Chapter Fourteen
Cordelia began to wonder what was so therapeutic about this particular part of the room, she now called home.
But again, as she had for the last several night’s sat curled up in the corner, huddled, frightened, her knowledge battling with her emotions. With more strength, the she knew she had, she let her mind win the battle, Angelus would live and if need be she would die. She didn’t see any other option; unless Angel appeared miraculously to take her home.
Where was he? Cordelia huddled closer; it wasn’t fair to Angel to get mad. It’s not like time travel is a common occurrence, or something that should be attempted, not even by her courageous friends.
But, god what she wouldn’t give to see them again. Cordelia got up and went to the window. Gee, what a surprise, Angelus was there watching, smiling. At least he wasn’t resorting to killing others. The stupid vampire thought that Cordelia was fighting a desire for him.
Hmmph, she wished he was dead, but she couldn’t kill him. Great, he was gone, Cordelia prayed that maybe it was just the bitch Darla calling him home rather than anything else. Fuck, she couldn’t kill any of them. Hell, what was the point….There was no point to her being in this god awful time.
***
Wesley couldn’t help it but he felt like Captain Kirk, all dressed up and ready to jump through the Guardian Forever.
The black hole appeared before them, whirling and pulling. Angel ran head long into the swirling mess. Okay, Wesley thought, he would have to be Spock in this Scenario, the logical one. It was only fitting; Wesley thought as he followed Angel through the hole, Kirk always got the woman.
***
“No need for blankets, that’s good. “ Wesley got up and examined the dark alley. “Any idea where we are?”
Angel examined the air, moving to the entrance. “East End, London, Whitechappel.”
“Whitecappel, as in…”
“Yes,” Angel looked again. “But the patrols are gone and the streetwalkers are out, so it must be after 1897.”
“After?”
“At the height of the Ripper, the London police were out in force and the locals scared, the Ripper pissed off the vampire community that used this pit as an easy feeding ground. Time as passed since then, but it’s not before. Come on.”
“Where?”
“There’s an Inn at the of the East End. A mixture of people, if Cordelia landed here, someone there would know. It was where all of the gossip and tales of Whitechappel ended.”
Angel was a much better guide than Lorne was that was for sure, Wesley acknowledged silently as he followed the vampire out into the street.
Chapter Fifteen
The sights and smells assaulted Wesley. He looked at Angel. If they were disturbing to him, then Angel must be truly affected. And Wesley didn’t have the additional burden of unwanted memories washing over him, combining with the stench in the air.
“I don’t know why, but I never quite imagined this time period to be so depressing.” Wesley glanced along the dark street. The night sky couldn’t hide the filth of the area or the deplorable conditions of the tenements.
Unwashed people were scattered about, some in groups, some alone. Occasionally, Wesley would see the odd person or two, studying their progress down the street. “Angel, I don’t like the way that man is staring at us.” Wesley whispered, indicating a man watching them intently from behind his bottle of rum.
“He’s most likely deciding how to rob us, steal our shoes, clothes…whatever, then on how to dispose of the bodies.” Angel said, without even looking.
“Of course. Silly of me. Right,” Wesley looked down at the clothes he was wearing. “They do seem to be a bit on the upper scale than his.”
“Yes. Angelus may have liked to play in this cesspool, but he didn’t like to look like the part. It was part of the game.”
“Game?”
“Sure, what better way to find a victim? Clothes, money- lures to bring them to him. Robbers, whores all thinking that Angelus could be their victim- then…”
“Yes, I see.” Wesley studied Angel. The vampire seemed calm and unaffected by the immersion into his past.
Angel could sense Wesley’s questions and concern about his reaction to being back in the 19th century. Angel wanted to reassure his friend that he was fine. But that would be a lie. The sights, smells, and sounds, all of it brought back the memories. They washed over him both disgusting and tempting him.
The fear, the desolation that permeated the East End pulled at his predatory instincts. It had been so easy to satisfy all of his desires in this place. Angelus’ desires, not his. Angel wasn’t that demon, not anymore, Angel didn’t want the blood that was so readily available around him, and he didn’t want the sensation of hunting and killing. Another lie. Angel had to find Cordelia.
“There it is.”
Wesley looked at the Inn. “Busy.”
Angel nodded, went to enter, and was forced back. “Angel?”
“Cordelia’s here.”
“You can sense her? Wonderful, let’s go.” Wesley went into the building.
“Wesley, I can’t. There is a spell barrier.” Angel’s tone was a mixture of relief, frustration, and fear.
Wesley’s brows shot up, comprehending at once. “Maybe she just did it has a precaution, it doesn’t necessarily mean Angelus has been here.”
“Wesley, go find the owner or one of the whores that lives upstairs.”
“Whores live upstairs?”
“Wesley, go.”
“Yes, of course.” Wesley’s progress was stopped as a woman came towards them.
“Angelus, luv thought you had abandoned me. Don’t just stand there, I keep telling you that you are always welcomed. I see you brought another fine gentlemen with you.” Gerty glance appreciatively at the cut of Wesley’s suit. “Come in, though I know it’s not me you come to see.”
Gerty broadly winked. “Come to apologize have you. Just what did you say to our Cordy, that last time. She keeps hiding in her room. Shy and stubborn she may be, but don’t worry boy, she’ll come around, I’ve been telling her what a fine gentleman you are.” The woman winked again.
Wesley barely got of Angel’s way as he barreled through the door, heading for the stairs.
Gerty laughed and turned to block Wesley’s attempt to follow. “Aye, sir, you need a cup. Gerty’s, that’s me, has the best ale in the East End. Don’t bother,” she pulled at Wesley’s arm. “Your friend will be busy for awhile. She’s a stubborn piece.”
“No thank you.” Wesley disentangled the woman’s hands.
“Aye, if you think so, but I warn you, Angelus does get a bit testy when he’s interrupted.”
That was an understatement, Wesley thought as he went to the stairs. Damn, Angelus had been here, frequently from the sounds of that woman. But, at least it seemed that Cordelia was okay, or at least Wesley hoped she was.
***
Angel stopped in the middle of the hallway, his game face flickering. With a growl, he bounded to the door at the end of the hall. “Cordy,” he broke the door, but was still barred from running to the beautiful girl.
Cordelia glared from her position on the floor. That was new. The direct approach, Angelus must be getting bored with the game. “Like busting the door will get you in. Stupid vampire.” Cordelia pulled herself up.
“You are going to pay for that and I’m not inviting you in. You may think I won’t stake you, but I will dose you with some holy water. So, don’t even think about threatening another woman to get me to come out.” Cordelia thrust a jar in front of her.
“Cordy……”
“Like anxious pleading will work. Don’t even try; begging so does not look good on you. What would Darla say? Leave or you are so sizzling wet.”
“Cordy, it’s me Angel, let me in.”
Cordelia stared; the bottle fell shattering around her feet. “Angel?”
“Yes, Cordy…”
“Cordelia, it is Angel.” Wesley appeared at Angel’s side.
Cordelia’s eyes widened, she glanced quickly from Angel to Wesley. “Wesley?…. Angel,” Cordelia ran towards the vampire. Angel caught her easily, crushing her to his chest.
“Angel,” she repeated into his shirt, trying to bury herself further into his embrace.
“Maybe we should go inside.” Wesley tried to guide the couple into the room. “Cordelia?”
She blinked, her eyes filled with tears. “Come in.” She pulled Angel through the doorway and was instantly back in his arms. Angel tightened his hold, rubbing his face into her hair, reassuring himself that Cordelia was in his arms and that she was safe.
Wesley propped up the broken door and looked around. His gaze fell on the strewn flowers on the floor and crumbled up sketches. “Cordelia are you all right?”
Cordelia pulled out of Angel’s arms and rubbed away her tears. She smiled widely. “I am now. Get me out of here.”
Angel stared, his hands reaching for Cordelia’s neck. Rage filled his body. “Cordelia?” Angel’s fingers lightly touched the puncture wounds that marred her skin.
Cordelia moved away, her hand covering the marks. “I’m okay, he just wanted a taste.”
“And you let him and he left you alive?”
“Gross,” Cordelia shot towards an open- mouthed Wesley. “Don’t be an idiot. It was either that or watch him drain Molly, of course he killed her anyway. Bastard.”
Angel picked up one of the sketches. It was of Cordelia sleeping. It was beautiful; it made his skin crawl and his anger burn. “What else did he do?”
“The usual, I guess, stalk, taunt, kill, gifts.”
Every dead cell in Angel’s body was on the verge of exploding, the rage with in him so powerful. “Where is he?”
“Like he checks in with me? I don’t know? He’s usually downstairs or out there.” Cordelia pointed out her window. “What does it matter, now? We’re going home. .. Angel, where are you going? To the portal, right? RIGHT?”
“To kill him.”
“No, your taking me home.” Cordelia ran to the door, blocking it.
“Move.”
Cordelia shook her head. “You can’t kill Angelus.”
“Cordelia?” Wesley raised his brows at the girl’s desperation.
“And you call yourself a Star Trek expert. Angel can’t kill Angelus, none of us can- it will change history.”
“Good, no more killing, no more evil.”
“No more soul. Angel if Angelus dies now, he won’t be cursed. You won’t exist.”
Angel stared. “Angelus will die now.”
“Listen to me.”
“Angel, Cordelia maybe right.”
“I don’t care, he needs to die for what he has done for what he will do. It will finally be over.”
“Yeah, like really over. Angel do I have to play it’s a wonderful life here. If Angelus isn’t cursed, then you don’t get a soul, you don’t get a chance to shansu…your dust as soon as Angelus is- you won’t have your future.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Okay, how about then in the 20th century- Sunnydale, Buffy dies, I die, the whole Scooby gang dies, LA- Gunn dies, Wesley dies….What about all the helpless that don’t get saved?”
“That won’t happen and the Powers will just get another warrior.”
“Angel, Buffy will be the slayer, regardless of whether you exist or not. But with your soul, you helped her become a better slayer, helped her survive, and got yourself a soul mate in the bargain. Plus, you helped her keep us all alive. Without you- Sunnydale will still be the hellmouth; I will still become a part of the Scooby Gang; Wesley will still become a watcher and then a fired watcher; my father will still cheat on his taxes and I will still end up in LA. Wesley will still become a rogue demon hunter, that’s if we both make it out of Sunnyhell alive. Gunn will still be living on the streets fighting vampires. I will still go to that stupid party, only this time you won’t save me from Russell Winters. Wesley will get himself killed by some demon or another, without you to teach him how to fight.”
She glared at the beginning of Wesley’s protest. “ You know you would’ve. You were a klutz. “ Cordelia turned back to Angel. “ Gunn, also will most likely die without you. And Fred would still be stuck in a cave in Pylea. Angel you have to exist or we all die. Don’t you see that? Angelus must live, so you can be. Why do you think that I haven’t tried to stake him or the rest of the fanged four? And boy, letting Darla live was not easy. But, she gave Angelus the gypsy, which resulted in the curse. Spike has gotten himself chipped and saved Buffy more than once, Drusilla….well, we might be able to dust her. But what’s the point? We just need to go home.”
“Angel, Cordelia has raised what I believe to be some very valid points.”
Angel struggled with his rage and thoughts. He wanted, no needed to kill Angelus. But what if Cordelia was right? Angel would be willing to give up his future for a chance to end Angelus’ evil rampages over the next few decades. He would be making right all of the terror that the demon had caused during that time.
But Angel wasn’t willing to risk his friends, especially not Cordelia. If Angel didn’t exist, the Power’s would probably just find another warrior to take his place, but would that warrior have been able to save Cordelia from Winters. Angel didn’t know, but Angel did know that he did save Cordelia. Angel couldn’t take that risk, not even for the souls of all that Angelus killed before the curse. Angel slowly nodded.
“Whew.” Cordelia let out her breath. “Let’s get this rescue show on the road. How do we get back?”
Wesley looked at his watch. Thank goodness for Timex even through a time portal they just kept on ticking. “We have to get to the alley. Gunn and Fred will be dong the spell with in the hour.”
“I knew that you would figure it out.” Cordelia hugged Wesley. “My heroes.” She smiled and went back to Angel. “Thank you.” She lightly caressed his solemn expression, her touch trying to comfort him. Angel’s eyes held hers and he smiled. Angel found Cordelia and she was safe. Nothing else mattered. Angel crushed her back to his chest. “I won’t ever lose you.”
Cordelia snuggled closer. She finally felt safe and she was going home. Cordelia glanced at the rough wool. “Where did you get the clothes?”