Part 4<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cYa know, I once told Cordelia she\u2019d never be able to get between you and Angel.\u201d Xander mused, walking alongside Buffy and Spike. \u201cGuess she finally did, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n
At Buffy\u2019s odd look, he quickly changed the topic. \u201cWhy the hell would two vampires<\/i> choose the beach?\u201d he muttered, trying to kick the sand out of his shoes and keep up with the rest of the group when they overtook him at the same time.<\/p>\n
Spike rolled his eyes. \u201cStop whining, Harris.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy squeezed his hand, shooting him a look. \u201cTry irony, Xan.\u201d She said, over her shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d Wesley stopped suddenly, nearly causing Angel to run into him, \u201cif Willow and Fred are correct – \u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf<\/i>?\u201d Gunn interrupted. \u201cYou did NOT just say if<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley ignored him. \u201cIf they\u2019re correct then this is the pier.\u201d He turned to Angel. \u201cAny luck?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel took a deep breath, concentrating hard. He could smell the sand, the sea, rocks and fish and \u2013<\/p>\n
\u201cGot it.\u201d He whispered. \u201cBut it\u2019s faint. She\u2019s further away.\u201d He could smell her blood and it made his own turn cold. When he opened his eyes again they were yellow. He gestured for the group to follow him, walking around and behind the pier, making his way under a worn and ripped metal fence with the sign \u201cDO NOT ENTER\u201d pinned upon it.<\/p>\n
When he straightened on the other side of the fence, several beach sheds stood before him, old and abandoned, he assumed, where the wooden doors and floorboards creaked and the furnishings didn\u2019t work any longer.<\/p>\n
Gunn whistled. \u201cTalk about a needle in a haystack.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy grinned. \u201cI don\u2019t think whoever was looking for the needle had two highly advanced metal detectors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike, Xander and Wesley shot her a confused look. \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy coughed delicately, reddening. \u201cUh\u2026vampires. I doubt they had vampires to find the needle, or in this case Cordy \u2013 it was a friggin\u2019 metaphor!\u201d<\/p>\n
She stamped her foot indignantly and Spike suppressed a grin, kissing her temple. She swatted him in the side.<\/p>\n
Angel cleared his throat and Buffy bit her lip, suddenly feeling guilty. He was worried enough about Cordy without having to be reminded of what he was missing. She gently pushed Spike away.<\/p>\n
Satisfied that they were all listening, Angel spoke. \u201cAlright \u2013 here\u2019s the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cAlone in the dark, where the demons are torturing me.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
A scream tore out of Cordy\u2019s throat as Drusilla\u2019s whip connected with her skin for the third time. Gashes had appeared all over her body, blood red and ripped wide open.<\/p>\n
Drusilla licked her lips. \u201cMy mouth waters\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
She rolled the whip between her fingers, throwing it to the side. Darla wiped away the tears that slid down Cordelia\u2019s cheeks, flicking her tongue over one. Cordy flinched.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch strength\u2026\u201d Darla whispered, trailing cold fingertips over a fresh wound in Cordy\u2019s arm, \u201cAngel always loved a strong woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled winningly, rising to her feet and circling the room at a leisurely pace. \u201cHe loved to break them, hurt them a little, or a lot maybe, make them crumble beneath his fingertips like they were nothing more than grains of sand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordy swallowed the bile rising in her throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe?\u201d Darla grinned. \u201cI preferred to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the tears, Cordelia snorted.<\/p>\n
Darla swivelled on her heel, shooting her a sharp look. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re a real hellcat, Darla.\u201d Cordy\u2019s tone was thick with sarcasm.<\/p>\n
Darla glowered. Cordelia glared back.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps you\u2019d like to see,\u201d Darla said, coming forward, \u201chow *catty* I can be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
She lashed out, her fingernails grating across Cordelia\u2019s throat, drawing blood. Cordelia hissed, reflexively spitting in her face.<\/p>\n
Darla\u2019s punch seemed to come out of nowhere, the weight of it sending the chair flying back a few feet. Almost instantly, Cordelia felt her eye swell, a dull pain encompassing the left side of her face.<\/p>\n
For a few moments, the silence was deafening. Then Darla bit her lip, her eyes locking with Cordelia\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe never told you, did he? About our little night together?\u201d<\/p>\n
That caught her attention \u2013 Cordelia raised her head with as much energy as she had left. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably too scared to.\u201d Darla grinned wickedly. \u201cDidn\u2019t want his little Cordelia to hate him anymore than she already did\u2026and then after that, couldn\u2019t bear the idea of her loving him any less that she already did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell are you talking about, skank \u2013 o?\u201d<\/p>\n
Darla ignored the insult. \u201cThat little \u2018Epiphany\u2019 he had? That was *all* thanks to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fear hit her straight in the gut and Cordy swallowed. She hated that her voice came out as a whisper. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Darla only smiled. \u201cHe was as good as I remembered.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re lying.\u201d Cordelia said lowly, her heart pounding in her chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am many things, little girl.\u201d Darla snapped. \u201cA liar is not one of them.\u201d A cruel smile crept over her face. \u201cI am a sadist, however. And the look on your face is priceless.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Cordy\u2019s shocked silence, she continued. \u201cA night of hot, sweaty, steamy – \u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia was barely listening. She felt like the wind had been knocked out of her, her heart hammering wildly against her ribcage as it wept helplessly. Rage and betrayal bled through her veins and tears pricked at her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty girl is suffering\u2026\u201d Drusilla whispered.<\/p>\n
Cordy closed her eyes against the tears, trying to shut out the screaming fury in her head and the shattering in her heart. Certainly, their current relationship made it difficult to suppress the feelings of deception and jealousy but Angel had owed her nothing at the time aside from the truth – and he had lied to her.<\/p>\n
He lied to me. That bastard looked me straight in the eye and lied to me.<\/i><\/p>\n
And he had slept with Darla. He had slept with this monster who was slowly killing her\u2026<\/p>\n
Oh God. OH GOD\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n
She suddenly felt nauseous.<\/p>\n
He risked everything for –<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d Darla\u2019s voice snapped her out of her thoughts, \u201cthe bastard said it was perfect despair and told me to get out before he staked me.\u201d The vampire had begun pacing again, more frantically this time. \u201cThe outcome was a little different than I had initially expected. He used me \u2013 took what he wanted and threw me out like yesterday\u2019s trash.\u201d<\/p>\n
She glared at Cordelia. \u201cBut that\u2019ll all change when he\u2019s by my side, when he\u2019s Angelus again. I\u2019ll make him forget you, forget guilt and good and – \u201d<\/p>\n
Darla stopped abruptly, her nostrils flaring. \u201cSpeak of the devil\u2026\u201d She closed her eyes, a soft smile fluttering over her lips. \u201cHe is here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drusilla squealed, clapping her hands together. \u201cDaddy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Darla nodded. \u201cI can sense him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drusilla giggled, crouching down beside Cordelia and stroking her face. \u201cDaddy\u2019s coming little one. Must make ourselves look pretty!\u201d<\/p>\n
Hope flared in her at the mention of Angel\u2019s proximity, but the slight anger she felt was unexpected. Cordy glared through her good eye, biting, as it were. \u201cMight take some work with you two.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drusilla pouted. Then she slapped her, hard.<\/p>\n
The room spun slightly and Cordy recognised the feeling of exhaustion and weakness as hours of torture and terror beginning to take their toll. Her body ached unbearably and Cordelia finally gave in to the darkness, unable to hold the weight of her throbbing head, her broken heart or her heavy eyelids any longer.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
They stood in front of the worn down shed, eyes wide, hearts racing. Angel swallowed, closing his eyes. \u201cThey know I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander frowned. \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike shot him a look. \u201cVampires, Einstein.\u201d He tapped his nose.<\/p>\n
Gunn loaded his crossbow. \u201cWho cares? We got your back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s six of us and two of them.\u201d Buffy said, crossing her arms impatiently. \u201cYou do the math.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s right. We\u2019re wasting time.\u201d Wesley gestured towards the door, looking at Angel. \u201cAfter you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel took a step forward. \u201cRemember,\u201d he warned, swivelling to face the rest of the group, \u201cwait for my signal.\u201d<\/p>\n
They all nodded. Angel took a deep, unneeded breath.<\/p>\n
Then he turned and walked into the beach shed.<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
Part 4 Cont’d<\/b><\/p>\n
It was dark inside. And cold, and dirty. The rotten smell was overpowering and Angel felt his eyes water.<\/p>\n
Downstairs was empty. He could sense them upstairs before he saw them, Cordelia\u2019s slow, too slow, heartbeat thumping in his ears, the smell of her a relief as well as a concern.<\/p>\n
He could smell blood. Her blood.<\/p>\n
She had been hurt.<\/p>\n
Anger burned through him, hot and raw. He clenched his fists, calming himself.<\/p>\n
She was here. He had found her and she was alive.<\/p>\n
But they had tried to hurt her.<\/p>\n
Yellow eyes glowed in the dark and Angel let the relief and the fury fuel his strength. Mustering it all, he took the stairs two at a time, finally reaching the second floor of the shed.<\/p>\n
It took him no time to locate the door she was behind.<\/p>\n
It opened with a creak, and Angel was greeted by the sight of three women that had brought him to his knees at one time or another during his long life – women that he had lusted after. Women that he had dragged into the night, into his world of darkness. Women that he had loved.<\/p>\n
Now, that love was directed towards only one of them. Angel dared a glance at her.<\/p>\n
And fear, cold as ice, flooded his heart.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was unconscious, her body slumped at an awkward angle over the chair she\u2019d been bound to. Angry cuts and bruises in shades of red, black, purple and blue covered her arms, legs and face. The smell of her blood was overpowering, much more so than when he had first sensed it downstairs, and nausea swirled dangerously in his stomach.<\/p>\n
He itched to hold her, touch her, to check her pulse and confirm that she was alright. Her heartbeat was unsteady and she appeared disturbingly lifeless. He wanted to lift her in his arms and carry her to safety but he had to stick to the plan. One false move and –<\/p>\n
He swallowed, not moving a muscle.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello daddy.\u201d Drusilla grinned like a cat who\u2019d swallowed the canary.<\/p>\n
\u201cDru\u2026\u201d Angel looked up, his voice cold, even. Drusilla frowned at his unenthusiastic response. He ignored her, looking up. \u201cDarla.\u201d<\/p>\n
A smile slipped onto Darla\u2019s face and she ran her fingers over the lacy collar of her dress. \u201cAngelus.\u201d She walked forward, stopping a few feet away from him. \u201cI knew you\u2019d come dear boy. There is a lust for darkness that lies deep within your heart, a lust for me. You cannot fight it. No matter where you are, you will always return to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel remained expressionless. \u201cActually Darla, I\u2019m here to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Darla\u2019s smile disappeared. The two vampires stared at each other for a few seconds, before Darla broke the silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver what?\u201d She barked, pointing accusingly at Cordelia. \u201cThat disgusting little – \u201d<\/p>\n
In a second, Angel had her by the throat, her body roughly jerked to his side as he held her in a choking grip. \u201cDon\u2019t you dare talk about her like that.\u201d He growled.<\/p>\n
Darla coughed angrily, spitting like a cat. \u201cWhat happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was given a soul.\u201d Angel answered simply.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that makes you better?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s tone was derisive. \u201cWell, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHa!\u201d Darla scoffed, struggling a little to speak. \u201cDoesn\u2019t make you smarter \u2013 you can\u2019t kill me like this, Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d the hand around her neck curled tighter, \u201cbut a crushed windpipe would hurt like a bitch.\u201d He released her, unceremoniously shoving her away. She flew across the shed, landing hard on the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d Drusilla cried out, covering her face. \u201cNo, not daddy!\u201d She stared at Angel through her fingers. \u201cIt is you, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Her voice was soft, childlike. \u201cMy dark, stoic stallion?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s eyes softened, but his face remained impassive as he observed his childe. Guilty memories washed over him, memories of a beautiful girl with an extraordinary gift, an innocent child whom he drove to the brink of insanity, a vicious vampire he trained to take lives. What had he destroyed to create? He had broken her, turned her, hurt her, loved her \u2013 she was his childe, his choice, his mistake.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it?\u201d Drusilla inched closer to him, her arms wide open before her. \u201cMy darling daddy?\u201d<\/p>\n
When Angel didn\u2019t answer, she closed the distance between them, sliding her hands over his chest, her lips on his throat. He fought the urge to push her away. Her palm came to rest over his still heart and she pressed her face to it, slipping her arms around his waist. He barely blinked, his body still.<\/p>\n
Drusilla whimpered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve lost him, mummy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
From across the room, Darla looked up, spitting out the blood in her mouth, caused by her fall. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis heart stinks of her.\u201d Drusilla bit out, abruptly pushing away from Angel and turning towards Cordy. Her voice was resigned, yet enlightened. \u201cI can see her in it. Swirling bright and burning deep. The seer – \u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up Dru.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drusilla glared at her. \u201cI *can* see her, pretty princess. Daddy holds her in his heart.\u201d She whimpered again. \u201cAnd he wont let go. He loves her – \u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up Dru!\u201d Darla exploded, seething. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t love her! He is MINE! He always will be – \u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long are you gonna keep deluding yourself, Darla?\u201d Angel finally spoke, his previously calm voice now irritated, impatient. \u201cYou\u2019re evil. I\u2019m not. I tried to save you and I failed but Cordelia showed me the way from crazy. She helped me get past that.\u201d His eyes blazed. \u201cI love *her*. And you\u2019re gonna pay for hurting her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seconds passed in shocked silence. Then –<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sicken me! You and your dirty soul!\u201d A deep growl escaped Darla and she quickly got to her feet, stalking over to where Cordelia sat, her body limp. \u201cYou\u2019ve destroyed my dream, Angelus.\u201d She snarled, her hands coming to rest on either side of Cordelia\u2019s neck. Angel tensed. \u201cNow I shall destroy your everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNO!\u201d Angel yelled, panic flooding him. He lunged towards Darla.<\/p>\n
It all happened in a flash. At that very moment, the wooden door broke open, and Spike, Buffy and Gunn came racing through it, stakes, crossbows and fists at the ready. Wesley and Xander appeared behind them seconds later. Darla was momentarily distracted, and Angel managed to grab her shoulders, yanking her away from Cordelia and spinning her around. She struck out but he ducked, recovering and punching her hard. She stumbled a few feet back and Angel spun around to face his friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cXander, Wes \u2013 get Cordy out of here, NOW!\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn raised his crossbow, nodding at Wesley. \u201cI got you covered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wes and Xander nodded, rushing forward to Cordelia\u2019s side, making quick work of untying the ropes that held her captive. Wesley swiftly cut the constricting rope around her middle, and almost in sync, Xander wrapped his arms around her neck and waist, gently supporting her so she wouldn\u2019t slip or tumble off the chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel!\u201d Buffy screamed suddenly. \u201cLook out!\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Angel had a chance to register her words, Darla ploughed into him, their combined weights throwing them several feet back and through a glass window onto the sandy beach bellow.<\/p>\n
*<\/p>\n
Buffy sprinted over to the window and looked over the edge. She saw Angel get to his feet and sighed, relieved, until Darla lifted herself off the sand and charged at him.<\/p>\n
Angel threw a punch in Darla\u2019s direction and she was knocked back, her hair flying madly in the wind. Satisfied that he was fine, Buffy turned around, her eyes searching out Spike.<\/p>\n
She froze.<\/p>\n