"Enough!" Isis shouted loudly, silencing the room. She glared at the guards surrounding Raksha. "Back off!" she ordered.

"Yes," Amun said, regaining control. "Settle down. There's no need for unrest." He looked at Raksha. "Return to your position." Raksha did so slowly unwilling to take her eyes off of the god.

Amun turned and glared down at the dark god. "You know the rules, Set. No killing. If you can't adhere to that, then remove yourself."

Set glared at Amun but nodded his head respectfully. Anything else would have brought the wrath of all the other gods on to him. Set had already died once by Horus' hand in the avengement of his father, Osiris. He wasn't looking forward to it happening again, for if it happened this time it would surely be permanent.

"You may continue," Amun ordered, nodding at Spike.

Spike looked up. He was clearly shaken by the close encounter that had just occurred. Knowing that he had to make what his words count, Spike regained his composure quickly. "Raksha completes me. Everything else is just a minor detail. That should be all that matters."

Spike leaned down and captured Raksha's lips. At first Raksha seemed reluctant to respond but at Spike's continued teasing, she opened her mouth and returned the kiss. The kiss was prolonged and lengthy -- neither of the participants needed oxygen.

Raksha finally placed her hands on Spike's shoulders and pushed back, breaking the kiss. Spike stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance. He looked down at her but she had her eyes pinned fastly to the ground avoiding his gaze. With an unnecessary sigh, Spike ran his hand down the back of her head. Raksha remained still and didn't respond. Spike sighed yet again and removed his hand from her head. Turning on his heel, he left the platform and returned to the crowd.

"There are no more speakers," Isis commented quietly. She, as some of the other gods, had been moved greatly by the display.

"Very well, then," Maat said. "We shall move to the chamber to decide." She gestured to Raksha. "Chain her to a chair and leave her." The guards rushed to do her bidding as the gods began to rise. They left the room as Raksha was escorted to a chair and surrounded by guards.

Spike slowly edged his way over to Raksha. A hand was placed on him by a guard but he shrugged it off shooting the guard a withering look. The guard backed off and resumed his post. Spike continued walking and stopped right in front of Raksha. Raksha didn't even look up. She refused to acknowledge that he was there.

"Well?" he asked after a few long moments. "Is this how it is going to end?"

"You don't understand," Raksha said quietly, not looking up. "There is nothing to end."

"Really?" Spike asked, seeing through her. "If there is nothing then why did you save me? Why did you endanger yourself if there is nothing?"

"It's what I do," Raksha answered. "I *save* people." She laughed softly. "But I can't save myself, you know. I can try and try but I keep failing."

Spike reached out and tipped her face up so that he could look into her eyes. "Is that what you really think, pet?"

Raksha turned her face. "Yes."

"Then why do you look away?" Spike asked softly.

Raksha whipped her head around. "So that you don't see my pain...my suffering because I will not be with you." She smiled slightly. "And the other two billion people I work so hard to save."

"I thought you welcomed death," Spike replied in whispered tones.

"I do," Raksha said. "But there are some things I will miss."

"Like me?"

"Like you...and chocolate."

Spike smiled at her slightly. Raksha had strength enough to face death and find humor in it. "You're something, pet."

Raksha shot him a cheeky grin. "That does speak of me."

Silence lapsed between the two lovers yet again. Finally, Raksha cleared her throat breaking the solitude.

"Spike," she said barely above a whisper. "Don't hate me."

"Why would I do that?" he asked laying a hand on her cheek. Raksha unconsciously pressed her face into his hand.

"I am hurting you. I don't mean to but I am. You want me to fight death harder but I'm sorry. I can't. I don't expect you to understand. Even if you live to be half my age you won't be able to understand."

"I don't have a soul," Spike commented quietly.

"That's part of it," Raksha said sadly.

Spike slowly ran his hand over Raksha's hair. "I will never understand your motives, pet. Hell, I don't even begin to understand you. I could never hate you... I'm not all that fond of you at the moment, but I'll get over it."

Raksha opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by the sound of her gods reentering the room. The gods resumed their positions. The guards pushed Spike aside as they unchained Raksha. The guards led her to the pedestal, pulling the chains around her wrists, and forced her on to her knees, yet again. The crowd gathered around to her the final ruling.

"We have made our decision," Amun said slowly. He mentioned for Raksha to stand. She obeyed speedily.

"Unchain her," Maat directed to the guards.

The guards once again rushed to do her bidding. Quickly, they snapped off the shackles that captured Raksha's wrists and ankles. Then they quickly backed off, obviously afraid of what Raksha was rumored to be able to do. Raksha ignored them and started rubbing her wrists. The shackles had blemished her skin.

Isis slowly walked toward her carrying a chalice. When she reached Raksha, she stopped and looked back at Amun. He nodded slightly telling her to go on. Isis removed a small vial filled with liquid from a pouch. She uncapped the vial and poured all of the liquid into the chalice.

"By the will of the council, it shall happen," Isis intoned softly, raising the cup into the air. Then she handed the chalice to Raksha.

"Drink, child," Isis ordered gently. Raksha raised the cup to her lips eyeing the goddess warily. As soon the liquid hit her tongue, Raksha lowered the cup. The fluid was full of black and white magic and tasted strangely.

"Drink it all," Isis ordered tipping the cup so that all the liquid slid down Raksha's throat. Raksha gagged slightly but pushed the reflex back.

Isis continued to hold the chalice until Raksha had downed all of the liquid. Raksha immediately put her hands on her head and started to sway. Her knees gave away and she fell at Isis' feet.

Isis ignored Raksha's body and walked over to the group from Sunnydale.

"What did you do to her?" Spike demanded angrily.

Isis ignored his question. "Your work is done here. It's time for you to go back."

Isis waved her hand and in a flash of bright light they all disappeared. Isis sighed and walked back over to Raksha's body. She motioned to a few of the guards to come closer.

"Put her in my quarters," Isis commanded. "There is a lot that needs to be done."