{"id":8908,"date":"2015-12-14T02:43:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-14T02:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=8908"},"modified":"2015-12-14T02:43:00","modified_gmt":"2015-12-14T02:43:00","slug":"echo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/12\/14\/echo\/","title":{"rendered":"Echo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Title: Echo<\/strong>
\nAUTHOR: Dannyblue<\/strong>
\nEMAIL<\/a><\/strong>
\nPAIRING:<\/strong> Cordelia\/Angelus\u2026sort of.
\nRATING:<\/strong> PG-13. Nothing you wouldn\u2019t see on the show.
\nCONTENT\/WARNINGS:<\/strong> Violence.
\nSUMMARY:<\/strong> Angelus is on the loose\u2026again.
\nSPOILERS:<\/strong> No real spoilers, but the story is set some time in season three, before \u2018Offspring\u2019.
\nDISCLAIMER:<\/strong> Joss Whedon and Co. own everything.
\nDISTRIBUTION:<\/strong> Anywhere. No permission necessary. Just drop me a note so I’ll know where to look.
\nNOTE:<\/strong> I know we all want an Angel of our own, but\u2026
\nFEEDBACK:<\/strong> Yes, please.<\/p>\n

\n

PART ONE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Deana Downs clutched the book with ice numb hands.<\/p>\n

A fire raged in the middle of her living room floor. It was hot and angry\u2026and sapphire blue. And the only thing containing it was a circle, drawn in chalk, on the hardwood floor.<\/p>\n

A gentle breeze wandered through the room. It ruffled her dishwater-blond hair, and made the curtains flutter.<\/p>\n

Which wouldn\u2019t have seemed so weird if the window was open.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s working,\u201d she gasped with wonder, and disbelief. And a little fear. She never thought it would work. Not really. This was all supposed to be a game. An innocent–well, desperate–game.<\/p>\n

But it was working.<\/p>\n

Blinking herself out of her daze, she forced her eyes back to the book. Her voice shook as she muttered the incantation artistically sprawled across the old, yellowing page. She just hoped she got the pronunciation right. Some of the words didn\u2019t even seem like words. Not in any language she\u2019d ever heard of.<\/p>\n

With a nervous swallow, Deana held up a handkerchief covered with blood. His blood.<\/p>\n

His blood wasn\u2019t hard to get. One night, he staggered into that girl\u2019s apartment. And he must have been hurt, because there was blood on the landing.<\/p>\n

Deanna had scurried out of her apartment, quiet as a mouse, and soaked the blood up with a handkerchief. Easy.<\/p>\n

Now, she hesitantly approached the sapphire flames. Holding her breath, she tossed the hankie into the fire.<\/p>\n

The blaze consumed the handkerchief in an instant. It vanished like it had never been.<\/p>\n

Deana couldn\u2019t believe it. This wasn\u2019t supposed to work. She hadn\u2019t expected it to work.<\/p>\n

Well, she did, but not really.<\/p>\n

\u201cH-have to f-finish,\u201d she stammered. \u201cJust f-finish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her hands trembled so hard she nearly dropped the book. And she almost ripped the page as she turned it.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom these f-flames,\u201d she read, \u201cbring forth life in the image I desire. Created from my w-will. Bound to my will. Master to the servant, and the s- servant will obey.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fire roared, drowning out the last few words. The flames shot up towards the ceiling, and star-white sparks danced around and through them. The wind that had drifted so lazily through the apartment, whipped into a frenzy. It tore at the curtains, at the newspaper on the coffee table.<\/p>\n

Eyes wide, Deana staggered back. Too scared to think. Too scared to run. All she could do was watch.<\/p>\n

Watch as the flames seemed to shrink in one themselves. To implode. And, as the fire shrank, it got brighter and brighter, until there was a flash of light\u2026<\/p>\n

With a startled cry, Deana dropped the book and covered her eyes.<\/p>\n

A sudden, deafening silence filled the apartment, as loud, in its way, as the roar had been. The wind vanished, the heat disappeared.<\/p>\n

Deana shivered, afraid of what she\u2019d find. Slowly, she uncovered her eyes.<\/p>\n

The fire was gone. In its place lay a figure.<\/p>\n

A wave of dizziness crashed over her, and Deana\u2019s legs collapsed. She sat on the floor with a painful thump.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, God,\u201d she muttered. \u201cOh, God. Oh, God,\u201d over and over again.<\/p>\n

It was him. Lying naked in the middle of her living room floor, curled into a fetal position, and shivering even more than she was. His hair damp. His skin glistening with sweat.<\/p>\n

And he was beautiful.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, God.\u201d<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Deana stood behind him, running a towel through his damp hair.<\/p>\n

He was sitting in a chair, a heavy quilt wrapped around him. She was glad he wasn\u2019t shivering anymore.<\/p>\n

But he was confused, just like the book said he would be. It was up to her to help him adjust.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to get you some sun,\u201d she babbled, afraid to let silence fall for too long. \u201cI\u2019ve always thought you were too pale. I guess that\u2019s what happens when you work nights.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t respond, of course. Just kept looking around, like he was trying to figure out where he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019d have to be careful,\u201d Deana continued. \u201cYou know, when you leave the apartment. We don\u2019t want that girl to see you. Or any of her friends. They\u2019d just ask questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thinking about it made a tremble rush through her. She hadn\u2019t thought this through, had she? Yes, she\u2019d gone to ridiculous lengths to perform a ritual that she found in some obscure book. A book of magic, as crazy as it sounded. She\u2019d bought twice as much food as usual, like you do when you know you\u2019re going to have a guest. She\u2019d bought clothes for him to wear.<\/p>\n

But she\u2019d never really considered what she\u2019d do with a mystically created clone.<\/p>\n

Still, nothing could dampen her elation. Because it had worked! He was here, and he was hers.<\/p>\n

And she didn’t have to be alone anymore.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Startled, Deana jumped. It was the first time he\u2019d spoken. She hadn\u2019t been sure he could.<\/p>\n

Draping the towel over her arm, she walked around to face him.<\/p>\n

He was staring at the floor, a confused frown on his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look like him,\u201d Deana cautiously agreed. \u201cExactly like him. But you\u2019re not him. More like a twin.\u201d<\/p>\n

A twin with the exact same memories. The clone had all of Angel\u2019s memories, up to the moment he was created. But the book said they were faint, like a dream. And, every day, they would fade a little more. Until they were gone.<\/p>\n

He looked up at her, his black eyes filled with questions. He was looking to her for answers, for guidance, just like the book said.<\/p>\n

Because he didn\u2019t have free will. He didn\u2019t have a soul.<\/p>\n

That part had worried her a little. Not having a soul couldn\u2019t be good.<\/p>\n

But he was the servant. He would obey her. He would do whatever she told him to do. And she wouldn\u2019t let him do anything bad.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it right now.\u201d She gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. \u201cI\u2019ll try to explain later. Would you like to put on the clothes I bought you? They\u2019re just like his. Maybe that will make you\u2026feel better.\u201d She shrugged, not sure of her own logic.<\/p>\n

The clone looked towards the sofa, where the clothes rested. Black slacks. A black shirt. Even a black duster.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d always thought he looked so cool in his dusters. They made him look like the mysterious stranger. Handsome. Strong.<\/p>\n

\u201cHungry,\u201d the clone said, voice low and a little hoarse.<\/p>\n

Deana squeezed her eyes shut and slapped her hand to her forehead. \u201cOf course you\u2019re hungry! I should have thought of that. And I bought extra food, too.\u201d Smiling at her own foolishness, she turned towards the kitchen. \u201cI\u2019ll get you a nice, big\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t bother. I\u2019ll get my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Deana was grabbed from behind. An arm as strong as steel wrapped around her waist. A hand clasped over her mouth, muffling her startled scream. Her head was wrenched to the side.<\/p>\n

After that, there was just pain.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Angelus tossed the book on the coffee table. Leaning his head against the back of the sofa, he closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

It was strange to think he\u2019d been alive for less than a day. Half a day.<\/p>\n

He remembered so much more. Two hundred and seventy years.<\/p>\n

But they were faint memories. More like a life he\u2019d imagined than actually lived.<\/p>\n

The man who had actually lived those memories was at the Hyperion Hotel right now. Soul intact.<\/p>\n

The clone gave it some thought. It should probably bother him that he wasn\u2019t the original. That he was a copy, created by a woman who couldn\u2019t *have* the original. But he didn\u2019t care. All that mattered was that he existed. And with no soul to get in the way.<\/p>\n

Angelus glanced at the body of the woman who had been his first meal. Deana Downs, according to her mail. His maker. His master. The woman who was supposed to have complete control over him. He shouldn\u2019t have been able to *think* of killing her, let alone actually do it. But he had, without hesitation.<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t supposed to have any free will at all. Just a desire to obey his master. What had gone wrong?<\/p>\n

\u201cScrew it,\u201d he said as he stood up. \u201cI never did care much for rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angelus wandered around the apartment. He still felt disconnected. Not quite there yet.<\/p>\n

Pausing, he closed his eyes. What was the last thing he remembered before he woke up, cold and naked, in the middle of Deana Downs\u2019 living room floor?<\/p>\n

He was at the Hyperion, doing nothing in particular. It was a slow day.<\/p>\n

Wesley was going through a shipment of new books.<\/p>\n

Gunn was cleaning the weapons. Again.<\/p>\n

Fred was at the computer, pecking happily at the keyboard.<\/p>\n

And Cordelia\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy,\u201d he muttered, and a faint smile curved his lips.<\/p>\n

Cordelia was bitching about a blind date she didn\u2019t want to go on. But it was the brother of a friend, one of the few friends she still kept in touch with, and she had promised.<\/p>\n

Angel hadn\u2019t been happy about the date. The fact that she wasn\u2019t all that happy about it either made him feel a little better.<\/p>\n

Eyes snapping open, Angelus glanced at the clock. Her blind date was picking her up at nine. She\u2019d be home soon, to get ready. Whether she wanted to go on the date or not, Cordy would give herself plenty of time to prepare. To look her best.<\/p>\n

Which was always spectacular.<\/p>\n

As he turned, Angelus\u2019s foot bumped into Deana\u2019s lifeless arm. Glancing down at her, he sighed. Now that he knew she was responsible for his existence, he kind of regretted killing her so quickly.<\/p>\n

Frowning, he gave the matter some thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

As she walked down the hall toward her apartment, Cordelia yawned. She was beat. Not that they had done anything today. Which was the problem. She was used to constant activity, one crisis after another. Boredom was exhausting.<\/p>\n

She so did *not* want to go on this date tonight. But she made a promise. Back in the day, pre-Fred, Cordy talked Megan into going out on a date with Wesley. After his break-up with Virginia, the man seriously needed some\u2026whatever.<\/p>\n

Well, the two hadn’t hit it off, and time rolled along.<\/p>\n

After so long, Cordy figured Megan had forgotten the debt. The woman had the attention span of…well, Swiss cheese.<\/p>\n

But, as it turned out, she was waiting on her brother to pay a visit.<\/p>\n

“Why should I waste you on just some guy,” Megan had asked, “when you’re perfect for Jack?”<\/p>\n

Cordy got the feeling Megan expected wedding bells and a new sister-in-law.<\/p>\n

Cordy just hoped Jack wouldn’t bore her to death. If she fell asleep in her soup, Megan would never forgive her.<\/p>\n

Stopping at the door to her apartment, Cordelia reached into her purse for her keys.<\/p>\n

And that’s when she felt it. That kind of skin-crawly feeling you got when you knew someone was watching you.<\/p>\n

Scowling, Cordy peered down the hall.<\/p>\n

Deana Downs’ door was open just a crack.<\/p>\n

Cordelia sighed. Deana was the strangest girl. When she moved in, Cordelia went over to say a neighborly hello. Not only had she *not* been invited in, but Deana gave off serious “leave me alone” vibes.<\/p>\n

So, Cordy left her alone.<\/p>\n

Then, Cordy realized that, when one of the guys came over, Deana’s front door would open just enough for the girl to peak out into the hallway. It was weird. And gave Cordy the urge to yell, \u201cPeeping Tomisina, much!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, whenever she caught Deana spying, Cordy would wave. And, immediately, the door would close with a quiet click.<\/p>\n

Well, why fix it if it ain’t broke?<\/p>\n

“Hi, Deana!” Cordy called. Pasting on a bright smile, she waved cheerfully.<\/p>\n

But the door didn’t close. It didn’t budge an inch in either direction.<\/p>\n

Smile fading, Cordy dropped her arm. For some reason, the fact that the door didn’t close seemed weird. Even a little creepy.<\/p>\n

She suddenly realized that all of the lights in Deana’s apartment were off, and it was impossible to see inside. Who knew who was standing there, watching her. Deana’s brother. Or her crazy uncle. Or some weird guy she picked up at a bar.<\/p>\n

Feeling uneasy, Cordy unlocked her door and hurried into her apartment.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Slowly, Angelus closed the door.<\/p>\n

“Cordy’s home,” he said. Saying the words made a strange warmth flow through him. Warmth and\u2026anticipation.<\/p>\n

He glanced towards the corpse of his maker.<\/p>\n

“I have to get ready. I want my first night with her to be\u2026special.”<\/p>\n

\n

PART TWO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cordelia came awake slowly, eyes fluttering open to take in the moonlit bedroom. Yawning, she lifted her hands above her head and stretched.<\/p>\n

The lamp on the bedside table clicked on.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Dennis,\u201d Cordy said. \u201cYou\u2019re better than an alarm clock.\u201d<\/p>\n

She folded her hands across her stomach, and let her eyes drift half closed. Lying in bed felt so good. So cozy. She didn\u2019t want to get up. Not yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a few more minutes,\u201d she decided. \u201cI\u2019ll still have plenty of time to get ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

She wondered what was going on at the office.<\/p>\n

Well, Wes was probably cross-referencing his new books by now, which was his idea of a good time. Gunn would have abandoned his weapons for the Game Boy. Fred was still online, unless she had a sudden urge to invent a deadly device that looked just like a cuckoo clock. And, if she knew Angel, he had settled down to read some old, depressing book in whatever language it had been written in originally.<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like fun,\u201d she muttered. More fun than she was going to have tonight.<\/p>\n

Not that she didn\u2019t like going out. Nothing beat a night on the town. But spending the evening with a complete stranger who she had never even met had no appeal.<\/p>\n

With a soft moan, Cordy sat up. \u201cThis from the former dating champion of Sunnydale High.\u201d<\/p>\n

She should really try to be optimistic about this whole thing. Instead of expecting to have a bad time, she should just decide to have a good time.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, right.\u201d<\/p>\n

With another yawn, she shuffled into the bathroom.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

\u201cHoney!\u201d Angelus called as he let himself into Deana\u2019s apartment. \u201cI\u2019m home!\u201d<\/p>\n

When there was no answer, he tsked and shook his head. \u201cI guess she\u2019s still in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angelus closed the door and carried his shopping bags to the dining room table. His outing had been very productive.<\/p>\n

First, he paid a visit to the occult store Angel Investigations used whenever they needed supplies. And he\u2019d found exactly what he was looking for.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that girl appreciates all the trouble I\u2019ve gone to for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

He took the stone out of the first bag and held it up to the light. It wasn\u2019t all that impressive, actually. It looked like an ordinary rock that, for some unfathomable reason, had been painstakingly polished. Hardly worth the price he paid for it. Well, Deana paid for it.<\/p>\n

But Angelus knew it was worth every penny.<\/p>\n

He set the stone on the table and reached into the other bag.<\/p>\n

His second stop was at a store that\u2026well, that would make Wesley stutter and little Fred blush.<\/p>\n

Grinning at the image, he began to remove his purchases. One look around the store and he knew what Cordelia liked so much about shopping. Everywhere he looked, there was some new toy he wanted for his very own. And he\u2019d probably overdone it a little.<\/p>\n

The shackles, of course, were a must. And these were padded, so the skin around the wrists and ankles wouldn\u2019t get too bruised.<\/p>\n

The blindfold wasn\u2019t really necessary. Cordelia was going to know exactly who he was. But there were all kinds of fun things you could do with them. If you had the imagination.<\/p>\n

The whip was purely an impulse buy. And this one was guaranteed not to break the skin.<\/p>\n

There was more. And he couldn\u2019t really imagine using half the things he\u2019d bought. Then again\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cWho knew shopping sprees could be so much fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the real fun was thinking of ways to use this stuff.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Two dresses floated in midair, inches from her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, that one.\u201d Cordelia pointed to the royal blue.<\/p>\n

Phantom hands draped the chosen dress across the bed. The reject glided back to the closet.<\/p>\n

Cordelia grinned. Every girl should have a ghost. Dennis took loads of hassle out of getting ready.<\/p>\n

The only shoes she had that matched the dress drifted over to the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Dennis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tightening the belt of her robe, Cordelia sat down at her vanity table. As she applied her make-up, Dennis started to sort through her jewelry box.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething silver,\u201d she suggested. Other than that, she\u2019d let Dennis choose. He had great taste.<\/p>\n

Her pep talk from earlier was starting to work. Playing dress up always made her feel better. And, while she still wasn\u2019t looking forward to tonight, she\u2019d decided to make the best of it.<\/p>\n

And who knew, right? Tonight could turn out to be more interesting than she thought.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Jack Clayton ran a nervous hand through his hair. He was starting to feel nervous. More nervous.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate blind dates,\u201d he sighed. They were always awkward, usually un-fun, and rarely lead to anything but a promise to never go on a blind date again.<\/p>\n

But his sister could talk him into just about anything. And seeing the picture of Cordelia Chase had helped. A lot.<\/p>\n

Jack took the stairs to the second floor. As he reached the landing, the door to the closest apartment opened. And a man dressed in black appeared.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, geez!\u201d the man exclaimed, jumping a little. He put a hand over his heart. \u201cDamn, you scared me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack, a little startled himself, took a step back. \u201cSorry about that. I didn\u2019t mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem.\u201d The man donned an embarrassed smile. \u201cI just wasn\u2019t expecting\u2026\u201d He paused, a frown marring his intense brow. \u201cHey, are you here to pick up Cordelia Chase?\u201d<\/p>\n

Surprised, Jack nodded. \u201cUm, yeah. We have a date.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. And I was supposed to give you a message if I saw you. See, Cordy had to run out for a sec. But she\u2019ll be back soon. Ten, fifteen minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Jack sighed. This was just what he needed. \u201cWell, I guess I\u2019ll go wait outside.\u201d He turned toward the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d the guy grabbed his shoulder. \u201cNo need for that. Cordy felt so bad, she asked if I\u2019d let you wait in my apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stepping away from the guy\u2019s strong grip, Jack shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t think\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no problem at all.\u201d He waved towards the door. \u201cCome on in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack thought about it for a second. He really didn\u2019t want to sit in his car for the next ten or fifteen minutes. And who knew if this girl would be back that soon.<\/p>\n

Besides, there was a reason he hadn\u2019t wanted to go out tonight.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have ESPN?\u201d Jack asked.<\/p>\n

His prospective host grinned. \u201cCouldn\u2019t live without it.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a grin of his own, Jack nodded and walked through the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cName\u2019s Angelus, by the way,\u201d the man said as he closed the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Jack,\u201d Jack said\u2026a second before his mind absorbed the name. \u201cAngelus?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnusual, I know. My, um, mother had some pretty grandiose ideas. She was heavy into symbolism and irony.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Jack said. Shrugging, he looked around the apartment. And he noticed that the d\u00e9cor was kind of\u2026well, feminine. From the peach-colored curtains, to the floral-print furniture. From the lace tablecloth on the dining room table, to the unicorn collection that occupied the bookcase.<\/p>\n

Oh, wow. Was this guy\u2026?<\/p>\n

Not that there was anything wrong with that. It was just that\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Jack?\u201d Angelus said. He turned the deadbolt, locking the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d Jack said, eyes still scanning the room. Frowning, he turned. \u201cWhere\u2019s the TV?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s over there.\u201d Angelus nodded towards the corner. But, before Jack could look, his host grabbed his shoulder. Angelus lowered his voice. Like you do when you have a secret to share. \u201cFirst, I think there\u2019s something I should tell you about Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling uneasy\u2014the guy was a little too close for comfort\u2014Jack tried to step back. But Angelus had a really strong grip. \u201cUm, what *about* Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angelus moved closer, until his face was inches from Jack\u2019s. His voice lowered to a whisper.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

George paused outside of Deana Downs\u2019 door. He\u2019d heard something. A strangled scream that cut off abruptly. And a pop, like a tree branch snapping in two.<\/p>\n

Wondering what she was doing in there, the elderly man waited, listening for more. But no other sounds emanated from the apartment.<\/p>\n

\u201cStrange girl.\u201d With a shake of his head, George went down the stairs.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Cordelia glanced at her watch. It was now nine thirty.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh-uh. No way!\u201d Folding her arms, she paced. \u201cHe is *not* standing me up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lights flickered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I *know* I didn\u2019t want to go out with him. That doesn\u2019t mean I want him to stand me up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia could almost feel Dennis shrug. Apparently, a woman\u2019s mind was a mystery to all men. Even the dearly departed ones.<\/p>\n

\u201cMegan is *definitely* not going to hear the end of this. Her wonderful, amazing, fantastic brother is turning out to be a real\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a knock at the front door.<\/p>\n

Cordy blew out an exasperated breath. \u201cIt\u2019s about time,\u201d she said through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n

Stalking to the door, she threw it open. Ready to let loose on her late date.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel!\u201d she exclaimed, surprise taking the wind right out of her sails. \u201cWhat are *you* doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind. Just come in.\u201d She grabbed his armed and pulled him through the doorway.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks. Didn\u2019t know if I could get in on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordy was too mad to really hear what he said. \u201cCan you believe it? I think I\u2019ve been stood up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel frowned. \u201cYour date was a no show, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia just threw up her hands. \u201cAnd after all the time I spent getting ready, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, look on the bright side. Maybe he was struck down by a car. Or he slipped in the tub and drowned. Or some homicidal maniac broke his neck.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noticing the smirk on Angel\u2019s face, Cordy gave him a funny look. She knew Angel\u2019s sense of humor could be\u2026unique. But\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cOoh-kaay,\u201d she said. Brow furrowed, she gave him a closer look. There was something different about him. \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m perfect.\u201d His smile broadened. \u201cWhy do you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head. \u201cI don\u2019t know. You just seem to be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The telephone rang. Cordelia decided to let the machine answer it.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe that\u2019s him,\u201d Angel suggested. \u201cFull of excuses and apologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt better be.\u201d She scowled. \u201cIf not, I\u2019m going to make Megan\u2019s life\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

((Cordelia?)) came the voice from the answering machine. ((It\u2019s me. Angel. W-which you probably already\u2026know. Anyway, I\u2019m sure you\u2019re gone already. But, I just wanted to tell you\u2026we got a case! An actual case, with a client who wants to pay and everything. Nothing urgent, but I thought you\u2019d want to know. So, call me when you get home. Um, okay. \u2018Bye.))<\/p>\n

Cordelia stared at the answering machine. Her heart did a sickening thud before it tried to pound its way out of her chest. A shiver crawled up her spine and, like a shock wave, raced through the rest of her body.<\/p>\n

Cordy\u2019s eyes widened with dawning horror. Slowly, she turned to face\u2026him.<\/p>\n

He watched her, a mix of curiosity and amusement on his face. Folding his arms, he leaned against the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Cordy,\u201d he said with a wicked grin. \u201cLet\u2019s have some fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

PART THREE<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the truth sunk in, Cordelia began to tremble. And her head. She couldn\u2019t keep her head still.<\/p>\n

She glanced from the answering machine, to the door, and back again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, my God,\u201d she whispered. \u201cH-how? How c-can you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBe in two places at once?\u201d He grinned. \u201cIt\u2019s a kick, ain\u2019t it?\u201d Pushing away from the door, he started towards her.<\/p>\n

And Cordy did the only thing she could think to do.<\/p>\n

She ran.<\/p>\n

Spinning around, Cordelia took a step towards the bedroom.<\/p>\n

He was on her in an instant, his left arm wrapped around her waist, his right hand wrapped around her throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa, dejavu.\u201d Angelus laughed in her ear. \u201cThis is the second time I\u2019ve done this today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia shivered, goose bumps prickling every inch of bare skin. Gasping for air, she grabbed his wrist and tried to pull his hand away.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, like *that\u2019s* going to work.\u201d And he squeezed tighter.<\/p>\n

Little black spots danced before Cordelia\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

*Oh, my God,* she thought. *I\u2019m going to die.*<\/p>\n

And it didn\u2019t seem real, because it was like all of those nightmares she used to have every single night, but not so much anymore.<\/p>\n

She waited. Waited for him to snap her neck with one sharp jerk. Or to bury his fangs in her exposed flesh. The nightmares always ended one way or the other.<\/p>\n

But he did neither. Instead, he rested his cheek against the back of her head. And she could hear him take a deep, unneeded breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cMmmmm,\u201d he purred, rubbing his face against her hair. \u201cDo you know how good you smell? I mean, you should. The way the souled-wimp is always sniffing around you? Dead giveaway.\u201d He took another breath. \u201cFear makes it better, though. Kind of intensifies your scent, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia blinked her eyes once. Twice. Those black spots were getting bigger and bigger. The edges of her vision started to fade.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this?\u201d He gave her a little shake, making her cry out as his palm pressed against her larynx. \u201cHe thinks about doing this all the time. Too weak to do anything about it, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slowly, his arms slid across her waist, until his palm pressed flat against her stomach. \u201cAnd the dreams\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

In one sharp move, Cordelia reached up and back, aiming her fingernails at his face. Clawing at his skin.<\/p>\n

With a startled hiss, he reared back.<\/p>\n

Raising her leg, she slammed her stiletto heel down on his foot.<\/p>\n

He cried out in pain. His hold slackened\u2026but not completely. Hand still around her throat, he spun her around to face him.<\/p>\n

Yellow eyes glared at her. \u201cThat *hurt*, bitch!\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite her fading vision, Cordelia managed to give him her patented stare of death. \u201cS\u2019posed to,\u201d she gasped. \u201cAss\u2026hole.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fangs bared in an angry snarl, he shoved her away from him.<\/p>\n

Cordelia slammed into the wall. Her head connected with a sharp THWAK.<\/p>\n

The air rushed out of her lungs, and the world started to spin. Pain exploded, like a cold, white light, through her brain. Groaning, she slid down until she sat half slumped against the wall.<\/p>\n

She almost passed out. In fact, all things considered, passing out would have been a good. But the visions had given her a high tolerance for pain. Automatically, she tried to move through it. To push past it.<\/p>\n

\u201cDammit!\u201d Reverting back to his human guise, he hunkered down in front of her. \u201cNot smart.\u201d<\/p>\n

She barely heard him. Her mind was focused on one thing. Getting away. Which it looked like she wouldn\u2019t be able to do on her own. She needed help.<\/p>\n

\u201cDennis?\u201d she said, a shaky whisper. The ghost had gotten stronger since Faith broke in that time. He could\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d her captor exclaimed, making her jump a little. \u201cLook at what I bought today.\u201d He pulled a rock out of his pocket. \u201cDoesn\u2019t look like much, I know. But the guy I bought it from said it actually *neutralizes* ghosts.\u201d He shook his head in wonder. \u201cCan you believe it? I mean, it doesn\u2019t work against really powerful\u2014or really pissed\u2014off ghosts. Just your more harmless, relatively weak ones.\u201d A worried frown tugged at his brow. \u201cHey, you don\u2019t think this could be effecting Dennis, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordy squeezed her eyes shut. No help there.<\/p>\n

She felt disconnected from her body. She could feel it, but couldn\u2019t get it to do what she wanted it to do.<\/p>\n

Still, she managed to force her head up a little, to focus her eyes on his face. To smile with satisfaction when she saw the scratches on his cheek.<\/p>\n

Head tilted to the side, he studied her. \u201cGod, you really are beautiful. I mean, I\u2019ve been around a long time. I\u2019ve seen standards of beauty change more often than I can count. But beauty like yours never goes out of style.\u201d He grinned. \u201cSo, I\u2019ll try not to damage the face.\u201d<\/p>\n

She flinched at the threat. \u201cGo to hell,\u201d she croaked.<\/p>\n

Hands almost gentle, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. \u201cOnly if I can take you with me,\u201d he said. And he ran one finger down her cheek.<\/p>\n

Cordelia whimpered. She didn\u2019t mean to. But the truth of her situation was sinking in deeper and deeper.<\/p>\n

And she thought of all the people she would never see again. Wesley, Gunn and Fred.<\/p>\n

And Angel.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get this show on the road,\u201d he said. Grabbing her under her arms, he stood up and yanked her to her feet.<\/p>\n

It was too much. The swift movement. The sudden change in altitude.<\/p>\n

The pain slammed into the back of her skull like a hammer.<\/p>\n

As everything went dark, she sagged against him.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Angelus held her clasped to his chest. He liked how warm she was against his cold skin.<\/p>\n

That was one good thing about humans. Their warmth. And their scent.<\/p>\n

He rested his chin atop her head, closed his eyes, and breathed her in. He\u2014the other one\u2014did it all the time. He used to try to deny it. To pretend he didn\u2019t try to stay within sniffing distance of her at all times. Then he decided it was a harmless pleasure and let himself enjoy. Now, searching out her scent, even in a crowded nightclub, filled with hundreds of hot, sweaty bodies, was second nature to him.<\/p>\n

He used to wonder what she would taste like too. Not so harmless.<\/p>\n

For hours, he would sit, and think, and wonder. And feel guilty for thinking, and wondering, and imagining.<\/p>\n

Of course, now, he liked to pretend he didn\u2019t have that particular craving. In fact, he pretended so well that he\u2019d almost convinced himself it was true.<\/p>\n

Angelus smiled. Well, he didn\u2019t have to pretend. He was going to taste his fill. And live out some of the dreams he\u2014the other one\u2014tried so hard to forget.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Deanna Downs glared at the scene before. And the thing she\u2019d created.<\/p>\n

She could feel the other one who\u2019d been trapped here for so long. Immobilized. Powerless. And so scared for that girl.<\/p>\n

She could feel the stone. It tried to hold her down. To make her powerless and weak, too.<\/p>\n

But she was too angry for it to touch her.<\/p>\n

She could feel her time running out. Soon, she would slip away. Like Jack had. Only one thing had held her here this long.<\/p>\n

She had to finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis time,\u201d she promised. \u201cThis time, I\u2019ll get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Cordelia gasped. She reared back, almost jerking out of his hold.<\/p>\n

Frowning, Angelus grabbed her upper arms. What was this?<\/p>\n

Cordy\u2019s eyes popped open.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmph,\u201d he huffed. \u201cDidn\u2019t think you would wake so soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Or had she? She didn\u2019t seem to be awake. Her eyes were glazed, staring through him.<\/p>\n

He glowered at her. This was something\u2026unexpected. And, at the moment, the unexpected wasn\u2019t what he wanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia?\u201d he barked. And, when he got know response, he gave her a shake.<\/p>\n

And she began to speak.<\/p>\n

But they weren\u2019t really words. They were like music, sung with two voices. A language. But not.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, a phantom breeze filled the room. Tossed the curtains and ruffled Cordy\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n

A force moved between them. Pushed them apart.<\/p>\n

As Angelus stumbled away from her, Cordelia started to fall. But, then, some invisible\u2026something propped her up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell?\u201d the vampire exclaimed, suddenly uneasy.<\/p>\n

When the sapphire mist appeared, surrounding him like wisps of fire, uneasiness turned to fear.<\/p>\n

And Cordelia began to speak words he could understand.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom these flames,\u201d she began, her voice an echo, \u201cbring forth life in the image I desire. Created from my will. Bound to my will. I am the Master, whom the servant will obey!\u201d<\/p>\n

The flames rushed at him. Into him. And burned beyond his undead flesh.<\/p>\n

The force of it knocked him off his feet, and he crashed to the ground.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Finally finished, Deanna Downs departed. Leaving the pretty girls battered body.<\/p>\n

And Cordelia Chase collapsed.<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Cordelia woke slowly. Her mind focused on every ache. Every pain.<\/p>\n

She moaned softly and opened her eyes\u2026<\/p>\n

In time to see the vampire rise to his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh God,\u201d she gasped as the memories flooded back.<\/p>\n

His head snapped around. Angry eyes bored into her.<\/p>\n

New terror crashed through her, and she struggled to sit up. She didn\u2019t know why she was still alive. But she wouldn\u2019t be for long if she didn\u2019t\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell did you do to me?\u201d he growled. Stalking towards her, he reached out.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t touch me!\u201d Cordy cried.<\/p>\n

And he snatched his hand back, almost like he\u2019d been burned.<\/p>\n

Fascinated, Cordelia watched him. He seemed shocked by his own actions, staring at his hand as if it wasn\u2019t his.<\/p>\n

Growling, he reached for her again.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet back!\u201d Cordy cried.<\/p>\n

And, with obvious reluctance, he staggered away from her.<\/p>\n

\u201cDammit!\u201d he yelled.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s when Cordelia had something very much like a vision. Only, without the pain.<\/p>\n

She saw Deanna Downs in her apartment. Performing some kind of ritual. Saying something that made no since.<\/p>\n

She saw herself, muttering the same nonsensical words. But with more confidence. More smoothly and lyrically than Deanna had earlier.<\/p>\n

And she knew what it all meant.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh God.\u201d<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Hurrying to Cordy\u2019s desk, Angel answered the \u2018phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel Investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel frowned. It was Cordelia. Her voice was faint. Shaky and uncertain.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy? What is it?\u201d Angel demanded, feeling a panic that had become all too familiar. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

She\u2019d had a blind date. And he\u2019d let Wesley convince him not to follow her.<\/p>\n

If anything had happened to her\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, Angel,\u201d she began. \u201cI d-don\u2019t\u2026I\u2026\u201d She paused. took a deep breath. \u201cI need you to come to my apartment, Angel. There\u2019s someone here you have to meet.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE END<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dannyblue<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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