Part 11<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel could feel Cordelia on his heels but didn\u2019t worry. She knew how to stay on the fringe of a fight; in fact if memory served she used her lungs to warn the fighters about surprise behind-the-back attacks. It was one of the reasons he wasn\u2019t letting his guilt about using her for bait stop him from doing what had to be done. She knew the world and the rules. And demons in his lobby usually weren\u2019t a good thing, unless they were invited snitches and Angel knew he hadn\u2019t invited anyone but the woman behind him over.<\/p>\n
He was upstairs in a matter of seconds, Cordelia behind him a few moments and trying to readjust his brain to the scene he saw. He\u2019d immediately thought the worst, it was par for the course, especially after everything with Darla. What he hadn\u2019t expected was a four-foot yellow-green demon to be shouting out in a Mickey Mouse voice that\u2019d he\u2019d only speak to Angel. Gunn had it in a headlock and was struggling to keep his balance.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay still\u2026Man, this thing is slippery,\u201d Gunn admonished it and glanced at Angel. \u201cAnd there is Angel. Talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell the human to let me go.\u201d<\/p>\n
No immediate danger. Unknown demon wants to talk. Angel crossed his arms over his chest the situation now clear. \u201cWhat are you?\u201d He asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m Teev. Em\u2019kaar demon. I heard you hate that law firm. I hate them too. Can this guy let go of me now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel met Gunn\u2019s eyes and motioned for him to let the demon go. Em\u2019kaar demons weren\u2019t his specialty but he knew they were not danger, at least not physically to Gunn or Cordelia. \u201cWhat about Wolfram and Hart?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHeard of Joseph Coe?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn gave Angel a blank look; Angel met Teev\u2019s eyes and let the demon take in his blank expression he needed more to go on. Cordelia however was suddenly standing right next to him and she nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cBig in financial circles. Being busted for something under RICO. My boyfriend\u2019s been following the case obsessively. He thinks that he\u2019s likely to get off because he has this great lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel tensed; Cordelia\u2019s boyfriend was in circles near Wolfram and Hart? He\u2019d have to warn her, but later this was what was important now. \u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike the lady said, he\u2019s got that law firm behind and not just because he\u2019s some greedy human. No, he\u2019s a half-breed; don\u2019t know the demon lineage but rumors say it\u2019s one of the nastier breeds. And he likes power and money. He doesn\u2019t want to lose it or the human fa\u00e7ade he has going on with the world. The DA has a witness though, some poor human guy with morals, willing to testify but McDonald\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLindsey,\u201d Angel growled, but nodded his head so Teev would go on.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah him\u2026 some men, they just kidnapped the witnesses fourteen year old daughter. Out of some fancy boarding school. The girl is being handed over to some Wolfram and Hart higher ups sometime tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d Angel barked, moving closer to the demon relishing the fear he saw starting to form in the thing\u2019s body language.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s, that\u2019s going to cost you,\u201d Teev said.<\/p>\n
Angel mentally groaned but Gunn didn\u2019t hide his disgust.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd here I thought you were helping out of the goodness in your little ugly demon heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel motioned to the counter. \u201cCordelia, if you would go to the desk. One of the drawers should have an envelope of money. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t take his eyes off of the demon and got into his personal space, his arms still crossed and glared down his nose at the shorter demon. \u201cThis is how it works. I give you some money, you make no noise about it and you give me the information.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing snitch rates are\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou aren\u2019t getting the point. Either you take what we are willing to offer or I\u2019ll beat the information out of you.\u201d Angel knew his voice brooked no argument and a small rush of adrenaline rushed through him as he smelled the rise in the demon\u2019s fear. Just then the rainy-scent of Cordelia was right behind him again and he turned to her and took the envelope.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d she muttered when he motioned her away.<\/p>\n
Angel waved the two fifty dollar bills he held in front of Teev. \u201cWhere and when?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAn empty warehouse on Cooper Street, sometime between 9:30 and ten.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of security?\u201d Gunn barked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI only deal with Angel,\u201d Teev said trying to sound brave but he gulped in the middle of the sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat he said,\u201d Angel stepped closer and saw that Gunn gripped tighter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI-I-I don\u2019t know\u2026 I just know time and place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded. \u201cLet him go.\u201d Gunn let the guy go and Angel slammed the money into Teev\u2019s webbed hand. \u201cGo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teev ran out of the hotel.<\/p>\n
And Wesley ran in and right to the weapons cabinet. Angel felt himself tense and walked over to him. \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMerle. He just told me a gang of vampires intend to make a college rave tonight their big meal of the day. Their planning on showing up early and biding their time all night\u2026blending with the victims I suppose\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTake Gunn, I have something else I have to handle tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMan, you shouldn\u2019t go there alone. It\u2019s Wolfram and Hart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey won\u2019t be expecting me. I have nothing to do with this, I have the element of surprise. You go with Wesley, I\u2019ll handle the girl and Lindsey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley straightened up from the weapons cabinet. \u201cLindsey is involved, is it prudent for you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWes, I\u2019m not going to kill him. I\u2019m going to rescue an innocent teenager. Go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley stood straighter. \u201cI\u2019m in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know where the rave is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMerle\u2019s out trying to find out that information now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you and Gunn, go and try to find out yourselves and then get it from Merle. There is no time. Save the college kids and I\u2019ll deal with the kidnapping.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley nodded. \u201cI suppose this is the only way to handle the situation\u2026who gave the information about the kidnapping?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGunn will tell you. Track down that rave,\u201d Angel said.<\/p>\n
Gunn nodded, \u201cI\u2019ll pull the truck around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley stood in front of Angel, making him wish Wesley would stop looking at him like that, with a mixture of concern and distrust. He felt guilty, and maybe it wasn\u2019t enough, but the continuing glimpses of doubt from one of his only friends was getting on his last nerve.<\/p>\n
\u201cWes.\u201d Angel warned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want you to be careful. Lindsey and you\u2026 with the Darla situation\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will,\u201d Angel said.<\/p>\n
Wesley nodded and then looked over Angel\u2019s shoulder. \u201cCordelia, I hope if you said yes that next time we can say hello.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and I are still discussing my terms to be demon-bait. But, yeah, I hope there is more time to say hi, next time too,\u201d Cordelia said and Angel glanced over his shoulder in time to see her give Wesley a brilliant smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should go, I hear raves are hard to find and the odds of them wanting to let you into one are zero to none. Though, I suppose the chances will be higher with that guy Gunn with you. He seems to have \u2018cool\u2019 in his DNA code\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel almost laughed because Wesley\u2019s expression as Cordelia called him a loser was priceless but he managed to hold it in. \u201cGunn\u2019s got to be out there by now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, right\u2026 well until another time, Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil another time, Wesley.\u201d Cordelia smiled.<\/p>\n
Angel watched Wesley leave, waited a beat and walked over to the weapons cabinet himself. There was no telling what would be in that warehouse, vampires, demons, or humans. He hoped for the humans, easier to knock out even if they tended to shoot him.<\/p>\n
Hearing Cordelia\u2019s shoes against the tile, he turned around gripping an ax in his hand. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPutting your measly bribe money stash back in this dusty old desk. What is with the d\u00e9cor? Do you guys use this thing as a desk or a bookcase?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBookcase.\u201d Angel deadpanned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThought so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout paying you, Cordelia. I will, it\u2019s just I need to look at a few things, talk it over with Wesley and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take 200 dollars. I think I deserve at least twice as much as a short ugly demon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Angel couldn\u2019t hid his surprise, he\u2019d really expected her to hold out for money or leave them high and dry without any way to learn more about the situation from the inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d rather take 250, 300, say even 400, but hey, who am to quibble. You can\u2019t even afford a feather duster. Must be because of all the shiny weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel shook his head, as she dropped the envelope of money into the drawer where she found it. \u201cOkay, so uh, I\u2019ll you to set up a time to talk in more detail about things. I want to get the warehouse now, sooner I\u2019m in the shadows the better chance I have of saving the girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll walk you to your car,\u201d Angel said before stepping in front of Cordelia, grabbing his leather jacket and heading toward the side door. She said nothing but fell into step behind and he smiled. He knew she understood the immediacy, and he was relieved she\u2019d agreed to be bait. He hated asking her but they were really in a corner when it came to the situation and he couldn\u2019t allow another five young women to die.<\/p>\n
He stopped short when he realized Cordelia had stopped following him and saw her by a small nondescript beige colored car. \u201cThat\u2019s your car?\u201d He said surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Mercedes belongs to Alec. This is mine. Bought it when I first got out here, saved up forever and it was cheap and used. Trust me, it\u2019s the last thing I ever expected me to drive too.\u201d She slipped the key into the door.<\/p>\n
He paused, the guilt setting in on asking her to risk her life and cleared his throat before she slipped into the car. She looked up at him with a small smile and an expectant expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll keep you safe, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDuh,\u201d Cordelia said grinning. \u201cI know you will, Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
He turned around, feeling a bit shaky at her faith and he hoped it wasn\u2019t misplaced. He hopped into the convertible, put his key in the ignition and turned it. But the engine didn\u2019t turn over and his brow furrowed. He turned the key again and still nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Part 12<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel cursed and flicked the keys in the ignition again. The car remained dead and a growl erupted from deep in his throat. He didn\u2019t have time for this. He went to pop the hood but stopped short when his eyes fell on the switch for the headlights. It was turned to the on position. On. He\u2019d left the lights on. \u201cCrap,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you do, leave the lights on?\u201d<\/p>\n
He jumped, literally in his seat and shot Cordelia a glare. Opening the door he got out of his car. \u201cNo,\u201d he lied. He wasn\u2019t going to admit to the girl that he\u2019d left the lights on. She\u2019d call him something in that sarcastic voice of hers and he didn\u2019t have the temperament to deal with it right now. He had to stop Lindsey from hurting a teenage girl all in the name of evil. What was wrong with people in the world? And what the hell had made him leave the lights on?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll drive you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He turned toward Cordelia and stared at her. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll. Drive. You.\u201d Cordelia said again enunciating each word clearly.<\/p>\n
He wished she were a demon; he could have threatened her with violence for treating him like he was deaf and dumb.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I have to say it even slower, dumbass?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel growled at her and saw her keys in her hand, grabbed them and hurried to her car. She ran after him, getting in just as he started to pull away. \u201cWhat do you think you\u2019re doing, Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my car. I didn\u2019t offer you it, I offered to be your chauffeur. You didn\u2019t like that idea but I\u2019m still staying with my car.\u201d<\/p>\n
He gritted his teeth and slammed on the accelerator, this was going to be a long night. \u201cStay out of the way, the last thing I need is a distraction tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
She snorted through her nose and murmured something under her breath about ingratitude, but Angel chose to ignore it. It was time forget about his car, or the fact he had an innocent woman in the seat next to him while he was on a rescue mission.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia got out of the car. She couldn\u2019t just sit there any longer but she left the driver\u2019s door open, making sure for the hundredth time the keys were in the ignition. Angel had said they might have to take off fast, so she\u2019d be ready to take off fast. Good thing she was a speeder, she thought wryly as she paced next to her car in the dark alley.<\/p>\n
Everything was dark, and smelled like garbage, the warehouse Angel had gone into via the roof was dark. Dark. Dark wasn\u2019t good, Cordelia thought, opening her purse and getting her cross, stake, holy water and mace set up all within easy grabbing distance. Better to be safe than sorry, she thought and then sped up her pacing, her eyes darting to the building that held Angel and lord knew what else along with a kidnapped girl. If that little yellow thingy had been telling the truth, Cordelia thought cynically. Really, how much could you trust a demon?<\/p>\n
Then she heard it, the jackhammer sound of gunshots in rapid succession and her heart dropped to her toes. She started toward the warehouse, her heartbeat matching the sound of the gunshots when a loud voice in her head told her to stop and think.<\/p>\n
The second she stopped moving all she could hear was her own heartbeat as her mind tried to remind her that Angel couldn\u2019t be hurt by bullets. But the teenager he was rescuing could be\u2026she thought and she felt her knees start to wobble. Then she saw him, Angel coming toward her from the darkness, carrying someone, she gulped for air and ran back to the car, quickly opening the passenger side door and crawling over the seats to the driver side and starting the car.<\/p>\n
But when she glanced back toward Angel he was fighting what was unmistakably three vampires, and the girl was being dragged away from him by another toward some guy in a suit.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s eyes darted from Angel, taking on three vampires, he was holding his own but the other one was getting the girl closer to the guy, who was barking into a cell phone. No way, no way was that guy keeping that poor little girl, lord knew what they\u2019d do to her if they had vampire henchmen. Steeling her spine and evoking past memories of facing off against vampires, Cordelia ran from the car and glanced in her purse, memorizing where each weapon against vampires were \u2013 as well as her trusty mace. It had to still sting, she thought hopefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey you with the bad overbite!\u201d She yelled at the vampire meeting him halfway toward where he was heading. \u201cLet the girl go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire turned his eyes flashing yellow and he snarled. Fear shot through her, and she had to bite her tongue not to scream; thinking for a brief second of her lame audition and how the real thing was definitely scream-inducing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah that\u2019s right, you growl-boy. Let go of the girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBring me the girl now, Tomas!\u201d The guy in the suit on the phone barked, coming closer. \u201cThe limo will be at the alley entrance in a minute\u2026\u201d he trailed off seeing Cordelia. \u201cAnd who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia ignored him; she had to worry about the vampire and the girl first. She glanced quickly toward Angel; he\u2019d dusted one but was still fighting the other two. Damn it. Her hand fell into her purse, and started to unscrew the top on her holy water spritzer. Once it was completely loose, she pulled the bottle out and lunged the distance between her and the vampire and doused both him and the scared teenager with it.<\/p>\n
The vampire sizzled and writhed in pain, letting go of the girl and falling on the ground. Cordelia grabbed her stake and hurriedly staked him in the heart through his back, knowing if she didn\u2019t take advantage she\u2019d have none. He blew up into dust and she thanked whoever watched over her that her lucky streak with vampires continued.<\/p>\n
She then grabbed the girl by the wrist and pulled. \u201cCome with me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot so fast.\u201d The guy in the suit was in front of her, getting into her space and he looked ready to grab the girl.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stared at him, he looked human but there was only one way to tell. She dropped her stake and grabbed her cross. \u201cStay back!\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed in her face, looking amused. \u201cI\u2019m not a vampire.\u201d He moved closer to her and Cordelia pushed the younger girl behind her. He smiled and tipped his head to the side. \u201cLook let\u2019s just have a discussion. I\u2019m a lawyer and this young lady is important to a case of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t try to sweet talk me,\u201d Cordelia snapped trying to think. She couldn\u2019t let this guy get the girl and what was taking Angel so long. He should\u2019ve dusted all the vamps he was fighting by now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m Lindsey, who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia let out a loud huff of air, if this guy thought he was getting her name, he was in for a huge shock. \u201cI\u2019m the person standing between you and this girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed again. \u201cLook, I don\u2019t want to hurt you. And you already know your little cross and your stake won\u2019t work against me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia breathed in and dropped the hand still holding the cross into her purse. \u201cYou\u2019re right\u2026\u201d she whispered. \u201cBut I don\u2019t trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you trust a vampire? You know what they are don\u2019t you? Do you know who the one you came here with is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter than you, I\u2019d wager,\u201d Cordelia snapped at the man in front of her. He had a smooth voice, blue eyes that held amusement at the situation they were in and she bet he did win all his cases. He had a certain charm but she wasn\u2019t about to fall for it. He\u2019d probably gotten it from a spell book or something.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s dangerous. Deadly even. Killed a lot of people recently\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s eyes widened but she shook the doubt away. He was trying to play her to get a chance to get past her and grab the girl. \u201cI\u2019m not listening to you. Get out of my way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, I said it before and I\u2019ll say it again,\u201d Lindsey said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia gripped the aerosol bottle of mace in her bag, lifted it and started spraying simultaneously. \u201cWell, I have no problem hurting you,\u201d she snapped.<\/p>\n
He screamed, and she shoved past him so hard he fell onto the pavement below them and she ran to the car, glancing back toward Angel just in time to see the two vamps go up in dust at the same time. \u201cNeat trick,\u201d she muttered, settling the girl into the backseat.<\/p>\n
Angel was suddenly in the passenger seat. \u201cDrive towards China Town. I\u2019ll tell you when to turn on the way and do it fast.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are we going?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo a sewer entrance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to get her someplace safe and can\u2019t risk them following. And you shouldn\u2019t have gotten out of the car!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I hadn\u2019t gotten out of the car that idiot in the suit would have her!\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s gaze hardened on Cordelia and then he turned to the backseat. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou, you, they shot you. More than once. I saw it\u2026\u201d the girl stammered at Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine. Are you okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI-I-I, who are you two?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to keep you safe,\u201d Angel said and Cordelia shot him a look out of the corner of her eye. She could see where the bullets had torn through his clothes and there was blood.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, you are hurt,\u201d Cordelia whispered.<\/p>\n
He shook his head. \u201cI\u2019ll be fine. Turn left, now!\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia winced as she pulled off a last minute hard left causing her tires to screech and the teenager in the back to scream.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel stalked ahead of Cordelia and the teenager behind him. He made sure he stayed close enough for them to see him in the darken sewers, but far enough away not to upset them as he dug out the bullets riddling his torso. Flinging more to the floor, he glanced back to see Cordelia putting her arm around the younger women with a soft smile. Then Cordelia\u2019s eyes met his and assaulted him with a myriad of emotions that surprised him.<\/p>\n
Fear, excitement, concern for the young girl in her arms, confusion of where he was taking him and disgust with the sewer. And maybe a bit of worry for him too, he realized as he dropped another bullet and Cordelia\u2019s eyebrow arched and despite the distance he could feel her intake of breath as if she was mentally wincing.<\/p>\n
He stopped and waited for them, his eyes falling on the teenager whose name he still didn\u2019t know. \u201cWe\u2019re taking you somewhere for the night, then an associate of mine is going to pick you up to take you somewhere else. It\u2019s too dangerous to take you to your parents right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The smell of fear instantly overwhelmed the sewers, and Angel inwardly sighed. Why was it he was always scaring the people he was helping? Cordelia huffed. \u201cHe\u2019s not keeping you from your parents to be mean, Emily. He\u2019s going to let you call them right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stared at Cordelia, of course he was, why was she looking at him like she wasn\u2019t confident in her opinion. \u201cOh course, she needs to get a message to her father that she safe so he testifies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd to make her feel better and safer, right,\u201d Cordelia snapped. Then she took in a hard breath and turned toward Emily. \u201cLook, this is freaking you out. I get that but can you wait right here for a minute? I have to talk to Angel for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily nodded. \u201cO-okay, Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia gave the girl a huge smile but instantly turned to Angel, grabbed his arm and dragged him out of earshot of the teen. \u201cNot everyone has grown up on a Hellmouth you know! Could be somewhat\u2026oh, god I\u2019m going to say tactful\u2026\u201d she cringed at the word but sighed. \u201cYou need to be less abrupt at least. I mean she\u2019s just a teenager. Granted so were all of us in Sunnydale but this is Los Angeles. Shiny, bright, not on a gateway to hell. And you come flying in like Batman or something, getting shot and taking her into sewers and talking business like she gets what\u2019s going on. Trust me from someone who has been grabbed, kidnapped and taken by demons \u2013 and lawyers can\u2019t be that different. She\u2019s in shock, numb and she needs to have HER put first not whatever your real goal is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is my goal. Getting her to Caritas, and in touch with her family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia put her hands on her hips and Angel felt exasperation flare out of her hazel eyes like the feeling had manifested itself into a weapon.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t give me that what look, dumbass,\u201d she said. \u201cYour focus is making sure her father testifies against that demon Joseph Coe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course it is. Wolfram & Hart and that demon can\u2019t continue to mess with innocent people’s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at her, Angel. Look. Innocent person. Name Emily. You never even asked her! Granted you asked her if she was okay, but you are running on getting her to safety and let the dad know he can still testify without her dying \u2013 while she\u2019s still on the fact strangers keep grabbing her and taking her places. And that there has been bullets and bloods, and vampires being staked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stood his mouth opening but he stopped short as Cordelia\u2019s frustration changed into something that changed the fire in her eyes into sadness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know how it feels, Angel. To be dragged and pulled and have the people who save you more worried about the big picture than you. And the fear, the fear never goes away. She needs more from you than being bullet-riddled\u2026.\u201d Cordelia trailed off and her eyes landed on his shirt, taking in the holes and the blood. \u201cAre you sure your\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine. I heard you but we can\u2019t keep standing here\u2026and uh,\u201d Angel sighed, Cordelia\u2019s words echoing in his mind. \u201cYou should warn her, that place I\u2019m taking her, run by a demon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA good demon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA good\u2026there are good demons?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel crossed his arms and gave her a wounded look.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh get over it, you\u2019re an anomaly, you were cursed by gypsies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s good. He\u2019s called the Host. Don\u2019t know his name, really but he\u2019ll help us out,\u201d he moved to the ladder and started to climb up, glancing down as Cordelia walked over to the girl before pushing up at the sewer cover.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmily, I\u2019m going to be blunt. We are going to a place that has demons. A good one is going to help Angel, help you and it\u2019s going to freak us both out and everything, so just hold my hand and know we are safe, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s mouth curved into a smile, Cordelia thought that was more tactful than him? He looked down. \u201cCordelia, I want you to go up first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked up at him and nodded, squeezed Emily\u2019s hand and started up the ladder. \u201cHe\u2019s called the Host? Is like an ugly parasite?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, he\u2019s green and dresses loudly.\u201d Angel said, helping Cordelia pull herself up into the street.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeaking of dresses, you so owe me money for the dry cleaning bill of this outfit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel rolled his eyes and motioned for Emily. \u201cIt\u2019s safe, Emily. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily looked up at him and then past him at Cordy who was peeking down and nodding her head encouragingly at the girl. Emily nodded and started climbing up the ladder.<\/p>\n