Part 5<\/b>\u00a0– Semper Idem<\/p>\n
Despite the common stereotype that the Los Angeles Police Department was consisted of morons and worse, they were extremely thorough. Cordelia might even go as far as saying too thorough.<\/p>\n
Detectives had questioned them all non-stop, all except Lorne, who had wisely decided to leave before they could arrive. Everyone had followed Cordelia\u2019s example: They didn\u2019t know who the girl was. As for who was responsible, it\u2019s possible that it was a former client that was dissatisfied with an investigation.<\/p>\n
Cordelia couldn\u2019t watch when the body was brought down in a bag. The image of her cold, dead eyes still haunted Cordelia whenever she closed her own. This wasn\u2019t the work of her oftentimes morose best friend. This was Angelus.<\/p>\n
Cordelia didn\u2019t fool herself like Buffy Summers had. She didn\u2019t try to separate the demon and soul into two entities. Cordelia had always known that Angel and Angelus were opposite sides of the same coin. It was like bipolar disease from hell.<\/p>\n
But she, unlike many others, accepted that the demon was part of what he was. She had to accept it, because she loved who Angel was, and the demon was part of that.<\/p>\n
But this was completely different.<\/p>\n
This was pure, 100% Angelus. There was no soul in him now. It wasn\u2019t the being that had become so important to her the past few years.<\/p>\n
She had told Angel once that if the demon was ever let loose, she wouldn\u2019t hesitate to kill him. Angel had thanked her for that. Gunn had told her that Angel had said the same not too long ago to him.<\/p>\n
Staking her best friend had long been a nightmare of hers.<\/p>\n
But bottom line, if there were no other options, she could do it in a heartbeat. She owed it to him to do so. Cordelia knew that the soul of the boy once known as Liam wouldn\u2019t forgive her if she did otherwise.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss?\u201d<\/p>\n
A female detective finally drew her attention away from her thoughts. \u201cMiss, if you have another place where you can relocate your business for a time, it would be for the best. We want to cordon off the building as a crime scene.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Cordelia said. \u201cWe can move.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d the detective replied. \u201cYou\u2019ll understand if we need to contact you or any of your associates?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Thank you detective. If you\u2019ll excuse me, I\u2019d like to speak with my friends about relocation.\u201d The detective nodded and let Cordelia go. Everyone was waiting in Wesley\u2019s office for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what happens now, my Princess?\u201d Groo asked her. Cordelia felt sorry for the man. He was in a strange land, and had no idea what was going on at the moment. He didn\u2019t understand why everyone was suddenly so afraid of Angel. The man seemed distant at times, but Groo liked him. He had excellent weapons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, it\u2019s been \u2018suggested\u2019 that we find someplace else to conduct our business for the time being.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re forcing us out?\u201d Gunn asked incredulously. \u201cThat\u2019s bullshit. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey want the entire building blocked off as a crime scene. Personally, I think it\u2019s not such a bad idea. This place is too large and Angelus has easy access. I was thinking about moving us to my apartment for now. Tara, can you do an un-invitation spell?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, no problem,\u201d Tara answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. Because Angel had a standing invitation to the place. Fred, call Lorne and tell him where we\u2019ll be at.\u201d Fred immediately grabbed the phone. \u201cI guess now we just gather up whatever books and supplies we might need. We can try to get as much as we can moved, then later I want to go see Lilah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really think this law firm may be responsible?\u201d Willow asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t a normal law firm,\u201d Gunn said. \u201cMost lawyers are blood suckers, these guys actually represent them. They specialize in demonic shit. They\u2019re the same people that raised Angel\u2019s sire from the dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been a thorn in our side for a long time,\u201d Cordelia said. \u201cI bet they\u2019re just loving Angelus being on the loose.\u201d<\/p>\n
**************
\n\u201cSo everything is being finalized for tonight\u2019s assault?\u201d Kelemoke asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe details are being ironed out,\u201d Angelus answered. \u201cTonight we shall eliminate the Hoffman clan, tomorrow it shall be Alexander. After that, I want to regroup and then concentrate efforts in the south part of Los Angeles.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kelemoke poured a couple glasses of wine and handed one to Angelus. \u201cHere, I think you will appreciate this. It\u2019s Italian. Bottled in 1876.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus grinned as he accepted the glass. \u201cI have no idea what you are referring to Kelemoke. I think that primitive African brain has finally given out on you, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBite me, you arrogant Irish pig,\u201d Kelemoke laughed. \u201cYou know exactly what I refer to. That whole \u2018Inheritance\u2019 scam you put on that Venetian girl and her father.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my finest moments,\u201d Angelus admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wooed the man and his daughter. You then convinced the old bastard to will his money to you when he died, and all the while, you fucked his daughter behind his back. You killed him and then turned the girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe townspeople saw two puncture wounds on his neck and saw his recently vampirized daughter leaning over the carcass. They reached the obvious conclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really were a conniving bastard, Angelus,\u201d Kelemoke smirked. \u201cGood to see some things never change.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSemper idem, my friend. Always the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed,\u201d Kelemoke said. \u201cIf I may ask, where did you go last night? You didn\u2019t cause any trouble, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course not,\u201d Angelus laughed. \u201cAs I said before, Kelemoke, I wish to have a Queen for my Kingdom. I had to go off to court my lady. And as you know, what\u2019s a good courtship without the giving of gifts?\u201d<\/p>\n
***********
\nLilah Morgan was tired as hell. Things at the office were always fairly hectic, but the past few weeks it was hectic to the exponent of x. All the wanted was a shot of scotch, a couple of Percodan, and a soft bed.<\/p>\n
She turned the lock on door and entered her lonely, dark apartment. She threw her briefcase to the floor, not caring where it landed. She immediately headed for the liquor cabinet. A loud clicking behind her stopped her pursuit for alcohol.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got five seconds to tell me what the hell you did to Angel before I pierce your skull with this crossbow.\u201d<\/p>\n
************
\nAn easy battle was like a bad fuck, Angelus thought. Sure, you got off on it, but it just wasn\u2019t as powerful an experience.<\/p>\n
Defeating the Hoffman Clan proved to be ridiculously easy. And what made it worse was the fact the their leader, Thomas Hobbes, had the gall to beg for mercy. Having mercy was God\u2019s job, not Angelus\u2019.<\/p>\n
His own forces had sustained no losses, not that Angelus cared. It didn\u2019t take long to create a new minion to take a fallen one\u2019s place. But still, Kelemoke could be fickle about things like that. He didn\u2019t like losing minions. And Angelus genuinely liked Kelemoke, so he would try to avoid unnecessary losses.<\/p>\n
The only positive about this battle was the bounty. Hobbes might have been an imbecile, but he kept some nice looking wenches around for personal pleasures. Angelus spotted a brunette that he could have a lot of fun with.<\/p>\n
Hobbes also kept some fine weaponry. Angelus was particularly fond of a 15th century Japanese katana he found in a closet downstairs. That would be going in the personal collection for sure.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs anyone else as disappointed as I am?\u201d he asked of his minions. \u201cWho else would like to attack Alexander\u2019s clan tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
His minions cheered the idea. They too wanted to fight. And the chance for more prizes was also an enticing prospect.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen it\u2019s settled,\u201d Angelus said. \u201cSaddle up. We move in ten minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The minions shouted approval once more. They quickly finished moving their bounty into the vans outside. After so long a time of sedentary living, it was good to be in battle once again.<\/p>\n
***********
\n\u201cI really need a better home security system,\u201d Lilah muttered. From the shadows appeared Angel\u2019s bitch, accompanied by two others. \u201cWell, I know Mr. Gunn, but who\u2019s the blond with the bags under her eyes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d better start talking,\u201d Cordelia threatened. \u201cOr I make sure you walk with a limp for the rest of your life.\u201d She lowered the crossbow and aimed for Lilah\u2019s thigh.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou brought one of those into my home before. As much as I know you wanted to, you didn\u2019t use it on me. What makes you think you could?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia released the bolt before Lilah had time to blink. Lilah hit the ground hard, the arrow sliced through her leg and imbedded in the floor behind her. \u201cYou bitch!\u201d she screamed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a flesh wound,\u201d Cordelia said. The arrow had left a deep and bloody gash on the inside of Lilah\u2019s left thigh, but the wound wasn\u2019t fatal. \u201cAnd now that you\u2019ve tested my resolve, I suggest you start speaking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind her, Tara and Gunn stood in shocked silence. Cordy didn\u2019t say anything about shooting anyone. \u201cUm, Cordy?\u201d Gunn started.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe quiet,\u201d she told him. \u201cYou,\u201d she pointed to Lilah, \u201cstart talking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know surprisingly little,\u201d Lilah said. \u201cWait, that\u2019s the truth,\u201d she cried as Cordelia loaded another bolt. \u201cI was kicked out of the project.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Wolfram and Hart is responsible for this?\u201d Gunn asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes!\u201d Lilah shouted, the pain in her leg increasing. The bitch had ruined a brand new pair of hose, too. \u201cThey are responsible for your visions and they are responsible for Angelus being set loose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut not you?\u201d Cordy asked sarcastically.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot me,\u201d Lilah defended. \u201cI voted against any plans to release Angelus.\u201d<\/p>\n
**************
\n\u201cWhere is Angelus?\u201d Kelemoke asked a minion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not know, Master,\u201d the minion responded. \u201cHe disappeared shortly after we crushed the clan of Alexander.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wasn\u2019t killed in the battle?\u201d Kelemoke asked slightly fearful.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Master. I saw him briefly after the fighting. He wasn\u2019t even wounded,\u201d the minion said with pride. \u201cHe led us to two great victories tonight, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed. But if you or anyone should happen to see him, tell Angelus that I wish to speak with him about the night\u2019s battles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes Master.\u201d The minion bowed and set off to collect his share of the night\u2019s treasure. Perhaps he\u2019d be fortunate enough to be rewarded one of the women. He did kill five enemies on the night, after all. Didn\u2019t that deserve a good reward?<\/p>\n
***************
\nAngelus crouched on a nearby rooftop, his black duster whipping in the wind. Across the street, he could see clearly into the apartment. There was his Queen.<\/p>\n
Angelus unconsciously began to take short, quick breaths at the site of her. Her short brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail. She wore a pair of tight, faded blue jeans that hugged her curves nicely. The oversized flannel shirt she wore completed the look.<\/p>\n
Cordelia Chase was the picture of perfection.<\/p>\n
His mind drifted off into memories of waking dreams that he\u2019d been having the past few weeks. Every few days he\u2019d experience a new one. He was sure that they were not memories. Perhaps they were uncontrollable fantasies.<\/p>\n
Angelus had one shortly after crushing Alexander\u2019s clan. It sparked an immediate desire to see his future Queen. Perhaps it was some latent or unconscious connection that had led him here, but sure enough, he had found his Queen talking the Her.<\/p>\n
Angelus didn\u2019t like that. He didn\u2019t like Lilah Morgan. Angelus had toyed briefly with the idea of turning her, but quickly nixed it. Oftentimes evil humans become shitty vampires.<\/p>\n
But to be certain, this was a situation that would have to be rectified.<\/p>\n
But not now. Now he would be content watching his Queen hold a crossbow to the whore.<\/p>\n