Enemies at the Gate

Episode 2.15

Teaser

Connor helps the Slayers prepare for their upcoming battles by playing vampire.

Act One

After the Slayers find Clem murdered and branded with the mark of the Old Ones, Faith decides it is time to go beyond training Slayers and prepare for war. Aiden is worried he won't be much of a help with the research, however, because he is still reeling from Kristin's death and the disabilities caused by the explosion in Angel's garage.

Drusilla approaches Illyria's sorcerer, K'shan, offering to help the Gathering defeat the Slayers. She claims to have access to the key ingredient for weakening the Slayer line--Faith's blood.

Connor heads home to Angel's old apartment to discover that it is no longer a forgotten place he can hide. 

Act Two

Professor Roth and Willis discuss the magicks she is putting in place to bring Connor Reilly under the Patrons' spell. It doesn't involve removing his memories, but it does involve Connor making a choice. And Roth has been working overtime to ensure he makes the choice the Anunnaki want him to make. Part of her plan involves inciting would-be enemies of Connor to go after him, and making sure--through Gunn, Lorne, and others friends Connor trusts--that Connor knows he is under attack. 

Though all this is meant to psyche Connor out, Connor is in fact under the scrutiny of the Gathering, who realize the Dagger of the Nyazians, a weapon Connor is prophesied to yield, will endanger their plans to open the gates of hell.

Willis approaches Da Silva. He tells him his decision to cut short his period as an initiate and become a permanent disciple of the Anunnaki is wise, for soon the Earth will belong to them. They enter a portal leading to the Patrons' dimension on the second floor of Club Sekhmet. The act of crossing over to Nibiru a second time turns Da Silva into a disciple. In Nibiru, Da Silva sees the place the Patrons are holding the Dagger of the Nyazians for safe keeping.

Act Three

Lorne takes Connor under his wing, and Connor tells him about the offer from the Anunnaki, thereby inadvertently making the offer null and void. Later, Lorne is attacked by demons with the same branding iron used in the attack on Clem. Connor fights them off. They notice the demons don't seem to be acting under their own volition. Unbeknownst to them both, the attack is being orchestrated by members of the Enash Cabal. 

Gunn tells Faith that the key to bringing Illyria down is to appeal to her human side--he believes something of Fred is still in her. 

Aiden's frustration with his disabilities leads him to take a potion to increase his mental acuity. 

Act Four

Jason Guelph is told that Tammy Pitts, the woman the Senior Partners want for their new Conduit, is hiding out in a Los Angeles convent under the protection of the Slayers. 

Aiden finds the old Syndicate translation of the Nyazian Scroll on his hard drive. He tells Faith, Gunn, and the scholar Nigel about its contents. According to the translation, the One Sired by the Vampire with a Soul will "give his blood and life" to "save his people" from the netherworld. Connor's blood is an important ingredient in a ritual that will save the human race. There is no indication when this will happen, but it clear Connor's enemies will rise against him soon to prevent it, and that this rise will be heralded by signs--earthquake, fire, and blood.

Connor overhears Aiden's presentation and tells Faith he's had enough of everything--the violence of his life, the prophecies overshadowing him, his vampire heritage. Faith can offer nothing but her friendship. Connor finds solace in Alix's arms.

Gunn heads off to England to deliver the Nyazian Scroll gifted to Faith from the Nyazians to Giles.

The Enash Cabal debate what to do about Connor Reilly--the child of two demons, and yet apparently fated to play a key role in fighting the demon threat.

Faith is relaxing at home when Spike knocks at her door.

Episode 2.16 summary