Go TeamC/A
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Chapter 9 Angel and Cordelia stood in the main room. There were at least ten other couples milling around in the room. Some of the people present were already dressed in the white robes, while the others were still fully clothed. Cordelia saw Bob and Carol across the room. She raised a hesitant hand at Carol's enthustiac wave; the loose sleeve of the woman's robe fell to her elbow.
The low chatter in the room began to lessen as Gerard walked to the front of the room ringing bell. "Those bells have got to go," Cordelia grumbled under her breath.
"Ladies and Gentlemen." Gerard rang the bell louder.
"Can't you hurt him just a little bit," she whispered to vampire. Angel chuckled and shook his head.
"Ladies, Gentlemen, quiet, thank you," he said putting down the bell as the room became silent. "I know you are anxious to begin. I see some familiar faces out there." He smiled brightly to Bob and Carol and the other robe wearing couples. "I am Gerard and I am here to make some introductory remarks before you meet the great Elliot. The goal of this seminar is to promote and cultivate the initial passion that each of you experienced with your significant other in the dawning of your relationships. To do that each of you must get in touch with your inner self as well as that of your partners. You will learn to rediscover the love and trust that you once had and learn the essential skills that you will need to maintain that love and passion. Elliot believes that clothes are just one of the many distractions to true relaxation. So as of now, all participants will be required to be unclothed." Gerard paused as he noticed the undercurrent of voices of the clothed couuples. "We understand your hesitation that is why we do allow for the wearing of the robes. We are not promoting the nudist mentality, but the feedom it will allow you to concentrate on our goals. So, I will ask you to return to your rooms and get ready. Please, return here in 30 minutes in your robes. The bells will signal for your return."
***
The couples left the room, some hesitantly, some eagerly.
"Cordelia go up to the room, I will be up in a second."
"Where are you going?" Cordelia looked at the vampire.
"To the business office."
"I think I should go with you. Just in case you need a distraction. Breaking and Entering is not really in your forte, you 'grr' guy are more of the barge in and take no prisoner type. Come on, Angel, we have barely 28 minutes to get into our 'seeking innerpeace lounge wear' before that god awful chiming and clanging starts up." Cordelia pulled at the vampire to follow her. They were out the door when she stopped. "Oh, which way?"
Angel took the lead pushing her behind him. "This way," he said in exasperation.
They stood outside the closed door of the Business Office. "There is someone in there."
"Human or demon?"
"Human."
"Male or female?"
"Cordelia, I can smell a human's blood not their gender."
"Eww." The young girl scrunched up her nose. "Well, do you smell perfume or aftershave, you know does the blood pumping smelly human have a girly scent." Cordelia brought her wrist up to his nose.
"Cordelia, I can't smell anything if you distract me."
"Oh." Cordelia dropped her wrist.
Angel shook his head trying to clear his oratory senses of the onslaught of the light musk of Cordelia's perfume combined with the spicy flavor of her blood and the sweet freshness of her skin. Angel normally could block out her scent as it was as natural to him as his own, but her delicate wrist thrust in his face brought a concentrated whiff of Cordelia's unique fragrance to his attention. All he could think about was the beautiful girl next to him. Angel shook his head again. "I don't smell any type of perfume, just soap and a trace of shaving cream."
"Man. Okay, Angel go wait over there."
"Cordelia?"
"Just do it. One distraction coming up," she said knocking on the door.
Angel stood back and listened to a young male stutter. "Hel..Hello, can I help you."
"I do hope so." Angel cringed as he heard Cordelia's sugar sweet plea. The boy was a goner, he thought.
"Would you believe that I have locked myself out of my room and my stupid boyfriend is nowhere to be found." Angel heard her deep sigh. He imaged how his seer's breasts would press up to her shirt.
"Um," the boy stuttered again.
"I just don't know why I came here with him, he is just so hopeless. Do you get breaks or are you stuck behind the desk all day?" Angel could hear the pout in her voice. "I would love if you could show me around." Oh god, now Cordelia was flashing that poor boy her 100 watt smile, Angel thought in both amusement and chagrin.
"Your...boyfriend?" Angel heard the young man squeak. "Oh, he hates the sunlight, Like I said I don't know why I stay with him. So, do you think youu could get me in my room, please." In his mind's eye, Angel could see Cordelia twirling a dark strand of silk that was her hair around her finger.
"...Of..Course." The lost boy stuttered.
Angel waited for Cordelia and the young man to leave the office before he moved. He growled involuntarily as he saw the young man pant after his seer.
***
Cordelia was sitting cross-legged on the bed the white robe wrapped around her, the laptop was resting on her knees. She looked up as Angel entered the room. "Did you get it?"
Angel nodded. "Where is your puppy under the bed?"
"Don't be silly, I shooed him out minutes ago. You better get into your robe. We will be hearing the ring-a-ding-clang any minute now. Give me the list, I will e-mail it to Wesley."
Cordelia started to giggle as Angel walked out of the bathroom in his white robe. Angel scowled at her. "I am sorry. I am just so use to seeing you all decked out in your 'grr' guy ensemble, you know, black on black on black with your billowing long duster. Looking all sexy and mysterious."
"Sexy?"
Cordelia blushed. She hadn't realized that she had said that part out loud. The chiming of the bells covered Cordelia's embarassed cough. She had maintained her calm by the time the bells quieted. "We better go, it's time to meet our inner child." The dark haired girl got up tightening the belt of her robe. Angel followed his seer out of the room. For the first time in his undead life, he wished he could see himself in a mirror. Cordelia had thought he was sexy, but now she thought he looked funny.
"Cordelia?" he questioned slightly unsure of himself.
"Umm," she answered not looking at the vampire.
"You think I look stupid?"
"No, of course not. Just different that's all." Cordelia still would not look at the vampire. Angel decided not to ask about the sexy part, he wasn't sure he wanted to know what she really thought.
Chapter 10
"Good, everybody, is all here. Ready?" clapped Gerard. "With no further adieu, your guide for this weekend, your guru to love, Elliot."
Angel and Cordelai shrugged and clapped along with the other couples as a tall, thin man walked into the room. He also was wearing a white robe; his long gray hair was tied in a ponytail.
"Let's get started then. Everyone take a seat. First, I will ask everyone to introduce themselves, tell us how you met your significant other, when was the first time you realized that you loved them and what is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of him or her. Let's start with you." Elliot pointed to Cordelia.
Cordelia nervously pulled her robe tighter. "Um, my name is Cordelia...I first met Angel at a club in my hometown, but it wasn't until later at a party in LA, that I really got to know him, he sort of saved me from this really...obnoxious type..guy and well, we have been together ever since."
"And when did you realize that you loved him?"
Cordelia looked down at her hands clenched in the material of her robe. Angel stared at her as he noticed Cordelia's heart speed up and her breath quicken.
"I don't know," Cordelia answered.
"Now, Cordelia, don't be shy."
"I'm not. I don't know, I just sort of fell in love with him. I only know I just do, and it seems like I have for like a really long time," she rambled. Oh god, she panicked. Then she remembered this was all make-believe, Angel wouldn't know she was speaking the truth. Angel wondered at Cordelia's response and the still rapid beating of her heart.
"That happens." Elliot smiled. "And the first thing that comes to mind."
Angel waited anxiously for Cordelia's answer, her heartbeat had returned to its normal steady beat.
"Oh, that's easy. He is good."
"Good at what?" Someone sneered.
Cordelia glared at that the snickers. "Good, as in good, you know honorable, noble, knight in white, well, black shining armor type good," she declared loudly. "Geez, get your little Jerry Springer minds out of the gutter," she huffed.
"Well, Angel you seem a little taken aback by Cordelia's defense of your honor." Angel was surprised, he knew that Cordelia wouldn't blurt out 'grr' guy, but he hadn't expected what she had said. He figured that she would say something like he was broody or something along those lines. The vampire stared at his seer, she still wouldn't look at him and her heart started to beat rapidly again.
"Angel?" Elliot prodded.
"Umm, oh, yes, I guess I was, but I really shouldn't be Cordelia has always defended me," he said in sudden realization. Cordelia had always defended him, to Buffy, Kate, Darla and even to himself.
"Somebody has to otherwise he gets all broody and becomes a doormat," Cordelia grumbled to herself. Angel chuckled as he heard her.
"Angel? The questions?" Elliot urged.
"Well, like Cordelia said we met before, but it wasn't until we got to LA that we became friends."
"Did you come to LA together?" asked someone.
"No, it was a coincidence," Angel answered.
"Oh, it fate, how sweet."
"Sweet, you try getting fate induced brain-splitting visions," Cordelia mumbled to herself. Angel smiled again at his seer's grumbles.
"Like Cordelia, I don't know when I fell in love with her, she just kind of grew on me, I guess." Angel wondered at how right those words sounded.
"You make it sound like I am some sort of fungus," she griped lowly.
"And the first thing that comes to mind?" Elliot asked not hearing Cordelia's whispered comments.
Angel paused. This wasn't the time or the place to say what he really thought, even if he could put it into words. How could he explain that to him Cordelia represented the possibility of life? Her acceptance of him, her humanity kept him grounded in this world of the living, she was not only his link to the PTB but to life itself. Angel couldn't say that, so he said the next best thing, which also happened to be true. "Friendship. Cordelia is my best friend. Oh, and courage. She is the most courageous person I know." Cordelia blinked in wonderment at emotion she heard in the vampire's voice.
"Actually, that was two things, Angel. But I think we all get your meaning." Elliot smiled.
"That was excellent, you two obviously have a foundation of respect and love. I am sure that we can build on those to reawaken your passion for each other."
Oh dear god, Cordelia thought in panic as she plastered a smile on her face. Reawaken? Her passion for Angel needed to be put premanently to sleep before she went crazy. Angel sat silently beside Cordelia immersed in his own similar thoughts of warning. Neither of them paid attention to what the other couples were saying.
Chapter 11
"Well done, everyone. Now, I want all the couples to sit on the floor facing each other. Good. I want each of you to look into the other's eyes and say the 10 things that you love about each other and the 10 things you dislike about each other."
"Hey, what if we have more the 10." Someone shouted out.
"Please," Elliot lectured.
Cordelia sat cross-legged in front of Angel. "Do we have to do this, can't we just talk about the weather or I know we can list the 10 things we don't like about Wesley," she whispered.
"What? Cordelia are you afraid to hear what I don't like about you?"
"No, of course not. But aren't you just a little bit afraid to say them?" Cordelia arched an elegant brow at him.
Elliot came and sat down next to them. "Cordelia, Angel, I was impressed by your answers, before. You seem to have a high opinion of each other. Now, let's proceed. Angel, you start this time with the things that you don't like about Cordelia."
"There is nothing I don't like about her."
"Smart answer, 'g-Um, Angel," she amended clearing her throat.
"Come now, everyone dislikes something about everybody," Elliot countered.
"No, there isn't anything I really dislike about Cordelia, just some things that she does I wish she would do differently."
"Oh, I want to hear this, Mr. 'I-am-so-perfect and never mistakes'."
"Cordelia..." started Angel.
"Now, now, Cordelia if you woould be quiet, I am sure you will hear what Angel wants you to change." Elliot motioned to the girl to remain silent.
"I didn't say I wanted her to change, it's just some things that are frustrating at times, that's all."
"Like you have never frustrated me, Mr. Brood boy," Cordelia exclaimed ignoring Elliot's motions for her to be quiet.
"Like that, see, she is never quiet, always jumping into a conversation." Angel declared.
"Uh, I am not quiet enough, I just state my opinions, ummph," Cordelia huffed.
Angel nodded to Elliot in vindication. "See. Now, she is going to get all huffy and start to pout. Watch her."
"I do not pout," Cordelia huffed again.
"Yes, you do. If whining or huffiness doesn't get you what you want, you pout. You make this cute little indignant hurt little hmmp, then your bottom lip starts to quiver and your eyes get all big and wider and you won't talk to me, until I give in."
"Looks who talking, Mr. Bad ass...Strong guy here gets this wide eyed befuddled 'who me' look, not me I am just a helpless...He's got the puppy dog thing down pat," she said in disgust. "He does it when I am mad, he thinks it works on me, Ha."
"I do not look like a puppy dog," Angel interrupted indiginant.
"How would you know? Like you can see yourself," Cordelia retorted.
"Cordelia, Angel," Elliot interrupted. "The purpose of this exercise is to actually listen to what the other is saying, not to act defensively. Now Cordelia you will get your turn."
"Fine, but if he calls me a bitch, I am leaving."
"Cordelia, you're not a bitch; I would never think that about you. Sometimes, you can be a bit tactless now and again, but you are not a bitch, ever," Angel promised sincerely.
"Yeah, right." Cordelia stared quietly down at her hands fidgeting in the robe remembering every person that had called her a bitch in Sunnydale and how she had stupidly took it as a badge of honor.
"Cordy, look at me." Angel gently raised her chin. "You are not a bitch. Anyone that called you one in the past just didn't know the real you. You are a wonderful, courageous, beautiful girl with a caring heart, who at times can frustrate the hell out of me."
She raise her damp eyes to meet his warm dark eyes. "You are making that puppy dog face," she smiled softly.
"Is it working?" Angel smiled in return.
Cordelia's smile grew bigger as she nodded.
"Good." Angel's smile reached his eyes.
Cordelia turned to Elliot. "Are we at 10 yet?"
"Angel, is there anything else?" Angel shook his head.
Elliot nodded. "Cordelia, it's your turn."
"I wish Angel wouldn't feel so guilty all of the time. I wish he would believe his goodness as much as I believe in it."
"And?" Elliot prompted.
"That's about it. I can live with everything else. Except..."
"What is it, Cordelia?" asked the middle aged guru.
"Angel, we are done with your obessions with all things blonde, aren't we?"
Angel smiled. "Yes, Cordy we are."
"Oh, dear, Angel was there another woman?"
"No, Cordelia is the only woman in my life, now."
"Old girlfriends, he has a thing for blondes," Cordelia grimaced. "They seem to keep popping up."
"Cordelia," Angel said exasperated. "You know that there are no 'blondes' in my life now."
"Ummh."
"Cordelia do you trust that Angel means what he says."
"I trust Angel," she acknowledged truthfully. "Anyway, he has learned that it is not very smart to lie to me, haven't you Angel?"
"Definitely. Once down that path was enough." The vampire smiled.
"Good, well, I will leave you to tell each other the 10 things that you like about each other." The guru got up to go to the next couple.
"So, you really think I talk too much?"
"Cordy," Angel sighed. "You wouldn't be Cordelia Chase, if you didn't say and do the things that you do, and I wouldn't change any of it."
"None of it?" Cordelia arched her brows.
"Well, I wish you would stop experimenting with my blood, but I didn't think Elliot would understand that particular frustration."
"But, doesn't it get boring? How about a little hot sauce, just a little?"
"Cordelia, no."
"Ummph."
"You are pouting. And in this one intance it won't work."
The dark haired beauty smiled at him. "So, what do you like about me?"
"Everything."
"Oh. I guess, I like everything about you to."
"Even the 'grr' guy?"
Cordelia shrugged. "It's who you are. Of course, I mean the souled version, the evil 'grr' guy can just remain deeply buried as a not so pleasant memory."
Angel pushed back a strain of her silky hair. "Cordelia Chase, I do need you in my existence."
Cordelia looked back at her hands trying to fight the tears threatening to fall. "Well, then I guess it's a good thing that I am not going anywhere, uh?"
Angel leaned foreward. "Cordelia," he whispered lifting her head up to meet his. He eyes rested on her lips. Angel had an uncontrollable need to taste her, to feel her breath in him. Cordelia's eyes widened as Angel moved closer. Her body instinctively moved closer.
They both jumped apart as the clanging of the bells signaled the end to the excercise.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, that concludes this portion of the session. You will now have an hour break. Relax, take a swim or walk, but please be back here in an hour." Elliot raised his hands and motioned to his wrist to emphasize the time.
"Angel, look at his arm." Cordelia nudged Angel to man on the stage, blocking out the near close moment with the vampire. Angel stared at the long spiraling tattoo that entertwined along Elliot's fore arm. "That's the symbol I saw in my vision," she whispered. "I wonder if that means he is the evil to be smited or the victim to be saved."
"I don't know, but let's get upstairs and contact Wesley."
Chapter 12
Cordelia checked their e-mail when they got to the room. She clicked on to the new message from Wesley. "Two of the couples on the list we sent live in LA. Wesley and Gunn have gone to talk to them. And he also forwarded some information about the symbol."
Angel got on the bed sitting behind Cordelia to read over her shoulder. Cordelia paused in her reading, as she felt his weight on the bed. She too a deep breath and counted to 10 to get the tingling in her stomach under control. "The symbol refers to an ancient sect of 'Eros' worshippers, the greek god of love and desire."
Angel tried to concentrate on the screen, but found the view of Cordelia's neck too appealing and if he slid his eyes just a bit lower he could see the hint of her breast through the gap in her robe. Angel wondered if his seer would scream 'personal bubble' if he just rested his chin on her shoulder and continued to gaze at the soft curves peeking through her robe. The vampire took a deep breath capturing her scent. He wondered what she would do if he just kissed and licked at the delicate exposed skin, tasting her flavor.
Cordelia shivered as Angel's unneeded breath tickled at the nap of her neck. Part of her just wanted to lean into the vampire's broad chest and force him to acknowledge her love for him. The other part just wanted to run away and not take the risk of finding out if he was responsive or unresponsive to her feelings. Cordelia decided on a compromise and sat perfectly still and continued to read out loud.
Angel felt Cordelia shiver, then stiffen. He moved away slightly deciding that he was just torturing himself with the unanswerable questions.
"The priest of the order were tattooed with this symbol. The priest would conduct a yearly ceremony where he would offer a sacrifice to Eros."
"A sacrifice?"
"Yeah, but not your standard stab and kill type, more like a sanctified, blessed live sex show. A young couple with pure hearts, pure love, etc. Do it, under the watchful eyes of the priest and worshippers. The act of 'love' is the offering to their god. And if the couple are truly soul mates and blah, blah, blah, the god will bless the followers with continued happiness, love, wealth, you know what everyone wants. That doesn't sound at all evil does it? Sure, it smacks of major peeping tomism and well, ewww, but it's not evil. Why would the PTB want us to stop an ancient type love in?"
"I don't know?" Angel agreed.
"Angel, did you get a good look at Elliot's tattoo?"
"Pretty good."
Cordelia scrolled back to the picture of the symbol. "Angel, in my vision the symbol was not quite the same as this. I mean, it was off a bit, maybe uupside down, the lines a little darker."
"I don't know about upside, but the markings on Elliot were thicker than this." Angel gestured to the screen. "Cordelia ask Wesley to search for variations of the symbol. There maybe offshoots of the original sect. And send Elliot's name. Do we know anything more about him?"
Cordelia shook her head. "Check the brochure, most places like this brag about their 'highly educated and esteemed' feel good cast."
Angel got off the bed to get the brochure. "Not much, just some flowerly filler. He doesn't even have a last name," the vampire said critically.
"Geez, Angel, just who does he think he is Cher, Madonna, You." Cordelia rolled her eyes at the vampire. "Let me have it. I will type it in. Maybe Wesley can use something in it."
Angel handed the pamphlet to Cordelia wishing that it wasn't beneath his dignity to stick his tongue out at the beautiful smart ass girl.
They both started at hearing a knock on the door to the suite. Angel motioned for Cordelia to stay where she was.
"Angel," greeted Elliot.
"I didn't hear any bells," commented Angel.
"No, the next formal session hasn't started yet. No, I wanted to take this time to talk to each participant of the program seperately. I will be talking to everybody individually during the next two days. Is the lovely Cordelia here or has she gone out for some fresh air?"
"I am here." Cordelia came out of the bedroom. Angel shot her a scolding look. That was another thing he should have added to his list, Cordelia almost never listened to him.
"Good, well, I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you before the next session."
"More questions on my likes and dislikes?" asked Cordelia moving up close to Angel's side.
"More questions, but of another nature. Angel, if you don't mind, I would like to talk to Cordelia. Perhaps, you could leave us. Or not," Elliot added as he saw that Angel had not left the young girl's side or acknowledged his request in any manner. "Perhaps you could just wait in the next room."
"Angel," Cordelia whispered.
Angel reluctantly nodded and moved into the bedroom and closed the door. Once in the room, he pulled up a chair by the door after retrieving his sword from the wardrope. Angel sat and listened.
"Your questions?" Cordelia motioned to Elliot to set in the chair closer to the bedroom door.
"I am puzzled, Cordelia. Why are you and Angel here? I sense that the bond of love, respect and passion is strong between you two. This program is for those who have a need to rebuild their failing relationships. It is designed for those that need to rediscover each other, not for those that are secure in their love."
"Secure in our love, our passion, us?" Cordelia exclaimd wide-eyed at the guru's assumption. "I think that your senses are out of whack."
"Really, why?"
Cordelia paused, she couldn't tell him that he was wrong because they didn't love each other, or more accurately, Cordelia was madly in love with the vampire and he didn't love her. Or that her overwhelming feelings of desire for Angel would never be reciprocated. Hell, even if under some major weirdness, Angel did love her, her desire would still be unreciporcated because of the stupid curse. Secure in Angel's love and passion for her, Ha, the new age possible victim or bad guy, couldn't be further from the truth. But she couldn't tell him that.
"Angel and I have been going through alot of stuff, stuff that put a strain on our relationship. And we have been fighting, fighting alot. But we realized that we didn't want to loose our relationship, so here we are." That was not far from the truth, she thought, remembering all the trouble that the bitch Darla had caused and the subsequent strain it had but on her relationship with Angel, as well as his relationship with Wesley and Gunn. Thank god, Angel had come back to his senses and realized that he needed them.
Cordelia smiled at Elliot, hoping that she had explained enough. She must have because the older guru nodded in acceptance of her answer.
"Well, the Eros Center can help you, though, I think you two would have found your own way back together on your own. In fact, I imagine you already have. But if it is just a matter of cementing your bond and teaching to you to remember why you can not let external pressures damage what you have, then you will find benefit in our sessions."
"Is that all?" Cordelia asked hopefully.
"No, you said something downstairs that intrigued me, you said that you wished that Angel believed in his goodness, as much as you did."
"Yeah," she said cautiously.
"Cordelia would you risk your life for Angel?"
"Uh," she gulped at the sudden change of subject. Cordelia looked nervously from Elliot, the bedroom door, then back to Elliot. But the man had not moved a muscle in the chair.
"Cordelia, would you?"
"Yes."
"You are sure about that," he asked again.
"Yes."
"And would he risk his life for you?"
"Yes," Cordelia said immediately, picturing all the times that Angel had saved her since he had known her.
"Cordelia do you believe that everybody has a soul?"
Cordelia looked again nervously at the bedroom door. Cordelia was sure that she did not like this line of questioning. Cordelia moved her hand discreetly down into the cushions of the couch. Her fingers stilled as she felt one of the wooden stakes she had hidden around the room.
"Cordelia does the concept of souls make you uncomfortable?"
"No," she answered, except of course if we are talking about Angel loosing his, she thought.
"So, you do believe?"
"Yes."
The man nodded seemingly pleased with her answer. "We here at the Eros Center believe that the soul holds the true power of the individual. It allows the person to live and to love. Do you believe that?"
"Yes." Angel's soul was definite proof of that.
"Would you agree that the gift of someone's soul to another is the greatest gift there is? That to be willing to give up your soul for the one you love is the ultimate sacrifice? Would you be willing to sacrifice your soul for Angel?"
"Are you asking me to?" She asked calmly as she gripped the stake tighter in her hand.
"No, of course not, I am just asking if you are willing to."
"Yes," Cordelia answered without hesitation.
Both Cordelia and Elliot started as a crashing sound came from the bedroom.
"Angel is clumsy," Cordelia responded to Elliot's questioning look.
Elliot nodded. "Cordelia, do you believe that Angel would risk his soul for you?"
Again without hesitation she answered, only this time her answer was a firm no. Again, they heard a lound noise from the closed room.
"He is very clumsy," Cordelia shrugged in explanation.
"Cordelia, you honestly believe that Angel wouldn't sacrifice his soul for you?"
"I know he wouldn't, he can't?"
"And that doesn't bother you?"
"Bother me?" Cordelia asked genuinely confused by the question.
"That he doesn't love you enough to make the ultimate sacrifice, where as you love him enough to."
"Love isn't the issue, the issue is Angel's soul. Angel can not loose his soul, it is too important to...it is just too important. Angel can never loose his soul and he won't not while I am alive to protect it."
"Thank you, Cordelia."
Chapter 13
Cordelia watched the gray haired man leave the room. She hadn't liked Elliot's questions , at all. Cordelia just moved the tall thin guru from the possible victim category to the probable sinister villian category.
"Angel, I think Elliot the enlightened one, is definite bad news material. Did you hear his questions, of course you did. What was the clumsy bit about anyway? Angel?" She called to the back of the frozen vampire. Cordelia walked up to him. "Angel?" The vampire still hadn't moved.
Cordelia glanced at the room. "Angel?" she called this time in concern as she noticed that the top of one of the dresser's had been pulverized. "Angel?" Cordelia lightly touched his shoulder.
At Cordelia's touch the vampire sprung to life, swinging around grasping Cordelia's wrist in an iron fist, his handsome face expressionless, except for his eyes. His dark brown eyes blazed in fierce anger. "Angel, let me go," she whispered as she felt the vampire's rage.
Angel wasn't hurting her but she couldn't break the steel grip that encased her wrist. Angel retained his clasp pulling her closer until their bodies touched, his eyes never leaving her questioning ones. Cordelia wasn't scared, but she was concerned.
"Angel? What's wrong?" she said softly bringing her other hand up to his chest. Angel continued to stare at her in silence, so she waited. Slowly, Cordelia felt his rage lessen and the fury in Angel's eyes turn to...fear, she realized.
Finally, Angel spoke his voice a low growl. "You will never under any circumstances, ever put my life or my soul before your own. Understand, never."
"Angel," she started to reason.
"No," the vampire growled. "Promise me."
Cordelia sighed, she should have realized that he would react like this, sometimes the vampire was just to noble for his own good. Cordelia slowly nodded. "Promise."
Cordelia hated to make promises that she knew she wouldn't keep, in fact she never did. Except to Angel. So like her false promise that she could stake Angelus if he ever returned, Cordelia promised the vampire that she would never sacrifice her life or her soul for him. Angel continued to stare at his seer trying to decide if she was telling the truth.
Suddenly, the room was filled with a loud chiming sound. Angel released the young girl.
"Saved by the bell," she grumbled to herself.
"Cordelia, I mean it."
"So, did I 'grr' guy," she lied rubbing her freed wrist.
Angel's hand went to her wrist this time holding the wrist gently and caressing it with his other hand. "Oh god, Cordy, I didn't hurt you, did I?" Angel fearfully examined the wrist for any redness or bruising.
"No, of course not." Cordelia thrust up the hand that he held to his concerned gaze. "Now come on, let me go," she gently chided. "I want to e-mail Wesley to concentrate on Elliot. I definitely didn't like the questions he asked about your soul."
"Cordelia, he was asking about yours, too."
"Whatever."
"Cordelia." Angel glared at the girl retaining his hold on her wrist.
"I said I promised, didn't I? Now, let me send the message to Wesley, geez," she
***
Elliot and Gerard were sitting in Elliot's office. "Well?" asked Gerard.
"Cordelia and Angel are the chosen."
"They are a lovely couple."
"Yes, 'HE' will be pleased by their beauty and bond. Their love and need for each other is strong. I believe that even without the spell they are soul mates," commented Elliot.
"But, you are going to do the spell?"
"Of course, the need is to great to risk, their soul's will be bound." Elliot reassured the little man.
"Have you decided which will be the sacrifice? Angel seems to have a certain strength about him."
"Yes, that young man does seem exude power, doesn't he. Yet, I believe he is the weak link in their relationship. Initially, when observing the young couple, I too assumed that the girl was the weakest. Cordelia's love and need for Angel are obvious to the trained eye. One knows that with out a doubt, she would be devasted if he was gone, possibly she would never fully recover, for I do believe they are soul mates, yet..."
"Yet?" questioned Gerard.
"It's a matter of balance. They both love and need each other. But Cordelia needs Angel, because she loves him. Where as, Angel needs her even more that he loves her, which I sense means Angel needs her to live. Angel and Cordelia said that they don't know when they fell in love. But I am sure that Angel knows when he realized that he needed Cordelia and I wager it was long before he ever acknowledged his love for her. The young girl has no doubts in Angel's goodness or the importance of his soul. It is the young girl's certainity that allows Angel to believe in himself..."
"So, if Cordelia dies, Angel will be destroyed."
"Yes, his soul will be in such agony that he would not recover. No, Angel shall be the sacrifice. 'HE' will accept Cordelia's death as a proper tribute, but it will be the slow destruction and torture of Angel's soul which 'HE' will crave and for which we will be rewarded."
Elliot looked at the clock on the wall. "It is time."
Chapter 14
Gerard stopped Cordelia and Angel from going into the main room. "Cordelia, Angel, this way please."
"I thought we were suppose to go in." Angel automatically moved in between the small man and Cordelia.
"Well, actually that was just where everyone was to meet to get the next set of instructions. You both are late."
"Sorry, my fault," Cordelia said.
"Well, you are here now, that's all that matters. This is the mediation room. Your next session will occur in here." Gerard motioned them in a small room. The room was dimly lit, in one corner there was a Japanese rock garden equipped with sand, Bosjun trees, and a soft rippling water fountain. In the middle of the room was a massage table; by the table on a counter were various lotions and oils. Large, lush pillows were scattered on the thickly carpeted floor. Two large speakers blended into the pale green colored walls. And up against the far wall there was a series of shelves filled completely with various sized candles.
"Too get the optimatium benefit out of the next session you must first relax, so we want you to sit here and 'veg' as the young kids say." Gerard walked towards the candles with a long match in hand.
"Whoa, Gerard, those candles wouldn't be your version of aroma therapy, would they?" Cordelia asked.
"Why, yes. Cordelia, have you enjoyed this type of mediation before?"
"Uh, yeah. But can we skip it? Angel is allergic." Angel glanced questioningly at Cordelia.
"You thought my perfume was distracting," she whispered to the vampire. "Your overly sensitive vamp noggin will probably be smelling rosemary and lilacs for the next week."
Cordelia rolled her eyes at Angel's still clueless expression. "Remember, that little itty-bitty cinnamon scented candle I lit in the lobby at Christmas," she whispered.
Angel winced at the memory. At first it hadn't been that bad, pleasant even when the candle was in the lobby and he had been upstairs behind the closed door of his suite. But later when he went downstairs, all Angel could smell was cinnamon. It quickly became overwhelming obnoxious. For the next few days everything he came across, even the slime demon smelled of the irrating spice.
"Well, think lots of them in a smaller place," Cordelia whispered in response to his grimace.
"I am allergic," Angel said to Elliot. "Definitely, allergic."
"Oh dear, well, then no aroma therapy then, just soothing sounds of the sea and soft lights. Relax, you will recieve the next set of instructions over the speakers in 15 minutes." Gerard went to leave stopping at the door to light the two waist high freestanding thick candles.
"Candles, Gerard," Cordelia reminded.
"These are unscented, dear, just some added atmosphere." Cordelia nodded.
Once the candles were lit, Gerard left the tranquil room. As soon as the door was closed, soft sounds of waves crashing on the sand filtered into the room. Angel went to the door and opened it. "We are not locked in."
"Other than Elliot's overly spookish interest in our soul's, nothing wicked our way has come. So, I say we relax." Cordelia flopped down on one of the floor cushions.
Angel's eyes watched Cordelia's fluid movement. God, she was gorgeous, he thought as he drank in the vision of her lying against the pillow. Her rich dark hair and the white of the robe were in direct contrast to the jade coushion. Cordelia's long beautifully formed bare legs spilled out from the hem of her robe. Her knees were slightly bent causing the split in the garment to open wider allowing his eyes access to the smooth curve of one thigh. The V neckline of the robe exposed all of Cordelia's delicate neck, the silky skin surrounding her collarbone and the hint of cleavage. Just a tug on the belt, Angel inwardly groaned, and his eyes could feast on all of her glorious body.
"Angel, come on relax," Cordelia called flipping over on the floor to her stomach hugging the large pillow to her chest, to get a better look at the vampire. Relax. Not damn likely, Angel thought as his body responded to the sight of his seer.
Cordelia visually took in the full length of the tall vampire hesitating before her. The white robe did nothing to dimish the powerful essence of the dark handsome vampire. When Cordelia first knew Angel, she would have sworn that it was the vampire's all black attire and the billowing coat that gave him that 'oh' so dangerous appearance. But it wasn't the clothes, not really. The clothes only made him seem more detached, myterious. The potential of danger as well as his awesome strength flowed directly from his very being. Angel radiated power, compassion and confidence. Cordelia smiled. Confidence, she thought, he always gave her confidence when she saw him, when Cordelia was with him, she knew she would be safe. Cordelia smiled wider.
"What's so amusing?" Angel smiled.
"Nothing, I am still getting use to you in the robe."
"What, you still think I look silly?"
"I never said you looked silly, you just don't look all broody and mysterious."
"And not sexy?"
"Did I say that? Actually, you look more cuddly, than anything." Cordelia giggled at Angel's aghast expression.
"Cuddly? Vampires don't look cuddly."
"Ummp, well, 'grr' guy, you do." She laughed. "A big old, really old, cuddly bear with fangs."
"Scoot over." Angel smiled sitting down on the other pillow. The need to be near Cordelia was like a drug, especially when she was smiling. Angel just knew that if he was near her long enough, some of Cordelia's joy of life would infect him.
"A lot like the big old stuffed bear, I had when I was a little girl."
"And tell me Cordelia, did you cuddle with the big old bear."
"Ever night, until it's arms fell off."
"I promise that my arms won't fall off."
"I don't know, I cuddle pretty tightly." Cordelia didn't understand it, but she felt comfortable, truly comfortable teasing the vampire. It wasn't has if she never felt at ease in his presence before, but somehow now it seemed different. Angel seemed different, he was actually teasing her back.
"It might be worth..." Angel stopped as a sudden unfamiliar warmness shot through his body. The vampire jumped up.
"Angel, what is it?"
"Sh," he said in game face. Angel shook his head. "I smelled something sweet, like some sort of incense."
"Angel, look at the candles." The yellow flames had turned blue making black smoke, then went out. Angel went to the door; nobody was in the hall.
"Cordelia, do you feel alright."
"Yeah, actually I have never felt better. Why, do you not feel okay?"
"I thought...no, I feel fine." Angel did feel fine in fact he felt wonderful, the aching loneliness that he always felt was gone. Angel stared at Cordelia. He saw her concerned look. "I am.." Angel was interrupted by Elliot's voice.