Chapter 7<\/b><\/p>\n
Randall watched the pretty young woman chatter on and on. Cordelia Chase was a very beautiful young woman. Charming even. This would be better than he hoped.<\/p>\n
He had wanted to take Angelus\u2019 true love away, to make him suffer. He assumed from watching them together that they had known their love. But they didn\u2019t, but Angelus would before this was over, he would know in time to suffer the ultimate loss.<\/p>\n
Sweet revenge. It was tasting better and better. He smiled as Cordelia asked him about his latest story.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel sat in his chair. He wasn\u2019t an impulsive or erratic vampire. Even as Angelus he thought things through. Angelus had planned every random terror or torture. So, why was he now ready to fly off the handle just because Cordelia went on a date? Think it through. He wasn\u2019t crazy, he just need to calm down.<\/p>\n
Angel glanced at the shreds of paper on the floor. Why had he needed to make sure that Cordelia knew that he cared? Cordelia did know. What had he hoped to accomplish?<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t as simple as him wanting her safe. She was safe. Angel had sensed Montgomery wasn\u2019t a demon. So he was safe, or as safe as any man. Angel closed his eyes against his panic and rage. Rage because there was no guarantee that anyone was safe and panic because maybe Randall Montgomery was and Cordelia would like him.<\/p>\n
Then go on other date and other\u2026.finally realizing that she didn\u2019t belong tied to a vampire for the rest of her life.<\/p>\n
Angel was over reacting. It was a date, that\u2019s all. But, what if\u2026what if she really did find her happily ever after\u2026.what if she left him? Angel clenched his fist. He wanted Cordelia to be happy just as much as he wanted her safe. But why did it scare him? Why did he want Randall to turn out to be a demon or at least a jackass?<\/p>\n
Why did he need for Cordelia to walk through that door and tell him that the date was a disaster and she would have to just rely on him, Angel, to protect her, to make sure she was safe and happy, to cook for her and even to do her laundry? If she did find her true love, would he be able to trust that person with Cordelia\u2019s safety. Angel growled. He wouldn\u2019t. Why couldn\u2019t he? Why did he need to be the only one she needed?<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s head fell into his hands as he realized. He wasn\u2019t crazy. He just loved her. He loved Cordelia. He smiled and lay on his bed. That made things easier. He would be happy for her and wish her the best on this date and any other that she went on. Because she would never find happiness with him.<\/p>\n
Involuntarily, his body curled into a ball. He never hated being a vampire so much. Angel could growl, stammer and read all the magazines in the world, but he could never give Cordelia what she deserved, the happy ever after. Angel tried to be rational and hopeful.<\/p>\n
He was a vampire who fell in love with two extraordinary women. Something he never expected, maybe some day he would find\u2026No. Buffy had been a gift. Cordelia a miracle. A miracle that he couldn\u2019t lose, one that he couldn\u2019t live without, but one that he would have to let go, when it was time. Angel forced him to relax to drift into sleep.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a wonderful dinner.\u201d Cordelia beamed. She tried to relax. No vision had embarrassed her. No ringing cell phone, with Angel demanding to know where she was or when she was going to be home. Cordelia scrunched up her face and tried to peer into the darkness of the street outside the restaurant.<\/p>\n
Where was he? She was sure by the \u2018grr\u2019 act he had put on in the hotel that the vampire would be skulking about watching her, making sure that she was safe. Sure, she was safe. But what if she hadn\u2019t been? Where was he? Cordelia\u2019s stomach started to ache. Didn\u2019t he care if she was safe? That was stupid.<\/p>\n
Of course, Angel cared. He was just respecting her desire to go out on a date with a normal guy, to try for a piece of a normal life. Stupid vampire. He knew she didn\u2019t have a normal life. What good did having only a pretend part of one do? Did Angel want her to date? Her stomach started to really hurt. \u201cOh, Damn.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs something wrong, Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia bit her lip as she looked at the handsome normal man. Damn\u2019t. He was handsome. But he was normal and\u2026.and he wasn\u2019t Angel. Damn\u2019t. How had this happen? Cordelia knew better. Angel- Angelus, Angel-Buffy, Angel-Angelus, Angel- Buffy\u2026Oh why couldn\u2019t she just have a good time with this nice normal good-looking guy. Oh, it just wasn\u2019t her life that wasn\u2019t normal, she wasn\u2019t. She was an idiot. She loved Angel.<\/p>\n
Well, at least her stomach stopped hurting, now if she could just get rid of the pain that had just sprung up in her heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cRandall, I\u2019m sorry. I suddenly don\u2019t feel well. Can you take me back to the hotel please.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, but if you don\u2019t feel well you should go home, not back to work. Especially not this late.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Um, I\u2026need to go to the hotel. Wesley or Gunn should still be there. They\u2019ll give me a ride home.\u201d Cordelia needed to see Angel. She wasn\u2019t going to tell him of her realization. No way. But she needed to see him, just to make sure. Maybe it was just the sushi that had made her stomach queasy. Cordelia wished she could blame it on the dinner.<\/p>\n
She would see Angel and then she would go home and cry herself to sleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, well that will be a problem.\u201d Randall gripped Cordelia by the arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat.\u201d Cordelia tried to yank her arm back, but his grip was too strong. It was way too strong to be normal. Oh. Not again. Angel was going to be so furious and tell her all sorts of I told you so. But, Randall had checked out. It\u2019s a good thing she figured out that she didn\u2019t want to date anyone anymore. Because dating and her sucked.<\/p>\n
Cordelia kicked out with her foot. Randall stepped out of the way and bent her arm back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t leave. That would just ruin my plan. Now, hush. I really don\u2019t want to hurt you.\u201c Randall brought a needle up to her neck.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s yell died in her throat as the drug instantly took effect. Randall pulled her to him as she fell unconscious.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel tossed and turned on his bed. Imagines and memories flashed through his subconscious.<\/p>\n
Angelus tugged at Darla, a wicked grin plastered on his face. His brow cocked towards the house. Darla nodded with glee. They had seen the woman and her two children the night before at the town fair. So beautiful, so tasty.<\/em><\/p>\n Darla lunged at Angelus. Their kiss was wild and violent. She broke away silently laughing. She straightened his cravat and moved to the lighted door. She knocked. Darla smiled sweetly at the young boy that answered. \u201cHello, little man. Would it be possible for me and my husband to come in? Our carriage lost a wheel down the road. And we have been walking quite a bit.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The boy stared at the woman in her high society gown. \u201cMama, a Lady is at the door.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLady?\u2019 Angelus smirked. Darla growled.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBenjamin. What are you yelling about? Oh, how do you do?\u201d The red hair woman stammered as she saw the well-dressed couple at the door. She automatically started to press down her old apron.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe were telling your beautiful son, that our carriage broke down up the road. We\u2019ve been walking for a while. We were hoping for a place to rest a moment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOf course, please do come in.\u201d The woman glanced\u00a0apologetically\u00a0around. \u201cWe don\u2019t have much to offer, but perhaps some tea.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry my dear. You have plenty to offer us.\u201d Angel laughed as he lunged. The woman didn\u2019t have time to scream before Angelus had struck her.<\/em><\/p>\n Darla grabbed the young boy as he stared in shock. \u2018\u2019What a pretty little boy.\u201d She bit into the side of his neck.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMama.\u201d A small girl peeked from around the corner. \u201cOh, little sweetness, come to me.\u201d Angelus laughed and in a flash had the little girl by the neck, his fangs ripping into her throat. \u201cThat was good.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Darla wiped the young boy\u2019s blood from her lips. \u201cMama?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMama, needs to be tenderized I bit, I think?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Darla laughed.<\/em><\/p>\n Angelus quickly had the woman\u2019s hands and feet bound. His fingers trailing down her body until it reached the hem of her worn gown. He grinned as the woman\u2019s whimpers signaled her return to consciousness.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHoly Mother of God, Becca.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Angelus glared at Darla. \u201cThe door?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cRandall, our babies.\u201d The woman screamed.<\/em><\/p>\n Darla shrugged and quickly reached the horrified man standing in the doorway. \u201cDaddy, I presume.\u201d She struck him across the face. \u201cNow we don\u2019t have to share.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Angelus rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to woman on the floor.<\/em><\/p>\n Darla leaned into the man on the floor. \u201cWake up darling. Don\u2019t you want to see wifey enjoy herself. So sorry, you missed the kiddies.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n With a strength born of rage and grief the man leaped up and charged the vampire.<\/em><\/p>\n Angelus looked up, one hand under the woman\u2019s skirt the other clamped over her throat. \u201cCould you please finish it? You\u2019re distracting me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMy apologizes, my boy.\u201d Darla said. She pulled at the man\u2019s hair yanking his head back. The man fought wildly, Darla stumbled back.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAngelus.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAngelus.\u201d Darla yelled.<\/em><\/p>\n Angelus looked up. \u201cDarla, dear\u2026the mere mortal is winning.\u201d The man was striking at the blonde vampire, his hits fast and furious, not allowing her a chance to strike.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAngelus.\u201d Darla demanded.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cFine. Ruin my fun.\u201d Angelus snapped the woman\u2019s neck and flew into the man knocking him away from Darla.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAbout time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The man crawled up the wall; his hand moving towards the sideboard.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t fight it man. Die with your family, you\u2019ll be happier.\u201d Angelus laughed.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAlways Becca you will be in my heart, Always.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Angelus stopped. \u201cThat was sickening. You want her heart. Here take it.\u201d Angelus went over to the dead woman and thrust his hand into her chest. He pulled out her still warm heart. \u201cHere keep it with you when you die.\u201d Angelus stalked to the man, the heart held out.<\/em><\/p>\n The man screamed and knocked the burning lantern off the sideboard. The oil and flames spread blocking Angelus\u2019 path. The man turned and ran.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDarla, I think it\u2019s time to leave.\u201d Angelus bit into the heart like it was a plum, sucking at its juices as the flames spread.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019re right, my boy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Angel woke with a gasp. Impossible. That horror had happened over almost two hundred years ago. But the name. Randall. Angel closed his eyes and forced himself to push past his guilt and to remember.<\/p>\n He saw the man up against the wall. His blue eyes raging with tears and anger. His pale blonde hair sticking to his face by tears, blood and sweat. His tall, broad body racked with misery as Angelus held his wife\u2019s heart in the palm of his hand.<\/p>\n It was him. Somehow, it was him. Cordelia.<\/p>\n Angel jumped out of bed. \u201cWesley.\u201d Angel roared, running down the stairs, punching numbers into his cell phone.<\/p>\n Wesley, Gunn and Fred ran into the middle of the lobby.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel waved Wesley\u2019s question down as Cordelia\u2019s phone rang continuously.<\/p>\n Angel growled and threw the phone. The small plastic instrument shattered as it hit the wall. \u201cWhere did she go? What restaurant? Where?\u201d Angel grabbed his coat.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel, this is ridiculous. Let Cordelia be. Let her enjoy herself.\u2019<\/p>\n Angel turned game face towards his friend. \u201cDo you know where she went? Tell me.\u201d He stalked to his friends. \u201cFred?\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman moved automatically behind Wesley.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel, stop this. What has gotten into you?\u201d Wesley said.<\/p>\n \u201cTell..\u201d Angel stopped as the phone began to ring. He rushed to the phone. \u201cCordy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. But she is alive for now. It was too bad that you didn\u2019t recognize me, but it was too much to expect, rather I did count on it. After all the bitch didn\u2019t, not even when I staked her, after of course some quality time together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c1803 Yorkshire. Your wife and two children. I remember. Where\u2019s Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m impressed it must be the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCordelia, where is she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs she your heart? I think she is. Just like My Becca was mine. Don\u2019t worry I\u2019ll return it, just like you returned mine to me. Fair, don\u2019t you think.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ve hurt her in anyway\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll what kill me? You and the bitch did that when you tore my heart from my Becca, when you butchered my children. I\u2019ll give the lovely lady back to you. Dead and heart first, when I\u2018m ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNO. This is not about her, but Angelus. It\u2019s not her you want. She\u2019s an innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe, probably. But that\u2019s not my concern, that\u2019s yours. Goodbye, I\u2019ll give her your love.\u201d<\/p>\n Wesley had moved closer his expression pale as he heard Angel\u2019s part of the conversation. He said nothing as Angel clutched at the phone the receiver shattering under the pressure.<\/p>\n Chapter 8 <\/b><\/p>\n \u201cHer heart?\u201d Fred paled as Angel finished telling the others how Angelus and Darla killed Randall\u2019s family.<\/p>\n Angel\u2019s face was expressionless as he nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHow is it possible?\u201d Wesley said.<\/p>\n \u201cHow? Because he\u2019s a fuckin crazed bloodsucking vamp, that\u2019s how.\u201d<\/p>\n Fred\u2019s eyes shot towards the men. Gunn\u2019s expression was one of mistrust and disgust.<\/p>\n Wesley\u2019s expression turned from one of questioning to one of anger. \u201cGunn. We all know what Angelus was capable of. You are not helping. My question was how was it possible that Randall has survived until now. Angel, he checked out. He wasn\u2019t a demon or a vampire, how?\u201d<\/p>\n Wesley didn\u2019t doubt Angel\u2019s conclusion. It was too extraordinary not to be true. He just didn\u2019t understand how. And he had to know, because not to would inhibit their ability to save Cordelia.<\/p>\n Angel shook his head ignoring Gunn\u2019s glare.<\/p>\n Fred stared at the vampire. She had seen his beast or so she thought. But the creature that Angel had become in Plyea was one that reacted violently out of fear, anger or hunger. One that acted purely on instinct. You couldn\u2019t hate that creature no more than you could hate a wild cat for acting out its nature.<\/p>\n But what she had heard was more than that. Fred had heard how Angel\u2019s beast had planned, thought and acted on how to best to create terror and pain. That was beyond instinct that was intellect and consciousness. It was evil.<\/p>\n For the first time since Cordelia had explained Angelus\/Angel and the risk to Angel\u2019s soul, Fred understood the undercurrent of fear that Wesley, Cordelia and mostly Angel gave off when ever Angelus was mentioned. She now understood Gunn\u2019s deep seeded distrust, even while he worked side-by-side Angel.<\/p>\n Fred looked again to Wesley. She saw his fear and anger, but those emotions weren\u2019t directed towards Angel, but for Cordelia. Wesley truly knew Angel\u2019s beast but it did not stop him from accepting Angel. The story hadn\u2019t made him react any differently towards Angel. Fred felt ashamed. She had always claimed that Angel was Angel not his beast.<\/p>\n Yet, the story had frightened her. She moved closer to Wesley trying to draw on his courage and surety that Angel was Angel and nothing more.<\/p>\n Wesley nodded at Angel\u2019s shake. \u201cYes, well first we need to research how a human can live for two hundred years without aging and not be a demon or vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to find Cordelia.\u201d Angel finally spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. But how? We know nothing about him except that he is a 197-year-old farmer. No. If we can find out how, then we can find out how to stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know how to stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt may not be that easy to kill him. Obviously there is magic involved or something supernatural. We can\u2019t assume that we can just kill in the normal manner. Anyway, we need to find him.\u201d<\/p>\n Fred eye\u2019s widened at Wesley\u2019s tone. She looked again at the vampire then back to Wesley. She saw it. The understanding between them. No matter how this ended, they both had promised that Randall would die. Die because he threatened Cordelia.<\/p>\n \u201cComputer?\u201d Fred said. She shrunk back as all eyes turned towards her.<\/p>\n \u201cFred?\u201d Wesley said encouragingly.<\/p>\n \u201cCordy said that he had a passport from all over. That he was a reporter of some kind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFake credentials, no doubt.\u201d Wesley said.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, probably, but she said…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis name came up on the magazines archives. He has a history that we can find.\u201d Wesley finished. \u201cWell done Fred. Do you think you are familiar enough again with computers to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Fred had been getting much better about remembering more of her old skills with the computer, but she still was more comfortable with pen and paper. And this was Cordy they were talking about. \u201cI can try, but I don\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWes, David Nabbit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, of course.\u201d Wesley went quickly to Cordelia\u2019s Rolodex to find the phone number of the computer genius who had also been a former client of Angel Investigations.<\/p>\n Both Fred and Gunn looked questioningly at Wesley and Angel. Neither the vampire nor the former watcher responded.<\/p>\n Chapter 9 <\/b><\/p>\n Angel felt as if he would explode into a thousand pieces. Part of him wanted to just rage and destroy everything in sight. Friends, furniture everything.<\/p>\n The other wanted to die, because even more than before, he truly was to blame for Cordelia being in danger. It was because of one of his thousand vile acts as Angelus that brought Cordelia to this point. Angel would give anything\u2026anything if he had ripped Randall\u2019s crying face from his neck all those years ago, murdered him with his family.<\/p>\n If Angelus had, then so what? What was one more death to feel guilty about compared to the loss of Cordelia, there was no comparison. Ice formed over the guilt that Angel had felt when he first awoken from that memory. At that moment and until Cordelia was safe, guilt had no place within him. There would be nothing to distract him from his goal.<\/p>\n He was Angelus, just with the option to be good because of the soul. And Angel would ignore that option if it got in the way of saving Cordelia.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do we know that Cordy isn\u2019t already dead? It\u2019s not like the man doesn\u2019t have a reason to want revenge.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel moved slowly, first his head rose, then his arms unclenched. \u201cShe\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGunn, that\u2019s enough. If you still have some residual misgivings about working with Angel, fine. Leave.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? I\u2019m not leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen shut up.\u201d Wesley turned back to the phone.<\/p>\n Chapter 10 <\/b><\/p>\n Cordelia floated towards the ground. She tried to concentrate but the clouds kept getting in the way. She tried to focus.<\/p>\n Angel. He was down there. If she just concentrated on him. Cordelia blinked and smacked at her lips. Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton. It was so dry. She licked and swirled her swollen tongue around trying to get some moisture to her mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia felt something wet and cold up against her lips. She eagerly sucked on the ice chips. Cordelia tried to open her eyes but her lids were too heavy. She had to figure out where she was, but she couldn\u2019t move. Her arms and legs felt like they were weighted down with bags of sand.<\/p>\n Cordelia licked again at her lips. She was still thirsty. The ice chips had acted only as a tease.<\/p>\n Once again she felt the coldness. Cordelia savored the moisture, sucking at the chips trying to melt the cotton that seem to coat her tongue. Cordelia tried to speak.<\/p>\n \u201cShh.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia heard someone move and touch her arm at its heaviest part. She tried to move her head towards the touch.<\/p>\n \u201cThe effects are only temporarily Cordelia. The drug will wear off soon enough. I suggest you try to go back to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Randall\u2019s voice. He had drugged her. Cordelia wanted to yell, scream out questions and threats. She wanted to move but the malaise and fatigue that covered her body made it impossible. Her mind drifted back up into the clouds. She slept.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Angel paced angrily glaring at the young man sitting behind the computer. Willing him to work faster, to find something that would lead Angel to Cordelia. He hated the waiting.<\/p>\n David Nabbit hadn\u2019t been able to come, but he immediately sent one of his best employees. David had assured Wesley that the boy was a genius; he could break into any protected system. That\u2019s how David had found him. David was still a child in many respects himself, except when it came to his business and his computers. He was always on the look out for new talent.<\/p>\n And Albert had proven his expertise when he broke into the company\u2019s systems and started playing the games and manipulating the programs. Rather than bringing charges against the young man, David hired him.<\/p>\n Fred sat next to Albert staring at his manipulations of the computer. She was remembering and understanding the young man\u2019s actions. Fred wanted to learn it all; she wanted to be the one that would help her friends the next time the need arose.<\/p>\n \u201cFound him.\u201d Albert leaned back pushing his glasses up. \u201cRandall Montgomery flew into LAX three weeks ago from Nicaragua. He charged the ticket. I\u2019ll check the credit card transactions.\u201d Albert went back to the computer.<\/p>\n Angel started his pacing again. He should have gone with Gunn to check out the restaurant. He felt useless. But Wesley had convinced him that he was not in proper frame of mind to ask questions without killing some one. And reluctantly, Angel had to agree with his friend.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel, I could use some help.\u201d Wesley handed the restless vampire a book. \u201cWe will need to know what Randall has become.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel growled and took the book. Sitting and researching wasn\u2019t what he wanted to do. He wanted to go out and find Cordelia. But Wesley was right again and researching was better than pacing and worrying.<\/p>\n Wesley and Angel sat across from each other, each leafing through the books before them.<\/p>\n Wesley looked up. \u201cGunn is right.\u201d<\/p>\n Angel stared.<\/p>\n Wesley took his glasses off and began to rub them. \u201cRandall does have a right to be angry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe has Cordelia.\u201d Angel refused to think about his guilt over Angelus\u2019 actions.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not suggesting that we let him have his revenge nor that we hand you over to him. I\u2019m just saying that his feelings of being wronged are legitimate and that makes him very dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s insane. Cordelia did nothing to him. It\u2019s me he should be after, not her. And he will die because of that – legitimate reasons be damned.\u201d Angel looked down at the table, his hands spread on the table pressing down.<\/p>\n \u201cWes, he said he would give me her heart.\u201d Angel\u2019s eyes were clouded as he met Wesley\u2019s. \u201cI\u2026I love her, Wesley.\u201d Angel\u2019s gaze fell back to the table, his hands going to his side in fists.<\/p>\n Wesley put on his glasses. \u201cYes. Well, then, Randall chose his revenge wisely. We will find Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
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