Title: Consequences
Author: Helen
Posted: 20/02/04
Rating: R/NC-17
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Category: Warning! This fic is going to be dark, violent and smutty. Some scenes will definitely not be to all tastes. If it helps I'm a sucker for happy endings.
Content: C/A, C/Aus
Summary: This is the final sequel to Aftershocks, Aftermath and Repercussions. Reposted and carried on. More to come, hopefully!
Spoilers: Timeline is early season 3 but totally AU!
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution:
Notes: 3rd sequel min-Serial fic follows Repercussions I've pretty much warped the storyline of Soulless (S4) for this, deliberately. If you haven't read the others this one may be a mite confusing.
Thanks/Dedication:
Feedback: Yeah feed me!!
Reposted what I did back in September. Carried on after section marked (NEW)
Part 1
A month later, Angel was pacing around his office, hands on his hips and agitation in every stride. Wesley was sitting in a chair facing the desk and the chair Angel had vacated, having given up trying to keep the rapidly moving vampire in his line of sight.
"How can you have not found anything, Wesley. You know how important this is to me, it's driving me crazy and you and I both know that's not a good thing".
He'd thrown his hands in the air as soon as he'd started speaking and now stood glaring at the back of Wesley's head, which now that he was stationery, turned to meet his angry stare with unflinching calm. Wesley was immune to the angry frustration that consumed the vampire on this particular topic by now. They had this conversation pretty much on a weekly basis, becoming so predictable he almost marked it in his diary.
"I've told you before, locating a cure for your curse will be a long and sustained research exercise and you will just have to be patient" replied Wesley, his calm demeanour a direct contrast to Angel's dark glower.
Angel jerked his head back and took a deep breath, biting back the hot words that wanted to spill out. He was being unreasonable and he damn well knew it. Most of the time he managed to just let it lie, simmering below the surface but every now and then it leaked out, like today.
"You know you could always refrain from sleeping together; that can only exacerbate the issue for you" suggested Wesley reasonably, his blue eyes direct and suggestive all at once.
Angel shook his head violently, refusing to even consider it. Sleeping with Cordelia and being celibate was a hell of a lot better than sleeping alone and being celibate, even if it did stretch his self-control to the very limit and then some.
"That's not an option". He told him cutting the subject dead, until another thought hit him and he looked sternly at the ex-watcher. "Don't suggest it to Cordelia either". Horror filled him when he realised she might think of it herself. Over my undead body.
He was desperate for Wesley to find something and fast. He knew it was illogical and that he was being unfair to her, but he couldn't shake the deep-rooted insecurity that Cordy would drift away from him if this carried on too long and he couldn't bear for that to happen. Call it his overly possessive nature but not being able to cement the relationship through physical bonding was wearing on his nerves, to put it mildly.
Plus there was the fact that he hadn't told her he was falling in love with her, scratch that, already in love with her. How could he not be, she was his light, the sun in the sky and every other sappy thing that would likely make her cringe if he said them out loud. He was waiting for the perfect time to tell her, afraid that she'd look at him blankly and not believe him after watching his relationship with Buffy first hand, front row seat and all.
Wesley couldn't help but see his miserable expression and sympathised, he really did and he was pretty desperate himself to be blunt. Each and every morning he came into work wondering if one or either of them had snapped in the night hours, after he'd gone home and seduced the other. An action that he was now certain would result in a case of 'hello Angelus'. A state of affairs not exactly conducive to restful sleeps for him either.
There was no doubt in his mind that Angel was in love with Cordelia; it was obvious to everyone. The huge contrast between the last time he'd seen Angel and now was impressive indeed. During those unhappy times he'd been afraid that the dark and twisted version of his friend, bent with an inner torment that he'd clung too with all of his stubborn determination to do the wrong thing, was permanent and irreversible.
Unlike now- yes he was still difficult and testy at times but seeing him around Cordy was nothing if not enlightening. Not that it helped him much he realised; when he saw that the vampire in question was now even angrier once he'd realised Wesley's mind had wandered.
"Sorry, I was thinking about which sources to plumb next and my mind wandered" he lied easily and saw Angels tense shoulders relax as he uncrossed his arms and sat himself back down in his leather desk chair.
"Don't let me keep you then, and I want to know the second something even remotely interesting comes up".
Something interesting came up after another three days of exhaustive searching by Wesley. He'd be down to the bone tired and aching all over from sitting still in a single reading position for most of the evening. But now he was almost dancing on air as he made his way up to Angel's room. Well, Angel and Cordy's room now he thought and was pleased that the thought didn't bring more than a twinge of discomfort now.
Normally he wouldn't disturb them this late and doubtless they thought he'd gone home long ago, but he'd been convinced he was on to something not long after they'd said goodnight and stayed until he'd found it. Given Angel's insistence on being informed immediately he felt the intrusion was justified.
Angel was sitting in a large battered brown leather chair that took his large frame with ease, his long legs stretched out in front of him and he was reading with quiet contentment, while Cordelia slept. The chair was placed not far from the bed so that when he looked up, which was frequently, he could see her face in the muted lamplight, given off by an old fashioned tasselled, copper coloured lamp on the table next to him.
He'd found it in one of the other rooms and thought it would do, Cordelia wasn't so sure but changing the décor would come later she decided, slowly but surely determined to being her living quarters into the twentieth century.
She might have changed her mind if she knew how the soft amber light caressed her skin, teasingly flowing over curves of cheek and lips and brow-bone, giving her face an almost surreal dreamy texture, an oasis of warmth in the dark shadows of his room.
They'd developed a kind of ritual that while frustrating was comfortable for both of them. They went to bed together and held onto each other tightly while they kissed and cuddled for a long while until finally, slumber took her down into sleep and he was free to just look at her. Then being more of a night 'person', he would get up again and read beside her until sleep claimed him too and he would climb back in with her, spooning his larger body around her warmth.
In the morning she would wake him gently for what she called 'good morning snuggles' until it was time to shower and get up to join Wesley and Gunn downstairs. He would go back to sleep and dream of her until it was time for him to get up nearer mid-afternoon.
Tonight that pattern, such as it was, was broken but the knock on the door was not unexpected. Angel had heard the approaching footfalls and smelled Wesley as soon as he'd got off the elevator, so he opened the door immediately and looked questioningly at the man on the other side.
"I've found it" said Wesley simply and just the expression of excitement on that normally austere face was enough to make Angel immediately step out and shut the door. He motioned Wesley back towards the elevator to go back to the office. If his heart was capable of beating, it would have been pounding.
***
Cordelia stared at Wesley, sitting next to her and calm explaining just what the solution was to removing the happiness cause part of Angel's curse. Gunn was standing on the far side, leaning on the cabinet and looking only mildly interested in what was going on.
Angel, meanwhile sat at his desk, or more accurately lounged back in his leather desk chair, watching her reaction carefully. Which was good because maybe he could tell her what her reaction should be; she was still trying to figure that one out herself.
"So what you're saying Wes" she said carefully, obviously trying to picture what he was saying, "Is that to make sure Angel doesn't lose his soul we have to take it out, and then put it back"?
"That's it exactly- in a nutshell anyway" replied Wesley, with a nod of his head.
"Well that makes the same kinda sense as everything else does around here – which is not at all". She said and stood up to do some pacing of her own. "Do we know for sure it will work"?
Her brown legs flashed under the lilac printed skirt, and only just managed to draw attention from the brown neck and upper chest cunningly displayed by the white cotton peasant blouse. Her hair swung free around her face, the shorter strands caressing both cheeks and neck in a way that was guaranteed to make Angel feel like ducking down and nibbling on the sweet curve so tantalisingly exposed.
He dragged his attention off her neck and back to the debate at hand. He'd already made his decision after talking with Wesley last night. Today was just about being more 'sensitive' to his employee's feelings; the touchy feely stuff that Cordelia insists is necessary to keeping the peace. Not that he planned on sharing that news just yet, especially not to Cordy.
He heard Wesley answer in his usual disclaimerish, milk and water, Watchers Council Way. "We cannot guarantee that it will work. All we do know is that it can't do any harm. At the very worst the soul will be put back with the clause still attached".
"And what do we do with Angelus in the meantime"? Asked Cordelia looking at Angel for her answer, and noticing how far away his expression looked. This is bullshit, he's already made up his mind to do it. Her expression darkened and saw his brown eyes come back into focus and zero in on hers.
He jerked upright and tried to look attentive, it took a few seconds and one very arched brow from Cordelia for him to realise he'd been asked a question. Wesley stepped in, in the meantime. "We need to build a cage, likely in the basement and strong enough to hold Angelus while he's here".
"Sound good to me man, why not if it means no more evil scary-ass vamp" said Gunn, and wondered what was making this such a hard decision for the others, especially Cordy who looked less than happy at the way this was going. "Relax, girl. This is what you want isn't it"?
"Okayy, I'll just relax, it's not as if I've never met the 'Scourge of Europe' now is it". It wasn't a question, and sarcasm dripped from every word while her eyes shot hazel daggers at the negligently leaning man in the corner.
Angel winced, which she caught and for a moment she looked uncomfortable when she realised how that must have sounded to him. But dammit it was a valid point- wasn't it? "Look Angel no offence, you know I love you and all, but not I'm not really looking for a face to face with your evil alter ego. Sorry".
There was another uncomfortable silence and Angel's heavy sigh was heard by all. He ducked his head for a moment and then sat back, rubbing his lips with one long finger while he tried to figure out the best way to convince them to agree, or at least convince Cordy. He didn't want to have to overrule her.
Help came from an unexpected source, "Would you rather carry on as you are? There is no other way. I've spent weeks looking, traced every possible source and bled it dry. This is it- or nothing". Wesley could be surprisingly blunt at times.
What choice did she have when it was put like that, so she agreed and Angel gave a silent sigh of relief and swore he was going to give Wesley a raise, secretly so Cordy wouldn't 'raise' the roof off.
***
Once everyone was in agreement no time was wasted in getting the supplies to start building -a cage strong enough to hold one of the worlds most vicious and feared vampires. With the souled version in full attendance, ceaselessly making sure each bar, nut and bolt was as secure as possible.
Gunn helped Angel, Wesley was tasked with locating a suitable shaman to remove the soul, a necessary evil to use someone more versed in the dark arts. Meanwhile Cordelia rang Willow to put through a special request for her to attend for the re-souling, minus the happiness clause.
As conversations go, it was tricky work even for Cordelia to work her way around questions relating to why it needed to be done and why the urgency. No reason to upset 'Wicca' girl with details of her new status in Angel's life, at least not before the redhead got here.
Finally they were ready, the cage was complete, a shaman found who was agreeable to performing the spell and Willow was on her way and expected the next day. The four members of Angel Investigations all stood in the basement surveying their handiwork and trying not to look as nervous as they felt. It felt like they were on the verge of doing something momentous, only no one felt sure if it was momentously good or momentously bad.
"So tomorrows the big day then", announced Gunn in a strained voice, his nonchalant attitude having been seriously affected by the solemn, almost funereal atmosphere of the hotel in the last few days.
"Yes" replied Wesley, matter of factly. "We're as prepared as we can be. Everything should go fine".
"You wanna rephrase that Wes", said Cordelia with a bite in her voice, still staring at the cage designed to house Angelus.
"Sorry, everything will go fine". He obliged and without her knowing crossed his fingers inside his pants pocket.
Angel said nothing, just twisted his lips and silently turned around to walk slowly up the stairs and out of the basement.
***
Willow turned up exactly on time and breezed into the hotel like a red whirlwind of energy and perky enthusiasm. "Hi guys, so what's up that you need a powerful Wicca, you turn a prophecy or something"?
"No, no prophecy" replied Wesley, thank the Lord. Willow widened her eyes and looked at the Englishman, Wow, you look different- kinda hot in fact. If I was into that kind of thing, she assured herself.
"Hey Willow, how was your trip"? Asked Cordy, standing by the counter with a big smile for the breath of fresh air the witch had brought into the hotel. "Thanks for coming by the way".
Willow smiled shyly back, the confident sharp-witted brunette had always made her feel awkward and this bright welcome was unexpected, but very welcome. She nodded excitedly and tried not to make it obvious she was delighted to get out of the small town of Sunnydale to visit the big bad city.
Gunn was busy setting up a monitor and video camera link and so only briefly looked up to say Hi and wave. Willow waved back and returned her green gaze to Cordelia. "I had a great trip, lots of time to catch up things ya know, with nothing else to do on a bus".
Cordelia thought she could think of a lot better ways to travel but didn't say so, she pointed at Gunn and introduced the two of them; Gunn winked at her and shook hands when she came over.
"So you're the big powerful Witch of the East then huh"? He was a big movie fan, and he blushed when he caught Cordy looking at him with a smirk for pretty much admitting he'd seen the Wizard of Oz recently enough to bring that one to mind.
"You need to get out more". Cordelia told him and grabbing Willows hand, dragged her over to the office to go and say Hi to Angel. She briefly knocked on the door but it was opened before her own hand reached the handle.
"Willow", he acknowledged the redhead with a small smile, looking at Cordelia for a long second out of the corner of his eye. Things had been a little strained between them over the last few days and every time he saw her, he wanted to snatch her up and cart her off somewhere private and make her listen to him. Not that he would, because he was supposed to be more 'rational' now. Like hell, he'd never felt less rational in his life. He was willingly losing his soul for gods sake.
Willow gulped a little, before managing a big smile and cheery greeting. She'd always secretly or maybe not so secretly been awed by Angel. Badass vampire and yet soulful champion, she'd sometimes struggled, especially in the old days to separate the two. Plus he was always stern and remote looking which only added to the mystique that went hand in glove with his hard handsome face.
Trying to be sociable he searched for a conversation piece and settled on Willows clothing, commenting, "You're looking colourful". Willow glanced down at her bright orange fluffy sweater and canary yellow jeans and fidgeted a little. "Way to go, Angel" said Cordelia and scrunched up her face in disbelief, giving Willow a sideways 'can you believe this guy' look that made her laugh.
"Says the guy in black, black and more black. Ignore him, Willow as you can see some things don't change and Angel being a social retard- is one of them". She grinned cheekily at his narrow-eyed glower. Her first real honest to god carefree smile, that wiped the anger off Angel's face as he pondered the cause of her more relaxed attitude.
It was simple really having the Wicca here, on the spot had instantly lifted her spirits, no matter what- Willow would make sure she didn't lose Angel to the demon inside. That made all the difference. Angel had tried numerous times over the last few days to discuss it with her, but she just couldn't. She couldn't admit to him that she was completely, totally terrified of Angelus.
Even more so now that she was in love with the big dork. What sane woman wanted to be confronted with the homicidal maniac lurking within her lover?
***
The shaman arrived shortly afterward and as things do, suddenly everything was moving with the speed of light. It was a strangely silent procession, led by Angel that trouped in single file down the basement steps to the cage.
Angel stepped inside the cage and looked at the cot with the chains and leather straps, all designed specifically to restrain him when the soul was removed and the demon took the helm again.
He turned around to his face his friends, all looking at him nervously through the open door of the cell. "Lets just get it done", he said with calm authority and climbed onto the cot to lie back.
Wesley and Gunn likewise stepped into the cage and proceeded to fasten the thick leather straps and lock the chains in place on each of the four limbs of the vampire. Cordelia stood outside the cage with her arms locked around her body, trying not to shiver.
"You don't have to do this, Angel" there was a pleading note in her voice when finally the words spilled out, words that had been locked in her throat for days now.
"Yes I do" he replied firmly, not looking at her. He could smell her fear and it hurt him somehow, though he didn't blame her for it. It only made him more determined to do this. This would not get rid of Angelus, but it would certainly reduce the risk of a random happy moment unleashing him.
Willow not being a dummy recognised the vibes between the two, who were so busy not looking like a couple, it was damn well obvious they were. A sweet pain pierced her for a moment before she quashed it. Buffy had moved on, it was only fair that Angel could too.
She put an arm around Cordelia's waist for an impulsive hug. Cordy flashed her a grateful smile and stiffened her spine, this would all be over soon, she just had to get it together and keep it that way.
"Cordelia, go upstairs there's no need for you to be here" Angel demanded suddenly from the cot and her spine stiffened even more. Their eyes locked, dark brown on hazel and he saw the refusal forming on her full lips. "I don't want you here" he added harshly.
"Tough and don't even start with the Big Boss routine, its not gonna work, so get over it". She knew what he was trying to do, she might not want to be here, but she needed to be and that was final. She didn't add that there wasn't much he could do being all tied up and all, in case he decided to delay things to prove her wrong.
The shaman started the ritual and they all held their breath, expecting something flashy with maybe a roll of thunder or something. After ten minutes they started to fidget and relax. After twenty minutes they were sitting on steps, rolled up jackets or in Gunn's case, propping up a wall.
"Don't know about you guys, but this is seriously boring, anyone got a deck of cards" asked Gunn, throwing it out into the intense silence.
Willow snickered, nerves always made her prone to giggle, and she like Cordelia had more reason than most to fear the soulles Angelus since his last rampage in Sunnydale. Then the shaman straightened, his face swathed in shiny black scarves that hid his face, except for coal black eyes. "It is done".
They barely heard him over the chilling sound of rumbling chuckles that got louder and louder until they became outright laughter, all coming from the vampire lying on the cot. The glass, long necked bottle, called the Mo-Ping according to the shaman; that was on the table beside the cot, glowed from within, filled with a pale blue light.
"Willow, no offence, but get your ass into gear" said Cordelia.
***
Willow did as she was asked and reached over to her provisions to complete the last minute preparations. What happened next was so unbelievable it would be forever engraved in everyone's worst nightmares.
The shaman finished with his role was waiting to be let from the locked cage by Wesley. He had the Mo-Ping in his gloved hands, which Cordelia was waiting anxiously to secure.
Wesley placed the keys in the lock and turned his wrist to unlock it. A large hand pulled and twisted at a lather strap, the stitches started to give. Wesley wrapped his fingers around a bar and started to pull open the heavy door. The strap gave way, fingers flexed and muscles bunched as a long arm reached for the belt of the shamans robe. The door was open enough for the Shaman to step through it, Cordelia reached out to take the Mo-Ping. Free now the hand snagged the belt and pulled hard.
The black robed figure was immediately unbalanced and fell on his front at Wesley and Cordelia's feet. The Mo-Ping shattered on the unforgiving hard floor of the basement and tiny glass shards flew into the air like a rain drop of splinter sharp droplets. The blue light previously encased- shot free and disappeared.
"Oops, tsk tsk, butter fingers" said a mocking voice, familiar and yet horrifyingly not.
Everyone stared in disbelief, looking between the shattered glass, the fallen shaman and the vampire grinning at them. Almost faster than the eye could see, Angelus twisted and tackled the strap on the other hand, freeing it with little effort, he reared up and ..
Wesley and Cordelia, yanked the shaman up and out of the way of the door. Gunn and Willow leapt towards them, Angelus freed one leg, then went for the other. The shaman was clear of the door, Wesley grabbed it and started to slam it shut, Willlow pushed from the other side. Gunn grabbed Wesley and Cordelia by their clothing and yanked them back as soon as Wesley had turned the key.
Bang.. a large heavy body slammed into it and simultaneously two black clad arms snapped out, only just missing the face of Wesley, as he was still being dragged clear.
"Well now aren't you all just the biggest bunch of fuck-ups ever born, and wouldn't soul-boy be sooo disappointed".
***
"Did you have to shoot him with tranquilliser and when did you pick it up"? Asked Wesley, wearily once they were back upstairs, each hovering nervously and not wanting to be the first one to say it.
"Extra insurance and besides did you really want to hear him yack any more. Geeze, one sentence was enough for me, but if you wanna go down there and wait for him to wake up and rip your ears off from the inside just with his 'wit' then you go right ahead", snapped Cordelia in what looked to Willow like a return to form, but at least this time she understood the reason behind the snark.
This is all our fault, thought Cordelia, He trusted us to do this right and we fucked up, Angelus was right about that. She hadn't shot Angelus so she wouldn't have to listen to him, she'd done it so that Angel wouldn't have to apologise for things said or feel bad when they got him back.
"We're going to get him back- aren't we guys"? She'd meant to say it firmly, no nonsense and in a totally 'I mean business' way. But it came out wimpy and she hated that, hated the way tears where threatening to spill.
(NEW)
"We need another Orb Of Thesula." Wesley announced coming into the lobby from the basement, ears red and veins throbbing from listening to whatever Angelus has been regaling him with. "As soon as one can be located." He added feelingly.
"I hear ya dog, but unless they got a mystical garage sale going' on somewhere close by then we got ourselves a problem." Announced Gunn with a telling twist to his lips.
"Like problems aren't already racking up." Agreed Cordelia; still pacing the floor even several hours after the debacle of the un-souling. Her feet where killing her in the high heeled pumps but if she stopped she felt like she was going to just fly apart with sheer hysteria. Better to keep moving.
"I have some contacts, but they aren't in LA and even if I can find one. Express delivery is still gonna be 24 hours at best." Interrupted Willow from the sidelines, watching the group interact with an absorbed expression on her piquant face.
Wesley looked up from his morose contemplation of the tiles looking arrested and answered her simply by picking up a phone, trailing lead and all and plonking it in her outstretched hands. "Get dialling. Let's find one first, then worry about getting it here."
Meanwhile downstairs Angelus having made himself comfortable in the darkest corner of the cell, settled in for some long distance needling. His deep baritone, usually so uncertain and shaky, sang out with assurance and sly promise.
"If you go down to the woods today. You're sure of a big surprise. If you go down to the woods today. You'd better go in disguise. For ev'ry vamp that ever there was will gather there for certain, because today's the day the Vamps have their picnic."
His ears pricked at a distance sound, a scraping followed by a thud, then a whirring, the sounds where getting closer; Angelus merely quirked a brow and carelessly carried on singing, not giving away anything of the excited anticipation tightening his body.
"Ev'ry vamp who's been good is sure of a treat today. There's lots of marvelous things to eat. And wonderful games to playyyyyyy"
His smirk got harder just as a lump of plaster fell to the floor, revealing the spinning discs of a small hand held grinder. The spinning silver flashes disappeared and a head popped through. Blinking eyes through a clear plastic shield located him and then disappeared, whispering replaced the whirring noise.
"Well hellooo there. Come and introduce yourself. Don't be shy." He reached the bars before the first word was finished and his large hands wrapped around the cold steel, framing his handsome, earnestly friendly face. Friendly if you were dumb enough not to look into his eyes and see the pure undiluted evil lurking in the gleaming depths.
A new face appeared, round, slitted eyes, slicked down pitch black hair. He knew this one. "Gavin Parkes, what can I say? I was hoping to see you again soon." He grinned to deflect from the menace, showing white teeth, then unable to resist it, snapped them open and shut with a deep throated growl. The grin got wider.
Gavin's eyes widened and he hesitated then forced himself through the hole, carefully holding up his pants and twisting his body to prevent plaster dust from marring his suit. "Angelus, can I start with saying how much we at Wolfram and Hart have looked forward to making your acquaintance?"
"You can, just duck from the projectile vomit while I recover from the stroking."
Gavin looked nonplussed for a moment before pulling his poise back around him. "Don't you like being stroked? You should, you have a reputation that guarantees it." He replied with smarmy charm. A line of black clad and masked men arrayed behind the lawyer and he visibly relaxed.
"Maybe, but I prefer to be petted without bars. Gonna help with that?" Angelus enquired delicately, checking the fingers nails of one hand for dirt. Dark eyes slid to the lawyer, blinking innocently. "I promise to be a good vamp."
"We don't want a good vamp. We were hoping to meet the other one." Gavin returned smoothly.
"Fine I'll be bad, just get me the fuck out of here already."
Gavin blinked at the menace oozing from the intent face snarling at him from across the few feet. He gulped, swallowing convulsively as a long chill slithered down his spine, just from looking into those eyes. Wordlessly he motioned for a lackey to come forward, a handful of keys in hand.
Satisfied Angelus stepped back, watching avidly as the various keys were inserted, tried then rejected for the next. Sighing dramatically, Angelus pinned the antsy Lawyer with a speaking look of unconcealed derision.
"I'm getting bored. Don't disappoint me, Gavin. Lilah would have had the door open by now and spread her legs for a good screwing. So far I'm not impressed." Angelus wondered if Lilah was listening but doubted it. Pity she would have got a kick out of that one. Talk about a bitch in heat, soul or no soul. Barf.
The lock clicked, interrupting his musings and his expression turned pleasant again. "Okay, I forgive you. Just for that…" he stepped over the now open door, scanned the steps upstairs then opened his arms in congratulation. "I'll only crack your skull open a little bit."
There was a moment of calm while that was being digested and Angelus took full advantage of it. Of the four heavily armed guards two had their necks snapped within seconds of one another, before they could even raise their weapons and fire them.
The second two weren't so lucky. Angelus was hungry. One was knocked dazed and bleeding to the wall while the other was choked and drained. It didn't take long before the body fell with a meaty thud to the floor. Feral eyes gleamed under a shadowy ridge, while a pink tongue came out to delicately sip in the blood soaking the long jagged fangs.
"God, I missed that. Thanks for bringing along lunch." Gavin goggled mutely and backed away, throat closing with terror seeing the tall powerful frame prowl closer, shoulders back and hands twitching with increasing power after the feed.
"But, but-"
"Stop stammering, Gavin. Its put me off my food, then I get pissed and well… let's just say it can get messy." Angelus closed the distance with an unhurried grace, as if he had all the time in the world.
The last guard raised his hands, coming too only in time to try and fend of the hard hand closing over his adam's apple with crushing force. Gavin watched stricken as his last defence had his throat ripped out with unnecessary but deliberately gory enthusiasm.
Gavin lost his lunch, retching and trembling. Stomach still heaving, his dark eyes darted to the stairs and flinging promotion and perhaps a long life to the winds he concentrated on survival, diving for the first step, hand gripping the banister to swing up them, mouth open and breath in for a drawn out scream of warning.
He didn't get passed the first step before his scream was cut off before it made it past his lungs. Then everything became a blur, ending in a crunch as his skull connected with the cells bars.
"Told you I was only gonna crack your skull. Sheesh, where's the trust gone?" Angelus asked the unconscious man, head tilted consideringly, then forgot him and spun slowly on one heel surveying the bloody carnage with stark satisfaction. "Whoops look like a bombs hit it. Cordelia ain't gonna be pleased."
Cordelia. His fingers tapped thoughtfully against his lips, coming away streaked with blood so he sucked them clean. "Cordelia, Cordy, Cor. Light of my unlife. How to make you come to me?" Subtle was out since a basement full of dead bodies was kind of impressionable, so that left, "blackmail, tacky but effective. Ah well beggar's can't be choosers." Decision made, Angelus smiled slowly and returned his attention back to the unconscious lawyer.
***
A few minutes later…
Cordelia's cell phone rang, hearing it she gave her bag a frowning look and impatiently crossed over the lobby to it. Who the hell could be calling? Only the gang had the number and she guarded it zealously. She didn't recognise the number either. Sucking in a breath to try and sound less like she wanted to dump the phone in the nearest vat of slime, Cordy answered it.
"Hello".
Silence. She rolled her eyes. "Silence is golden except for right now since I'm kinda busy. Whoever you are speak up or hang up. I don't give a crap which."
"Tut, tut that's not polite, Cordelia. Shame on you."
She recognised that deep and smiling voice. Cordy froze and her knuckles went white on the palm sized plastic of the cell phone. "Angel?" A feeling of surrealism kept her immobile, as if moving might somehow make this absurd call a reality.
"Add 'elus' and you're right on the money, babe."
Of their own accord her legs got moving, heading swiftly for the basement door. Gunn saw her and stepped forward to intervene. She shot him a killer look, stopping him in his tracks with an 'oh shit' look on his face. Trusting he'd got the message all but shrieking out of her hazel eyes and was calling Wesley, she yanked open the basement door and headed down the steps.
She refused to guess what she'd find, concentrating solely on one step at a time. Outside the hotel but still in full view, Angelus leaned against a post, a sideways smile softening his hard face, eyes dreamily closed as he pictured what she was going to find. Her regular breathing blew into his sensitive ear. No scaredy cat this one. That's my girl.
The breathing hitched and he opened them again, hell shone from the dark depths, and he shivered deliciously when her heartbeat kicked up enough to be audible over the airwaves. "What's the matter, Sweetheart? Didn't you like my leaving present?" he asked silkily.
"What do you want?" Cordelia winced, closing her eyes and blocking out the gruesome sight of the body littered basement. Shit, dumb question. "I mean why are you calling me? Shouldn't you be half way to Bologna by now?" He voice was raspy but she couldn't help that.
Next to her she could feel Wes and Gunn arrive and a nameless impulse had her moving away a little, making sure they couldn't overhear. "Let's face it. You're not exactly known for dealing with things face to face. Like that distance don't you, Angelus?"
Her mind whirled looking for ways to provoke him, though to what end she wasn't sure yet. "Clumsy, Cordy and totally unnecessary; I don't need prodding into making this more personal than you can handle. I'm already more than willing. Ditch the other two and we'll talk." The next thing she heard was an end call tone.
Numbly she dropped her arm and turned to face the other two. Wesley and Gunn where both looking at her, shock and a clear question on their faces, "I take it that was Angelus?" Wesley asked already knowing it had been. She just nodded and hugged her arms, using the excuse of surveying the mess to avoid direct eye contact.
"At his crowing best, he wanted to make sure we knew he'd escaped."
"He didn't have to call to do that."
Agitated and hurting she rounded on him. "So what, why ask me? Just cos I sleep with him doesn't mean I'm an expert on evil vamp psychosis or whatever. God, my life sucks. Why did I have to fall in love with a vamp that makes Jekyll and Hyde look like Mr Stable Personality?"
Wesley didn't drop his eyes, she did first. Gunn interrupted the uncomfortable and silent exchange with his usual laconic humour. "The lawyer ain't dead. Wanna change that before he wakes up?"
***
An hour later saw Cordelia ducking out of the hotel, leaving Wesley, Gunn and Willow to clean out the basement and wait for the Orb to arrive. They had until tomorrow night. A long twenty four hours to wait and wonder just how many lives Angelus was taking. She couldn't take that risk. If she could keep him busy and entertained until then, then she had to. It was as simple as that.
What was the alternative? Sweeps of the city with their single tranq gun? "Yeah, like that's not gonna be either fatal or a complete waste of time."
They weren't slayers and without some supernatural power behind them, they had no hope against a vampire as powerful as Angelus. They needed Angel for that. How's that for a riddle. "Bite me." She muttered to herself, shivering in the night air, coatless since snagging her jacket in full view of a watchful Wesley would have given her away.
Willows locating spells only worked on souled beings so that was out. Wesley and Gunn had pasted a map, soon bristling with pins after a brain storming session on where he might be and the whole time, all she could think was that he knew them every bit as much as they thought they knew him. He was onto them. It was up to her to buy them the time.
The cell phone burned a hole in her jeans pocket, and her heels clickety clacked on the sidewalk as she walked rather than stay still and let the chill turn her blue. Rubbing her arms, hazel eyes scanned the street, knowing he was watching. She could feel it and goose-bumps rose up, roughening along her skin at the thought.
"Come on, Angelus. I'm getting wind chapped here. Not much of a prize if you don't get your evil vamp ass into gear." She checked behind her, hearing a noise and nearly gave herself a cricked neck at the speed her head swivelled. Nothing.
"Yoo hoo, victim over here." How can something feel so necessary and so completely dumb at the same time? Welcome to my life. She sighed feeling conspicuous.
"Ohh now don't think like that, baby. I don't have you pegged as a victim." He was leaning against a wall only a few feet in front of her. She jerked to a startled staring stop. "Really? So how do you think of me?" He smirked and pushed away from the wall. Crap, I just had to ask didn't I?
"Forget I asked." She added hastily, backing up. "As if I don't already know, snacks, fuck toy, target practice and whatever else enters that sicko excuse for a …" Okay just shut your mouth Cor, before he shuts it for you.
Cordy came to a stand still, heels teetering on the edge of the road. Her eyes never left his, searching the fathomless darkness for something that simply wasn't there. She ached at the loss. "Why did you stay, Angelus. Even you aren't dumb enough to think we can't re-soul you eventually."
He didn't stop coming closer, his height and breadth even more intimidating, highlighted by the street light further down the road. He blocked it out and his face came clearer; too clear, with its beloved familiarity distorted by the pure evil streaming off him.
"Do you know what I love about you, Cordy? That mouth of yours, it just never knows when to stop yacking; riles me up in all kinds of way. Always has."
A car whizzed passed, oblivious to the mini life or death drama being enacted at the side of the road. Casually he reached out a hand, snagged her top and yanked her away from the edge. Her hand met the solid cold of his chest. His lips hovered over hers and her heart leapt into her throat. Hesitantly her eyes came up to see deep into his empty smiling ones.
Her breath washed over his lips, they curved and opened to run the tip of his tongue over the full bottom lip, tasting her without touching her. "I have a few ideas for that mouth of yours, including some less… acceptable ones." He intoned, letting her go.
"First though. You run." He said it matter of factly, watching her face with a debilitating intensity.
Cordy gaped at him sure she hadn't heard him right. "What did you say?"
"Run, Cordy. As fast as you can and don't look back. Think of it as foreplay."
The lips she'd kissed, bitten, sucked and tried to dive to the bottom of curved in the smirk she hated. Above them his eyes laughed at her. Knowing how much she'd despise playing his games. He rocked back on heels, waiting patiently.
"Go screw yourself, asshole. Why should I, what's in it for me?" Chin up she met look for look, narrowing her eyes when he shook his head, miming disappointment in her.
"Cordy, Cordy what am I gonna do with you? Okay, I'll up the stakes just to make it interesting- for me. How about if you get away, you're off the hook?" He offered agreeably, circling her and keeping her nerves stretched.
She opened her mouth to tell him to go to hell when she stopped, brain jolting with an idea. She'd get to keep him busy and if she was really lucky and kept her wits about her, maybe she could end this to her advantage. Free run of the city meant an opportunity to arm herself and regroup. Perhaps even recapture Angelus. Hope soared.
The cell phone buzzed in her pocket. Immediately her vision went dark as he crowded into her, his hand dived into her pocket to withdraw the ringing phone before she got over her cringing disappointment. Pissed she shoved him back, or tried to. He retreated when he was good and ready. Cordy glared at him, folding her arms and nodding to the still ringing phone, delicate looking in his wide palm.
"Wesley wants to know where I am." She prodded, reminding him she wasn't just some nameless victim without friends.
***
"Dammit, she isn't picking up." Wesley slammed down the phone, hating the escalating *lack* of control he had.
"I don't get it. Where would she have gone with all of this crap going down? This ain't like her. I don't like this." Gunn paced, shaking his dark head from side to side in total certainty, looking to Wesley for an answer.
An answer the Englishman didn't have. Being a voice of reason for the team was a nightmare at times, especially dealing with the likes of both Cordelia and Angel. "Join the club, but I agree this isn't like her at all."
Willow kept out of it, silently acknowledging that these guys knew Cordy far better than she ever had. Though come to think of it, Cordy had always been around just when she was needed, and quite a bit when she wasn't, as if despite her griping she couldn't help but get drawn back.
At the time she'd thought it was Xander, now though she wasn't so sure. "Erm do you think maybe she went out to meet him? Angelus I mean. Wait no, ignore me thats just dumb, she wouldn't do that- would she?"
"Don't bet on it, were talking the same girl who bearded the lion in his den a few months ago." Willow looked confused.
Seeing it Wesley explained. "A few months ago Angel gave into his dark side, fired us all and went off alone. He still had his soul but as for anything else, all bets were off. To meet him you could be forgiven for thinking you were chatting with Angelus."
"You think she's gone off to do the same with the real deal?" Asked Gunn, already having gone stiff, knowing the answer.
"It's a distinct possibility."
"Well damn that Orb better get here fast or I'm gonna have to go vamp hunting."
Wesley strode over to the weapons cabinet and snatched up a sawn off shotgun. "I don't think we should wait and see."
TBC...?
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