The Most Godless Among Them
Willow could feel the panic start to rise in her chest. She tried to move, but unseen hands held her arms and legs to the ground. She sensed more than saw a movement to her right. Her eyes burned as tears formed on her lower lids. She watched almost as if outside herself as a metal spike poised over the tender flesh of her wrist.
< What did I do!? >she screamed in her head. Fear had stolen her voice. < Oh, God. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. What ever I did, I'm sorry! >
Her heart caught in her throat as she saw the hammer rise over the spike. One tear slipped from the corner of her eye as she watched the hammer strike the head. In a single blow the cold iron pierced flesh and bone. Searing pain shot up her arm as a scream broke through the knot of fear in her throat.
She sat up straight in bed. Her heart raced against her ribcage as she gulped air into her lungs. A thin layer of cold sweat covered her body. She rubbed her right wrist. No puncture wounds to be seen, but it had a slight ache to it. Brushing away the tears on her cheeks, she glanced around the room. Buffy's bed hadn't been slept in. < She must have spent the night at Riley's. > she thought as she pushed her covers back. She walked on shaky legs to look at her reflection in the mirror hanging over her dresser.
She pushed her damp hair away from her face. Her pale complexion made the dark circles under her eyes look more pronounced. No one had said anything about her appearance yet. "Maybe it's not that noticeable," she told herself. She gathered a towel and her shower caddy and shut the door behind her.
Willow entered her room an hour later after a long hot shower. She tossed the damp towel in the hamper just as the phone rang. She picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Willow."
She was shocked at the voice on the other end. "Angel?" she asked as she sat on her unmade bed. "Uhm. Buffy's not here right now."
"Actually I called to talk to you."
"Me? Are you sure?" she asked. < Why would Angel want to talk to me? >
"Yes, I'm sure," he chuckled. "I need a favor."
< A favor? What could I possibly do for Angel? >she asked herself. "Sure."
"Our computer crashed."
< Well, that explains it. >"What did Cordy do to it this time?" she asked as she rolled her eyes.
"It wasn't my fault." Willow heard Cordy yell in the background.
"I never said it was your fault, Cordelia?" Angel sighed. "Willow, I was wondering if you could come to LA and fix it."
< "What I did on my summer vacation." By Willow Rosenburg, >Willow thought sarcastically. "Angel, I'm sure there are a lot of companies right there in LA that can fix it for you," Willow advised him.
"About three hundred of them according to the yellow pages, but you understand the nature of the information stored on the hard drive."
"And I work cheep."
"That too. I will pay you though."
"Today's the first day of summer break. I'll get a bus ticket and be there as soon as possible," she said as she started a mental check list of the things she'd need.
"Don't worry about a bus ticket. Spike can drive you," Angel said.
"Spike?" she asked as her nose scrunched up. "He's going to LA? He didn't say anything."
"He doesn't know about it yet," Angel chuckled.
< That one will go over well, >she thought as her eyebrows brushed her bangs. "Oh, okay. Just let me know if I need a bus ticket."
"Don't worry. Spike will drive you. Thank you, Willow."
"I haven't fixed it yet, Angel." She replaced the receiver and started pulling clothes out of her closet. She removed a long "granny" skirt. "God my clothes are ugly. Maybe Cordy will take me shopping," she said as she shoved the skirt back in her closet.
Spike growled as his hand pulled the phone receiver under the covers. "This had better be bloody important!"
"You're going to drive Willow to LA," Angel said in greeting.
The blonde vampire pushed the covers off his head. "The hell I am. What do I look like? A bleedin' taxi service?"
"I just thought you'd want to be here just in case I let it slip that you're in love with her."
Spike cocked an eyebrow. < How the hell did he know? > he asked himself. < Not a bad idea though, if she believed it. >"If that happened I might have to tell the Prom Queen the way you feel about her," he threatened with a smirk. < Got ya there, you bloody pouf. >
"She was the May Queen, not Prom. Besides, you think she'd believe you?" Angel asked.
< Damn. >Spike's smirk fell into a scowl.
"See you tonight, Spike," Angel said before he disconnected the call.
Spike slammed the phone into its cradle. "'See you tonight, Spike.'" He mimicked. "Bloody pouf. Just for that I'm gonna put Kool-Aid in your nancy-boy hair gel," he muttered to himself as he slammed dresser drawers. "Lime flavored."
Spike glanced down at Willow as she slept. She'd fallen asleep almost as soon as he put the car in gear. Initially she had her head propped against the window, but Spike had slowly eased her in his direction until her head rested on his thigh. He had noticed the dark smudges marring her ivory skin. < Probably studying for finals, > he thought as he brushed the backs of his fingers against her soft cheek. < She looks so peaceful. > He brushed a few loose strands of her red hair behind the delicate shell of her ear before returning his attention to the road.
"Cordelia, have you seen the file on..." Angel's words dropped off when he realized she was asleep. She didn't look very comfortable with her head pillowed on her folded arms on her desk. He walked around the desk and knelt down on one knee. He reached a hand out to wake her, but pulled back to admire her peaceful slumber. He was tempted to brush her parted lips with a finger, but held back. She inhaled deeply with a un-Cordylike snort before settling back into her nap. "Cordelia," he called quietly as he gently shook her shoulder. She just mumbled at him. "Cordelia," he said louder and nudged her.
She jerked her head up, narrowly missing Angel's. "What?" She looked into his dark brown eyes.
"You were sleeping," Angel said with a grin.
Her hazel eyes glared at him. "So why did you wake me up for?" she asked grumpily.
"Why don't you go home and go to sleep?"
"Cause I don't get any sleep there," she mumbled as she laid her head back on the desk.
"Dennis giving you problems?"
"No. I just haven't been sleeping well. Maybe I need a new mattress. What did you want?"
"It's not important." He glanced at the clock. Ten thirty. "Willow should be here soon. Why don't you go downstairs and take a nap until she gets here?"
< Hard uncomfortable desk or soft uncomfortable couch, >she debated. "Okay," she said as she pushed herself up from her chair and headed down stairs.
Angel didn't want to say anything, but Cordelia looked like hell. She had dark circles under her tired eyes that even make-up couldn't hide. He was worried. < Maybe while Willow's here she can take a few days off, > he thought.
Spike walked into Angel's apartment. "The prodigal son has returned," he called out.
Willow stumbled passed him and flopped down onto the couch. She landed on top of Cordelia, who let out a squeal. "Sorry, Cordy," Willow said as she jumped to her feet.
"No problem," Cordy said as she pulled her feet in to give Willow room.
"Cordy, can you take me shopping this week?" she asked around a yawn. "I have ugly clothes."
"About time you realized that," Cordy said as she snuggled into the arm of the couch.
Angel stepped out of the kitchen. He looked at Willow as she tried to keep her eyes open. "Willow, are you okay?"
"Fine. Just tired."
"Too many all night cram sessions?" he asked.
Willow blinked her eyes to stay awake. "Something like that," she said. Her eyelids finally won the battle and she drifted off.
"Spike," he said as he motioned for his childe into the kitchen. Once the blonde vampire joined him, he asked, "Is Willow okay?"
"As far as I know. Hasn't gotten much sleep lately, but she hasn't said anything. Why?"
"I don't know. Just a feeling I have."
Tendrils of smoke snaked up to the rafters from the incense burners positioned around the cavernous room. A lone figure knelt before an altar. His cloaked head was bent in prayer. The door to his left opened and a group of five cloaked figures entered, dragging a man.
Tears flowed freely down the struggling man's gaunt face. "Oh, God. Please, let me go. God, save me. Please," he begged.
The kneeling man finished his prayer before crossing himself. Silently, he motioned for the others to drag the man into position. When the man saw the large wooden cross on the floor he was stunned into silence. His eyes lifted higher until he saw the others. A soul piercing scream left his mouth.
The two largest figures held the man down while the others bound his limbs with rope. The tall figure made the sign of the cross before the pleading man. "Lord God, Our Father. Bless this lost soul as we show him the path to redemption."
The group of five moved into a semi-circle behind him. From within the loose folds of his cloak he withdrew an iron stake and hammer.
The lost soul began to pray in earnest. "Hail, Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death," his voice cracked at the last word.
Placing the sharp point above the sobbing man's wrist, he said, "Transgressor, may God have mercy on your soul." He swung the hammer down onto the stake. As the cold iron drove through flesh and bone, the man's screams echoed through the stone building. The action was repeated with the other wrist. By the time his feet were nailed to the cross, the man had passed out from pain.
Moving to a gold basin, he motioned the others to hoist the finished crucifix into position beside the three other transgressors. He dipped his hands into the bowl. Fascinated, he watched as the blood clouded the clear water.
"Very well done, Brother Giovanni," a voice carried from the back of the room.
Turning his head he picked up a towel. "Father Buscalli," he greeted as he dried his hands. Covering the basin with the towel, he moved to kneel before the older man. His eyes were drawn to the crest inlayed into the onyx ring on his left hand. It bore the Holy Cross, the Crown of the Kingdom of God, and a lamb to represent the Lamb of God. He pressed his lips to the cold black stone.
Standing they watched the others pull the crucifix upright with ropes and pulleys. The pulleys strained under the weight. Finally the long end was settled into a prepared hole in the floor. Once finished with their task they genuflected before Father Buscalli and reverently kissed his ring. They knelt in a semi-circle before him.
His Italian accent gave a robust life to his words. "Evil lurks around every corner in this so called City of Angels. We must be vigilant in saving these lost souls, brothers. We are the hand of God on Earth," he instructed.
Another cloaked figure rushed into the room. Kneeling before Buscalli, he kissed the offered ring.
"Speak, Brother Levi."
"Father, we have found them."
Buscalli placed a hand on the young brother's shoulder. "Excellent work, brother. Are there any souls that require redemption?"
"Yes. Two."
"Very good work indeed, brother. Follow them and wait for your opportunity. We must redeem these souls as they travel with the most godless among them."
Willow looked at the components scattered on Cordelia's desk. "Your hard drive is fried."
"I know. That's why we called you," Cordy said as she looked over the red head's shoulder.
"No. I mean fried as in melted. What did you people do to this poor thing? I don't suppose you have back up disks."
"Yes, we have back up disks. I'm not that stupid. They're right..." She turned to find the disks when a flash of pain brought her to her knees. She tried to pay attention to the images as they moved through her brain.
Willow grabbed Cordy before she fell on her face. "Angel!" she yelled.
Angel and Spike rushed into the room just as Cordy settled back against Willow. Angel knelt in front of the shaky brunette. "What did you see?" When she didn't answer right away, he lifted her icy hand in his own. "Cordelia? What happened?"
She tried to fight back her tears. "Uhm. A priest. Crucifixions."
Willow gasped. < Oh, God. > She swallowed hard against the panic rising in her throat. She could feel Cordy shaking against her. Rubbing her hands over the brunette's shoulders, she tried to calm her friend.
"You saw crosses?" Spike asked from behind Willow.
"No. People being crucified. Nails through wrists and feet."
Angel sensed she was holding something back. "What else?"
"An empty hollowed out building. Like a church. No one can hear you scream," Willow said quietly. "But you do it anyway."
Everyone turned to look at the stoic red head. "How did you know?" Cordy asked.
"I saw it. In my dreams."
"You dreamed it too? When?" the brunette asked as she turned to look at her friend.
"Started two weeks ago."
"Mine, too."
Spike and Angel exchanged a look over their heads. This definitely wasn't good.
"What dreams? Why didn't you say anything?" Angel demanded.
"Can I get some aspirin before you give me the third degree?" Cordy asked as she put her hand to her throbbing head. "Now I know why Doyle drank so much," she muttered under her breath.
"Pet, are you okay?" Spike asked as he put a hand on Willow's shoulder.
"Yeah. Just thinking. Cordy, did you dream last night?"
"Yeah. There was this huge sale at Neimen Marcus."
"No. I mean, did you have 'the dream'?" she clarified.
"Now that you mention it, I didn't."
"Neither did I for the first night in two weeks."
"What dream?" Angel asked again. < If anything ever happened to you, Cordy... > He couldn't bear to finish the thought. Life or rather un-life without Cordelia was a hell he didn't want to imagine.
"I'm being crucified," Willow said calmly.
"That's it?" Spike asked. < Bloody hell. How am I supposed to protect Willow from something that I can't even bloody look at? > he asked himself.
Willow's green eyes met his blue ones. "That's enough."
"Did he ever say anything to you?" Cordy asked.
"Not to me, no. He prayed over me before nailing my arm to the cross. It's kind of disturbing considering I'm Jewish and Wicca." Willow pushed herself off the floor and went back to the computer parts. "Angel, this is toast. I don't know what you did to it, but it's gone to silicon heaven. Got any money? I'll find you a good system."
"Uhm, Willow," Angel started.
"There's nothing I can do about it right now, Angel. If it's prophecy then it will come soon enough. If it's a warning, we got the message. Do you have a credit card or cash so I can get you back in business?" she asked with her resolve face.
Willow stood toe to toe with evil. With her resolve face set, she glanced down for a split second before staring into its beady little eyes. "Okay, Bob, here's how this works. I, the customer, tell you, the sales person, what I, again the customer, want. Then you, sales person, sell it to me, customer."
Bob swallowed as he tried to compose his response so as not to anger the red head further. "Ma'am, I believe you would be much happier with this system over here," he said as he tried to lead her to the display he wanted to sell her.
"I don't care what you believe, you twit. You didn't even ask what I needed the damn thing for anyway. How the hell would you know what would make me happier?" Willow asked. < God, I hate Future Shop! Hire any Joe Blow off the street, > she fumed silently to herself. "Is there anyone in this damn store that will sell me what I want?"
Cordy stood back and watched the redhead rip into Bob, sales person from hell. She actually felt sorry for the poor guy, but he made the mistake of trying to tell Willow what she needed in a computer. They'd checked almost every computer store in the area and reluctantly Willow agreed to try Future Shop. She hated the store, but due to some demented Murphy's Law they had the system she was looking to buy for Angel. She watched in amusement as customers gathered around them to watch the spectacle.
Cordy wasn't the only one who noticed the gathering crowd. Mr. Alberts, the store manager, realized there was a problem and went to investigate. He worked his way through the crowd to see a slim redhead arguing with his new sales person. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before walking up to the pair. "Excuse me, Bob, what's going on?" he asked, glaring at the man.
"Mr. Alberts, I was just showing Miss. Rosenberg some computer systems," he explained.
"Bullshit." Willow turned her sharp green eyes on the balding man. "I take it you're the store manager?"
"Yes, ma'am. I'm Mr. Alberts," he said as he held out a business card.
Willow glared down at the card. When she didn't take it, he put it back in his pocket. "Well, Mr. Alberts. I don't care what kind of commission that company is giving you to sell that crap," she said loudly as she pointed to the display Bob keep trying to sell her. "If you sell that piece of junk to your customers you might as well give them a box of chalk and a blackboard for all the reliability it has. Now the system I want is right over there. Are you going to sell it to me or not? And trust me if this store wasn't the only one to carry it, I wouldn't be here."
Mr. Alberts scowled at Bob before smiling at the angry red head. "Of course we'll sell you the computer you want, Miss Rosenberg. If you'd like to wait for me at the front desk, I'll ring you up myself," he said. He waited until the red head stormed away, followed by a beautiful brunette, and for the crowd to disperse before he turned to Bob. "You're fired," he said before heading for the back storage room.
"Will, how come you can tell of computer sales people, but not people who convince you to buy those ugly clothes?" Cordy asked as they walked out of the store with Angel's new computer.
"Because clothing sales people scare me."
"Spike, will you calm down?" Angel asked as he watched his childe pace around the living room.
"I will not calm down. I don't see how you can be so calm about this whole thing," he snarled. "I thought you had a thing for the Prom Queen."
Angel released an unneeded sigh. "I do care about Cordelia. I'm worried too, Spike, but it doesn't help matters to go off half cocked. It will only upset Willow and Cordy. And I think they're stressed enough," he rationalized.
"How are we going to help them?"
"I honestly don't know," Angel said as he rubbed his forehead.
"I have an idea," Spike said as he threw himself onto the couch.
"What?"
"I take Willow back home."
Angel looked at the peroxide blonde. "Spike, I don't think that will help."
"Prom Queen can come with us."
"Willow had the dreams in Sunnydale, too," Angel reminded him.
Spike jumped up from the couch to continue his pacing. He knew that taking Willow back to Sunnyhell might not take her out of danger. In fact Sunnydale probably contained more danger than Los Angeles, but at least they knew what to expect from the Hellmouth.
Angel watched his childe pace around the living room. He understood his need to protect Willow. It was the same desire to keep Cordy from harm. "Spike."
"I don't care. I'm taking Willow back to Sunnyhell tonight," he growled.
"I'm not going back," Willow's cold voice came from the doorway. Spike turned to see the angry red head heft the computer box to get a better grip. He recognized the anger sparking in her emerald eyes.
"Pet," he started.
"No, Spike. I'm not going back. Not until this is over. End of conversation," she stated firmly.
Angel saw the resolve, not only in her face, but also in every muscle in her body. There was no way Spike was going to win this one. He stood and walked over to her. "Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked trying to change the subject. He took the awkward box from her.
Cordy could feel the tension flowing between Willow and Spike. While she wanted her friend to be safe, she felt better knowing the red head would be with her through whatever was going to happen. Flashing one of her brilliant smiles, she hugged the tense red head. "You should have seen Willow in action, Angel. This dumb ass sales guy tried to sell her a piece of junk after she told him exactly what she wanted. She chewed him up and spit him out," Cordy gushed. "We even got a discount on that one." She pointed to the box Angel held. "I'm so proud of her." She gave Willow another supportive hug.
Willow continued to look Spike in the eye. She understood he didn't want her in danger, but it irritated her that he just decided on his own what she was going to do. "I just hate being told what to do," she said. Turning her attention to Angel, she smiled. "Let's get your new computer set up."
The aroma of frankensence burned her nose as she tried to draw a deep breath. Soon the strong odor was superceded by the aches in her body. The ropes binding her to the cross cut into her skin. She hung suspended from the cross bar by her wrists while her ankles were bound together against the course wood. Her fingers were numb from lack of circulation.
Cordelia tried to raise her head to look around, but the muscles in her neck and shoulders protested any movements. The silence was broken by a loud cracking sound. She lifted her eyes to peer into the darkness. In the far corner of the room she saw a flash of red. < Willow! > She tried to call out, but her parched throat produced only a croak. As the image became clearer, Cordy could hear the clanking of the chains binding Willow to the stake. When a dark figure stepped forward, Cordy wanted to scream a warning, but her vocal cords refused to cooperate. She saw the whip in his hand when he drew back his arm. Cordy could feel the bite on her own back as the black leather cut into Willow's tender skin. Tears blurred her vision as a ribbon of crimson appeared against Willow's white skin. The red head arched her abused back at the whip's bite. Her arms pulled tight on the iron shackles as they tried to pull free. Yet Willow made no sound.
< Stop! Oh, God! Please! No! Angel, where are you?! >Cordelia screamed inside her head. Tears of agony flowed from her hazel eyes.
"Willow!" she screamed as she sat up in bed. Her bedroom door burst open and Willow rushed into the room. Cordy threw herself into her open arms.
Willow wrapped her arms around the sobbing brunette. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks as the terrifying images still flashed through her brain. "Shh. It's okay, Cordy. I'm right here. I'm okay. You're okay," she whispered as she rubbed soothing circles over Cordy's back.
Cordy pulled back to look into Willow's pale face. She brushed away the tears from her friend's cheek. She took the tissue Dennis had waiting and wiped at her own tears. "Why?" she whispered. "Why is this happening?"
"I don't know." She glanced at the phone that hovered beside Cordy's head. "Thank you, Dennis." She punched in a number by memory.
Dennis placed a soft lime green bunny in Cordy's arms. "Thank you, Dennis," she said with a faint smile.
"Angel," Willow said when he picked up.
"What's wrong?"
"What makes you think something's wrong?"
"It's two o'clock in the morning, Willow."
"Oh, yeah. Can Cordy and I sleep over at your place?" she asked as she held onto Cordy's hand.
"Do you want me to pick you up?"
"Yes, please."
"Be there in ten minutes," he said as he hung up. Dennis took the receiver from her. "Cordy, get dressed and pack some clothes. Angel will be over in ten."
Angel opened the door to his bedroom to check on the girls. When he picked them up at Cordy’s last night he’d been concerned at their appearance, especially Cordelia. He didn’t think she walked out of her apartment to pick up the mail with out doing her make up, yet she was cosmetics free and looked like hell. Willow had comforted the tall brunette while Angel drove back to his place. Willow herself had blood shot eyes and dark circles under her eyes. He wanted to ask what happened, but decided to wait until morning to bother them.
Inside his bedroom he expected to see Cordy and Willow curled up under his covers, but only Cordy’s long hair could be seen peeking out onto the pillow. He watched her sleep peacefully for a few moments before shutting the door quietly. < At least, she sleeping finally, >he thought. When she walked through his door last night, she was still a nervous wreak. Willow has been able to sooth her nerves until her hazel eyes finally closed.
Taking the stairs so as not to wake anyone with the noise of the elevator, he checked his office. Angel finally found Willow sitting at Cordy’s desk working on the new computer. She sat with her legs crossed Indian style on the chair, one hand propped up her chin, and she pecked at the keyboard. She still wore the same sweats she had on when he picked her up in three hours ago.
Not wanting to startle her, he cleared his throat quietly.
“Oh, morning, Angel,” she said as she made a couple of clicks with the mouse.
“Morning, Willow. What are you doing up so early?” he asked as he moved see what she was working on.
“Searching.”
“For what?”
She lifted her eyes to stare into his dark brown eyes. “Churches and old warehouses,” she explained as she returned her attention to the screen.
Angel sat on the edge of the desk. Folding his arms across his broad chest, he glanced at the notes Willow had taken. “Find anything?”
Willow sighed as she pulled out a map. “Found about half a dozen that would fit the general discription.”
Angel took a look at the map. Willow had marked the six locations with a red pen. All of them fell beyond the reach of the Los Angelus sewer system. He would have to wait until sunset to start checking on them.
“There was something else that disturbed me.” Willow paused as she tried to understand her thoughts.
“What?”
“Maybe it’s nothing, but I remember a ring from my dreams.”
Angel set the map aside. “What did it look like?”
“I didn’t see it clearly, but for some reason I keep seeing a ring. It was a black stone. Jet, maybe onyx. Emerald cut and it had these images in gold on it.” A distant look fell over her face as she called forth the image in her mind.
“Do you remember what they were?” he asked.
“There was a crown and an animal of some sort. I couldn’t see it clearly. I’m not sure,” she sighed as she ran a hand through her hair.
< Why does that sound familiar? > he asked himself as he squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll figure this out, Willow.”
A small Willowy grin shone up at him. “I know.”
Angel was more worried about Willow than he let on. She seemed so calm and in control. Cordelia’s reaction seemed more fitting to the situation, but he worried about her also. “How do you think Cordy’s holding up?” he asked.
Willow stared at the dark vampire. He like the tall brunette a lot, even if he wouldn’t admit it. “Cordy’s going to be fine. She’s a lot stronger than she realizes. The dreams scare her, but when it comes down it, Cordelia Chase is a force to be reckoned with. I think she’ll be fine, Angel.”
Angel knew Cordy had a strength that she didn’t even know about. He’d seen her deal with Dennis’ mother. No one messed with the meanest girl in the history of Sunnydale High School. “What about you, Will? How are you holding up?”
“I’ll be fine. I may not be the meanest girl in Sunnydale history, but I’ve lived on the Hellmouth long enough to hold my own,” she said with a grin.
Angel chuckled at her discription.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Just the way you described Cordy.” Willow shrugged her shoulders. “You’re not going to stay mad at Spike, are you?”
“Well, not forever,” she said as she lowered her eyes.
“He’s scared. When he gets scared he gets bossy and mean. I guess he figures if he can control everything then he doesn’t need to be afraid,” Angel said trying to explain his child’s actions.
Willow mulled this over for a moment. “I can understand that. But it doesn’t mean I have to put up with it. It’s not like he’s my boyfriend or anything. NOT that my boyfriend would get away with that kind of behavior either,” she said pointing her finger at him.
“If he didn’t have feelings for you, Willow...”
“Don’t, Angel,” she interrupted him. “I’m not in junior high anymore. I don’t need someone telling me that someone else likes me. Spike can tell me himself if he wants, if not...I’ll live.”
Angel watched the young woman carefully. She was mature beyond her twenty years. < Hell, she’s twenty times more mature than Spike, but I guess that’s not saying much, > he thought to himself. “Okay,” he relented. Leaning forward, he whispered, “If you change you’re mind I can pass him a note before study hall.”
Willow laughed loudly. Covering her mouth with her hand, she tried to contain her amusement. It felt good to laugh. She felt as if it had been years since she found something to laugh at, but she knew it had only been a couple of weeks.
Angel smiled at her. Seeing amusement in her eyes again made him feel better. Willow deserved to be happy.
Cordy looked up as the front office door opened. She smiled brightly at the gorgous six foot blonde closed the door behind him. < A potential client, > she thought. Her hazel eyes took in the expensive tailored suit. < A potential client with money. Even better. > “Good evening. Can I help you?” she asked.
His brown eyes scanned the small office. He was used to higher standards, but beggers couldn’t be chosers. Settling his intence gaze on the mortal woman behind the desk. < At least he has some taste. > “Where is he?” he asked.
< Rude much? > “Who?”
He didn’t tolerate stupidity well, especially from minions. “Angel. Where is he?” he growled. His features morphed into familiar ridges of a vampire.
Cordelia jumped as the yellow eyes stared at her. “Uhm, just one moment please? Won’t you have a seat?” she asked as she motioned to the chair in front of her desk. She rushed into Angel’s office. “You’d better get out there.”
Angel looked up from his book. “Why? What’s going on?”
“There’s a vampire out there asking to speak to you. Well, asking in a general demanding kind of way,” she said.
Angel closed his book and set it on the desk. “Show him in.”
Cordy opened the door again. With her smile plastered on her face, she said, “You can go right in.” She held the door open for him. His features had returned to their human form.
Angel stood as the blonde vamp walked through the door. “What can I do for you?”
“We need your help,” he said as he sat down without being asked.
Angel looked at the closed door. “We?”
“The Los Angeles Consortium.”
“The Consortium?” Angel sat down and rested his forearms on the edge of his desk.
The blonde sat back in his chair. “Most major cities have one. A concave of several vampire clans working together towards a common goal.”
“I’ve heard of them in Europe, but didn’t realize the idea had spread to the states,” Angel said. Consortiums were not a good thing. They usually caused a lot of problems.
“The New world consortuims have little in common with the old world. We usually keep to ourselves and are involved in legitiment business operations.”
< That would explain why I’ve never heard of them. > “And you are their spokesperson?”
“If you will. My name is Andrew.”
“Well, Andrew, what exactly does the Consortium need my help with?” Angel asked.
“Our human minions have been disappearing. Four from my clan and the others have been reported several missing as well,” he said.
“Maybe they left on their own,” Angel suggested.
“No. Our minions are very loyal. Something’s happened to them. We’ve heard rumors that others have disappeared from other clans from outside the Consortium.”
“I always thought the Consortium didn’t work with outsiders. What exactly do you think I can do for you?” Angel asked.
“We do try to keep to ourselves, but this situation has grown beyond our reach. We know that you have your own contacts. We would compensate you well,” Andrew said as he removed a bill fold from his coat pocket.
Angel held up his hand. “Wait. Tell me what you know and then I’ll decide if I can help you,” he said.
“Spike, I wish you’d drop it. I’m not going back to Sunnydale yet,” Willow said as she opened the door. She stopped short when she spotted Cordelia kneeling in front of Angel’s office door.
Spike bumped into her. His hands automatically settling on her waist to keep her from falling. He watched the brunette curiously over Willow’s head.
Wilow broke the silence. “Cordy? What are you doing?”
She motioned for the red head to be quiet. “I can’t hear.”
Spike listened to the sounds in the other room. “You might want to get off the floor, ducks. They’re coming this way,” Spike said as he moved Willow over to Cordy’s desk. There was another vampire in Angel’s office.
Cordelia scrambled to her feet and set her butt in her chair just as the door opened. Angel glanced at the trio. He’d heard Cordy at the door and knew Andrew had as well. “Andrew, I’ll let you know if I find anything. If you could just check on that ring for me?” he said as he led him to the door.
“Of course. The Consortium appreacates this and will reward you accordingly,” he said as he made his exit.
Spike held his tounge until he sure the leison had left the building. “Did he say Consortium?”
“He did. Apparently there are twelve major Consortiums in the United States.” He gave Cordy a look. “Well, I know Cordy heard most of it, but I suppose I should fill you two in. Apparently, there has been a large number of minions disappearing around Los Angeles. Andrew is the spokesperson for the LA Consortium. They are concerned about these disappearances,” he said as he leaned against the door jamb.
“Did he have any leads?” Willow asked.
“Not much. He said they had complained about dreams like yours for a few weeks and one day they just didn’t show up.”
Cordy added the information together. “But Willow and I aren’t minions,” she said.
Spike looked at the brunette. “You work for Angel and Willow openly associates with both of us. So technically that makes you both minions. At least to other vampires.”
“Can I hand in my resignation now?” Cordy asked.
Cordy unlocked her front door. She dropped the keys on the entry hall table. "Hey, Dennis. Did you miss me?" she asked as she set her purse on the floor. The lights flicked on and off. "Missed you, too."
"Hi, Dennis," Willow said as she shut the door behind her. "Are you sure you want to sleep here tonight?" she asked.
The brunette flopped down on her couch. "We've crashed at Angel's for the last four nights without one dream. I want to sleep in my own bed. Not to mention I'm tired of sharing his bathroom. Did you know he had four different kinds of hair gel?"
Willow sat on the couch next to her. "I did not know that. Didn't really care either. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
"Me, too. Let's make dinner."
Cordy set her plate on the table when she heard the front door burst open. "What the hell?"
She rushed into the living room closely followed by Willow. They found four men standing in the living room. The strangers were quick to descend on the young women. Cordy opened her mouth to scream, but a hard upper cut rendered her unconscious. The blow threw her against Willow. The red head carried the added weight with her to the ground.
Before Willow could regain her senses, Cordy was lifted off her. A hand covered her mouth, preventing her from crying out. She was drawn up against a broad chest. She could only watch as her friend was tied up and carried out of the apartment. Willow tried to struggle against the powerful arms holding her. One of the intruders took a length of rope and bound her ankles while a gag was placed in her mouth. When her hands were tied behind her back they placed black hood over her head.
< Spike! > she screamed silently. She continued to struggle against her captors. She felt a sharp pain in her jaw before she fell into unconsciousness.
"Thank you, Andrew. I'll let you know when I find something," Angel said. He replaced the receiver.
"So, what did he have to say?" Spike asked.
Angel moved to his bookshelf to find a particular volume. "The ring Willow remembered from her dream belongs to a religious sect of the Church," Angel explained as he paged through the book. "They were called the Hand of God. They persecuted witches and minions through out the middle ages." Angel found the page he was searching for and set the book on the desk. "Here,' he said as he pointed to the sketch.
Spike looked at the illustration. "Yeah, so. What does it mean?"
"The Church excommunicated the sect during the eighteenth century. Apparently they kept practicing." Angel sat in the chair behind his desk.
"What's their MO? What do they want?" Spike asked.
Angel looked at his childe. "To redeem the lost souls."
"And if they can't redeem them?"
"They kill them."
Spike grabbed the phone and dialed Cordelia's number. It rang and rang before the answering machine picked up. Spike waited impatiently as Cordy's recorded voice rattled on. When he heard the beep, he said, "Willow? Are you there? Pick up." He waited for someone to pick up the receiver. Slaming the phone down he grabbed his duster off the coat rack and headed for the front door.
"Spike," Angel called after the blonde vampire.
"I'm going over there."
"I know. Wait for me."
Angel held Spike back as they came upon the broken door. "Wait. They may still be in there." Slowly he pushed open the door. Cordy's living room was trashed. "Dennis?" he called.
The lights flicked on and off.
"What happened?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "How is he supposed to tell you? He's dead."
Angel looked at his childe. "So are we." He noticed a marker floating in the air. Dennis was ready to write on the walls when Angel stopped him. "Wait. Cordelia won't be too happy to have you writing on the walls." He dug through a drawer and pulled out a legal pad. "Here."
Dennis wrote for a minute. Angel picked up the pad.
"Four men in black kidnapped C and W. Tried to stop them," Angel read aloud. "Did they say anything?" he asked holding the pad out in front of him.
"No."
"How the bloody hell are we supposed to find them?" Spike asked. He kicked at the stuffed bunny on the floor.
"I'm calling Kate," he said as he looked for the phone.
"Who the hell is Kate?"
"She's a police detective. Maybe she can help." Angel found the receiver and punched in her number. "Kate, it's Angel. I need you're help."
Kate knocked on the open door. "Angel?" she called out.
"I'm in here," he called from the kitchen.
She walked into the kitchen to find Angel talking to a peroxide blonde. "What happened here?" she asked.
"Cordelia and Willow have been kidnapped," he said.
"Who's Willow?"
"A friend of ours from Sunnydale."
Kate looked at the blonde. "And you are?"
Spike looked the woman up and down. "Spike. Now what are you going to do to find them?" he demanded.
"Well, first I'd like to call in some people to take a look at the crime scene. You haven't touched anything have you?" she asked as she reached for her cell phone.
"Nothing much," Angel answered. He watched his childe closely as Kate called the police station. He could tell Spike was growing impatient.
"I'm going out," Spike growled as he stormed out of the kitchen.
Kate grabbed his arm as he passed her. "Wait." Spike turned on her in full game face. His emotions were running close to the surface. Kate reached into her back pocket of the stake she kept there. Angel's hand stopped her.
"Spike, knock it off."
Spike wasn't in the mood for Angel's laid back attitude. He pushed the blonde woman away from him and launched himself at his sire. His hands wrapped themselves around his throat. "I will not fucking knock it off. Willow and Cordelia are in danger, possibly dead, and you want to play fucking Miss Manners!" he yelled in Angel's face. He felt a searing pain against his neck as Kate pressed a cross to it. Releasing his grip on Angel, he backed away from the offending object.
"Kate, put it away. Spike is my childe. He's upset."
"Fuck yeah I'm upset. I wish you'd show a little emotion about this whole thing! But I forgot you're Angel, defender of the weak and innocent. Well, you fucked up royally in your duties, asshole," Spike screamed at him.
Angel had had enough. Allowing his demon to surge forward, he hit Spike with a right hook. "Shut the fuck up, Spike. You think I don't know that!" he screamed at his childe lying on the floor. "You think I don't blame myself! Well, fuck you, Spike! Fuck you!"
Kate realized this was getting them no where. "Hey! Knock it off! Do you want to find your friends or not?"
Angel took an unneeded breath and allowed his human features to fall back into place and Spike picked himself up off the floor.
"Good. Now tell me what's going on. Is this a regular kidnapping or an ET?" she asked Angel.
"ET? What the hell are you talking about?" Spike asked.
"Evil Thing," she clarified.
Angel paced the kitchen. "I have reason to believe they are human. A fanatic religious group."
"What kind of religious group?" Kate asked.
"The kind that kidnap people," Spike muttered. He hated waiting. All he wanted to do was find Willow, wrap her in his arms and never let her out of his sight again. "Willow said something about a church, didn't she?" Spike asked.
Angel looked at his childe. Spike had calmed down a bit. "She said she remembered a hollowed out building. Out in the middle of no where. Where no one could hear you scream. She was looking for possible locations, but hadn't found anything yet."
"Was she working on it here?" Kate asked. If she could look at the information it would save time.
"No, it was back at the office."
"Detective Lockley?" a voice called from the front door.
Kate left the kitchen to see a team of forensic officers waiting for her. "Dean, I want you to take care of this crime scene. I'm going to check on a couple of leads."
"Got it covered, Kate," Dean said before motioning his team into the room to start the investigation.
"I doubt you'll find anything, but let me know," she said as she followed Angel and Spike out the door.
Willow groaned as she pried her eyes open. Pain pierced her head straight through her eyeballs. The damp musty smell of dirt assaulted her nose. She rolled onto her side and tried to sit up. Hands reached out to assist her. Her green eyes looked up at a familiar face with a butchered hair cut. "Cordy?" she croaked out. She reached out to touch the ragged edges of Cordelia's once beautiful hair.
"If it looks anything like yours, I'm glad there's no mirror in here," Cordy said with a lopsided grin.
Willow reached up to touch her own mutilated hair. The two of them sat on the dirt floor in silence. The silence was broken by a scream echoing through the hallway. Willow reached out to hold Cordy's hand.
"Angel and Spike will save us," Cordy said quietly. She didn't feel confident in that fact but did her best to sound sure of her words.
"They'll do their best, I'm sure. I just wish I'd asked Angel about it yesterday." she mumbled to herself.
"Ask him about what?" Cordy asked.
"About the crosses. Whether vampires can't look at them because of their shape or because they're holy."
"What difference does it make?"
"I might be able to do a spell to make them unholy," Willow explained.
"It couldn't hurt to try, right?"
"True." Willow moved to the center of their cell. Drawing a circle in the dirt, she called her corners and blessed the god and goddess. Then she prepared to call down Hectate. "Blessed Hectate, Goddess of Darkness. I call upon you. Curse the holy symbols within this place. What once was holy now make not. Allow darkness to look upon them with neither fear nor pain. Blessed Hectate, Goddess of Darkness. So mote it be." Willow grounded the energies flowing through her body.
"That's it?" Cordy asked as Willow closed the circle.
"What did you want? Sigfried and Roy? I don't exactly have a lot to work with here," she said as she brushed the circle away.
The door opened and two cloaked figures entered. They saw what the red head was doing. "Witches," the taller one said. Quickly they rushed forward to grab the pair.
Willow tried to finish closing the circle before the shorter man grabbed her arms to drag her out of the room. *Blessed Hectate, forgive me,* Willow called to the goddess silently. Hectate was a touchy goddess; she didn't take insult well.
Cordy threw Willow a panicked look. *Oh, God. Angel, where the hell are you?*
Angel, Kate and Spike burst through the office door. Angel and Kate moved to Cordy's desk where Angel dug through drawers to find the map Willow had been writing on.
Spike paced the length of the room and smoked his cigarettes. He watched out of the corner of his eye as his sire and the blonde put their heads together to find the missing girls. He didn't like Kate on sight, but he figured that was because she reminded him of Fluffy. When they found Willow and Cordy, he would have to ask the leggy brunette what her opinion of the blonde detective. At this point he was willing to drink holy water if it meant finding Willow.
Angel tried to pay attention to what Kate was saying, but his mind kept wandering. *Cordelia, I am so sorry. I never meant to let you down,* he thought to himself, or so he thought.
Kate looked up at the dark vampire. "Angel, you didn't let her down. This isn't your fault. Regardless of what anyone says," she said glaring at the peroxide blonde.
Angel looked at Kate then at Spike, who avoided his gaze. *He does blame me.*
A wave of guilt washed over Spike. He didn't really blame Angel for what happened. He'd done it more out of frustration and habit. He knew Willow would be disappointed in him.
Kate finished looking over the information Willow had gathered. "Well, I think we can narrow it down to these two buildings," she said as she pointed to the map. Glancing at her watch she tried to calculate how many hours till sunrise. "We've got about four hours left until you're toast." She grabbed the map and headed towards the parking garage.
Father Buscalli washed the blood from his hands when he heard the far door open. He glanced over his shoulder to see Brothers Levi and Zachariah drag two women into the room. He wasn't ready for them yet so he was curious as to the reason the brothers were bringing them to him.
Brother Levi pulled the red head forward and knelt before Buscalli. The red head tried to resist but ultimately was forced to her knees before him.
"What is it, my son?"
"Witches, Father. Brother Zachariah and I found them practicing their sinful art in their cell," Levi explained.
Buscalli's dark brown eyes looked the two women over. The brunette stood in horror at the crucifixes lining the far wall while the red head stared at him in defiance. "Though shall not suffer a witch to live," Buscalli quoted.
Willow forcefully rose to her feet. "She's not a witch. I am," she said between clenched teeth.
Cordelia tried to make her brain comprehend the situation. *What does being a witch have to do with anything?*
Buscalli grinned at the red head. "We shall see, witch." Turning his attention to Zachariah and the group of brothers behind him, he commanded, "Tie that one on the cross and let her watch. We shall see if she confesses to her craft while this one is punished."
Hands grabbed at Cordy while she struggled against them. They lifted her struggling body and carried her to the line of crosses. A strangled scream issued from her throat. "Oh, God. Angel, where are you? Please," she cried as the brothers bound her wrists to the crossbeam with rough rope. She tried to kick out at the man who held her feet. The bindings bit into her delicate flesh. The more she struggled the tighter the rope cut into her skin.
Willow watched as Cordy struggled. Her green eyes welled up with tears, as her friend was hurt. "Cordy, don't struggle. They'll come for us," she called out to her.
Willow's voice cut through the panic in Cordy's brain. She ceased her struggles. She had a sense of vertigo as the brothers hoisted the heavy cross into place. Tears spilled onto her cheeks. She could now see Willow being led to at stake in the far corner of the room. *This is just like my dream. Please, Angel, hurry.*
Willow knew what was to come. She'd seen this in her dream. She tried to hold back her fear and let her anger keep her alive. A chill ran down her spine as the cold iron shackles where locked around her wrist. The flimsy muslin tunic she wore was ripped open down the back. Her fingers tightened around the chains above her head. *Spike, please hurry.* There was an eerie silence in the large room. She tried to brace herself, but the crack of the whip as it unfurled caused her to jump.
Buscalli watched the witch carefully. He waited for her to start begging or praying for Satan to save her. She remained silent. Brother Levi brought forward a vessel of holy water. He poured it over the leather whip. Buscalli drew back his arm and with a sharp jerk brought the wet leather against her back.
As the first lash cut across her back, Willow bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out. *Not going to give him the satisfaction,* she told herself. Again and again the leather cut into her exposed flesh. After about a dozen strokes, it stopped.
Buscalli paused in his punishment. *She is strong willed.* "Do you repent your association with the devil?" he asked. He didn't want to stop, but he knew he had to give her the chance to repent.
Willow didn't speak, not because she chose to, but because it hurt too much to speak.
He smiled at her lack of response. He doused the whip again with holy water and proceeded with her punishment.
Cordy watched in horror as her friend was tortured. Tears flowed freely down her face. She wanted to do something, say something to stop this insanity, but knew in her heart if she did or said anything it would be worse for Willow. The aches and pains of her body were nothing compared to the ache in her heart. *If Spike had taken her back to Sunnydale, this wouldn't be happening to her.*
Willow finally gave up her fight to stay conscious and passed out.
Buscalli brought the whip across her back a few more times before he handed it to Brother Levi to clean. "Put her next to her friend," he said as he left the room.
Angel slowed the car. Kate leaned forward from the back seat. "Looks like this is the place," she said as Angel put his car in park.
Spike closed his eyes for a moment. A wave of warmth and love washed over him. "She's inside." His hand reached for the door handle.
Angel grabbed his arm. "Spike, don't do anything stupid," he warned.
The icy blue eyes turned to his sire. "If they hurt her, I'll rip their fucking throats out." As he opened the door a scent of death assaulted his senses. He moved quietly to the abandoned church.
Kate and Angel got out of the car to follow the peroxide blonde. "Is he always like this?" Kate whispered as she followed closely behind Angel.
The dark vampire looked over his shoulder. "No, usually he's much worse."
The two crime fighters caught up with Spike as he tried to find a way into the building. Spike pulled on a door and it opened. The trio quietly slid inside. They found themselves in a small room. Opening the inner door, they moved quietly down a dark hallway. At the end of the corridor they peered around the corner.
Kate pulled back quickly at the horrific sight. She'd seen many terrible things in her career as a police detective, yet the sight of the decaying bodies nailed to those crosses brought bile to her throat. Swallowing hard she leaned closer to Angel. "I'm going to call for back up," she whispered in his ear.
Angel's dark eyes were fixed on Cordelia as she hung from the cross beam. Anger welled in his heart. *Some one is going to pay for this,* he promised. Keeping a hold of his angry childe he turned to Kate. "I want you to call 555-8473. Ask for Andrew. Tell him I found The Hand Of God and if he wants in on the fun, he'd better get here soon."
"Angel, the police," Kate started.
His brown eyes flashed gold. "Just do it, Kate. They deserve punishment that only we can give," he said quietly.
Kate gave a quick glance to the blonde as he visibly shook with rage. "Be careful," she whispered before retracing her steps back outside to place the call.
"Spike," Angel whispered in his ear. His hands gripped tightly around Spike's arms. "I need you to calm down. Willow needs you to calm down. We need to think clearly," he tried to reason. It wasn't easy to convince his childe when every instinct in him demanded retribution for Cordy.
Willow slowly found herself floating through the pain. *He's here. Spike. Please let the spell work.*
Cordy opened her eyes. Something caused her gaze to move to the far corner of the room. She thought her terror induced brain was playing tricks on her when she spotted a flash of white. *Spike? Oh, thank you God. Angel. I hope that spell worked or we're all fucked.*
Kate paced beside the car. She glanced at her watch. She tried to make out the dial in the dim light of the moon.
"It's quarter to three," a voice said from behind her.
Jumping out of her skin she turned to see a tall blonde man. "Andrew?"
"Yes. Where's Angel?" he asked.
Kate pointed to the abandoned church. "In there. I'll show you the way," she said as she started towards the building.
Andrew motioned behind him and a dozen men and women stepped from the darkness. Quietly they made their way through the field into the building. They found Angel still holding Spike back.
Motioning the others to remain back, Andrew moved closer to the investigator. Looking around the corner he winced slightly at the crosses lining the wall. "A few too many crosses for my tastes," he whispered to Angel.
Angel nodded towards the hand Andrew had pressed against the wall for balance. "Yeah, but they seem to be nullified."
Pulling his hand away from the wall he noticed the cross imbedded in the stone. Looking at his unblemished hand he asked, "How?"
"Willow's a witch," Spike said in explanation. "Can we kill them now?"
"I think that plan has wonderful merit," Andrew said as he motioned his clan members closer.
"Kate, go back to the car," Angel ordered.
"No."
"Kate, you're a cop. You don't want to be here."
The blonde woman reluctantly returned to Angel's convertible. She knew he was right, she couldn't be there when it happened.
Cordelia locked her knees to remove some of the strain on her arms. The coarse fibers of the rope scraped another layer of skin off her ankles. *I'm never going to be able to wear skirts again,* she fumed. Petty, random thoughts ran through her tired brain. She allowed them to build her anger and keep her from going insane. *Come on, Angel. I know you're there. Get me off this damn thing.*
A small sound beside her caused Cordy to turn her head. Stiff muscles screamed at the sudden movement. "Willow?" she whispered through parched lips.
The soft call of her name drifted through a sea of pain. Valiantly, Willow struggled through the minor aches and searing hurt. She finally opened her dull green eyes. *Where am I? Why do I hurt so much?* she asked herself. Her eyes wandered slowly around the candle lit room. *Oh, yeah. Almost forgot about that.*
"Willow?" Cordy softly called again.
The abused red head turned her head slowly to look at her friend. "You know..." She tried to find some moisture for her parched throat. "You know this would be kind of romantic if we weren't tied to these crosses," she croaked out.
Cordy had to smile at Willow's attempted joke. "They're here," she whispered.
"I know."
"Are you prepared to repent your sins?" Father Buscalli asked from the dark corner of the room.
"The only sin I can see is yours against fashion," Cordy quipped. "It's the twenty-first century not the first."
"Actually, Cord, the twenty-first century doesn't start until 2001," Willow pointed out weakly.
The brunette rolled her hazel eyes. "Picky, picky."
Buscalli strode across the stone floor to stand beneath the brunette and red head. "You dare to mock the church?"
Cordy glared down at the man. "Mock. Mock. Mock," she said dryly.
"Satan's whore. You shall suffer for this," he growled as he pointed a finger at her.
"Didn't anyone every tell you it's not polite to point," a familiar voice asked from the back of the room.
Cordy breathed a sigh of relief as Angel stepped from the shadows. A very pissed off Spike stood at his right and half a dozen vampires followed behind them.
Buscalli smiled at the vampire. "Angelus, I knew you would come for your whores," he sneered.
Angel was only mildly surprised the so-called priest knew his name. "You certainly like that word, don't you?"
"I vote we don't kill him." Angel looked surprisingly at his childe. Spike returned his sire's look with a smirk. "Let's just lock him in a room with Cordelia."
"That has merit," Angel chuckled. "But wouldn't that be cruel and unusual punishment?"
"Your point is?"
Buscalli glanced quickly at the door. *The others should be here by now.*
Angel tilted his head slightly to look at the door Buscalli was so interested in. "Oh. I forgot to tell you. Your friends are a bit busy with my friends. So they're not going to be able to join the party."
Buscalli pulled a gold crucifix from his robe. "Back demon from Hell. Back from whence you came," he shouted in Latin.
Angel reached out and grabbed the cross in his hand. "You first," he replied in Latin.
Buscalli's eyes widened in fear as the vampire held onto the Holy relic.
"Angel," Cordy called. "Stop playing and get us down."
He smiled at the quaking priest. "Andrew, would you like to have some fun?"
The tall blonde vampire stepped forward. "Thank you. Didn't think we'd get a chance," Andrew laughed. He motioned to a pair of his companions. "Help them."
A pair separated from the group to search for a ladder while Angel and Spike stood under the two women. Angel brushed Cordelia's bare feet.
Looking down at his dark head, tears of joy slipped from her eyes. "Cut Willow down first. And be careful of her back. He beat her pretty badly," she warned.
Spike growled at this information as he stroked Willow's bare feet. "It's almost over, luv," he whispered to her.
Andrew's two vampires reentered the room with two ladders. Propping them against the cross beam the climbed up to cut the human down. They winced at the sight of the white skin marred with angry cuts and bruises. Pulling a knife from his jacket, Jack cut through the rope and handed it to Sean. When Sean was finished, he dropped the knife down to Spike. Willow held tightly to their hands while Spike cut through the last of her bonds. Gently she was lowered into Spike's waiting arms.
Careful of her abused back, Spike held her against him. He felt her heart beat against his chest and a tear slipped down his cheek. "I've never been so scared," he whispered against her ragged hair.
Willow inhaled deeply his scent of leather, cigarettes and that distinctive smell that was only Spike. "Me, either," she whispered into his neck.
Angel carried Cordy in his arms as he walked over to the pair. "Willow?" she said softly.
Willow pulled her face away from its hiding place. She reached a hand out to grasp Cordy's out stretched hand. "I'm okay."
Andrew watched the two couples for a few moments before interrupting them. "Sunrise is in a couple of hours and it's a long drive back to town," he said suggestively.
"Andrew," Angel said as he turned to the tall blonde. "I don't even know how to thank you for your help."
Andrew shook his head. "The Consortium is in your debt, Angel. You led us to our revenge." He pulled out his wallet and removed a business card. "Take these ladies to Dr. DeLuca. He'll see that they are taken care of and all of the medical expenses are on us."
Cordy snatched the card out of his hand. "You don't happen to have a card for a hairdresser, do you?" she asked.
Andrew chuckled at the spunky brunette. "Sorry, but I'll see if anyone in the Consortium can make a recommendation."
Cordy nodded as she rested her head on Angel's shoulder. "Angel, I'm tired. Can we go home now?" she asked.
Angel pressed a kiss into her hair. "I think we can do that. Spike?"
Spike shifted his awkward grip on his sleeping bundle. "Let's go home."
A week later.... Willow stepped into Angel's office with Spike close on her heels. "Angel, will you please tell Spike to stop following me everywhere I go?"
Angel glanced at his childe then back down at his book. "Spike, stop following Willow."
"You're not the boss of me," Spike retorted.
The dark vampire shrugged his shoulders. "I tried."
Willow rolled her eyes. "Thanks a lot. Where's Cordelia?"
"Bathroom."
Willow headed downstairs to the bathroom. Spike started to follow her. She turned and set her hand on his chest. "Stay."
Spike threw himself into the chair across from Angel.
Willow knocked on the bathroom door.
"For God's sake, Angel," Cordy said.
"It's Willow."
Cordy unlocked the door and opened it. Grabbing Willow's hand, she pulled the red head into the small bathroom. She shut and locked the door.
"I take it Angel is following you around, too," Willow laughed as she sat on the edge of the tub.
Cordy picked up her book and sat on the closed toilet seat. "The bathroom is the only place I can be alone. And that's only because I threatened to make coffee with holy water if he didn't," Cordy sighed.
"I had to threaten to sic Buffy on Spike when we return to Sunnydale."
Cordy took in Willow's pixie cut and the new clothes they bought yesterday. "So you're going back soon." She would miss her friend's company.
Willow shrugged. "I don't know. It's summer vacation so I do have until September when school starts again. Do you think you could put up with Spike until then?" she asked.
"Who said Spike had to stay?"
Willow threw the brunette an exasperated look. "Do you honestly think he's going to leave?"
"No. But as long as you're here I think I could put up with him."
Willow smiled. "Then I guess we're staying. Can you pass me a magazine?"
Cordy handed over a copy of Cosmo.
THE END