Chapter 21<\/b>
\nRandall studied the young unconscious woman bound to the bed. Power. The woman had power, one that she obviously was unaware of or she would have tossed him around the room sooner. There was more to Cordelia Chase than met the eyes.<\/p>\n
It was pity that she was Angel\u2019s true love and had to die. He flicked his finger against the syringe. He couldn\u2019t take the risk of her waking up and doing it again. Randall frowned as he glanced at the now empty syringe.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t want Cordelia to overdose before the culmination of his plan. Randall would just have to speed things up.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel examined the iron gate surrounding the first estate on Fred\u2019s list. He jumped and landed firmly on the other side. His pace slowed, as he got closer to the house. The sound of loud music and the scent of several humans penetrated the air. Angel growled in frustration. Angel doubted seriously that Randall would be throwing a party.<\/p>\n
But still, he had to be sure. Angel\u2019s growl became louder as the imagines that accompanied the sounds and smelled unfolded.<\/p>\n
Before him, was the best example of debauchery that he had seen since Angelus feasted in the saloons of Europe. Music and bodies surround the torch lit pool. Light from the flames flicked on coupling bodies. Other humans wandered around the patio in various state of dress, swaying from the effects of the music, alcohol and Angel sniffed the air again, drugs. But, not the drugs he was looking for.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, darling, a little late for the party.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stiffened as an intoxicated topless woman approached. \u201cBut I\u2019m glad you came, or will come.\u201d The woman lurched and winked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho lives here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBobby? You don\u2019t know Bobby? Everyone knows Bobby. Are you a gate jumper?\u201d The woman sidled up closer to Angel. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, honey. You\u2019ll be welcomed. You\u2019re yummy.\u201d She winked again.<\/p>\n
Angel stepped back, the overindulgences that tainted the woman\u2019s scent disgusted him. \u201cHow long has Bobby lived here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, the party started on Tuesday. Let\u2019s get you wet. I\u2019m all ready wet.\u201d The woman moved closer tugging at Angel\u2019s duster.<\/p>\n
Angel winced and knocked away her questing hands. It took all of his self-control not to throw the woman across the yard. Cordelia wasn\u2019t here. Angel growled. He had wasted precious darkness. It would be dawn soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, where are going?\u201d The woman called after the retreating vampire.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Fred circled the plain brown package. Her heart hadn\u2019t stopped pounding since she took the parcel from the delivery boy.<\/p>\n
Fred had tried to be forceful and demand that boy tell her something of value. But, either he thought she was ridiculous or he didn\u2019t know anything, because she still didn\u2019t have any information to tell Angel.<\/p>\n
Tell Angel? Should she call him? Angel had been anxious to search the addresses in Bel Air. Fred twirled her hair nervously. The package scared her. She couldn\u2019t bring herself to open it.<\/p>\n
What if it was a body part? The thought of Cordelia being cut up made her sick to her stomach. Where was Wesley? She had called him ten minutes ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cFred.\u201d Wesley and Gunn hurried in.<\/p>\n
Fred said nothing but pointed at the plain box.<\/p>\n
\u201cHas Angel called?\u201d Wesley just stared. Fred shook her head. \u201cI didn\u2019t know whether to call him.\u201d Fred started to wring her hands. \u201cI probably should have called him. \u201c<\/p>\n
Wesley took off his glasses and started to rub them aggressively. \u201cIt will be dawn soon, he should be on his way back. You did fine, Fred.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, are you going to open it?\u201d Gunn circled the desk, his eyes never leaving the container. \u201cFind out what part of Cordy, Mr. Sicko Revenge has sent this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn.\u201d Wesley glared as he saw Fred pale.<\/p>\n
The young black man shrugged apologetically towards Fred.<\/p>\n
Wesley sighed and wiped at his lenses again. Wesley didn\u2019t know what to do. He had no desire to see what Randall had in store for Angel this time. But, then again, they had to know. And maybe if he saw it, he could just tell Angel. That way Angel wouldn\u2019t have to experience the torment.<\/p>\n
The vampire was wound up way too tight as it was. Wesley wasn\u2019t sure how much more Angel could take. Sooner rather than later, the vampire was going to explode. Maybe it would be for the best if they opened it before Angel returned. Still, Wesley just sat and stared.<\/p>\n
His heart and head began to ache. Please let this just be another taunt. Randall couldn\u2019t have killed Cordelia. Angel wasn\u2019t the only one that was ready to explode. They had to find her.<\/p>\n
Angel stood silent, taking in the three tense humans sitting around a brown package. He could smell their fear and anxiety. Angel remembered the time when he would have rejoiced in such terror. He would enjoy such scent again, when it rolled off Randall in waves as Angel ripped him from limb from limb.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did it come?\u201d<\/p>\n
The three humans jumped, startled.<\/p>\n
Wesley was the first to recover. \u201cAbout twenty minutes ago. Again, the delivery boy knew nothing.\u201d Wesley got out of the vampire\u2019s way as Angel went straight for the package.<\/p>\n
Wesley held his breath as Angel pulled out a bloody bundle wrapped in wax paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cMotherfu\u2026\u201d Gunn\u2019s curse was interrupted as Fred stumbled into his body. The black man caught the shaking woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d Wesley started to breathe again as he watched Angel pull out the human heart. Wesley had to believe that it wasn\u2019t Cordelia\u2019s; otherwise Wesley was sure that Angel would be doing more than just studying the organ. But he needed Angel to confirm it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not Cordelia\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow does he do that?\u201d Fred said from the crook of Gunn\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he tastes it, I\u2019m losing it. Aw man, that\u2019s just sick.\u201d Gunn looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn, shut up.\u201d Wesley glared.<\/p>\n
Angel took his bloody finger from his mouth. \u201cThere are no chemicals. And it\u2019s fairly fresh. Two days at the most.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDisgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI said shut up.\u201d Wesley turned back to Angel a hopeful expression on his face. \u201cAngel, if it came from a hospital or morgue, then there would be chemicals. And unless, Randall killed the victim himself, he would have had to gotten it from a demon vendor. And\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there are only two that I know of that deal with fresh human hearts.\u201d Angel opened his fist and stared at the bloody mess. Blood had never looked so unappetizing. He grabbed at a paper towel and wiped furiously. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley didn\u2019t even try to suggest that Angel might be going on a fool\u2019s errand. The prospect of a lead was too needed.<\/p>\n
Wesley pulled aside Gunn. \u201cCharles, I know that you still have some issues with Angel being a vampire. But, I also know that you care about Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I do, man.\u201d Gunn jerked away.<\/p>\n
Wesley pulled the young black man back. \u201cAnd as such, you will cease with anymore derogatory comments towards Angel. It is not helping. I am not telling you this as your friend, but as your boss. We can be nothing less than a cohesive team during this ordeal. If you can\u2019t, then you\u2019re fired. Understood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn stared at Wesley. \u201cI\u2026it was gross\u2026But, I\u2019m cool.\u201d Gunn said. \u201cI\u2019m with the team and with Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel is a part of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m with it.\u201d The black man defended.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d Wesley went after Angel.<\/p>\n
Fred held out her hand stopping Gunn. \u201cCharles, Wesley is serious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t hate Angel. I like him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d Fred patted the black man\u2019s arm. \u201cNow, go and help Angel get Cordy back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapter 22<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia really wished that she would either stay awake or stay asleep. This trying to reorient herself was getting tiresome. She grimaced as she opened her eyes.<\/p>\n
Blackness surrounded her. She had no idea where she was. Cordelia closed her eyes again trying to feel her limbs. Her body was pressed down on something hard. She was no longer on the bed. Cordelia flinched. Her arms and legs were strapped down. She couldn\u2019t move her head.<\/p>\n
Something hard and plastic was attached to her mouth. She gasped; air was forced into her lungs. Cordelia tried to expand her body. Tendrils of fear started to grow in the pit of her stomach as her shoulders pushed up against a hard barrier.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was locked in a box. Cordelia\u2019s breathing became rapid. If Randall had buried her alive, he was so dead. Cordelia tried to control her panic as well as her breaths. Randall obviously packed her with oxygen, but how much. How long did she have? Cordelia didn\u2019t want to die like this, not in a ready-made coffin, not in the hands of a madman.<\/p>\n
Not without doing something, but what? Silent tears wetted her face. Angel. The sound of her plea echoed in her mind.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was too easy.\u201d Wesley had hoped that their visit to one of the butcher shops would produce a lead, but he hadn\u2019t expected to be handed Randall\u2019s address. Angel hadn\u2019t even needed to get violent with the demon. He just growled and the shopkeeper handed the information over.<\/p>\n
Granted,\u00a0Angel could be very intimidating without actually breaking any bones, but still the demon\u2019s painless acquiescence was unexpected and somewhat suspicious.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, but it could be a trap. Randall has obviously planned this out. He wants you there. The heart was his last taunt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel smiled slowly. \u201cWell, then he\u2019s in luck, because I will be there. I want to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, hold on a minute.\u201d Wesley pulled out his ringing cell phone.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Fred twittered nervously at the strange man. Why did everything happen when she was alone? First the heart, now this. She was just wasn\u2019t ready to handle all these surprises yet. Fred bit her lip, what she wouldn\u2019t give for an iota of Cordy\u2019s courage and confidence.<\/p>\n
Oh, hell, what she wouldn\u2019t give to have Cordelia back. It had been so long since Fred had people to care about. For the five horrid years that she was trapped in Plyea, all Fred could do was keep a semblance of her sanity, and sometimes she wasn\u2019t exactly sure how well she accomplished that. Friends weren\u2019t a luxury she was allowed in that hell dimension. She had forgotten how important they were to a person\u2019s well being.<\/p>\n
But, here with Angel, Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn, she found friends and her sanity. Sure, she was still nervous, but she knew what was real, now. Fred couldn\u2019t bear to lose any of them. They were too important.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm. Are you sure, you don\u2019t want something to drink, coffee, and tea? Anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
The strange man shook his head. Dark hair brushed his shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and the others should be back soon. I called them.\u201d Fred said unnecessarily. The man had watched her intently as she punched in the numbers and babbled into the phone. He hadn\u2019t said anything, since he entered asking for the Warrior of the Light.<\/p>\n
He just sat there with his large dark trench coat wrapped around him, his pale eyes never leaving Fred once his precursory gaze finished with the hotel\u2019s lobby.<\/p>\n
Suddenly the man stood and faced the basement door. Fred scrambled to her feet as Angel came through the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, Angel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWarrior, where is the defiler of the Grail?\u201d The man interrupted the beginning of Fred\u2019s explanation.<\/p>\n
Angel stopped. \u201cWho are you? Better yet, what are you?\u201d Angel had never experienced the man\u2019s scent before. It wasn\u2019t demon or human. The closest Angel ever came was when he was in the present of the oracles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am Joseph, the Guardian of the Holy Grail, the last of the Knights Templar.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, the Holy Grail is a myth,\u201d Gunn raised his brows at Wesley and sat on the corner of the desk. \u201cTell that to the escapee from the \u2018Flying Circus\u2019.<\/p>\n
Fred tugged at Gunn\u2019s sleeve.<\/p>\n
\u201cLater.\u201d He whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have time for this.\u201d Confusing scent and rhetoric aside, Angel had more pressing matters to deal with, starting with the recovery of Cordelia and then the killing of Randall.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemon, you\u2019re a Warrior of the Light, a perplexing choice a demon, but you have the soul of warrior and the duty. You must help me return the Grail to its sanctuary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what you are and don\u2019t care. And my only \u2018duty\u2019 is to save Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA woman? The Holy Grail is what must be saved, not some woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh dear,\u201d Fred bit her fingernail.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s hands shot out grasping at the man\u2019s throat and just as quickly Angel\u2019s body was thrown back, his hands engulfed in flames.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour soul is not yet purified, demon. You cannot touch me.\u201d Joseph\u2019s form glowed, his trench coat disappearing. In its place a long white tunic emblazoned with a large red cross covered his body.<\/p>\n
\u201cShit.\u201d Gunn ran to the burning vampire extinguishing the flames with the material of his sweatshirt.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s enough of that.\u201d Wesley held a crossbow towards the Knight.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can not kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about decapitation? Wesley?\u201d Fred held out a long sword.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do not work for the Powers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, we do, but we don\u2019t appreciate you trying to toast one of our team.\u201d Gunn helped Angel to his feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, and Cordy isn\u2019t just some woman, she\u2019s a hero and has visions.\u201d Fred said.<\/p>\n
Joseph turned suddenly to the vampire. \u201cThe defiler has your seer? You let him take your link to the Light. He has the Grail and the seer. It\u2018s good that I came. We will retrieve the Grail and your seer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joseph swirled his arm, the trench coat appeared once again and large broadsword appeared in his hand. \u201cIt has been over seven centuries since my sword has tasted blood in the righteous name of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe princess said it once, hell more than once, but I\u2019ll say it again, things just ain\u2019t normal around here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven centuries, wow, he\u2019s older than Angel. Angel\u2018s file says he was turned in 1753 and if you don\u2018t count the twenty-six years he was mortal\u2026, or do you? Wesley, do you count from the birth or the death and which birthday do you use? I mean becoming a vampire really isn\u2019t a birth, thought it is a start of new type life, unlife, so it\u2019s kind of a birthday. Do you know?\u201d Fred bobbed.<\/p>\n
\u201cQUIET\u201d All but Joseph jumped at Angel\u2019s roar. \u201cQuiet.\u201d Angel said again this time lower. He had felt it again. Cordelia. She was calling to him. It was more than just his need to have her near. It was something else, he tried to concentrate to broaden the connection, but it disappeared again just as quickly as it came.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley,\u201d Fred ran up to the boss of Angel\u2019s Investigation. \u201cIs this it? Do you know where Cordelia\u2019s is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to go, please.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley gazed down at the plea and determination of the young woman\u2019s face. \u201cYou will do exactly as I say.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred nodded and ran towards the weapon\u2019s cabinet after Gunn and Angel. Suddenly she stopped unsure. \u201cI don\u2019t have a weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHere.\u201d Wesley handed her a big wooden club sharpened at the end. \u201cYou have a good swing. Gunn.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn nodded at Wesley\u2019s unspoken order. \u201cCome on girl, you\u2019ll be my sidekick, but when I say move.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll move. This is like a fairytale. Well, in fairytales the knight is the hero, but now Angel\u2019s the hero, like Wesley, the man in black, Angel wears black, though in a story he would go alone, \u201c Fred frowned then smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe man in black had help, like we\u2019ll help Angel save Cordelia. We\u2019re all going to save the princess. It\u2018s a modern fairytale.\u201d Fred smiled happy with interpretation of the upcoming events.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, with an definite unique AI twist.” Gunn muttered.<\/p>\n
Chapter 23<\/b><\/p>\n
Gunn drove the group to Randall\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, are you sure that your hands are all right.\u201d Fred turned to the back seat. She was squeezed in between Gunn and Wesley.<\/p>\n
Angel held up his injured hands. The blisters had already disappeared, leaving a bright redness. He clenched his fingers, showing Fred that his hands would be completely healed soon. Fred smiled and nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoseph, assuming what you say is true, how is it that Randall got access to the Grail?\u201d Wesley turned to the other man in the back seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI speak the truth. The defiler entered in the Sanctuary, his cause just.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust?\u201d Gunn looked up at the rear view mirror. \u201cJust? The man has Cordy and what he\u2019s planning ain\u2019t just- its badness in the extreme.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s dark eyes met Gunn\u2019s in the mirror. Gunn acknowledged Angel with a small nod and then he smacked the steering wheel. \u201cAnd he\u2019s up for some major ass kicking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had the seal. He was able to see the Grail. His faith was true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to agree with Gunn, Randall\u2019s revenge and kidnapping of an innocent young woman is not the act of a just man. Which I believe evidences that the Grail is not real, but that object Randall utilized was in fact the Cauldron of Adsagsona.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Holy Grail is real. It was handed to me by Joseph of Arimatha and for seven centuries I have had the blessed duty to stand guard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel closed his eyes tuning out the Wesley and the stranger\u2019s comments. Angel could care less about any of it. Holy Grail, Cauldron of Adsagsona, what did it matter? The only thing that mattered was finding Cordelia. Angel brought the dark strands that he still possessed to his face. If he concentrated he could still capture the slight scent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you did a helluva job, maybe it\u2019s time to retire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven centuries. You\u2019ve been alive just watching the Holy Grail? Hasn\u2019t that been boring? I was in a cave for five years and it was boring- when I wasn\u2019t trying to survive or find away to escape that is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBoring it? It was divine work, I read the bible, prayed\u2026and played a lot of solitaire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t have any cards, but I did make up a rock game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI must return the Grail.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, now you\u2019re admitting that Randall isn\u2019t so just or righteous. Couldn\u2019t you have figured it out earlier?\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time, the Knight appeared less than confident. \u201cHis cause just, his heart wounded. He saw the Grail. I allowed for him to drink for his heart to be healed, so that he could find peace in the knowledge of the Divine. Yet, as soon as he drank, the seal and the Grail disappeared along with him. I was wrong it was not the Divine he was searching for, but the means for revenge. He has defiled the purpose of the Holy Grail.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because there is no purpose, except that of magic. Joseph of Arimatha didn\u2019t place the Holy Grail in your hands but the Cauldron of Adsagsona.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, why can\u2019t they be one in the same?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can be, I guess, Fred. But it isn\u2019t the blood of Christ that gives the relic its power of immorality but Druid magic. Obviously, it doesn\u2019t have the ability to distinguish between good or evil purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have no faith. How can you be on the side of the Light and not have faith?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley shook his head. \u201cI have faith. I have faith in good and the Powers. The battle of good vs. evil is universal. Not limited to one particular religion or dogma. I have faith in knowledge. My faith is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel wished they all would shut up. He concentrated harder on blocking their voices. A theology debate is not what he needed. His fist clenched as his eyes closed tighter. He needed silence. In the silence, possibly he would find Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Chapter 24<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia was having more and more difficulty keeping calm. Her sense of time was degenerating. She had no idea of how long she had been entombed. Cordelia was going to die.<\/p>\n
It was no longer just a fear, but a reality that she would have to accept. Angel wouldn\u2019t find her in time. The supply of air was running out. And she was helpless. Anger and panic overwhelmed her. She didn\u2019t want to die. Cordelia wouldn\u2019t accept it.<\/p>\n
Energy and power grew within her as her rage intensified. With a burst the straps that bound her snapped, the box cracked.<\/p>\n
Cordelia didn\u2019t know what happened but her arms and legs were free. Her relief was quickly dimmed as she felt the first brush of dirt on her face. The bastard had buried her alive. She started to choke. Whatever had happened, whatever she had done had cracked the mask around her face. Frantically, she struck out at the top of the box, trying to break through. Angel, her mind screamed as her pounding became weaker.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cFaster.\u201d Angel yelled. He had sensed Cordelia again. Her panic and fear overwhelmed him. They had to hurry.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Gunn pulled up along side of a large stonewall. Bricks and iron prevented them from entering the estate. Or at least it prevented the humans. Angel was over the wall in an instant. Joseph exited the car. His overcoat disappearing as he moved to the wall.<\/p>\n
Joseph turned to the remaining group of the car. Chain mail and the long white tunic glowed in the darkness. The red of the large cross shimmered. \u201cThe Grail is here.\u201d Joseph walked to the wall, his form blending through the stone.<\/p>\n
Gunn looked at the gate and wall, then Wesley. \u201cHere we go again. You wanta try. Sometimes, it sucks being human.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not staying behind. Joseph.\u201d Wesley called to the Knight. Angel had already disappeared into the darkness.<\/p>\n
Joseph stalled and looked back through the iron bars of the gate. His sword swung through the air, sparks filled the air as metal sliced through metal. \u201cCome.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s better.\u201d Gunn, Wesley and Fred squeezed through the break in the gate.<\/p>\n
The trio quickly followed behind the Knight.<\/p>\n
Chapter 25<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel ran leaping over the hedges that surrounding the patio. With a forceful kick the doors shattered. He rushed to the doorway; he was forced back as the invisible barrier prevented his entry. No. With rage he pushed again. Frustration filled his being. Angel had to get in. In there was where he would find Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, we\u2019ll go in and bring him out, if he\u2019s there.\u201d Breathlessly, the former watcher reassured the vampire.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr we\u2019ll just beat the shit out of him until he offers an invite.\u201d Gunn said from behind. \u201cWe\u2019ll get you in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s your faith, Warrior? If you have faith, if you are righteous, then the demon can\u2019t stop your mission.\u201d Joseph stood back, the paleness of his eyes glowed in the night.<\/p>\n
Faith wasn\u2019t something Angel was sure he had. He believed in the good as he believed in the evil of the world. He had seen both, experienced both, been both. But faith, what faith did he have? His belief in the god of his childhood had long been obliterated. Did Angel have faith in his mission, his redemption?<\/p>\n
There were times that he had doubted. But, ultimately, Angel did believe in the goodness of his mission, but his own redemption? It may never happen, it wouldn\u2019t happen if he didn\u2019t have hope. And his hope was with Cordelia.<\/p>\n
It was her faith in him, cloaked in her acceptance and friendship that enabled him to believe. She had become his faith, his strength. Angel would save her. Without other thought except finding Cordelia, Angel strode through the barrier.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Randall was waiting for them in one of the large rooms on the first floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo much for your needing a proper invitation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stopped, glanced once at the man and turned to examine the room, trying to sense any trace of Cordelia.<\/p>\n
The blonde man turned to the Knight Templar. \u201cIs that your doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
The Knight shook his head. \u201cHe is a brethren, a Warrior of the Light, he needs not my help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel growled as a caught a slight whiff of Cordelia\u2019s scent. He ran to the stairs, not stopping until he reached the room that had once held her.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, Bub, she better be up there alive and well.\u201d Gunn grabbed at Randall as Wesley grabbed the man\u2019s other arm. Both pushed him after Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re human, how can you follow a vampire?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn smacked Randall upside the head. \u201cHe\u2019s a helluva better man than you, crazy son of a bitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus and Darla killed my family. My actions are just.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, truly regretful, but you obviously know that Angel now has a soul. Which makes your righteous actions, nothing more than hateful revenge.\u201d Wesley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe soul does not wash away his crimes, he needs to pay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is paying and Cordelia doesn\u2019t need to pay for anything.\u201d Wesley angrily dragged him into the room.<\/p>\n
Angel was standing the middle of the room, a pillow firmly gripped between his hands. He turned as the others came in. \u201cWhere is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will never tell you. You will suffer her loss. As I suffered mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a smart answer.\u201d Gunn\u2019s opportunity to smack Randall again was taken away as Angel charged. Gunn and Wesley quickly moved as the blonde man went crashing into the wall, Angel\u2019s hands clutched around his neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally, not a smart answer.\u201d Fred whispered.<\/p>\n
Gunn nodded and pulled the young woman further away from the angry vampire and Randall. \u201cThis could get ugly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel jerked Randall\u2019s body back only to slam the man\u2019s head against the wood of the wall. \u201cWhere is she?\u201d Angel let Randall fall to the floor.<\/p>\n
Randall looked up, a small trickle of blood appeared in the corner of his mouth. He laughed. \u201cYou can\u2019t kill me and I won\u2019t tell.\u201d He braced himself up with his hands, until he stood. \u201cThis is your Warrior of Light, look at him, he is a demon, soul or not.\u201d Randall pointed to Angel\u2019s vampire visage.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus with a soul, a Warrior of the Light. It\u2019s an abomination to God. He is a devil and he will suffer my wrath. Just as Darla has, her and her brat. Or are you going to tell me her devil spawn was the second coming.\u201d Randal sneered.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are the abomination. Taking the gift of the Grail and mutating it for a path of darkness. The demon is not Angel. His soul is who he is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he just say he killed Darla\u2026and her brat? He\u2019s talking about a vamp she turned right? Vamps can\u2019t have little vamps, right? I mean they\u2019re dead right?\u201d Gunn said quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose Darla?\u201d Fred whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, vampires can\u2019t have children.\u201d Wesley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhew, good, for a minute there I pictured a hellish romper room, with blood instead of finger-paint scattered on the walls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s game face flickered as he heard Randall\u2019s words. Darla pregnant? Impossible. He growled and drew his sword. \u201cThere’s always a catch in any immortality clause. WHERE IS CORDELIA?\u201d Angel\u2019s blade rested against Randall\u2019s throat, Angel\u2019s demon fully in evidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Grail won\u2019t allow you to kill me. And torture, it won\u2019t work. You can\u2019t hurt me anymore than you have already. And when you\u2019re tired, I\u2019ll still be here. And by then, you will be alone. You\u2019ll never find your true love, not in time. It hurts doesn\u2019t the feeling of ultimate suffering.\u201d Randall laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n
Angel stilled. Randall was telling the truth, he feared nothing. He wouldn\u2019t tell where Cordelia was hidden. Angel growled. Torture would take too long. Randall thought he couldn\u2019t die. Well, he could and he would.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel.\u201d Metal clanked in the air as Joseph\u2019s broadsword blocked the swing of Angel\u2019s blade. \u201cThe defiler is my responsibility. His pain is real, his anger valid. It is his corruption of the Grail that must be dealt with. It is that which will damn him, do not let your need for revenge damn you too. Go find your seer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel growled and lowered his weapon, resisting his demon\u2019s need to kill. The Knight was right. Angel had to find Cordelia. There would be time to take his vengeance, once he found Cordelia. And if she were dead, his vengeance would take a very long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWes, don\u2019t let him leave.\u201d Angel took in a deep breath capturing the remnants of Cordelia\u2019s scent and rushed from the room.<\/p>\n
Gunn looked questioningly at Wesley. Wesley turned to the Knight Templar.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour place is at his side. I will be with Randall.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel wants him to remain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis demon wants Randall to remain, so he can extract vengeances. Which is more important? His need for revenge or Angel\u2019s need for his friends?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley took off after Angel. Gunn and Fred followed close behind.<\/p>\n