Wolves at the Gate, Part Two

"Wolves at the Gate, Part Two" was the thirteenth story from Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight.

Summary
Fifteen minutes prior to Xander and Renee's visit, Dracula reflects on his solitude. Unlike his previous appearances as young and handsome, he now appears to be a bearded old man in a soiled bathrobe. His demonic butler named Butterfield walks in and encourages him to get out of his depressive state. Their conversation reveals that Dracula has been drinking heavily and rarely leaves his room, not having killed 'so much as a peasant' in months. He worries that people are beginning to wonder what has become of the mighty Dracula. Dracula suddenly musters energy when he notices Xander landing his helicopter outside of his castle. He orders Butterfield to get him a razor. Clean shaven and seemingly young again, Dracula greets Xander at the door by calling him "manservant," to which Xander reciprocates by calling him "master." Dracula offends Renee and appalls Xander by referring to Renee as a moor. Nevertheless, he welcomes the pair inside, despite initially seeming to try to convince them to leave.

In Scotland, Andrew informs young Slayers of Dracula's known powers, which include transmogrification, a piercing hypnotic stare, and imperviousness to stakes (though staking him reduces him to dust, as it does any vampire, the dust can transform into fog and allow him to reform). During this lecture, a Slayer questions Andrew as to why he is sporting a replica of George Hamilton's outfit from Love at First Bite. He assures her that it not a replica, it is the actual outfit he bought at an auction. He concludes his lecture by stating that following Anya Jenkins's death, Xander took a leave of absence and went to live with Dracula in Transylvania for a few months. Inside the castle, a Slayer reports to Buffy that another fellow Slayer, Aiko, discovered the Japanese vampire gang's leader's name: Toru. Buffy speaks to Aiko through a video transmission and orders her to keep surveillance on the vampires until she and other Slayers join her. Buffy orders Satsu to prep the others, sending all the slayers from headquarters to Tokyo. When Satsu suggests leaving a few as rearguard Buffy snaps at her and demands to have her orders followed.

At Dracula's castle, he, Xander, and Renee sit and discuss how the vampires possess the exact same powers as his. Dracula at first claims this is impossible as his powers are ancient magics under his guardianship, then bursts in fury when he realizes that they stole his secrets. Apparently they got him drunk and convinced him to gamble his secrets for a motorcycle. He also realizes he had probably been cheated, for they had a witch dealing. He enters his armory and grabs hold of a sword, agreeing to help fight these vampires despite his hatred of Buffy.

On their flight to Tokyo, Willow approaches Satsu and comforts her about the tension between she and Buffy following their one-night stand. She discusses Buffy's difficult position as general, and reminds Satsu that Buffy is not a lesbian and that she shouldn't get her hopes up. Satsu says she knows, and the serious part of the conversation is over. Willow then jokingly interrogates Satsu as to how Buffy was in bed.

In downtown Tokyo, Aiko keeps a close eye on Toru and Raidon in the streets. However, unbeknownst to her they have spotted her tailing them. Tracking them, she finds herself alone in an alley where Toru has strategically left a mysterious, glowing red ring on the ground for her to pick up. Aiko reaches for it, when suddenly Kumiko flies overhead behind her with the Scythe. For a few seconds, the Scythe, the device, and Aiko conduct a red energy, before Toru appears in front of Aiko and breaks her jaw with a single punch, asking her how it feels to be a regular girl again. Before she can answer, Toru takes a horrific bite in her neck and kills her. Toru looks over at Raidon and claims the beta-test was successful and they should now take this technology global. The last panel is of Kumiko flying triumphantly into the sky, revealing a far larger ring device on the roof of a building.

Individuals

 * Dracula
 * Butterfield
 * Xander Harris
 * Renee
 * Andrew Wells
 * Buffy Summers
 * Willow Rosenberg
 * Aiko
 * Satsu
 * Toru
 * Raidon
 * Kumiko

Species

 * Vampire
 * Witch
 * Unspecified Demon
 * Kabuki Demon

Weapons and Objects

 * Axe
 * Sword
 * Scythe
 * Dracula's Sword

Deaths

 * 5 Kabuki Demons
 * 1 Slayer - Aiko

Collections

 * Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 Volume 3: Wolves at the Gate