Chapter 3<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cSo let me get this straight, you want us to use our insurance money and our found money to fix up hotel hell but\u2026we can\u2019t do that until after we\u2019ve evicted Methuselah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Thesulac, a paranoia demon.\u201d Wesley instinctively corrected. \u201cIt whispers to its victims, feeds on their innate insecurities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, don\u2019t care,\u201d Cordelia warned giving Wesley a glare that assured him she would not be in class today. She turned back to Angel, the fast twirl of her body swishing her hair around her face. \u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYea, pretty much.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you wanted to enthrall me with all this money before telling me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYea, pretty much.\u201d Angel rubbed against the ache at the back of his neck that was quickly escalating to throbbing. The good times with Cordelia were really good but it always seemed to be his fault when they didn\u2019t last.<\/p>\n
\u201cOK then. Just didn\u2019t want to be left out of the loop.\u201d Another fast twirl of her body followed by the swish of long hair and Cordelia was back to Wesley. \u201cAlright Einstein, let it rip. I know you\u2019re about to bust a gut, all that research just bustin\u2019 to get out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell actually Angel did the initial research when he lived at the hotel.\u201d Wesley announced with a smug face.<\/p>\n
Like a whirlwind Cordelia was on the move again. Sitting at Angel\u2019s side, she tapped his knees with a few reassuring pats, \u201cWell it\u2019s their own fault you didn\u2019t get a chance to use it. They killed you too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Catching the arch of Wesley\u2019s brow Angel shifted letting Cordelia\u2019s hand slip from his thigh. \u201cWe need to page Gunn, we\u2019re gonna need all the muscle we can get when we raise this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRaise it?\u201d Cordelia leaned forward with eyes widening in disbelief. \u201cWhy wake it up? Why not just chop its head off while it\u2019s asleep?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Thesulac is not asleep Cordelia,\u201d Wesley gave an exasperated shake of his head. \u201cWe have to force it to become corporeal in order to kill it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, well here\u2019s what I was thinking,\u201d Cordelia announced snuggling into her corner of the couch. \u201cWhile the he-men evict the hotel hell squatter I\u2019ll visit with David; you know, see if he has any suggestions on how to make this move-in less painful, financially anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid?\u201d Angel chose to ignore Wesley\u2019s brow arch at the irritation in his voice. Wes can shove his arched brows in one of his books and I\u2019ll slam it shut for him.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cDavid Nesbit, you know, geek millionaire, likes to play hero games.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYea, I know the kind of games he likes to play. No, I need you at the hotel.\u201d Angel\u2019s tone held a ring of finality, no room for discussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo? Just like that\u2026no? And what do you need me for?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLots of things. I need you to scatter the divining Powder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYippee,\u201d Cordelia clapped her hands, \u201cCordy gets to add dust to the house of dust. How \u2018bout you guys start without me and I\u2019ll catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel if The Thesulac is as powerful as you remember, it might be better for Cordelia not to be a the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel cursed the unfairness of life. If he were human, he wouldn\u2019t have to choice between a man that indulges in demon brothel pleasures and fighting a dangerous paranoid demon. \u201cOK, but I want you at the hotel before dark. We have a lot to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, don\u2019t call me that.\u201d Angel growled with a carefully placed smile on his tense face.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you guys?\u201d Angel bellowed into the phone scrunched between his ear and shoulder as he worked inside the open fuse box.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have purchased the supplies required and are now in route to the hotel.\u201d Wesley yelled above the roar of traffic. Cordelia had insisted they put the top down because the sacred herbs stashed in the backseat smelled like yesterday\u2019s fish heads.<\/p>\n
Electrical sparks surged as wires were crossed. \u201cHe knows we\u2019re coming for him. The longer we wait the more ready he\u2019s gonna be.\u201d Angel hunched and dodged as more sparks flew from the fuse box, \u201cI want you down here asap,\u201d then gave into a faint smile as the lights flickered becoming a steady glow.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, we\u2019re on our way,\u201d Wesley yelled before clicking off the phone. \u201cRemind me again why you changed your mind.\u201d Wesley glanced over at Cordelia nestled between him and Gunn mentally noting the vacant backseat except for a few supplies and smelly herbs.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuh, because you guys need me. You\u2019ll get yourselves killed and then where would I be?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell since you\u2019re worried about us.\u201d Wesley yelled his sarcastic tone above the squall of wind fluttering past his ears.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys,\u201d Gunn shouted from his tight squeeze against the passenger door, \u201clet\u2019s save the bitch slappin\u2019 for\u2026 What did you call this place Barbie?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHotel hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight hotel hell.\u201d Gunn faced forward letting the wind take the sound of his words. \u201cWhy do I keep saying yes to these people?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia strolled into the hotel followed by Wesley and Gunn carrying the supplies. Angel couldn\u2019t help but smile a the sight. \u201cCordy, you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere else big guy? I asked David to come by tomorrow. I\u2019m hoping if he sees me toiling he\u2019ll send over his maid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOK, let\u2019s do this. Wes you got everything we\u2019ll need?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, orb, powder,\u201d and with a teasing grin to Cordelia, \u201cand smelly herbs at the ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia stuck her tongue out at Wesley then proceeded to sprinkle the divining powder on the first few steps leading upstairs as Wesley began to chant the spell.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call thee forth, Thesulac of the netherworld, we command you, leave our minds and join us on this, the physical plane.\u201d Holding out his hand to Gunn still fiddling with his backpack, Wesley urgently snapped his fingers. \u201cOrb of Ramjerin!\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn looked up yelling into the large room. \u201cOrb of Ramjerin, please makes it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow please! And do be careful, ancient conjuring orbs are notoriously fragile.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley dropped his book releasing an audible yelp as he caught the orb Gunn had lobbed in his direction. \u201cAngel! These spells are most difficult in the best of circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys, don\u2019t listen to it, alright? What ever it\u2019s whispering to you, just ignore it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no, that\u2019s not hotel hell or its squatter. They were like this in the car,\u201d Cordelia rolled her eyes in exasperation at her carpoolers, \u201call the way over here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n
The orb glowing, Wesley raised his arm bringing it above his head. \u201cWe invoke thee by the power of the orb of priests of Ramjerin. What was once in our thoughts, be now in our midst.\u201d<\/p>\n
The air above the stair landing began to shiver and bulge as the demon manifested amidst the screams of Cordelia and Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch his tentacles,\u201d Angel warned.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me? His what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTentacles!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh right, cause you don\u2019t want to be touching those without permission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recognizing Angel Thesulac turned in his direction. \u201cI don’t remember ordering take-out, but I like what you brung me. Not as delectable as the last one perhaps but full of tasty paranoia just the same.\u201d The demon gave a hearty laugh pointing at Wesley, \u201cespecially that one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he mean by that?\u201d Wesley looked from the demon to Angel and then back to the demon. \u201cThat one?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou had your last meal here a long time ago. You should have gotten out when you had the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Undaunted Thesulac drifted closer to Angel. \u201cGot out? Now, why would I wanna do that? The room service in this hotel is excellent. Paranoia here is like fine wine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome things get better with age, some just grow stale. Gunn now!\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn fired his crossbow pinning one of Thesulac\u2019s tentacles to the banister of the stairs. Another tentacle lashed out wrapping around Gunn\u2019s hand preventing another shot, before tossing him against the wall.<\/p>\n
Cordelia and Wesley took off in different directions allowing Angel to move in under the distraction. Jumping into a forward roll he grabbed one of the demon\u2019s tentacles before rolling back to his feet. \u201cThe kitchen is closed.\u201d Angel shoved the end of the tentacle against the wires still exposed in the fuse box. An explosion of sparks and blue electricity traveled up the tentacle wrapping around the demon. Thesulac hung in the air trapped inside the electrical charge before exploding into a white light with a horrifying scream.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs everyone OK,\u201d Angel asked immediately heading toward Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cYea man, I\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he mean, especially that one?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat now we\u2019ll have to listen to Mr. I left My Confidence In My Other Pants psychoanalyze himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter, he seems to enjoy the challenge. Are you OK?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYea I\u2019m fine Big Guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel brushed the loose strands that had fallen from Cordelia\u2019s pigtail behind her ear. \u201cSo I guess you were serious about fighting demons.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026I said I\u2019d fight demons if I had too\u2026and you needed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYea, I guess I did. I\u2019m gonna check the upstairs. I\u2019ll be back in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust so you know,\u201d Cordelia called out to Angel halfway up the stairs, \u201cif you find any relatives up there they\u2019re staying and we\u2019re leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
After giving herself a minute to enjoy Angel\u2019s smile Cordelia joined Wesley and Gunn sitting at the bottom of the steps.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve been accused of a great many things in my time, but paranoid has never been one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley we just survived evicting a demon with more tentacles than I ever want to remember, please don\u2019t bore us to death.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn leaned back shaking his head and looking over at Cordelia. \u201cGive it up Barbie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless people have been saying it behind my back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Epilogue<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel stood outside the closed door of room 217. \u201cA vampire slaying a demon to help some grubby humans? I just don\u2019t get it.\u201d \u201cTo be honest, I\u2019m not sure I do either.\u201d<\/i> It had taken the vampire nearly half a century but he was finally beginning to figure it out. Maybe home and family isn\u2019t just a dream.<\/i><\/p>\n
Pushing the door open Angel stepped inside. The room empty of presence except for his own Angel took his first step away from the past into the present. \u201cThere is such a thing as forgiveness, right?\u201d<\/i> Looking around the room a small smile graced his faced. \u201cYea Judy, there is.\u201d Angel walked out closing the door behind him. Looking back one last time he headed downstairs to his future.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou all right man?\u201d Gunn asked seeing Angel descend the stairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Angel nodded, then looking at Cordelia, \u201cready to move in?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA few throw pillows and we\u2019re home. What’s not to love?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, surely you more than anyone must appreciate how for the better part of the last century this place has been host not only to a malevolent demonic presence, but the very worst faces of humanity. This is a house of evil.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn gave a couple of light slaps to Wesley\u2019s shoulder. \u201cNo lie, plus it kind of has an odor to it. You notice that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel looked around the lobby then at his makeshift family. \u201cNot anymore, we\u2019re home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley looked around himself then leaned in closer to Angel. \u201cAngel you don’t find me especially paranoid, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot especially.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, thank god. I was worried.\u201d<\/p>\n