Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
The Past\u2026<\/p>\n
The Scooby Gang filed into Cordelia Chase\u2019s house.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to lie down,\u201d Cordelia said in a tired, worn voice. She pressed her hand against the bandage on her neck. \u201cIf anybody wants anything\u2026\u201d And she waved vaguely around the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll help you to your room, Cor,\u201d Xander offered. \u201cJust lean against my manly arm for support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia rolled her eyes. \u201cManly?\u201d she said, doubt clear in her voice. But she took the offered arm.<\/p>\n
As they headed up the stairs, a goofy grin spread across Xander\u2019s face. \u201cI don\u2019t believe it. I finally get to see your bedroom!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTake advantage,\u201d his girlfriend said. \u201cBecause this is the only time that\u2019s *ever* going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the two disappeared from sight, Buffy closed the front door.<\/p>\n
\u201cNice place,\u201d the Slayer said. Which was a definite understatement. The house dripped money and class from every pore.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been here before.\u201d Willow\u2019s grin was smug. \u201cAt Cordy\u2019s twelfth birthday party.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c*Cor-delia,*\u201d Buffy said with disbelief, \u201cinvited you to her birthday party?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, not actually,\u201d Willow admitted. \u201cHer mother did. I don\u2019t think Mrs. Chase is all that up on who her daughter\u2019s friends are. She must have heard Cordelia mention my name, and decided we were best buds.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Buffy nodded. That made more sense.<\/p>\n
Willow sighed wistfully. \u201cThat was the best birthday cake I ever tasted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Setting their bags down in the foyer, the two girls removed the supplies they\u2019d need for the un-invite spell.<\/p>\n
As she worked, Buffy\u2019s mind was raced. With the same thoughts she\u2019d been thinking pretty much all day long.<\/p>\n
If what Cordelia said was true, Angel was going to get his soul back. He\u2018d get his soul back and stop hating her. And hurting her. And hurting her friends.<\/p>\n
It helped to ease her guilt. A little. Because ever since he\u2019d lost his soul\u2014ever since she\u2019d had the chance to kill him but couldn\u2019t take it\u2014she\u2019d felt guilty. Guilty for all the things he\u2019d done, the people he\u2019d killed. Guilty for wanting *her* Angel back, in spite of everything.<\/p>\n
Of course, nothing could make up for all of those lives. For all of the pain. But, if there really was an end to this nightmare, maybe she could stop blaming herself.<\/p>\n
And she just wouldn\u2019t think about the other stuff Cordelia had\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you really think Angel will come after Cordelia again?\u201d Willow asked, almost as if she\u2019d read Buffy\u2019s mind. \u201cI mean, he\u2019s tried to kill me and Xander before. And, when he failed, he just moved on to something else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know,\u201d Buffy said. \u201cSo, probably not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unless this was different. Those times Angel had tried to kill Willow and Xander, it hadn\u2019t really been *about* them. It was about getting at Buffy. While she didn\u2019t think he\u2019d been happy when Willow and Xander got away, Buffy could imagine him shrugging off those failures, and trying to think of some new way to make her life miserable.<\/p>\n
But Cordelia was a seer\u2026like Drusilla. Which he now knew. And if he became obsessed with Cordelia\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re ready,\u201d Willow said as she stood up.<\/p>\n
Snapping out of her reverie, Buffy sighed. \u201cLet\u2019s get started.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u201d Xander said as he loped down the stairs. \u201cIs there any nudity involved in this ritual? Because I read all the books, and sometimes, for this stuff to work, the participants must be of the natural.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Xander.\u201d Willow blushed to the roots of her red hair. \u201cWe keep our clothes *on* for this one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBummer.\u201d After a moment of disappointed silence, he moved on. \u201cI\u2019m staying here with Cordy until her pops gets home. Anybody want to join me. Strength in numbers and all that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would, but I can\u2019t,\u201d Buffy said. \u201cI promised Mom I\u2019d help at this new opening at the gallery.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd my parents want to spend some quality time with me,\u201d Willow said. \u201cIt happens every time my mother reads a study on parental involvement or troubled teens. Well, if the studies written by someone she really respects.\u201d She opened her trusty book of spells. \u201cI\u2019m glad Giles could wolf-sit with Oz tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, that\u2019s it, then.\u201d Xander cast a long, wary look around. \u201cJust me and Cordelia. All alone. In this big old house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Xander,\u201d Buffy said. \u201cOnce we do this spell, you\u2019re set.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, good. I mean, if Angel kills me, it would prove I was right all along when I said we shouldn\u2019t trust that blood-sucking fiend. But I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll have as much fun gloating if I\u2019m dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
((Hello, the guilt,)) Buffy sighed.<\/p>\n
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Willow slap Xander upside the head.<\/p>\n
Which made her feel a little better.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The sun set right on time.<\/p>\n
Sitting in the Chase\u2019s massive living room, a comic book open and unread on his lap, Xander\u2019s knee nervously bounced up and down.<\/p>\n
He knew he was safe. Well, as safe as anyone could get in Sunnydale. It wasn\u2019t like there was anyone in the Chase residence would beg the vamp to come in for cocktails.<\/p>\n
But that didn\u2019t do much to ease Xander\u2019s anxiety. Because Angel had already gotten in once. And, who knew? There might be some kind of loop-hole\u2026<\/p>\n
Heart pounding, Xander shot out of his seat. Suddenly, he wasn\u2019t all that thrilled with being alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll go check on Cordy,\u201d he said. \u201cYeah, that\u2019s what I\u2019ll do. Check on my sweetie.\u201d And he ran up the stairs.<\/p>\n
In her bedroom, Cordelia slept peacefully.<\/p>\n
The bandage on her neck was like a beacon. It drew Xander\u2019s eyes to it. Renewed his anger. And filled him with fear.<\/p>\n
Kneeling down next to her, Xander took a deep breath. It had been close. Way too close. And even Giles couldn\u2019t say why Cordelia was still alive. Probably another one of Angel\u2019s sick games.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, the only reason my girlfriend isn\u2019t dead is because of some bloodsucker\u2019s whim,\u201d he muttered. \u201c*That* is a mind easer.\u201d<\/p>\n
A part of Xander wished he had been there. That he\u2019d been able to protect her somehow.<\/p>\n
But another voice scoffed at the idea.<\/p>\n
((What were you going to do? Give his fists a good beating with your face? Let him break your neck, and hope the remorse killed him? Yeah. Right.))<\/p>\n
When the \u2018phone rang, he almost jumped out of his skin.<\/p>\n
Taking a deep breath, Xander answered Cordelia\u2019s cell.<\/p>\n
\u201cYell-o?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cXander?\u201d Giles said. \u201cGood. I wasn\u2019t sure I\u2019d be able to reach you at this number.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, G-Man,\u201d the teen said, happy to hear another voice. \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m doing some research into Cordelia\u2019s visions. Unfortunately, some of the texts I need are at my apartment.\u201d In the background, there was a loud, bone-chilling howl. \u201cAnd I can\u2019t leave Oz in the library alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander frowned. \u201cYou want me to take wolf-sitting duty?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you wouldn\u2019t mind. It won\u2019t be for long.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTake my car,\u201d said a faint, groggy voice.<\/p>\n
Startled, Xander looked down at Cordelia. While her eyes were still closed, she was obviously awake.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake my car,\u201d she repeated. \u201cIt\u2019s not safe to walk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cXander?\u201d Giles said. \u201cAre you still there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. Just a sec.\u201d He held the \u2018phone away from his ear, and asked Cordelia, \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded. \u201cJust tell him to hurry.\u201d And she quickly drifted back to sleep.<\/p>\n
After a moment\u2019s hesitation, he nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll be right there, Giles,\u201d he said, and he hung up the \u2018phone.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angelus could almost feel the power of the un-invite spell. Pushing against him. Pushing him away.<\/p>\n
With an angry snarl, he paced in front of Cordelia Chase\u2019s house. One way. Then the other. Like a wild animal, trying to find a way out of a cage.<\/p>\n
Or, in this case, find a way into one.<\/p>\n
He could almost feel her inside. Locked away from him. Cordelia.<\/p>\n
His imagination replayed the moment when he fed from her. Over and over again.<\/p>\n
His fangs plunged into her warm, tender flesh.<\/p>\n
Rich, sweet blood bathed his tongue. Flowed down his throat.<\/p>\n
His brain seethed with need. His body throbbed with a hunger for more.<\/p>\n
Pausing, Angelus closed his eyes, squeezed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.<\/p>\n
He almost wished he\u2019d never tasted her. Because, now, he couldn\u2019t get it out of his mind. It filled him with a craving that seemed to grow with every moment. Every second. His desire for another taste\u2014just one more taste\u2014was starting to consume him. To take control.<\/p>\n
And Angelus hated being out of control.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t understand it. How one girl, who had meant nothing to him a few days ago, was suddenly all he could think about.<\/p>\n
At first, he\u2019d thought it was because she was a seer. After all, he\u2019d become obsessed with a seer before.<\/p>\n
But his preoccupation with Drusilla had been nothing like this. What he\u2019d done to Dru over a century ago hadn\u2019t really been *about* Dru. It was about the game. Finding new ways to torment her. To break her. To make that gifted mind of hers snap.<\/p>\n
This was different. Yes, he wanted to hurt Cordelia. To break her with his own hands. But, more importantly, he wanted to taste her again. To crush her body beneath his, and\u2026<\/p>\n
Suddenly, the front door opened.<\/p>\n
Instinctively, Angelus melted into the surrounding shadows.<\/p>\n
Xander Harris exited the house and closed the door behind him. Whistling tunelessly, he started down the walkway.<\/p>\n
Angelus watched Cordelia\u2019s boyfriend with narrowed eyes. Images of the two of them together filled his mind.<\/p>\n
Holding hands.<\/p>\n
Tucked away in some dark corner at the Bronze, stealing kisses.<\/p>\n
His arm thrown across her shoulders, as if she belonged to him.<\/p>\n
A low growl rumbled deep in the vampire\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n
Xander froze in his tracks. His eyes darted nervously around the moonlit lawn.<\/p>\n
The growl had been low, Angelus knew. Much too low for the teen to have heard. But every human had a primal instinct that told them when they were in danger.<\/p>\n
And Xander Harris was in danger now.<\/p>\n
Angelus considered killing him. Hearing the Xander Harris\u2019s bones crack might ease the frustration that clawed at his skin from the inside.<\/p>\n
But no, the vampire decided. It would be more fun if he and Cordelia killed the boy together.<\/p>\n
Shrugging, as if to shake off his fear, Xander hurried to the circular driveway. Hopping into Cordelia\u2019s sporty red car, he sped away.<\/p>\n
And was quickly forgotten.<\/p>\n
Angelus glared at the house. For now, the girl was beyond his reach. But she wouldn\u2019t be for long. Eventually, she and her friends would let their guard down. And he\u2019d be there to take her.<\/p>\n
Until then\u2026<\/p>\n
He might as well grab something to eat.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordy made it to the top of the stairs just in time to see Angel kick open a door at the end of the hall.<\/i><\/p>\n
And a strange light poured out of the room, flooded the hallway. Like wafts of illuminated smoke, floating on silver beams.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was mesmerized by it. Unable to move, or even feel afraid. Just watch as the light rushed toward her. Fast\u2026but in some kind of weird slow motion.<\/p>\n
Then, she saw Angel fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d Cordelia gasped, waking with a start.<\/p>\n
Her heart thundered as she glanced around the room, unsure of where she was at first.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy bedroom,\u201d she breathed. \u201cI\u2019m at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alone, she realized. She\u2019d sent Xander away. At the time, she was too groggy to really be afraid.<\/p>\n
But, now, a flood of memories rushed over her. Of everything that had happened to her the night before. In this room. On this bed.<\/p>\n
Filled with a sudden desire to get as far away from it as possible, she started to stand.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s when the pain slammed into her. Snatched her out of her room. Transported her to another place.<\/p>\n
She saw a girl with long, dark hair. Wide, brown eyes. Wearing a knock-off of one of Cordelia\u2019s favorite designers.<\/p>\n
A stranger approached the girl. He was tall, and dark, and gorgeous. And had the most wicked smile she\u2019d ever seen.<\/p>\n
The girl\u2019s heart started to pound with anticipation.<\/p>\n
The vision released her, dropping Cordelia back in her bedroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she whispered, as she realized what she had seen.<\/p>\n
Angelus. And his next victim.<\/p>\n
The next vision hit with more force than the first, knocking her off of the bed.<\/p>\n
The girl was terrified now. She hurt in more ways than she\u2019d ever thought it was possible to hurt. Just when she thought there was nothing else he could do to her, he added another layer of pain. Of violation.<\/i><\/p>\n
Nothing satisfied him. For brief moments, he was able to pretend the girl was someone else. But those moments were fleeting. He would remember that this girl wasn\u2019t the one he wanted. And he would hurt her even more cruelly, more viciously, than he had before.<\/p>\n
Abruptly, the vision ended. Cordelia lay trembling on the floor. Her stomach churned from what she\u2019d seen. What she\u2019d felt.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she gasped, her head pounding. \u201cOh, no.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angelus stood in the shadows. His eyes scoured the Bronze. Moved restlessly from one vibrant, youthful body to another. The smells of blood and musk pulled at his hunger.<\/p>\n
Arms stiff at his sides, he clenched and unclenched his hands. All he wanted was something to eat. Something to kill. And, on any other night, anyone would have done. But tonight\u2026<\/p>\n
He spotted the perky little blond from a few nights ago. The one with the inviting smile. Who\u2019d offered herself to him like a lamb offering itself to a wolf.<\/p>\n
On any other night, she would have been an amusing diversion. Tonight, she didn\u2019t ignite even a spark of interest.<\/p>\n
No-one did. Until he saw her.<\/p>\n
Their was a resemblance. Or, at least, the shadow of one. True, her long, dark hair didn\u2019t have the same shine. Her tall, lithe body didn\u2019t have the same sinful curves. Her eyes didn\u2019t have the same spark. Her smile didn\u2019t have the same electricity. But\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll do,\u201d he decided. And started to walk towards her.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d barely taken a step when something touched his senses. Something tantalizing. And familiar.<\/p>\n
Angelus\u2019s head reared back. He sniffed at the air. Like a predator on the scent of prey.<\/p>\n
As he realized who the scent belonged to, the demon briefly flickered across his face. Growling deep in his chest, causing several of the people close to him to pull away, he turned.<\/p>\n
That was no pale imitation standing at the entrance to the Bronze.<\/p>\n
It was Cordelia Chase.<\/p>\n