Go TeamC/A
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Title: The Prophecy
Author: (Only)Anne
Posted here:
Rating: At some point definitely NC-17
Category:
Content: C/A
Summary: Sequel to Succubus.
Spoilers: After first season, acknowledging that the second exists.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made. I have never owned anything of Joss' or Rhysher & Davis, etc.
Distribution: just ask
Notes: Wesley is back. The old/new office is now at the hotel (first story was written during the summer) Gunn is also involved. And Dennis lives in the hotel - Basically, the loose ends will be finished.
Thanks/Dedication:
Feedback:All is welcomed
Chapter One:
Methos sat impatiently in his apartment waiting for Duncan to show up. He reread the passage in the bound journal again. Damn, he thought, there was no way that Jeremy St. John could not have known the relevance on the passage. Which meant that the old watcher was responsible for Brian Robert's death. Methos ran his hands over his face in disgust. Methos had worked with St. John for years. In fact, he had even trusted the old mortal with his true identity. Damn, he guessed that even a five thousand-year-old immortal could be fooled.
Methos got up as he sensed Macleod come up the stairs.
"It is about time." Methos quickly ushered the other immortal into his apartment.
"I got here as soon as I could. Paris and London aren't exactly in the same neighborhood, much less the same country." Macleod quipped.
"Okay, Okay," Mac responded to the other immortal's glare. "What is the emergency?"
"The emergency is, Brian Roberts was killed three days ago."
"What?"
"Loosing you hearing in your old age, I said..."
Duncan angrily interrupted him, "I heard what you said. What I meant was how and why? Where is Wesley?"
Methos sat down rubbing his face. "Wesley as far as I know, is back in the states. As for the why and how of Brian's death, I am not sure. But I have a nasty suspicion. That is why I called you, if I am right then your young immortal maybe in danger."
"Adam, start from the beginning." Duncan said quietly, sitting down.
"Well, you told me to keep an eye on the watchers when they got here. The spent most of the time with Jeremy St. John. Wyndam-Price left England less than than two weeks after they first arrived. Brian remained in England with St. John. I soon noticed that the young watcher was agitated, so I approached him. Brian told me that St. John had not seemed pleased that he and Wesley had known about the prophecy regarding the vampire with a soul and the immortal. At first, Brian said, St. John kept putting them off from looking at the books that contained the prophecy. But eventually, the old watcher had relented. Once he did, Wesley left satisfied that the books held no specific prophecy of evil. However, once Wesley left, St. John began intensively questioning Brian about Cordelia Chase's ability as an immortal and her power as a seer.
Brian thought that it was strange, since St. John had agreed that the prophecy was general and told of no specific threat to Cordelia or to the world. So, Brian started researching on his own and found that the books that St. John had originally given them had been incomplete. He asked the old watcher about it and was told that there was no other books. Brian wasn't satisfied with the old man's explanation. He told me that he was going to find the rest of the text. That was the one and only time I talked to him." Methos paused. "Five days later, I found out the his body had washed up on the shore. I tried to call St. John, with no luck. Two days ago, I received this by special message. It was from Brian." Methos handed Duncan a bound journal. "It is Druid and contains the rest of the prophecy."
"But St. John said..."
"I know what he said. After I read it, I went to see him. His house had been cleared out. Duncan, there is no way, he couldn't have known what was in this book and it's importance."
"What does it say?"
"Basically, in the reader digest version, it gives the recipe for the emergence of an 'all powerful being' and the end of the world."
"The beginning of the end..."
"Yep, now you see why, Cordelia and her vampire may be in danger. St. John wanted to know when the immortal and the vampire with a soul got together; which would signal 'the beginning of the end'. And since he didn't tell anybody, for example the ones that are probably meant to defeat it, what the prophecy actually meant... He had a reason and that reason, we can assume, is not good for your young immortal or for the world for that matter."
"You think that he is going to try to bring out the being."
"Or become the being, the text is a little ambiguous and my druid is a little rusty."
"But we have the book?" Duncan held up the old Druid text.
"Yes, but the danger is too great to assume that St. John didn't write the recipe down somewhere. From wht I could interpret, the book itself isn't important just the information in it."
"And St. John knows all about Cordelia..." Duncan said worriedly.
"Yes and that is not all the bad news..." Duncan looked at his older friend incredulously. "There is more?"
"I recognized some of the necessary items needed for the spell to work. An ancient druid cup and tablet."
"That is good. It's not good?" Duncan asked at Methos' expression.
"No, not really, they were stolen from a British museum two years ago."
"St. John?"
"Presumably."
"When does the next flight leave for LA?"
"Well, if you had gotten here earlier we could have left two hours ago. As it is, we have an half hour to get to the airport."
Duncan glared at him. "Let's go."
Chapter Two:
"Angel will you be okay for a minute?" Cordelia glanced at the bloody vampire leaning against the counter.
Angel and the rest of the staff of Angel Investigations had just returned to the hotel/office from fighting a large group of vampires. None of the occupants in the hotel had escaped the battle injury free. Wesley and Gunn slumped down in the chairs in the lobby trying to staunch the blood flowing from their wounds. Cordelia's numerous injuries had healed on the way back to the office, but her clothes were coated in drying blood.
Angel nodded wearily to Cordelia. "Help Wesley and Gunn."
Cordelia grabbed the first aid kit and went over to Wesley. "Hold still," she stated to the squirming ex-watcher.
"It stings."
Cordelia rolled her eyes and place a bandage over the slash on Wesley's arm.
"All better. You better put ice on that eye. Dennis, can you please bring Wesley some ice?"
Wesley grimaced as a floating ice pack was placed on his blackened eye.
Gunn tensed as Cordelia started putting antiseptic on his forehead. "There, macho guy. Here put this on." She handed him a sterile pad.
"Can you handle the rest? I want to look at Angel. Dennis make sure they have enough bandages."
Cordelia hurried over to the bloody vampire. She slowly pulled up his shirt and winced. Cordelia gently wiped the blood off his chest.
"Does it hurt?" she asked softly.
Angel smiled at Cordelia's touch. Once all the blood was wiped up, she kissed the wound and placed a bandage over the cut.
Wesley rolled his one good eye at Gunn. Gunn just shrugged as he watched Cordelia's tender ministrations to the vampire.
"Cordelia, how are you?" Angel placed his hands on either side of her face.
"Fine, Angel. All healed." She reassured him.
Satisfied, Angel called to Wesley, "Wesley, what is going on? There seems to be an increase in vampire activity lately."
"I don't know, Angel. I can't find anything in the scroll or texts which warn of this increase in vampire activity."
"Well, something is going on," interjected Gunn. "Those vamps were working as a team and carrying swords...What's with the swords, by the way? I thought vamps just clawed and bit."
"They do seem to have an objective." Wesley glanced at Cordelia.
"What they seem to want is my head. But how would they know?"
Angel pulled her close. "I don't know. But maybe it is time that I visit the oracles."
Cordelia shook her head disgustedly. "They haven't helped so far. All they do is send me the vamp slide show without any informative commentary."
Angel reached for his coat. "Still..."
He stopped at Cordelia's expression. She drew her sword and headed towards the entrance. "Great," she grumbled.
Angel tensed and started to follow. The others slowly got up as they noticed Cordelia's actions.
"Not now," Wesley gave a concerned look towards the doorway.
"What is going on?" Gunn whispered.
Angel halted in surprise as Cordelia let out a happy shout and ran towards the door.
"Duncan!" Cordelia jumped in the immortal's arms as he entered the hotel.
"Ah, good, it's just Duncan. Angel, it's just Duncan." Wesley said nervously to the growling vampire. "Angel?"
Angel struggled to check his demon from emerging at the sight of Cordelia hugging the older immortal. In the last month or so, he had been so happy and secure in Cordelia's love, Angel had forgotten all about the Highlander's bond with Cordelia and her feelings for the old Scotsman. Angel had to remind himself, that Cordelia's feelings for her mentor were that of friendship only. But the sudden burst of jealousy and insecurity he felt throughout his body was intense.
Cordelia pulled away from Duncan happily. "Why didn't you call and let me know that you were coming, I would have mad myself more presentable." She motioned to her bloody clothes.
"Cordelia, are you okay?" Duncan tenderly touched her dirty face. Cordelia gave the highlander a quick smile.
"I am fine, just filthy." Cordelia went back to Angel, she could sense his anger at Duncan's caress. Cordelia grabbed the vampire's hand. "Stop it, you are being stupid," she whispered in low tone that he could only hear.
Angel growled and knocked her hand away. "Angel," she angrily whispered. Angel ignored her and went back behind the counter. Cordelia took a deep breath and promised herself that she would yell at him when they were alone.
"So, Duncan, why are you here?" Cordelia noticed Adam Pearson behind Duncan. "And who is the old, old guy with you?"
"Cordelia, this Adam Pearson. Adam...Cordelia, Angel, Wesley and..." Duncan stopped when he got to Gunn. "Gunn," the street kid provided. "Who are ..."
Wesley interrupted," Adam...You mean Methos, don't you?" Wesley moved closer to the two male immortals. "Methos." Wesley paused. "Duncan, this isn't a social call, is it?" Wesley asked concernedly.
"No."
Cordelia tensed at his tone. She instinctively moved closer to Angel. The vampire had already come from behind the counter.
"Mac," she said hesitantly.
Duncan took a deep breath. The dirty immortal was even more beautiful than he remembered. He hated to hurt her.
"Brian Robert's was murdered."
Cordelia gasped and reached for Angel. She didn't have far to go. Angel was already at her side, taking her into his arms. All of Angel's feelings of anger and jealousy disappeared at his lover's anguish.
Chapter Three:
The room was silent. Even though, Gunn wasn't sure what was going on he sensed that it would be better to listen rather than to bombard the somber group with questions.
Wesley was the first to try to speak. "How?" he choked.
Duncan responded quietly, "We are not sure how he was killed or exactly by who, but his body washed up about a week ago."
"A week! Why didn't you tell me," Cordelia cried. "Oh God," Cordelia sobbed as she remembered how Brian had saved her and told her the rules of being immortal. He had been her friend and now he was dead. She buried her head deeper into Angel's chest. Angel held her tighter.
"You both are here. I guess then that it was not some random murder, but something to do with the prophecy?" Angel continued to caress Cordelia's sobbing body.
"I'll let Methos explain," responded the Highlander.
Methos began to tell the quiet group what he had already told Macleod.
Wesley started ask questions, but he was cut off by Cordelia's small voice. "I want to go upstairs..., Angel?"
At that moment Angel was torn. He wanted to stay and hear about the possible dangers that threatened Cordelia, but he also, wanted to comfort her in her distress. It actually, took him less than a second to decide. Cordelia's physical safety was assured for the immediate future. Wesley, Gunn, Duncan, the other immortal...and Dennis, he thought as a small cloth floated towards Cordelia's face, would make sure of it. But Cordelia's emotional state was broken at the news of Brian's death and she needed him. And Angel knew where he needed to be.
"Wesley, show Duncan and...Adam all the research we have and compare notes. Find the answer," he demanded forcibly. "I am taking Cordelia upstairs." He picked up Cordelia in his arms and headed for the stairs.
Methos looked at the retreating couple. "She is pretty, most likely beautiful, a rival of Cassandra's, but I would watch out for the vampire. He seems very possessive," he whispered to Duncan.
"She is...beyond Cassandra and Shut Up. Wesley what do you know about the Druids?" He asked in a lower voice.
A still stunned former watcher motioned for them to follow him to the room that had been transformed into a library.
Gunn followed still not sure what was going on, but he could sense that it was serious, very serious and remained silent.
Chapter Four:
Angel carried Cordelia upstairs to the first floor. They had made that floor their home. Cordelia had confiscated two of the rooms as hers, one that saw the sunrise and the other that saw the sunset. The rooms were pretty much bare, Cordelia just wanted them in case she ever was not lying in Angel's arms as the sun rose or she wasn't fighting some demon as the sun set. She was very rarely in the rooms. The only other room that they had renovated, besides their bedroom, was the workout room. It was in that room that Angel drilled Cordelia daily on how to defend herself. He would not let her enter a fight unprepared.
Angel bypassed those rooms.
"Sh," he said softly to the crying girl in his arms.
"We are here." Angel laid her down on their bed. This room was the room that Angel liked to believe belonged totally to them. It was their little world, separate from the outside. This was where they could love without worry or fear. It was here, that he had felt the most love and joy in his whole dead life and it was all because of the trembling girl cuddled in his arms. Scroll or no scroll, it was with his beautiful, caring, annoying girl that his true humanity lay. And he would protect her against anything or everything, and somehow Angel knew that even Angelus would do the same.
"Sh," he said again as he laid next to the other half of his soul.
"Oh god, Brian," she cried. "Do you remember how his upper lip would quiver when I yelled at him. Angel, did I ever tell him how much he meant to me, did I?" She glanced beseechingly at the stoic handsome face.
"He knew."
"Are you sure? Face it, I am a bitch." Cordelia pushed away from the handsome vampire.
Angel didn't let her move away. "Cordelia, Cordy... You are not a bitch. Okay, sometimes you are, but you also are one of the most loving and unselfish person I know. There is a roomful of people downstairs that love you. One, who I am embarrassed to say makes me want to kill."
"Angel, you aren't going to be all 'grr' guy over Duncan again, are you?"
"Maybe."
"Oh, Angel, I wanted to yell at you for being so stupid. But now I don't, please just hold me for a second."
"Of course." Angel pulled Cordelia into a tight embrace.
Cordelia sighed. "We have to go back downstairs. We have to know why Brian was murdered." She brushed away her tears and moved away from the vampire.
"Cordelia, no." Angel pulled her back onto the bed. "We will find out, but now I want you, need you to stay with me."
Cordelia gazed questioningly at the vampire.
"Brian is dead, but we aren't. And I need you to make me feel alive."
Cordelia looked at the dark vampire. He was truly the only person she loved with her whole being. Was it wrong for her to want his touch when Brian was dead? But she needed to feel alive. Cordelia wanted to feel alive. So, she leaned into Angel's embrace.
Chapter Five:
Angel pulled Cordelia over top of him. It still amazed him that the feeling of her body on his could generate so much heat. He rubbed his hands along her side. Cordelia closed her eyes and melted into his touch. At that moment, the fear and sadness she had felt over Brian's death disappeared. Those feelings were replaced by ones of longing and desire. She wriggled closer to the vampire.
"Angel," she gasped pulling his head down for a kiss. Angel latched on to her mouth, his tongue meeting hers in a duel for dominance. Angel growled a flipped Cordelia's willing body under his. His hands and lips were all over her. Cordelia moved beneath him trying to prolong the intense sensations that he was causing. She grasped frantically at Angel's shirt.
"Angel," she begged.
Angel was relieved and excited. He knew then, as he should always know, that Cordelia was his. But he still had to make sure. Angel, in game face, bit Cordelia's throat. He sucked her blood forcibly as Cordelia cried out. Her body exploded in an orgasm.
"You better not be done," she whispered.
"No." Angel smugly gazed at the trembling girl. "I am not." Angel licked at the quickly healing wounds on her neck as he tore the shirt from her body. He proceeded to kiss and lick down Cordelia's torso, stopping to suck on a taunt nipple.
Cordelia whimpered as she felt the vampire's fangs scraped through the lace of her bra. Cordelia's small fist hit his back in frustration as he released her breast. Angel chuckled and moved downwards. His tongue circled Cordelia's navel. He watched in satisfaction and amazement as her body jerked off the bed.
"Angel, please..." Cordelia squirmed underneath him. Cordelia felt helpless as the nerves in her body spiraled out of control, again. A small portion of pride flared up in Cordelia. She wouldn't be the only one to loose control, she promised.
Cordelia tightened her long legs around Angel and with a burst of strength flipped him over. She smiled as she straddled the stunned vampire.
"My turn," she whispered.
Cordelia ripped off Angel's shirt and captured a small male nipple in her mouth. Her tongue teased and licked the small bud until it had grown double in size. Cordelia leaned up, rubbing her wet center along Angel's groin. She moaned as she felt his penis spring upwards through the fabric of his pants.
Angel's vampire visage took over as he felt Cordelia's small hands fondle his penis.
"Cordelia," he groaned as she released he aching member from his trousers. Cordelia smiled and kissed down his chest and stomach until she reached the pulsating shaft in her hands. She licked at the tip before taking the organ fully into her mouth, her hand caressing the base. Angel's hips lurched off the bed as he groaned in pleasure. His demon was in control as pulled his penis from Cordelia's questing mouth. He yanked the young immortal up, so that he could capture her mouth with his.
Angel didn't know how or when Cordelia lost all of her clothing. The vampire just marveled in the feel of her warm smooth skin against his body. Angel ripped his pants from his body and leaned up over Cordelia. Hazel eyes stared into demon yellow eyes. Cordelia smiled as Angel thrust into her wet passage. Angel pushed harder, trying to embed himself deeper into Cordelia's warmth. She gasped in pleasure at his thrusts.
Angel felt Cordelia's muscles contracting around him as he released his dead seed into her body. With a moan of breath, Cordelia pulled his head to her breast.
"Angel," she begged her permission. Angel gently bit into the tender skin surrounding her breast.
Cordelia gasped repeatedly as Angel slowly drank her blood.
Cordelia curled up along his cool body. Angel kissed at the healing wounds. He kissed her forehead. "Cordy..."
"No,Angel." She sighed and curled closer. "Angel, I know we have to go down and face whatever yucky stuff the fates have in store. But for now, just for a few more minutes, can we stay here in our place, please?"
"Of course." Angel caressed the still trembling body of the woman he loved.
Chapter Six:
Wesley and Adam were engrossed in the translation of the Druid text when Angel and Cordelia entered the Library.
Wesley got up from the book-laden table and reached for another text from the bookshelf.
"Here look at this." He handed the pertinent passage to Adam.
The old immortal read the section and then looked back at the text that Brian had sent to him. "Yes, I think you are right." Adam continued to read.
Gunn went over to Angel and Cordelia. "They have been going over those old books non-stop forever. Every once in awhile, they will look up and make some cryptic type statement, then go back to reading. It is annoying and boring to watch. When can we fight something?"
"Cordelia, are you okay?" Duncan looked up in concern at the young woman standing close to the vampire. Cordelia gave a small nod.
"What have you found out?" Angel ignored the Highlander and motioned to all of the research materials on the table.
Wesley stood up and rubbed his face. "Actually, a lot. Brian was quite right to be concerned." Wesley noticed Cordelia's expression.
Surprisingly, it was Methos who offered the sad young immortal words of comfort. "Cordelia, Brian died doing something he believed in. He saw a danger to you and to the world and interfered. And because of his interference and death, we can prepare to fight what is ahead. So, be sad if you must, but be grateful for who he was and his courage."
"I am grateful," she responded slowly. "But I am tired of the 'heroes' dying. It is just not fair," she complained.
Angel squeezed her hand, knowing she was thinking not only of Brian, but of their friend Doyle. Cordelia continued, "You, Mac, me and Angel, well, are hard to kill, but what about..." She choked as she looked at Wesley, then Gunn. "It is just not fair."
Gunn fidgeted as he realized that she was referring to his and Wesley's mortal status. Gunn was grateful that he was dark skinned, otherwise the blush that was creeping up on his face would be noticeable. Most of the time, he thought that Cordelia was annoying, pretty, but annoying. But more and more as he spent time around her he realized that she was actually a very caring person.
Wesley, on the other hand, had known for a long time just how selfless and compassionate the true Cordelia was. Wesley smiled. "Cordelia, life is not fair, but remember, like Brian, Gunn and I are here by choice. So, don't worry."
Cordelia scrunched up her face and nodded. "Well, so what have you mighty bookworms found out?"
Angel was proud as he heard Cordelia's spirit reassert itself.
Chapter Seven:
"Yes, well...I have..." Methos's cough interrupted Wesley. "We," the former watcher sheepishly corrected,"have discovered that this text was written in approximately 200 AD, by a sect of Druid priests. That in of itself is amazing. Druids for the most part relied on the oral tradition of imparting their beliefs and wisdom, rather than the written word. Anyway, from the tone and content of the writing, we believe that it was written in response to one of their member's attempt to bring forth an 'all powerful immortal'..."
Angel pulled Cordelia to the large armchair and settled the young immortal on his lap. Angel recognized that Wesley was now in his lecture mode and therefore, he wanted to get comfortable. Gunn following his lead sat on the couch and accepted the fact that it would probably be awhile before he got to fight anything.
"Dennis.." Cordelia whispered. A slight breeze left the room only to return seconds later accompanied by beer, coffee, a mug of blood, soda and bottled water. All of the occupants of the room except Wesley grabbed for a beverage.
Wesley frowned at the interruption and waited impatiently for the activity to stop. "Now then, is every one comfortable?" he asked sarcastically. He rolled his eyes as the room responded in the affirmative.
"Good. Anyway, in that period of history, Christianity was on the rise and spreading. It seems that Fergus, a powerful Druid priest, became alarmed about the rumors of the growing religion that boasted of a single all-powerful god that was above all other deities. The all powerful god had sent his only son onto the world to be his messenger. That son was killed and then arose. Fergus heard it told that when the son returned it would signal the end of the world. To protect his beliefs and his world, he fashioned talismans to be used in concert to create an immortal with the power of the elements. He planned that his immortal being would fight the new god's son for dominance of the world.
The items that Methos recognized as stolen were probably those talismans or a least part of the items necessary." Wesley paused and looked around for a drink. He gave a disgusted grunt as he realized that Dennis had not brought him anything to drink. "We need to find out what was exactly stolen and trace any other Druid relics that have been stolen over, well, probably the last 20 years."
"What?" whined Cordelia, imagining countless hours behind the computer. She sighed in disgust.
"St. John was a watcher for at least that long. We don't know when he discovered this." Wesley held up the text. "We know, most likely, that he has the goblet and tablet, but there may be other things. The Druids tended to utilize stones, magical cauldrons and druid rods. But, actually, what is more vital to know is whether he has the sword."
"Sword?" "What?" Came from the now attentive audience.
"Yes, sword. And this is where Cordelia and Angel come in. Now, if you would stop interrupting."
Angel instinctively caught the book that went flying towards the former watcher's head. Wesley gave an evil look to the air. The men around the table tried to stifle their smirks as Wesley shot a glare at them.
"You should have let it hit Mr. Know-it-all," Cordelia whispered. Angel gave her a look and commanded the ghost to behave.
"On with it, Wesley. What about Cordelia?" demanded the vampire.
"Yes," Wesley looked around suspiciously. When he was satisfied that no more texts would fly towards him, he continued,"It seems that the other Druid priests didn't agree with Fergus, in fact, they felt that his attempt to raise the immortal would unbalance the nature of their world and bring about a greater catastrophe then this new deity. So, they stopped him, killed him I suppose. However, they didn't destroy the talismans, rather they created their own, a sword. If the immortal should ever appear, then one of the Fianna, with the seer's gift would be able to invoke the sword's power and behead the immortal." Wesley stopped and waited for the questions. He was surprised by the stillness that came over the room. It wasn't that no one had questions, they just didn't know where to start.
"Okay, I'll go first," said Gunn. "What is a Fianna?"
"The Fianna were a class of warriors, comprising of both young men and women. Several were also seers, among other things. And to an ancient Druid, Cordelia would be one of the Fianna. She is not only a seer, but also a warrior. In addition, she knows how to behead an immortal."
"This immortal...Well, it is not part of the game,is it?"
"No," answered Methos. "But the Druids did believe that beheading was the best way to ensure their opponents deaths. So, it is only natural that they would require that method of killing. You have to understand, Druids didn't believe in the Christian values of good or evil or even those of the 'Powers to Be'. When Fergus devised this spell, he wasn't trying to invoke a great evil. He was fighting for his beliefs, misguidedly to be sure. And the power he wanted to invoke was by our definition evil, mainly because if the immortal emerges he can and will dominate the world. Unless, the Christian Christ comes and defeats him, which would bring about another whole type of Armageddon. It would be better if we just do what the 'Powers' want and have Cordelia defeat it.
"'The Powers' they haven't actually told me to go and fight this thing." Cordelia commented.
"Maybe not in your visions, but they have in this text. Because, not only does the Fianna have to be a seer, SHE has to hold the undead warrior's soul. And since, vampires and souls were not something that Druids really thought about, I would say that the 'Powers' influenced those Druids in crafting the sword and writing this text. The coming of this 'all powerful immortal' is foretold and Cordelia is the one to defeat it." Methos looked expectingly at the vampire with a soul holding tightly onto his seer.
"Okay, I get it. I have to behead the misguided and/or evil immortal," stated Cordelia. "But, oh so-smart ones, the almighty sword. Where is the...Owww..." Cordelia clutched her head in pain. Angel pulled Cordelia into his chest.
The men watched as Angel caressed the shaking body of the young immortal. "They are sadistic," she cried as her brow cleared of the pain. "They are..." Cordelia stopped her ranting and looked towards the door. "Damn, this is just too much," she complained shaking off Angel's hold. "Where is my sword? Oh, thank you, Dennis." Cordelia took her sword from the air and followed the other two older immortals out of the room. Duncan and Methos had already drawn their swords and headed for the hotel lobby to meet the immortal that entered the building.
Chapter Eight:
Angel grabbed at Cordelia a she started to leave the room.
"Angel, no. I will be okay, I promised." She smiled and kissed him.
Angel stood still. He had already seen Cordelia take two other immortals' heads. He hated it. The 'game' was just one other part of her destiny that he couldn't protect her from. And he admitted selfishly, it was the one part that allowed for the bond between Cordelia and Duncan Macleod. He hated that bond. His demon and male ego raged at the idea that another male shared a commonality with Cordelia, that he couldn't. But it wasn't just his jealousy that made him hate Cordelia's new status as an immortal.
It was the killing; it was bad enough that the beautiful young girl had to suffer an unnatural life by being his seer. But as an immortal, she had to learn how to kill. He hated that she had to learn that skill. He wished with all of his undead life that the Cordelia could live out a natural life with fun and parties, not death. But he, also, admitted to himself, he needed Cordelia and the idea that she could live forever with him was his salvation. He couldn't contemplate what would happen to him, if she was beheaded, while he was still alive.
Chapter Nine:
"Well, this is interesting," the strange immortal said to the group that entered the hotel lobby. "I only want the seer." The man pointed his sword at Cordelia. "So, you two..." He gestured to the Highlander and Methos. "...Will just to have stay out of it. And keep the others away, especially the vampire. It is the rules, you know."
"Believe me, I know the rules," answered Methos. "But why do you want the young one, I will meet you."
"You must be Methos, I can sense the old age thing. But, as tempting as it is to take your quickening, I have a job to do and that is her." He raised his sword again at Cordelia.
"Job?" asked Duncan.
"Yes, I am getting paid to bring her head back. Off her shoulders, of course. And make sure the vampire abides by the rules," he said as Angel growled.
"I can and will kill you, if you get lucky enough to take her head."
"Please," he said to vampire. "You can want all you want, but I will take her head and before the night is over you won't be killing anyone, because you will also be dead."
The unknown immortal gestured to the windows. Each window showed vampires anxiously waiting outside. "Okay, so you you won't invite them in, but 'our' fight," he pointed to Cordelia. "Will happen outside. It is my choice. Hide inside or come outside, it's you choice. Either way, I will keep my head."
"Aren't you being a little cocky," Cordelia quipped. She stared at the immortal. He did not look much over twenty, and she sensed that he hadn't been an immortal for long.
"I have been trained well, " he commented.
"Oh, really? I will put up Angel and Macleod against some arthritic old mortal as an instructor any day," she answered. "Come on, really, what does the stupid old watcher know about sword fighting except what he might have read in those dusty old books he has lived in.
The immortal narrowed his eyes. "I will take your head."
"Yeah right." Cordelia turned slightly to her side. "Angel, promise me you will not go out of those doors, until you have proper back up. Promise me," she whispered harshly.
Angel nodded grimly.
She turned to the strange immortal. "Money? You will die over money. Let's say out of some sort of weirdness you take my head. There has got to be more. I mean you have to realize the St. John is nuts."
"Nuts, maybe. But if I bring back the seer's head, whatever that means, I will get a lot of money. And I will get hundreds of chronicles of immortals. It is so much easier to hunt them if I know where thered are," the immortal laughed.
"You are damaged. Let's go," Cordelia headed outside the hotel.
Chapter Ten:
"Well, it seems that the question about the increase of vamp activity as been answered." Gunn started to put stakes in his coat.
"Yes, it does seem that they are working with St. John. The old watcher definitely seems threatened by Cordelia. Well, gentlemen, we may not be able to interfere in Cordelia's fight, but we can stake some vampires." Wesley grabbed his crossbow.
"Angel?"
Angel had turned to the weapon's cabinet as soon as Cordelia and the other immortals left the building.
"Wesley, I want you to go up to the first floor and take out as many of the vampires that you can shoot."
"Good idea, but make sure you aim that thing straight, okay." Gunn pointed to the weapon in Wesley's hands. Wesley rolled his eyes and headed up the stairs.
"Gunn, go out the back and circle around." Angel started for the door.
Angel quickly surveyed the street trying to locate Cordelia. He glanced past where some vampires were attacking Methos and Duncan. Finally, in relief and fear, he saw Cordelia fighting the strange immortal. He headed in her direction, only to be knocked to the ground by two vampires. Angel lunged up and staked one as the other vampire turned to dust as Wesley's arrow went through his body. The fighting became fast and furious as Angel, Gunn, Duncan and Methos combated the vampires on the ground. With the combined fighting action on the ground and Wesley's effective shots from above, the number of attacking vampires dwindled until they were all dust.
The tired group of fighters gathered together to watch Cordelia and the other immortal. The two immortals' swords clashed in the air causing sparks to fly in the darkness. Angel tensed as the immortal began to over-power Cordelia. The young girl stumbled under the weight of his thrusts. Angel's demon emerged as the immortal's sword plunged through Cordelia's chest. It was then that Angel realized that soul or no soul, Angelus was a part of him. The vampire growled as the immortal pulled the sword from Cordelia's chest and raised the sword over his love's neck.
"Take that swing and you will suffer pain for a very long and excruciating time before I tear your head off your shoulders," the vampire smirked coldly. Wesley glanced nervously at Angel, his thoughts flashing back to when Angel allowed Angelus to torture and kill Lindsey MacDonald.
The immortal's swing stalled and he looked around. He noticed that all of the vampires he had brought with him were gone. The man thought quickly as he stared at the vampire.
"This is not over, not by a long shot." He turned and ran.
"Um, Angel?" Wesley asked hopefully.
Angel ignored the former watcher and stared at the unmoving body on the ground. He started to move forward, then stopped. "Wesley, make sure she is okay." The vampire turned and walked back into the hotel. Wesley nodded in confusion, but satisfied that it was Angel that had spoken.
Chapter Eleven:
Duncan beat Wesley to the fallen girl. Wesley stood by as Cordelia started to gasp and gulp for air. Wesley stared at Macleod as the old immortal kneeled beside the awakening girl. The former watcher began to empathize with Angel's jealousy. He had a sudden urge to pull the old immortal away from Cordelia. Cordelia was Angel and his family. Whatever bond being immortals created between Cordelia and Duncan, did not touch the familial bond that he shared with Cordelia and especially not the bond that she shared with Angel, he thought angrily.
Cordelia suddenly opened her eyes. She blinked twice, then looked around. "Jeez, that hurt." Her brow scrunched as she looked back and forth form Wesley and Duncan. "Where is Angel...Wesley?" she asked panic taking over her body.
"Sh, Cordy...Angel is fine, not hurt at all. He went inside."
"Oh," she said puzzled. "He didn't...interfere, did he?" she asked Duncan.
"No," Wesley interrupted. "He merely told that bastard what would happen if he took your head. It was the immortal's choice to run." Wesley dared the other immortals to contradict him.
"Wesley, is correct," answered Methos. The older immortal gently pulled Duncan away from the girl.
"Good," she said getting up. "Ewww." She looked at her bloody shirt. "Wesley, my vision... The sword, it is here in LA at the 9th Street Gallery. I have to tell Angel." She ran hurriedly to the hotel.
"Yes, of course, the sword." Wesley glanced at Gunn. "Gunn, you go with..."
Methos interrupted. "Duncan will go with Gunn to the gallery to get the sword. One of should go, just in case the other immortal is there. Wesley, you and I will research the other items that might have been stolen. Cordelia go clean up and rest...and, of course tell Angel."
She nodded and then turned back. "I should be dead, I wasn't good enough."
"Go, rest," Duncan said softly.
"Mac, stop it," Methos whispered. "Cordelia is meant to be with the vampire. Your obvious...concern," he understated,"...is causing some tension. I think I even saw the young kid scowl at your attention to the girl."
"But.."
"Mac, just cool it, okay."
Duncan nodded and motioned for Gunn to follow him. "Come on."