***
Overhead the sky was clear of all but a few scudding clouds to mar the moon in its bed of star-studded ink. Around them, boxy blocks of darker shadow squatted along the sidewalk in unrelieved black, all except for one at the furthest end from where they sat and watched.
“How come they got lights?” asked a disgruntled Gunn from the backseat of the Plymouth.
Scrunched between Nabbit and the more robust Charles Gunn, Wesley peered up and across the street with the night vision goggles firmly in place, “There are several sites all over the city with power. Obviously somebody in that club has a connection with Wolfram & Hart.”
He clicked, “That the evil law firm you mentioned?”
Huddled in her jacket for warmth, it was Cordelia that answered the young street fighter, piping up from the front passenger seat, “One and the same, Evil Inc in the flesh, or undead flesh- take your pick.”
Her accompanying shrug was eloquent. She’d been quiet until then and content to let the guys bicker in the back, feeling a little guilty and wondering if maybe she should have suggested Wesley sit in front with Angel. But proprietary feelings for both her seat and the vampire next to her had kept the offer between Cordelia’s teeth.
I can’t believe I nearly told Angel I love him. What boil on the brain did that seep out from? Ugh, thank God for Wesley and his habit of interrupting. Okay, I care about Angel and Wes in my own way, but that’s a *long* way from being all sappy and in lurve- yuck.
As they watched, the front doors of the club opened to emit a trio of staggering vamps amidst a pumping beat. “Hey, isn’t that the Blade soundtrack?” asked David Nabbit, a thoughtful frown flitting over his face.
Smiling Cordelia slid Angel a sly look, “Unfortunately, yeah. Kinda blows away the illusion about vamps being cool doesn’t it? If you were dumb enough to have any that is.” It was a low blow but genuine opportunities to take a pop at Angel’s vamp mystique were rare, or so she reasoned. Besides she needed the distraction from her own thoughts.
Unlike the old Queen C days of not so long ago her tone was full of mischief. He took it in that vein and merely met her bright gaze with a sardonic one of his own, “Very funny, let’s concentrate shall we,” the ever so slight glint of a smile in Angel’s eyes didn’t reach sculpted lips, “Lots of bad guys and one stolen time-machine, remember.”
After a beat he dragged his gaze off hers, realizing that for the first time he needed the reminder himself. Chest still tight with leftover worry, all he could put it down to was that too much was happening too quickly without any respite to assimilate it. Cordelia nearly dying ranked pretty high on that list and despite the urgency, Angel had trouble pulling his preternatural senses away from listening to and monitoring her life signs. Lucky for the both of them he didn’t need to feel for a pulse.
The Plymouth was parked a couple of blocks down from the booming club, close enough for them to watch the comings and goings, but with sufficient distance not to be noticeable with the lights off. Slouched down inside they were all wearing dark clothing with even the usually colorful Cordelia having dressed for the occasion in a navy tracksuit and padded jacket.
She still looked pretty hot. Discomforted, Angel pretended he’d been checking out the alley across the street and that she was merely in his line of sight. When his eyes kept wanting to stray back, he gave up and palming the keys opened his door, “I’ll go check it out and come back.”
Heedless of his wanting to escape, Cordelia wasn’t having any of it and neither were the others, starting a mass exodus from the car, “We’ll all go, it’s better to stick together-“
Angel blocked her sliding out from his side and kept a firm hold of the door so she couldn’t bypass him; “Like you said they’re vamps- so am I…and that means I get to recon and you get to wait for me here.”
Standing with one arm bracing on the rear seat cushion Wesley frowned, flanked still by the other two human men. Gunn, deciding he’d had his personal space crushed enough for one night, ignored the vampire to vault over the Plymouths gleaming black hide, landing squarely on booted feet.
Then, aggressive as usual he drove his point home, “I don’t know about the others, but I ain’t getting left behind to sit like some lameass and wait on you. I’m going too.” Gunn didn’t care what they said about this vampire, he didn’t trust him.
Meanwhile before Angel could do more than work up a scowl, Cordelia planted a hand on his solar plexus and shoved hard enough that if he breathed he’d have collapsed like a balloon, “I’m not staying behind either. I feel like a meal waiting to happen just sitting here.”
As added incentive she jiggled her heavy backpack, “Besides I have the supplies remember?”
She didn’t add preferring to keep him in sight, which if she thought about it was probably a throw back to the days she spent pacing the office floor while he was out fighting the latest demony uprising. One of the problems with growing close to Angel was he stopped being the omnipotent vamp champion and started being a dust cloud waiting to happen if she wasn’t there to personally prevent it.
The logic of her preferring to get closer to the vamp-infested club escaped him, and maybe if he wasn’t distracted yet again by the lingering warmth of her hand on his body, Angel would have said something to that effect. As it was he simply gave her a blank look and retreated up the sidewalk, tossing back over a leather-coated shoulder, “Fine, just try not to attract a horde.”
Yeah, right. Rolling her eyes Cordelia refrained from commenting on the absurdity of that comment and simply stood up and smiled reassuringly at a visibly terrified David Nabbit.
His Adams apple bobbled under that smile, “Look, why don’t I stay here? I mean, you guys are the expert and I’ll just y’know, get in the way.”
Taking his elbow Cordelia gave the limb a reassuring squeeze and advised, “David, trust me, staying in the car alone is not a great idea.”
Following in Angel’s wake, she fixed a questioning look at the newest member of their group, still trying to decide if she trusted him or not, “Are you sure about this stool-pigeon of yours? I mean, it’d be a disaster if this turns out to be a waste—”
“I’m sure. Lee’s an old friend and he’s solid.” That was possibly the only thing about this mess Gunn was certain of. “If he says he recognized the demons and they hang out here- then I believe him.”
Scowling and picking up his pace, Gunn left the too-pretty white girl behind, edgily aware of the sharp intelligence shining out of those eyes. All he could think was how come she never looked at her demon boss with such suspicion? It didn’t make any sense to him.
“Okaayy,” pursing her lips and watching him eat up the distance to catch up with Angel of all non-people, Cordelia raised both brows and turning asked Wesley, “What’s got him so spooked? Geeze, touchy much?”
Wesley was only too happy to offer an opinion; “I can only put it down to hormones. It’s that awkward age.”
Still hanging onto Nabbit, Cordelia’s grin stretched from ear to ear, “Bitchee…I’m impressed, Wes.”
“Thank you, I have my moments.”
***
Angel led them up a side street, coming out on an alley running alongside the club. Approaching slow and cautious with their backs pressed to the wall and hugging the shadows, they watched as vamps cavorted outside the open doorway, spilling out light and noise. This close, they could hear the screams of terror and pain layered under the heavy beat.
“Sounds like they’re having a real party in there, shame to break it up,” said Cordy sarcastically, slapping Angel’s shushing hand away and meeting his pointed glare with a sharper look of her own that just screamed. Don’t you shush me!
Already annoyed by her stubbornness, Angel stopped to hiss at her, “If you don’t like it, go back to the car.”
Unfazed, since she’d already got her own way she shook her head, “And let you go in alone with just these guys, um… no. You need a woman to inject some sense into you.”
The five of them where huddled in a tight group to minimize visibility while they sussed out the opposition. There was that pointed look at him again, realized Gunn irritably. What the hell did she mean by that? The reckless impulses surging through his body seemed to sense her disapproval and wilted a little.
Wesley was much less affected and his retort was coolly laconic, “This from the woman who barged in on one of the most unpredictable forces known to man or demon, and then laid down the law?”
“Easy peasy,”
“Will you guys just shut-up, or do you really want to get caught?”
At the fierce tone of that reprimand, Wesley just about managed not to shuffle his feet like a naughty schoolboy. Cordelia simply mimed a zipper over her lush lips and fluttered her lashes; dimly wondering why getting a rise out of him was twice as much fun as it used to be. Then it dawned on her and she relaxed. This is so not love. Love is doe eyes and calf looks, and eeww with the farm animals- way too House on the Prairie for me.
Bemused, it took a snap of terse fingers in front of his face for Angel to realize he’d been staring nonplussed at Cordelia. Turning to face an impatient Gunn, he blinked and resorted to stone-face.
“Are we gonna stand here all night, or save the damned world already?”
“Right; save the world,” shaking his head to clear it, Angel tucked Cordy’s playfulness to the back of his mind. A long scrutinizing look later his expression turned thoughtful, “By the looks of it the entrance fee is bring your own dinner.”
Grimacing, Cordelia could tell where he was heading, “Ugh-God! I hate playing cringing bait; it goes against my nature. Can I pretend to resist?” She was only half joking.
Wesley was unconvinced at best, “Angel, I don’t know if that will work. You may look quite the bruiser, but three men and a woman could be taking it too far.”
Buoyed up by the genesis of a plan Angel gave a rare smile, “Slurring my vamphood, Wes? Shame on you,” a deep growl accompanied the last and Gunn and Nabbit instinctively took a few steps back from the revealed vampire within. The smile turned feral, making Nabbit almost swallow his tongue, “Just try and look cowed, okay.”
“Man, I could never get used to that,” Gunn shook his head at Wes, “Does he do that a lot?”
***
The club was a mass of bodies and not a pretty sight if you weren’t into S&M or blood letting generally; in other words a demon paradise. The dance floor was heaving and spilled out into the walkways and corners with a sea of pale hands raised in ecstasy, as if trying to catch the stray beams of strobe light that pierced the gloom in staccato flashes.
Unknown hands grabbed at her as Cordelia followed Angel and more than once the vampire had to bare his fangs to get them to reluctantly let loose. Already tense, Gun got tenser when he noticed a female vamp eyeing him up and down, analyzing every inch with hungry fervor.
Wesley was suffering the same kind of perusal. Concerned, he tapped the vampire on the shoulder “Um, Angel can we hurry up because I have the distinct impression that the idea of ownership is too authoritarian for such democratic vampires as these.”
Worried too, Angel threw up his hands and spun in a circle, searching the walls for exit signs, “I’m trying. Anybody spot a door conveniently marked private, let me know, okay?” The blood laden air of the club wasn’t exactly helping him concentrate either he realized as his head spun with renewed hunger.
“Got one,” grabbing his arm Cordelia pointed ahead and to the right, “Just past the cage, see it?”
The cage was being emptied of its last doomed occupant as a burly vampire, dressed ridiculously like Elvis, picked up the terrified man by his ragged clothes and threw him into the hysterical and impatient crowd. The poor human was gone in seconds, dragged screaming to the floor.
Sickened by the sight, Cordelia grimly suggested, “What say we get this done and get out of here before they realize they’re out of chow?” Nobody disagreed.
“C’mon,” Angel led the way, pushing past the clinging vamps to surge through feeling the urgency of the situation escalate by the second. It didn’t take a genius to guess that if this went off, then it would go off in a big way and none of them would have a chance against such odds.
As they moved Angel snagged a hand of Cordy’s tightly in one of his, keeping her tucked in close then leant even closer to ask, “You still have the smoke bombs don’t you?”
***
Lenka was on pins. “How long does it take to check out an itty-bitty piece of metal?” Trademark leather this time in cream creaked as she paced from the door and back again, shooting the innocent wood a baleful glare.
“Calm yourself, Lenka. He will be done soon,” Raja advised. Not that he disagreed since the contraption did look basic, being no more impressive than an old-style movie projector. His resignation was an added irritation and one that she could at least scratch.
“Calm myself he says,” the female vampire shoved away from the wall she’d been sullenly leaning against and turned her infamous temper on the hapless red demon. Her fangs flashed as she all but spat, “Fool, this is my place and what goes on here I should know about. How they even found out about our plans is what I wanna know. If we got a rat I’ll stake ’em personally.”
When the rumor of a time machine got circulating they’d all been interested, an interest that hiked further when news of it being stolen by the souled vampire sped about. Stealing from the Senior Partners was one thing, but once that had already happened it was a whole new ball game; one with big cash stakes.
Forgetting about the deal she’d negotiated involving ridding LA of its do-gooder vamp, immediately Lenka had begun making plans to steal it for herself, plans that got scuppered when the order came from Wolfram & Hart to retrieve it for *them*. With no choice after the failure of the assassination attempt she’d agreed, but it still rankled like a sonovabitch and she was choking on bitterness.
Before she could really work herself up into a towering rage the harsh lights in the corridor flickered and then went steady again just as an alarm stared to blare out stridently. It was the fire alarm.
“What the fuck-“
She got no further before the door at the furthest end of the corridor banged open and a tall leather coated figure walked through it followed by four others. Topaz eyes widening Lenka stared in stark disbelief certain she was seeing a mirage as an unknown vampire invaded her private turf, followed by four…humans?
Stunningly it fell into place then and her dead heart sank seeing Angel and his cohorts stride closer as if they had every right to be there. All she could think was this couldn’t be happening, but that didn’t change the reality of the menacingly intent group heading straight for them; the vampire leading his troops with the fluorescent lights electrically stark on five dark heads.
“I want my time-machine back, Lenka.”
“How the hell did they get in here?” she hissed at Raja then tore her gaze off the new threat to look at the demon when his only response was a strangled gurgle. That was when she saw the slim shaft protruding from his throat. Speechless, she watched him topple to sprawl face down on the dirty floor with straw colored fluid pooling under his head.
One threat dealt with, Cordelia started to reload never taking her eyes off the statuesque vampiress. Angel, seeing the female shake off her shock and tense for a fight, increased his pace and Cordy kept up all the while aware of the others arrayed behind them. Bringing up the rear to protect Nabbit, Gunn rolled his shoulders with his stubborn chin bullishly thrust forward as they closed the distance. Finally it was time to rock and roll.
Unfreezing and with her wiry body going tight as a spring and ready to lunge, Lenka faltered seeing the pretty brunette load a fresh bolt into the small crossbow. The idea of charging before the human could complete the action flashed across the vampire’s mind, until she saw the knowing gleam in the souled ones eyes.
As she watched Lenka saw his lips move in silent warning, “Don’t even try it,” the others probably didn’t even hear him. It was obvious she’d never make it to the human woman.
She blinked undone by how quickly everything was unraveling. Thinking fast Lenka did a mental catalogue of options. She could try and fight her way out or maybe yell for help. The problem with both scenarios was that the first could get her staked and as for the second; with the fire alarm going off, the building would be emptying fast.
Backing away, frustration turned her already vicious visage hateful. “You’re too late,” she spat glaring, “Naddomlac is already here and he’ll crush you for this.”
Then, out of time and furious at being forced into retreat Lenka dived for the door she’d been pacing outside for over half an hour, slamming it shut with her back to the painted panels. “We got company.” She warned the tall, darkly shrouded occupant.
“I know,” a graveled voice replied.
The creature was dressed from head to toe in multiple layers of pungent grey, black and purple rags and when he moved the scrape of metal on metal came from somewhere under the mass of tattered fabric, not dissimilar to the sound of feet bound with chains.
“You know, but-” she didn’t catch on fast enough.
Another crossbow magically appeared from under the rags and before she could grasp the danger the trigger was depressed, releasing the bolt to bury deep. Doubled-over, Lenka gasped at the searing agony in her chest just as the door slammed opened with enough force to propel the vampiress forward.
The shot had missed her heart. Surrounded, the instinct to survive had Lenka giving off an enraged screech as she yanked out the bolt. Then eyes wild with equal parts blood-lust and sheer fury, she leapt at her betrayer, only to be brought up short when her elaborate braids were snagged from behind, almost tearing the strands from her scalp.
Clawing her fingers she turned and raked at Angel’s face, spitting in frenzy as her base nature took over. Nearly entwined as they grappled the air thickened with ranting curses until, both bigger and stronger, Angel peeled her off and threw her away to slam into one of two small file cabinets, dislodging the decanter of brandy perched on top to fall and shatter along with the sealed bottle of blood meant either as a chaser or mixer.
When Lenka came back at him, screeching like a maniac and holding the jagged remains of the alcohol soaked crystal aloft Angel met her with the bolt that had already pierced her flesh once before. He didn’t miss the heart.
A thick silence fell and Wesley shut the door firmly behind him, sealing them inside the small office as the gang ranged up to stare at the single demon standing between them and time machine. Face stinging from a myriad of scratches, Angel crossed his arms and sent a scathing look at the still figure of the mysterious Naddomlac.
“You need to learn to shoot, Lindsey.”
“About time you got here. I was running out of time and excuses.” Tossing back the concealing hood and peeling off the copper mask Lindsey asked, “How did you guess it was me, this stuff stinks?” *This* was the odorous rags and he held them up in case they’d missed it the first time.
“Naddomlac is an anagram of MacDonald.”
Watching the vampire struggle not to sniff up, Lindsey’s broke into an evil grin, “Nice to know you’re not as dumb as I thought.”
Cordelia was the first to recover and irrationally she was annoyed by this latest little twist. “Okay, two things; firstly only I get to insult Angel and secondly…what the hell are you doing here, evil lawyer boy, turning over a new leaf?”
Tossing the discarded mask on the room’s single desk to land next to the coveted gadget, Lindsey sneered, “Not exactly. I knew you guys were gonna fuck up, so I made back-up plans before Lenka and her buddies could spoil it. Good thing I did too.”
Unimpressed, Angel joined Wesley in his anxious inspection of the missing time machine, rudely pushing past the costumed lawyer. “We’d have got it back, so your white hat wasn’t needed, but thanks anyway.” He couldn’t have meant it less.
A tense minute later and satisfied with Wesley’s nod of relief that all was well, Angel straightened and looked Lindsey over with chillingly suspicious eyes, “So, tell me…does Holland know you’re moonlighting?”
Unrepentant, Lindsey didn’t bother trying to hide his motives, “Right now I don’t give a crap and besides if this goes the way its s’posed too, he won’t remember and I’m back as the number one protégé.”
In the tiny pause that followed while Angel mulled that over, Cordelia gave up on sentry duty and losing patience butted in, “Look, as thrilling as this all is we’re still hanging out in a vamp hot-spot. What say we move it along and save the chin-wag for somewhere a bit safer?”
Beside her Nabbit held up a single finger in a timid vote, “I like that idea.”
***
Safety was a commodity in short supply so they made do with an abandoned church a few blocks down. Built recently without concession to earlier traditions in ecclesial architecture, the structure was made of mirrored glass and red brick with a single white spire, or at least it had been. Now the glass was shattered and the red brick scored with paint in riotous colors depicting various obscenities.
Inside and grateful for the moonlight, Cordelia did a slow spin on her heels, taking it all in and she wasn’t impressed. “The Church Of The Way, what does that name mean exactly? On the way to what; heaven, hell, the nearest seven-eleven with a coffee concession? Cos, I hafta tell ya I’m not getting any paradise vibes about this place.”
The furniture that you’d expect any church to have was all gone, dragged off or burned away in the fire that had scorched the walls on all sides and still hung heavily in the air. If it hadn’t been for the wonders of flame proofing the whole place probably would have burned to a cinder.
“What’s in a name?” Gunn’s voice echoed as followed her, instinctively checking the darkest shadows and listening intently for shoe scuffs or the skittering of claws, either rodent or demon. “It’s just a place they used to control folks.”
Mentally cataloguing the bitterness Cordelia pursed her lips and shrugged, stepping back as Angel lugged in the time machine, which according to Wesley was a damn sight heavier than it looked.
It was cold and the body heat she’d built up from their walk was dissipating quickly. Hugging her arms around her body, Cordy asked the burning question, “So, what do we do, just fire it up and point it at a wall- then, hey presto, you’re back in the past?”
“Essentially, yes. We dial in the time and date we want, hit play and walk into the projection. That’s it, pretty ingenious really.” Finished with the limited assembly quicker than he’d expected thanks to David Nabbit’s assistance, Wesley’s blue eyes swept the assembled ragtag bunch whose sole ambition was to save the world. Lindsey he skipped.
Catching Angel’s slow shake of his head the Englishman understood the futility of trying to offer reassurance. They could hold a two-hour debate and still not touch the most basic of questions the idea of time travel inevitably brought up.
Nodding, Cordy swallowed back the twenty or so doubts bubbling inside. A firm sweep of a hand over the curve of her neck, pulling her in for a too brief hug did wonders for quieting the riot in her belly. Craning her neck she offered a fleeting but sincere smile of thanks to Angel now standing solid and comforting behind her. Affection from him was rare and despite her own independent nature, all the more precious for it. So, maybe I love him a little. Oh shut-up!
For all his bravado now he was here, Gunn’s nerves started to make themselves known, “Wait! Hold up a minute. If this works are we gonna wake up afterwards and not know what we did”?
It was a valid question Wesley conceded, and one he at least had an answer too. “We have some experience with changing the past, or Angel does and he kept his memory. Plus, my reading of Gundry’s notes suggest that the time-travelers themselves are exempt from the physical ramifications of whatever they change. Meaning-“
“Meaning, if you want the short version. Yeah, you’ll remember, but no one else will know what happened.”
“Yes, thank you Cordelia. I was getting to that. As I was saying we should simply return and step back into our lives, only hopefully radically different than the ones we left.”
