Part 11<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cANGEL!\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy\u2019s heart lurched to a momentary stop when the stake pierced the vampire\u2019s skin, but her trained eyes swiftly recognised that the wooden implement was wide of the mark, prompting a flood of relief to race like wildfire through her veins.<\/p>\n
Cordelia threw herself blindly at the invisible barrier that blocked her entrance to the Gauntlet, salty tears blurring her vision and making her boyfriend\u2019s stricken form eddy like a mirage before her eyes. Firm hands grabbed her upper arms and pulled back, but she struggled violently against their unyielding hold, frantically trying to shake off the unwanted restraints.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me go \u2013 I have to go to him! Oh my God \u2013 please not my Angel. Please no!\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia; calm down. CORDELIA!\u201d<\/p>\n
When the seer\u2019s hysteria showed no sign of abating, Buffy roughly jerked the panic-stricken girl around and slapped her hard across the face. \u201cJust listen to me,\u201d she ordered, taking her former classmate by the shoulders and shaking her.<\/p>\n
Despite her envy of the anguished brunette, the slayer wasn\u2019t immune to her rival\u2019s distress. \u201cIt\u2019s okay \u2013 she missed.\u201d she reassured the sobbing young woman, her voice softening in tone. \u201cShe missed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d Cordelia clutched at Buffy\u2019s forearms, her tear-filled eyes going impossibly wide as wild hope supplanted the bleak despair that had taken hold of her heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne hundred and ten percent – I\u2019m the slayer, aren\u2019t I?\u201d Buffy replied gently, giving the seer\u2019s shoulders a comforting squeeze. \u201cThat Mr Pointy is too low; I\u2019m absolutely sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sagging in partial relief, Cordelia whirled around and pressed her fingers up against the transparent magical blockade that prevented more than one person from entering the Gauntlet. In spite of the blonde slayer\u2019s steadfast reassurances, her anxiety had not completely subsided. She needed to see and hear for herself that the man – whom she loved more than life itself – was indeed okay.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel \u2013 please talk to me,\u201d she cried out desperately, her voice shaking with suppressed sobs.<\/p>\n
The incapacitated vampire was slumped against the stone wall, his head hanging down and one hand wrapped around the stake, which was sticking grotesquely out of his chest. Her heart in her throat, the petrified seer watched as he awkwardly pushed himself upright and tugged the piece of wood from his ribcage with a hoarse cry of pain.<\/p>\n
Flipping the stake over in his hand, Angel lurched forward and slammed it through the hollow of the Clone\u2019s throat, effectively nailing her to the wall with the blood-soaked weapon. Then, with his palm over the gaping wound in his torso, he stumbled erratically along the last few feet of the Gauntlet and tumbled forward onto the raised dais, collapsing there in a crumbled heap.<\/p>\n
The entrance to the Gauntlet corridor opened up as the vampire crossed the finish line, and Cordelia almost fell flat on her face when the invisible wall dissolved under her fingertips. Quickly righting herself, she bent and grabbed her discarded sword, and then determinedly stepped down into the Gauntlet, her earlier fear all but gone as her attention focused on getting to her injured boyfriend as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
As the excruciating agony that was ricocheting through his entire body started to diminish, Angel rolled over onto his back, noting out of the corner of one eye that Cordelia had already entered the Gauntlet. Struggling to a seated position with a low groan, he leaned back against the stone podium to monitor his girlfriend\u2019s progress, his concern for her welfare quashing the additional pain the semi-upright posture caused him.<\/p>\n
\u201cOo \u2013 scary demon,\u201d the seer quipped sarcastically when a mustard yellow individual, sporting a set of blue horns, popped up in front of her.<\/p>\n
As the ringing clash of metal upon metal filled the air, Angel was thankful to discover that the hearsay about the Gauntlet regulating its skill level wasn\u2019t just a myth. The brightly coloured creature was reasonably competent with his sword, but nowhere near as skilled as the demon that he had fought a short while earlier. Cordelia was easily managing to hold her own against her opponent, the vampire observed with intense relief.<\/p>\n
Angel had never stepped back to watch his seer fight before, and found himself extremely impressed with what he saw. Cordelia handled her sword with the poised grace of a ballerina, everything he\u2019d taught her slotting into place like adjacent pieces on a jigsaw puzzle. The elegant movements of her lithe body were utterly bewitching to behold, her polished style a remnant from her years as a cheerleader.<\/p>\n
Good girl,<\/i> he thought approvingly when he saw her adjust her footing, clearly preparing to go on the offensive instead of letting her adversary get the upper hand.<\/p>\n
Her sword slicing through the air with effortless proficiency, Cordelia proceeded to execute a slick combination of manoeuvres that permitted her to go safely in for the kill, and the demon stiffened in open-mouthed astonishment as she plunged her weapon deep into his belly.<\/p>\n
Withdrawing the sword with a flourish, the seer prudently waited long enough to confirm that the creature was indeed dead, before she continued to march down the corridor, her weapon grasped tightly in her right hand.<\/p>\n
Angel frowned in confusion when a man in his late forties was the next to step into the ring to confront the pretty brunette. The human\u2019s non-descript brown hair was streaked with flecks of grey, and he was dressed in a pressed navy suit, a pale blue open-necked shirt underneath. The middle-aged man was eyeing up Cordelia with unmistakable sexual desire shining in his gaze – and bulging large in his pants.<\/p>\n
The vampire\u2019s deep brown eyes flickered to angry yellow as he observed this detail and he growled possessively, despite being aware that non of this was actually real.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was visibly taken aback by this turn of events, and Angel\u2019s heart sank in his chest, as her confidence seemed to fold in on itself, her assertive stance faltering. Who the fuck is this bastard? <\/i><\/p>\n
A triumphant smile spread across the man\u2019s features at the seer\u2019s apparent capitulation, and he moved forward, reprehensible intent shining lustfully in his green eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia\u2026\u201d Angel croaked out, his attempt to speak triggering a hacking coughing fit when blood from his damaged lungs rose up into his throat to momentarily choke him.<\/p>\n
The vampire\u2019s hoarse warning did the trick however, and Cordelia stiffened, lifting her head, her hazel eyes blazing with an indefinable mix of emotions.<\/p>\n
\u201cEew! Perv much,\u201d she exclaimed in disgust, bringing her knee up into her attacker\u2019s engorged groin and fiercely shoving him away from her. \u201cSorry bucko, but you know that scared innocent girl that I used to be? Well, she no longer exists and \u2013 hello? Not a virgin anymore either. Guess that means I\u2019m not your type, Mr-I-Want-a-Virgin-Bride.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you wanna know something else?\u201d the seer continued threateningly, tossing her sword to one side and reaching down to un-hook her other weapon from her belt. \u201cIn my opinion, sicko men like you should be castrated, so it\u2019s lucky that I\u2019ve got just the thing, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee \u2013 it\u2019s perfect for the job, don\u2019t you think?\u201d she said, brandishing the small, curved – and very sharp – scythe in front of her tormentor\u2019s bulging eyes.<\/p>\n
The man flickered and disappeared after that, and Cordelia hesitated in confusion, perplexed because she hadn\u2019t been required to kill him, but also relieved that it wasn\u2019t necessary. She may hate the man, but she still wasn\u2019t comfortable about taking his life, regardless of the fact that he was only a projection of her subconscious fears.<\/p>\n
Gathering up her weapons and turning on her heel, the seer ran as fast as she could down the rest of the Gauntlet, leaping onto the dais, and dropping to her knees in front of her wounded boyfriend.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou put me through something like that again, and I swear I\u2019ll stake you myself,\u201d she cried passionately, peppering his face with frantic kisses and stroking the sides of his face and neck with the soft pads of her fingers.<\/p>\n
Angel felt a wave of guilt run through him at her words. \u201cI\u2019m sorry baby,\u201d he said, lifting a hand to rub soothing circles on her back, as she looped her arms around his neck and buried her warm face against his throat. \u201cI should have left you back at Caritas. I was just so afraid of Faith showing up there again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot that, you dork,\u201d Cordelia replied, sitting back on her heels and jerking her thumb over her shoulder at the Gauntlet. \u201cI meant this,\u201d she whispered, pushing up his t-shirt to the reveal the already healing wound in his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Angel said, still mortified that he\u2019d fallen for such an obvious ploy. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019m fine \u2013 well, I will be in half an hour or so,\u201d he assured off Cordelia\u2019s sceptical look.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was that man?\u201d he asked, deliberately shifting the subject of the conversation onto her.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh \u2013 Ryan Lauper \u2013 Daddy\u2019s warped idea of the perfect husband for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes that still scare you?\u201d the vampire asked worriedly, palming her beautiful face between his big hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really, not anymore. I guess I have the odd nightmare about it every once in while, but that\u2019s all. I don\u2019t understand why I didn\u2019t have to kill him though.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDefeating the enemy doesn\u2019t always involve bloodshed,\u201d Angel explained. \u201cI think it\u2019s enough that you stood up to him and faced down your fear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRemind me never to piss you off, by the way,\u201d he added with a sly wink.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I really would have done it,\u201d the seer giggled, blushing a rosy red as she recollected her rather outlandish threat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019m not gonna risk finding out, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWise boy,\u201d Cordelia advised sagely with a cheeky smile, and then her expression turned serious again when it dawned on her what the Gauntlet had inadvertently revealed about Angel\u2019s own inner fears.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that what you have nightmares about?\u201d she asked gravely.<\/p>\n
The vampire\u2019s first instinct was to deny it, but he caught himself before the falsehood could escape from his lips. Their recent relationship troubles were due, primarily, to a breakdown of communication between them, and he was determined to be completely honest with her from now on.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the time,\u201d he whispered, his voice thick with all the underlying emotions that he\u2019d been bottling up for the past couple of months.<\/p>\n
One hand resting flat against his torso, Cordelia reached up with the other to touch his cheek with gentle fingers, her eyes growing suspiciously wet. \u201cBut I thought that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou thought what?\u201d the vampire asked in a low voice as she trailed off and leaned in to press her warm lips against his cheek instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cNever mind \u2013 it doesn\u2019t matter now,\u201d the seer replied, shaking her head and reaching down to lace her fingers through his. \u201cI got it all wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know \u2013 just later okay? When we have more time to ourselves, we\u2019ll talk – about everything, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded and drew his girlfriend back into his embrace, pressing his face into her sweet-smelling hair, \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI should hope so,\u201d Cordelia murmured against his throat as she nestled closer, her arms rising to encircle his back. \u201cCus there\u2019s one crazy-in-love girl snuggled in your arms right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel smiled and gently kissed the top of her bent head. \u201cGlad to hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cVoila!\u201d Willow placed the frosted cocktail glass in front of Lorne with a dramatic flourish.<\/p>\n
Wrapping his fingers around the glass\u2019s delicate stem, the Host carefully lifted the ice-cold alcoholic drink to his lips, expertly inhaling the fruity aroma, before taking a tentative sip of the cloudy pink liquid.<\/p>\n
\u201cMamma mia!\u201d he exclaimed, closing his eyes and shuddering with exaggerated pleasure as the sharp-tasting drink hit the back of his throat. \u201cNow *that\u2019s* a Seabreeze to die for \u2013 you\u2019ve sure got the magic touch, baby doll.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMixing cocktails is not that much different from conjuring up witches brews really,\u201d Willow said. \u201cThe success of both hinges on getting the right balance of ingredients, although I have to say, blending a magical potion incorrectly has a rather more spectacular effect than a bad cocktail does.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t say that if you\u2019d been party to the abuse heaped on my poor intestines, by some of the ghastly concoctions that I\u2019ve been forced to endure,\u201d Lorne replied with a grimace. \u201cIf you ever get tired of the white-witch-slayer-sidekick-saving-the-world gig, you can come and work for me – good bartenders are hard to find. I\u2019d even throw Ramone over for you, my sugar plum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow favoured the green-skinned demon with her wide beaming smile. \u201cThanks, I\u2019ll remember th\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The sudden trilling of her cell phone cut off whatever she had been about to say, and she rushed across the room to answer it. \u201cHello?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c..\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHi Angel \u2013 how\u2019d it go?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c..\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did, that\u2019s great!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c..\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I can do that. How long will you be?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c..\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no, that\u2019s okay \u2013 Lorne can help me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c..\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course \u2013 see you in a bit then, bye.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow shut off the phone and placed it back on the bar, then purposely moved towards the table where Wesley\u2019s icebox of supplies stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cPray tell me, little one \u2013 exactly what is Uncle Lorne going to help you with?\u201d the Host asked the suddenly industrious witch, his red eyes wide with trepidation.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaking the Orb exorcising potion,\u201d Willow replied, as she flipped open the metal clasps on the blue plastic container and carefully began to unload the small glass specimen tubes. \u201cThe others succeeded in getting Faith\u2019s address from Wolfram and Hart, so it\u2019s time to get busy with that saving-the-world stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no, amigo \u2013 providing accommodation and offering advice is about as far as I go for the PTB cause. The hands-on stuff? Not in my contract, sweet thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is now, oh brightly-suited one,\u201d Willow firmly told the reluctant Lorne, mimicking his habit of peppering his speech with syrupy nicknames. \u201cThe incantation requires two people and you\u2019re the only person available. So stop being such a wussy girl-demon, and find me something to mix up the potion in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, scary wicca alert! You weren\u2019t a tad dominatrix-y in a former life, perchance?\u201d<\/p>\n
The witch shot him a dark look, \u201cI think one of those cocktail shakers will be perfect for the task \u2013 we can whip up several batches all at once with that, and we won\u2019t have to worry about when each will run out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pursing her lips, she surveyed the myriad of glass bottles dotted over the table\u2019s surface. \u201cWesley measured out enough for ten portions \u2013 I think we\u2019ll just make up five to start with, and save the rest for if Plan B is necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking the two-part metal container from the green-skinned demon, Willow consulted Wesley\u2019s notes and tipped in the various contents of the specimen tubes in the specified order. Before adding the last ingredient to the cocktail shaker, she took a plastic stirrer and mixed up the potion with a brisk hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, when I add the Kaylem powder, it should start to react, but the amalgamation won\u2019t be complete until we recite the incantation. We\u2019ll do that just as Angel and the others get here \u2013 that way the potion will last as long as possible, giving us the best chance to get the Orb out of Faith.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mixture began to spit violently as Willow poured the final item into the container, and Lorne had to resist the desperate urge to duck. Slotting the top half of the shaker into place, the redheaded witch vigorously shook up the magical fusion, increasing the popping sounds coming from the metallic receptacle ten-fold. That done, she placed the vessel back down on the table and removed the top, releasing a cloud of bright purple smoke with an accompanying sulphurous odour.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel said they\u2019d be here in ten minutes.\u201d Willow handed Lorne a slim piece of paper and glanced at her watch, \u201cWhen I say go, say that with me twice over.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Host nodded as they sat down to await their companions\u2019 arrival, \u201cI would just like to point out that a significant pay-rise is definitely in order after this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow smiled, \u201cI promise I\u2019ll make you another Sea-breeze before I go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMmm – now I\u2019m in heaven, floating on a big white fluffy cloud of blissfulness.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch out for that dark green car,\u201d Angel said, indicating a vehicle that was at least a hundred metres away.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey – back-seat driver much.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not used to driving through heavy city traffic, Buffy,\u201d he told her pedantically. \u201cYou live in Sunnydale remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo? And what heavy traffic?\u201d Buffy snapped back, gesturing wildly with one hand at the handful of cars that had ventured out on the LA roads in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you *please* keep both hands on the wheel?\u201d the tense vampire remonstrated, oblivious to the murderous look that the irritated slayer threw in his direction.<\/p>\n
Riley and Buffy had both made it through the Gauntlet intact, though the soldier had sustained a deep laceration to his left arm in the process. Cordelia was currently doing her best Florence Nightingale impression and swathing his injured limb in a crisp white bandage that she\u2019d taken from the first aid kit, which Angel kept in the Plymouth for emergencies.<\/p>\n
The vampire\u2019s stab wound was healing at a rapid pace, but the seer had insisted that he rest up on the journey back to the Karaoke Club. She had sensibly pointed out that he would be facing Faith in less than an hour\u2019s time and so needed to recover his fighting strength as quickly as possible. Thus, with Angel relegated to the passenger seat, the driving had fallen to Buffy, who was beginning to regret offering to do it – playing nurse to Riley seemed a much better option right now.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake a left at the next set of lights,\u201d Angel instructed, \u201cCaritas is down the fourth street on the right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere you go \u2013 almost as good as new,\u201d Cordelia said cheerily, sticking the final piece of medical tape over the bandage on Riley\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n
Packing up her supplies, the pretty seer graced the soldier with her beautiful sunny smile, and he couldn\u2019t help grinning back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re very professional with the first-aid stuff,\u201d he complimented her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah well, I\u2019ve had enough practice – Angel forever needs to be patched up. Sometimes I think he deliberately gets hurt just so I have to act as his nursemaid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey \u2013 you don\u2019t do you?\u201d she asked then, poking the vampire hard between the shoulder blades with her forefinger.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course not,\u201d Angel lied smoothly, keeping his eyes facing front to prevent his too-smart-for-her-own-good girlfriend from seeing straight through his carefully orchestrated subterfuge.<\/p>\n
Okay, so he *occasionally* dragged out his battles with various demons a little longer than was strictly necessary, *and* allowed himself to incur minor injuries, all for the enjoyment of having Cordelia fuss over him. He never took unacceptable risks though, so where was the real harm in it? There wasn\u2019t any as far as he was concerned.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the next on the right,\u201d he piped up, effectively ending the dangerous line of conversation. \u201cWillow said she\u2019d have the exorcising potion ready for when we arrived. We\u2019ll discuss the plan of action on the way over to Henshot Avenue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy pulled up in the alleyway outside of Caritas and they all piled out of the car and into the basement club, where they found Willow carefully pouring a thick orange liquid into several small screw-top plastic bottles.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that it?\u201d Angel asked her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah \u2013 we made five batches, with any luck that will be enough. If we do require a second attempt – Wesley weighed out ingredients for five more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s hope it doesn\u2019t come to that. How do we administer it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve somehow got to get her to drink it \u2013 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s the pleasantest tasting concoction in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire nodded and picked up three of the tiny bottles; he tucked two in his jacket\u2019s inner pockets, and then handed the third to Buffy. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep the other two in reserve \u2013 Cordy can you look after them please?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d the seer agreed, stepping forward and scooping up the last two containers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you got everything you need for the binding spell?\u201d Angel queried of Willow.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah \u2013 all present and correct.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay then \u2013 About time we got this show on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The Orb\/Faith sat on the ledge of the open window, looking out into the darkness and breathing deeply of the cool night air. The shard of glass that, until a few minutes ago, had been used to torture Wesley was still clutched between their bloodstained fingers.<\/p>\n
Faith couldn\u2019t stand to look at it anymore, so broke her silent pact with her watcher and briefly wrested control of her body\u2019s movements from the Orb. Forcing her fingers open, she let the hated weapon fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh well,\u201d the Orb commented blandly as the glass shattered on the ground below. \u201cI was getting bored with that game anyway. How about we try something new?\u201d<\/p>\n
Swinging her long legs around and hopping down onto the panelled wood floor, the possessed slayer crossed the room towards a barely conscious Wesley. \u201cThat was refreshing, but I’m feeling a little cold now. What do you say we warm the place up?\u201d<\/p>\n
The ex-watcher was startled into lucidity when he suddenly felt a scalding heat up close. Forcing his eyes open, he looked up to see his tormentor standing over him with a spray can and lighter in her hands. With a slow smile of triumph, the Orb depressed the spray can top and held it near the lighter, so that a bright orange flame shot forth with a crackling hiss.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty, isn\u2019t it? I bet you\u2019d appreciate a closer look, wouldn\u2019t you watcher-boy?\u201d<\/p>\n
The Orb\/Faith deliberately moved the highly flammable objects until they were about six inches from Wesley\u2019s face, preparing to ignite them again. She was prevented from doing so however, when the door burst in on its hinges, flying halfway across the room.<\/p>\n
Angel strode into the apartment, his purposeful movements the embodiment of absolute power and determination.<\/p>\n
The Orb tossed the spray can and lighter aside, and quickly drew Faith\u2019s knife, setting the blade against her captive\u2019s throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout time, soul-boy. Ready to play now?\u201d<\/p>\n
The resolute vampire turned to face his archenemy before calmly answering the question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m ready.\u201d<\/p>\n