Buffy has enough problems in her everyday life (Ring Day is coming up and she can't even afford one of the less expensive silver bands). Then she discovers that the stars are properly aligned for an attempt to resurrect a long-dead evil sorcerer. A little investigating leads Buffy and the gang to the necromancer who killed the sorcerer long ago – an immortal of Russian descent named Yulia Dryanushka, who can control vampires – and who just happens to live in an ordinary slpit-level house in Sunnydale, California. When Buffy and the crew pay Yulia a visit, she assures them that, with Willow's help, she is powerful enough to kill the sorcerer for a second time, should he be successfully revived. Both Buffy and Willow are uncomfortable with aligning themselves with a necromancer, and are unsure if they can trust their new ally. But they have no choice when, twenty-four hours later, the vampires of Sunnydale start behaving strangely, and evil is awakening rather sooner than they expect...