Part 3
9:26 AM
Angel gazed thoughtfully at the glowing tip of his cigarette. Life, or unlife, whatever the case may be, was a funny thing. As Angel stood in the sewers beneath Excelsior Avenue, he couldn’t help but muse over the fact he was preparing to do what he was about to do. He was going to get vengeance for the death of a woman he had barely knew for five hours.
But here he was, smoking a cigarette and waiting for Adele to arrive with the goods they would need. It was probably the damndest thing he’d ever done. At least in the past century anyway. He had never went out of his way to help someone before, at least, never before when Buffy wasn’t involved. Angel had never been the hero before. He was off to a bad start, but he could make sure that Jameson was stopped. That wouldn’t correct Julie’s death, but it was a start.
The cigarette dropped from Angel’s hands and hissed slightly when the flame touched water. He glanced briefly at his watch and cursed. Just as he was wondering where Adele was, the manhole cover behind him was lifted. He made sure to avoid the sunlight as Adele dropped down.
“Do you take all the girls you know down into the sewers?”
“I don’t know that many girls. Do you have them?”
“Yes.” From the backpack she was wearing, Adele pulled out two sets of blueprints. She unrolled them both and began to explain. “This first set is the mansion itself. Seeing how it’s daylight, we need to find a way in underneath.” She handed Angel the building schematics and moved to the other set. “These are the tunnels beneath the mansion. You see these access tunnels here?” Angel did. “These go right by the basement. Since Jameson has vampire minions, I’d say this is how they’d move about.”
Angel nodded. That seemed like the best place. But as he gazed at the building schematics, he felt a twinge of depression. “There are a lot of rooms here. It’d take a long while to search them all for Jameson.”
Adele looked and pointed to a room on the second floor. “This should be his office. It’s big and spacious. One main access point plus two secondary entrances. Several Internet jacks and phone lines. It’s the perfect spot for an office.”
Again, it would appear as if Adele was right. He pretended to stare thoughtfully at the blueprints. Adele noticed that it was merely an act.
“Donovan should be fine,” Adele murmured. Angel stayed silent. “I took him to the police. They brought Child Social Services in. I think they’ll try to find him a foster family for the time being. And it also looks like you’ll need a place to stay. The police sent several units to the mansion.”
“I never liked that place,” Angel joked badly. “Had a shitty view.”
“Angel…”
“I know, Adele. I can’t joke this away. But I can’t be bothered with it right now. There’s work to do.”
Adele rested a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. “I agree. But we will talk later.” Her tone left no room for argument. So Angel merely nodded. He then reached down and hefted up a rolled up brown blanket. He extracted the long sword and handed it to Adele. Angel took the battleaxe and gave it a quick twirl.
“How come yours is bigger than mine?” Angel raised an eyebrow. Adele rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe I asked that. Now shut up and follow me. The access tunnel should be just ahead. And didn’t I say shut up?”
“Did I say anything?” Angel smirked as he followed Adele fifty feet deeper into the tunnels.
“No, but you were thinking it. And I really don’t…what’s wrong?”
Angel stopped dead in his tracks when they reached the grating covering the access tunnel. He sniffed deeply a couple times and glanced about with a perplexed look. “Do you smell that?” he asked.
Adele sniffed the air and detected a light citrus odor. “Is that oranges?” Angel agreed that it was. “It smells like hand cream or something.”
“Why does it seem familiar to me?”
“An old conquest?”
It was Angel’s turn to roll his eyes. “I’m leaning towards no.” He then pointed to the tunnel grating. “Ladies first.”
“Whoever said chivalry is dead was sorely mistaken. Why has no woman swept you off your feet yet?” Adele removed the grating and tossed it aside.
“I tend to play hard to get.”
“It’s men like you that make me glad to be a lesbo.”
“Five minutes alone with me and I’ll straighten you out.”
“Wow. You’re a sweet talker, too. My knees are getting weak.”
The banter continued long after the pair made their descent into the tunnel.
9:32 AM
After living on the Hellmouth for a certain length of time, it started taking more and more bizarre stuff to freak out Cordelia Chase. A girl could grow a tolerance to the freaky-deaky that went on. After seeing vampires, reptile boys, and worm men, Cordelia prided herself on not being rattled as easily as she had been only a couple years earlier. But as she snuck a glance at Mr. Jacob, a cold chill went down her body.
He was sniffing her.
In Jameson’s absence, Mr. Jacob sat behind the oaken office desk and swayed back and forth in the swivel chair. Cordelia did all she could to avoid his gaze, but the guy was just freaking her out.
“I like oranges.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your hand cream. It smells of oranges. I like oranges.”
If Hollywood ever did a movie about a young Hannibal Lecter, this guy had the role down pat. “Thanks. I bought it at this nice little boutique in the mall. You can buy a jar to give to your girlfriend. Oh wait, since you are a freak and don’t have a girlfriend, you can buy a jar just so you can sniff it yourself, you big fat weirdo.”
Mr. Jacob paid little attention to her. He was obviously lost in his own little world. “Orange hand cream should provide an interesting flavor when Mr. Jameson eats you.”
“Uh huh. That’s lovely. Have I mentioned that you suck?”
Mr. Jacob seemed to refocus on her. “I’m sorry. You were saying? I lost focus because I haven’t eaten today.” He licked his lips. “Has anyone ever told you that you possess a marvelous forehead?”
“You don’t get many dates, do you?”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. I ramble when taken hostage. Sorry. You go back to your twisted fantasies.”
“You’ve got a smart mouth on you, girl.”
“At least you’re not focusing on my forehead anymore.”
Before Jacob could retort, a piercing wail echoed through the mansion. It was obvious that sound was the alarm system. If that were so, then there must be an intruder. And Cordelia had a good idea who it might be.
“If it isn’t too much trouble, can you send Angel by after he kicks everyone’s ass? I’d like an escort outta here.”
“I’m about five seconds from beating your…”
The door to Jameson’s private bathroom opened up. The head honcho stumbled from the room, toilet paper attached to his left shoe and a Victoria’s Secret catalogue under his right arm. Cordelia thought that perhaps he was occupied when the alarm went off.
“What the hell is that?” Jameson bellowed.
“Perimeter alarm. The mansion has been breeched.” Jacob reached to his belt and found a walkie-talkie. “Ronald,” he spoke into it. “What’s the problem?”
“Intruders in the basement. The tripwire over the vampire access tunnel was triggered.”
“Fine. Send all available personnel down to the basement. Seal off all avenues of retreat.”
“Do we take the intruder alive sir?”
Jacob glanced at Jameson. He shook his head no. “Negative. Intruder is to be terminated. I’ll be down to assist.” Jacob flipped off the walkie-talkie. “You should stay here, sir. I’ll leave a security detachment with you.”
Cordelia stood up from the chair and motioned to the door. “Maybe I should help out. I think I’ll go make sure the front door is locked. You never know, the intruders may try the direct approach.” Jameson put a hand on her shoulder and forced her back down. “Ew. You did wash that hand, didn’t you?”
“Shut up,” Jameson ordered. To Jacob he said, “Go. If it’s Angel, he’ll be difficult. Use whatever means necessary.”
“Of course, sir.” Jacob snapped off a bow and rushed from the office. Cordelia noticed several others scurrying about in the hallway. They were really taking this seriously.
“So. Jameson. Sure you don’t want me to check the locks?”
9:38 AM
“I once read in a book that vampires were supposed to be stealthy bastards. What the hell happened to you?”
Angel grabbed the handle of his battleaxe and then pushed up to his feet. He brushed some of the dust off his duster and glanced back at the tunnel they just exited. The reason the alarm above the opening was blaring was because he stepped on the tripwire-and that was after Adele warned him it was there.
“I’m not going to hear the end of this anytime soon, am I?”
“No, and you’re avoiding the question. What happened to the stealth, grr-boy?”
“I traded it in for a sense of humor.”
“Wow. You got the short end of that deal.” Adele sighed and pulled the sword from out under her jacket. “Okay, Vampy. Now that covert has gone to shit, any suggestions on how to approach this?”
“I’m leaning towards killing anything that comes into the room.” They both heard the sounds of footsteps barreling down the basement steps.
“Would it help if we created a distraction?”
“Maybe. Why? You weren’t planning on flashing your breasts, were you?”
Pause. “No.”
“Uh huh.”
The easy banter was interrupted when a group of vampires walked down the concrete stairs in the corner. There were eight total and all looked big and pissed. They fanned out and advanced forward. Angel and Adele backpedaled slightly, both calculating which vamp would be the first to attack. With a silent look between them, Angel and Adele each knew how to respond to an assault.
One of the middle vamps jumped first. Angel answered by quickly stepping up and kicking him hard in the gut. When the vampire bent over and gasped for breath, Angel leapt up and disappeared into the rafters. Adele stepped forward and cleaved the head off the hurt vamp. As the rest rushed forward, she executed a handspring into a cartwheel before using a wooden crate as a launching pad to leap into the rafters.
The seven remaining vampires craned their necks up and peered up into the darkened rafters above. They were confused and nervous. Being fledglings, the vampires were unsure how to approach this new situation.
At the top of the stairs, Angel dropped down silently. He smiled as he watched the vampires, their backs turned to him, stare up at the ceiling waiting for them to drop down. It seems it didn’t occur to them that he and Adele would use the rafters to just move behind them. Angel reached up and helped Adele down. They watched the vampires for a moment. Shrugging at the stupidity, they turned and walked up the rest of the stairs.
The top of the basement stairwell appeared to open up into a hallway. Angel paused long enough to lock the door behind him before following Adele as she turned left. The vampire frowned as he began to recall the schematics he saw only minutes earlier.
“We’re heading towards the main hall.”
“Yup.”
“You don’t want to find another way up to the office? Perhaps a way that doesn’t involve going through a section of the house that for certain will have security in it?”
“Wouldn’t have that problem if somebody didn’t set off the alarms.”
“I’m never going to live that down.”
“Nope. And you have a long time to live, too.”
The corridor opened up into a large lobby. This was the main entrance to the mansion. The front doors were straight ahead. Set on each end of the hall was curved staircases leading up to the second floor. Hanging from the ceiling were a pair of massive glass chandeliers. Angel took a moment to appreciate them.
“Sort of a 19th century Russian design. I’ve always loved their architecture and sense of style.”
“Uh huh. Angel, focus. We’re here to kill bad people.”
Angel shrugged. “I’m just saying.” He lifted his axe to his shoulder and took the lead. Adele followed him up the left staircase. They only got halfway up before Angel stopped in his tracks. Adele bumped into his back at the sudden halt.
“What gives?” She peered around Angel’s body and glared at what she saw. It was Jacob. “It’s you. I got a bone to pick with you, asshole.” Adele slipped by Angel and escaped the arm that tried to hold her back. “I’m gonna enjoy cutting off both your heads.”
“Um, Adele?”
“I’m going to cut the little one off and shove it so far up your…”
“Adele.”
“…that the term ‘Deep Throating’ will be redefined.”
“Adele!”
Adele finally snapped around to see what Angel wanted. When she did, Adele noticed the five vampires at the base of the stairs.
“Take care of them. I’m busy.” Adele turned back to Jacob and resumed her tirade. Angel looked surprised for a moment before nodding and doing as he was told.
9:41 AM
Oz smiled slightly as he watched Willow fold and refold her three hundred dollars. As Buffy kept ranting about how wrong Angel was acting, his girl was babbling about what to buy with her new cash. He vaguely remembered mention of a fuzzy sweater, eye of newt, and a puppy. Oz was kinda distracted though. Willow was just so darn cute when she rambled.
“What kind of puppy should I get?” Willow mused. “I’ve always thought beagles were so cute. But what would I name it?”
“Snoopy?” Oz offered.
Willow grinned in that adorable way of hers. “Snoopy. I love it! You’re so smart!” Willow latched onto Oz’s arm and rested her head on his shoulder. He gently stroked her hair as they watched Buffy continue her rant.
“Something is wrong with Angel, Giles. He’s never acted this bizarre before.”
“And this is coming from a guy who redefined bizarre.”
“Xander, you are not helping. Giles!”
Giles took off his glasses and rubbed them clean on his shirt. Leaning back in his chair at the table, Giles looked up at Buffy in sympathy. “I’m not sure what it is you wish me to do, Buffy. I’ll readily admit that Angel’s behavior was uncharacteristic, but I do not see how that concerns us. He is his own man, so to speak.”
“Giles!”
Rupert Giles knew that tone. It was the tone Buffy used when she was about to take matters into her own hands. Giles gripped the arm of the chair tighter to brace himself. Buffy narrowed her eyes. Her nostrils did that little thing. Oh yeah. Here it comes.
“Willow!”
Willow snapped her head up from Oz’s shoulder and sat at attention. “Uh yeah?”
“What was that address that you gave Angel?”
Little beads of sweat broke out on Willow’s forehead. Her stomach lurched. “Uh, it isn’t policy to divulge information such as that to anyone besides the paying client. The ethics behind….”
“Willow!”
“223 Excelsior Avenue.” Willow would never be able to work for the CIA. The whole keeping secrets thing was just too damn hard.
It didn’t take Buffy long to put a few stakes, a crossbow, and a short sword into a duffle bag. She looked expectedly at the rest of the gang. In moments, everyone was on their feet and shuffling after Buffy. It seemed they were off to see what everyone’s favorite vampire was up to.
9:46 AM
A vampire exploded into a cloud of dust as Angel jammed a table leg into its chest. That made seven that had gone poof in as many minutes. Angel had managed to kill four of the original group when another five vamps showed up as reinforcements. Two more of the vampires charged valiantly. Angel kicked up the fallen battleaxe, and performing an expert pirouette, decapitated them both. There was eight and nine.
He glared at the remaining vampire, a woman. Angel realized she was fairly attractive when she was human. The yellow eyes and bumpy forehead was doing nothing for him now.
“Come on. What say you just run?”
The vampire considered it for a moment. Angel groaned when she made up her mind. When the vampire charged, Angel swung the axe up and imbedded it into her chest. With a quick twirl, Angel rammed the handle through the vampire’s heart. A cloud of dust marked the demise of the final vampire.
Bent over, hands on his knees, Angel surveyed all the little piles of dust on the floor. He wasn’t anywhere near full strength. This kind of activity was wearing down on him fast.
“Ack. Angel!”
Angel turned to find Adele in a heap of trouble. She was laying flat on the stairs with Jacob atop of her. Jacob had his hands wrapped around her neck and was slowly squeezing the life from her.
“Did you ack?”
Adele managed to shoot him the finger. Angel decided to take pity. “Hey boy!” Jacob released his grip on Adele and twirled around to glare at him. Angel went wide-eyed at Jacob’s demon visage. His face was dark green and his eyes were blood red. A double set of twisted fangs snapped at him.
“Damn,” Angel drawled. “You don’t get many dates, do you?”
Jacob launched himself into the air and dropped back down five feet in front of Angel. “Have I mentioned how much I hate vampires?”
“Have I mentioned how much I don’t care?”
Jacob attack ferociously, but Angel deftly avoided the attack. In a swift and brutal move, Angel twirled about and brought the axe blade down. Jacob’s head rolled a good twenty feet until it hit the front door.
“Was that so difficult?” Angel helped Adele up and received a scornful look. The girl shifted back to her human visage.
“Yeah, you can say that stuff when you’re all grr and superhero-ey. For all us mortals, things like fighting for survival don’t come as easy.”
“Do you women do anything besides bitch and moan?”
“Buddy, you better watch it. After we kill Jameson, you and me will have a talk.”
Angel led the way up the rest of the stairs. If memory served him correctly, the first door on the right would be Jameson’s office. Angel hefted the axe up to his shoulder. He would enjoy slicing his head off.