Part 4
The Past…
The Scooby Gang filed into Cordelia Chase’s house.
“I need to lie down,” Cordelia said in a tired, worn voice. She pressed her hand against the bandage on her neck. “If anybody wants anything…” And she waved vaguely around the house.
“I’ll help you to your room, Cor,” Xander offered. “Just lean against my manly arm for support.”
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Manly?” she said, doubt clear in her voice. But she took the offered arm.
As they headed up the stairs, a goofy grin spread across Xander’s face. “I don’t believe it. I finally get to see your bedroom!”
“Take advantage,” his girlfriend said. “Because this is the only time that’s *ever* going to happen.”
As the two disappeared from sight, Buffy closed the front door.
“Nice place,” the Slayer said. Which was a definite understatement. The house dripped money and class from every pore.
“I’ve been here before.” Willow’s grin was smug. “At Cordy’s twelfth birthday party.”
“*Cor-delia,*” Buffy said with disbelief, “invited you to her birthday party?”
“Well, not actually,” Willow admitted. “Her mother did. I don’t think Mrs. Chase is all that up on who her daughter’s friends are. She must have heard Cordelia mention my name, and decided we were best buds.”
“Oh,” Buffy nodded. That made more sense.
Willow sighed wistfully. “That was the best birthday cake I ever tasted.”
Setting their bags down in the foyer, the two girls removed the supplies they’d need for the un-invite spell.
As she worked, Buffy’s mind was raced. With the same thoughts she’d been thinking pretty much all day long.
If what Cordelia said was true, Angel was going to get his soul back. He‘d get his soul back and stop hating her. And hurting her. And hurting her friends.
It helped to ease her guilt. A little. Because ever since he’d lost his soul—ever since she’d had the chance to kill him but couldn’t take it—she’d felt guilty. Guilty for all the things he’d done, the people he’d killed. Guilty for wanting *her* Angel back, in spite of everything.
Of course, nothing could make up for all of those lives. For all of the pain. But, if there really was an end to this nightmare, maybe she could stop blaming herself.
And she just wouldn’t think about the other stuff Cordelia had…
“Do you really think Angel will come after Cordelia again?” Willow asked, almost as if she’d read Buffy’s mind. “I mean, he’s tried to kill me and Xander before. And, when he failed, he just moved on to something else.”
“I know,” Buffy said. “So, probably not.”
Unless this was different. Those times Angel had tried to kill Willow and Xander, it hadn’t really been *about* them. It was about getting at Buffy. While she didn’t think he’d been happy when Willow and Xander got away, Buffy could imagine him shrugging off those failures, and trying to think of some new way to make her life miserable.
But Cordelia was a seer…like Drusilla. Which he now knew. And if he became obsessed with Cordelia…
“I think we’re ready,” Willow said as she stood up.
Snapping out of her reverie, Buffy sighed. “Let’s get started.”
“Hey,” Xander said as he loped down the stairs. “Is there any nudity involved in this ritual? Because I read all the books, and sometimes, for this stuff to work, the participants must be of the natural.”
“No, Xander.” Willow blushed to the roots of her red hair. “We keep our clothes *on* for this one.”
“Bummer.” After a moment of disappointed silence, he moved on. “I’m staying here with Cordy until her pops gets home. Anybody want to join me. Strength in numbers and all that.”
“I would, but I can’t,” Buffy said. “I promised Mom I’d help at this new opening at the gallery.”
“And my parents want to spend some quality time with me,” Willow said. “It happens every time my mother reads a study on parental involvement or troubled teens. Well, if the studies written by someone she really respects.” She opened her trusty book of spells. “I’m glad Giles could wolf-sit with Oz tonight.”
“So, that’s it, then.” Xander cast a long, wary look around. “Just me and Cordelia. All alone. In this big old house.”
“Don’t worry, Xander,” Buffy said. “Once we do this spell, you’re set.”
“Well, good. I mean, if Angel kills me, it would prove I was right all along when I said we shouldn’t trust that blood-sucking fiend. But I don’t think I’ll have as much fun gloating if I’m dead.”
((Hello, the guilt,)) Buffy sighed.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Willow slap Xander upside the head.
Which made her feel a little better.
***
The sun set right on time.
Sitting in the Chase’s massive living room, a comic book open and unread on his lap, Xander’s knee nervously bounced up and down.
He knew he was safe. Well, as safe as anyone could get in Sunnydale. It wasn’t like there was anyone in the Chase residence would beg the vamp to come in for cocktails.
But that didn’t do much to ease Xander’s anxiety. Because Angel had already gotten in once. And, who knew? There might be some kind of loop-hole…
Heart pounding, Xander shot out of his seat. Suddenly, he wasn’t all that thrilled with being alone.
“I’ll go check on Cordy,” he said. “Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. Check on my sweetie.” And he ran up the stairs.
In her bedroom, Cordelia slept peacefully.
The bandage on her neck was like a beacon. It drew Xander’s eyes to it. Renewed his anger. And filled him with fear.
Kneeling down next to her, Xander took a deep breath. It had been close. Way too close. And even Giles couldn’t say why Cordelia was still alive. Probably another one of Angel’s sick games.
“So, the only reason my girlfriend isn’t dead is because of some bloodsucker’s whim,” he muttered. “*That* is a mind easer.”
A part of Xander wished he had been there. That he’d been able to protect her somehow.
But another voice scoffed at the idea.
((What were you going to do? Give his fists a good beating with your face? Let him break your neck, and hope the remorse killed him? Yeah. Right.))
When the ‘phone rang, he almost jumped out of his skin.
Taking a deep breath, Xander answered Cordelia’s cell.
“Yell-o?”
“Xander?” Giles said. “Good. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to reach you at this number.”
“Hey, G-Man,” the teen said, happy to hear another voice. “What’s up?”
“I’m doing some research into Cordelia’s visions. Unfortunately, some of the texts I need are at my apartment.” In the background, there was a loud, bone-chilling howl. “And I can’t leave Oz in the library alone.”
Xander frowned. “You want me to take wolf-sitting duty?”
“If you wouldn’t mind. It won’t be for long.”
“Take my car,” said a faint, groggy voice.
Startled, Xander looked down at Cordelia. While her eyes were still closed, she was obviously awake.
“Take my car,” she repeated. “It’s not safe to walk.”
“Xander?” Giles said. “Are you still there?”
“Yeah. Just a sec.” He held the ‘phone away from his ear, and asked Cordelia, “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Just tell him to hurry.” And she quickly drifted back to sleep.
After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded. “I’ll be right there, Giles,” he said, and he hung up the ‘phone.
***
Angelus could almost feel the power of the un-invite spell. Pushing against him. Pushing him away.
With an angry snarl, he paced in front of Cordelia Chase’s house. One way. Then the other. Like a wild animal, trying to find a way out of a cage.
Or, in this case, find a way into one.
He could almost feel her inside. Locked away from him. Cordelia.
His imagination replayed the moment when he fed from her. Over and over again.
His fangs plunged into her warm, tender flesh.
Rich, sweet blood bathed his tongue. Flowed down his throat.
His brain seethed with need. His body throbbed with a hunger for more.
Pausing, Angelus closed his eyes, squeezed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.
He almost wished he’d never tasted her. Because, now, he couldn’t get it out of his mind. It filled him with a craving that seemed to grow with every moment. Every second. His desire for another taste—just one more taste—was starting to consume him. To take control.
And Angelus hated being out of control.
He didn’t understand it. How one girl, who had meant nothing to him a few days ago, was suddenly all he could think about.
At first, he’d thought it was because she was a seer. After all, he’d become obsessed with a seer before.
But his preoccupation with Drusilla had been nothing like this. What he’d done to Dru over a century ago hadn’t really been *about* Dru. It was about the game. Finding new ways to torment her. To break her. To make that gifted mind of hers snap.
This was different. Yes, he wanted to hurt Cordelia. To break her with his own hands. But, more importantly, he wanted to taste her again. To crush her body beneath his, and…
Suddenly, the front door opened.
Instinctively, Angelus melted into the surrounding shadows.
Xander Harris exited the house and closed the door behind him. Whistling tunelessly, he started down the walkway.
Angelus watched Cordelia’s boyfriend with narrowed eyes. Images of the two of them together filled his mind.
Holding hands.
Tucked away in some dark corner at the Bronze, stealing kisses.
His arm thrown across her shoulders, as if she belonged to him.
A low growl rumbled deep in the vampire’s chest.
Xander froze in his tracks. His eyes darted nervously around the moonlit lawn.
The growl had been low, Angelus knew. Much too low for the teen to have heard. But every human had a primal instinct that told them when they were in danger.
And Xander Harris was in danger now.
Angelus considered killing him. Hearing the Xander Harris’s bones crack might ease the frustration that clawed at his skin from the inside.
But no, the vampire decided. It would be more fun if he and Cordelia killed the boy together.
Shrugging, as if to shake off his fear, Xander hurried to the circular driveway. Hopping into Cordelia’s sporty red car, he sped away.
And was quickly forgotten.
Angelus glared at the house. For now, the girl was beyond his reach. But she wouldn’t be for long. Eventually, she and her friends would let their guard down. And he’d be there to take her.
Until then…
He might as well grab something to eat.
***
Cordy made it to the top of the stairs just in time to see Angel kick open a door at the end of the hall.
And a strange light poured out of the room, flooded the hallway. Like wafts of illuminated smoke, floating on silver beams.
Cordelia was mesmerized by it. Unable to move, or even feel afraid. Just watch as the light rushed toward her. Fast…but in some kind of weird slow motion.
Then, she saw Angel fall.
“Angel,” Cordelia gasped, waking with a start.
Her heart thundered as she glanced around the room, unsure of where she was at first.
“My bedroom,” she breathed. “I’m at home.”
Alone, she realized. She’d sent Xander away. At the time, she was too groggy to really be afraid.
But, now, a flood of memories rushed over her. Of everything that had happened to her the night before. In this room. On this bed.
Filled with a sudden desire to get as far away from it as possible, she started to stand.
And that’s when the pain slammed into her. Snatched her out of her room. Transported her to another place.
She saw a girl with long, dark hair. Wide, brown eyes. Wearing a knock-off of one of Cordelia’s favorite designers.
A stranger approached the girl. He was tall, and dark, and gorgeous. And had the most wicked smile she’d ever seen.
The girl’s heart started to pound with anticipation.
The vision released her, dropping Cordelia back in her bedroom.
“No,” she whispered, as she realized what she had seen.
Angelus. And his next victim.
The next vision hit with more force than the first, knocking her off of the bed.
The girl was terrified now. She hurt in more ways than she’d ever thought it was possible to hurt. Just when she thought there was nothing else he could do to her, he added another layer of pain. Of violation.
Nothing satisfied him. For brief moments, he was able to pretend the girl was someone else. But those moments were fleeting. He would remember that this girl wasn’t the one he wanted. And he would hurt her even more cruelly, more viciously, than he had before.
Abruptly, the vision ended. Cordelia lay trembling on the floor. Her stomach churned from what she’d seen. What she’d felt.
“No,” she gasped, her head pounding. “Oh, no.”
***
Angelus stood in the shadows. His eyes scoured the Bronze. Moved restlessly from one vibrant, youthful body to another. The smells of blood and musk pulled at his hunger.
Arms stiff at his sides, he clenched and unclenched his hands. All he wanted was something to eat. Something to kill. And, on any other night, anyone would have done. But tonight…
He spotted the perky little blond from a few nights ago. The one with the inviting smile. Who’d offered herself to him like a lamb offering itself to a wolf.
On any other night, she would have been an amusing diversion. Tonight, she didn’t ignite even a spark of interest.
No-one did. Until he saw her.
Their was a resemblance. Or, at least, the shadow of one. True, her long, dark hair didn’t have the same shine. Her tall, lithe body didn’t have the same sinful curves. Her eyes didn’t have the same spark. Her smile didn’t have the same electricity. But…
“She’ll do,” he decided. And started to walk towards her.
He’d barely taken a step when something touched his senses. Something tantalizing. And familiar.
Angelus’s head reared back. He sniffed at the air. Like a predator on the scent of prey.
As he realized who the scent belonged to, the demon briefly flickered across his face. Growling deep in his chest, causing several of the people close to him to pull away, he turned.
That was no pale imitation standing at the entrance to the Bronze.
It was Cordelia Chase.