Part 18<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cAnything?\u201d Angel placed the folded charred blanket on the nearest chair.<\/p>\n
Wesley just shook his head, his eyes still on the book in front of him.<\/p>\n
Angel bit down his growl going into the kitchen. He gulped a cup of blood before going back out.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia\u2019s security in non-existent granted, but I didn\u2019t smell or sense anyone in that room except us. One unfamiliar smell, but it was older- talc powder with a hint of \u2026ben-gay \u2026lemon polish and \u2026 chilies- all over the house.\u201d Angel lifted his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m saying that it was Marie, Cordy\u2019s maid. No one was there, so how\u2019d the bastard leave the letter \u201d Angel paced the room.<\/p>\n
Wesley\u2019s head shot up, blinking. The vampire was animated and angry surely, but he was also coherent with logical questions and train of thought. \u201cStill no vision?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Angel shook his head. His growl was full of frustration that he would have one before the danger to Cordelia had been dealt with. He had to stay sane until then. Nothing could happen to her. She trusted him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can not find the meaning to these words. I do believe that they are evidence that the Cordelia\u2019s stalker is from another dimension.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn said as much upsetting Cordy,\u201d Angel glared in disapproval.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, well.\u201d Wesley shoved his glasses. \u201cI may have an idea, though. Little out of the box, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat.\u201d Angel stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cA while back, you had a vision- one of a young girl missing, dark hair, glasses, in the university library with a book and a portal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, unfortunately, you probably don\u2019t remember, we never found the woman. The vision was not completed and you were incapacitated longer than usual.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley,\u201d Angel\u2019s voice choked with sorrow and anger.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time, our services were needed by an the owner of a Karaoke\/Sanctuary bar. It\u2019s seems that a Drokken, a dimensional demon, came through a portal in his club. We were able to kill that particular demon with the help of a warrior from its dimension that ended up being Lorne\u2019s, the client, cousin or something. Actually, you\u2019ve met him. Lorne I mean, he\u2019s an anagogic psychic demon- I asked him to read you after I realized his talents. He got nothing of use, but then again,as I said you were very incapacitated.\u201d Wesley shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley,\u201d Angel growl was now just exasperation.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, well, see, Gunn, Lorne and I, went to the library, the coincidence of your vision and the Drokken seeming too much. Lorne was most uncooperative, but he did help in the end. Anyway, we found book and it did open a portal and it brought Landok, Lorne\u2019s cousin. No dark-haired girl of your vision though. It could very well be she was shown only to get us to the library and the book. Landok was pivotal in killing the Drokken.”<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, do you have a point.\u201d Angel continued to pace, his gait getting more aggressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suggest taking the notes to Lorne. His enterprise houses various demons and information. He could help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you still here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause this was a conclusion I came to only five minutes before you arrived.\u201d Wesley stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a sewer route if you wish to accompany me.\u201d Wesley was slightly amused at the sheepish look that came over the vampire. Wesley studied Angel. Was this the real Angel? He hadn\u2019t seen this in Sunnydale and definitely not when Wesley came across the vampire in LA struggling with his inner demons, guilt, sorrows and visions.<\/p>\n
Angel looked down at his formal wear. \u201cGive me a minute.\u201d Angel went to the his room.<\/p>\n
Wesley gave a slight smile and answered the phone as it rang.<\/p>\n
Angel stood in the doorway taking in the contents of the room. One bare mattress strewn on the floor, iron manacles hanging from the ceiling, barred windows\u2026.Angel looked again. Wesley must have fixed the window. Dark heavy shades and a make shift closet…or rather boxes filled with clothing. Angel shook his head. Barren and alone, that had been him- but now he wanted more, even bright windows filling with sunshine that could kill him. He wanted a life rather than this prison. Angel strode to the boxes pulling out dark clothes, heading to the bathroom to take a shower. The room disgusted him.<\/p>\n
Wesley hung up the phone, staring at the instrument as if it was a two-headed beast that needed to be dissected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was that?\u201d Angel returned to the living room clothed now in all black.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia.\u201d Wesley said still staring at the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, why didn\u2019t you get me? Is she all right? What\u2019s wrong? Where\u2019s Gunn? We\u2019ve got to go.\u201d Angel grabbed at the leather coat hanging by the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel. Angel,\u201d Wesley said again louder. \u201cCordy\u2019s fine, she\u2019s at the studio and Gunn\u2019s with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe called to ask what your favorite blood type was.\u201d Wesley took off his glasses and contemplated the vampire.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh?\u201d Angel\u2019s coat fell to the floor as his jaw gapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. It seems that she has decided that if you are to come back over to protect her this evening, you should be able to have dinner. She said it was only fair since you cooked her breakfast, she wants to cook for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia wants to cook my blood?\u201d Angel\u2019s jaw dropped even further.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I even have to comment on how truly disturbing this whole conversation is?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel tried to shake the thought of Cordelia in his shirt\u2026watching blood warm\u2026It was surreal. \u201cWhat did you tell her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley took a deep breath and deadpanned. \u201cThat you liked Chinese.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Angel glared.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I told her not to worry about it. You would eat before you came over. However that didn\u2019t quite satisfy her, she was worried that you would\u2026\u201dshrivel up and waste away like some poor Ethiopian child that had to live on a dollar a day\u201d, I quote. I explained that vampire\u2019s can\u2019t starve and that you would be fine, but to avoid any more possible whining take some blood with you this evening, otherwise, you will be trying to keep her out of every demon blood shop in LA.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want her too see me drink blood.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe doesn\u2019t seem to mind.\u201d Wesley deadpanned again.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia wanted to make me dinner.\u201d Angel was still amazed. No one ever wanted to touch his blood.<\/p>\n
\u201cEuphemisms won\u2019t help. The image of blood cooking is still prevalent. Angel, just what happened between the two of you? I know Cordelia or thought I did at least. All things, demon and bloody were not on her top ten. Money, style, status, and looks pretty much filled up her list of wants and needs. I can’t see that changing much now that she’s a TV star.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel narrowed his eyes. \u201cCordelia is not superficial.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, you do remember that you barely know the woman, except as a teenager that was associated, by a thin thread, to Buffy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know who she is,\u201d Angel growled. \u201cWhere\u2019s this demon we need to go see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part 19<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cHowdy, stalwart leadermando of Angel\u2019s Investigation,\u201d the green demon in an eye-hurting bright purple suit bobbed to Wesley. \u201cAnd helllooo, tasty cake, love your coat and you’re standing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne\u2019s eyes shot back to Wesley. \u201cHis aura\u2019s looking mighty fine. Almost\u2026.not bad. Damn, you can wear leather,\u201d Lorne cocked a head back to Angel. \u201cWe\u2019ve met, but you were doing the \u2018I so want to beat my head on the padded walls thing\u2019. Eek, Sweetcakes, got bite,\u201d Lorne jumped back at Angel\u2019s growl.<\/p>\n
\u201cLorne, we need you\u2019re help,\u201d Wesley interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy vibes are your vibes, after all you did rid my club of that nasty portal to the hell dimension of all dimension- no music.” The green demon shivered. “Is it the leather bound hottie? Have him sing, I\u2019ll try again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Wesley shoved some papers to the demon. \u201cHave you ever seen these words before?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lorne shrugged reading the notes.<\/p>\n
Both Wesley and Angel looked on in interest, as the green demon got greener.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have.\u201d Wesley yanked the papers back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did you get those?\u201d Lorne searched from Wesley and Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cA friend of ours has been receiving these notes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe words, what do the mean, you obviously recognized them, tell us, what dimension are they from are they from yours. What?\u201d Angel moved his voice cold and insistent, overriding Wesley\u2019s explanation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, big guy, Okay. Um.\u201d Lorne licked his cherry lips. \u201cThey’re Plyean- Kye-rumption- when two great heroes meet in the field of battle and recognize their mutual fate\u2026or the eloquent, NOT, writer is comparing \u2018your friend\u2019 to a kind of grog made from Yox-dung. He\u2019ll win no hearts with that archaic definition, so I\u2019m going with choice A. As for Moira- gut physical attraction between two larger that life souls. Guys, whoever wrote these tidy words has put your \u2018friend\u2019 on a very high pedestal, very high, mythic, Ike and Tina high, okay, he beat her and was an abusive son of a bitch but they sounded great together.\u201d Lorne shrugged. \u201cAnd my fellow dimension- man may just be another Ike or not, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is he?\u201d Angel growled.<\/p>\n
Lorne held up his hands and scooted behind Wesley. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Sweetcakes. No body from my backwater town has come through since my very distant unwanted cousin and he went back. Anybody else, I don\u2019t know about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you help us at all?\u201d Wesley asked calmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWasn\u2019t I just?\u201d Lorne rolled his eyes. \u201cFine. A friend of mine, Aggie, has sensed some wavering and spouts in the dimensional framework recently. How \u2018bout I give you her address.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d Wesley hands gripped on the steering wheel. He did not like the vampire\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, we have the book, we know now what dimension\u2026.Why aren\u2019t we opening the damn thing and going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley took a deep breath. \u201cAngel, going into an unknown dimension is ludicrous and potentially suicidal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Angel. It\u2019s Cordelia\u2019s stalker-maybe. Cordelia is safe here with Gunn. No reason to traipse off risking god knows what. If Cordelia was actually taken, well then, that\u2019s a whole different consideration. But she\u2019s not. We stay on this side of the dimensional wall. If the stalker is in this Plyea- who cares- as long as he doesn\u2019t hurt her- if he\u2019s here than we\u2019ll find him.\u201d<\/p>\n