Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sorry, Angelus. We aren’t quite ready for you to leave, not yet.” Harlan stood at the door and motioned to his bodyguards. Angelus growled at the lawyer and the demons and humans he brought with him.
Each human had a crossbows pointed at the enraged vampire.
“What do you want,” he growled. Angelus attempted to retain his powerful grip on Cordelia’s body as one of the demons took her from him.
“Owww,” Cordelia cried as the demon grabbed at her injured side and forced her out of Angelus’ arms. Angelus turned to lunge at the demon when a wooden arrow went flying past his body.
“Angelus, your death won’t accomplish anything. Calm down, we will return the girl to you. After we talk over some possible employment opportunities.”
The seething vampire stilled.
“That’s better. Originally, we here at Wolfram & Hart had planned to offer you full-time employment, but taking in consideration all of the personalities involved, I think a sort of job by job subcontracting offer may be more appropriate. I think you will find that our firm offers excellent benefits to it’s many types of employees.”
“No.”
“Don’t be hasty, think it over for awhile. And until then we will take excellent care of Ms. Chase,” the senior partner answered. Harlan motioned for the demon to take Cordelia out of the room.
“All of you, all of you,” Cordelia emphasized, “are truly insane.” She struggled frantically against her demon captor. She glanced around catching the eyes of the old witch. Cordelia stilled as she studied the old woman.
The old woman’s inclusion with the evil group was incognizable. “Who are you?” she asked ignoring everyone else.
“No one, seer,” the old witch answered.
“No, you are not…I am so over all of this,” Cordelia screamed clutching her head in pain. The demon dropped the writhing girl in shock; he looked frighteningly at Harlan, swearing silently that he had done nothing to cause the girl this pain. The room erupted in confusion as the Cordelia collapsed crying on the floor.
Angelus rushed to the girl. At the vampire’s lunge, one of the nervous humans let loose a bolt from his crossbow. The arrow was aimed straight for the vampire’s non-beating heart.
The old witch made a sign in the air, freezing everyone but her and Cordelia. She went over to the whimpering girl and laid a wrinkled hand over the girl’s brow chanting quietly. The pain quickly diminished at her soft touch.
Cordelia blinked her eyes at the old woman. “Who are you? You are not part of the evil lawyers,” she gasped.
“No. I am here to right a wrong from long ago and to guide you. The vision, did you understand it.”
“Yes.” Cordelia got up and stood in front of the frozen body of Angelus. She reached out to touch his face and smiled.
“Can you do it, little one,” the old woman asked compassionately. Cordelia stood quietly staring at the face of the vampire she loved with all her heart and soul. When Angelus wasn’t growling, talking, or killing, he was Angel.
“Seer, you hesitate.”
“No, not at all, but what about Wesley and Gunn. If the vision is wrong. I am dead and Angelus will go after them.”
“And if the vision is right,” the old witch asked.
Cordelia turned to the old woman. “Right or wrong, I will be happy, but if it is wrong,” she scrunched up her face. “I love them, too. I don’t want them to be hurt.”
“You cannot control their destiny, only yours and that of the ensouled one. This is your destiny. Do you it accept it?”
“I always have. But will he,” she smiled stroking Angelus’ handsome face.
“That is for the fates to decide.”
“Fate, shmate. Let’s get this melodramatic soap opera over with.” Cordelia turned to the old woman. “Do it.”
The old gypsy smiled and gestured again. A small dagger materialized in the air. The room erupted again in confusion as Cordelia fell to the ground with the dagger protruding from her chest.
Chapter Thirty
Angelus growled. Something had happened to him. He had been blinded to sight and sound, but for a brief instance he had felt the warmth of his seer’s touch on his face. He knew it and wanted it back. But now her essence was fading from his mind.
In an almost panicked rage, he looked for the girl. Angelus stilled, then erupted in renewed rage as he saw his seer lying on the ground dying with a dagger stuck in her chest.
Harlan looked in puzzlement as the vampire rushed to the fallen seer, crushing her to his chest. Something happened, something he didn’t understand, but something that didn’t bode well for him, he thought in self-preservation, as he observed the rage exude from the vampire.
Harlan motioned to his followers to leave. “Darla, I would suggest you leave, also,” he said quietly to the blonde vampire limping towards the vampire and the girl. “Angelus, will be upset when she dies,” he understated.
The blonde shot a look of pure hatred to the couple on the floor, but agreed with Harlan’s assessment of the situation.
Chapter Thirty-One
The room was empty, except for the dying girl, Angelus and the old woman. Angelus growled to the old woman. He instinctively knew that she was the one that had killed his property. His yellow eyes glared at her. “I will kill you, after a very long time,” he threatened.
The old gypsy looked at the vampire with compassion and no fear. “Maybe, but my soul knows where it is going. Just like the seer’s soul knows. Her soul will be free to complete her destiny. Granted it was a little sooner than the powers had hoped. But she is now leaving this world to be with her soulmate.”
“She has no mate, only me. She belongs to me.”
“Her body, maybe. But her soul belongs to the soul you so willingly destroyed. The seer will join Angel. Their souls will become one and be happy.”
“No,” Angelus growled. “Cordy will not die.” Angelus knew how to keep her on this earth. He leaned into bite her neck, to hurry the loss of blood and then he would truly make her his forever. Damn, Angel and his soul, he would not take his Cordy.
***
Cordelia heard all that was happening. She smiled sadly up at the soul that was waiting for her to join him. “You know, soul guy, I think all your brains went with the soul. He just doesn’t get it, does he.”
“Cordelia, are you sure?”
“Please, Angel. I am sure he doesn’t have any brains.”
Angel’s soul chuckled. “No, are you sure you want this.”
“Get real,” she smiled at her own statement, gazing at the glow of Angel’s soul. “Angel, you have be gone less than two days and I have been beaten, bit, threatened and nobody will feed me, and anyway I love you. I just want to be where I belong, home.” Her essence grew brighter as she moved closer to the awaiting joyful soul.
Suddenly, Cordelia’s essence dimmed as she felt Angelus fangs pierce her skin. “Oh, he wouldn’t would he. Damn, you both ‘grr’ guys for your truly possessive natures,” she griped. “Hold on, Angel, I will be back.”
Cordelia’s spirit was drawn back into her body. Blood pooled in her mouth as she tried to speak. “Angelus,” she choked. Angelus lifted his mouth from her throat as her heard her weak voice. “Angelus, listen to me. You can have the body, I guess, if you want it, but who I am belongs to your soul. Turn me, and I will just be another Darla or Drusilla, but with better fashion sense,” she laughed choking on her own blood.
“Angelus, turn me and you will never get what you have been ranting and raving for, my touch may become enthusiastic but it will be cold, forever. Oh, do what you want,” she said in exasperation. “I am tired. I am going to Angel,” she said willing her essence back to Angel.
Angelus looked at the old woman in confusion. “She wants to die.”
“No, she wants to be with your soul. Your soul has left this plane, so that is were she will go. That’s all. I imagine if your soul was still on this plane, she would fight death itself to remain at your side. But you hate your soul and destroyed it, thereby killing this girl. Let her die, do the truly good thing and let her go.”
“No.”
“Then don’t, but the girl will never be yours. But…”
“But, what? There is a way, tell me you old bitch.”
“Accept your soul. Be Angel for her.”
“No.” Angelus backed away from Cordelia’s body. “I will never accept the soul, not even for…NO.”
“Then don’t. She doesn’t care anymore, she is happy.”
Angelus stared at the dying girl. The damn girl was smiling as she gasped her last breath. Angelus went into her mind. He saw her vital, young and warm running towards his other self. Angel’s soul was glowing; his arms outstretched ready to catch her when she finally died.
“No,” Angelus thought, Angel would not win.
“Do it,” he demanded of the old woman.
“I can’t do a thing,” she answered calmly. “It’s all up to you. But you should hurry once their souls are joined on the other plane, it will be too late.”
Angelus went back into Cordelia’s mind. He saw himself there behind the running girl. Angelus lunged forward and grabbed at the girl. Cordelia stopped. “What do you want? Can’t you just leave me alone? It is too late; I am going to be with Angel.”
“You are mine,” he growled. He forced his feelings of desire and possessiveness onto the girl.
“Oh, I guess, sort of…Believe me, this body,” she gestured to her corporeal form, “needs and revels in that bodies touch,” she said pointing to Angelus’ body. “But, it is him,” she said pointing to Angel’s glowing soul, “that makes me whole, not these,” she said gesturing back to their bodies. “You can’t give me that, so bye,” she said happily running closer to Angel’s light.
Angelus growled in panic, “Fine, soul boy. You want back. Fine. My Cordy will not die.”
“I think you mean our Cordy.” Angel’s soul raced into Angelus’ body.
Cordelia gasped. “Angel, don’t leave me,” she cried out as Angelus and Angel’s soul disappeared. “No, no, no, ” she screamed suddenly alone.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Angel gathered Cordelia’s body in his arms. “She is still dying,” he glared in anguish at the old gypsy.
“Well, she was fatally stabbed.”
Angel growled in rage at the old woman. Soul or not he was still a vampire and his instincts were urging him to kill the old woman.
Unfazed the old witch said, ” I suggest that you take your seer to the hospital. Like I said, I am sure she will fight death itself to remain at your side,” she smiled. “Welcome back Angel. And this time, forever. Take care of her, she has a strong and beautiful soul,” she bent and laid a gentle kiss on Cordelia’s forehead.
“You better hurry, she is dying.” The old gypsy walked calmly out the door, satisfied that all would be well.
***
Angel wanted to kill the old woman, but he had more important things to do. The vampire with a soul picked up Cordelia and moved quickly to the door. “Sh, Cordy, it will be okay, I promise,” he choked into her still body.
“Hold it right there, fang-boy,” Gunn shouted pointing a very deadly flame thrower at the vampire. Wesley was standing next to Gunn, he stared in sorrow at Cordelia’s limp form in the vampire’s arms.
“Get out of my way,” Angel growled. Gunn didn’t move.
“Let the girl go.”
In gameface, Angel growled to the former watcher, “Damn’t Wesley, she is dying. We have to get her the hospital.”
Wesley stood stunned. “Angel?”
“Wesley, please,” Angel growled and begged at the same time.
“Oh my god, Gunn put that thing down. Let’s go.” Wesley ran leading the way out fo Wolfram & Hart.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Angel stood outside the ICU staring through the glass window at Cordelia lying in the hospital bed. He ignored all attempts from the hospital staff or from Wesley to get him to return to the waiting area. Angel just stood and stared.
Though his eyes never left the pale and fragile form hooked up to the machines, his mind and thoughts were focused on the essence that was Cordelia. Her essence was still present, but it was weak and fading. Angel tried to grab onto its core, forcing it to acknowledge his presence and gain strength from it.
Wesley and Gunn stood off to the side of the hospital corridor watching Angel in his vigilance.
“I don’t understand,” Gunn whispered to the former watcher.
“I don’t either. I have no idea how Angel got his soul back,” answered Wesley.
“No, what I don’t understand is how you can just accept him as being back. Even if he has a ‘soul’ now, he did that,” he nodded his head aggressively towards the ICU. “Cordelia is going to die, because of that vampire,” Gunn whispered harshly.
Wesley didn’t answer right away. He could emphasize with the young man’s feelings. A part of Wesley had agreed with Gunn that both Angel and Angelus’ actions had brought Cordelia to this stage.
Wesley recalled what the surgeon had told them earlier. The doctor had explained to them that the four hour procedure to repair the damage caused by the dagger was successful, but he cautioned that her vital signs were weak and that she had lost a lot of blood. They had attempted a transfusion, but the girl’s body rejected the foreign blood supply, even though it was the same type.
Wesley had asked if Cordelia would die. The doctor answered truthfully that he didn’t know.
He explained that while she wouldn’t accept the transfusion, her own blood cells were multiplying at an astonishing rate. If it continued at that speed, he explained, she could manufacture her own blood supply in sufficient time to save her. No, he said it wasn’t really the blood loss that had him concerned, but the decreasing signs of brain activity.
If the downward spiral continued, she would be at best a vegetable, at worse, her other bodily functions would follow suit and shut down. The doctor was sympathetic but not encouraging, as he explained that there was nothing left to be done for the girl except wait.
Wesley remembered the burst of pure hatred he felt for the vampire at that moment. But Wesley had forced his anger down, because he knew that with a soul, Angel was a good man/vampire, whatever. Wesley had to trust that Angel was back and that everything would be okay.
Wesley took a deep breath and faced the street kid. “We still don’t know what exactly happened in that penthouse. We don’t know if Angelus did this to Cordelia. Stabbing doesn’t seem to be in his normal style. But it doesn’t really matter right now, Angel has his soul and we need to support both him and Cordelia.”
“If she dies?”
“She won’t, she can’t.” Wesley returned. Wesley prayed that to be true. If Cordelia died he wasn’t sure he could forgive the vampire, but if he didn’t forgive Angel, then the vampire would be alone.
And Wesley wasn’t sure what that would do to the vampire.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Cordelia was in the strange place scared and alone. It was the same place that she had been in before with Angel’s soul. She hadn’t noticed then how truly immense the area was, Angel and Angelus’ presence had seemed to overfill the place.
But now the vast area was so empty. A translucent mist filled the space and Cordelia could feel a light breeze flowing around her. The fog-like substance and the cool soft wind seemed to lull her into a state of tranquility. The glowing light at the far end of the area beckoned to her.
Cordelia intuitively knew that in the light, she would find peace. Fear and pain would never touch her in that place. Cordelia started to move towards the calming radiance, then hesitated. Cordelia would never be afraid again if she went into the light, but she would be alone without Angel to complete her.
This is not right, she cried. The vision didn’t show anything about her being separated from Angel. She was supposed to be with Angel’s soul, either in the light or in the physical world. “No,” she cried. She wasn’t going to stand for this.
Damning the Powers, Cordelia ran through the idyllic setting away from the incandescent glow. Cordelia saw a small doorway expanding in front of her. Through the opening she saw her body lying on the hospital bed. As she got closer, she could sense Angel calling for her, begging her to take his strength.
“I am coming,” she called out to the vampire. However, no matter how hard or fast she ran she couldn’t get closer. After what seemed like forever she stopped. Cordelia slumped to the ground exhausted and beaten.
Cordelia sobbed into her chest, she couldn’t reach Angel. Maybe, she thought in resignation, she should just accept the light. Cordelia cried harder as she felt her bond with Angel becoming more and more faint.
NO, she could do this; she had to do this, she swore, wiping the tears from her face. Cordelia concentrated on Angel, wishing and willing herself closer to the entranceway. Oh god, she cried, she couldn’t do it alone.
“Angel, help,” she cried out loud.
***
Wesley and Gunn looked up as Angel ran towards the door. They started to move to the vampire, but a nurse reached him first. The nurse grabbed at the vampire’s arm.
“Sir, you can’t go in there,” she cautioned. “The patient needs rest,” she demanded.
“Shit,” Wesley said under his breath as he saw Angel turn on the nurse growling. Wesley reached their side, right as Angel was about to pick up the nurse and forcibly remove her from his path.
“Er, excuse me,” he said effectively blocking the vampire. “Go, Angel,” he said in a low tone. Wesley took the shocked nurse off to the side.
“You will have to excuse him, he gets over excited sometimes and he is really worried. Newlyweds and all, you understand.” He smiled charmingly at the young nurse.
“But…But, he…” she stuttered.
“Growled, I know, it’s a nervous condition. He didn’t mean anything personal. Let’s just bend the rules this one instant, okay?” He tried the smile again.
“Um, okay,” she said, seeing that Angel was already at Cordelia’s bedside. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to be one to go in and try to get him to leave.