Chapter Eleven
Cordelia was really beginning to have a crisis of faith. She was sure that Angel would have come by now. It had been five days. Maybe time ran differently here. She just didn’t know. Cordelia looked in disgust at the tray she was holding.
Once more into the deep, trenches, what was that saying? Damn. Oh well how about once more into the swarming mass of grabbing, smelly men.
Cordelia took a deep breath a ventured out into the Inn’s taproom. She guessed, she should be grateful. Gerty had given her a job and after repeated refusals on Cordelia’s part, Gerty gave her a place to stay other than the upstairs. And relatively speaking the room even with the rats and bed lice was a palace compared to some of the lodging houses she had seen.
The living conditions in the East End were abhorrent; she didn’t know how England made it to the 20th century. By all rights, the population should have died out from poverty, disease, and despair. If Cordelia had to stick around this hellhole any longer, she just might have to start the suffrage, employment reform, and anti-pollution movements a little earlier than history dictated. The only good thing was, she hadn’t seen or felt via visions any sign of demon activity.
The demon’s probably thought this place was too disgusting to venture forth. But, for the life of her, Cordelia couldn’t figure out why Wolfram & Hart sent her here. Was it just randomly sadistic or did they have a plan. Maybe they didn’t think she was Angel’s soul mate, maybe they just wanted her out of the way because they knew that there was no way that Cordelia would allow Angel to lose his soul.
Which was true. But, some how, she really didn’t think that Wolfram & Hart were in fear of her abilities. Everyone either misjudged or underestimated Cordelia.
Except Angel. That’s why she liked him so much; he gave her credit and valued her. A very heady feeling. It’s a shame that he was a dead guy that was in love with some one else. Otherwise…Stupid thoughts, she didn’t have time to wallow in what ifs and maybes. Facts were facts, Angel loved Buffy, and Cordelia was stuck in the dirty, smelly past. Right now, she would be tempted to sell her soul for a bar of soap and a can of Lysol.
Her rambling thoughts were interrupted by a sound of laugher and the shiver it brought to her spine. She glanced around. Angel, thank god, she dropped her tray and started to pick up her skirts to run to him. Cordelia instantly noted in a frown that he had managed to get better 19th century garb than she did, he looked pretty good in it, too, damn good, but nothing beat his black duster. She couldn’t wait to get home.
Cordelia’s increased pace slowed as she heard another voice.
“Let’s get out of this hell hole, there is a fashionably party uptown with many a tasty bits.”
Cordelia stopped and stared. Spike, why would Angel bring Spike to save her. Sure, maybe Spike was one of the good guys in a chip sort of mandatory way, but why? She took a step closer, ignoring the angry shouts of the men her tray landed on.
Her eyes widened, her feet stalled as the commotion behind her got louder. Darla, Drusilla. She watched as the two vampire’s glided up to Angel and Spike.
“Spikey’s right, come on daddy, this is so boring. Let’s go to a party.”
“Yes, Angelus,” Darla laughed. “Can’t take the tap room out of you can I, my boy? Really, Whitechapel?”
Oh shit, Cordelia stumbled back ramming into the men that had gotten up behind her.
“What’s wrong with you wench. This was my new suit.”
“Let me go,” she cried. Cordelia had to get out of there. Her vision blinked in and out of focus as a familiar pain started to build up in her skull. God no, please, she cried as the images over took her.
Cordelia fell, one hand grabbing her head, the other grabbing at a wooden chair to steady her fall. The tears started to form, as the chair broke, causing her to crash to the floor.
“The wench is possessed.”
“Get out of the dark ages, she is having one of those fits that I read about. Glad I didn’t bed her.”
The voices swarmed around her head as the visions flashed through.
“Cordy, me darlin’, Cordy.”
Cordelia let the big hands draw her up. She blinked. “Pa.”
“Come on child, I’ll take care of ye. Back away you fools, let the girl breathe.”
“I’m okay,” Cordelia stood, turning to give a grateful smile to Pa, her hand still holding on to the broken back of the chair. Her gaze froze as she stared straight into Drusilla. The vampiress had pushed her way through the circle that had formed around Cordelia.
“What did the little birds, say?’” the willowy vampire urged to Cordelia. “Daddy, the birds talk to the pretty one.”
Cordelia lost it. She hated Dru just as much as she hated Darla. Both of the undead bitches had caused Angel nothing but pain and major broodiness, and not to mention risked his redemption. That and the stress and frustration of the last five days, the pain and horror of the vision, did it. Cordelia couldn’t help it. She lost it.
“Get away from me you crazy dead bitch.” Cordelia slammed the wooden back of the chair against the hard surface of the table, splintering the wood; making two very good make shift spikes. She thrust it towards Drusilla.
“Dru, pet, it’s time to leave.” Spike moved into the crowd, beckoning his mate away from the jagged pieces of wood.
“Not real smart threatening my princess.”
“Fuck you, Willy.” Cordelia retorted keeping the stakes steady.
Spike let out a low growl.
“Scary, how about I shout vampire and stake your ass.” Cordelia whispered.
“Cordy?”
“Stay away, Pa. These people were just leaving weren’t you?”
“Yes, we were. Thank you for making this a memorable evening,” Angelus eyes’ locked on to Cordelia’s. “Very memorable.”
Cordelia fought down the shiver that ran through her being as she held the demon’s gaze. “Goodnight then,” she glared.
“I’m sure we’ll meet again.”
“Leave or I’m doing the Van Helsing bit.”
Angelus shrugged in ignorance then grinned and motioned to Darla, Spike, and Dru.
Cordelia stood completely still as the vampires left.
“Cordy?”
“Pa, can you please use your charm with Gerty and make sure I still have a job. Tell her to take the broken stuff out of my salary, for what that’s worth.”
“But,”
“I get these headaches, it won’t affect my work, please.” She flashed a smile and blinked.
Pa started to turn pink and nodded.
“Thank you,” she beamed.
Pa knew that the girl was a bit strange, but that smile.
Cordelia gave quick little smiles to the other customers that were staring. “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt anything, Show’s over go back to whatever,” she said as she ran to the door of the inn. Cordelia concentrated and recited the words that she had memorized as soon as she realized that vampires existed.
The inn was safe, for now at least.
Cordelia tucked the wooden stake in her skirt and ran to pick up another. She didn’t know how it could help with what she had to do. But maybe it could keep her alive until she got there. Then she slipped out the door. Cordelia glanced around. Shit, she couldn’t tell if the ‘Scourge of Europe’ actually left the area or not, but that wasn’t her concern right now. She had to get to the alley.
Damn, everything happens at once. Cordelia darted along the street taking care to notice every shadow or noise. Finally, she crept into the alley, just in time to see the man in the dark flowing cloak raise his knife towards the woman’s throat. Cordelia moved quickly picking up a large discarded lead pipe and swung with all her might. She released her breath as the man fall stunned to the ground.
The woman stared wide-eyed, her terror apparent in her posture. Cordelia recognized her; she was one of the local prostitutes that frequented the Inn.
“The devil, Ripper…”
“Go, run.” Cordelia urged. The woman blinked and nodded, then took off.
Cordelia stared at the fallen man. She knelt down, her fingers reaching for his chest. Damn, he was human. She never killed a human before, never wanted to, well okay, maybe a couple, but that had been just talk. But Jack the Ripper, she couldn’t let him just wake up and go. She just couldn’t, he may not be a demon, but he was pure evil.
There was always the police. But, this wasn’t the 21st century with its forensic evidence and the only witnesses were a whore and her, who was a bar wench not that much higher on the credibility scale. No, she couldn’t risk it. Cordelia stood to raise the pipe again, praying for her soul.
“The sight and the bloodlust, an intriguing combination.”
Shit. Cordelia dropped the lead pipe and grasped the wooden stakes as she turned to face Angelus. She looked around for the rest of the fanged four. “Where’s the entourage. I heard you always liked an audience.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Don’t be.” Cordelia couldn’t afford to take her eyes off Angelus, but she had to know where the others of the evil foursome were located. She slowly backed up until she was up against the wall. Well, she was good and royally fucked if they were above.
“But, it’s just you and me.”
“Yeah, right, like that Blonde bitch would let you out of her sight, get a life,” Cordelia couldn’t help it, she started to laugh. “Get a life, get it.” Cordelia got a hold of herself. “Come out, Come out where ever you are you blond dead floozy. Told you so.” Cordelia smirked at Angelus as Darla dropped from above.
“Possessive, isn’t she.” Cordelia pushed back further into the wall, her other hand pulling out a second stake. “I may not be a slayer, but I’ve been taught by one and a vampire with a soul.”
“Soul, “ Angelus said involuntarily.
“Get use to saying it.”
“Darla, “ Angelus ordered.
“I want her dead, she knows who were are.”
“Who? Please, what is more like it.”
“I want her dead.”
“I want, I want, geez you always were a whiner, I thought maybe it was just a human condition, but no, it was always there, it makes one wonder about truthfulness of the whole scourge of Europe hype. And your taste in women,” she shot to Angelus. “A loon, and a whiner, and really it doesn’t get much better.”
“Darla.” Angelus ordered again. “Leave her.”
“My boy.”
“Go.”
Darla glared, “I will kill you.”
“Heard that before.” Cordelia rolled her eyes.
Darla stalked out of the alley. Angelus stayed. “You are intriguing, foolish, possibly crazy, but definitely of interest and quite the tempting morsel.” Angelus was up against Cordelia in a flash, the stakes on the ground. “Slayer you’re not. But you do have a spirit and I love that in a woman.”
“Who could tell with your track record? And Angelus, don’t underestimate me,” she said as she brought a third stake up against his chest.
He slowly backed away and laughed. “You will be mine. Oh, I left you a present.” He laughed again as he disappeared into the blackness of the night.
“And I left you one,” Cordelia didn’t know where her courage was coming from or the idea. She pointed to the unconscious body of Jack the Ripper. “Drink and be merry, because who knows tomorrow you may be dust.”
Angelus growled and looked. He was hungry. “Thank you, I do hope you find your present as appetizing.” He winked and moved back into the alley, leaving room for Cordelia to pass.
Cordelia didn’t breathe or think, she just ran. Ran as fast as she could back to the rooming house where she was staying. She stopped momentarily to recite the barrier spell at the front door and once again at the door that led to the floor that her room was on.
Cordelia slammed her door. And recited it once more. Okay, maybe overkill, but she couldn’t be sure, in the last five days Cordelia noticed that every stranger in the immediate area made their way into the rooming house. Obliviously, Pa didn’t know that the light skirts plied their trade here as well as the second floor of the inn.
Cordelia slumped to the floor, the adrenaline that had directed all of her actions since seeing Angelus drained quickly from her body. Dry heaves threatened to overtake her. She struggled up stumbling for the water basin. God, what she wouldn’t give for Dennis and a bath. Or..Please Angel, come soon. Cordelia shook herself, she would be fine until Angel came, he just needed to come. She couldn’t handle Angelus with out the knowing that Angel was there.
She rested her head against the iron of the basin. They did it somehow, Wolfram & Hart sent her back into the past, where the Scourge of Europe reigned supreme, and Angelus wouldn’t be getting his soul for at least another decade. Angel had better save her soon, because she knew that she couldn’t last that long.
Cordelia splashed the luke-warm stale water on her face and plopped on the bed, her hand searching for the pillow. Instead of a pillow, her hand found cooling flesh and blood. Cordelia bit back her scream and jumped up. She ran to the lantern and after several bad attempts, lit the match. Cordelia stared at the sickening display of Pa’s lifeless body on the bed.
Well, it had been stupid to assume that Jenny Calendar had been Angelus first attempt at grotesque dead art. Cordelia fell against the wall and stared. Tears welling up for the gruff, big man that had offered her his help. “The devil took his own, the Ripper is dead.” She whispered to the lifeless body. “Evil incarnate stole the blood from satin personified.” Cordelia refused to dwell on God’s or the Powers, or whoever’s sick humour.
“Your Mary has been revenged and now you can protect her in heaven.” Cordelia prayed, there had to be a heaven for innocents that evil destroyed, there just had to be, she begged any power that would listen.
With a brisk brush of her hand, Cordelia wiped her tears away and the practical side took over, wondering what the hell she was going to do with the body. She struggled up and went to the window. There he was just like she figured. Angelus did always want to know that the gift was received and appreciated. Cordelia forced a light-hearted smile into the darkness. Make the bastard wonder. She waved.
Chapter Eleven
“Lilah’s still in the building.” Angel pointed to a dark Mercedes parked in Wolfram & Hart’s underground lot. Angel moved to the elevator.
“Angel, it maybe better to wait for her here.”
“Cordelia maybe up there.”
“And she may not be. Angel, if you barge in and it’s a trap then you aren’t helping Cordelia. It’s almost eleven; Lila doesn’t strike me as one that likes too spend all night working. Let’s give it some time. Please, Angel. Our purpose is to find Cordelia, not to bring Angelus to Wolfram & Hart. The risks are too great.”
Angel growled. His head jerked back to the elevator. “Someone is coming down. Go back to the car.”
Wesley stopped his protest and with Gunn headed back in the direction of the car. He and Gunn took position behind separate concrete columns, each armed with tranquilizer guns.
Lila got off the elevator and headed for her car. She fumbled with her briefcase, as she attempted to get her car keys out of her purse. The case fell to the ground. “Damn’t” Lila clutched her keys and bent down.
“Here let me,” Angel whispered.
Lila hadn’t enough time to straighten before Angel grabbed her by the neck and slammed her up against her vehicle. “When will you learn that Parking garages are dangerous?” He said, his game face inches from her’s, his voice smooth as silk. “Very dangerous, but then I do question your intelligence, taking Cordelia was definitely not very smart, no not at all. You do see that don’t you.” Angel grinned.
Lila’s feet kicked out uselessly. Angel smashed her body, immobilizing it with his greater weight and strength. “Lila, the only possible way that you will not be screaming in pain in the next minute is if you tell me where she is.” Angel’s free hand gripped at the terrified woman’s arm yanking up and behind her back. “50 more seconds.” He twisted her arm.
“I don’t know what you are talking about. We don’t have your seer.”
“Wrong answer.” Angel twisted, until a satisfying snap was heard. Lila’s scream was muffled as Angel pressed his hand over her mouth. “Shall we try this again? But, I should warn you I’m losing patience, I can’t guarantee that I will be as gentle next time.” Angel smiled, gripping her trembling fingers in his fist. “Now, where is Cordelia?”
Lila shook her head. “We don’t…”
“Now you are just making me angry.” Angel said, as he crushed the small bones in her hand. “I know Wolfram & Hart kidnapped her, black van, a ‘film’, Jeremy Reynolds, who’s he Lindsay’s new replacement. Impressive business card.” Angel’s hand moved tightening around Lila’s wrist, squeezing.
Lila’s eyes widened. That stupid son of a bitch. She gasped as the pressure of Angel’s grip increased.
“She’s gone, okay. You’re too late.” Lila tried to sound triumphant but her fear and pain were ruining the effect.
“Too late, you better be mistaken, otherwise, I have no use for you or this prolonged play.”
“You wouldn’t”
Angel laughed. “Of course, I would and I would enjoy it.”
Lila gulped the tears streaming down her face. Never in all of her imaginings or speculations about Angel, had she expected that the vampire with a soul would kill a human. Now, who was the stupid one, she should have realized that soul or not, Angel was capable of anything, after all, he did chop off Lindsay’s hand and leave the lawyers, her included to be killed by Darla and Drusilla. Lila started babbling and if she didn’t just wet her pants.
“My briefcase, the spell….she was sent back in time.“
“Lila, dear, this really isn’t the time to make up outrageous stories. It isn’t going to save you.” Angel crushed her wrist.
Lila choked on her scream as Angel’s hand slammed against her mouth. Lilah shook her head, trying to dislodge his hand. She gasped as he released her mouth. “I’m not lying, damn you. We found a spell. My briefcase. Your seer is gone, sent through a time portal.”
Angel stepped back, Lila crumpled to the ground. He picked up the briefcase. “Lila, if you are lying, there will be no games next time, you will just be dead.”
“I’m telling the truth.” She said to the retreating back of the vampire. Lila struggled to pull her body up against the car. She saw her purse lying open, her cell phone in sight. She cried, she couldn’t reach it or use it; both of her arms and hands were useless.
Lila was going to kill Jeremy. The idiot left his card for Angel to find. Angel was not supposed to know about the kidnapping, not this soon, preferably never, but definitely not before, he was safely damned. Lila winced as she willed her lower body towards the elevator. She just hoped that she also didn’t end up dead, when the senior partner found out that Angel now had the spell.
Maybe Lindsay hadn’t been foolish to get the hell out LA and away from Wolfram & Hart, and the vampire with a soul.
***
Angel thrust the briefcase at Wesley as he got into the car.
“Cordy isn’t in there?”
“They did a spell, transported her to the past through a portal. It’s in there.” He motioned to the briefcase as he pressed on the gas.
“A what? A time portal?” Wesley quickly reached for the clasps of the case.
“Man…Could she have been lying? She has to be lying.”
“She wasn’t.”
Gunn’s eyes widened and looked back to the crawling woman. “No, I suppose she wasn’t.” Gunn said.
“Goodness.”
“What? Is it a spell? A time portal spell?”
“I have no earthly clue. It’s a spell, I presume, the words are incantations, but these symbols and equations…I just don’t know.”