Part 2<\/b><\/p>\n
The Past\u2026<\/p>\n
Cordelia ran the brush through her long, brunette hair.<\/p>\n
Even *that* didn\u2019t seem right. The hair felt funny as it brushed against the back of her neck. And the weight of it seemed to want to pull her head down.<\/p>\n
Sighing, she laid the hairbrush down next to the sink. This was ridiculous. Her hair had never been shorter than shoulder-length. She was vain about a lot of things. But her long, lustrous hair was the biggest of the big. It was like\u2026her crown. The thought that she would ever cut it was beyond nuts.<\/p>\n
But, when she\u2019d first looked in the mirror, for just a second, she saw a shorter style. Hair that reached her chin. And, even weirder, *that* was the image of herself that seemed right. Much more right than the image that stared back at her from the mirror.<\/p>\n
Cordelia studied her reflection for a long second. If this was some weird kind of identity crisis, she wasn\u2019t liking it.<\/p>\n
Finally, with a shake of her head, she left her private bathroom.<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
Angelus peered through the opening in Cordelia Chase\u2019s designer curtains. He had to say, he was impressed. The room was as classy as the girl herself. Tasteful. Understated. Solid oak furniture. Silk sheets. Not a single poster of a teen idle on the wall.<\/p>\n
Just than, Cordelia Chase exited the bathroom.<\/p>\n
Angelus studied her with narrowed, black eyes. She wore a silk pajama top, pale blue, that reached mid-thigh. He let his gaze linger over her long, tanned legs. Up her long, curvaceous body.<\/p>\n
And he was assailed by a sense of familiarity.<\/p>\n
Angelus frowned. It wasn\u2019t unusual. He\u2019d been alive\u2014sort of\u2014for almost three centuries. He often encountered people who reminded him of someone he\u2019d known in the past.<\/p>\n
A tavern wench who was always up for a tumble.<\/p>\n
Or the man who sold him his favorite horse.<\/p>\n
Or his father. That had happened more than once. When he was souled, such instances always lead to dark, painful thoughts. But, without his soul\u2026<\/p>\n
Well, there was that man in Rome. The one who watched him charm a young prostitute. Who looked at him with the same contempt and disapproval as young Liam\u2019s father had a century before.<\/p>\n
The man whose face Angelus had removed. It took hours because the vampire stopped whenever the man passed out\u2026which was often. By the time he\u2019d finished, the man so like his father was a raving lunatic. Almost as bad as Dru. But not quite as entertaining.<\/p>\n
But this was different. He\u2019d known Cordelia, in a way, for over a year. If it was just a matter of her reminding him of someone from his past, he would have sensed it before now. So, that wasn\u2019t the explanation.<\/p>\n
But, the longer he watched her, the more familiar she seemed. He felt like\u2026he knew her. Not on a conscious level, perhaps. But a deeper, emotional one.<\/p>\n
Which made no since. Beyond a few brief conversations\u2014when he was usually busy trying to ignore her unsubtle advances\u2014they barely spoke.<\/p>\n
But that perplexing sense of familiarity persisted.<\/p>\n
Not only that, but he couldn\u2019t get one ridiculous thought out of his head. That her hair should be shorter\u2026<\/p>\n
Cordelia sat on the side of the bed. Picked up a bottle that, from the look of it, no doubt contained something ridiculously expensive. She poured its contents into her hands.<\/p>\n
She began to apply the lotion to her legs.<\/p>\n
Angelus watched with hungry eyes as she applied lotion to her legs in long, even strokes. Her hand smoothed up her calves. Her thighs. Pushed the night shirt up until he could see the edge of her panties, silk and lace.<\/p>\n
A growl rumbled in his chest, almost like a purr. As his demon visage flickered into place, he ran his tongue over his sharp, jagged teeth. He imagined that her hands were his. Not gentle, but tight and punishing. Leaving fingerprint-bruises wherever he touched.<\/p>\n
He imagined gripping her knee as he sunk his fangs deep into the flesh of her inner thigh\u2026<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Cordelia clutched her head. Crying out, she fell to the bedroom floor.<\/p>\n
Angelus frowned, his fantasy put on hold put on hold for the moment.<\/p>\n
What was this?<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
Pain, like nothing she\u2019d ever felt before, crashed through Cordelia\u2019s head.<\/p>\n
It felt like someone had dug their fingers into her forehead and pulled her skull apart. Then shoved hot coals inside. While a friend went at the back of her head with a sledgehammer.<\/p>\n
But, as hard as it was to believe, the pain wasn\u2019t as bad as what she *saw*.<\/p>\n
Two kids, about twelve years old. Feeling all rebellious because they snuck out of their houses to smoke in the park.<\/p>\n
And something had found them. Something strong enough to rip off an arm or a leg. To shove a fist into a chest and crush a young, frightened heart.<\/p>\n
She felt it all. The fear. The pain. The screams scratched across her mind, like a thousand nails across a chalkboard.<\/p>\n
As the\u2026whatever it was, released her, Cordelia went limp. For a second, she just lay there, gasping for air. Fingers pressed to her temples because the pain lingered. And her shocked mind tried to grasp what just happened.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when her bedroom door opened.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia?\u201d Her mother\u2019s voice. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on in here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s eyes popped open. She sat up, ignoring the twinge of pain that shot down her neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe heard screams,\u201d her father said with a frown. He looked worried. And annoyed.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d probably interrupted a late business call.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom. Daddy,\u201d she said as she stood up. \u201cI\u2026I\u2019m fine. I just\u2026tripped. Hit my elbow. You know how much *that* hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t know why she lied. Something just told her not to try to explain what had happened.<\/p>\n
Besides, what was she supposed to say?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou tripped?\u201d her father asked. Like he\u2019d never heard of such a thing. His eyes searched for what she had tripped *on*.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, try to be more careful, honey,\u201d her mother said.<\/p>\n
They didn\u2019t linger. They never did. She could have been bleeding from the nose and mouth. But, as long as she said she was fine\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, God,\u201d she whispered as she remembered. She wished she could believe it was her imagination. A waking nightmare. That she was going nuts and had just had a hallucination.<\/p>\n
But she knew. Somehow, she knew what she saw was real.<\/p>\n
Staggering to the nightstand on legs that trembled and shook, she picked up the \u2018phone.<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
Angelus watched Cordelia dial the telephone. What had just happened? What had he just seen?<\/p>\n
Actually, she\u2019d looked like an epileptic he\u2019d once met late in the 18th century. The people in her village, even her uncle, decided her \u201cfits\u201d were a sign that she was possessed by the devil. And, in an act of unparalleled bravery, two dozen grown men chased the lone, frail girl into the woods, fully intending to beat the devil out of her.<\/p>\n
Angelus saved her. Her knight in shining armor.<\/p>\n
She would have been better off in the hands of the villagers.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Hearing the name, Angelus snapped out of his reverie.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know that park over on DePalmer?\u201d Cordelia continued. \u201cYeah? Well, I need you to go there. Now!<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy? Because a big, scaly demon with gray skin and serious varicose veins is about to snack on a couple of pre-teens.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do I know? Listen, we don\u2019t have time for twenty questions! Just get there now. You don\u2019t have much time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t *matter*. Just go! *You\u2019re* the damned Slayer. Go slay!\u201d And she slammed the \u2018phone down.<\/p>\n
Angelus arched one eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d he muttered. \u201cThis is\u2026interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
As Angelus entered the mansion, he heard Drucilla moaning.<\/p>\n
He walked into the great room, and found his childe lying in front of the fireplace. Hands clutching her head. Writhing and moaning on the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on here?\u201d Angelus asked.<\/p>\n
Spike wheeled his chair closer to Dru. \u201cDon\u2019t know,\u201d he said in clipped tones. He took a moment to glare at Angelus, as if this were somehow the elder vampire\u2019s fault. Then, he turned worried eyes on his sire. \u201cShe\u2019s been like this for the last twenty minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus frowned. His mind leaped to what he had seen twenty minutes ago.<\/p>\n
Carefully, he approached Dru. He knelt down beside her, reached towards her. Paused. Let his fingers hover above her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrucilla,\u201d he said, his voice gentle. \u201cWhat do you see?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKnives,\u201d the demented seer moaned. Half in pain. Half in pleasure. \u201c*Ripping* through my brain. Stabbing. Stabbing.\u201d A beatific smile spread across her face.<\/p>\n
Angelus smiled with her. Fascinated, as always, by the workings of her mind. Her gift.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe felt it all,\u201d Drucilla continued. \u201cAll that delicious fear. And terror.\u201d She giggled. \u201cPain so rich I could drink it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother seer?\u201d Angelus prompted. \u201cSomeone with the sight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo much power,\u201d the vampiress said on a happy sigh. \u201cFlashes. Horrible, brilliant flashes. And the screams. Like music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drucilla turned away from him. She moaned, and whimpered, and giggled. Reliving the details of her vision.<\/p>\n
Angelus smiled, amused. It seemed Drucilla had had a vision of Cordelia having a vision. Talk about irony.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Spike demanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing for you to worry about, Spike.\u201d Angelus stood up. \u201cJust a vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf a seer?\u201d Spike said. \u201cSomeone else for you to torture?<\/p>\n
Angelus smirked. On some level, Spike resented Angelus for what he\u2019d done to Dru so long ago. True, the younger vampire might have done the same\u2026if he\u2019d had the talent for it. And he loved Dru as she was, insanity and all.<\/p>\n
What he resented was that it was *Angelus* who tortured her. *Angelus* who drove her over the edge of madness. *Angelus* who had her eternal devotion.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should probably get ready, Spike,\u201d the elder said. He waved towards the vampiress. \u201cDru will be needing your\u2026services in a few minutes. I mean, *I\u2019d* oblige her. But I have some thinking to do.\u201d Grinning, he glanced at Spike\u2019s wheelchair. \u201cAnd she probably won\u2019t even mind doing all the work.\u201d<\/p>\n
His grandchilde\u2019s murderous glare boring holes in his back, Angelus left the room.<\/p>\n
In the master bedroom, he lay down on the massive, four-poster bed.<\/p>\n
Cordelia Chase. A seer. And a powerful one.<\/p>\n
And, he couldn\u2019t deny it. Seeing her writhe around on the floor, crying out, clutching at her head, had aroused him as much as watching her on the dance floor had. More.<\/p>\n
He wondered. Could she see what he was going to do to her? Could she feel it? Could she sense the terror and pain of it?<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t know how he felt about that. On the one hand, he loved surprises. Catching his victims unawares. Becoming the nightmare they never thought would come true.<\/p>\n
But the anticipation, the fear and dread. It would make her as succulent, as sweet, as a newly ripened peach.<\/p>\n
Sighing, Angelus closed his eyes. It had been too long since he\u2019d tasted the blood of a true seer.<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026and I saw the demon pull the other kid\u2019s heart out, and take this huge bite. And, let me just say, ewwwww! Then, I woke up or whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n
A heavy silence fell over the library.<\/p>\n
Imagining what Cordelia had just described, in vivid detail, Buffy shivered. She\u2019d thought *looking* at the demon was bad. It had definitely been one of the more ugly variety. But at least she\u2019d gotten to the park before the feeding frenzy began.<\/p>\n
She shivered again. Now, she knew what would have happened to those kids if Cordelia hadn\u2019t called.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is\u2026extraordinary,\u201d Giles said for the hundredth. \u201cAmazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Cordelia said with a bitter frown. \u201cIt means that, after a year of hanging with freaks, I\u2019ve finally *become* one.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a familiar, Queen C insult. The Scoobies barely heard it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been accounts of people having a single, precognitive episode,\u201d Giles said. \u201cUsually when loved-ones are concerned. This could possibly be a one time event, Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope so,\u201d Cordelia said. \u201cIf I *want* to feel like someone\u2019s shoving an ice pick through my skull, I\u2019ll listen to a Backstreet Boyz CD.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr,\u201d Giles continued. \u201cIt could be that some latent, psychic ability you never knew you had has been activated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia glared at the Watcher. \u201cGreat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounds cool!\u201d Willow enthused. \u201cBeing able to see into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d And a haunted look shadowed hazel eyes usually filled with confidence. \u201cI felt those kids *die* in a really painful way. That so *wasn\u2019t* cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abashed, the red head looked down.<\/p>\n
Oz, always in tune with her moods, laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. And Willow gave him a grateful smile.<\/p>\n
Xander raised his hand. \u201cUmmmm, does this mean Cordelia can read our minds?\u201d His eyes widened. \u201cOr see stuff I\u2019m doing even if we\u2019re in two different places!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, please!\u201d Cordelia rolled her eyes. \u201cLike I want to see you dance around your bedroom in your underwear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander gasped in horror. \u201cYou *saw* that!\u201d<\/p>\n
A stunned silence filled the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was *kidding*, Xander.\u201d<\/p>\n
The teen squirmed in his seat. \u201cI knew that!\u201d he forced a laugh. \u201cYou don\u2019t think I knew that? I was just making a joke. Big joker. Yep. That\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, quite.\u201d Giles cleared his throat. \u201cSeers are very rare. Especially those with visions as vivid and detailed as Cordelia\u2019s seems to have been. The fact that she was not only able to pinpoint a location but an approximate time is extraordinary!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGiles,\u201d Buffy said with an amused smile. \u201cDo you want me to tell you how many times you\u2019ve used that word?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmmm.\u201d He gave her a blank look. Then, as the light dawn, he became slightly embarrassed. \u201cYes. Sorry. It\u2019s just that, this is quite\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExtraordinary,\u201d the room chorused.<\/p>\n
Giles gave them a look. \u201cYes.\u201d He took off his glasses and began to clean them. \u201cI\u2019d like to do some research on the subject. Perhaps I\u2019ll find something that\u2019ll explain what\u2019s happened. And, Cordelia, I want to know as soon as you have another vision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever,\u201d the girl sighed. The thought of having another vision wasn\u2019t a happy one.<\/p>\n
Buffy could sympathize. Cordelia had spent her entire life not caring about the feelings of others. But, thanks to her visions, she got to experience the feelings of others first hand.<\/p>\n
At the most horrifying moment of their lives.<\/p>\n
Not fun.<\/p>\n
Buffy kind of knew what this \u201cseeing the future\u201d business was all about. Her prophetic dreams always freaked her out. But they were more symbolic than anything else. How else could you explain Willow having coffee with a monkey at the Bronze?<\/p>\n
To actually see something so terrible. As if it was actually happening right in front of you. To have a vision\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, my God,\u201d Buffy gasped> Her eyes widened with sudden realization.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy?\u201d Giles gave her a worried look. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPsycho stalker boy?\u201d Xander asked. His expression turned sour. \u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy hesitated. Her eyes flickered towards Cordelia, then away. \u201cAngel told me about Drucilla. All the things he did to drive her crazy. He said he became so obsessed with her because\u2026she had visions.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a second, the silence was thick enough to cut. Then\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no,\u201d Willow gasped.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot good,\u201d Oz muttered.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh dear,\u201d Giles said. He polished his glasses a little harder.<\/p>\n
\u201cShit,\u201d Xander whispered. And he moved his chair a little closer to Cordelia\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Cordelia didn\u2019t say anything. Just turned several shades of pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll just have to make sure he d-doesn\u2019t find out,\u201d Giles finally said. \u201cThere\u2019s no reason he should. After all, none of you have seen him in over a week. And, as long as no-one discusses Cordelia\u2019s new abilities in public\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy nodded. It made sense. It made perfect sense. There was really no way for Angel to know unless he overheard them talking about it in a public place. Which they weren\u2019t going to do.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, Angel\u2014with and *without* his soul\u2014had never paid that much attention to Cordelia. So this vision thing should be an easy secret to keep.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The doorbell rang at 6:45.<\/p>\n
Marta sighed. Her cab would be here in half an hour. She had little time to pack a bag for the three days she planned to spend with her sister in LA. The last thing she needed was an interruption.<\/p>\n
For a moment, she considered not answering. After all, the visitor was most likely there to see one of the Chase\u2019s, none of whom were at home anyway. So, why bother?<\/p>\n
Because, officially, her time off didn\u2019t begin until 7:00. So\u2026<\/p>\n
Marta sighed. So, she\u2019d answer the door.<\/p>\n
The housekeeper hurried into the foyer and opened the door. And her mouth dropped opened.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what happened when one found a gorgeous man on their doorstep.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, yes,\u201d the housekeeper said. She tried not to stare at his leather pants. \u201cMay I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d His smile was breathtaking. \u201cI\u2019m here to pick up Cordelia. We have a date.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marta frowned. Cordelia had a date? With this young man? But wasn\u2019t she dating that Xander boy?<\/p>\n
Then again, Xander Harris had never really seemed like Cordelia\u2019s type.<\/p>\n
But this man certainly *was*. Handsome. Self-assured. From a wealthy family, no doubt.<\/p>\n
Perhaps a little too old for a 17 year-old girl. But Cordelia had been dating college boys since she was 15. Marta didn\u2019t approve. But, her parents didn\u2019t object, so\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m afraid Cordelia isn\u2019t home right now,\u201d the housekeeper said.<\/p>\n
The man frowned. \u201cWhat? But she told me to pick her up at 6:30.\u201d He gave her an embarrassed grin. \u201cActually, I thought she was going to give me a hard time for being late.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marta smiled in return, more in sympathy than anything else. This wouldn\u2019t be the first time Cordelia hadn\u2019t been home to meet a date. \u201cWell. I\u2019m sure she\u2019ll be home any minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marta hesitated. Her cab was due at 7:15. She still had to pack.<\/p>\n
But leaving the young man outside to wait didn\u2019t seem right.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019d like, you can come in and wait for her,\u201d she offered. \u201cBut I have to tell you I have a cab coming to take me to the airport. If it gets here before Cordelia does, you\u2019ll have to wait for her outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a problem, ma\u2019am,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Marta smiled. Manners were so rare in young people these days. Unless you were at the grocery store.<\/p>\n
Deciding she might like Cordelia\u2019s new boyfriend, Marta waved him across the threshold.<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
Angelus pressed redial. Holding the \u2018phone to his ear, he whistled a jaunty tune.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, hi. I\u2019d like to cancel a cab\u2026The Chase residence\u2026459 Bernson\u2026Yeah, we had kind of a family emergency\u2026Thank you\u2026You have a nice night, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hanging up, Angelus wiped a red smear from the corner of his mouth. Bending down, he slung the corpse Chase\u2019s live-in maid over his shoulder. Then, taking a look around to make sure everything was in place, he left through the back door.<\/p>\n
* * *<\/p>\n
Cordelia stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, here I am again,\u201d she muttered. And a lot had changed in the last 24 hours. One minute, she was an average\u2026well, *above* average\u2014high school student. The next, she was just another freak in the Freak Patrol.<\/p>\n
Slayer. Werewolf. Computer Geek. Mr. Tweed. Seer.<\/p>\n
Her worst nightmare had come true. The weirdness wasn\u2019t something outside her anymore. Something she could look at, occasionally ridicule, ignore when something else came up, or walk away from if she chose too. If the vision wasn\u2019t a one-time thing, the weirdness was inside her. A part of her. There was no walking away.<\/p>\n
So, why wasn\u2019t she more freaked out?<\/p>\n
Cordelia frowned. Because the vision\u2014with the pain, and the icky images, and the horrible emotions, and those kids being saved from a horrible death\u2014felt\u2026*right*. More right than anything else had since yesterday afternoon. As right as the shadow image of herself, with shorter hair.<\/p>\n
Cutting off the light, she left the bathroom.<\/p>\n
Cordy walked into her bedroom\u2026and came to an abrupt stop. Something wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d turned the bedside lamp on before she went in to take a shower. She always did. It was like a habit.<\/p>\n
But, now, the room was dark. The only illumination the moonlight flooding, like liquid silver, through the open window.<\/p>\n
The window she\u2019d closed because it was a little chilly outside.<\/p>\n
As the wrongness of this picture sank in, Cordy\u2019s heart did a dull thud in her chest. In Sunnydale, wrongness equaled bad.<\/p>\n
Instinctively, she took a step back\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026And collided with a solid form.<\/p>\n
She barely got out a startled shriek before a powerful arm wrapped around her chest. The other wrapped tight around her waist.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Cordelia,\u201d a familiar voice said. \u201cHow ya doin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
With a whimper, Cordy squeezed her eyes shut. Horror creeped through her veins like ice water. \u201cAngel,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, what\u2019s in a name?\u201d the vampire asked. \u201cA rose by any other name has thorns. Or something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia cringed as he rested his cheek against her head. She heard him breathe deep. \u201cWhat\u2019s that? Vanilla?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia stood completely still, unable to move. Her body was frozen. Her throat was locked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like it,\u201d he continued, as if she had answered. \u201cI like the whole thing.\u201d He rested his lips against her ear. \u201cWe\u2019ve known each other for over a year now. But it\u2019s like we\u2019re still strangers.\u201d She felt him shake his head. \u201cWell, I think it\u2019s time we got to know each other better.\u201d<\/p>\n