Part 6<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s Apartment<\/b><\/p>\n
Okay…\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel rubbed his temple in confusion. This, guy- Sandefer- had just entered his home, telling him to stop looking for Cordelia because he did not want to die. He had to be a raving loony! Drusilla had been crazy, but that was expected and often funny. Sandefer did not amuse him at all. \u201cSo let me get this straight. You want me to stop looking for Cordelia because you don\u2019t want to die?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he nonchalantly agreed, \u201cThat\u2019s correct.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel leaned forward, his hooded gaze inquisitive. \u201cWell, just you telling me to stay away from her is an open invitation for me to kill you.\u201d He smiled at the idea. He couldn\u2019t help it. But to his surprise, Sandefer merely smiled back at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, it\u2019s a little confusing, but allow to assure you that it will make sense once I explain myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fair enough. \u201cFor your sake I surely hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sendai, Japan<\/b><\/p>\n
It had been two whole days since she had arrived in Japan. Two whole days of resting and meditation. And frankly- she tired of mediation!<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0daisofu<\/i>, Jun Yoshino, had finally taken pity on her, seeing her tired and weary from outside of his home. Tradition aside, he had succumbed to his role as a grandparent, and had welcomed her into his home. That didn\u2019t necessarily mean that after a nice bath and some rest (and Momiji\u2019s cooking), that he was going to let her off the hook that easily. Sure enough, the next day she was back in that temple. Meditating.<\/p>\n
And he wonders why I\u2019ve abandoned Buddhism<\/i>, she thought. Meditation, humming- it was so not her thing. It\u2019s boring!<\/p>\n
Not only that, but he still had told her how he knew she had fought a vampire back in Sunnydale. Banging her foot against the base of her futon in frustration, Cordelia let out a howl pain, when her big toe collided with the wood base. \u201cSon of a bit-!\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u2019d forgotten about that thing!<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s Apartment<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you go ahead and tell me what Cordelia has to do with you dying,\u201d Angel suggested. \u201cAfter all, you did say you couldn\u2019t stay that long.\u201d That of course, came out a little more snide than he wanted, but- what did he care at this point.<\/p>\n
In all of this, Sandefer\u2019s expression had remained calm and collected. The man seemed to be made of ice, his Crayola gray eyes void of emotion. \u201cVery well, Angel.\u201d Sandefer leaned back in his seat, preparing for his tale. \u201cMy current form of employment, is that of a eradicator. Actually a mercenary by trade, but I prefer eradicator.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not just go by \u2018killer\u2019 or \u2018murderer\u2019?\u201d Angel did not like were this was going. Eradicator and mercenary.<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds more sophisticated.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll by that<\/i>, Angel thought in agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyway,\u201d Sandefer continued, \u201cI\u2019ve recently been hired by an extremely powerful man. He\u2019s virtually untouchable.\u201d Gray eyes still unfathomable. Didn\u2019t this man have any expression?<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of my job was completed two days ago, when I eliminated two targets.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two women from Sunnydale Airport. This was definitely tied to Cordelia.<\/p>\n
This time there was emotion. It was fear. He\u2019d just seen Angel\u2019s eyes flash their demon yellow. \u201cBefore you decide to rip my throat out with those fangs that are, without a doubt, itching- allow me to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sendai, Japan<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cJapan can bite my ass! Japan can bite my ass!\u201d Cordelia sang to herself, as she rummaged through her drawers for a pair of black lycra pants. If she was going to channel her inner-self again for the umpteenth time since her arrival, she was going to be comfy.<\/p>\n
Oh, course she really didn\u2019t mean that about Japan, but the futon had hurt her toe and it\u00a0was<\/i>\u00a0in Japan.<\/p>\n
Pulling on a red tank top, Cordelia hobbled over to the vanity table and looked into the mirror. Her bruises from the Master were gone. Completely. This was not normal at all!\u00a0But it\u2019s a good thing<\/i>, she thought happily to herself. Pain didn\u2019t seem to last long with her anymore, and the proof was with her toe. It had stopped throbbing. She knew this was a benefit from her slayer-ness and to be honest- Bonus!<\/p>\n
\u201cI like slayer healing! La la la!\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s Apartment<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cOh, don\u2019t worry,\u201d Angel growled. \u201cI\u2019ll let you finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch obliged.\u201d Nothing really seemed to faze this man- expect of course the prospect of dying, which was somehow tied to Cordelia. \u201cSo,\u201d he continued. \u201cI\u2019d just completed the first wave of my assignment, when my- employer informed me of what was next on the list. I want you know, that I had no idea what was going to transpire or what would soon be required of myself and my associates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now this was getting interesting<\/i>, Angel decided, as he reached over for his glass of blood. He figured the guy wouldn\u2019t mind, as long has he was not feasting on him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd because of the fact that I did not know, I\u2019ve come to warn you. For my sake. Granted, that\u2019s highly selfish, but you\u2019re looking at an assassin for hire. And I work for good money.\u201d Sandefer shifted around, as if trying to get comfortable with his words. \u201cIf you or any of the others, tied to Buffy Summers, continue in your investigation of Cordelia Chase\u2019s whereabouts, actions will be taken.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of actions?\u201d<\/p>\n
Meeting Angel fully in the eye, Sandefer elaborated, \u201cAt this moment, my associates-\u00a0eradicators<\/i>\u00a0as well- are tracking six individuals who are closely tied to you.\u201d He gave a small smile, cocking his head to the side. \u201cThey are, Jennifer Calendar, Rupert Giles, Alexander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, Joyce Summers- and one, Buffy Summers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sendai, Japan<\/b><\/p>\n
She was, for the first time since that awful day in Sunnydale, in a good mood. Her face was back to it\u2019s unblemished perfection, and she was away from her parents. She knew neither Jun nor Momiji would contact them at all. It was liberating.<\/p>\n
Cordelia grabbed her white tennis shoes, and slipped them on, humming another tune as she tied her laces. Going to the mirror again (she still did not believe the reflection), she flipped her chestnut curls in buoyancy and bounced out into the hallway. It was almost dinner, but Jun wanted to talk to her first.<\/p>\n
Maybe her old-fashioned\u00a0jiisan<\/i>\u00a0was finally going to spill the bananas about what was going on with her. You can\u2019t just tell a girl you know something and then not deliver. It was rude.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s Apartment<\/b><\/p>\n
If his blood wasn\u2019t already cold with lack of body heat, it would have turned to ice in his veins. \u201cYou\u2019ll have them marked for execution?\u201d He quietly asked, his hard gaze never leaving Sandefer\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Nodding in confirmation, \u201cYes, and they\u00a0will<\/i>\u00a0be killed if you continue your search for the Slayer. You see,\u201d he said, his voice solemn in his confession. \u201cShould either one of them be hurt by any of my team, I know you will hunt me down and kill me. Had I known that we would be involved with acquaintances of Angelus, I\u2019d have never taken the job. Your reputation precedes itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s afraid of me<\/i>, Angel realized, trying to control the sinister smiling twitching at the corners of this mouth. He found that notion profoundly satisfying.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy employer knew that you would eventually be led to the airport and would question around about the Slayer, so he wanted anyone who had close contact with her eliminated. So, I was brought in immediately to handle the \u2018problem\u2019 of the ticket agent, Sybil Warner, and the gate coordinator, Gillian Richards. I\u2019ve done these kinds of jobs for years, so I never questioned what the motives were or who these people were. It was because of the history of this town, that one of my associates did a little investigating.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo your employer, wants Cordelia\u2019s location to remain hidden?\u201d Angel gripped his glass of blood, not even noticing that the glass was cracking. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no idea,\u201d Sandefer replied. \u201cAll I know is that he has gone to great extent to make sure her whereabouts continue to be unknown.\u201d A bitter smile appeared on his face. \u201cHe has even gone so far as to alter our contracts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Contracts. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re killers for hire, Angel, and we are contracted out to do our jobs. And we\u2019re very good at it. But this is the first time we\u2019ve ever been contracted by someone with a knowledge of magicks.\u201d Sandefer\u2019s face darkened with worry and curiosity. As if he had a mystery to solve with no clues to aid him. \u201cWe don\u2019t know who he is, but he has assured us that should I fail in deterring you away from Cordelia\u2019s location,\u00a0steps<\/i>\u00a0shall be taken. In fact they are already underway.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd these \u2018steps\u2019 are to kill Buffy\u2019s friends?\u201d Angel didn\u2019t like the grim smile creeping on Sandefer’s\u00a0ordinary<\/i>\u00a0face. Grim was bad.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve already been targeted,\u201d he said quietly, his crayon-gray eyes finding an interesting spot on the floor. Taking in a shaking breath, Sandefer brought his gaze back to Angel\u2019s. \u201cFour of my best agents have already been assigned to track Alexander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, Joyce Summers and her daughter, Buffy Summers. If you pursue Cordelia Chase they will executed without hesitation. My job was to come and inform you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally losing his measure, Angel\u2019s glass of blood burst under the unrelenting pressure of his fist.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do wish you could see your face, Angel,\u201d Sandefer laughed. Genuinely laughed! \u201cIt is a terrible fright. I know who and what you are. That is why I have come with my purpose, in that I don\u2019t want to die. Even if I tried to call them off, they cannot withdraw because of their contract. It\u2019s the spell, you see? The contract we agreed to forbids us from defecting against our employer, but that doesn\u2019t mean I can\u2019t warn you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rip is throat out! Gorge on his blood, make him crawl in agony\u2026 Angel could feel his fangs tingling, his eyes turning gold with hate and blood lust. He wanted nothing more than to let go, to be the demon he truly was. To show\u00a0him<\/i>\u00a0what he could do and how long he could make it last!<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I know, should any four of those individuals die by our guns,\u201d Sandefer continued, cocking his head to the side at the shift in Angel\u2019s expression. He knew the vampire was on the verge. \u201c-you will stop at nothing to destroy us…\u00a0Angelus<\/i>. Jennifer Calendar and Rupert Giles would be next on the list. So, for the sake of those people walk away. My employer is more than protective of Miss Chase, he\u2019s possessive. He\u2019s been tracking her for years, and he will know if you continue your search.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s to stop me from killing you know, Sandefer?\u201d Angel gritted out, heedless of the blood dripping down his hand. There was glass imbedded in his palm, but he felt nothing. \u201cCause I could do it. Real easy. Pigs blood hasn\u2019t been too filling lately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sandefer smiled pleasantly. \u201cHe\u2019ll be checking in soon. If I don\u2019t answer, the killing will begin. It\u2019s really very simple, Angel. Kill me, they die. Track Cordelia Chase, they die. And once again, if they die, I know you\u2019d find me and kill me. Endless circle of death, that can be prevented only by you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel knew this man was right. They had another player who was three steps ahead of them. And if he, Giles, and the others didn\u2019t back off soon, Buffy, her mother and her friends would be as dead as the poor girls from the airport. And he didn\u2019t even want to think about what Sandefer\u2019s \u2018employer\u2019 had in mind for Cordelia. \u201cYou\u2019re going to have to give me something. I need to know if she\u2019s safe, if she\u2019s alive!\u201d<\/p>\n
He considered this for a moment, as if trying to weigh his options. Just as long as he doesn\u2019t go after her. \u201cWell, I wasn\u2019t informed that I could not tell where she was. You\u2019re just not supposed to go to her. Now, you must promise to send no one after her. Absolutely no one, and I\u2019ll tell you. Agreed?<\/p>\n
\u201cFine.\u201d He figured it was something, just knowing where she was.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s safe, most likely happy. She\u2019s gone to Japan. I\u2019ll not tell you\u00a0where<\/i>\u00a0exactly, but that\u2019s where she\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Japan.<\/p>\n
\u201cOdd, isn\u2019t it? From what I\u2019ve heard about the girl, one might have figured France or Italy. Fashionville. But no- she\u2019s gone to the home of the samurai.\u201d If Angel didn\u2019t know any better, judging by the faraway look Sandefer got in his eye, it seemed as he was slightly curious in finding her, too.<\/p>\n
Not<\/i>\u00a0his\u00a0slayer<\/i>. My slayer. For once Angel found himself in accord with his demon. In fact, he really liked the idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow,\u201d Sandefer declared, with a satisfied huff. \u201cI\u2019ll be on my way.\u201d Finding his footing, he began walking to the door, a slight prance in his stride. \u201cWouldn\u2019t want to keep him waiting. Who would have thought being late for a phone call would prove fatal to some people?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Sandefer. It may not be me that kills you one day, but I promise you will die.\u201d Angel turned in his seat, not bothering to get up. The smile on his face was pure Angelus.<\/p>\n
The years had made him a smart man, a genius by many standards. He knew Death, and he saw it the vampire\u2019s eyes, that his time would come. \u201cMaybe. But not today or anytime soon.\u201d And with that, he opened the door and walked out.<\/p>\n
He gets one more day extra of life for not slamming the door. Angel grinned in sinister amusement. \u201cHe never said I couldn\u2019t track down his \u2018employer\u2019, now\u00a0did<\/i>\u00a0he?\u201d He didn\u2019t like hearing that his man was possessive over Cordelia. Didn\u2019t like it one bit.<\/p>\n