Danse Macabre 2/?

PART #: Part 2/?
AUTHOR (Real name and SG name): Charlotte/cHarley - Platinum Spike
DISTRIBUTION: At my site www.harley-quinn.co.uk. If you want it just ask.
DISCLAIMER: It all belongs to the despotic emperor Joss and his court Mutant Enemy, WarnerBros, evil Fox, etc). I own none of the characters but the thin thread of plot is mine and I cling to this like a life line. It's Mine! I tell you.
RATING: erm...PG 16
PG SUMMARY: W/A. Twisted devotion - Vintage Angelus.
NOTES: As I have occasionally done in the past...I have ignored the parts of the show I don't like. This is somewhere between Angel returning, before Tara but while the gang are at college and Spike has his chip and Faith has returned but she's a good guy...
DEDICATED: to cHeWtOy as always.
FEEDBACK: PLEASE???

I choose to start this story now...

~~Day plus 1...

"You're insistent that the screams you heard last night on your patrol were Willow? Buffy," Giles' sighed, pushing his glasses up his nose, "Willow is smart enough not to dally in the night. As for believing you felt Angel...

Buffy whirled around and faced her Watcher. "I called her house this morning and she didn't answer. I went past her house and knocked on the door. I even broke in through her window. She hasn't been there since I went to get her to go to The Bronze last night. I heard her last night Giles. I can *feel* that he's nearby."

"Buffy...maybe..."

"Maybe I'm paranoid. Maybe I'm telepathic. Maybe I'm overreacting Mr-earthquakes-are-normal-in- California-and-don't-foretell-certain-doom. It was Willow and I can feel both Angel and Angelus here in Sunnydale. I'm worried about her. We can deal with the Angel thing when she's safe."

"Hey B!! Angel's missing. We got back to LA and there was a message that the big bad he was researching was gone and so was he," Faith called out as she ran across the cemetery.

"But there was no reason to get out the dustbuster," Cordelia added.

"We haven't seen Willow since she stormed out of the Bronze yesterday. We're about to split up and start searching for her. Giles is being Mr Cautious but I think Angel is in town. We're meeting back at Mom's in two hours."

*

Willows body dangled from the manacles around her wrists. Angel didn't think he'd ever get tired of looking at her. She was beautiful. She was intelligent and loyal. She was funny and accepting. She was a quick thinker. She was learning to be a smart fighter. She had a fire...

He finally decided he'd keep her. If she didn't want to stay, he'd have to change her mind. And he only had a few days to make her decide. The Slayer and her friends would work it out and find them soon.

***

~~Day plus 2...

Angel turned to face Willow. She hadn't answered him when he had tried to draw her into conversation. He could see the defiance in her eyes and revelled in it. He tried a different tack.

"Do you really think they are out there searching for you? Do you think if they really cared you'd even be here now? You were asking for trouble, weren't you Willow? You prowled the streets begging for me to come to you. You knew I was near."

Willow's wide, frightened eyes looked up at him and blinked. She began to shake her head 'no', then her expression changed to thoughtful and she began to nod 'yes'. She wanted to tell him but the cloth tied around her head, stopping her from swallowing her own saliva prevented a verbal response.

Angel smiled. The abhorred resignation and self-disgust registered clearly on her expressive face. "You wanted them to notice you so you left them. I could smell your anger. That was how I found you. I followed you from the Bronze.

"You're magnificent when you're angry."

He twirled a lock of her firey hair around his fingers. "It's a race Willow. I'll make you mine, body *and* soul, before the Slayer and her chums find you. You won't want to go with them."

He let go of her hair and looked her in the eyes. "I've always been good to you haven't I Willow?"

She nodded.

"If you let me, I always will be and you'll never be forgotten or overlooked again."

Willow promised herself the luxury of this weakness was only temporary. She allowed herself to cry.

*

Buffy burst through the door and stalked across the room.

"Nothing?"

"No Giles. This isn't like Willow. She'd have let us know she was ok, no matter how angry she was."

"We've tried everything. We've all called and left messages, and been to her house. Nothing," Cordelia added. "And nothing from Angel either."

"We'll go out again tonight..."

2BC...