Chapter 16
Once again Cordelia was drifting down from the clouds. Her vision blurred in and out of focus. She felt so weak and lethargic. Cordelia tried to move her arm, but it was cemented to the bed.
Randall was standing by the window his hands resting around a brass cup. She tried to speak, but no sound would emerge.
Slowly, the man turned. “Awake?” Randall watched her struggle with words. “Can’t stay quiet can you?” Randall shook his head.
Cordelia tried to glare, but it took to much effort. She leaned back on the bed trying to ignore the feebleness of her limps and the pounding in her head. Cordelia hated to be helpless. She hated feeling that her life was at the whim of this man, hated that she could very well die for no other reason than this man’s obsession revenge on Angelus.
Angelus. Cordelia winced. When would that bastard get out of their lives? She definitely hated that she was going to be sacrificed as Angel’s true love, when she wasn’t even his love. Angel. Cordelia closed her eyes and tried to concentrate.
The image of the handsome vampire filled her mind. Well, she may not be his true love, but he was hers. And he did make her feel safe. Angel, her mind called out silently. Please help me. She wanted to be able to save herself, but she was so tired. Cordelia blocked out her fear, her pain and concentrated on the comfort that the thought of Angel gave her.
A slight smile formed on her pale face. She could feel him in the room with her. If she really concentrated she could see her dark vampire sitting in the old worn leather chair in Wesley’s office. It was so dark, but she could see him and sense his anger, frustration, fear and determination to save her.
Cordelia’s burgeoning peace of mind was shattered as she felt a sharp prick in her arm. A gasp escaped from her throat.
“Don’t move. It’s time for another message.” Randall watched as Cordelia’s blood filled the syringe.
***
Wesley gently nudged at Fred. The young woman was huddled over the computer her eyes barely opened. “Fred go upstairs and get some rest.”
“I have to…” Fred sat up her fingers reaching for the keyboard.
“You need to get some sleep, we all do.”
Fred blinked then nodded. “Only for a little while.” She yawned.
Gunn and Wesley remained silent as they watched the young woman ascend the stairs.
“I hate waiting.” Gunn yawned and grimaced at the same time.
Wesley just nodded.
“How’s the vamp?”
“Angel,” Wesley emphasized. “Is frustrated, angry and scared. Like all of us.”
“Yeah.” Gunn yawned again. “I guess I’ll go catch a couple of winks.” Gunn moved to follow Fred up the stairs to one of the other guest rooms in the hotel.
Wesley said nothing. Once Gunn disappeared from sight he went to Fred’s computer and continued to search for vacant properties in the Bel Air area.
***
Angel sat in the darkness of Wesley’s office. He had retreated into its solitude after an hour of beating on the punching bag in the basement had done nothing to relieve his tension. His fingers caressed at the dark strands of hair. Every so often he would bring the strands to his face, taking in the scent that still lingered.
They were getting nowhere. Wesley’s earlier theory of how Randall became immortal hadn’t helped. Fred’s computer search was coming up empty and he was stuck in the hotel doing nothing, but worrying.
Every minute that Cordelia was missing, the fear and rage just multiplied with in him. Something had to break soon or he would erupt. Angel tried to calm down. Going on a violent rampage wouldn’t accomplish anything, wouldn’t bring Cordelia back. Cordy.
How had this happened again? He was losing her again. Angel was truly frightened. He had been able to move on when he thought Buffy had died, because of Cordelia, because of the hope she gave him. But he wasn’t as confident about his ability to move on without Cordelia in his life.
If she died something would break within him. His hope, his humanity would be shattered. And without hope, he wouldn’t to be able to continue the fight. He might as well be dead or let Angelus win the ever-present struggle for control of his soul.
Where was she? Cordelia. Angel’s eyes shot open. He felt her; she was with him. He could sense her presence, her calling for him. Suddenly the sensation disappeared has quickly has it had come.
Angel jerked up as another awareness penetrated his conscious. Someone was outside the hotel.
Chapter 17
Wesley jumped up as Angel stormed past him.
“Angel.” Wesley quickly followed the vampire to the door.
Angel swung open the front door taking care to keep out of the rising sun’s rays. His hands swiftly grabbed at the startled delivery boy.
“Whoa, man. Watch the jacket.” It was a different young man than before, but like the other boy he had a parcel in his hands. This time it was a small package rather than an envelope.
Gunn and Fred came down the stairs as Angel snatched the brown box.
Gunn stalled. “This ain’t going to be good.” He shook his head and continued forward. Fred bit her lip and nudged at her glasses. “It’s not body parts? It can’t be. He wouldn’t cut Cordelia up. He wouldn’t would he? Oh god.” Her hand reached out for Gunn’s arm.
“Why don’t you stay here?” Gunn held her hand for a moment and then pushed her back up the stairs.
Fred shook her head and moved towards where Wesley and Angel were.
Angel stared at the plain wrapped package, moving it slowly in his hands.
“Angel?” Wesley could see the tension build in Angel’s body. Angel’s hesitation to open the package confused him. “Angel?”
“Blood. Cordelia’s.” Angel’s face and tone remained expressionless as he slowly unwrapped the box.
“Oh, Jesus.” Gunn pushed Fred behind him.
Wesley silently prayed as the brown paper fell to the floor.
Angel pulled out a clear plastic bag filled with dark red liquid. He held it up, turning it over and over again. He brought it up to his face, which now showed his vampire visage and ripped the bag with his fangs.
“What the hell is the vamp doing? He wouldn’t?” The contempt in Gunn’s voice was obvious.
Angel ignored Gunn, as he tasted the liquid. He spat out the blood as soon as he swirled it in his mouth. “Drugs. He’s drugged her.” Angel shoved the bag towards Wesley.
Wesley took the blood. “Drugs, then we can assume she isn’t dead. “
“Cordelia is not dead.” Angel remembered the feeling that had come over him in the office. She wasn’t dead; she was alive, hurt, tired and waiting for him. Angel knew it with every undead cell in his body. “She is alive.”
Wesley glanced up from the blood. Angel wasn’t questioning. He was confident in his assertion.
“Yes, it seems this is just another one of Randall’s sick messages to taunt you. I’ll get the blood analyzed. Maybe if we can identify the drugs, we…or rather Albert can trace any possible credit card purchases or acquisitions.”
“I can do it.”
“Good, Fred.” Wesley went to grab his jacket.
“Where are you going, English?”
“I have a source in the police lab.” Wesley headed out the door.
“Sources. We do seem to be collecting them. Cool.”
“Um, Gunn. How does Angel know it’s Cordelia’s blood? I mean sure I guess it’s a logical assumption. But how, I mean why couldn’t be someone else’s blood. I mean I see that maybe he could tell that it wasn’t animal, but to be able to tell it’s Cordelia’s. Even if he could distinguish the blood type and knew Cordelia’s blood type, how would he know that it was hers actually? Is it like a wine connoisseur, you know the guys that can tell which wine is which by the taste?” Fred’s eyes got big. “Angel’s tasted Cordelia’s blood?” Her were words were quiet.
“Stop.” The look of disgust was back on Gunn’s face. “I don’t want to think about that or want to know.” Gunn grumbled.
Angel ignored their hushed whispering and went back into Wesley’s office. Closing the door and encasing himself back into the darkness.
“I guess I’ll go back to checking the real estate sites.” Fred fidgeted as the office door slammed shut. “Until Wesley gets back.” Her fingers reached for the mouse on the desk.
“You want some food? I’ll go get some.” Gunn looked at the closed office and then at Fred.
“Breakfast Burritos?”
“Why not, we’ve only had them every day this week.” Gunn gave a small smile.
Chapter 18
Fred glanced up from the computer screen and looked nervously at the closed office door. She hadn’t seen Angel eat anything since Cordelia disappeared.
Fred bit her lips as she took out a container of blood from the refrigerator. Cordelia or Angel always did this. She knew they warmed it, but for how long and at what setting? She should have paid attention. Angel was a vampire; vampires liked human blood, so body temperature?
Fred set the microwave at med-high for 45 sec. She gently tested the temperature. Maybe a little longer? Fred wished she had a thermometer. Fred shrugged and pushed the buttons again. It seemed alright. Fred tentatively headed for the office with the warm blood.
***
Angel leaned deep in the chair. Wine connoisseur, blood connoisseur. He didn’t need to have tasted Cordelia’s blood to identify it. Cordelia’s blood was as unique as everything else about his seer. His fingers brought Cordy’s hair back to his face, breathing in the air. The soft fragrance was fading. Angel closed his eyes, swirling his tongue around his mouth, desperate to sense any form of his seer.
He pushed aside the trace of the foreign artificial components and concentrated on the sweet flavor of the blood he had sipped. No. Angel had never tasted Cordelia’s blood; the thought of doing so should have been abhorrent to the vampire. But now, it was another connection to his seer. He needed it. He needed her.
Angel looked up at the young brunette at the door.
“I…are you hungry? I wasn’t sure how long. But I think it’s okay. I tested it on my wrist. Like they do on TV. For babies. Not that you’re baby. But formula needs to be warm and that’s how they test it. I think. I never had a baby. But….”
“Go away, Fred.”
“But, Angel. You haven’t eaten, well except that little bit of Cordy’s blood and that couldn’t have been satisfying. I mean it was so little not that it tasted bad. Or did it taste bad, with the drugs and all. I mean…”
“Go away. I’m not hungry. Leave me alone. Please.” Angel tried to keep the growl in his chest.
“I…I’ll just leave it here.” Fred shakily put the mug on the edge of the desk. “For when you’re hungry.” She gave a nervous smile and backed out of the room.
Angel’s stare followed the placement of the mug. He glared then closed his eyes and returned to concentrating on the sensation of Cordelia’s essence left on his taste buds.
Chapter 19
Cordelia slowly opened her eyes and wiggled her toes. Good. She could feel them. Either her body was adjusting to whatever drug Randall had given her or he had lessened its tranquilizing effect. Or maybe her tolerance was just high because the damn pharmaceutical company she ingested after each vision. Whatever. Cordelia was just glad that she could feel her limbs. They ached but no longer felt like an hundred pound anvil was strapped to them. And better yet, her thoughts were almost coherent.
Cordelia concentrated on moving her body up the bed. Her arm was black blue with puncture wounds scattered along her veins. Cordelia grimaced. It looked like a damn pincushion. She needed to get out of here before Randall started pricking her some more.
Cordelia struggled swinging her legs over the side of the bed, her arms bracing up her body. She shook her head trying to clear the remaining cobwebs entangling her thoughts. She was so over being the helpless victim. At least the psycho the decency to let her keep her clothes. Though, where were her shoes? Damn’t she loved those boots.
Cordelia slowly rested her feet on the floor. She could do this. With one hand on still on the bed and the other tight around the brass bars of the headboard she pushed herself up. She tottered for a moment. With a tentative move, Cordelia released her hand. So far so good, she was still standing. Cordelia closed her eyes and took a deep breath trying to calm the lightheadedness and wooziness.
With greater determination than she knew she had, she opened her eyes and took a step. Then another. Pretty soon she’d be walking out the door. A slight giggle escaped her lips.
‘One foot in front of the other and soon you’ll be walking cross the floor. One step in front of another and soon you’ll be walking out the door. You never will get where you’re going, if you never get on your feet.…’. Cordelia shook her head trying to get the tune out of her head. She was still so drifty. The next thing, she’ll be humming ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’.
“And just where do you think, you’re going?” Randall watched the brunette’s struggled movements. There was a cross between amusement, annoyance, and a touch of admiration on his face. It was a shame. She was lovely. But his purpose was more important than the life of one woman. Especially, one that was coupled with Angelus.
Beautiful she may be, but innocent, not likely. Her allegiance to the vampire was a testament to that sad fact. Cordelia would die, when the time came. His Becca, a true innocent, would be avenged and finally he could rest.
Cordelia tensed at the sound of Randall’s voice. Not fair. She could have done it. Anger started to overwhelm her fear. The anger grew, solidifying into pure rage. “GO AWAY”
Her head hurt as the power of her voice vibrated through her skull. Cordelia gasped as a burst of energy left her body. Cordelia slumped to the ground unconscious never realizing that she hadn’t spoken out loud or that Randall was lying crumbled against the far hall wall.
Chapter 20
“How’s Angel?” Wesley leaned in close to Fred.
“I’m fine.”
Wesley blinked he hadn’t seen or heard the vampire enter the room.
“Yes. Good. Um, the lab discovered traces of Sedative-Hypnotics, primarily Librium, a liquid form of tranquilizer and hints of morphine. Both of which are not readily available, even with a prescription. There are special restrictions and forms, which must be filled out. If Randall got them in LA, we should be able to find out.” Wesley beckoned to the computer.
“If he got them legit.” Gunn leaned on a corner of the desk. “Drugs aren’t exactly a rare commodity on the streets.”
“But Librium…”
Gunn shrugged. “It don’t matter. Whatever you need, it’s on the streets.” Gunn gave a disgusted grunt.
“Wesley and Fred will stay and check the legitimate sources. You take me to the dealers.” Angel moved to get his coat.
“Wait.” Fred pushed up her glasses.
Angel turned impatiently.
“I found three possible places in Bel Air. I think.” Fred pointed to the real estate web site still on the computer. “I checked the listing available three weeks ago, before Randall’s arrival. I figured..” Fred gulped at Angel’s glare and hurried her speech. “Um, these two were bought and this one was rented.” She pointed eagerly at the screen.
“Fred, start checking for any purchases of the drugs. Gunn and Wesley, the streets. I’ll go to Bel Air.”
“Angel, you shouldn’t go alone.”
Angel ignored Wesley as he gathered his weapons. “Angel.”
“Wes, call if you find anything. That goes for you to, Fred.” Angel strode out of the hotel.