*****

"How much longer?"

Gunn checked the winch. "Not long, maybe five minutes." The seer nodded and peered over the side of the boat.

"I still don't see what's so important about that box that you need it in the middle of the night. You aren't smuggling anything, are ya?" Asked the professional diver they'd hired.

"No, we're not smuggling, and the rest is none of your business. We're out of here as soon as the box is on our boat, ok?" Cordelia reminded him. They had to work it just right, so that he didn't see what was in the box. From Connor's rather reluctant description, there was a barred window for Angel to see out ofa place where the nosy diver could look into and see the vampire. Somehow Cordelia doubted they'd be able to keep him quiet. It had been hard enough getting him to take Gunn down with himthe vampire hunter had been certified to dive, but he hadn't gone in years.

"I can see it!" Fred shouted, pointing into the murky water. She was standing on the other boat, the one that Gunn had rented out for this expedition. Gunn swung the boom over towards Fred as the box came out of the water. She guided it onto the deck and released the cables, letting them dangle free. Gunn brought the boom back and picked up his gear to take back to the other boat.

"So that's it?" The diver asked as Cordelia and Gunn clambered onto the other boat. "You're not gonna open it?"

"It's full of old papers," Cordelia lied. "We have to take it to one of those special restorers." Gunn fired up the boat and motored away, leaving a well-paid but confused diver behind them.

Once they were clear of that boat, and any others they could see, Fred and Cordelia began to pry open Angel's tomb. After a few minutes of work, they got the top off. Angel bobbed up to the surface, no longer held down by the lid. The reason why the diver hadn't said anything about there being a body was clearAngel had somehow gotten turned over, his clothes floating up to cover his head. Fred and Cordelia grabbed his arms and legs and hauled him out of the watery container, flopping him down hard on the deck. Then they backed up quickly, reaching for the fresh human blood they'd procured earlier. Fred carefully opened the spigot of one thermos and slid it on the deck, letting it stop right next to Angel's head. Both women wanted to go help Angel, but he'd been underwater for almost a week, and there was no telling what condition he was in. If he was too weak to move, they'd be able to return to him and help him feed. If he'd retained some of his strength, though, they were afraid he might not recognize them and attack.

After about ten minutes, they figured he didn't have the ability to do anythinghe hadn't even opened his eyes. Fred went to his side and levered him up so he was lying across her, head and chest tilted up. Cordelia picked up the blood and tipped it over a bit, working the spigot into his mouth. Some of the red liquid went in; the rest trickled down his face, mixing with residual salt water in a pinkish trail.

They watched, worried, as Angel didn't respond. "Vampires do turn to dust when they die, right?" Fred asked Cordelia.

"Yeah, so he's not really dead dead, just undead," Cordelia confirmed. "Did he just move?" She asked, having seen what she thought was a twitch.

Angel was hallucinating. That was the only explanation he had for the delicious taste of human blood he found in his mouth. Even with the salt water pickling his insides, it tasted beautiful. He licked at it, wanting more even if it was an illusion. More and more poured into him, flooding his mouth. It warmed his throat, pooling in his stomach. Unfortunately, his stomach was full of sea water. As soon as the blood hit it, he began to vomit.

"Shit!" Cordelia cursed, yanking the blood away.

"What's happening?" Gunn asked over his shoulder.

"He swallowed sea water," Fred explained. "It's coming up."

"I think he breathed it too," Cordelia added. "But at least he's awake."

Angel coughed and spat, cringing at the burn of salt in his nostrils and mouth. He had water in his lungs from trying to call out, to scream for help. It had been a stupid thing to do. He hacked some more, trying to get the last of the stuff out. Then he opened his eyes and looked around. "Cordy?" He moaned, seeing the seer standing over him.

"Hey, Angel," Cordelia said softly. "You look like hell."

"Feel it," He muttered. His eyes lighted on the thermos. That was where the blood had come from. If only she'd give it back to him.

"I bet you're starving," She said, reading his mind. "Here." She tipped the thermos again, using it like an oversized baby bottle. He grimaced at the idea of being hand-fed, but he didn't have much choicehis arms weren't working very well. The blood was still good, still fresh and still human. They must have paid a lot to get that quantity of good human blood.

Fred held Angel steady while they finished feeding him. Once he was done, the vampire stood on his own, albeit on shaky legs, and looked at his friends. "Thanks. How did you know where to find me?"

"Connor," Fred whispered. "He told us, finally."

"Oh," Angel said, sinking onto a cushioned bench.

...

"So now that Lorne's gone, who's gonna be the comic relief around here?" Gunn asked as he strode through the lobby. Fred grinned and stood to greet him.

"I dunno," She replied brightly. "Angel, maybe?"

Connor growled menacingly at the young woman and buried himself deeper in the sofa. He'd buckled under the relentless pressures of Gunn, Cordelia and Fred trying to get him to fess up to where he'd put Angel, but he wasn't happy about it. The dark vampire had immediately resumed his attempts to befriend the boy, but it wasn't working. Connor actually believed Angel now, when he said that he hadn't killed Holtz. The teen could well see Justine doing it; especially after what she did to Wesley and others. However, that didn't change the fact that Angel was a monster. A demon. He put up with Cordelia because she was this weird demon that made him feel ok, and she never made an evil face or fed off people. She just glowed and told Angel to go help people and floated around sometimes. He didn't understand why she was so hung up on Angel, though. That made him sick to his stomach. A person as nice as she was should've been able to find a guy willing to put up with the demonic parts.

"Shut up, Connor," Gunn snapped. "Where's Angel?"

"In the office, trying to figure out Wethe filing system," Cordelia chirped. "Waiting on a well, one of these, actually," She said, reaching for a pad of paper. While the others watched, Cordelia took detailed notes on the vision she was having. "Someone go get Angel, hmm? This one is nasty."

"What did you see?" Angel asked from the office door. He'd heard her orders from in there.

Cordelia smiled at the vampire. "Demons. Lots of them. They were killing peoplemostly kids and old people and moms and pets and stuff."

The others stared in shock. "How many?" Gunn inquired.

"Demons or people?" Cordelia asked. "Really, though, lots of both. At least fifty of the demons, and I can't even count the number of people I saw die, but it was a lot. And they weren't all in one place. It was more like a bunch of individual pictures strung together."

"What did the demons look like?" Angel asked hurriedly. If there was a big clan in town, they needed to get going.

Cordelia frowned slightly. "About your height, but not as big. Grayish skin, smooth, black hair. Dark eyes. Claws, no horns. They hissed a lot, and ate their victims." She closed her eyes, concentrating. "They all carried the same type of knifelong and thick, single-edged, with a weird handle. Looks like bone or something."

Angel immediately went to the book collection. "A large clan you said?" He began to flip through books. "Gunn, you and Fred may want to pitch in. This could take a while."

"Anything?" Cordelia asked an hour later. She and Connor had joined in the searching, although the teen wasn't really doing anything. "I'm not finding squat."

"This looks promising," Fred murmured, pushing a book over to Cordelia. "What do you think?"

Cordelia studied the drawing and description. "It certainly fitsvery well. Especially the knife. It's exactly what I saw."

Angel reached for the book. "You're sure?" He asked, his voice almost desperate.

"Yeah," Cordelia confirmed, nodding. "Why? Is it bad?"

"Vraiyl demons," He hissed. "They're not native to this dimension. And yeah, they're bad news. Very bad."

"Oh," She murmured. "So they got here how?"

"One guess," Gunn spat. "They needed legal advice?"

"I hate them," Cordelia said vehemently. "How do we get rid of them?"

Angel shook his head slowly. "I don't know," He admitted. "I've never heard of anyone actually encountering one and surviving. They're powerful."

"Great," Cordelia moaned. "Why couldn't it have been Fyarl demons? I mean they're easy to" She stopped talking as another vision hit. "Whoa. This is majorly weird. Angel? Got some paper?"

Angel handed over Cordelia's notepad and waited impatiently as she began to write. "What did you see?" He asked fretfully.

"Makes the last one seem normal," She muttered. "First it was more of these demons. Lots more, everywhere. I don't think all of the scenes are in LA; I'm sure I recognized places in Sunnydale." Angel's eyes narrowed. "But that's not really the weird part. I saw Wesley," She continued. When Angel made to interrupt her, she pressed on. "And Spike, and Xander. They were fighting the demonsand winning. Actually, they were doing well against them. But none of us were there," She added. "Just those three. And a lot of demons."

Angel scowled. He did not like the idea of Wesleyor the other two menbeing involved in Cordelia's vision. That meant that they played some role in it, either as a victim to be saved or someone who's help was necessary. From the way Cordelia described it, it was the latter. "Let's see what we can find out about these demons."

Cordelia nearly kicked something. Angel could be so dense sometimes. It was rare that The Powers sent her helpful hints and tipsusually the visions were just bloody, gory pictures. Now he didn't want to use that help because the people involved weren't his favorites. "Fine. But if we don't find a good, easy solution in an hour, we're tracking down Wesley and driving to Sunnydale."

"Excuse me?" Angel grated out. "We're doing what?"

His tone of voice really pissed Cordelia off. Nobody talked to her like she was some sort of idiot. "I said we're gonna get Wes and go to Sunnydale. Angel, I saw what these demons are capable of. They like childrenfor dinner! I'm not going to stand by and let a bunch of innocent people die because you don't like Wes, Xander and Spike. I don't like them either, in case you've forgotten. That doesn't mean they aren't important to this. The Powers don't send me these damned visions for their entertainment value."

Angel knew the look in those eyes. If he didn't capitulate, she'd go behind his backand tying her up wasn't an option. "Fine. If we don't find anything."

...

Wesley opened one bleary eye to glare at the door. How dare it bark like that? Hells, he knew someone was there, he just didn't want to see who it was. They didn't leave, though, even when he refused to answer. Finally the man got up and went to tell whoever it was to go the hell away.

"Wes," Angel growled, seeing the hated man's face appear. "You stink."

"Why, thank you, Angel. You needn't feel compelled to come all the way over here to tell me that, though," Wesley replied, already closing the door.

"Wait!" Cordelia shouted, shoving her foot into the doorway. "We need your help."

"No, you don't," Wesley replied, nudging her foot out of the way. He slammed the door shut and bolted it. Then he ran to a bookshelf and found his already prepared de-invitation spell. The strength of his newly-fortified door would keep the humans out, and a simple spell would ensure that Angel never stepped foot in his home.

"Please!" Cordelia called out. "I had a vision. You were in it."

"I can save myself, or die myself, without your aid," He snarled, casting the spell quickly. He heard Angel pounding on the door and finished before the vampire actually broke the thing down, relishing the yip of pain the vampire gave when the spell zapped him.

"It's not that, Wes. There are demons, bad ones. Vraiyl demons. After kids and stuff. I saw you fighting them, and winning," Cordelia begged through the door. "Please?"

Wesley slumped to the floor as the words registered. Vraiyl demons? How had they gotten here? No, he wouldn't weaken and capitulate. He would never crawl back to them, just to be kicked to the curb when the current crisis was averted. "Go away. I'm not helping you."

"A spell and a solid wood door won't keep us out," Angel threatened. "The Powers say you've got some role in this. Either you come with us now, or you wait until a lot of people die and still help us anyway."

Wesley cursed himself even as he stood. He knew he'd be going, even before Angel had spoken. He had no pride, really. Besides, maybe Lilah would leave him be, at least while he was with the others.

*****
Part 2:

"Hey, Giles, whatcha need?" Buffy asked as she walked into the shop. The Watcher had called her while the girls were out patrolling, saying that he had important information for her. She'd promised to stop by as soon as she dropped Dawn off at home.

Giles took of his glasses and began to rub the bridge of his nose. "Angel called."

Buffy leaned against the counter. "What about?"

"Cordelia had a vision, one that involves several people and a large number of very dangerous demons. They believe that part of the solution to defeating the demons is here in Sunnydale."

"When do they get here?" Buffy inquired.

"Tonight," Giles replied. "I've called the others; they should arrive soon."

Indeed, the rest of the gang showed up a few minutes later. Willow immediately took a seat at the research table, looking a bit wan but otherwise ok. Her recovery was going along quicklyat least the magickal part. The loss of Tara still weighed heavily on her.

"What's he doing here?" Buffy spat, glaring daggers at Spike. The blonde-and-brunette vampire nodded once in her direction and found a seat as far from everyone else as possible, barely avoiding getting kicked by Xander as he passed.

"I would not have invited him, but Angel insisted," Giles replied. "Why, I do not know."

"Maybe he'll do us all a favor and stake the bastard," Xander snarled. "Or we could just do it ourselves." Only Willow seemed to notice that Spike didn't react to the insults and threats.

"Regardless, we shall wait until Angel arrives," Giles murmured.

"Yeah, but I'm still not liking this," Xander muttered. "He works LA, we work Sunnydale. No mixing, you know?"

...

Angel led a tense group into the Magic Box. Of course, it had also been a very tightly mashed group; no one had been willing to drive in a separate car, so six people crammed into Angel's. The only thing that had saved the trip was Connor's willingness to sit next to Wesley. Otherwise, someone would've died. "Giles," Angel said quietly as everyone filed in.

"Ah, Angel," Giles replied. "Perhaps you could shed some light on this situation? We so rarely receive a summons from you."

Angel winced. Yeah, he'd been a bit harsh on the phone. "Cordelia had a visionof Vraiyl demons."

Buffy frowned a bit, and Willow sort of grimaced. Giles, however, nearly fell over. "Are you sure? Vraiyl? That is impossible!" He ran over to a bookshelf, pulling down a huge, leather-bound volume. "They never come to this dimension; besides that they are nearly extinct!"

Angel shrugged and looked around. "Cordelia is pretty positive that's what they are."

"And she can speak for herself, too!" Cordelia snapped. "Giles, I know what I saw, right down to the weirdo knives they carry. What Angel's not telling you is the other parts of my visions. We're here because we know we need your help."

Buffy responded to that. "You saw us in your visions?"

"I thought you usually saw people who needed help," Xander asked.

Cordelia shook her head. "Nope, I'm sure I saw some of you defeating the demons, along with some of us." Willow cocked her head at the plentiful use of hazy pronouns, but didn't call the woman on it. Instead she studied the newcomers she didn't recognize. Brief descriptions she'd gotten from others helped her put names to facesGunn and Fred. The teenage boy she couldn't name, though.

"So what's it take to kill a Vraiyl demon, Giles?" Buffy asked, also looking at the strangers. "And not to be rude, but.who are you all?"

Angel glanced at his companions. "You know Cordelia and.Wes," Angel began. Wes's name was almost hissed. "This is Gunn and Fred."

"What about him?" Buffy asked, pointing at the kid. "Isn't he a bit young? I mean, Slayers start out in diapers, but I thought you were more of the 'mature adult' type."

"His name is Connor," Angel murmured. He wasn't sure he could live through an explanation of who Connor was.

"Very helpful," Buffy muttered. "Giles?"

Giles carried the heavy book over to Willow at the study table. "If Cordelia is certain she saw Vraiyl demonsand she does seem to be, then we all are in a great deal of danger, along with the rest of the world." The older man's tone of voice was serious enough to get everyone's attention, and they drew closer to the tableeven Spike, though he hung back at the fringes of the group. The blondish vampire still hadn't spoken a word.

"What's so bad?" Xander asked, studying the picture Giles had revealed.

"The Vraiyl are an ancient demonic race. They flourished many millennia ago, in a demon dimension with which our own world has no regular contact. In fact, according to this book no Vraiyl has ever come to this world," Giles explained. "They were a brutal race, wantonly violent, yet intelligent. They did not simply destroy; they carefully and methodically stripped entire dimensions of everything of value. Everythingnot just material goods, but hope, purity and love. When the Vraiyl swept through an area, they left behind a barren wasteland. It is thought that several of the hell dimensions are the product of their attacks. Some historians believe that before the Vraiyl, many of those dimensions were lovely, habitable places."

"So it's the demon version of Genghis Khan?" Xander summarized. "How'd they get here?"

"We figure it's Wolfram & Hart, our major enemy in Los Angeles," Fred replied. Giles nodded. He had spoken briefly to Wesley about them more than a year ago.

Buffy peered over the book. "So how to we get rid of them?"

Giles grimaced. "According to this text, as well as what I have read in others, there are not many ways to kill them. They are quite strong, quick, and wily fighters. However, that is not their true strength. At their peak, they hugely outnumbered their opponents, but unlike most demonic hordes, they were well-organized. Buffy, you could become proficient at killing them, yes, but for how long could you fight them, knowing that there were a hundred to replace every one you killed?"

Buffy slumped back in her seat. "So how were they defeated before? You said they were almost extinct."

"She's got a point," Gunn confirmed. "They had to get that way somehow."

Giles turned a page in the book. "The only real enemies the Vraiyl had were the Xsha, another species of demon. To quote this book, 'The Xsha carried the Altenalium, a weapon capable of destroying the Vraiyl. It alone was effective against the horde."

"So we get our hands on the Altenalium and slay the Vraiyl?" Xander asked. "Where does one get an Altenalium?"

"You don't," Spike murmured. "Not if you know what's good for you."

"Why not?" Gunn asked the vampire. He wondered what was wrong with Spike. From all he'd been told, the vamp was a loudmouthed asshole.

"It's guarded by Thraid Alel," Angel replied for Spike.

"I'll bite," Xander said. "Who or what is Thraid Alel?"

"Demon," Spike said softly.

"A bit more than that," Giles stated. "Thraid Alel has a reputation that easily rivals that of the Vraiyl. It is written that he caused at least three dimensions to collapse upon themselves, out of rage at their inhabitants."

"What got him so mad?" Fred inquired.

"They didn't worship him," Angel said.

"How come you all know about this?" Buffy asked. "Giles, I get. But what about Spike and Angel?"

Angel shifted uncomfortably. "It's something like Alcathla," He murmured. "Almost a legend."

"But like Alcathla, Thraid Alel and the Altenalium are very real," Wesley added hesitantly. "Except that no one has ever managed to wrest the Altenalium from Thraid Alel."

"Is there any other way to stop these demons?" Buffy asked. "'Cause this way doesn't look too good."

Giles flipped through the book. "We may certainly continue searching," He said. "However, we may not find anything."

"And in the meantime, a lot of people are going to die," Cordelia said flatly. "I saw the visions, I know what I'm talking about. How do we get this Altenalium?"

Giles studied the girl carefully. Cordelia had changed a lot since high school. She certainly took her position as seer very seriously. "Thraid Alel resides alone in a rather isolated demon dimension," He said, summarizing from the text. "As stated here, willing individuals must go to Thraid Alel and ask for the Altenalium. The weapon is freely given to those who desire it."

"That sounds too easy," Xander murmured.

"I recall there being more to it than that," Wesley added. "Somewhere there is a book with more information."

"Which we will find and read," Angel growled. Giles looked skeptically at the vampire, but said nothing. He got up and waved Angel over to the bookshelves so they could search.

The book wasn't hard to find; within a few minutes Giles was once again speaking to the group. "Ah, more information. The Altenalium must be retrieved by exactly three individuals, all willing volunteers."

"That's it?" Buffy said, echoing Xander. "Not really helping."

"Do you have to fight Thraid Alel?" Gunn asked.

"I thought he said it was freely given," Fred said. "Earlier, you know."

"So, who goes?" Buffy asked, standing up. "Three people go to this dimension, pick up the weapon, and stick it to the Vraiyl."

"That will take a portal spell," Angel told her. "Crossing dimensions isn't easy."

"I believe I can manage a portal spell," Giles said. "However, this may not be a very wise course of action."

"Why not?" Xander asked. "Three people go and come back, then we finish this before the demons really start to act up."

"'Cause from the vision I'm getting right this second, we don't have much time," Cordelia added. "They're spreading out, going across the country."

"We don't have time," Buffy said to Giles. "Get the spell ready. Me and Angel and who else will go?"

Cordelia, Giles and Angel all spoke at the same time. "No! You're not going! Angel can't go!"

"Whoa!" Xander shouted. "One at a time."

Giles began. "Buffy, you cannot go. What if something happens? Who will be here to try to stop the Vraiyl?" He didn't add that he wasn't about to let her go anyway. "I will go."

Angel shook his head. "He's right, Buffy, you shouldn't go. We need you here, in case something happens."

"Excuse me," Cordelia barked. "But I'm vision-girl, and I've got something to say." Everyone turned to watch the ex-cheerleader. "I had this vision earlier. And in it, three of us were fighting these demons and winning. Now, I'm thinking that those three were the ones who went and got this Alty thingy."

"No!" Angel said harshly. "No."

Giles frowned at the vampireand not for the first time that evening. "Why not? Who did you see, Cordelia?"

Cordelia ignored Angel and answered the Watcher. "Wesley, Spike and Xander."

As soon as she was done, all hell broke loose. Buffy, Xander, Willow and Giles were shouting. Spike stepped back, trying to escape the fray. Gunn and Fred attempted to calm Angel, who was nearly in gameface, he was so mad. Connor and Cordelia just sat back and watched the show.

"HEY!" Cordelia yelled a few minutes later. "I don't know what your problems are," She said in a slightly lower voice, "But get over them. It makes sense to send them. A lot of sense."

"Explain," Giles said angrily. "How is it logical to send Spike," He growled, "Wesley and Xander?"

"Wesley cannot go," Angel spat. "He is untrustworthy."

"Untrustworthy?" Xander echoed. "How?"

"He sent myhe sent Connor to the Qorgoth!" Angel grated out. "He is irresponsible. A danger. He cannot be counted upon to do this!" Giles, the only one in the room who understood the implications of being sent to the Qorgoth, paled. He stared in horror at Wesley.

"It was an." Wesley's voice faded out. Why bother?

Giles looked at Wesley very closely. There was more to this situation than anyone was letting on. "Cordelia, I believe you were explaining?"

"Yeah, I was," She said, glaring at Angel. "From the way you talk about it, going for this Alty thing is dangerous. I mean, it's guarded by a big bad demon. Who better to send than the three most expendable people you have?"

"Expendable?" Xander shrieked. "Since when am I expendable?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Angel's a warrior for The Powers. I'm his seer. Gunn's good at what he does and helps hold an entire community together. Fred's already survived five years in another dimension, and Connor's been in a hellish one for about fifteen. Buffy's the Slayer, Willow's the best witch we've gotand not looking good at the moment, I might add, and Giles is our resident expert on bookish things. That leaves you, doughnut boy, Wesley the idiot, and Spike, who if he died wouldn't be missed."

"When you put it that way," Xander spat, "Fuck no!"

Wesley didn't look much happier. He knew he was expendable, but to hear Cordelia be so harsh towards Xander.

"If it's so important, maybe we should send in people with more.qualifications," Gunn reasoned. Yeah, the old neighborhood was important, but it didn't sound like it would be around much longer if they didn't deal with this.

"I saw those three," Cordelia insisted. "There's something about them," She continued. "The Powers showed me them, not you, not Angel, not Buffy."

"I do not believe that you would qualify anyway, Mr. Gunn," Giles murmured. "There is a bit more in the text, if you look closely."

"What?" Buffy asked the Watcher.

"It says, 'They must be of a kind, father or mother. Washed in the blood of the Mother Terrible, betrayed and reviled by many," Giles read. "Of a kind means that whoever goes must be either all male or all femalemother or father."

"What's that washed in blood part?" Xander asked. "Cause I don't remember any bad mommies."

"Mother Terrible is a rather common demonic slur referring to the Slayer," Giles explained. "Xander, you and Wesley have been touched by both Faith's and Buffy's blood. Spike has had contact with at least three Slayers and perhaps more."

"Can't deny that we're hated," Xander muttered. "I mean, my ears are still ringing from Cordelia's little love poem."

"I also could go," Angel insisted. "I've had Slayer blood on my hands, and am well hated by many."

"And who's going to take care of the visions when you go awayagain?" Cordelia retorted. "Cause I'm not doing the 'without Angel' stuff a third time. Twice was enough for me."

"I'll do it."

Every head in the place swiveled to stare at Spike. He quailed a bit under all the attention. "Why?" Giles inquired curiously.

"Needs to be done," Spike replied.

Wesley bit his lip. As much as he hated ever agreeing with the vampire, Spike did have a point. It needed to be done. "I'll go as well." He tried to ignore Angel's outraged glare.

"Very kind of you," Giles said dryly. Perhaps Wesley would find Thraid Alel's dimension as pleasant as Connor had found the Qorgoth.

Xander scowled. It wasn't that he didn't want to helphe did. But why him? "Fine, I'll do it. Just, please, tell me what we're up against?"

"I can't believe this," Angel growled, throwing himself into a chair. "We're sending two idiots and a maniac!"

"Oh, shut up!" Cordelia yelled. Sometimes she wondered how she could have possibly fallen in love with Angel. He was infuriating, not to mention childish.

"We will amass as much information as we can," Giles assured Xander. "It is very important that you succeed."

"Somehow, that's not very reassuring," Xander mumbled.

*****