Chapter Sixteen
A sharp momentary pain pulled Cordelia out of a deep REM sleep into an uneasy state of semi-consciousness. She anxiously began to toss and turn. Her mind reached out for the comforting presence of Angel.
The presence of the vampire was there, but it wasn’t comforting, she slowly realized. It was cold and callous. Cordelia shot up in bed looking around. Her eyes rested on Angel sitting in the chair. The vampire was completely unclothed, staring at her in wicked glee.
“No, no, no,” she repeated over and over again as she realized who or better yet what was sitting across from her.
“Yes, yes, yes,” Angelus mimicked her horrified tone. The demon moved onto the bed with feral grace. Cordelia was too shocked and terrified to move.
“How about an early mourning romp or just maybe a quick nibble,” Angelus leered crawling over and capturing Cordelia’s body under his. “Not having any of it,” he jeered to the frozen girl. “I am afraid that you don’t have a choice. You see when Angel took a powder; he left you for me. You are mine.” Angel laughed and swung Cordelia over until she was sitting on his chest.
The demon held Cordelia’s waist in a steel grip rubbing her body over his hardening cock. The sound of Angle’s name broke through Cordelia’s panicked stupor. She started to fight and yell at the vampire with a vengeance.
Her fingernails digging into the vampire’s face drawing blood. Angelus laughed and rolled them back over so that her struggling body was pinned under his much stronger one. “That’s better you were beginning to bore me and then I would just have to kill you.”
“Just do it, already,” she shouted. “Kill me.”
Angelus leaned up contemplating the girl. He was still holding her down by his strong arms and his lower body.
Cordelia winced in pain as Angelus forcibly intruded into her mind.
“Just as I thought: a bluff. Still not much of an actress, are you? No, you want to live. You think there is a way to bring back soul boy. But there is not. The wimp is gone for good and you are mine.”
“Never,” she promised, tears filling her eyes at the possibility of Angel being gone forever.
“Really?” he laughed, suddenly releasing her. Cordelia attempted to lunge away from the vampire. Angelus flung out his hand and yanked her back before she moved an inch. “Stay still,” he growled.
Cordelia shot him a look of utter contempt. “Like hell.”
Angelus pulled the angry girl up against his chest. He invaded Cordelia’s mind again, this time forcibly manipulating her will. “Stay still.”
Cordelia had never been so terrified in her life, her mind screamed in agony as her body became paralyzed.
“Now that is better. You are mine. But don’t worry, I will probably kill you soon enough. I have a tendency to bore easily. Then again, maybe it will be awhile, you are quite tasty.” Angelus dragged his tongue down her spine, then back up to her neck. “Really quite delicious,” he growled again, licking and sucking at the pulse point on her neck.
Cordelia’s mind cried out, screaming for Angel to save her. But Angel couldn’t save her, not this time, not from Angelus. Cordelia’s heart broke at the knowledge that Angel was probably really gone.
“Turn over,” he growled. Cordelia damned her body as it responded to the vampire’s order.
Angelus yellow eyes gleamed with lust as he stared down at the body before him. “Soul boy really was such a wuss, look at these bite wounds.” Angelus’ hands ran down her body stopping at the various puncture wounds on her skin. “These will heal in no time. Definitely, not the proper way to mark one’s property. No, not at all.”
The vampire powerfully pierced his fangs into her neck, tearing the delicate skin on her throat. Cordelia screamed out in pain. Angelus sucked forcibly at the wound. Cordelia cursed herself, Angelus and the bond as her body automatically started to respond to the feeding.
Tears rolled down her face as her traitorous body ached in need for the vampire. Angelus growled against her neck in response to Cordelia’s increasing arousal. The vampire jabbed two large fingers into Cordelia’s wet passage. Cordelia’s hips jerked into his hand. Cordelia cried out for more of the vampire. Angelus voraciously fed off the girl, pushing his fingers harder and faster into the Cordelia’s center.
Cordelia became light headed from the sudden loss of blood. Angel had never taken so much at one time before. Maybe, she violently hoped, she would die. But, Angelus tore himself away from the girl as he sensed Cordelia’s heart slow and felt her inner walls begin to contract around his hand. Cordelia grunted in disgust at the vampire that left her alive and unfulfilled.
“Don’t worry there will be a next time,” Angelus smirked knowingly.
Cordelia glared in hatred at the demon that wore the face of the person she loved. Angelus ignored her glare and examined the torn flesh on Cordelia’s neck, admiring his handiwork.
“Yes, that should leave a nice little reminder to everyone that you are mine.” Angelus jumped off the bed. “Well, I have to go. Got things to do, people to thank.” He strode to the bathroom.
“Oh, a couple of things before I go…Cordy are you listening,” he said to the crying girl curled up in the bed. Cordelia sobbed harder at hearing her nickname, the name that Angel would use when he was being especially caring.
“Cordy, look at me,” the vampire demanded going into her mind again and willing her to look at him.
“What?” she shouted glaring at him.
“You know, we will have to work on your total inability to follow orders. Anyway, like I said a couple of things. Remind the ball-less wonder and the new side-kick, if they stake me, you die. But most importantly- you can run, but you can’t hide, not from me. So, it would probably just easier if you stay put, because…let’s say it together, ‘You are mine’. Cordy, say it.”
Cordelia glared at the vampire, then smiled sardonically. “Okay, evil ‘grr’ guy, YOU ARE MINE.” She yelled with a burst of strength.
“NO,” Angelus growled at the seemly fragile girl.
Cordelia sat up with her last bit of remaining strength, “You are Mine, just like Angel is Mine; or, does that mean you are just happy to see me?” she said sarcastically, pointing to his erect penis. Angelus growled at her again and stormed into the bathroom slamming the door. Cordelia gave a weak laugh and promptly passed out.
Damn, that girl was annoying, Angelus growled, as he used his hand to relieve the ache in his cock. He should just go out there and kill her. But she did have spirit, he admitted. And the spirited ones were the most fun to break. Plus, the souled wimp was right, he thought, bringing up his hand to his mouth. She was intoxicating, he gave a low growl, as he tasted the mixture of Cordelia’s juices, blood and his own dead seed.
But, it wouldn’t do for her to know that, he thought, as he licked the remaining traces of Cordelia’s fluids from his fingers. No, he growled, he was not hers, he was in complete control.
Angelus left the bathroom and went to the closet. It figures, he grumbled to himself, soul boy had gotten rid of all Angelus’ leather pants. He grabbed some clothes and put them on. Angelus did have things to do and people to thank, starting with his sire. Somehow, he knew that Darla was responsible for his comeback.
Angelus smiled as his body reacted to the thought of his sire. She was his soulless mate. Darla was the one he wanted, not this mortal girl, he thought sitting on the bed, staring at the unconscious girl.
Maybe, he should just break her neck, he thought, as he softly touched her neck, feeling for her weakened pulse. After all, this innocent, beautiful girl had had the power to destroy Angel. What other power might she have, he wondered?
Still, he didn’t have to decide now; he had time. With one more look at Cordelia, he left.
Chapter Seventeen
Cordelia struggled to regain consciousness, images of Angel and Angelus alternating through her mind. A part of her wanted to remain dead to the world, that way she could ignore the presence of the vampire. If she was unconscious her traitorous body couldn’t respond to Angelus’ manipulations or desires. But the other part of her needed to wake up. That part had to find a way to bring back Angel’s soul.
Her desperate need to try and save Angel outweighed her terrified wish to hide from the unsouled vampire. She had to get up. Cordelia slowly opened her eyes. She knew immediately that Angelus was not in the hotel.
At first she was relieved, that was until she realized that if the vampire was not with her, making her life a living hell, then he was somewhere else causing who knew what type of unholy havoc to someone else.
Oh god, she had to get up and warn Wesley. Cordelia struggled to her feet, momentarily resting against the bedpost as a wave of dizziness overcame her. It took her over fifteen minutes to get dressed and make it half way down the stairs. She stopped and sat in the middle of the staircase as another wave of dizziness washed over her.
Cordelia was still sitting on the steps with her head resting in her hands, when Wesley and Gunn ran into the hotel.
“Cordelia,” Wesley called running up to the girl. “Oh my God, what happened?” He looked in concern at his pale friend. Cordelia raised her head at the sound of his voice. Wesley gasped in shock as he saw her tear stained face and the gaping wound on her neck. The blood had long since congealed. But the dried blood had crusted around the torn skin, making a horrific picture on her delicate neck.
“Where is Angelus,” he said looking around. “Gunn.” Wesley nodded for the young man to check upstairs. The young street kid looked at Cordelia and grabbed the flame thrower and ran upstairs.
“He’s gone. I’m not sure how long ago,” Cordelia whispered slowly trying to stand. Wesley caught the young girl as she stumbled.
“Cordelia, you have lost too much blood; we need to take you to the hospital.”
“No. I think, I just need to eat something. I haven’t eaten in awhile.”
“Cordelia, I think…”
“No, Wesley, we don’t have the time. And anyway, he stopped before he took too much. He doesn’t want me dead, yet,” she laughed feebly.
Gunn ran back down the stairs the weapon at his side. “No sign of the evil Angel.”
“I told you. And don’t call him Angel,” Cordelia snapped.
“Cordelia, let’s go and get you some food. Then you can tell us what happened. Gunn, get the first aid kit,” he said looking at the Cordelia’s wound again. “It looks deep, but I don’t think you need stitches, but it will probably scar.”
“That was the point,” she answered softly.
Oh dear, Wesley thought, as he led Cordelia to the kitchen.
Chapter Eighteen
Angelus stepped over the broken body of the former Lenny the demon snitch. Angelus had been right; Darla had been responsible for the spell. Or at least, she had set it up so that Cordelia and Angel could be affected by the spell’s hormonal aspects.
And boy, what hormonal aspects, Angelus thought with a smirk. Angelus may not have been present when the seer and Angel had gone at it in the sewers, but he did have all of Angel’s memories. Angelus chuckled to himself. He might just have to try the ladder thing.
Angelus recalled Angel’s memories of Cordelia’s passionate responses, her small hands leaving trails of fire all over Angel’s body. Angelus got angry as he recalled Cordelia’s less than enthusiastic responses earlier. Sure, her body responded to the bond, but she hadn’t touched him once. Angelus quickly, with out a thought checked on Cordelia’s presence. She was awake, scared and weak, but awake.
Good, he and his beautiful little human had unfinished business. And she needed to be reminded of it, he thought. Angelus severed the connection between the two of them. He waited a second; he was so concentrated on the act of teaching Cordelia a lesson that he didn’t even notice the blast of coldness that swept through his body as he cut the bond.
Angelus not even knowing why decided that it had been long enough; he opened the bond between him and his seer. Angelus stood immobile as the warmth of Cordelia’s essence returned.
He swore then, that he would feel the heat of his seer’s touch all over his body, if he had to fry every willful brain cell in her pretty little head.
But first, his sire was waiting for him. Angelus hurried to the address that the now very dead snitch had given him.
Chapter Nineteen
The senior partner of Wolfram & Hart read the file again. “Why wasn’t this given to me earlier?”
“It was only just prepared. I just thought if we could expect Angelus, then we would need it.”
“Did you read it?” asked Harlen to the younger attorney.
“Yes.”
“And?”
“We may have a problem,” answered Lindsay.
“Quite.” The senior partner returned to the thick file on the table. It was a history of the vampire Angelus. It included the first hand reports from Darla. The file also included a psychological evaluation.
“How accurate would you say this is?” asked the senior partner holding up the evaluation.
“Very. The psychologists were the best in the field of psychology for vampires and demons. I gave them access to all the materials I had on both Angelus and Angel.”
“Do we know whether Angelus has appeared?”
“It was just confirmed. Angelus was seen going towards Darla’s penthouse.”
Harlan looked at the report again. The first part didn’t really concern him. The evaluators had diagnosed the vampire as a very egotistical psychopathic demon. But that described all vampires to a differing degree. Granted, the evaluators had scored Angelus as an off the charts psychopath. But even that didn’t really concern him.
No, it was the next part that worried him.
The report went on to explain that Angelus neither feared nor cared about anything. Angelus held humans, demons, vampires and any other type of creature in equal disdain. He was completely indifferent to whether the other being was more powerful. He just didn’t care. Angelus acted on his own desires with no fear.
The evaluators cautioned that there was no predicting what he may want at any given time. They were doubtful as to Darla’s contention that she could influence his actions. They pointed out that he had refused her order to become a minion of her master. Angelus had gone along with her to a certain extent, but in the end he had refused and just laughed in the face of the older, more powerful vampire.
Darla had failed to control him then, when he was newly made. In fact, she had been the one to concede. The writers of the report cautioned that no matter what Darla thought, there was no real security in her beliefs. In fact, if he turns her, the whole dynamic of the prior sire/childe relationship could reverse and any influence she might have had once, would be gone completely.
They, again, emphasized that there was no predicting the vampire’s actions. He had gone against prevailing wisdom and the best interests of his own childe and grandchilde, when he stayed in Sunnydale to concentrate on his obsession with the Summers girl. They again cautioned, Angelus could not be controlled. Angelus just didn’t care about anything other than his own self-pleasure or obsessions.
The only weakness, they reported that might be helpful was that it seemed that Angelus had developed what was best described as an inferior sibling complex over the years of being bound by Angel and his soul.
Angelus seemed to be obsessed with either having or destroying whatever Angel had gained or cared for. They again, pointed to his single mindedness attack on Buffy Summers and her friends in Sunnydale.
But even with that knowledge, they recommended allowing Angelus and Darla, if he wants her, to go on their merry way. Because, if Wolfram & Hart tried to control the vampire, he may decide that it would be more fun to destroy than just leave. And if Angelus decided to go after the law firm, he would be more dangerous than his souled alter ego ever was, because Angelus could and would kill anyone, human, demon, innocent, powerful, or evil.
Angelus could do this because he just didn’t care.
Harlen put down the report. Finally after several moments of silent thought he called to Lindsay. “Get the seer.”
“Sir?”
“Go, take her. She was able to take Angel’s soul, which means that the vampire did realize that he loved her. This must effect Angelus,” he said pointing to the report. “And Angel, as a vampire bonded with the girl. So, maybe that bond exists with Angelus as well. I don’t know, but one way or another she is the key. Control her than we may have a chance of controlling Angelus. Do it.”
“Yes, sir.” Lindsay left the office to make the arrangements for the abduction of the seer. Lindsay stopped at the elevators and stared at his plastic limb. He just wasn’t sure that threatening the girl would have a good outcome, it never had before.
Chapter Twenty
Wesley looked across the table in sorrow at his good friend. Cordelia’s usually vibrant hair hung dull and listless around her slumped shoulders. Her normal golden skin was pale and he lips were colorless and cracked. There were heavy dark circles surrounding her eyes.
Her eyes, Wesley thought in sadness, her eyes that had always been so bright and expressive were now red and clouded. Wesley knew that if Angel or Angelus appeared magically before him, he would happily ram a stake through either vampire’s heart. They had both brought his beautiful friend to this.
Cordelia looked up sharply at Wesley, somehow sensing his mood. “Don’t ever blame Angel for any of this, understand, ever. Angel would willingly die for any of us, remember that.” Tears filled her large eyes. She tried to control her pain, but it was too overwhelming. Her head fell to her arms, the sobs wracking her slight body.
“Cordelia…” the former watcher started.
“No, Wesley. Angel had no idea. He believed that Angelus was not a threat. He never would have done this willingly.”
“Cordelia, he should have known…”
“Stop. Angel is our friend, our family. We will find a way to bring him back,” she said with renewed strength. The strength suddenly left her fragile form as she finally understood what Wesley had been trying to say and how Angelus came into being.
“Oh, God, Wesley, Angel loved me, me,” she repeated stunned. The tears fell in torrents down her face as her body shook. “What am I going to do? I can’t live without him. And, I don’t want to live with Angelus.” She sobbed even harder, her body crumbling into itself.
She screamed suddenly, falling to the floor. Both Wesley and Gunn scrambled to the floor grabbing the girl.
“Cordelia? What is it?” Wesley called gently. “Is it a vision?” he said with some hope. A vision was normal, something he could deal with.
“No,” she whispered, wiping at her eyes. “Just the sick bastard making sure that I remembered the bond, that’s all.” She pulled herself to her feet. “I want that bastard gone, no matter what,” she said with increasing strength. “I will never be his,” she promised. Right, big words little girl say them until he decides to come to you and feed again, then you will be putty, the small voice in her head laughed. He is no Angel, but he is the next best thing, the voice chided. Just go with the flow, the voice beckoned.
Cordelia fell onto the chair; her hands covering her face. She knew that voice. It was hers, not Angelus or some freaky manipulation that he caused, it was her own mind telling her to give in and accept the situation. Cordelia sobbed into her hands.
The last time she listened to that voice, she ended up in Angel’s arms telling the vampire that she loved him. And then after the most joyful time of her young life, she woke up with Angelus. Maybe, if she listened again, then she could fall into the bastard’s arms and end up with Angel. She laughed at the sickness of it all.
Cordelia got up again, this time refusing to give in to her terror or heartbreak. “Wesley, Gunn, obviously you suspected something.” She pointed to the large canvas bag of weapons that Gunn had left by the kitchen door. “What do you know? And how do we save Angel?”
The men watched in amazement as Cordelia’s spirit seemed to grow and encompass the frail body. Wesley watched in wonder as her color returned to her cheeks.
“Cordelia?”
“What? Cordelia Chase will not let some two-rent Angel want-a-be get her down. No, Angelus thinks he is bad, think again. I am the best bitch in the business,” she said smiling at Wesley. Wesley returned the smile. Her smile was not her usual magnetic smile, but it was a smile, still the same.
Wesley began to tell Cordelia what they had found out from Lenny the snitch. They started talking among themselves. Wesley wasted a lot of breath trying to convince Cordelia to go to Sunnydale where she could rest and be protected. Cordelia fought each one of his arguments.
“Wesley, Angelus is preoccupied in LA for now, sooner or later he is going to remember his obsession with Buffy, I mean he had it for so long, it would just be better if it was later…”
“Cordelia, Angelus’ obsession with Buffy was because of Angel’s love for her. And maybe sometime in the way future Angelus will go after the slayer again, just for the hell of it. But Buffy will not be his obsession, not anymore. Just like Angel’s love was no longer with the slayer. It’s all with you, now.
Cordelia felt her self-breaking apart again at Wesley’s words. She struggled, “Then the more reason for me not to go to Sunnydale. If I run, Angelus can find me. Buffy doesn’t need a battle with evil ‘grr’ version of her first love. Besides, Willow says that Mrs. Summers is really sick. No, I will not go to Sunnydale just to have Angelus follow. I won’t”
Wesley heard her and acknowledged her arguments. He wasn’t happy, but she was right Sunnydale was not the best safe haven for this particular problem. But he wanted her safe away from Angelus. “All right, then the next step is where is Angelus. I don’t want to wait until he comes back for…Cordelia what is wrong?”
Cordelia had never felt so sick in her life. Pain, anger, and nausea ran through her body. She didn’t understand those were her own emotions, why? She reached out tentatively to Angelus. She gasped, as she felt the vampire’s lust…directed not towards her…but towards Darla. She could see in her mindseye the vampire violently taking the very willing human Darla and then biting her neck and drinking her blood, until Darla’s heart beat slowed until she was on the cusp of death.
Cordelia saw Angelus cut into his chest and bring Darla’s lips to the blood dripping from the cut. Oh god, no, she cried in despair, pain, anger, and oh my god, she thought, in lust and jealousy.
Cordelia heard Angelus laugh as she broke the connection. Cordelia ran to the sink and promptly threw up. Wesley and Gunn ran to the sink. Cordelia raised her head trying to speak, but the images of Angelus and Darla kept flashing through her mind and sickness would hit her again. Soon, she was just dry heaving over the sink.
Finally she looked up. “Angelus has found Darla. They are together and he has turned her, god only knows, what will happen now,” she said as she slumped into the chair.
Chapter Twenty-One
Angelus intertwined his hands in the blonde hair, using them to force Darla’s mouth further down his cock. There was something about an expertly given blowjob after a satisfying meal, he thought. Angelus glanced over at the near lifeless body sprawled on the floor.
Darla had been ravenous both for blood and sex, when she awoke. Angelus had been more than willingly to oblige his once sire now childe on both counts. They had found the streetwalkers easy enough outside the penthouse. The newly made blonde vampire had immediately attacked one, draining her victim all at once.
Angelus had not been as gluttonous; he had brought his meal back for a slow if not painful partaking later. Angel was having fun. But what made it even more exhilarating for Angelus was that he knew that his little brunette beauty had experience every moment of his pleasure.
He had felt Cordelia’s fear, lust and rage every time he pounded his c— into Darla or fed off the hooker. Undead life was once again good, he thought, growling as Darla brought him closer to a climax. Angelus fists gripped tighter into the blonde hair. Damn, she was good. He figured that over 400 years of being a whore could do that for some people.
Too bad her hands weren’t warm, he thought as he imagined Cordelia lying under him on the bed in the hotel. Her small hands eagerly stroking his body. Angelus exploded into Darla’s mouth as he imagined Cordelia’s enthusiastic caresses and felt their heat.
Darla licked her lips and crawled on Angelus’ lap. “Miss me?” Her smile was feral in appearance.
“A need of reassurance from you, how boring.”
Darla’s smile turned to a growl. Angelus laughed and forced her into a violent kiss. “You are as excellent as I remembered,” he said with mocking gallantry, dropping her to the floor. “But I have to go now.”
“Angelus, where are you going? She demanded as the handsome vampire went to the door.
“I have some unfinished business. Don’t fret, I will be back.”
“Unfinished business? Would that be with your new little pet? She growled.
Angelus stopped. “I never did thank you for your part in giving Cordy to me, did I? Thanks Darla,” he smirked, giving her a small bow.
“My boy, bring her back. Or better yet, let me go with you. I want to play, too,” she coaxed then demanded. “Let me have her. I want to kill her.”
He stalked over to the blonde and grabbed her by the hair. “I don’t share,” he growled. “She is mine, don’t ever forget that.” He pushed the growling vampire back. “Play with the hooker. Hey, maybe you can compare some secrets of the trade,” he grinned caustically.
“Angelus,” she demanded.
“Won’t work, Darla. My sire was staked four years ago. You are just my childe. Bye,” he laughed leaving the apartment.
***
Darla stared at the door, then at her hands. Angelus hadn’t even realized he had made the comment about warm hands out loud. Or that he had growled the seer’s name as he came into Darla’s expert mouth, the female vampire seethed.
That pretty little nobody was going to be a problem. In a rage, Darla yanked the young hooker off the floor. She forcibly ribbed into the girl’s neck sucking out her remaining blood and then broke her neck for good measure.
Growling, Darla wiped the blood from her mouth. She needed a plan.