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ANGEL the Series Living With Loss Season Three ~ Episode - #3ADH01 by LJSAngel
Synopsis
Authors Note
Regular Cast
Guest Cast
IMPROV. #2
Living With Loss
TEASER
Angel looked around for the last time and walked sombrely out of the mansion, taking his coat off the chair covered in a plastic sheet as he went. He opened the door and then turned around to catch once last look. He got into his car and started the engine with a growl. He drove the now familiar route to the place where he spent most of his nights in Sunnydale before and after Buffy passed away. Parking where he always did, now on auto pilot, Angel got out of the convertible and walked through the steel gates guarding the resting place of hundreds, but there were only two people in here that mattered to him. Firstly, he went to the grave of Joyce Summers and placed a bunch of fresh daisies near her headstone, in part for Buffy's sake. Then he walked to the tree he and Buffy had sat under after her mothers funeral, where Buffy's own grave stood. Angel steeled himself as he prepared to place the white rose delicately on her headstone. He leaned gently down, on one knee, touching the earth before propping the flower defiantly up in the ground. "I don't really believe you're gone Buffy," he whispered. "Not you. You're not gone. I have to go back to LA tonight. I feel I need to. So it'll just be like it was, you'll be here and I'll be there. We won't talk or write and it'll be like normal. Only it won't. Because you'll not be living the life I wanted you to have. I'm sorry," Angel stood up. "I love you. And I'm not going to say goodbye, just goodnight." Angel backed up a few paces, and then turned to walked out of the graveyard to his car once again and for the last time this summer. As he passed the graves, one started to stir. Become uneasily and there was the snapping of wood and the emergence of a pale hand through the ground. Angel stopped and held his head higher, before turning round to see what was making the disturbance. Clothed in a tuxedo, the vampire dusted himself off and looked up at Angel, snarling. "What are you looking at pal?" The vampire growled. Angel walked up to the vampire,
eyes drifting downwards. Then he looked the vampire square in the
eye when they were almost jaw to jaw. "A big pile of dust," Angel
said softly, letting fear strike into the vampire, the same time as Angel's
stake thrust itself into the new vampire's heart. Angel turned round
and began to walk away, leaving the vampire to dematerialise into dust
where he stood, screaming as his unlife ended.
Angel drove the speed limit as Sunnydale melted together in a blur and the sign; Now Leaving Sunnydale Come Back Soon! Was barely noticeable as Angel sped past, leaving Sunnydale and all it's bittersweet memories behind. But Angel was wrong as the
memories were still with him.
ACT ONE
"So he got back late last night?" Cordelia asked Wesley, while sitting down at her desk. "He arrived shortly after you left for your.. date." "It wasn't a date Wesley, it was a meeting of two people in a restaurant. Thomas is really nice and all but I think we're breaking up. And that's not important right now. Angel. Angel is important," she affirmed going to her English colleagues side. "Angel will be fine," Wesley told her flicking through a book before replacing it. "It will take a long time and a lot of grievance but Angel will survive this." "It's Buffy. OK? They had the whole Soulmate Can't Ever Be complex. You can't tell me that he put a band aide over his heart and he'll be 'fine'," she air quoted, keeping her voice low. "He's got back from a three month jaunt to Sunnydale and you're telling me he'll be fine. He'll get over it. Pfft." "He has to Cordelia. Another Slayer has died, but the world still keeps turning. We all have to keep saving Souls, keep him occupied and the pain will lessen in a few months." "Ha!" Cordelia scoffed. She strained to see through the crack into his office. From what she could make out, he was sitting in his chair and holding a pen. "He's an emotional train wreck. Think. Buffy's death leaves him disturbed and hostile in a cruel and inhuman world. He's disillusional.. Wants to kill himself but decides to psycho vamp again.. Buffy dying pushed him into Darla!" Cordelia realised out loud. "Cordelia please," Wesley sighed, reclining back with a hard back brown book. "Angel is not suicidal and he will not sleep with Darla again. And I'm sure I've heard that line somewhere before..." "Again?!" Cordelia hollered standing up, enraged. "I think it was that.. Uh.. Horror movie you made me watch one night. With Neve Campbell. Now she's lovely," Wesley smiled, oblivious to Cordelia's face draining of all colour. "What the HELL do you mean again?" Cordelia yelled, making Wesley jump. Angel drew his door back to see what was going on. "What happened again?" He asked in a soft voice. "You sl--" Cordelia turned to him before Wesley interrupted, panicked. "Cordelia.. Dropped the coffee pot again. She did it while you were away and.. she's done it again. Rascal," Wesley added, feigning laughter as he stood next to Cordelia. Angel nodded, taking the explanation at face value, before retreating into his office, shutting over both of the doors gently. "You're telling me that's
not a man who's on the edge?" Cordelia asked Wesley pointedly.
"Hello children," Gunn greeted as he walked into the lobby of the Hyperion. "And how are we all today?" "Angel's back," Cordelia told him from her position on the round sofa seating. "He is? And how is he?" Gunn asked, sitting beside her. "Apart from heartbroken. Fine. Wes here thinks he'll be fine in a couple of days with a candy sucker and a red band aide," Cordelia gestured. "I never--" Wesley protested. "Well he's got no visible scarring which considering he's hardly been visible himself doesn't say a lot," Cordelia added. "Has anyone thought about asking him how he is?" Gunn suggested. "Sure we've thought about it Mr Harvard Public Relations Graduate. We've also thought about what he'd say back." "There's really not much conversation about something like this with Angel," Wesley sighed, taking off his glasses. "I guess not," Gunn agreed. "What like, 'Sorry your girl's died, what was the weather like in Sunnydale?'" "I think we should go talk to him," Cordelia decided standing up. "Anyone else coming?" "Cordelia sure you sure it's the best thing right now?" Wesley asked. "Yeah. We're his family. We need to stand by him right now. Let him know we're here." "I'm with Cordy on this one. Let's go in and let the guy know we're here if he needs to talk," Gunn agreed. Wesley shrugged and all three made their way from the lobby and stood outside Angel's door, looking through the small slither. "He's playing his his biro again. It's like Angel and Biro friends," Cordelia whispered. "We should knock," Wesley told the other two. Cordelia nodded to Wesley to do it and he faintly tapped on the door with his knuckles. "Aw c'mon," Cordelia groaned. "Angel's got the vampire hearing to hear a bug crawling along a leaf. The bug is like a nuclear explosion compared to your knock. You like, grazed the door." Gunn shook his head, smiling and the knocked sharply on the door. "Come in," a toneless voice answered. Gunn slide back the door and the three walked in. "Hey," Cordelia spoke up first. "I'm OK really guys," Angel said quietly. "I know you're worried about me but I'm OK. Or hopefully I'll be OK." He looked up from his pen and stared at them, locking eye contact. "Buffy.. died. And I've spent the summer trying to make sense of it. And I can't. I couldn't stop it, and I can't reverse it. I'm just having.. difficult time coming to terms with that almost as much as the fact I'll never see her again," his voice painfully broke off as he felt a sore lump rising. "We get that, and we're here Angel," Cordelia said with kindness, stepping forward and putting her hand over one of Angel's. "Thank you," he said gratefully, reposing his hand over hers. Cordelia took her other hand and took away the metal fountain pen. "It's making me nervous," she explained, slipping it into her pocket. "I was.. going to write a letter. Maybe," Angel stuttered. "Who to?" "Willow maybe." "Oh. You should be eating pistachio mint chip ice cream and watching Oprah. It's the American way." "I'm Irish, Cordelia," Angel smiled slightly, never raising his voice over a low decibel. "Oh. OK so what did they do to forget their problems and deal with pain?" "I don't think it's exclusively Irish but we did--" "Sing!" Wesley burst out with. "Good guess Wes but way off. We didn't have karoke machines. We drank." "You're right, that's not exclusively Irish and you won't be don't any of that. And what are you talking about singing for, Wesley?" Cordelia turned round to her friend. "It occurred to me. We all seem to be at a cross roads and the Host could--" Wesley started off. "We're trying to heal pain here Wesley. Not inflict it. Onto Angel or onto any one of us. I love Angel but if I have to sit through some song hideously out of key, my head will do three sixty." "Miles per hour?" Wesley furrowed his brow. "She means degrees Wes. Y'know exorcist twist," Gunn explained. "Oh, rotation," the English man nodded. "Yeah. Anyway. Missing the point.." Cordelia started afresh. "We are missing the point," Angel edged in, murmuring aloud to himself. "For the past few months I've slept when I was tired and when I was awake I'd grieve and be with others grieving. I've completely lost my path. I don't know where I am anymore. I've only patrolled in Sunnydale as a replacement, not because I felt I needed to." "Exactly! We could go to Caritas--" Wesley got excited again, eager to help things to get back to the way they used to be. "Remember what Caritas means in Latin? Mercy. God Wes, show some," Cordelia half snapped. "I'm going to see the Host," Angel announced getting up and licking his lips. "Look what you made him do!" Cordelia wailed. "Yeah, way to go English," Gunn groaned. "I'll drive," Wesley declared as he followed Angel out of the main office's side door to the lobby. "Don't you just want to cause him bodily harm?" Cordelia growled low. Gunn nodded, "I wish I had my axe." "I wish you had your axe," Cordelia said helpfully. "Hopefully you'll be able to get on tonight," Wesley told Angel as the vampire put on his jacket that was draped over the dark red chair. "Get on where?" Wesley and Angel looked up at the familiar speaker. "Kate," Angel said softly, no conviction in his voice with the hint of sympathy. "Where are you getting on?" She asked again. Angel took in Kate's appearance, wearing jeans a white slit neck top and a denim jacket. She didn't seem to be harmed in any way so no cause for alarm. "Caritas," Wesley replied. Gunn and Cordelia appeared behind them. "Carry what?" Kate asked, confused. It didn't sound like any place she knew. "Caritas. A demon karoke bar down town," Cordelia yawned. "Oh so you're going for a CKD?" Kate asked the group. Three blank faces and one emotionless, paler face stared at her. "Crush Kill Destroy." "No, we're going to sing," Gunn told her. "Or rather Angel is. Last time it took me getting drunk to get up there and he didn't even read my aura. Or was I too thrashed to remember?" "No I don't recall getting my aura read either," Wesley nodded thoughtfully. "Not that we needed it." "You're going to sing. With demons?" "No, not with them. To them." "For fun? What is this,
the Office Christmas Party?" Kate couldn't help smirking a little bit with
the image of Angel singing. She has visions of him with a velvety
singing voice, maybe even a little like Sinatra, hitting the notes in all
the right places....
"Oh. My. God," Kate said slowly, watching Angel on the stage, gripping the microphone like a battle axe. "Do you feel the same?" Angel studied the auto cue, missing the high note by a continent. "Am I only dream-ing, or is this burn-ing an eternal flame?" "Oh. My. God," Kate repeated. "You said that already," Gunn reminded the ex-cop. "I felt it merited a second Oh. My. God," she told him, her eyes transfixed as if she was passing by a car wreck on the freeway. "I mean you told me why he has to do it. How the Host or whatever is destiny seeing guy but... oh. My. God." "Tell me O Wise Oracle In Place Of The Actual Oracles," Cordelia yelled over the din, carrying drinks. She handed everyone their order. "Who's idea was it again?" "I-I thought he needed to get out," Wesley defended. "He's been AWOL in Sunnydale for 3 months. He's been Out Kitty long enough," Cordelia argued. "Huh?" Kate blinked. "He needed guidance, this should provide it," Wesley defended zealously. Then he paused and lowered his voice. "I'd forgotten how bad it was," Wesley told Cordelia. "I know, he said himself that he was pretty lost. The guidance isn't a moment too soon," Gunn agreed, sipping his iced water. "No I meant the singing," Wesley screwed his face up in anguish as Angel was completely defeated by the note once again. "And who picked Eternal Flame anyway? That is the worst possible song. Some of the notes, the Bangles can't even hit." "Hey, hey!" Kate got their attention, waving her arms. "Why would Angel need guidance? What's wrong with him? What's a Sunnydale? Where's he been for the past few months and why does he look so.. empty?" "Three months ago, Angel.. Angel's ex? No no," Wesley stammered. "That's not the right term." "Well let's go all out slush," Cordelia slapped her thigh. "The Love of Angel's Life, The Woman Who Changed His Life - literally. His Soulmate. You get the picture? Anyway he left her two years ago because.." "He was a vampire? She didn't know?" Kate guessed. "Worse. She was the Slayer." "I've heard of them," Kate nodded. "Well you know how star crossed lovers it is then. Anyway, he has this curse so if he experiences true happiness he becomes Angelus." "I've heard of him too," Kate nodded grimly. A particularly brutal bastard on all accounts was what she had said, wasn't it? "So he left Buffy, the Soulmate, and Sunnydale - the place where she lives - behind for LA. Yada yada yada." "Cordelia I don't think Kate knows why Angel's been so.. empty," Wesley quoted the ex-detective sadly. "I was getting to that Mr I'm So Impatient And Haven't Had Sex I Haven't Had to Pay The Participant For in Months," Cordelia shook her head. "Close your eyes.." Angel sang, or rather creaked, in the background, setting everyone's jaw on edge. "I do beg your pardon!" Wesley rose, annoyed. "Wes, your English is showing," Gunn warned, grinning. "Anyway, so Willow, Buffy's best friend, showed up the end of May and told us Buffy had died. To save the world no less. What a show-off," Cordelia grumbled. Kate's eyes were wide, finding it hard to take everything in. "Good thing she died just after all the seasons had finished or she would have missed the Roswell season finale." "I don't think Buffy worked her death in around a television schedule," Wesley said in a low voice as the backing music for Eternal Flame finished and Angel stepped off the stage to minimal applause - demons and people mostly applauded because he was finished - and went to the Host. "Well I'm just saying it was convenient," Cordelia snapped. "So, what did you see?" Angel asked, as flushed as he could be from another public humiliation. "Pain, sweetheart," the Host replied. "And this time I don't mean mine. Although there was a healthy dollop of my suffering. The way I see it Angel is, you're in a tunnel. You've always had that light at the end. She'd gone and so's the light. It's dark, no lighting, no hope. You can't live that way Angel," the Host said sympathetically. "It's going to take a long time to let go.. And even then it's not a one off. You'll have to wake up every day and do it over again. Can you do that?" "I knew this," Angel said quietly, averting his eyes. "It's how can I do it I need help with it." "And it's how, you're gonna have to figure out yourself honey. All I can tell you is let your friends stand by you, try not to brood so much and oh, save the world in a few days." "What?" Angel blinked. "I sensed it. In your aura. In a day or so I see you fighting the good fight against two.. Well I'm sure Cordelia's vision will explain it much more clearly," the Host gestured towards the laughing brunette with blond highlights. "Cordelia's going to have a vision?" "You're not just a pretty face?" The Host said dryly, sipping his drink. Angel leapt from behind the table and over to behind Cordelia in part of a second. "Are you OK?" Angel asked as she jumped in shock. "God Angel, I'm not OK now. Gotta know when not to sneak up on an quasi famous actress with a colourful cocktail. And why wouldn't I be O---" Cordelia broke off as her head started throbbing. She dropped her glass and was thrown back off of the stool and into Angel's waiting arms. After mere seconds that felt like hours, days even, the pounding stopped, the images imprinted on her mind became sharper for a second before gradually fading. "That's why. What did you see?" The Vampire asked. "Uh.. About half a dozen swirly holey thingys," Cordelia gasped, squinting as Wesley handed her an few aspirin and Gunns' glass of iced water. "Two people. Boy and a girl. Arguing. They looked similar.. Brother and sister probably. Could be twins. There was a lot of history. Lots of chanting and all these colours melting into each other." "Any address?" Gunn asked. "No. None." "Do you know where it is?" Wesley as the approaching Host. "No. I know as much as vision girl here on this topic. All I know is french. That was it." "French? French what? French toast, french food, french kissing?" Kate asked. "French nationality. And you must be Kate Lockley. Care to take the mic?" The Host smiled charmingly. "Hmm. No," Kate said firmly. "Maybe another time when the world isn't ending," the Host shrugged and walked away. "So what's the game plan now?" Gunn asked. "Lie down," Cordelia whimpered as Angel help her out of her seat, her head still hung over. "I'll get Cordelia home and Wesley," Angel organised, "I want you and Gunn to go to the office and look for impending doom. Apocalypse and all. French history, legends and so forth. Anything to do with family. OK?" "What about me?" Kate asked. "What about you? You.. want to help?" "Yeah," she nodded. "Sure, OK. Help Gunn
and Wesley," Angel told the pretty ex-cop and walked off with Cordelia.
ACT TWO
"Tell me Tristian, what is it about you that I just can't kill you?" A raven haired hollered through the walls in a plush LA apartment. "Well, Sis," a brown haired boy said pointedly, walking into his sisters room and leaning on the door frame. Tristian watched his her sitting down on her dressing table and applying gel to her waves of brown ringlets. "We are family." He could see from the mirror that she rolled her eyes as picked up her blusher brush. "So I keep hearing. Blah blah family, blah blah destiny," she sighed loudly as she applied blusher finely in with a large brush. She turned round. "This will work won't it?" She asked, looking almost helpless. Tristian smiled and walked forward and bent down to her eye level. "Of course it will Annie," he assured her. "I know this ritual back to front and inside out and upside down. Nothing is gonna work as good as this bad boy." "Good," she said lightly before a dark cloud passed over her face. "Because if it doesn't, remember I'm older by ten minutes and I'll eviscerate your ass," she growled, grabbing his chin between manicured thumb and finger. Tristian reached out and grabbed his sisters shoulders. "Look Annette. This is for both of us. The two of us. We're the ones we need to do this thing. And I'd appreciate it if you'd just chill and stop acting like your the BOSS around here because I'm sick and TIRED of it!" He roared. She looked unfazed as his grip loosened and he stood back. Annette chuckled quietly and turned back around to the mirror. Tristian stared into the mirror, seeing himself standing over the shoulder of his sister and looked in her eyes. "I need to go. I have a date." "A date? You're 212 years old and you're dating? Trist, you're living in denial," Annette smirked. "With the body of a 24 year old. I can't help being hot Annie. And it's her lucky day; Dating Prince Charming and all. But I am an actual Prince - which I hear helps. See you later. Don't wait up," he grinned, placing two hands on her shoulders. Annette watched as Tristian
left and she reached for her cell phone. Using speed dial 2, she
pressed the phone to her ear. "Hi. It's Annette. Yeah
I know he just left. Follow Tristian will you? Report back
should anything interesting will you? Thanks."
Tristian looked around the restaurant, fixing his pin stripe black suit jacket confidently before spotting her by the bar. Her hair was up on her head, brown curls hanging down. Shew was wearing a simple black dress and facing to the bar. He walked up to her, as she drank a glass of water nervously, not noticing he was there. "Hey Fred. Been here long?" He asked in a soft but charming voice. "Oh!" She flinched, surprised. "Hi. No not long. Well yeah, half an hour. "You were early," he notes. "I like that." "Can I get you a drink sir?" The barman asked him. "Yeah. G and T and
coudl you bring it over to our table," Tristian replied, taking Fred's
arm, letting her slide down from the stool and leading her over to a table.
Angel glanced anxoiusly to the side at Cordelia, her head lying back on the headrest with a damp towel on her head. "So are the visions getting better, worse, what?" Angel asked, turning at the lights. "I can't believe you just left," Cordelia said in a tiny voice. "Sorry?" Angel pardoned, confused. "You just left. With Willow. After.. You and Willow just drove back to Sunnydale. You never called me. I never saw you until the funeral. And you wouldn't come back to LA just yet after, which was fine." "Cordelia.." "I just.. I needed my best friend Angel. I needed him and I know he needed me to be there for him. I really wish you hadn't shut me out. I wanted to help you through this Angel," Cordelia told him, bringing her head forward. "You shouldn't have had to this alone." "Thanks," Angel smiled, sliding his hand over to Cordelia's knee where hers was. She squeezed it gratefully. "But I wasn't alone. Willow.. She came to see me every night and we'd talk. I was with Dawn mostly.. And I didn't think you'd want me to call you. I thought you'd be busy or be trying to forget," Angel said, turning into a space outside Cordelia's apartment building. he turned off the engine and looked at her. "I didn't want you to feel hurt too. I don't want anyone to have to feel what I feel." "That's what I was supposed to be here for," Cordelia laughed softly. "I'm meant to do that. It's in my job description. I know you're not paying me enough for that so I do it out of the goodness of my heart." "And you're not paying me enough to carry you up the stairs so you'll have to settle for a helping hand," Angel smiled faintly. "It's OK to miss her Angel," Cordelia told him gently. "I miss her too." "She wasn't even mine to have. I can't mourn properly or.." "Wear black? Angel you do that anyway. Buffy would never be anyone's. She was that kind of person. Independent, strong. But if anyone came close, it was you. You know you were the only person she ever loved. It was always you. Even I could tell.." Tears pricked Angel's eyes
unmercilessly and he fell into Cordelia's waiting arms and wept softly,
clinging onto her hair in the front of his '67 Plymouth convertible.
"So does that always happen to Cordelia?" Kate asked Gunn and Wesley as they were researching. "Rather often, yes," Wesley nodded, handing Gunn a book. "Oh And it's some portent of impending doom?" "More often than not." Must be handy." "It's how we get our cases," Gunn explained. "Cordy gets the vision, we go seek." "Except this time...?" Kate started. "This time we don't know where to seek," Wesley said. "I see." "So we refer to the books," Gunn announced, holding his volume up. "We find and then we fight." "Yeah it was sorta like this at the station. Except I'm not employed here. But I do want to help." "Good start with this," Gunn said, handing her a book. "Can you speak latin?" "No." "Well here's a latin dictionary," Wesley handed her another book, not looking at her. "Great," she faux smiled
at the two hard at work.
Angel walked Cordelia to her door and it unlocked opened as they approached. "Thanks Den," Cordelia greeted her roomate, still holding her head. "Do you need anything before I take off?" Angel asked her in a soft voice. "No.. Oh God," Cordelia realised with dread building inside her. "I had a late date for drinks. Thomas.." "Where? I'll take you." "Ha there's no way he's seeing me like this. I don't have his cell phone number.. God.." "I'll go. Tell him you won't be there," Angel suggested. "Could you? Angel that would be great." Cordelia took a scrap of paper and scribbled something down. "This is the address." "I know this," Angel nodded. "I'll call you when I get back to the office." "Thanks," Cordelia said, going over to door with her boss. As he walked down the corridor, Cordelia called him back. "Hey. You call me any time you want to talk. Anytime I'm not in the office I mean. I'll not be busy or wanting to forget. Unless, that is, it's when e.r is on. But I can tape it," she added quickly. "You know." "Thanks Cor. I know,"
Angel smiled sadly.
"So what do you do Fred?" Tristian asked, reclining back. He'd just described, in detail, a huge fabrication of his life. I couldn't really say that I'm a 212 year old heir to the French throne, and with a twin bitch, sorry sister they planned to destroy the world. I might ruin the mood. "I'm just back from.. A long vacation," Fred white lied. "Travelling." "Oh. See anything interesting?" "Quite a bit," she smiled. "Can I get you anything?" The waiter asked politely. "Twio refils, if you don't mind," Tristian grinned. "Very well sir," the waiter nodded graciously and left the conversing couple. He moved onto another table with a man sitting by himself. "Anything for you Sir?" "Uh.. The bill please. I don't think she's coming," the young man sighed. "Oh that's a shame," the waiter told him sypathetically, clearing away his glass. "I'm sure she has a reason." They both glanced to the side and saw a dark haired man talking to the seating attendant and being pointed in the direction of the mans table. Clothed in a leather jacket, he walked over. "Hi," the man greeted. "I'm Angel." "Angel? As in Cordelia's boss?" "Yeah, she mentioned me.. You're Thomas then?" Angel deducted. "Yeah. What's wrong with Cordelia?" "Nothing, nothing. Well obviously there is since she isn't here," Angel worked himself out of a corner. "Migranes. Bad ones. She could hardly stand." It wasn't all a lie. "She'll call you." "Maybe I should go see her.." "She's in bed right now. With the migraine. Better to leave her be," Angel advised. "Oh. OK. Thanks for coming down and telling me," Thomas sighed, picking up his coat and dropping several bills onto the bill plate. "Thanks Angel." "No problem," Angel said as something caught his eye. "Fred?" Angel walked over to the other table. "Hey Fred." "Angel, hi," Fred gushed. Tristian glanced back and forth, noticing that Fred was borderring on ectasy upon seeing this man. "How have you been? I haven't seen you since.. Since.." "Since you left with that red haired girl. Yeah. Cordelia told me.. And I'm so sorry." "Thank you," Angel said painfully. He'd gone a few minutes without thinking of Buffy and he let the pain slam into him again like a commuter train. "You look well," Fred commented. "You too. You look lovely," Angel complimented. "Well it had to be better than what I was wearing first time we met," she laughed and Angel joined in as well. "So you two know each other," Tristian interrupted. "Oh gosh, sorry, " Fred apologised immediately. "Tristian, this is Angel. Angel this Tristian." Tristian held his hand out for Angel to shake. Hesistantly, Angel took a firm hold and shook it twice. "Cold hands," Tristian remarked. "My car's heating's broken," Angel bluffed, exchanging amused looks with Fred. "So I should leave you two.. to your date. Fred, come by the office some time. Everyone would love to see you again. Maybe we can make use of you. Tristian, good to meet you," Angel nodded to both of them before turning and walking out, billowing coat behind him. "Interesting guy," Tristian cleared his throat. "Yeah he is," Fred gazed after Angel. "So. Where were we?"
Tristian smiled at Fred.
"Aahhhh!" Wesley let out a muffled sound of triumph. Gunn looked over wearily. He glanced at the clock over Wesley's shoudler. They'd been at this for 5 hours and Wesley and Kate were wide awake although Gunn was dropping off his stool. "That's the fourth 'Aahhhh' this hour," Gunn told Wesley. "But this time I really have something," Wesley said excitedly, to the background noise of Gunn banging his head off the table. "You said that last time Wes," Gunn moaned. Kate got of the round seats and went over to Wesley. "What do you have?" "About 200 years ago, twins were secretly born to Marie Antoniette and King Louis XVI of France. A boy and a girl. The girl was older but the boy would go straight to the throne." "Feminist movement not big in 18th century France?" Gunn asked. "What were their names?" "Tristian and Annette. Annette was quite a strong figure in the palace. She made a lot of the decisions behind the scene while Tristian was known to be a slacker type. When it came July 14, the start of the French revolution, Annette and Tristian were taken away to a safehouse and as it turned out, no one even knew they existed. When the Kings Aide came to tell them of the execution of their mother and father, a sorcerer Jean Jacque was brought along as well," Wesley translated. "He froze them in time, letting them reek revenge on the future for the demise of France and of their crown. The Prophecy of Jean Jacque. Quite famous really." "They're trying to destroy the world because they're pissed that their parents were killed 212 years ago?" Kate asked. "Sounds like a weak plotline." "It was their only chance to survive. And well.. yes. It said here that they would be reborn in the safefhouse in the new millenium. From Cordelia's vision I think they may be trying to end the world here. In LA." "Why LA?" Gunn fell back on his chair comfortably, waiting for the time when action would come. "Why not LA?" Kate countered. "Look around? Everything you could ever need is right here." "Yes well, it may be something to do with the flashness. Most publicity. They lived their entire lives in secret," Wesley shrugged. "Here's an illustration," he pushed the book towards the three of them of the two twins. "Time to come out the woodwork?" Kate added. "Exactly. These people could be damaged from the transistion or parental loss.." "So basically a psychotic demon. Wow, haven't come across one of them in a while," Gunn dead panned. "I'm going to call Cordelia and call Angel's cell phone," Wesley told them, taking the book with him. "Hey Charles," Kate said in a low voice, calling Gunn over. "It's Gunn." "Sorry. I just wanted to apologise for the first time we met. How I acted. I'm sorry." "Don't worry," Gunn waved a hand dismissively. "You were edgy, Angel was going psycho. Understandable." "So it's behind us?" "Can't even see it in the rearview mirror." Kate sighed loudly. "Good, good. Thanks." "No problem. Oh and since we're talking about names, you prefer Kate?" "Yeah." "Well, I'll call you Katie, be different." Kate smiled and looked down. "My dad called me that." "Oh," Gunn said loudly. Angel had told him about the fate of Detective Lockley Snr. "Oh.. God.. Sorry.." "No. I like it.. It reminds me.." She said with difficulty. "OK," Gunn smiled.
ACT THREE
Angel slid into his car in the covered parking lot and shut the door. He pulled down the sun shader and the keys fell into his hand. He glanced up at the picture taped there. He unstuck it delicately and took it in his hands. It was fairly new and she was standing with Dawn and her mom. She was wearing black leather pants, a white halter top and her hair was all around her shoulders. Joyce was hugging into her while she had her arms protectively around Dawn. Angel exhaled loudly and drew the lines of her with his finger. Dawn had given him a bunch of pictures, hundreds, over the summer. And clothes. And personal things. Before she burst out in tears again, Dawn had said she wanted Angel to have them because Buffy wanted him to have them. And she didn't know what to do with Buffy's stuff and her Mom's stuff. Mainly Angel stayed at 1630 Revello. It should have been daily torture session but it was oddly comforting. He could smell and feel and see Buffy all around him in her house. Everything had the essence of Buffy. He and Dawn had always been quite close and he wanted to be with her when she needed him to be. Like Buffy would have wanted. He went to the mansion to grieve. To wail and cry and curse the Powers. He went there so Dawn couldn't see him. It was the only time Angel was alone because all the other times, everyone was treating him as if he had EXTRA CARE: FRAGILE stamped on his forehead. Wasn't far from the truth.
Angel walked into the Hyperion's lobby and found everyone researching. "Find anything?" "Why didn't you have your cell phone on?" Wesley asked. "Because I was.. I don't know Wesley OK?" Angel grumbled, climbing the stiars. "Just tell me when to fight and I'll show up." Wesley flinched at the slamming of Angel's door. "He doesn't seem to be in a terribly good mood does he?" "His girlfriend's still dead
you know. It's not something a summer of sulking can fix," Gunn said
to Wesley, raising his eyebrow. "Be patient."
Angel threw himself on his back on the bed. He stared at the ceiling for a few minutes before reaching over onto his pillow. It might seem weird that a grown, well 248 year old would have a stuffed pig on his bed but it wasn't an issue. Mr Gordo was going to stay where he was. Buffy's most treasured stuffed animal and Angel had done some bonding with it a few years ago. Come by to spend some quality time with Mr Gordo? What? The pig. He smelled the pig lightly,
catching the Buffy Musk and he closed his eyes, letting innocent memories
wash over him and lull him into a dream filled sleep.
"Thanks for a wonderful night Tristian," Fred smiled, opening the door of his black porsche. She'd been stunned to see it in the parking lot and more shocked when she discovered that he owned it. It wasn't on the whole unusual for an LA inhibitant to own a car like that- So Fred chalked her surprise up to being in Pilea for so long where the best mode of transportation was a cart drawn by a cow. Tristian had drove her to her new apartment. The police department had been glad to get another Missing Person Case cleared up. Fred had fabricated this story that didn't really make sense but they weren't caring much. She got her old job back at the library but moved out of her old apartment since it had already been let out again. "I will call you," he promised. He reached across, gently touching her face with his hand. He leaned over and kissed her lightly. "See you soon." "Yeah," Fred nodded, feeling
herself blush. This was her first date in years and even before Pilea
she wasn't entirely confident with men. She stepped out onto the
sidewalk and watched the car speed away at 50 miles per hour.
"So how was the date?" Annette asked as soon as Tristian closed the door. "It was fine sis, thanks for being so concerned," he bit as he hung his jacket up. He went into his sisters room and sat down on her bed. "Have fun? Meet anyone?" "Yeah, it was fine. The only bad thing was that about halfway through this man came over to our table and started a conversation with my date like they went back some. She insisted they were just friends but.." "But what?" "Well.. He was.. He was.." "A hottie?" "Not hotter than me by the way," he smirked, "but he had a quality." "What was the hottie's name?" She asked, brushing her hair out. "Angel. What kind of a name is that?" "A good one. So he was drop dead gorgeous, his name was Angel and your date knew him? What the Hell is she doing with you?" "Oh ha ha," Tristian droned,
throwing a cushion at Annette.
"Morning everyone," Cordelia yawned, holding a cup of decaf coffee. There was no one about except for Wesley reading a book in his chair. "Or just you Wesley." "Morning," Wesley greeted. He stopped reading anf looked up. "How are you feeling?" "Better. Dennis made me lemon tea." "That was.. very nice of him," Wesley said puzzled. He couldn't imagine living so comfortably with a ghost. "A bit too much lemon but he wasn't to know. It's not like he can taste how sour it is. It's the thought that counts," she shrugged placing down her bag. "Sounds liek Dennis keeps you in luxury." "Oh yeah. He cleans up a lot. Makes a TV dinner occansionally for me. Turns off my alarm in the morning. Tapes e.r. brings me fresh flowers to brighten the place up. He's the best," she concluded, coming beside Wesley. "Hit me." He handed her a brown book at which she scowled but sat down to read. "It sounds like Dennis has a crush on someone." "Who?" Cordelia absently asked, still reading. "Oh, well the room temp goes up a few degrees whenever the landlady stops by for rent." "I mean you Cordelia." "What? Get out!" Cordelia dismissed. "He-- He doesn't. We're just really really goos roomies. I could never share with anyone else." "Whatever you say Cordelia, until Heaven and high Water, I'll believe you." Cordelia rolled her eyes then directed her stare to the hotels stairs. "So how's he doing?" She nodded. "Oh the usual. I've been in for a few hours and I've only seen him once. He was holding a pig." "What? Where?" Cordelia gasped, looking around her feet. "Where is it?" "No, not a real pig. A stuffed animal. I suspect--" Wesley leaned closer to whisper. "I suspect Buffy's." "Angel," Cordelia sighed. "He's never going to be the same." "I fear so."
"Is everything ready?" Annette checked frantically in their apartment. He hair was wrapped in a towel as she tried to find her hairdryer. there wasn't long until the ritual. "Urn. Herbs. Chanty spells. Last thing left, blood of an innocent," Tristian nodded. he reached for the cell phone and dialled in a number. He left it a few rings and then it rang onto the answer machine. "Are you calling her?" Annette asked. He waved a hand for her to shut up. "Hey Fred, it's Tristian. Told you I'd all. Anyway, you're not there so I'm going to surprise you at work. Wish me luck. Bye." "Oh you are so smooth it's
sickening," Annette groaned, throwing a towel over his head.
"Hey Cordy, Katie, Wes," Gunn said throwing his ax on the floor over his jacket. "What's Hell got cookin' all up for us?" "Where have you been? It's nearly 6.30," Cordelia refered to her watch. "Cordelia, honey, I have a life. Saving other people's lives. I was doing that between seven a.m. and now OK?" "OK then," she said quietly, going back to her book, "This is quite hopeless!" Wesley growled, slamming shut his book. "We know nothing of their power, just their back ground and agenda which doesn't take a genius to figure out! We've exhausted all the relevant materials." "Huh?" Cordelia asked. "All the books that might have something in them about this chick and this guy," Gunn stuck his hands in his pockets. "I knew that and don't get intellectually superior with me High School Dropout Boy." Wesley stomped over to the bookcase and selected the first book to hand. "I don't think that The Legends of Vishnu quite cuts it," Welsey demonstrated. "Oh, this seems to be Giles's book. However did I end up with it?" He wondered aloud. "So where do you get books like this?" Kate asked. "The library? they have a demonolgy section?" "Fred's old library does," Cordelia remembered. "Let's go," Kate prodded. "If we're going on a field
trip, I want Angel there," Cordelia decided. "I'm going to talk to
him."
I want my life to be with you! I don't. Drink.. Drink Me.. It'll kill you.. Not gonna say goodbye. Together you are powerful, Alone you are dead. Dead. A small portion of memories played through Angel's brain like a home movie. All about life and death. Buffy dying. It's not a comprehendable thought. Buffy dead. Even less sense. Couldn't.. Can't happen. Not Buffy. Not her. Anyone but her. He never got to say goodbye.. No nonononono. Don't say goodbye. Never goodbye. Not goodbye. Not dead. He hugged into Mr Gordo tighter, somehow hot tears dripping onto the pig. No nonononono. Not goodbye. Not dead. Not Buffy. Angel's mind torture was interrupted by a knock at his door. From the sweet perfume drifting under the door, he knew it was Cordelia which was why he faintly said come in Cordelia was the only one he wanted to deal with at this moment. he couldn't explain the feeling, he just knew she understood. Cordelia walked to his bed and sat down without invitation whereas Wesley or Gunn would have stood back, near the door, mumbling incoherently. Indecisiveness wasn't needed. He needed someone to tell him what to do. Like Cordelia would. But she would always understand as well. "Hey there. We're going to the library. We're firing blanks down there. Anyway, come with us," Cordelia said firmly in a kind way. "No thank you," he mubled, feeling like a child, but he held Mr Gordo tighter. "So who's the friend you wanna spend more time with than me?" She joked lightly. Angel turned in his bed, and faced Cordelia. He sadly smiled and revealed the stuffed animal. "It's Mr Gordo." "So he's the big talker? Because there's not a lot of conversation coming from you." "He's Buffy's," Angel added. "Guessed. He's sorta cute. I want you to come Angel. We could see Fred but mostly for the air..which you're not exactly craving with desparate need. Huh. Well anyway, if you want, you can take Mr Gordo. I'm not fussy although Gunn will think you're a big wussy." Angel sighed and sat up. He replaced Mr Gordo on his pillow and then put his shoes on. "He's not a big reader,"
Angel explained with a flicker of a smile as they left his room.
"Angel take this," Wesley order, handing him a book as they left the car. "What for?" "It has the sketches of the bad guys for reference," Kate explained. The gang entered the library, looking around for the main desk. They saw Fred, laughing and stamping books. Wesley approached quickly. "Hello Fred, we need your
assistance," he said urgently.
"So you're looking for some prophecy book of that era," Fred pondered. "Anything else you can tell me?" "If we're to stop Tristian and Annette Antoniette we need everything we can get. The more I read, the more--" Wesley started. "What did you say the name was?" Fred and Angel asked at the same time. "Annette and Tristian Antoinette," Wesley told him, confused. "He has a sister Annette," Fred covered her mouth. Angel threw the book on the counter and flicked through the pages. "Where's the picture?" He mumbled, flicking furiously. He stopped at a bookmarked page and took away the paper. Fred peered at the picture. "It can't be," she whispered. "It is. This is the guy you're dating." "How? Why did this have to happen?" She wailed quietly. "Fred!" Fred and everyone looked up slowly and saw Tristian in a deep purple suit, taking off his thin designer shades. "Thought I'd surprise you," he smiled, looking cautiously at everyone. Fred came round from behind the counter to him. "Well you did that all right," she nervously laughed. "Are these your friends?" He asked. "Yeah, yeah. I'm Angel, we met the other night," Angel said pulling Fred back a bit and holding out his hand again. "We did this already," Tristian reminded him. "Right, right," Angel nodded, taking his hand out of Tristian's. "Uh, Fred, could you show me where that book is now?" "Sure, sure," she nodded vigoursly, leading Angel between stacks. "This is the book you might need," Fred said shakily, handing it to him. "What did you say he was again? Demon? He isn't a demon is he? First date in years and I can't shake off Pylea." "He's human. I think. I really don't know much about it," Angel tried to calm her by putting his hands on her shoulders. He licked his lips and glanced at his friends talking with the boy. Everything seemed normal. "I was a little preoccupied." "Understandable." "But it's not," Angel whispered.
"No one understands. I wish she was here," he closed his eyes and
leaned against the stack.
"So where you from?" Cordelia asked, interested. "I hear an accent." "I lived in France until I was eight," Tristian answered, looking at Cordelia curiously. She smiled flirtly at him. He repressed a laugh. "France. How'd that work for ya?" Cordelia tried to divert his attention. "Fine. My accent's fading a little. A couple centuries will do that to you." "Not got any personal experience there," Cordelia mumbled, looking behind him. She seen a team of twenty men - human as far as she could tell. Well that was before their faces shifted and there were twenty snarling vampires advancing on Cordelia, Wesley, Gun and Kate. "Let's help Angel," Wesley decided. They all agreed. Gunn picked up the nearest library chair and used it to bowl down Tristian. "Nice shot," Cordelia complimented as they ran for Angel and Fred in the stacks. "Thanks." "This is when you make a pin head joke," Cordelia prompted. "I'll pass," he grinned,
skidding round the corner of the high book cases.
"Angel," Fred shook his arm, showing him the vampires and the oncoming gang. "Time to stamp out the book and leave," Wesley called, running. Angel pushed a book into chest as he approached. "Get out. I'll be a few minutes more," he ordered. Fred stared for a minute with wide eyes. "What are you going to do? There's ten of them coming this way of them Angel!" She hissed. Cordelia grabbed Fred's arm on the way past. "Know how some people, they eat ice cream or talk to a therapist for relief and comfort?" She yelled as they dodged into and out the stacks. Both backward glanced at Angel standing in the path of the vampires, revealing a large claymore sword hidden in his black duster. "That is Angel's comfort. Killing the bad guy." "Oh," she nodded, running faster before a vampire jumped out in front of them. Fred reached to the nearest shelf and pulled out a hardback book. She threw it at the vampires head. He growled and seemed even more infuriated. "Vamp tip. Stakes, holy water, crosses, sunlight not a good thing for the fanged ones. Books are not one of these turn offs. Trust me," Cordelia faux smiled. She looked back and saw Angel cutting down vampires like the grim reaper. Slashing and stabbing valiantly, never pausing. A few feet back, she saw a book trolley. She ran back and ran with it, hopping on and accelerating with her feet. Then Cordelia jumped off and it propelled into the vampire. "I thought you said books weren't the thing for killing vampires," Fred half smirked. "OK smart ass," Cordelia rolled her eyes and led them in the direction of Wesley and Gunn. The four of them reached Angel's car and jumped in, Fred and Cordelia opting to use the doors. Wesley started up the engine and passed the book to Fred in the back seat. "Hey, where's Katie?" Gunn
asked, looking around.
"You know, I never leave home without one of these," Kate said, holding a stake. Another vampire joined the two in front of her. Very unfair odds, she decided. She glanced to her right and saw a mobile ladder attached to the stacks. She ran at it and it whirreled along the shelves, leaving the vampires running after her. Unfortuanetely, she wasn't looking and it hit the end, throwing her off with force. She landed in a heap and saw the three vampires catching up. She fumbled in her pocket, producing a bottle of holy water. She snapped it open and threw some at the face of the lead vampire. He hissed and the smoke came off in spirls. Then from behind, Kate saw the exit wound of a sword appear in the vampire to the right's torso. It disapeared with the sound of sealing flesh, a disgusting squelch, Kate shuddered, and he dropped to the ground. The vampire on the left glanced down before the blade swung at his neck. The head went tumbling for a few yards before it combusting along with the body. The vampire lying on the ground, squirmed and closed his eyes tight, trying to forget the pain. He opened them for the split second when Kate brought the stake down on his heart. "Thanks," Kate exhaled, looking at Angel. He had fought at least fifteen vampires in the past few minutes and it looked as if he'd been reading a book, or drinking coffee. "See, libraries can be fun,"
Angel sighed, as he and Kate departed.
Wesley saw them first, walking out to the car, running a few steps. "Tristian? The boy?" Wesley asked anxiously. "Gone probably," Angel shrugged, getting in. Kate joined the two girls in the backseat while Angel sat on the edge of the backseat head rests, with Cordelia's knees between his legs. Wesley screeched off and Angel felt the wind flat in his face. Cordelia reached to the side and rubbed his knee affectionately. She rolled her head back and smiled. He nodded, affirming that he was OK. "So. All that was for?" Kate wondered aloud, touching her split head from the fall. "The book," Wesley said, looking back at them in the rear view mirror. "The book," Cordelia nodded. "Of course. Everything is always life or death for a few scraps of paper. What does this great book say?" "It is essential Cordelia. We know nothing of what they're capapble of. Only that they can command vampires and nearly anyone can do that. I--" Wesley ranted. "Will you shut up and let her read the damn book?" Gunn snapped. "Go on Fred." "Sorry," Wesley grumbled, indicating to go left moodily. "I think it's around this chapter here. No, not five headed snakes.. Uh.. This. The Two shall rise, the earth shall fall and all shall be silent. That's the prophecy. This goes on to say.. That they have infinitive power over armies. Oh dear lord... You never said they were royalty. Important - yes. Oh.. Oh lord, I was dating a prince," Fred flustered. "Access to magicks... Oh, and it says that they.. Will be part of the life circle. They do die when they get old.. But they are unkillable. What? They can die but can't be killed?" "Stronger mortality. Death in proper time, not on a battle field," Wesley mused. "It refers to a golden knife in the same sentence. Not sure what for," Fred told them. "So they're invincible, powerful.." Wesley summarised. "And cute! Fred, your evil Prince Charming is sooo cute," Cordelia yammered. "Cute prince Charming," Gunn mocked in a high voice. "Lord, I can't believe he's evil," Fred sighed. "I am done with dating as of ten minutes ago." "Good decision. You don't wanna end up impregnated with demon surrogate spawn," Cordelia agreed. Everyone but Wesley and Angel looked at Cordelia with fascination. "Demon spawn. Huh. When'd this happen? Did the demon decide you looked like it's own species and it'd be OK to cross breed or what?" Gunn said, staring into the side view mirror, his teeth clenced and his tone peppered with jealousy. Cordelia rolled her eyes and decided not to retort. "What else?" She asked Fred. Gunn snorted at her. "About demon spawn?" "About the twins," Cordelia nudged. "Oh yeah.. Well. Well," Fred looked up into Wesleys rearview mirror. "One of them is trying to tailgate us." They all looked round at the black porsche, very close to Angel's bumper. When it burst into speed and smashed against the fender, there was a cry. "Angel?! Aren't you mad? You love this car!" Cordelia reminded him. He looked at her, with the same expression, eyes low, mouth straight. "It's just a car." "It's your baby.. OK gross image," Cordelia waved a hand. "Most guys love their cars and I know you love it. Why is it? Ask All American Boy Gunn." "What?" Gunn said gruffly. "Why do guys act like cars are more suitable life partners than actual human females?" "I don't know," he scoffed huffily. "Why don't you ask Daddy Demon, see what he thinks of human females?" "What is your pr--" Cordelia started before the porsche scraped alongside the car, maiming the body work. The porsche sped up and swerved in and out, trying to get to the same level. Tristin grinned at Wesley before slamming his car into Angel's. It forced them skidding off the road, the tyres screeching for life. Angel fell into the car as it hit a tree. He was draped over Cordelia's knee and mostly on the floor. "You OK?" Angel asked. "I'm OK, you great lummock," she smiled, giving him her hand. "This is why I wear a seat belt," Kate coughed as the dust settled. "Where's Tristian?" Fred asked, terrified. "On his merry way now he's crashed the car," Gunn said, tumbling out of the open door. He helped Kate out the back by pulling tree branches back. Five other cars, filled with more vampires screeched to a halt and they poured out in droves. "Can we take em?" Gunn asked, annoyed that they had to run to get away with the book last time. "No," Wesley said.
"The warehouse! Come on!" He waved to them to follow. As they
ran, Gunn snapped off a branch and peeled off the twigs, creating a makeshift
stake. Kate paused, drawing her own gun out of the ankle holster
and shooting as many vampires as could, to slow them down. She began
running again when her clip was emptied.
They bundled in the warehouse and threw the dead bar across, covering themselves against the door, hoping the vampires wouldn't come after them. Angel was absent in mind and soul and about 35 more vampires wouldn't cheer him up in the least. "This is an iron reinforced door. They won't get in. We'll be safe in here," Angel assured his friends. "But can you get out?" A
voice wondered behind them.
ACT FOUR
"Oh God," Wesley whispered looking around. "They drove us here." They all turned round slowly to see the twins, Tristian and Annette standing there. Wesley took note of what they were wearing. He was wearing a dark blue suit with a matching light blue shirt and tie and his hair impeccably gelled. She wore a tight bust crimson red wide long sleeved dress that touched her knees. "Hey Fred, I really like you and all but I don't think it's working out. We should see other people. Move on. End the world," Tristian smirked. "Yeah maybe I will," she scoffed defiantly, cringing at what she had just said. "Oh what a pair of LOSERS! Daddys girl and mommys boy!" Cordelia hollered at them, frustrated. "Is this it? Is this this weeks big danger because I am deeply disapointed. Never before in my life have I met such whiners. Oh my mom and dad died so I'll step on other people's buzz and bother people trying to save the world!" Kate shuddered, the words slightly reminiscent of Angel's rant at the museum before he bit her. Angel turned to Kate and noticed her reaction. He mouth sorry and looked apologetic. She shook her head. "I've just had a really sore vision and now I'm listening to you two blubber over the fact that something happened way back when." "Who are you? I like you," Annette smiled. "Cordelia and sorry, I don't enjoy being with other girls in that way." "She's sassy. Isn't she sassy Trist?" Annette turned to her brother. "And what's with the American accents?" Cordelia groaned. "For God sake, you're the heir to the French thorne and you speak American." "We adapt very well," Tristian put on his natural thick accent. "Whatever," Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Very sassy," he grinned. "If you must know, it's not all about my parents," Annette answered. "It's about our country. Look at it's former glory and current state," Tristian said angrily. Annette back a loud buzzer sound. "Sorry that was a wrong answer Trist." "What?" "All the nights we talked about this. It was never for them and it was never for France," she spat. "What then? I don't understand Annie," he said confused. She ignored him and took out a well concealed gold plated short sword. "Did you know our grandfather had this made to kill traitors? It's the only thing we have that leads back to our time Trist. Jean Jacque told me to hide it well. He knew the future. Did you know that this is the only weapon which can kill us?" She turned to him. "Sensible thing would be to destroy it. Know why I didn't?" "You like to live dangerously Annie?" He said worridely "Wrong again brother. That crown was mine. I earned it. You didn't. You had no claim to it. It was never going to be yours. Did you know that day, father was going to announce our existence and he was going to hand down the crown. To you," she snarled. She was holding the dagger with a deathly grip and she had back him up against the wall. "Annie I--" "Don't!" She order, holding a hand up. "Don't speak Trist, don't think! Just act like you usually do. I'll do everything! Did you know it was partly my fault the revolt happened. I sneaked out the day before, after I overheard our father telling his aide he was making us known and giving you the crown. I went to market. All the people were pretty pissed anyway. I just put an idea into their heads. And heads will roll.." "You.." Tristian trailed off. "Traitor." "Give me a robe and call me Judas. You never had any idea what it was like to be me, did you Trist? Huh? Go back to Hell dear brother," she growled, taking a swing and stabbing him forcefuly, just once, in the gut. She twisted the knife, the determination on her face. She withdrew it and stood back, letting Tristian fall to the floor. "I've done everything for
years. I think I can handle ending the world," she spat cockily.
Angel looked to Cordelia, Wesley, Kate and Fred getting to work on the door while Annette stabbed her brother. He stepped and studied Annette as she gazed at the long knife splattered in her family blood with fascination. "You can't get it off me you know," she sighed, looking up. "If you did, would you want the blood or to kill me?" "You can sense me," Angel realised. "The demon. I can sense the demon. It's under control for now. He hasn't been in control for a very long time.. He's hungry," she noted, waving the knife around with the growing stench of blood. "He will break free again." "He won't." "Know what else I can sense? Pain. A whole universe of it. All coming from one person. Shall I tell you how that is?" Angel just stared at Annette, unable to respond. "The Slayer. Well there goes the knife," Annette shrugged, throwing the dagger into the warehouse wall, 30 feet above his head. "And this," she said holding a box of matches, "will light the urn. Burning the herbs, creating a fire ball. Sending a ball of fire into the earths core beneath our feet, combusting the earth from inside. Pretty cool huh?" "And you make it sound so simple. So you are really trying to end the world then?" He asked. "Isn't everyone?" "Yeah, I tried once. With a big rock. Acathla. Never worked out." "You don't say." "Yeah well these evil plans never do. Why is it again you wanna end the world?" Angel asked, circling with Annette. "Why wouldn't I? Open your eyes. I noticed this 200 odd years ago but now I see it more and more." "What?" "Hate. Evil. Suffering. Murderers, rapists, gangs, theives. You trying to tell me this is a world worth saving? That the people in it wouldn't be better off dead? Their pathetic little lives governed by hatred and fear and evil are worth fighting for?" "That's not everyone." "No? Everyone, every man woman and child has a little bit of demon in them. A little evil that provides the devil on their shoulder. Something pushing them to do something which has not rhyme or reason." "What do you get out of it?" "Peace. Quiet. Rest. Something I can never have as long as this world exists. In exchange for the time gap in my life from then to now and my current strength, I have a duty. So long after I die, I have to watch over this place. For the Powers That Be. Is that fair and just and something you champion?" "What happens? If the world didn't end and you died, what would happen?" "I'd be the ghost I've always been. In the shadows. Condemned for an eternity of penace. Sorry, no thanks, I'll take option B," she snapped. "So make another option.." Angel suggested. "You don't need to end the world for peace." "There's no other way. And you're here to stop me. Question: what stopped you?" "What?" "When you were a young boy trying to end the world, what - or who - stopped you?" "A girl," Angel barely said, stepping forward. "Oh bad luck. Stopped by a meek little girlie girl," she taunted "Her name," Angel snarled, moving into game face. He struck out a lethal backhand "--was Buffy (*punch*) and she (*roundhouse*) taught me (*elbow*) I have to (*smack*) keep fighting," Angel growled as he fought with Annette. She got up from the ground and ducked his next blow. Annette doubled quick kicked Angel. He continued as she got the upper hand, dealing him blows. "It' s hard and it's everyday (*roundhouse*) But it's what we have to do (*double punch*) What I have to do," Angel said, coming back and throwing Annette into the wall. He slammed her head twice into the wooden wall before she caught him with a back kick. "She promised we could do it together," Angel persisted, flipping of the ground. "She meant it (*punch*) I left her (*treble kick*) she died (*smack*) My fault." Angel took hold of an over head cargo hook and swung it into Annettes face. Angel glanced behind him and saw the dagger 30ft above the door Gunn, Wesley, Cordelia, Kate and Fred were hammering. He ran the full length of the factory, holding the slidable cargo hook and it projected him up the wall. With his reserves of vampire strength, he snatched hold of the dagger. Angel was held in the air only be the golden plated dagger. "Look out!" He yelled below to his friends. He pulled the dagger out and fell back, crashing towards the floor. Like a cat he twisted his body and landed on his feet, crouched down. He stood up, testing his ankle, and gripping the dagger tightly. He looked up, ready to impale Annette over the other side of the warehouse but she wasn't there. There were drops of both their blood staining the ground but she wasn't on the warehouse floor.. Angel scanned the warehouse
for any escape routes. He saw a smashed window letting the moonlight
spill in and letting Annette out.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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