Part 10<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cThis small talk is all very entertaining, but I think it\u2019s about time we got down to business, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Immediately noticing the subtle shift in Angel\u2019s demeanour, Lilah Morgan gathered her frayed wits about her and forcibly pushed down the hot arousal stirred up by his close proximity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’ve been instructed to offer you a deal,\u201d she told him, shooting a quick glance at Lindsey. \u201cThe Senior Partners are willing to hand over details of the slayer\u2019s whereabouts in exchange for your discretion on certain matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDiscretion?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey want you to look the other way where a number of future projects are concerned,\u201d Lindsey spelled out the terms in black and white for the vampire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThought as much \u2013 and if I don\u2019t agree?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you\u2019ll pay the price that the Orb has set instead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich is what?\u201d Buffy moved forward a step, her hands automatically going to her waist in a stance that, despite her slight stature, was full of power and intimidation. Unimpressed, Lindsey simply smiled congenially back at the petite slayer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t bother, Buffy,\u201d Angel cut in when he saw her start to shift into aggressive mode, infuriated by the lawyer\u2019s blas\u00e9 response to her deliberately threatening body language. \u201cThey’re not going to tell us – this is Hell\u2019s Law Firm, remember? They don\u2019t know what the word \u2018honour\u2019 means.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy reluctantly backed down. \u201cThe clock is ticking, Angel. We\u2019re rapidly running out of time to rescue Wesley; maybe you should think about\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d the slayer swung around to look at an appalled Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo Angel, you can\u2019t,\u201d the young seer implored, moving to stand in front of her boyfriend. Reaching out and taking his forearms in her hands, she looked up at him, her hazel eyes beseeching.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is your mission; you can’t turn a blind eye to their evil activities simply to save a bit of time. Wes and Faith, they wouldn’t want that – you know they wouldn\u2019t. You said it yourself – the Orb is testing us, so play its game and play it to win. Don\u2019t try to fix the contest \u2013 it\u2019ll only come back to bite you on the ass later on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRelax baby, okay?\u201d Angel murmured quietly, palming Cordelia\u2019s earnest face in his hands and dropping a soft kiss on her upturned lips. \u201cI don’t have any intention of dancing to their tune. The Orb may be evil, but it\u2019s playing by the old rules and I have a certain amount of respect for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He brushed the backs of his fingers gently over the soft skin of his girlfriend\u2019s unblemished cheek, then straightened and turned to face their enemies, \u201cForget it. No deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lindsey shrugged, \u201cFair enough,\u201d he agreed nonchalantly. \u201cI never believed you\u2019d go for it anyway. You\u2019re so noble it makes my teeth ache.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ignoring the pointed little dig from his nemesis, Angel chose to remain focused on their objective, rather than getting sidetracked by Wolfram and Hart\u2019s petty mind games. \u201cLet\u2019s get on with this \u2013 what does the Orb want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wants you and the slayer to \u2018Run the Gauntlet\u2019 and obtain the information for yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow very trite,\u201d the vampire shook his head in sardonic amusement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, what did you expect? The stone has been trapped in the Hellmouth for centuries, it hasn’t exactly moved with the times. We did suggest a few adjustments to spice things up however, which the Orb agreed to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s brow furrowed at that, his chocolate eyes narrowing with mistrust. \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you and the slayer want your friends to leave with you, then they\u2019ll have to \u2018Run the Gauntlet\u2019 too. Otherwise they stay here at Wolfram and Hart,\u201d Lilah gleefully informed the coldly furious vampire. \u201cI’m not sure what use we have for Ken over there, but the eyes of a seer we can definitely exploit to our advantage. Such a shame you\u2019re so overprotective – you really should have left your little playmate at home, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel immediately erupted into game face at Lilah\u2019s taunting, and grabbed her by the throat, slamming her up against the wall. Incensed, he thrust his ridged face into her line of sight, tightening his fingers around the lily-white skin of her neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike to play games, do you Lilah?\u201d he growled threateningly from between clenched teeth, his golden eyes burning with rage.<\/p>\n
Smelling the fear \u2013 and arousal \u2013 coming off the woman that he held in his iron grip, Angel bent to speak in her ear, his voice so low that no one in the else in the room could hear his murmured words.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know that thing about me that has you creaming your panties in my presence, Lilah? It ain’t *never* gonna happen, sweetheart; I’m really not that desperate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Angelus\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus is effectively me, or hadn’t you worked that one out yet? Tsk, tsk – I thought you lawyers were supposed to be smart. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that you could ever replace Cordelia. Why would we bother with a cold bitch like you, when we can have that warm, sexy and – let\u2019s face it, honey \u2013 much younger siren in our bed every night?\u201d<\/p>\n
Feeling his captive stiffen in anger at the callous and insulting rejection, Angel laughed mirthlessly. \u201cOh dear \u2013 have I hurt poor old Lilah\u2019s feelings?\u201d<\/p>\n
Running the forefinger of his free hand over the rapidly thrumming pulse-point on her neck, he continued to talk to his hostage in a cold menacing tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou seem like an ambitious woman, so I’ve no doubt that you and I will cross paths again. One word of advice though – don\u2019t try to come at me through Cordelia. It would be a *very* bad move career-wise, because I will bring you – and the rest of Wolfram and Hart \u2013 down, if you even think of trying that again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally releasing the stunned female from his hold, Angel turned towards Lindsey, who was still leaning casually against the desk, not having made – nor intending to make – any move to help his colleague.<\/p>\n
\u201cPoint us in the right direction,\u201d the vampire demanded tersely, impatient to get things moving.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo to the end of the hall and take the elevator to Level Zero.\u201d Lindsey replied. \u201cHave a nice day, won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on,\u201d the vampire said to his friends, inclining his head towards the still open door. He frowned when Cordelia strode boldly across the room to confront Lilah instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we should get one thing straight, lady,\u201d the seer declared hotly, her hazel eyes blazing with anger and her hands spanning her curvy hips. \u201cHe\u2019s mine, so keep your evil skanky ho hands to yourself, got it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what are you going to do about it if I don\u2019t?\u201d Lilah asked contemptuously, looking down her nose at the furious brunette. \u201cI don\u2019t really think you’ve got what it takes to hold onto an experienced vampire like Angelus, little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s clenched fist whipped out to connect with the corner of the smug lawyer\u2019s jaw, and Lilah reeled back, lifting her fingers to her split lip in open-mouthed shock.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ve got yourself one hell of a fire-cat there, Angel,\u201d Lindsey commented jovially as the vampire wrapped an arm firmly around his seething girlfriend\u2019s waist and dragged her out of the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me about it.\u201d Angel replied, rolling his eyes comically before he firmly shut the door behind them.<\/p>\n
Once they were alone, the vampire span Cordelia around to face him, taking her shoulders in his hands. \u201cWhat happened to the count to ten rule?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n
This sort of thing had happened before, when several damsels in distress had shown him a little too much gratitude for Cordelia\u2019s liking. Her over-the-top reaction had cost them several pay cheques until, after one particular case in point, Doyle had slyly pointed this out to the excessively possessive brunette.<\/p>\n
Cordelia hated to lose money of any kind so had imposed the \u2018count to ten\u2019 rule on herself. Now, if she felt that any woman overstepped the mark with Angel, she got up and left the room, slowly counting to ten. That was the vampire\u2019s cue to get rid of their client as quickly as possible, before his irate girlfriend took the situation into her own hands and ejected them herself.<\/p>\n
Angel was at a loss to explain this somewhat annoying, yet endearing, facet to Cordelia\u2019s character \u2013 he knew her behaviour wasn’t because she didn’t trust him to remain faithful to her. The first time her temper got the better of her, he had gotten extremely angry at her apparent lack of trust in him, and his umbrage had thrown a bucket of ice water over her fit of pique.<\/p>\n
As he waited for a response from his fuming girlfriend, he absently brought to mind a conversation they’d had after a previous display of similarly possessive behaviour\u2026<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry Angel \u2013 it\u2019s not that I don\u2019t trust you. It\u2019s just when I see women eyeing you up like you\u2019re a bowl of chocolate fudge brownie ice-cream, it makes me go all *grr*\u201d Cordelia screwed up her nose and crooked her fingers in the gesture that she usually used to illustrate his game-face.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hardly appropriate behaviour in front of clients though, Cordelia,\u201d he reproved, trying not to smile at her shame-faced embarrassment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, I know \u2013 I just can\u2019t help myself; something inside me goes pop and I react without thinking. Besides bucko,\u201d she continued defensively, \u201cIt\u2019s not like you\u2019re Mr Whiter-than-White where that kind of thing is concerned. Last week when that guy kept talking to my chest, instead of my face, you were all growly vamp \u2013 this is just the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe so – but I’m a demon; one with a soul, of course, but a demon all the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that makes a difference how?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell \u2026 umm\u2026 vampires are possessive by nature, so\u2026 err\u2026\u201d Angel stopped when the atmosphere turned distinctly frosty.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m digging myself into a hole here, aren\u2019t I? Yep \u2013 think so,\u201d he quipped, asking and answering his own question with a self-depreciating grimace.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow – you\u2019re such a smart boy,\u201d Cordelia commented mockingly, patting her chagrined boyfriend on the upper arm.
\n\u201cOkay \u2013 I\u2019m willing to accept that I\u2019m no saint in that regard either,\u201d he continued, \u201cBut you\u2019ve got to learn to keep a lid on your temper, Cor. I may have been all \u2018growly\u2019 as you say, but I didn\u2019t remove the perverted jerk\u2019s eye-balls with my fingers like I wanted to, now did I?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEew – that\u2019s so gross!\u201d Cordelia exclaimed, wrinkling her nose in distaste.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdmittedly, it is kind of appropriate where some men are concerned, but that guy was just your average testosterone-fuelled male. You should watch whom you brand a pervert as well. Can I say pot and kettle? You stare at my breasts all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not attempting to refute her teasing accusation, Angel stepped closer and deliberately began to un-button her flimsy blouse, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips.<\/p>\n
\u201cDifference is \u2013 they\u2019re mine to look at,\u201d he said finally, dipping his hand into the shadowy cleft of her cleavage and twisting open the front clasp of her bra.<\/p>\n
He pushed her blouse and lacy underwear off her shoulders and down her arms, and bared her firmly rounded femininity to his avid scrutiny. As Angel\u2019s gleaming eyes roamed hungrily over her creamy pink-tipped cleavage, Cordelia\u2019s face split into a cat-got-the-cream smile when she saw his expression darken with undisguised lust.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re trying to change the subject,\u201d the vampire accused in a low and gravely voice, as he traced his cool fingertips up and down her sides in an intentionally stimulating gesture.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah and it\u2019s working.\u201d Cordelia concurred unrepentantly, raising one eyebrow as he slid his hands around to cup and knead the heavy weight of her breasts in his palms.<\/p>\n
In retaliation, the intent vampire purposely circled her hardening nipples with his callused thumbs, and she arched up into his touch with a breathless moan, unable to prevent herself from vocalising the pleasure he was affording her. \u201cOh God!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re a very naughty girl, Miss Chase,\u201d Angel drawled seductively, bending low to whisper in her ear. His honeyed words sent shivers down the length of her spine and prompted a rush of moisture to gather at the apex of her thighs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought big badass vamps like you, got off on naughty girls like me,\u201d Cordelia murmured silkily in response, turning her face into the hollow of his throat so that her warm, moist breath kissed the sensitive skin there\u2026<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh?\u201d the vampire snapped out of his hazy reverie, and refocused his attention on the beautiful seer in front of him. That lovemaking session had been particularly hot and heavy, he recalled with an inward smile. Hopefully, there would be time for reminiscing \u2013 and possibly even a little reliving \u2013 later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bet I know what you\u2019re thinking about,\u201d Cordelia said coyly. Her jealous anger had dissipated the moment she\u2019d seen that familiar look of glazed arousal crossing her boyfriend\u2019s handsome features.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was thinking how you always manage to change the subject when we discuss the count to ten rule actually.\u201d Angel replied smoothly, leaning down and invading her personal space so that the two of them stood almost nose-to-nose.<\/p>\n
His deep brown eyes danced with amused delight when Cordelia\u2019s cheeks flushed pink as it dawned on her what his deceptively innocuous words were in reference to.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel!\u201d she protested, slapping lightly at his chest.<\/p>\n
The vampire chuckled at his seer\u2019s discomfiture, and fondly wrapped his arm around her slender shoulders as they turned to follow their two companions down the carpeted corridor.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, is \u2018Running the Gauntlet\u2019 what it sounds like?\u201d Buffy asked her ex-boyfriend, her voice haughty in tone.<\/p>\n
The slayer did not like the air of effortless affection that plainly existed between Angel and Cordelia, and the fact that their light-hearted banter was clearly some thinly veiled in-joke about their sex life, only served to aggravate her even further.<\/p>\n
Angel nodded, \u201cIt\u2019s a variation on that theme. To discover that which you seek \u2013 in our case Faith\u2019s location – you have to fight your way from one end of the Gauntlet corridor to the other.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t sound too bad \u2013 Riley can come through with me, and you can protect Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately it\u2019s not as simple as that \u2013 the Gauntlet is supposed to be a test of a warrior\u2019s prowess. It has to be run individually – the level of difficulty adjusts to suit the relative skill of the competitor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds like we\u2019re gonna get dropped into the middle of an Indiana Jones movie,\u201d Cordelia commented wryly.<\/p>\n
Angel laughed, \u201cI guess that\u2019s one way to describe it. You need to be prepared for anything though,\u201d he said, his voice turning serious. \u201cIt\u2019s designed as a psychological test as well as a physical one, which means you may have to do something that you might normally consider abhorrent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to kill a kid last time,\u201d the vampire told them matter-of-factly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t actually do it?\u201d Buffy stared at Angel, her blue eyes wide with horror.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes and no,\u201d was the cryptic reply.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, which one was it? You either murdered a child, or you didn\u2019t; there\u2019s no middle ground.\u201d Riley demanded, his voice throbbing with barely suppressed revulsion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is in this case. Anything you face in the Gauntlet has corporeal mass, but it doesn\u2019t actually exist in this reality, or any other for that matter. So yes, I ran my sword through what appeared to be a twelve\/thirteen year old boy, but I didn\u2019t kill one \u2013 he disappeared from the arena as soon as I\u2019d defeated him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like an advanced Virtual Reality game then,\u201d Cordelia ascertained, catching on to what her boyfriend was driving at. \u201cYou\u2019re in this world and these things can hurt you, but none of it is actually real, it only seems like it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly \u2013 the Gauntlet is effectively a simulation; just one that\u2019s created and sustained by ancient magic rather than microchips.\u201d Angel replied.<\/p>\n
As the four of them reached the end of the hallway, the doors of the last elevator slid open of their own accord. Peering inside, they saw that this lift was different to all the rest. Instead of a lushly carpeted and mirrored interior, the elevator was lit by a dim bluish-white light, and the floor, ceiling and walls were constructed of what appeared to be burnished aluminium.<\/p>\n
The doors glided shut the moment they entered, leaving them trapped in the confined space with no visible control panel to control the elevator\u2019s descent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich Level do you require?\u201d a throaty female voice asked out of nowhere, making them all start in surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cLevel Zero,\u201d Angel replied, his voice strong and steady.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what do you seek to discover from the Gauntlet?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe location of the Orb of Ravaclesh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you wish. You may each select two weapons from the armoury to aid your passage, but you must Run the Gauntlet one at a time. These are the rules \u2013 do not break them, understand?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPrepare to meet your Fates then. Goodbye and Good Luck.\u201d<\/p>\n
The metallic structure of elevator immediately started to disintegrate around them and Cordelia gasped, grabbing at Angel\u2019s arm in panic.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeez!\u201d she exclaimed, relieved to find her feet on solid ground a few seconds later; she\u2019d expected to be free-falling into black empty nothingness.<\/p>\n
Her heart slowly returning to its normal beat, the curious seer looked around and discovered that they were standing in the middle of a semi-circular courtyard. Flickering orange torches lighted the stone enclave and a wide variety of weaponry was fixed to the walls with blackened iron brackets.<\/p>\n
Whirling around in a 360\u00b0 circle, Cordelia\u2019s heart rate started to pick up again when she realised that solid stone surrounded them on all sides. \u201cThere\u2019s no way out!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, there is; don\u2019t worry,\u201d Angel said soothingly, touching a gentling hand to the small of her back. \u201cThe Gauntlet will open up once we\u2019ve chosen our weapons,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Enclosing her trembling hand within his, the vampire crossed to the far wall and reached up to pull down a short sword. He tested the weight and feel of it in his hands, and then passed it over to Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere \u2013 I think you should use this; it\u2019s similar to the one you\u2019ve been training with.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia reluctantly took the steel weapon from him, her stomach churning with nausea and her palms sweaty and clammy with dread. Although she wasn\u2019t one to back down from a fight, far from it, she privately admitted to herself that she was scared witless.<\/p>\n
When she\u2019d insisted that Angel train her, she hadn\u2019t envisioned that she would have to fight alone with no one there to back her up. Watching as the dark-haired vampire continued to survey the armoury for a second suitable weapon for her, her terror began to increase at an exponential rate, in spite of her endeavours to stifle it.<\/p>\n
Angel tried to ignore his own worries and remain calm for Cordelia\u2019s sake. It wouldn\u2019t do to show his unease over what she was about to face, she had to believe that he was completely confident in her ability to make it through. If the seer sensed any doubt from him, then it would only add fuel to the fire of her uncertainty – which could have potentially disastrous consequences.<\/p>\n
Cordelia certainly wasn\u2019t without skill; her proficiency with a sword, after only a few months training, was nothing short of outstanding, and her hand-to-hand combat work ranked above average too. Years of cheerleading and regular workouts at the Gym had made her curvy body lithe and strong and, because she was able to think quickly on her feet, she adapted her technique extremely well to whatever he threw at her during their training sessions.<\/p>\n
None of this alleviated Angel\u2019s anxieties in the slightest though \u2013 he didn\u2019t lack faith in her capabilities to pass this test of combat; it was simply that the overwhelming need to protect her overrode all semblance of rational thought. Looking over at his treasured girlfriend now, he was struck by how small and vulnerable she seemed standing there, alone, in the centre of the courtyard.<\/p>\n
The point of her sword rested lightly on the cobbled ground as she clutched the hilt tightly between her fingers, her knuckles turning white from the effort. She reminded him of the frightened teenage girl that she had once been \u2013 the one that had turned her back on everything familiar in her life, and placed all her trust in a two hundred and forty year old vampire who she barely even knew.<\/p>\n
Sighing deeply, Angel chose a broadsword and axe for his own use, before settling on a small scythe as a second weapon for Cordelia. After he\u2019d helped her secure the holstered weapon to the waistband of her jeans, he crooked a finger under her chin and lifted her heart-shaped face to his.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can do it,\u201d he told her with complete conviction, gazing down into the caramel whirlpools of her fearful eyes. \u201cJust try to relax and stay focused, okay? If you keep in mind everything I\u2019ve taught you, you\u2019ll be just fine; I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAren\u2019t you going to tell me that the force will be with me?\u201d Cordelia joked with a nervous smile, injecting a note of light-heartedness into her speech that she didn\u2019t really feel.<\/p>\n
Their quiet conversation was interrupted by the rasping sound of stone grating against stone, and they turned to watch as one wall of the semicircular enclave opened up to reveal a long, passageway about three metres wide. A cylindrical podium of smooth granite stood at the far end of the corridor, with a cracked parchment scroll positioned carefully atop of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll go first so you\u2019ll see how it works,\u201d Angel told them as they gathered around the narrow entranceway to the Gauntlet. \u201cCordy – you follow next, and then Buffy and Riley can bring up the rear.\u201d<\/p>\n
He squared his shoulders and prepared to face the Gauntlet, but was distracted when Cordelia spoke his name in a soft hesitant voice. \u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cC\u2019mere baby,\u201d he murmured, his voice gruff with emotion.<\/p>\n
Reaching out to draw the beautiful seer into the circle of his embrace, the vampire\u2019s hands settled on the tops of her hips as he dipped his head to capture her mouth in a fiery kiss. As she opened her mouth under his questing lips with a responsive moan, Cordelia\u2019s fingers skimmed up the length of his arms and encircled his neck. Angel snaked out his tongue to tangle ardently with hers, grunting low in the back of his throat, when the seer purposely pressed her soft womanly figure firmly against his toned muscular form in an attempt to mould their two bodies into one existence.<\/p>\n
With their clinch increasing in fervent intensity, their gobsmacked companions could only stand awkwardly by while the vampire and seer surrendered to the power and passion of their shared love, oblivious to everything, and everyone, else around them.<\/p>\n
Riley didn\u2019t have a clue what to think or feel. On the one hand, he was relieved that Angel\u2019s sexual urges seemed confined to Cordelia and not focused on Buffy as if he\u2019d originally feared. On the other hand, though, the vampire\u2019s unhealthy pursuit of human women, rather than those of his own kind, left the soldier sickened and repulsed.<\/p>\n
Besides him, Buffy was struggling to contain the slow-burning rage that was threatening to erupt from her with all the force of a long-time dormant volcano. She simply couldn\u2019t believe the total lack of consideration being shown towards her. When had Angel gotten so selfish? <\/i><\/p>\n
Back when he lived in Sunnydale, he had rarely shown any overtly physical affection towards Cordelia in front of her, always mindful of her feelings. Now though, it seemed as if he couldn\u2019t care less what witnessing this disgusting suck-face display was doing to her.<\/p>\n
Just as the slayer\u2019s tolerance was reaching breaking point, Angel reluctantly disentangled himself from Cordelia, and so Buffy narrowly avoided the added humiliation of losing her dignity by forcibly separating the embracing pair herself.<\/p>\n
Gently wiping away the tears that had escaped to run down Cordelia\u2019s cheeks whilst they\u2019d kissed, Angel touched his forehead to hers. \u201cEverything will be okay,\u201d he soothed softly. \u201cI\u2019ll try to help you in any way I can, you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I know,\u201d Cordelia whispered brokenly. \u201cI just wanted you to know that I love you, so so much. Don\u2019t forget that, not ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel felt his own apprehension striving to break free at this tearful declaration \u2013 she was speaking as if she might never see him again. If Cordelia were lost to him because of this, then the Orb and all the employees at Wolfram and Hart would forfeit their lives to compensate for his bereavement; of that, he was undeniably certain. It could never be enough, but he would not stop until he had hunted each and every last one of them down, and made them pay for their transgressions a thousand times over.<\/p>\n
Shaking himself out of the dark tunnel of despondency that his imagination had dragged him down, Angel bent to place another brief kiss against his girlfriend\u2019s lips, then turned and entered the Gauntlet with a quiet, \u201cI love you too.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hadn\u2019t walked more than three or four steps down the corridor, before the air shimmered and a bellowing demon emerged in front of him, wielding a heavy chain with a spiked sphere attached to the end of it. Not even pausing to think, Angel launched an immediate counter-attack and succeeded in inflicting a debilitating wound to the creature\u2019s left side. Its movements hampered by the haemorrhaging injury, the demon proved to be no match for the on form vampire, who smoothly disposed of his opponent in less than a minute.<\/p>\n
The fallen creature flickered and disappeared as Angel stepped carefully over its broken and bleeding form, his eyes and ears open and alert for what was to come next. Not stupid enough to be lulled into a false sense of security by this first, too easy conquest, the vampire kept his body tensed and ready for action.<\/p>\n
A faint grating sound warned him of the impending danger, mere moments before a handful of stakes shot out of two horizontal gaps that had opened up in each wall. Angel cleverly avoided them by launching himself high into the air and somersaulting over the top of the flying missiles.<\/p>\n
Split seconds after his feet touched the ground, a second wave of the wooden objects were fired at him from every conceivable angle. What followed next was a breathtaking display of agility as the vampire ducked and dived, twisted and turned, successfully evading all the airborne stakes. He came away with just a few nicks and cuts, miraculously making it through the ordeal relatively unharmed.<\/p>\n
He was about three quarters of the way along the Gauntlet now, but Angel took a firmer grip on his weapons, a gut feeling telling him that the toughest test was yet to come. Sure enough, the atmosphere shimmered for the second time and a familiar form materialized directly in front of him.<\/p>\n
Barring his path was an incredibly realistic clone of Cordelia Chase, and the resulting jolt of surprise caused his concentration to waver for brief second – now *this* he had not expected.<\/p>\n
Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, the Doppelganger swung her heavy sword directly at the shocked vampire\u2019s head, forcing him to raise his broadsword to stave off the attack. There was a shower of sparks as the two weapons crashed together with incredible force, and then Angel jumped back, shifting his fighting stance from the defensive to the offensive in an instant.<\/p>\n
The Double was much too strong to actually be the seer, of course; his Cordy wouldn\u2019t even have the strength to lift that sword off the ground, never mind wield it with the kind of dexterity that this thing was managing. This was going to be the ultimate test of his psychological tolerance however – it was extremely difficult to ignore what his eyes were telling him. Could he really kill something that looked \u2013 and smelled \u2013 so much like the woman he loved with such passionate intensity? He knew he had to \u2013 there was no other choice. It was do or die.<\/p>\n
Steadying his resolve, Angel shut down the more emotional parts of his psyche and stepped up the aggressiveness of his attack, constantly chopping and changing the direction and angle of his sword thrusts to keep his adversary off balance. The Clone finally miss-timed one of her counterattacks, and he brought his axe down on the blade of her sword, disarming her in one fell swoop. The weapon skittered across the floor as he charged into the Doppelganger, backing her up against the wall and setting the edge of his axe against her throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel please don\u2019t,\u201d Cordelia\u2019s twin pleaded in a breathless tone and he faltered, making the fatal mistake of looking directly into her liquid brown orbs.<\/p>\n
That familiar pain-filled gaze tugged at the vampire\u2019s heartstrings, even though the more logical part of his brain told him that the woman who occupied every part of his heart and soul, was not the person standing in front of him.<\/p>\n
As he desperately tried to pull his wits into some kind of order, the Clone\u2019s eyes suddenly rolled into the back of her head and she cried out in pain, clutching at her head in a grotesque re-enactment of one of Cordelia\u2019s visions. The premonition went on and on, and Angel froze in horror as his worst nightmare began to play out in front of his stunned gaze.<\/p>\n
Her screams of agony increasing in volume, the Clone began to convulse violently, thick red blood starting to leak from her nose and ears. After what seemed like forever to the shaken vampire, Cordelia\u2019s double finally went limp and slumped to the ground, pale and still as death. Angel vaguely heard someone call his name, but he could not stop his instinctive reaction and reached out blindly towards the fallen replica of his beloved girlfriend.<\/p>\n
As he moved closer, her eyes unexpectedly snapped open and he jerked back in shock. The suddenly revitalised Clone leapt to her feet and kicked him in the stomach, propelling him into the opposite wall with the force of the blow.<\/p>\n
Realising his reaction was too little too late, the stunned vampire dimly registered Cordelia\u2019s anguished screams as the Doppelganger drove a wooden stake through his ribs and into his chest.<\/p>\n