Part 3<\/b><\/p>\n
THE HYPERION HOTEL (Where we left off)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo what is it this time and where is<\/i> everyone\u201d? Asked Giles walking down the stairs, the bag left at the top where he\u2019d dropped it, but carrying the paper like it was the bible or something. \u201cI expected a Detective Agency to be busier\u201d.<\/p>\n Er Hello, sole trader here\u00a0<\/i>, Cordy looked at Giles guileless face and decided not to get into it \u2013 Behind the times much?<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the crisis\u201d Cordelia told him in a clipped tone, still bemused at the arrival of the ex Sunnydale Librarian and ex Watcher \u2013 and if she was willing to admit one of her earliest crushes \u2013 must be a watcher or English thing<\/i>, she thought remembering how hot Wesley had looked to her at one time, a long time ago<\/i> she assured herself hurriedly.<\/p>\n Shaking her head slightly to dislodge the unwelcome nostalgia trip, she decided to take the bull by the horns and asked him; \u201cWhat are you doing here anyway Giles \u2013 not that you\u2019re not welcome or anything\u201d, she added the last bit hastily when he looked at her with an \u2018annoyed and trying to hide it\u2019 expression.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you\u201d Said Giles with careful emphasis before taking his glasses off for a quick polish. Typical Cordelia, never one for wasting time on the pleasantries<\/i>.<\/p>\n Cordy gave a small smile, despite her worry \u2013 amused at the all too familiar gesture and then with a brow raised to speed things along; waited for a reply knowing silence is more effective on people like Giles than badgering. She was right too \u2013 unfortunately.<\/p>\n \u201cI was coming in this direction anyway and well, I\u2019m here to see Angel on Buffy\u2019s behalf \u2013 she\u2019s worried about him and I\u2019m worried about her\u201d said Giles and then placed his glasses carefully back on his nose, he looked up at Cordelia, obviously uncomfortable discussing it with her.<\/p>\n \u201dWell Duh he\u2019s here for Buffy \u2013 his ex and talking to me his \u2018now and staying that way\u2019 lover\u201d<\/i>, she did her damndest to ignore the surge of jealousy and instead of giving it to him with both barrels \u2013 like she wanted; she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt \u2013 maybe he just didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n \u201cAren\u2019t we all\u201d Said Cordy and for once the super sensitive Rupert Giles failed to notice the freeze in her voice and suddenly stiff body \u2013 or if he did, saw nothing wrong with it; after all it had been a while since he\u2019d last seen her.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what was that you were saying about them being \u2013 missing was it\u201d? Giles asked, looking around him, scrutinising the lobby and what he could see of the office.<\/p>\n \u201cJust Angel \u2013 and maybe Wesley, but I\u2019m not sure about Wes\u201d replied Cordy crisply as she walked back over the phone on the counter and dialling Wes\u2019s home number again.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what do you think has happened to him \u2013 have you checked his room\u201d? Asked Giles, trying to think methodically and not sure how successful he\u2019d be considering he was talking to Cordelia Chase.<\/p>\n Wow you really are behind the times, Buffy not too talkative then<\/i>. \u201cThat would be my room now\u201d replied Cordelia with a hint of steel still in her tone as she put down the ringing phone \u2013 no answer. Then relenting, she explained \u201cAngel gave up the hotel when he took over Wolfram & Hart; this is my place now\u201d.<\/p>\n Giles gaped at her for a second before recovering with a murmured \u201cOh\u201d, then it hit him and he frowned, \u201cSo how do you know he\u2019s missing \u2013 maybe he\u2019s just not answering the phone or he could simply be asleep\u201d.<\/p>\n Giles relaxed somewhat, ruefully thinking he\u2019d forgotten how melodramatic Cordelia could be, especially when it concerned her \u2013 but then why would it concern her? It was morning after all.<\/p>\n He frowned and considered how to ask delicately why she would know so much about Angel\u2019s movements. From memory and conversations with Willow \u2013 admittedly a long time ago \u2013 the vampire could barely stay in the same room with her for an hour without going crazy.<\/p>\n \u201cNot really since he was supposed to be sleeping with me\u201d Cordy told him with some careful emphasis of her own. Giles was so caught up in his own thoughts he missed the ramifications of what she said \u2013 for the moment.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n WESLEY<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The other two demons were awake now and he\u2019d had a few bad moments earlier when they\u2019d realised they were; one \u2013 being held prisoner and two \u2013 sharing a cell with a human. For some reason that seemed offensive to them and he\u2019d been forced to defend himself, luckily for him he\u2019d managed to put them off the idea of trying any further attacks any time soon.<\/p>\n However, it did mean sleeping was dangerous and so totally out of the question. Also not helping was the fact that his head was hurting like hell, but at least the need to throw up had receded, leaving him feeling hungry, \u201dbloody typical\u201d<\/i>. Not that he expected to be fed or even if they did offer it \u2013 would consider eating anything they gave him.<\/p>\n After what felt like a lifetime of tedious waiting the crash of the bolts was heard again and all four inmates stiffened and waited to see what would happen next. As before the guard was carrying a flaming torch; expecting it this time, Wesley protected his vulnerable eyes to avoid the blindness of the sudden change in light from pitch black to illumination.<\/p>\n After a few moments to adjust, he was able to see that the guard wasn\u2019t alone this time, there was another with him. Similar in appearance and yet not \u2013 it was difficult to tell as this one wore no mask. He was looking directly at Wesley though, \u201chuman, you will come with us now\u201d it wasn\u2019t a question but a demand.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere am I going\u201d He asked the demon as he got to his feet with some difficulty, stiff from sitting still and silent on the damp dirty stone floor of the cell over a prolonged period of time, trying to stay alert for possible attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cTo visit a friend\u201d the demon replied and gestured for Wesley to precede him. Not exactly unhappy to leave the dark dankness behind; Wesley did as he was told without further comment. As he crossed the cell door threshold he looked around him carefully but was disappointed to see nothing but more of the same on outside, nothing but rock walls, darkness and smoke.<\/p>\n There were numerous other doors identical to the one he\u2019d just left which he assumed where more of the cave-like cells, Dreary didn\u2019t begin to describe it, if he was here for too much longer he could see himself falling into depression<\/i> he thought with wry amusement.<\/p>\n \u201cI have quite a few questions, if you don\u2019t mind answering them\u201d? Wesley asked the mask-less demon as he was led away down the corridor at a brisk pace, going to heavens knows where; he was not expecting much but hoping for something<\/i> to go on that might give him a means of escape.<\/p>\n \u201cYour friend has the answers you seek Human, ask him\u201d Wesley quirked a brow at the curt tone but said nothing else, what would be the use \u2013 apparently he was going to find out soon enough. Gradually the scenery changed \u2013 became worse if that was possible.<\/p>\n From the small \u2018tour\u2019 he\u2019d had so far the complex was large and whoever had built it had used the natural caverns, caves and tunnels only with a lot more care being taken with the cell block with it\u2019s regimented doorways and solid wooden doors. Here the doorways were mere holes with ragged leather curtains covering them. The floors were rock strewn with dirt and grit to make them less slippery was his guess, \u201dobviously not big on hygiene these lot\u201d<\/i>.<\/p>\n They arrived at what appeared to be the destination; like the others there was no door just a thick curtain which when pulled back by the husky guard, revealed the pacing and obviously agitated occupant; Angel.<\/p>\n \u201cWesley, if we get out of this alive I swear I\u2019m gonna kill you\u201d. As a convivial greeting between friends and comrades-in-arms go, this one sucked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see you too\u201d replied Wesley as he ducked inside and faced the vampire. You couldn\u2019t work with Cordelia Chase for any length of time and not learn the value of a sarcastic come back.<\/p>\n Angel looked back to the demon that\u2019d met him in the antechamber and now escorted Wesley to him; \u201cYou can go now Piglet, we have things to discuss here\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAs you wish and for the record Vampire, my name is Drachnar\u201d, the demon replied with an attempt at dignity and clearly not understanding the insult on its looks. Wesley grinned and hid it by looking over the room and using that as an excuse to turn away.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll remember that for the next time I wanna clear my throat\u201d replied Angel with a raised brow and crossing his arms in a \u201cWhat \u2013 what did I say\u201d type of gesture, as the demon \u2013 realising it was being taunted hissed in annoyance, then its black snake like eyes narrowed with sudden malice.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t take too long with your talk Vampire, you have been treated with respect due to your reputation, but things change rapidly around here and humans are always the first to suffer\u201d, Drachnar came over to stand beside Wesley, dwarfing the human. \u201cRemember that before you let your tongue run away with you again\u201d.<\/p>\n With that Vampire and ex-watcher were left alone, Wesley looked at Angel; his blue gaze direct as he said \u201cI realise this is my fault, but can we save that for later and just get to the escape part for now\u201d.<\/p>\n Angel sat on the edge of a table and crossed his ankles, nonchalance in every line \u2013 except for the face, which suggested otherwise. \u201cEasier said than done Wes, you\u2019re on the menu and I\u2019m on the entertainment list \u2013 not to mention the pesky fact of some kind of inter dimensional portal like nothing I\u2019ve ever seen before\u201d.<\/p>\n Wesley ignored the food part and concentrated on where he could do the most good, \u201cDescribe the portal to me\u201d.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n HYPERION HOTEL<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAngel sleeps with you\u201d Repeated Giles his face frozen with shock before a smile cracked his face and he laughed, or more accurately chuckled manically at the \u2018misunderstanding\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean he occasionally sleeps here \u2013 for a minute there I thought you were saying\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was and we do \u2013 can we move on now? like I said, I have an emergency going on here\u201d.<\/p>\n Giles choked and stuttered for a full minute before managing to stop and then meeting the glare he got from Cordelia \u2013 even without his glasses he would have winced; his shoulders slumped and in another revealing gesture removed the glasses yet again \u2013 only this time to rub his eyes in what was obviously an attempt to relieve sudden tension.<\/p>\n \u201dSo that\u2019s why Buffy won\u2019t discuss Angel or LA\u201d <\/i>, thought Giles, pity stirring in his heart, \u201dWhen am I ever going to learn not to interfere \u2013 I shouldn\u2019t have come here, especially secretly\u201d <\/i>.<\/p>\n He sighed deeply and sat down on one of the chairs gingerly, saying \u201cYes indeed lets move on, why don\u2019t you tell me why<\/i> you think Angel is in danger\u201d. He couldn\u2019t just walk away now though, honour not to mention good manners forbade it<\/i>.<\/p>\n Grateful at the offer given the blow she\u2019d just given him, she outlined what she\u2019d found when she\u2019d woken this morning, but Giles didn\u2019t seem convinced there was a problem. \u201cIt\u2019s all very nebulous isn\u2019t it \u2013 it could mean next to nothing, maybe he just got caught up in something or simply called away\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so and that\u2019s good enough for me\u201d replied Cordy pacing to the middle of the lobby and turning to thrust an arm towards the glass doors and the sunlight that shone behind them, \u201cNot to mention the whole \u2018morning bright\u2019 aspect of it\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cFair enough\u201d replied Giles in a mixture of long suffering patience and resignation. \u201cSo what\u2019s the next step, what would his movements have been, where might he have gone or seen\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Watcher guy, one question at a time here. Anyway I think the first stop has got to be the \u2018belly of the beast\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI beg your pardon; did you just say\u2026\u201d Giles looking at her in complete confusion, \u201cWhat beast are you referring too\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cI mean Wolfram & Hart, you know Evil-Law-Firm\u201d she replied impatiently<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you just say so, it would make this so much easier if you could speak plain English, Cordelia\u201d.<\/p>\n The reprimand in his voice made her eyes roll for moment before she caught it. \u201dWas Wesley ever this stuffy before they knocked it out of him\u201d<\/i>? She didn\u2019t think so. \u201cDid Buffy not tell you anything about what went on here\u201d? She was genuinely curious.<\/p>\n But Giles angry at the implied criticism in her tone and rolling eyes, snapped at her \u201cThat\u2019s none of your concern, Buffy is hurting Cordelia and unlike some she doesn\u2019t yell to the world when she gets a paper cut\u201d.<\/p>\n Cordelia said nothing and carefully kept her face expressionless \u2013 hiding the hurt of unexpectedly finding herself confronted with her past and how others had viewed her \u2013 before she\u2019d come to LA and met up with Angel, to start the first Agency.<\/p>\n Giles shrugged and looked away, sighing deeply, \u201cI apologise, Cordelia that was uncalled for \u2013 I really am just worried about Buffy\u201d. He could hardly meet her eyes; there was something in those hazel depths \u2013 some kind of darkness or painful memory.<\/p>\n Whatever it was it made her look older than her years, as if she had seen too much and it shamed him, because he knew that look from Buffy\u2019s eyes too; he realised then, too late to take it back, that he hardly knew this Cordelia Chase.<\/p>\n Cordelia walked away from him, going around the counter to reach her desk \u2013 she still used her old one mostly, feeling weird sitting in Angel\u2019s old office. Looking over the counter that now separated them, she measured her words carefully, something that Giles would never have believed her capable of before.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, Giles I\u2019m not trying to be rude here and its not that I don\u2019t sympathise \u2013 well OK maybe I don\u2019t cos \u2013 Hello<\/i>, not exactly in the loop on Buffy these days. Whatever, I don\u2019t have time to get into this \u2013 I need to find out what has happened to the people I love like family, clear\u201d?<\/p>\n Giles was smiling at her now, impressed despite himself at the obvious passion she felt, \u201cOh absolutely clear, can I help\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cSure\u201d, Cordy waited a few beats watching his expression and checking his sincerity, which was clearly real; \u201cCome on Giles, we need to go play dress-up\u201d. Before he had a chance to ask for an explanation she\u2019d grabbed him by the arm and dragged him upright, \u201cDid you bring a suit or maybe a jacket to go with those pants\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHmmm \u2013 erm well, let me see\u2026 I think I brought a jacket just in case, but\u201d he stopped and stared at her, \u201cPlease unhand me and tell me why I need a jacket in this heat\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever happened to the stuffy Librarian that always wore a jacket no matter how hot it was\u201d? Complained Cordelia as she half dragged him over towards the stairs and his carpet bag.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got sick of sweating, now answer the question\u201d replied Giles in that, oh so dry English way of his.<\/p>\n Cordelia bounded up the stairs to grab his bag, throwing the words over her shoulder, \u201cWe can\u2019t just walk in the door and expect to find out what we want to know \u2013 even if Angel is \u2018boss\u2019 they\u2019re still evil at the core\u201d.<\/p>\n She handed a still confused Giles his bag, \u201cIt\u2019s simple and I\u2019ve done it loads of times before \u2013 we go disguised and find out what we want to know then we leave OK\u201d?<\/p>\n Giles recovered from the idea of \u2018going in disguise\u2019 enough to point out, \u201cBut why do you need me, won\u2019t they get more suspicious of a stranger\u201d he asked Cordy\u2019s rapidly disappearing back view.<\/p>\n \u201cDuh \u2013 why do you think I need a disguise?, they\u2019d get rid of me in a second if they could, that\u2019s why I need you. You\u2019re part of my props\u201d.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n WOLFRAM & HART BUILDING<\/strong><\/p>\n Lorne was walking towards the bank of elevators in the lobby when he found himself staring in utter shocked surprise at one of the people inside the now closing door. \u201cCordelia\u201d, he saw the woman \u2013 wearing a navy short skirted business suit, big glasses and a huge blond hairdo; raise a slim hand to her lips in a shushing gesture.<\/p>\n He raised his brows and looked thoughtful, Who in hell was the man with her and why were they sneaking around?<\/i>. Deciding to investigate he watched to see which floor the elevator would stop at and saw it go past the last authorised floor, without stopping \u2013 they were headed for Angels apartment. That had him stumped since he didn\u2019t have the code to access it, so that left Angels office as a good bet for the next stop.<\/p>\n \u201cI still don\u2019t understand why the disguises Cordelia \u2013 won\u2019t they know you\u2019re here anyway if they are so \u2018all seeing\u2019 as you say they are\u201d? Asked Giles in an exasperated tone.<\/p>\n Cordy refrained from mentioning Lorne, trusting the green demon to keep quiet; \u201cWhat \u2013 you think they might have a Cordy\/Librarian alarm \u2013 I don\u2019t think so and\u00a0don\u2019t<\/i> say my name, they have \u2018all hearing ears\u2019 as well\u201d, she hissed at him and then carried on in her best cajoling speech, \u201cHave you never heard \u2018he who dares wins\u2019? -get a grip Giles\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHarrrmphh\u201d snorted Giles more than a little peeved, \u201cWhy the blonde wig, it\u2019s bloody distracting and a bit obvious isn\u2019t it\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think so?\u201d Asked Cordelia sweetly, \u201cI thought you\u2019d appreciate the familiarity of the dumb blonde look\u201d. Giles gave her a filthy look but said nothing else, waiting for the elevator to deposit them at their destination.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n ANGEL & WESLEY<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhere the hell are we, do you know\u201d? Asked Angel; going to the curtain to check for eavesdroppers, before turning back and giving Wesley a questioning look.<\/p>\n \u201cOther than a<\/i> hell \u2013 or so I\u2019m told, no idea I\u2019m afraid\u201d answered Wesley in a no nonsense tone, wincing internally though at having got them caught in yet another unknown demon dimension. I\u2019m getting as bad as Cordelia<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cYeah well you got that right; you should see what I did when I got here. Humans cut up like cattle and hanging from the ceiling waiting to be eaten\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm nasty \u2013 not exactly encouraging either\u201d replied Wesley, not that he wasn\u2019t disgusted but sometimes a hard edge was necessary to survive, this was one of those times. \u201cWhat was it you were saying about \u2018entertainment\u2019 \u2013 you have you\u2019re clown suit with you\u201d?<\/p>\n Angel frowned darkly at the humour, but was oddly relaxed by it too, typical Wes. \u201cHa Ha, very funny \u2013 how about you wear one and kill \u2018em with your rapier wit\u201d he replied sardonically. He resumed his earlier position with a hip cocked on the \u2018rooms\u2019 only piece of furniture. \u201cRemember a while ago, those two brothers running a demon fighting ring\u201d?<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got<\/i> to be kidding me\u201d said Wesley, catching on immediately, \u201cnot again\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about it\u201d sighed Angel and scrubbed his face with his hands, trying to clear the smoke and grit from his suddenly tired eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cTimes up my friends, it\u2019s time to prepare yourselves\u201d announced Drachnar from the doorway, pulling back the curtain and smiling grimly at them.<\/p>\n \u201cPrepare ourselves for what\u201d? Wesley asked, envisioning a big cooking pot. Angel didn\u2019t look at him though, just stared at the demon in the doorway with a hardened expression all tiredness forgotten as renewed adrenaline poured through him, taut silence filled the room.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good question so why don\u2019t you answer the man, Drachnar\u201d? His reaction to the question would depend on what the answer was.<\/p>\n \u201cYou both go into the pit to fight together\u201d replied the demon genially but there was a glint in those obsidian eyes that showed another feeling altogether. \u201cIt should be amusing to watch you defend yourself and your friend at the same time \u2013 if you want to that is\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh I don\u2019t know; he\u2019s pretty nifty at defending himself\u201d replied Angel with a small smile, which was true but he had a horrible feeling that things would be different here. For one thing, there was the \u2018trapped like rats in cage\u2019 part of the deal to consider.<\/p>\n \u201cNot here he won\u2019t, no one survives the pit and certainly not a mere human\u201d replied the demon with certainty.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see\u201d snarled Angel, clenching his jaw and forcibly stopping the demon that wanted out; not YET<\/i>! He hated to give this bastard something to gloat over and vamping out would give away a lot about his state of mind.<\/p>\n He glared at it with dark eyes narrowed to slits of unadulterated menace, \u201cWill you be joining us\u201d? To any one else it would sound like he was inviting the demon to tea party or something, the tone was so polite. Drachnar stared back at him, and smiled; a tiny acknowledgement of the battle Angel had fought within himself.<\/p>\n \u201cNot this time I\u2019m afraid but in the highly unlikely event of you surviving the first bout, maybe\u201d replied Drachnar, confidence oozed out of the big demon and his eyes gleamed manically at the thought of the blood that would be shed.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good enough reason to survive all by itself\u201d replied Angel quietly and concisely; even if he never saw another day \u2013 this bastard was going to die<\/i>.<\/p>\n Wesley simply stood back and watched the by-play between the demon and the vampire with interest, so they were to fight for their lives \u2013 what else was new. He refused to let himself dwell on the possibilities \u2013 what good would fretting do, at least he wasn\u2019t pot roast.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n THE PIT<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The pit was a dirty stinking hole in the ground, lined with stones and at least twenty feet deep. Angel knew he could jump it easily but not while holding onto Wesley \u2013 at least he didn\u2019t think so, but he\u2019d keep it as a last option if nothing else.<\/p>\n Crowds of demons, most of them masked sat in stone tiered benches surrounding the ring and what a crowd they were, dirty, coarse and if he was any judge \u2013 high on the thrill of the coming violence. They where all inside yet another large cavernous cave, dark and damp and lit with the usual torches; including high up inside the pit itself.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t want the audience to miss the fun now do we<\/i>, like hell, but it didn\u2019t look like he had a choice, again; at least this time he would be perfectly willing to kill his opponents.<\/p>\n On the right side was a platform of some kind, made from wood with three huge chairs built into it \u2013 for the local dignitaries thought Wesley, too exalted for the cold stone like the rest.<\/p>\n All of sudden there was a commotion and both tensed at the wild clapping and stamping of feet; \u201cLooks like the funs about to start\u201d Said Angel keeping his eyes trained on the rim of the pit, trying to gauge from where the threat would appear.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like\u201d agreed Wesley also keeping a careful watch; they stood back to back waiting for whatever was going to happen next, tense and primed for the violence to commence. Both of them tall and dark-haired, covered in grime and dirt \u2013 the vampire was much bigger and heavier and yet \u2013 somehow, both seemed the same as they faced the danger together.<\/p>\n What looked like some kind of mini procession walked around the pit, seven unmasked demons, all the same with their flat noses, slittish lips and black eyes, ringed by ridged brows and spiky tines. Three of the group sat down in the wooden chairs and gestured to the other four \u2013 heavily armed demons.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re armed and were not \u2013 hardly fair\u201d intoned Wesley to Angel who looked around to him and nodded briefly in agreement. Just then all four demons jumped into the pit with them; landing on legs like the trunks of young trees. They steadied themselves almost the instant they landed and then tossed the weapons between themselves and Angel and Wesley.<\/p>\n Then bending at their thick waists and clenching meaty fists they roared at the pair. Simultaneously both Angel and Wesley raised a brow and then looked at one another, \u201cI\u2019ll let you growl back \u2013 you\u2019re so much better at it than I\u201d Wesley told the vampire ironically.<\/p>\n The crowd went wild again, obviously more impressed than they were and clapping and stamping their feet. Strange to hear when they had no voice for the most part and the remaining three up there without the masks, remained stoic throughout the display.<\/p>\n \u201cGee thanks, I\u2019ll pass\u201d replied Angel gathering himself to launch at the weapons, all six combatants exploded into action in the same instant almost as if a gun had gone off.<\/p>\n Angel reached a sword at the same time as one of the demons and quicker on his feet, booted it on the face and snatched up the long weapon he was the most comfortable with. Wesley knowing he would need something heavier went for an axe with a long wooden handle and wickedly curved polished blade.<\/p>\n Both successfully armed they faced of the demons again, back to back as before. Watching intently the circling demons, two armed as they were, the difference being instead of an axe, one held a three pronged spear. Wesley winced when he saw it, for some reason it gave him a chill and he wished to hell that had been the closer one to him, instead of the axe.<\/p>\n Angel and the other sword wielder clashed with flashing blades and rings of steel, while Wesley blocked the darting spear with the axe. Angel parried the sword of his opponent and after a few minutes was forced to the conclusion that Drachnar had not been bragging about their skills, he was keeping up \u2013 just.<\/p>\n Worried now, he risked a quick glance at Wesley to see how he was faring and saw he was struggling against the longer reach of the spear. \u201dDammit, I need to finish this one now, or Wesley\u2019s a pin cushion\u201d<\/i>.<\/p>\n His gaze snapped back to the demon he was fighting, seeing the other two circling them, waiting for an opportunity to strike but patient and not risking injury unless a guard was dropped. Sneaky, but in-experienced<\/i>, if he was them he would attack as a team, lucky for him they weren\u2019t trained in teamwork.<\/p>\n He picked up the pace \u2013 hacking and slashing at both head and torso and then using both hands to grip the hilt, he drew back one elbow and shoulder so that the sword was poised to strike and backed away, waiting for an opportunity of his own. The demon followed him, wary but excited at the prospect that Angel was finally retreating, perhaps even tiring. \u201dIn your dreams\u201d<\/i>, that was it he was close enough \u2013 he lunged straight towards the demons unprotected neck; the demon saw it and brought up his own sword but was too close to parry, so it blocked with the blade flat out and angled down.<\/p>\n \u201dJust what he wanted\u201d<\/i>, Quicker than the eye could see Angel changed the angle and depth of the sword with a flick of his left wrist and by releasing the grip of his right hand; stepping back so that he stood sideways to it and confusing the demon with the move. The sword slipped past the protectively held blade and sank into its chest, just below where the breast bone would be on a human.<\/p>\n Angel immediately pulled the bloodied sword free and even as it sank to the floor, raised it again in his right hand now and swiftly decapitated it. The head came clean off, \u201dgood sword\u201d<\/i> and rolled to rest by the stone wall of the pit.<\/p>\n Wesley meanwhile was tiring fast, like Angel he too had noticed the scavengers waiting for him to fall and was bloody well determined not too, if he could help it. The axe felt like a lead weight by now, but so far he\u2019d managed to avoid the prongs. He dodged the next lunge and was struck by a surge of rage, renewed energy ran through his veins and his blood pumped hard through his body.<\/p>\n He kicked the spear to the side and trapped it with the axe by the curved head of the prongs, lashing out with his other foot, he connected with a thud on that meaty face, it staggered only a little before righting itself, \u201dFat prick\u201d<\/i>.<\/p>\n Before it could yank the spear free, Wesley slammed the axe in an upward swing, meeting the demons neck and cutting through skin and bone. That\u2019s more like it<\/i>. But despite the win he knew he was not likely to survive this and watched almost with detachment as the spear was taken up by one of the other, fresher demons.<\/p>\n The burst of adrenaline was fading and feeling a little like a drunk he swung his heavy, aching head around to see Angel in the middle of a fight with the last of the other two, Two kills to the vampire, no doubt<\/em>, he smiled grimly and heaved himself straight, meeting the charge of his latest and likely last challenger.<\/p>\n As far as Angel could tell, these guys must be trained by the same swordsmen \u2013 were none of them frickin\u2019 easy to kill?\u00a0He\u2019d miscalculated in leaving the axe for Wes, not thinking about the weight of it during a long fight<\/i>, he chanced another glance and winced, nearly getting his arm sliced through in the process.<\/p>\n Giving his attention back to the fight, he vamped out and snarled, baring his fangs and then charged the momentarily disconcerted demon. He hacked at the blade that was still raised in a huge fist, knocking it aside with his own but not stopping or reducing speed, until he head butted it on the face; he felt the sting of the tines on his ridged forehead but used the pain to fuel his demonic hunger for more.<\/p>\n The force of the unexpected blow drove it back despite it\u2019s size and bulk, the sword fell back and to one side and Angel kicked it out of it\u2019s hand and then raised his own; the blade stabbing down into it\u2019s gut. Then he dropped to a crouch and twisted his wrist up, turning and driving the impaling blade upwards while still inside, slicing through intestine like butter.<\/p>\n Without waiting to watch the final death throes he whirled around to see to Wesley, his topaz eyes widened when he saw the man he thought of as a friend was on his knees, the axe barely still held up and both arms dripping with blood, even his face was spattered with it and more oozed out of a gash on his neck. The demon stood back with and with a horrible grimacing grin swung the spear from side to side, gathering speed to swipe it over the now defenceless human. The sharp prongs would rip through everything in its path if it caught him, killing him.<\/p>\n Without really thinking Angel launched himself; hoping against hope to get between the man and demon in time. Wesley saw out of the corner of his eye, the dark shadow that was Angel, streaking towards them and in a split second of clarity he knew what would happen, \u201cNooo, don\u2019t be a fool\u201d He tried to yell it to be heard over the noise of the wild and crazed crowd.<\/p>\n His voice was hoarse and that only made what happened next even more surreal, he watched in horror as, almost in slow motion, Angel came between him and the spear, his black clad body met the ripping prongs and he jerked in mid-air as if stung. He landed with a thud on the dirt floor, lying on his side with one hand thrown towards Wesley.<\/p>\n Wesley watched the hand willing it to move, looking for signs of life and then saw a dark patch of liquid, spread to touch the still fingers from underneath Angel\u2019s side. The demon threw back its head and roared, raising its arms in victory to incite the crowd into a bigger frenzy.<\/p>\n Wesley glared at it with bloodshot eyes, face pale and streaked with his own blood; he struggled up and grasping the hilt from underneath Angel\u2019s prone body, dragged and hefted it up. The demon sensed the movement and turned to face him; Wesley stabbed the sword up through its chin and smiled in intense savage satisfaction as he saw the blood pour from both mouth and nose.<\/p>\n The crowd went quiet and Wesley staggered and fell back to his knees, then to the floor on his side \u2013 the two figures making a figure \u2018T\u2019 on the dirty, blood drenched floor of the pit.<\/p>\n Part 4\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 BACK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Part 3 THE HYPERION HOTEL (Where we left off) \u201cSo what is it this time and where is everyone\u201d? Asked Giles walking down…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13804"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13840,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13804\/revisions\/13840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}