The door crashed against the stonework propelled there by a powerful kick. Dust and spider webbing flew up from crevasses filtering the moonlight that beamed into the candlelit space of the small mausoleum. An old family crypt, a rarity amongst the common gravestones at Kingman\u2019s Bluff, held three carved stone coffins.<\/p>\n
Angel stepped in, his body looming large against the doorframe. The dust slowly cleared. His eyes adjusted immediately to the change in the light, spotting Dru standing in front of a gaping hole in the floor. Earthquake damage had opened up some kind of cavern below.<\/p>\n
Pale in the candlelight, her eyes glittered and a knowing smile played upon her blood-red lips. Gleefully, she clapped her hands and then twirled around at the edge of the precipice careless of the danger, arms opened wide. \u201cDaddy\u2019s here!\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike\u2019s voice echoed up from the cavern, \u201cLike I bloody well didn\u2019t guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re late,\u201d scolded Drusilla sliding a glance toward the stone coffin where her latest victim lay. Peeking up at Angel with a guileless expression, she explained the dead guy\u2019s presence. \u201cThe naughty man shouldn\u2019t roam around the bluffs at night.\u201d<\/p>\n
The scent of blood was thick in the air. Drusilla had obviously had her fill. The fact that she brought her victim back to the crypt suggested that Spike might not be back to par. His mouth watered at the tantalizing scent, but his stomach twisted at the disgust he felt because of it.<\/p>\n
Grabbing Dru by the elbow, he hauled her away from the rocky opening. She let out a little growl and moved even closer despite the barely contained fury on his face. \u201cI\u2019m not here for dinner,\u201d Angel pulled her hand away from his inseam. He released his tight grasp on her wrist, his hand moving up to her face forcing her to meet his gaze. \u201cThis is where you tell me what you\u2019re after. I want to know exactly what you said to Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
A naughty giggle sounded in her throat. \u201cJust a little girl talk, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou threatened her, Dru, frightened her.\u201d Angel remembered the look on Cordy\u2019s face. Hell, it had frightened him, too. Drusilla had plenty of time to kill Cordelia if that was her plan. There was something more going on here. \u201cTell me what the hell you said. Do it now. I\u2019m already more than a little pissed off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I can tell.\u201d The wicked glint in those big doe eyes of hers only strengthened. She leaned into him again, her mouth up close to his ear as she whispered, \u201cI promised to show her what pleases you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel jerked away from her, stepping back to stare at her expression. Dru wasn\u2019t Darla. Lies did not simply spring from her lips. Her words were often shrouded by confusion, but she always spoke the truth. He was too stunned to ask why, but the question was all too apparent.<\/p>\n
Standing in place, Dru lifted her head to look at the ceiling of the crypt. There was nothing but darkness overhead. She took hold of her long skirt, swishing it back and forth, turning slowly in a circle. Facing him again, Dru looked down, eyes dazed, but not from dizziness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI followed the stars home,\u201d she said, \u201cto you. They sing of dangers too terrible to name. When I see you, I see her. I see death, a future without happiness, but for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perhaps Drusilla had seen something involving the current crisis and their mission to put a stop to this demonic god\u2019s arrival. He kept silent despite the need to demand what she knew about Cordelia\u2019s connection to this prophecy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt surprises you, the pull she has on your heart. You want her,\u201d there was a hint of accusation followed by a curl of her thin red lips. \u201cThe Slayer fades from your dreams. She is no longer the face you see.\u201d<\/p>\n
It did not matter that Dru was right, Angel admitted. He did want Cordelia. When he closed his eyes, hers was the face that fueled his fantasies. No amount of self-derision, lecturing, or meditation seemed to change that. Now he had the taste of her on his lips, knew the fire that stirred within him in response to hers. Denying it was not going to change a thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not to go near her,\u201d he growled. If it was jealousy fueling Dru\u2019s efforts, the danger to Cordelia was even greater, especially since it appeared there was not going to be a way to convince her she was mistaken.<\/p>\n
He had staked Darla when Buffy\u2019s life was on the line. The enormity of his actions still caused him pain. She had made him, damned him to this existence, but sending her into an eternity of hell brought no satisfaction. To save Cordelia, Angel knew that he would make any sacrifice necessary.<\/p>\n
Drusilla closed the small gap between them, wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling against his chest. He moved his hands to her thin shoulders, prepared to push her away. Angel knew he would stake her if he had to, no matter that he was the cause of her death and subsequent rise into darkness and insanity. Guilt gnawed at him.<\/p>\n
He let his hand run down the length of her loose hair, soothing her when he was the one in need of it. Angel could deal with her jealousy. He could try to ignore his growing feelings for Cordelia. What he couldn\u2019t dismiss was that Drusilla had seen all of this in a vision. \u201cYou saw death?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sounding like a frightened child she whispered, \u201cThe blood, it calls to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s death, Dru?\u201d He needed to hear it from her lips. Had she seen Cordelia\u2019s death? The questions raced through his head too jumbled to make their way to his lips. Closing around a fistful of hair, Angel yanked her back, his eyes rimmed with gold. \u201cTell me what\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike cut him off, suddenly standing at his side. \u201cGet your hands off Dru. You can\u2019t touch her. Don\u2019t want you touching her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Realizing that he had been so caught up with what Drusilla was saying that he hadn\u2019t noticed Spike climbing out of the cavern, Angel angrily let go pushing the vampiress into Spike in order to take up a better position. \u201cI\u2019ll do more than that if Dru doesn\u2019t give me some answers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHere about your little kitten?\u201d Spike chortled as he moved Dru into a safer spot. She only moved in close behind him, her eagerness obvious. Praising Spike for coming to her defense, she winked at Angel as her lover continued to bait him. \u201cGot claws, that one. Tasty bit by the scent of her. Must be nice curling up with that warm little pu\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t say it,\u201d warned Angel. \u201cI didn\u2019t come here for you, Spike. Those bruises will be nothing next to what you\u2019ll get if you get anywhere near Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Every murderous instinct inside him rose up straining for release. He had more than enough reason to kill Spike. Not that he should need one. Cordelia\u2019s voice sounded in his head, \u2018Hello, soulless vampire\u2019. The justification was there if he went for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not planning on shagging your chit, Peaches. Don\u2019t get so testy.\u201d Spike took out a pack of cigarettes and a silver lighter from his back pocket. Lighting one, he took a long drag, clearly giving Angel a chance to bite back. Spike would just as soon fight as not, but Angel wasn\u2019t taking the bait.<\/p>\n
He ignored the smoke blown in his face as he stood nose to nose with Spike. \u201cGet out of Sunnydale. Leave tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDru says we\u2019re stayin\u2019,\u201d Spike shrugged as if he had no choice in the matter. He didn\u2019t, really. \u201cShe\u2019s got this thing about seeing to your happiness. Says we\u2019ll all pay for it if that cuddly pet of yours dies. Considerin\u2019 that you almost sucked the whole bleedin\u2019 world into hell the last time you didn\u2019t get your way, I think I\u2019ll let the bint live.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scowling, Angel\u2019s jaw clenched tight. Only a thin line of control kept him from crushing Spike\u2019s nose with his fist. \u201cJust stay the hell away from Cordelia. That goes for both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlood and death: that is all I see.\u201d Drusilla nuzzled her cheek against Spike\u2019s shoulder, a pout on her lips. \u201cBlood will spill. Death will bind us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDammit, what does that mean? Give me some details.\u201d Fear resounded in his voice. Angel saw the glint of satisfaction in Spike\u2019s blue eyes, but he ignored it as he focused on Dru. She had to have the answers. Getting them out of her in some coherent form was the challenge.<\/p>\n
Slowly, Drusilla detached herself from Spike\u2019s weak embrace to saunter in his direction, a look of fear and awe masking her face. \u201cLove her, my Angel. For if not, her path will set the darkness free.\u201d<\/p>\n