Chapter 6<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cI told you to lie down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus said nothing but moved closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel?\u201d Cordelia moved back the mug jerking in her hand as the vampire pulled it from her tossing it to the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want it. I want you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia moved back her legs pressed against the small table. Her eyes widened at his tone. Words that once should\u2019ve have made her stomach twirl with butterflies, made her intestines tighten in fear and shivers run down her spine.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no, no.\u201d She scrambled back trying to calm herself, trying to tell herself that she was imagining things. Her hand fell to the table searching for anything that could be used for a weapon.<\/p>\n
Angelus moved quickly, he was aware that Cordelia had gotten better at her defensive moves and he didn\u2019t want to have to fight her, not yet. He grabbed her arms, pulling her tight to his body, the steel bands of his arm allowing for no movement.<\/p>\n
He plunged, his fangs piercing her neck and drinking. He forced his head up, not enough, but enough for now, he pressed his bloody lips onto her mouth as Cordelia\u2019s body slumped into his. Cordelia tried to struggle but the sudden blood loss and shock made her dizzy. She tried to scream, but Angelus mouth cut off her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo choices, Cordy.\u201d Angelus pulled back his head, but kept her body firmly trapped to his. \u201cI can hurt you really, really badly now, so much that you can do nothing but watch, watch while I kill Wesley, Gunn and sweet little Fred, or you can go with me now, and who knows maybe your brave \u2018family\u2019 will figure it out and save you. Which will it be? I\u2019m game for either.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia winced and wiped her lips against her shirt and spit. \u201cYou\u2019re just going to kill us all anyway. So, no I won\u2019t go willingly. Fuck you.\u201d She brought up her knee and knocked him in the groin and pushed with all of her might.<\/p>\n
Angelus grunted but maintained his hold, barely. \u201cYou\u2019ve have been paying attention to your little training sessions, but I\u2019m still stronger, I will always be stronger.\u201d He pulled her in closer, yanking her hair in his fist.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne more time, Cordelia. I\u2019ve given you two choices. Granted, your individual fate is pretty much determined but the rest of the fang gang\u2019s is up for grabs. If you fight me now and I have to do things that I\u2019m not quite ready to do to you yet, you will be helpless and they will be clueless when they all walk back into their \u2018home\u2019 and I will take a lot of joy in killing them with quite of be of flair in front of you. But if you choose door number two, we go and they live for now. Do you really want to kill your family just because you\u2019re a little pissed at me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy? Why, not just do it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause, my dear, the plans I\u2019ve have for you will take some time. I can of course act quickly and that wouldn\u2019t be fun for either of us, or rather not quite as much fun for me. But either away I will have fun. And aren\u2019t you always the one saying that I should have more fun, so really choice number two is the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia squeezed her eyes shut and wished herself anywhere but there, but no luck. She tried to think. She didn\u2019t want to give into the vampire. She wanted Wesley and Gunn to come back and shoot him with a tranquilizer gun, chain him up and for Wesley too figure out how to bring Angel back.<\/p>\n
But for that to happen, Wesley has to know that Angelus was here. And he wouldn\u2019t not until it was too late. And Gunn would just stake and ask questions later.<\/p>\n
And god forbid, Fred came back first. Cordelia slumped and nodded. Angelus held her body closer and smiled. Cordy was a brave one, full of spirit, but she was weak, too much heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmart choice.\u201d He pressed his lips against her cheek, his fangs scrapping against her skin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever,\u201d she choked.<\/p>\n
Chapter 7<\/b><\/p>\n
Wesley skimmed through the book as he went to the counter. He looked again at the price. He was glad Angel Investigations had an account because there was no way he could pay its cost right now.<\/p>\n
But, even if it wasn\u2019t helpful in this particular incident it was definitely a book worth having. Why hadn\u2019t he heard of it before? He was still chastising himself as a drawing and caption caught his eyes. Wesley stalled, his stomach dropped and perspiration broke out across his body.<\/p>\n
He ignored the clerk\u2019s questions as he read intently, his hand going for his cell phone. He waved the clerk away as he dialed the hotel frantically. No answer. No, he prayed. He dialed Gunn\u2019s cell phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo back to the hotel, now. Take a tranquilizer gun and I don\u2019t care if Angel is unconscious or not- shoot him, then chain him, Cordelia knows where the chains are, tell her the black ooze eats away at a person\u2019s soul. Tell her, she\u2019ll know what to do. Gunn, I called the hotel. No answer. It may be too late, but try, I\u2019m on my way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFUCK\u201d Gunn yelled, startling the other customers of the herbalist shop. He ran jumping into his truck tires squealing as he made a wild U-turn in the middle of the street.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Gunn raced through the hotel. It was empty. He ran back to the lobby and jumped as Wesley barged in.<\/p>\n
The two men looked at each other. Gunn shook his head. \u201cNo vampire, Fred or Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley slumped to the floor, his head resting in his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley jumped up. Both Gunn and Wesley ran to Fred grabbing her.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuys, the food.\u201d She tried to pull back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re alright.\u201d Wesley said with relief. He sighed. Maybe he was wrong. But \u2026 \u201cFred, where did you go? Where is Angel and Cordy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and Cordy?\u201d Fred looked up puzzled at both men. \u201cThey were upstairs. Angel was all better. Cordy was going to get him some more blood. She was hungry, I was and I thought you\u2019ll would be so I went to the Mexican restaurant, you know the one with the really great white sauce, you know\u2026. Wesley what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley turned away from the young woman. \u201cI\u2019m afraid that wasn\u2019t Angel, but Angelus, the book that I got identified the demon -it was an Incisoratic- an Aufreot, a soul eater. The black ooze penetrates the victim\u2019s wounds and steals away their soul. It stole Angel\u2019s soul and left Angelus. And Cordelia was left alone with him and now they\u2019re both gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley slumped back down on the floor. \u201cOh god.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred tightened her grip on the bags of food; she wouldn\u2019t panic. \u201cI saw him it was Angel, not some monster, not the monster described in the file. It was Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish you were right, but then\u2026where are they?\u201d Wesley looked up to Gunn. \u201cDid you find anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot upstairs. I haven\u2019t really had a chance to look around here\u201d he waved around to the lobby. \u201cI went upstairs as soon as I saw no one was down here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, look now.\u201d Wesley got up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, it was Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope so.\u201d Wesley nodded, not at all believing what he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWes, man.\u201d Gunn called from the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Wesley ran and stopped. Wesley looked at the fallen broken table, the broken mug of blood on the floor.<\/p>\n
Wesley took a deep breath. \u201cOkay, gather all the weapons, Fred get your lap top, I\u2019ll get the books I\u2019ll need. Gunn, Angel\u2019s never been to your apartment correct.\u201d Wesley nodded at Gunn\u2019s nod. \u201cWe will go there. Fred pack as much stuff as you will need in five minutes. We need to get out of here now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus has free reign of this place, as he does with Cordelia\u2019s, I\u2019ve invited him in my apartment before, we need to go to Gunn\u2019s now. We\u2019ll call Lorne from there, if the sanctuary spell is finally up and running we may be able to use it a base of operations, but until then we need to get away from here, now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about Cordy?\u201d Gunn asked.<\/p>\n
Wesley closed his eyes. \u201cWe can only do her any good if we are safe and can plan without interruption from the mind games Angelus will start to play.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, he didn\u2019t kill me or do anything. It was just Angel maybe they just went out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFred, if he didn\u2019t show himself to you then it was only because he didn\u2019t want any inference while he took Cordelia away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you said that Angelus was all obsessed about the Buffy chick, you know the love of Angel\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley looked over at Gunn. \u201cAngelus has been known to go after what Angel cares about the most. You\u2019ve been with us for what almost two years- who would you say Angel cares the most about? Some blonde slayer that you\u2019ve heard mention of or Cordy that he\u2019s been stammering, stumbling over and jumping into any and all damn portals that could possibly save her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, the Kyerumption.\u201d Fred blinked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Now, move.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapter 8<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cDarlin, I\u2019m going to have to ask you to wait here.\u201d Angelus smirked at Cordelia. \u201cOkay, I won\u2019t.\u201d He hit her and laid her unconscious body against the wall along with the other unconscious woman.<\/p>\n
He barged into the room, the vamps all jumped up. \u201cWho the hell?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe name\u2019s Angelus, and you have two choices follow or be dust.\u201d Angelus strode into the lair.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, right, it\u2019s the soul guy, we heard about you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you?\u201d Angelus laughed, lunging and staking the vampire. He rushed the others breaking and pulling them apart until they were only a few vampires huddled in the corner.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I said, I\u2019m Angelus and you have two choices, but let me make it easier,\u201d he left the hidden room off the alley and brought in the unknown woman. \u201cTake her, would the souled wimp give you this. Take it, enjoy, but if you do then you are accepting me as master, don\u2019t and I will just kill you and find new followers. You\u2019re choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The few remaining vampires moved closer and sniffed at the woman. She was human, undrugged and healthy. They took her.<\/p>\n
Angelus left and carried in Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaster, another?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus growled. \u201cThis is mine, if anyone touches her, they die, slowly, understand. I will be happy to help you increase your coffers of gain and blood, but this is mine. Remember that and we will all be happy and full.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, okay.\u201d The big blonde vampire went back to the others that were drinking off the fallen woman.<\/p>\n
Angelus went up to the stairs of the old warehouse, he looked around. It would not do, the windows were covered but it would just not do. He set Cordelia down on the floor and went back downstairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou,\u201d he called to the blonde vampire.<\/p>\n
The vampire looked up from the woman\u2019s thigh. \u201cYes, Master?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want you to get me some things.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, you all look a little peaked, take some advice go to the east side, activity has been lean there over the last three years.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCuz of you, well, I mean cuz of..\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, well, I\u2019m not there anymore now am I? I\u2019m here. Go, eat, but only after you bring me what I need or I will make the whole city lean.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, master.\u201d<\/p>\n
The blonde vampire tugged on the other vampires. \u201cFinish her and let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShopping and for take out.\u201d The blonde vampire shrugged. \u201cThat\u2019s Angelus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard the soul thing was just temporary, you mean that\u2019s true.\u201d The blonde haired vampire raised her brows in contemplation.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet over it, Cassandra, the Master has a pet.\u201d The blonde smacked the female vampire. \u201cAnd I get the impression that he would be very angry, very angry if anyone came between him and his pet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow.\u201d Said a vampire that couldn\u2019t be over twenty-five, with the face of a teenager. \u201cAngelus, we\u2019re with Angelus, that\u2019s so cool. What does he want us to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wants us to get a bed, some curtains, some clothes for his pet, some food for her, he wants us to go shopping, but he also said that the east side is ours, so lets go. I have his list.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, she\u2019s done.\u201d The female vampire kicked at the dead woman.<\/p>\n
Chapter 9<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia tried to will herself back into unconsciousness, but her mind refused. She blinked and looked around.<\/p>\n
She moved her arms; she wasn\u2019t tied; that was good, right? She crawled up the wall, her back pressed against the cement. Where had Angelus taken her? She wasn\u2019t even going to guess why. Cordelia was just surprised that he hadn\u2019t killed her right away.<\/p>\n
What game was he playing? She should be grateful that he hadn\u2019t just stayed hidden killing all of them and then high tailing it back to Sunnydale. At least this way, hopefully, Wesley would have a chance to warn Buffy and the Scooby\u2019s and maybe find away to fix it before Angelus did too much damage.<\/p>\n
Cordelia clenched her fist until her fingernails cut into the flesh of her palms. What fuckin good were the visions if they didn\u2019t show the true danger? The stupid horny teenage couple was alive, but now how many would die because the Powers didn\u2019t show her the real evil of the demon.<\/p>\n
Calm down<\/em>. Cordelia looked around. She was in an abandoned warehouse. Debris, there was always junk in warehouse, some of it had to be wooden and sharp. She wouldn\u2019t kill Angelus unless she absolutely had to but she needed to be ready. Cordelia started to search the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking for pointy things?\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia refused to let herself react. She straightened. \u201cYeah. The pointier the better.\u201d God, she wanted to cry.<\/p>\n \u201cYou never give up do you? Don\u2019t you ever just get tired? Angel did, and looked what happened. He slept with Darla. It was fun, but just not enough. I pushed him to acknowledge his feeling for you.\u201d Angelus came up lifting Cordelia\u2019s chin.<\/p>\n Her eyes remained shut refusing to look at his face. \u201cLook at me Cordelia, you really won\u2019t like it if you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia glared at him. \u201cThat\u2019s better. It wasn\u2019t so hard, now was it?\u201d Angelus smirked moving closer. \u201cI had hoped that he would just acknowledge it, get you in bed and then I would be free with my arms locked around you, your body over mine, your life mine at whim, but no. Ensouled, I was a clueless, impotent bastard, but now, fates were looking out for me, I don\u2019t even have to share with the souled wimp. You are mine, now.\u201d<\/p>\n He brushed at her hair, fingering the puncture wounds on her throat. \u201cThat\u2019s what those mean, in case you were wondering. You are mine\u201d Angelus shrugged and smiled. \u201cUntil, I get bored of course. Then you\u2019re just dead. Ooh, unless Cordy\u2019s heroes come to rescue, but your most stalwart savior is long gone eaten by black ooze. This is rich.\u201d Angelus laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d Cordelia stepped back.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not obvious?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActually, it\u2019s not. Why am I here? Just kill me. Don\u2019t you have blondes to go after? Darla\u2019s still out there. Go, find her- make like vamp love bunnies away from here, go scourge Europe or something, go to Sunnydale, terrorize Buffy, just kill me and go. Leave Wesley, Gunn and Fred alone. Go.\u201d<\/p>\n Angelus stepped back and laughed resting his chin in his hand. \u201cYou are so beautiful and dumb. I\u2019ll get to Darla, when and if I feel like it, you never did understand did you, so hung up on the blonde factor.\u201d Angelus laughed. \u201cAnd as for Sunnydale, you that eager that I go and wipe out your high schools playmates?\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia rolled her eyes. \u201cNo, maybe this time, Buffy will lose the love goggles and send your ass to hell quicker than later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOoh, that\u2019s right, Buffy\u2019s the slayer. Scary. Cordy, love, I could give a shit about Sunnydale, that hellmouth lost it\u2019s appeal when Angel found a home here in LA, when he found his little true love here,\u201d Angelus curled his lip and whispered in a mocking tone.<\/p>\n \u201cOooh, who could the evil vamp be talking about,\u201d Angelus eye\u2019s twinkled. \u201cCould it be the loud mouth, sexy seer, who\u2019s as dim as a broken bulb? I think so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou lying bastard.\u201d<\/p>\n Angelus laugh became lower and came back upon her. \u201cOh, Cordelia, Cordy, me love, you are so stupid.\u201d Whipping her round until her back was pressed tight against his chest. He leaned in licking at the puncture wounds on her throat, biting at them.<\/p>\n He growled, his fangs piercing the flesh making the wounds deeper, he held her closer as he drank, stopping again before he had too much. He twirled her around, Cordelia tripping at her dizziness. \u201cGet the picture, darling.\u201d Cordelia\u2019s hand went to her throat as her body fell against the wall slumping to the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, excuse me, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n Angelus turned. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name,\u201d he growled to the blonde vampire.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, Clyde. Um, we\u2019ve gotten what you asked for.\u201d He motioned to the bags he had in his hands and to the other vampires behind him, struggling with a mattress, bedsprings and other furnishings.<\/p>\n Angelus nodded, \u201cWell done, Clyde. Did you find enough to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExcellent, set it up. Come on, darling, let\u2019s leave them alone while they make this place more homey for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Cordelia scrunched back further into the wall as Angelus reached for her. \u201cNot nice.\u201d He jerked her up and swung her into his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cAngelus, Master?\u201d<\/p>\n Angelus turned to stare at the female blonde vampire. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026anything you want, anything.\u201d She licked her lips.<\/p>\n Angelus considered. She was quite beautiful.<\/p>\n Cordelia lifted her head and stared. She struggled against Angelus\u2019 hold. \u201cPut me down. Figures. Put me down and go to the blonde dead bitch would you. If you won\u2019t kill me, just leave and tie me up or whatever, just leave me\u2026figures, blondes everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Angelus looked down at the wriggling brunette in his arms. He laughed and tightened his arms. \u201cBe still or I will make you.\u201d He whispered into her hair. Cordelia just glared and moved even harder. Angelus sighed and squeezed even tighter and turned to the blonde vampire. \u201cYour name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCassandra.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPretty name, I\u2019ll let you know, now just hang up the curtains, okay, that\u2019s a dear.\u201d<\/p>\n Angelus left the room with a still struggling Cordelia in his arms.<\/p>\n Chapter 10<\/b><\/p>\n \u201cWhy are we putting curtains up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause, Angelus said too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut, don\u2019t you find that weird?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but Angelus is old, like really old from Europe old. They did weird things back then, but they were powerful. I say we listen and follow. This could be great for us.\u201d Clyde said as he nailed the material up on the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Said the other male vampire struggling with putting the four-poster bed together. \u201cI mean, all this for a human pet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey do that in Europe, it\u2019s called class.\u201d Clyde shook his head. \u201cDon\u2019t you\u2019ll ever read? And, you have to admit, he did steer us right about that East side.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue and he did pretty much tear everyone else to dust. I couldn\u2019t take him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could.\u201d Cassandra laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, keep your panties on, he ain\u2019t interested. He\u2019s got his hands full breaking his pet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll tire of her, quick. Puny human.\u201d She rolled her eyes and straightened the curtains. \u201cI like these.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m done, are you all done? I\u2019m still hungry. There still some blood left in that delivery boy isn\u2019t there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but help put these clothes in the dresser first.\u201d Clyde called to another dark haired male vampire.<\/p>\n The vampire fingered the female lingerie. \u201cI want a pet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStick with Angelus, you\u2019ll get one, it\u2019s the European way.\u201d Clyde nodded.<\/p>\n
\n