Chapter Fifty-three<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cThere,\u201d Gunn pointed to a solid steel door.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Wesley winced as he heard the sounds of gasps and whimpering through the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cGentleman,\u201d he looked to Gunn and John.<\/p>\n
They both nodded and readied.<\/p>\n
Wesley stalled and looked around. He quickly pointed to a large pipe that was lying on the ground. He nodded.<\/p>\n
Gunn rushed over and picked it up. Wesley, Gunn and John took a hold of the pipe and aimed it at the lock. With quick three nods, the iron pipe pounded on the door.<\/p>\n
A sigh of relief flew from Wesley as the door broke open. The three men went tumbling into the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, Cordy,\u201d the shouts hit the air as Gunn and Wesley saw the tableau before them.<\/p>\n
Without thinking much, Wesley shot an arrow from his crossbow into the vampire\u2019s stomach.<\/p>\n
Angelus lurched away, Cordelia\u2019s blood dripping from his mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn, Cordelia, get her out of here.\u201d Wesley shouted.<\/p>\n
Gunn already had the girl in his arms. He stalled for a moment. \u201cAngel, you shot Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo, get the hell out of here, just go,\u201d Wesley yelled.<\/p>\n
Gunn nodded and carried his burden away from the room.<\/p>\n
Angelus grappled up, looking at the arrow stuck in his stomach. He lurched forward attacking Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn, go,\u201d the former watcher shouted.<\/p>\n
John looked back only once as he was running out of the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cOuch, ball-less wonder. Did you think this was enough,\u201d Angelus nodded to the arrow. \u201cOr did you just not have the guts to kill me.\u201d He heckled.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn you, Angelus, but then again how many times have you already been damned. Call me a fool if you will,\u201d Wesley answered as he shot Angelus with another crossbow into the stomach.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, never question, if we can\u2019t save you, you\u2019ll be dust\u201d Wesley took one last look at the slumped over vampire before he ran as fast as his feet could carry him.<\/p>\n
Chapter Fifty-four<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cWhere? Where\u2019s the girl?\u201d Bathym bellowed. The demon\u2019s large frame encompassed the broken doorway.<\/p>\n
Angelus dragged himself up against the wall. He winced as he ripped the crossbow arrows from his stomach. \u201cA visit from Cordy\u2019s Heroes,\u201d he grunted. \u201cYour transportation trick didn\u2019t do much transporting, now did it? What\u2019d you do just toss the human do-gooders into the next room? Next time, I would suggest somewhere a little farther, preferably hell.\u201d Angelus said sarcastically.<\/p>\n
\u201cERRGH,\u201d Bathym howled rushing the vampire.<\/p>\n
Angelus quickly brought up a bloody bolt and shoved at the charging demon\u2019s chest. The force of the blow shattered the thin arrow as it barely penetrated the demon\u2019s thick skin.<\/p>\n
Bathym laughed. \u201cIneffective.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, it stopped you didn\u2019t it?\u201d Angelus dropped the splintered bolt to the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am invincible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you are,\u201d Angelus deadpanned. His fingers probed the tears in his shirt, examining the extent of his wounds. Angelus grimaced as he pulled back his bloody hand. The borrowed blood was flowing freely. He was loosing it by the cupful.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet her back or you die,\u201d Bathym yelled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not very polite,\u201d Angelus retorted, not at all cowed by the demon\u2019s threat. The loud demon was getting on Angelus\u2019 nerves.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaster! What\u2019s happened?\u201d Renfield rushed into the room. His eyes widen to the size of saucers has he took in the wounded vampire and the slight cut on Bathym\u2019s hide, in the otherwise empty room. \u201cThe lower demon, he has attacked you. Do I kill him, Oh Majestic One?\u201d Renfield wheezed, bobbing his thin head at Angelus.<\/p>\n
Angelus disregarded the human\u2019s words, but rather stared contemplatively at his rapid pulse beating through the pale skin of his scrawny neck. The loss of blood was making him dizzy; he needed to replenish soon.<\/p>\n
Bathym ignored his servant\u2019s whine. \u201cYou will get her back. I need her and the necklace,\u201d Bathym ordered Angelus.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, well that makes two of us.\u201d Angelus growled. Angelus could care less about the piece of jewelry, but he did need Cordelia back. He could still taste her tantalizing flavor on his tongue. Her blood was an elixir to him.<\/p>\n
The compulsion to have the young woman was all consuming. It was beyond the mere obsession to acquire someone that Angel loved. Angelus didn\u2019t want Cordelia to destroy, but to possess.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will bring her back dead and with the necklace,\u201d Bathym yelled trying to regain the vampire\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr you will hop, skip, and jump- and then kill me, I get it.\u201d Bathym was truly getting annoying. Angelus straightened his injured body, swaying in the attempt. \u201cI need to feed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d Bathym signed in contempt at the vampire\u2019s seemingly vulnerability. In an instant, Bathym\u2019s long serpent\u2019s tail whipped out capturing Renfield in its strong coil. \u201cHere.\u201d The demon swung the wide-eyed human towards Angelus.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaster?\u201d Renfield managed to squeak out before he was thrown into Angelus\u2019 waiting fangs. The vampire tore into the skinny human\u2019s throat, drinking him dry. Renfield\u2019s empty body fell to the ground. Angelus closed his eyes as he felt the stolen blood revitalize his hurt body.<\/p>\n
Bathym stared down at Renfield\u2019s crumpled form. \u201cHe was really a good servant, you know. Had the right balance of fear and obsequiousness. Not that easy to find now a days. Now get the girl.\u201d He added, no longer concerned with his dead menial.<\/p>\n
\u201cBandages?\u201d Angelus looked down at the open gashes on his stomach. The bleeding at finally stopped but the wounds were still exposed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere,\u201d Bathym snorted. He bent down a tore off Renfield\u2019s jacket. \u201cMake do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour little helper did have his uses, didn\u2019t he?\u201d Angelus shredded the material and wrapped the makeshift dressing on to his injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cReady, now?\u201d Bathym asked impatiently.<\/p>\n
Angelus ignored the demon as he pushed past him.<\/p>\n
\u201cVampire,\u201d Bathym called.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep your tail curled. You\u2019ll get your necklace,\u201d Angelus said still stalking away. \u201cMaybe, and only after I will get what\u2019s mine,\u201d he added growling low.<\/p>\n
Chapter Fifty-five<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cHow is Cordelia,\u201d Wesley cried, jumping behind the wheel of Angel\u2019s car. He glanced up in the rearview mirror catching sight of Gunn nestling her unconscious form onto his lap.<\/p>\n
\u201cBreathing,\u201d Gunn answered. \u201cWes\u2026Why?\u2026\u2026.How? I mean why would Angel do this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot Angel, Angelus,\u201d Wesley corrected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? The badass evil dude, I thought he came out only when Angel had the \u2018big happy\u2019? You don\u2019t think he and Cordy\u2026.Nah,\u201d Gunn shook his head in answer to his own question. \u201cNot enough time, and definitely not the right atmosphere to get down in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was Angel,\u201d John interrupted. \u201cHe bit Cordelia,\u201d John stared in concern and shock at the young woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not Angel. But, the evil demon he was before Angel received his soul. Somehow, Angel has lost his soul and somehow we\u2019ve got to figure out a way to return it. But first, we need to get Cordelia to a safe place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would the bad ass evil dude be helping Bathym? I thought he was only into those homicidal un-dead bitches,\u201d puzzled Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Darla and Drusilla. If he remains on the loose long enough, I imagine he will go to them. But, I\u2019m afraid that won\u2019t be his immediate goal.\u201d Wesley glanced back up in the mirror to catch sight of Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t understand? The necklace would be of no use to a vampire,\u201d asked John.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot, the necklace, its possessor.\u201d Wesley corrected. \u201cIn past appearances, Angelus has always seemed to focus his particular psychotic brand of torment on those that Angel cares the most about. And, like you said, Angel has very strong feelings for Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShit, the psycho vamp will be jonesin\u2019 hard for Cordy.\u201d Gunn exclaimed, pulling the young woman further into his embrace.<\/p>\n
\u201cQuite,\u201d Wesley concurred. \u201cBathym and Angelus,\u201d he shook his head. \u201cCordy is in grave danger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should\u2019ve dusted the bastard,\u201d reprimanded Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not until we know for sure whether Angel\u2019s soul can be returned or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if he causes a shit load of damage before then? If he gets to Cordy.\u201d Countered Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, he is dust.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, we should get her to the hospital,\u201d urged the Professor.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, a hospital is a public place. Angelus could enter anytime. No, I\u2019ve a recipe for a potion that can help quicken Cordelia\u2019s own natural ability to rebuild her blood supply. Damn.\u201d Wesley banged on the wheel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s up, English?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn, we\u2019re going to have to drop you off at the Hyperion. The necessary ingredient is there. Get them, quickly, then get out. We can\u2019t be sure how long Angelus\u2019 injuries will slow him down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo John\u2019s,\u201d he explained, without asking for the Professors permission. \u201cAngel has never been invited in. We need time to make a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, Gunn,\u201d John interrupted. \u201cLook, the bite marks.\u201d He called in amazement.<\/p>\n
Wesley swerved the car to the side of the road. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
The small puncture wounds on Cordelia\u2019s neck glowed with a white light. Cordelia gasped and blinked her eyes. Her hand flew to the lesions as they healed. Cordelia struggled away from Gunn as she tried to sit up. \u201cWesley\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, are you all right,\u201d asked a concerned Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour kidding, right?\u201d she weakly retorted.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy lie down, you\u2019ve lost a lot of blood.\u201d Gunn pulled her back down.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m fine,\u201d she said in contrast to her earlier statement. \u201cThe necklace has worked its mojo. Hey, what\u2019s the Native American kidnapper doing here.\u201d Cordelia glared at the Professor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I\u2026we needed the necklace. It belongs to\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Hopi, the old guy\u2026I got that much. The old guy, in my dream, not the Wise One, the other one?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father,\u201d John said quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, but did you ever think that if you told us, gee, I don\u2019t know the truth, gave us some warning, this all may never have happened. Angel wouldn\u2019t be running around reinventing his grand old evil days.\u201d She grunted in exasperation. \u201cEww,\u201d she sighed, tears welling up in her eyes. Cordelia took a deep breath. \u201cWesley, start the car. We\u2019ve got to the Hyperion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Not hotel. Professor\u2019s.\u201d Wesley argued disjointedly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Cordelia demanded. \u201cWe have to go to the hotel. Angel will go there and we need to capture him. Wesley, he still has his soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, that was Angelus. He can\u2019t have a soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, he acted like Angelus, he thinks he\u2019s Angelus, but he isn\u2019t not really, not completely. He can\u2019t be, Angel still has his soul.\u201d She repeated, trying to explain what she had seen and felt. \u201cWesley, I was there, I saw, I heard. The big tailed ugly may think that Angel doesn\u2019t have a soul, but he is wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cImpossible. Cordelia, I\u2019m not saying we won\u2019t try to retrieve Angel\u2019s soul. Maybe, Willow\u2019s spell or\u2026I don\u2019t know, but we\u2019ll try, it could take some time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, like maybe forever\u201d Gunn grumbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no,\u201d Cordelia shook her head. \u201cWe don\u2019t need to do all that. I can heal Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, his soul is not injured, it\u2019s gone. He is Angelus.\u201d disputed Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, listen to me. Bathym went on about how he couldn\u2019t kill or take the necklace, and he said those that he influences couldn\u2019t either, whatever that means. Then, Angel came. The big ugly touched him, and then poof Angelus. And now, Bathym thinks Angelus can kill me. Bathym babbled about how Angelus didn\u2019t have a soul therefore wasn\u2019t really one of his followers. But he is wrong. Wesley, I tried to heal Angel, I almost did it. His soul is still there, its just\u2026its just dark and evil,\u201d she shuddered, trying to explain.<\/p>\n
\u201cLegend says that Bathym and those that he corrupts can\u2019t harm the possessor of the necklace,\u201d John pondered out loud.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarm? Oh, he can harm, just not permanently,\u201d Cordelia retorted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, if Cordelia is right\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am.\u201d<\/p>\n
John smiled at the insistent young woman. \u201cBathym has the ability to reach into a beings soul and amplify the evil that resides within. That evil grows in strength, until it becomes paramount, there by contaminating the soul.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia nodded vigorously. \u201cAnd Angelus is the evil in Angel\u2019s soul. Bathym just made him stronger that\u2019s all. But, he isn\u2019t real. Angel is still there, just lost in all of the darkness.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe necklace can cure Bathym\u2019s corruption, that is purpose for which is was designed. Cordelia can with the necklace, heal Angel\u2019s soul.\u201d John finished anxiously. Bathym was wrong. John couldn\u2019t believe it; he had grown up hearing of the almost god-like abilities. But the demon was fallible and that meant he could be destroyed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus is real and he did hurt you.\u201d Wesley stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, but I\u2019m better. If Angel was really the soulless \u2018grr\u2019 guy that Bathym thinks he is, that you think he is, I wouldn\u2019t be, I\u2019d be drained dry. \u201cWe have to go. So, go,\u201d she ordered Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still need a plan,\u201d countered Wesley, still not sure that he believe Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a plan- tag, bag and heal, ump. Now, come on,\u201d she argued.<\/p>\n
Chapter Fifty-six<\/b><\/p>\n
Angelus grumbled as he stood out on the near empty street. Well, he hadn\u2019t really expected Angel\u2019s car to be waiting, but it would have been advantageous. Now, he would have to waste precious time finding an alternative form of transportation.<\/p>\n
The fates were smiling, either that or falling mightily down on their job, Angelus chuckled as a car turned onto the dark street. It all depended on your perspective, he thought. They were definitely smiling in his mind.<\/p>\n
The car only had one occupant, a woman. Angelus thought that the woman might have a different perspective once he got through with her, though.<\/p>\n
Angelus waved the car down. The woman was young, pretty and blonde. Angelus inwardly grimaced. Blonde, he was tired of blondes, they tended to get boringly whining after awhile. Buffy, Kate, human Darla, hell, even vamp Darla had her moments. B<\/p>\n
oring and\u2026dumb, Angelus thought as the car slowed to a stop. Those jokes seemed to be true. Only an idiot would stop for a strange man in the middle of the night. Angelus knew he shouldn\u2019t hate her, after all woman like this kept him fed most of his undead life.<\/p>\n
She was only providing a necessary service. It wasn\u2019t her fault she was stupid and uninteresting.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, hi\u2026can I help,\u201d the young woman rolled down her window.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, my car broke down,\u201d Angelus pointed in a far away direction. \u201cWould you happen to have a phone?\u201d The vampire smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm,\u201d the young woman gaped at Angelus devastatingly handsome smile. \u201cUm, yes\u2026But I\u2026do you need a ride somewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be nice,\u201d Angelus shot the woman another smile, this time seductive as he moved to the passenger side.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat\u2026I mean ok, then.\u201d The woman couldn\u2019t wait to tell the women at her dinner club about the walking hunk. They would of course lecture her about picking up a stranger at 1am, but whoa what a stranger.<\/p>\n
Guys like him only came around once in a lifetime and she wasn\u2019t going to miss it. He was just too hot to ignore. Boy, would she have stories to tell.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angelus kicked the woman\u2019s depleted body to the curb as he started the car. Between the scrawny Reinfold and the dim blonde\u2019s blood, Angelus felt most of his strength returning. He pulled off the makeshift bandages. Yep, almost as good as new. Angelus really enjoyed being a vampire.<\/p>\n
Angelus fingers strummed on the steering wheel as he drove. Where would Wes less take Cordelia? Angelus growled as he thought about the former rogue demon hunter. For a balless wonder, Wyndem-Price did seem to have an uncanny knack for frustrating Angelus\u2019 plans.<\/p>\n
The first time had been a fluke; Angelus had been too distracted watching Cordelia trying to bluff him. He pictured her holding that harmless water bottle babbling about some priest or another blessing the drinking water. Angelus growled.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was definitely not boring; she was heat and flames. He had to have her. Angel was a gutless, wimpy ass fool for not taking advantage of the beauty that had been under his nose all that time. Well, Angelus would not be so neglectful of Cordelia. But first he had to find her.<\/p>\n
Wesless wouldn\u2019t have gone back to the Hyperion. What the former rogue demon hunter lacked in balls, he made up for in brains. No, they wouldn\u2019t go to anywhere that Angel had an open invite. So, that knocked out Cordelia\u2019s or Wesley\u2019s. That only left every other private residence in LA. Angelus growled, thinking.<\/p>\n
His growl deepened as he realized the answer. The Professor\u2019s. That\u2019s where they would go. Angelus didn\u2019t agree with much of what Angel thought or felt. But Angel\u2019s thoughts about killing the Indian were valid ones. Not only had the Indian have the gall to kidnap Cordelia, she thought he was gorgeous. Yes, Dr. Red Bear just made the top of Angelus\u2019s kill wish list. With Wes less coming in a close second.<\/p>\n
Actually, Angelus reconsidered; maybe he should keep the Wesley alive for awhile. The man did know his books. He just might be able to give Angelus the know how to destroy Bathym. And the demon definitely had to go. Angelus wasn\u2019t at all comfortable with allowing the arrogant demon to live, not when Bathym could in a hop, skip and jump threaten the vampire and be a danger to Cordelia.<\/p>\n
No, he would move Bathym up from the third spot on his list. Then Wesley, Gunn, Wolfram & Hart. Not that Wolfram & Hart was all that bad; it just annoyed Angelus that the law firm thought it could control him.<\/p>\n
Then what? Angelus guessed he could go to Sunnydale, but nothing there really excited him anymore. Buffy could live or die for all he cared. But, maybe Cordelia would like to cause some havoc in her old hometown. Now, that could be fun. Angelus trembled at the thought of Cordelia by his side, in his bed, under his control.<\/p>\n
She was his and soon she would feel his dominance. Angelus\u2019s foot pressed harder on the accelerator.<\/p>\n