invited into our house to kill the slayer.”

“But don’t look through our stuff!” Andrew added.

Angelus reached out and knocked a glass orb off the nearest shelf. It fell to the floor, cracking like an egg. “Why don’t you all stay and help Ripper put his shop back together. It’s a mess in here.”

“Don’t leave me with these lying humans!” Anya begged, rushing after Angelus and Spike as they climbed the stairs toward the boutique’s front door. “Give me a sword! I’m totally stabby! I can help out! If I could just get my hands on the Marnoxon gem, I could undo this whole day!”

Angelus cupped her cheek in his palm. “Why don’t you and Ripper finish tracking down the names and prices on all the magical garbage Andrew’s been lugging around in that backpack? Maybe some of it is worth something.”

Anya glanced back at Ripper. “How much would you pay for the Dagger of the Unkillable and two bald-faced liars?”