Chapter 16<\/b><\/p>\n
Once again Cordelia was drifting down from the clouds. Her vision blurred in and out of focus. She felt so weak and lethargic. Cordelia tried to move her arm, but it was cemented to the bed.<\/p>\n
Randall was standing by the window his hands resting around a brass cup. She tried to speak, but no sound would emerge.<\/p>\n
Slowly, the man turned. \u201cAwake?\u201d Randall watched her struggle with words. \u201cCan\u2019t stay quiet can you?\u201d Randall shook his head.<\/p>\n
Cordelia tried to glare, but it took to much effort. She leaned back on the bed trying to ignore the feebleness of her limps and the pounding in her head. Cordelia hated to be helpless. She hated feeling that her life was at the whim of this man, hated that she could very well die for no other reason than this man\u2019s obsession revenge on Angelus.<\/p>\n
Angelus. Cordelia winced. When would that bastard get out of their lives? She definitely hated that she was going to be sacrificed as Angel\u2019s true love, when she wasn\u2019t even his love. Angel. Cordelia closed her eyes and tried to concentrate.<\/p>\n
The image of the handsome vampire filled her mind. Well, she may not be his true love, but he was hers. And he did make her feel safe. Angel, her mind called out silently. Please help me. She wanted to be able to save herself, but she was so tired. Cordelia blocked out her fear, her pain and concentrated on the comfort that the thought of Angel gave her.<\/p>\n
A slight smile formed on her pale face. She could feel him in the room with her. If she really concentrated she could see her dark vampire sitting in the old worn leather chair in Wesley’s office. It was so dark, but she could see him and sense his anger, frustration, fear and determination to save her.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s burgeoning peace of mind was shattered as she felt a sharp prick in her arm. A gasp escaped from her throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t move. It\u2019s time for another message.\u201d Randall watched as Cordelia\u2019s blood filled the syringe.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Wesley gently nudged at Fred. The young woman was huddled over the computer her eyes barely opened. \u201cFred go upstairs and get some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to\u2026\u201d Fred sat up her fingers reaching for the keyboard.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to get some sleep, we all do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred blinked then nodded. \u201cOnly for a little while.\u201d She yawned.<\/p>\n
Gunn and Wesley remained silent as they watched the young woman ascend the stairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hate waiting.\u201d Gunn yawned and grimaced at the same time.<\/p>\n
Wesley just nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u2019s the vamp?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d Wesley emphasized. \u201cIs frustrated, angry and scared. Like all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d Gunn yawned again. \u201cI guess I\u2019ll go catch a couple of winks.\u201d Gunn moved to follow Fred up the stairs to one of the other guest rooms in the hotel.<\/p>\n
Wesley said nothing. Once Gunn disappeared from sight he went to Fred\u2019s computer and continued to search for vacant properties in the Bel Air area.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel sat in the darkness of Wesley\u2019s office. He had retreated into its solitude after an hour of beating on the punching bag in the basement had done nothing to relieve his tension. His fingers caressed at the dark strands of hair. Every so often he would bring the strands to his face, taking in the scent that still lingered.<\/p>\n
They were getting nowhere. Wesley\u2019s earlier theory of how Randall became immortal hadn\u2019t helped. Fred\u2019s computer search was coming up empty and he was stuck in the hotel doing nothing, but worrying.<\/p>\n
Every minute that Cordelia was missing, the fear and rage just multiplied with in him. Something had to break soon or he would erupt. Angel tried to calm down. Going on a violent rampage wouldn\u2019t accomplish anything, wouldn\u2019t bring Cordelia back. Cordy.<\/p>\n
How had this happened again? He was losing her again. Angel was truly frightened. He had been able to move on when he thought Buffy had died, because of Cordelia, because of the hope she gave him. But he wasn\u2019t as confident about his ability to move on without Cordelia in his life.<\/p>\n
If she died something would break within him. His hope, his humanity would be shattered. And without hope, he wouldn\u2019t to be able to continue the fight. He might as well be dead or let Angelus win the ever-present struggle for control of his soul.<\/p>\n
Where was she? Cordelia. Angel\u2019s eyes shot open. He felt her; she was with him. He could sense her presence, her calling for him. Suddenly the sensation disappeared has quickly has it had come.<\/p>\n
Angel jerked up as another awareness penetrated his conscious. Someone was outside the hotel.<\/p>\n
Chapter 17<\/b><\/p>\n
Wesley jumped up as Angel stormed past him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d Wesley quickly followed the vampire to the door.<\/p>\n
Angel swung open the front door taking care to keep out of the rising sun\u2019s rays. His hands swiftly grabbed at the startled delivery boy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, man. Watch the jacket.\u201d It was a different young man than before, but like the other boy he had a parcel in his hands. This time it was a small package rather than an envelope.<\/p>\n
Gunn and Fred came down the stairs as Angel snatched the brown box.<\/p>\n
Gunn stalled. \u201cThis ain\u2019t going to be good.\u201d He shook his head and continued forward. Fred bit her lip and nudged at her glasses. \u201cIt\u2019s not body parts? It can\u2019t be. He wouldn\u2019t cut Cordelia up. He wouldn\u2019t would he? Oh god.\u201d Her hand reached out for Gunn\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you stay here?\u201d Gunn held her hand for a moment and then pushed her back up the stairs.<\/p>\n
Fred shook her head and moved towards where Wesley and Angel were.<\/p>\n
Angel stared at the plain wrapped package, moving it slowly in his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel?\u201d Wesley could see the tension build in Angel\u2019s body. Angel\u2019s hesitation to open the package confused him. \u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlood. Cordelia\u2019s.\u201d Angel\u2019s face and tone remained expressionless as he slowly unwrapped the box.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Jesus.\u201d Gunn pushed Fred behind him.<\/p>\n
Wesley silently prayed as the brown paper fell to the floor.<\/p>\n
Angel pulled out a clear plastic bag filled with dark red liquid. He held it up, turning it over and over again. He brought it up to his face, which now showed his vampire visage and ripped the bag with his fangs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell is the vamp doing? He wouldn\u2019t?\u201d The contempt in Gunn\u2019s voice was obvious.<\/p>\n
Angel ignored Gunn, as he tasted the liquid. He spat out the blood as soon as he swirled it in his mouth. \u201cDrugs. He\u2019s drugged her.\u201d Angel shoved the bag towards Wesley.<\/p>\n
Wesley took the blood. \u201cDrugs, then we can assume she isn\u2019t dead. \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia is not dead.\u201d Angel remembered the feeling that had come over him in the office. She wasn\u2019t dead; she was alive, hurt, tired and waiting for him. Angel knew it with every undead cell in his body. \u201cShe is alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley glanced up from the blood. Angel wasn\u2019t questioning. He was confident in his assertion.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it seems this is just another one of Randall\u2019s sick messages to taunt you. I\u2019ll get the blood analyzed. Maybe if we can identify the drugs, we\u2026or rather Albert can trace any possible credit card purchases or acquisitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood, Fred.\u201d Wesley went to grab his jacket.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you going, English?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a source in the police lab.\u201d Wesley headed out the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cSources. We do seem to be collecting them. Cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, Gunn. How does Angel know it\u2019s Cordelia\u2019s blood? I mean sure I guess it\u2019s a logical assumption. But how, I mean why couldn\u2019t be someone else\u2019s blood. I mean I see that maybe he could tell that it wasn\u2019t animal, but to be able to tell it\u2019s Cordelia\u2019s. Even if he could distinguish the blood type and knew Cordelia\u2019s blood type, how would he know that it was hers actually? Is it like a wine connoisseur, you know the guys that can tell which wine is which by the taste?\u201d Fred\u2019s eyes got big. \u201cAngel\u2019s tasted Cordelia\u2019s blood?\u201d Her were words were quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop.\u201d The look of disgust was back on Gunn\u2019s face. \u201cI don\u2019t want to think about that or want to know.\u201d Gunn grumbled.<\/p>\n
Angel ignored their hushed whispering and went back into Wesley\u2019s office. Closing the door and encasing himself back into the darkness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess I\u2019ll go back to checking the real estate sites.\u201d Fred fidgeted as the office door slammed shut. \u201cUntil Wesley gets back.\u201d Her fingers reached for the mouse on the desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want some food? I\u2019ll go get some.\u201d Gunn looked at the closed office and then at Fred.<\/p>\n
\u201cBreakfast Burritos?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not, we\u2019ve only had them every day this week.\u201d Gunn gave a small smile.<\/p>\n
Chapter 18<\/b><\/p>\n
Fred glanced up from the computer screen and looked nervously at the closed office door. She hadn\u2019t seen Angel eat anything since Cordelia disappeared.<\/p>\n
Fred bit her lips as she took out a container of blood from the refrigerator. Cordelia or Angel always did this. She knew they warmed it, but for how long and at what setting? She should have paid attention. Angel was a vampire; vampires liked human blood, so body temperature?<\/p>\n
Fred set the microwave at med-high for 45 sec. She gently tested the temperature. Maybe a little longer? Fred wished she had a thermometer. Fred shrugged and pushed the buttons again. It seemed alright. Fred tentatively headed for the office with the warm blood.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel leaned deep in the chair. Wine connoisseur, blood connoisseur. He didn\u2019t need to have tasted Cordelia\u2019s blood to identify it. Cordelia\u2019s blood was as unique as everything else about his seer. His fingers brought Cordy\u2019s hair back to his face, breathing in the air. The soft fragrance was fading. Angel closed his eyes, swirling his tongue around his mouth, desperate to sense any form of his seer.<\/p>\n
He pushed aside the trace of the foreign artificial components and concentrated on the sweet flavor of the blood he had sipped. No. Angel had never tasted Cordelia\u2019s blood; the thought of doing so should have been abhorrent to the vampire. But now, it was another connection to his seer. He needed it. He needed her.<\/p>\n
Angel looked up at the young brunette at the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026are you hungry? I wasn\u2019t sure how long. But I think it\u2019s okay. I tested it on my wrist. Like they do on TV. For babies. Not that you\u2019re baby. But formula needs to be warm and that\u2019s how they test it. I think. I never had a baby. But\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo away, Fred.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, Angel. You haven\u2019t eaten, well except that little bit of Cordy\u2019s blood and that couldn\u2019t have been satisfying. I mean it was so little not that it tasted bad. Or did it taste bad, with the drugs and all. I mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo away. I\u2019m not hungry. Leave me alone. Please.\u201d Angel tried to keep the growl in his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026I\u2019ll just leave it here.\u201d Fred shakily put the mug on the edge of the desk. \u201cFor when you\u2019re hungry.\u201d She gave a nervous smile and backed out of the room.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s stare followed the placement of the mug. He glared then closed his eyes and returned to concentrating on the sensation of Cordelia\u2019s essence left on his taste buds.<\/p>\n
Chapter 19<\/b>
\nCordelia slowly opened her eyes and wiggled her toes. Good. She could feel them. Either her body was adjusting to whatever drug Randall had given her or he had lessened its tranquilizing effect. Or maybe her tolerance was just high because the damn pharmaceutical company she ingested after each vision. Whatever. Cordelia was just glad that she could feel her limbs. They ached but no longer felt like an hundred pound anvil was strapped to them. And better yet, her thoughts were almost coherent.<\/p>\n
Cordelia concentrated on moving her body up the bed. Her arm was black blue with puncture wounds scattered along her veins. Cordelia grimaced. It looked like a damn pincushion. She needed to get out of here before Randall started pricking her some more.<\/p>\n
Cordelia struggled swinging her legs over the side of the bed, her arms bracing up her body. She shook her head trying to clear the remaining cobwebs entangling her thoughts. She was so over being the helpless victim. At least the psycho the decency to let her keep her clothes. Though, where were her shoes? Damn\u2019t she loved those boots.<\/p>\n
Cordelia slowly rested her feet on the floor. She could do this. With one hand on still on the bed and the other tight around the brass bars of the headboard she pushed herself up. She tottered for a moment. With a tentative move, Cordelia released her hand. So far so good, she was still standing. Cordelia closed her eyes and took a deep breath trying to calm the lightheadedness and wooziness.<\/p>\n
With greater determination than she knew she had, she opened her eyes and took a step. Then another. Pretty soon she\u2019d be walking out the door. A slight giggle escaped her lips.<\/p>\n
\u2018One foot in front of the other and soon you\u2019ll be walking cross the floor. One step in front of another and soon you\u2019ll be walking out the door. You never will get where you\u2019re going, if you never get on your feet.\u2026\u2019. Cordelia shook her head trying to get the tune out of her head. She was still so drifty. The next thing, she\u2019ll be humming \u2018Santa Claus is Coming to Town\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd just where do you think, you\u2019re going?\u201d Randall watched the brunette\u2019s struggled movements. There was a cross between amusement, annoyance, and a touch of admiration on his face. It was a shame. She was lovely. But his purpose was more important than the life of one woman. Especially, one that was coupled with Angelus.<\/p>\n
Beautiful she may be, but innocent, not likely. Her allegiance to the vampire was a testament to that sad fact. Cordelia would die, when the time came. His Becca, a true innocent, would be avenged and finally he could rest.<\/p>\n
Cordelia tensed at the sound of Randall\u2019s voice. Not fair. She could have done it. Anger started to overwhelm her fear. The anger grew, solidifying into pure rage. \u201cGO AWAY\u201d<\/p>\n
Her head hurt as the power of her voice vibrated through her skull. Cordelia gasped as a burst of energy left her body. Cordelia slumped to the ground unconscious never realizing that she hadn\u2019t spoken out loud or that Randall was lying crumbled against the far hall wall.<\/p>\n
Chapter 20<\/b>
\n\u201cHow\u2019s Angel?\u201d Wesley leaned in close to Fred.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley blinked he hadn\u2019t seen or heard the vampire enter the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Good. Um, the lab discovered traces of Sedative-Hypnotics, primarily Librium, a liquid form of tranquilizer and hints of morphine. Both of which are not readily available, even with a prescription. There are special restrictions and forms, which must be filled out. If Randall got them in LA, we should be able to find out.\u201d Wesley beckoned to the computer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he got them legit.\u201d Gunn leaned on a corner of the desk. \u201cDrugs aren\u2019t exactly a rare commodity on the streets.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Librium\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn shrugged. \u201cIt don\u2019t matter. Whatever you need, it\u2019s on the streets.\u201d Gunn gave a disgusted grunt.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley and Fred will stay and check the legitimate sources. You take me to the dealers.\u201d Angel moved to get his coat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait.\u201d Fred pushed up her glasses.<\/p>\n
Angel turned impatiently.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found three possible places in Bel Air. I think.\u201d Fred pointed to the real estate web site still on the computer. \u201cI checked the listing available three weeks ago, before Randall\u2019s arrival. I figured..\u201d Fred gulped at Angel\u2019s glare and hurried her speech. \u201cUm, these two were bought and this one was rented.\u201d She pointed eagerly at the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred, start checking for any purchases of the drugs. Gunn and Wesley, the streets. I\u2019ll go to Bel Air.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, you shouldn\u2019t go alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel ignored Wesley as he gathered his weapons. \u201cAngel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWes, call if you find anything. That goes for you to, Fred.\u201d Angel strode out of the hotel.<\/p>\n