Part 7<\/b>\u00a0– It’s the Thought That Counts<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know something Lilah? You hold a very special place in my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus wrapped his arm around her shoulder as he leaned back against the bed\u2019s headboard. Taking a sip of his wine Angelus made a pleased expression. \u201cWow. A woman with good taste in liquor. This is an excellent white wine, mademoiselle. But what was I saying?\u201d Angelus stopped in concentration.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh yes, I was telling you of the special place you hold in my heart. You see, I\u2019ve never hated a woman in all my life more than I hate you. Not even that peroxide slayer from a few years back. Although I must say, she does come close. After all, sending a fellow to hell doesn\u2019t really promote endearment. Do you understand what I mean?\u201d No sound came from Lilah\u2019s mouth as she tried to scream.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take that as a yes,\u201d Angelus said. \u201cAlthough, she did have a nice rack. I may have to pay her a visit after I take over this city. Maybe make her my whore. Have you seen her lately?\u201d he asked Lilah. \u201cShe isn\u2019t quite as attractive now, I think. Lost a lot of baby fat, especially around the face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lilah again tried to scream, but only a dry wheeze left her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you like a drink? I\u2019m sure your mouth must be dry.\u201d Angelus pressed the wine glass to her lips. Most just trickled back out. \u201cI\u2019m truly sorry about this,\u201d Angelus said, although the tone of his voice spoke to the contrary. \u201cBut I couldn\u2019t have you screaming, so I decided to remove your vocal cords. Hope you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus laughed as Lilah\u2019s eyes widened at that. \u201cI also have another small confession to make,\u201d he whispered. Angelus then slowly removed the white lace nightgown he\u2019d dressed her in. Lilah followed his movements, but was too weak to offer any resistance. If she had the capacity anymore, she would have screamed in horror at what she saw.<\/p>\n
Running the center of her chest, going from just above her belly button to between her breasts along her sternum, was a nasty network of sutures. The skin around the brown thread was a raw and angry pink color. For the first time since waking from her drug-induced slumber, she noticed all the tubes running from her body.<\/p>\n
One entered her body at a small incision located below her left shoulder blade. Another ran out of her chest, inserted between the sutures lining her sternum. She could see the tubes ran back to a device sitting on the floor.<\/p>\n
About the size of a water cooler, Lilah heard the distinct sound of a small engine running inside it. Lilah knew exactly what it was.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you like it?\u201d Angelus asked excited. \u201cI first made one of those around 1864. I admit, it\u2019s the product of a bored and overactive mind, but it remains one of my finest accomplishments. And also, the technology wasn\u2019t as sophisticated back then. No internal-combustion engines and all that, ya know?\u201d<\/p>\n
Grabbing Lilah\u2019s head so she looked directly into the yellow eyes of his game face, he asked, \u201cDidn\u2019t I tell you I could keep you alive for days through transfusions? I told you I had the experience.\u201d Letting go of her head, Angelus tried to calm himself. Taking a sip of wine, he continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, back in those days, it only worked about thirty percent of the time. Even vampires didn\u2019t really understand the concept of blood types.\u201d Looking up to Heaven, Angelus mocked, \u201cBut thank God for the 21st century and donor cards. It makes blood typing so much easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus saw the questioning look in Lilah\u2019s fearful eyes. \u201cOh, you\u2019re wondering what the sutures are for? Hold on a minute.\u201d Angelus jumped from the bed and ran to the kitchen, where Lilah heard the refrigerator open and shut.<\/p>\n
When Angelus returned, he carried a Tupperware bowl covered in tin foil. \u201cYou know how I was talking about accomplishments I was proud of? Well, here\u2019s another one. I tell you, I was doing this shit successfully decades before the Mayo Clinic or whatever could.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sitting back down next to her, Angelus slowly peeled back the tin foil. \u201cIt\u2019s a human heart,\u201d Angelus explained at Lilah\u2019s horrified expression. \u201cMore accurately, it\u2019s your heart. But don\u2019t worry. Connected to that thing there,\u201d Angelus pointed to his machine, \u201cyou can live a relatively long and somewhat happy life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus then pulled Lilah close and kissed her passionately. \u201cBut then,\u201d he said, \u201cwhat would be the fun it that?\u201d Taking one of the tubes in his hands, he pressed it together so no blood could flow.<\/p>\n
Lilah tried valiantly to summon up whatever energy she had to escape, but Angelus held her tight. Placing butterfly kisses on her lips and eyelids, Angelus cooed at her, trying to get Lilah to be still.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust look at it this way, if Saint Peter compares my life to yours, you stand a decent shot at getting into Heaven.\u201d Angelus smiled down at her as Lilah\u2019s breathing slowed before coming to a stop.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s my girl,\u201d he whispered. Releasing the tube, Angelus decided to clean up his mess before taking a shower. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was well past dawn. That was fine by him, Angelus didn\u2019t have any place to be until tonight.<\/p>\n
With a sudden thought, Angelus went over to Lilah\u2019s desk and found a phonebook. Flipping through the Yellow Pages, Angelus found the number he wanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll call them later,\u201d he said aloud. \u201cAs for right now, I\u2019m kind of hungry. I wonder what Lilah had in the cupboard?\u201d<\/p>\n
*************
\n\u201cThis man steals beings souls?\u201d Cordelia asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so,\u201d Willow said. \u201cThe necklace he wears. Each bead is a charm that encompasses the soul of each victim.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tara put aside a magic book before picking up the story. \u201cWhenever humans had their souls stolen, they would fall into a comatose state. Unless the soul was return, the person spent the rest of their life in a state called soul-death. The brain and other organs kept working, but the essence that made them living beings was gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Angel\u2019s not human,\u201d Cordelia said. She knew what Tara was saying.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Tara agreed. \u201cWith Angel, the soul wasn\u2019t the dominant part of his being. The demon inside of him is, and it has a life of its own.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this is good, right?\u201d Fred asked. \u201cWe don\u2019t have to do a soul restoration. We just have to find this man and his necklace, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEssentially,\u201d Willow said. \u201cWhen the bead housing the soul is shattered it releases the soul. The soul then finds its way back to the body that housed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I suggest we find this \u2018fantasma\u2019 fast,\u201d Cordelia said. Her tone left no room for argument.<\/p>\n
The ringing of the doorbell broke the tension in the room. Cordy got up from her seat and went to answer. Peering through the peephole, she saw a UPS man. Cordelia thought for a moment. She wasn\u2019t expecting any packages. Opening the door, she greeted the man.<\/p>\n
\u201cSign here, Miss,\u201d he said as he passed the electronic clipboard. Cordelia quickly signed and took the package. \u201cHave a nice day,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n
Cordelia mumbled a farewell and shut the door. Taking the package into the kitchen, she set it on the table before retrieving a knife. She stared at the markings saying \u2018Refrigerate Upon Opening\u2019 and \u2018Express Delivery\u2019 in confusion. Slicing through the tape sealing the package, she unfolded the flaps. On top she found a note, and below, a Styrofoam container.<\/p>\n
She pulled out the smaller Styrofoam container inside and cut it open as well. Opening the package, she dropped the knife it horror. \u201cCome here!\u201d she yelled to the people in her living room.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Willow asked running into the room. The rest of the gang was right on her heels. Cordelia pointed to the box on the table. Looking inside, Willow had to run quickly to the sink so she could vomit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a human heart,\u201d Lorne said in shock.<\/p>\n
Cordelia ignored the sickened gasps of the rest of the people. Instead, she opened the note. Written in blood it said:<\/p>\n
WON’T YOU BE MY VALENTINE?<\/p>\n