| Title: Pretty When You Cry Author: LaLa 247 Rating: NC-17 WARNING: Contains coarse language, graphic violence and sexual situations, character death, usual Angelus lore. Don't read if you can't handle. Comment: Parts in italics are flashbacks done in no specific order. Parts in bold are Angel/Angelus' inner thoughts. Enjoy!! Part One He just gave up. That was it. All that fighting, all that atoning; it was for nothing. He didn�t know it could be that easy, giving up. But he did it. Just like that. Gave it up to Angelus. All the inner taunting ((I can�t take it,)) all the evil, it finally took its toll. With two words ((Take it...)), it was done. And there he sat, in the office. Waiting. Waiting for her. The Seer ((She�s going to die)) had run out ((stupid bitch...)) of the hotel last night. Left him in despair. And he hated her for it ((she will die)). Angelus ((Angel is dead)) closed his eyes. And waited. �I love you.� Cordelia burst out laughing. Angel frowned slightly. �C-Cord? I�m serious...� Cordelia continued laughing. Angel fidgeted a bit. The Seer sat on top of the lobby�s counter, and Angel stood in front of her, nervously tapping the counter. �Dammit Cordelia-� This wasn�t going the way he had hoped it would. Cordelia touched his arm slightly, and that alone made him lose all train of thought. �Angel...no you don�t.� She bit her lower lip. Angel grabbed her hand. �Y-Yes I do...I know now. I knew ever since we came back from Pylea...I can�t survive without you. I-I�ll die without you-� �Stop it.� Cordelia�s voice came sharp. She stared at him hard. �Angel. You do not love me. You think you do. You�ve-� Angel held her hand tighter. �Cordelia- please...I�m not joking. I need you-� Before he could stop himself, he had kissed her. Hard. With passion. Desire. Want. Lust. To his shock, Cordelia kissed him back, meeting him with every movement. His hand found it�s way into her hair, the other wrapped around her waist. Cordelia pressed herself against him, and Angel felt himself lose all control. Then, suddenly, she hit him. Hard. Angel stumbled away, holding his cheek. �Cord-� Cordelia glared at him, fuming. �What the hell is your problem?!� She yelled. �Who do you think you are?! You think just because you kiss me it�s all gonna be paradise?? Y-You think you can have any girl you want? You are twisted Angel!� Angel lowered his head slowly. �I-I thought-� �You thought nothing! We can never be together! Hel-lo, Summers could walk in and you�ll dump me-� �I would never-� �Shut up!� She was standing now, and putting on her jacket. Angel stared at her, stunned. Cordelia scowled and stomped out of the Hyperion. As soon as the door slammed, Cordelia froze. She held her chest tightly, trying to stop the hysterical beating of her heart. That scared her. He scared her. The thought of them together scared her. She couldn�t handle it. Cordelia walked hastily down the street and stopped fifteen feet from the Hyperion. She breathed deeply. She knew what she did was wrong. Mean. But he had scared her. God knows she loved him. Hell, she was in love with him. But visions don�t lie. She saw Angelus- not Angel- attacking her. She knew then. They could never be together. So she did what she did. It took all of her power not to hug him and comfort him. That look on his face was heart-wrenching. And she knew she had hurt him. That�s why she was there. To apologize. Cordelia walked up the steps. Her hand on the knob. She opened the door and walked inside ((there she is...)). Darkness. Oh God. He must�ve been brooding. Surely Wes and Gunn heard. She walked slowly to the office ((almost there...)). Her hand on the knob. She opened the door and stepped in. Cordelia looked up from her desk, up at a smiling Angel. �What?� She said, slightly giggling. Angel giggled in response. Cordelia shook her head, and returned her eyes to the computer screen. Angel ran a finger down her face gently. Cordelia pushed his hand away. �Look. Cordelia. Working. It�s a good thing.� She mumbled, slightly annoyed. �Don�t you have something to do? Drink blood. Go brood.� Angel smiled. �I don�t want to brood. I want to stay here.� Cordelia shook her head. �Nope. That won�t do.� She faced him, his body towering over her seated one. �Go amuse yourself please. But...don�t kill anybody.� Suddenly, Angel leaned over and kissed her forehead. �What was that for?� Cordelia was genuinely confused. Angel grinned. �For being you.� He punched her cheek playfully and walked out of the office. Cordelia rolled her eyes and smiled faintly. �Weirdo...� She muttered. The office was dark. A light was turned on. And the girl jumped. Angel sat at her desk, feet propped up. �Jesus!� Cordelia yelled, holding her chest ((surprise...)). �God- stalk much Ang-� Something wasn�t right. The table lamp on her desk shown a tiny ray of light, partially on Angel�s face. On his face was a smirk, a cold, patronizing smirk. Eyes empty. Dead. In his fingers dangled a lit cigarette. Oh God. Her eyes trailed down. The pants. The leather pants so clear on top of the oak desk. Angel was wearing the pants. Not Angel. Angelus. �Oh, God...� Cordelia breathed ((God can�t help you...)). In an instant, Angelus had flew across the room and grabbed her. Part Two Cordelia screamed and was immediately silenced with a hard punch to her cheek which landed her against the nearest wall. Her head flipped to her right, and she tasted blood ((warm sinful blood)). Her vision blurry, she looked at her assailant�s face. Her eyes met with black ones. Angelus grabbed her arm tightly and took it all in. The Seer wore a crisp white button-down shirt, black skirt and knee-high boots ((hooker boots...damn those are hot)). The burgundy leather jacket she wore over it was off one shoulder. Her short hair was wild now. Angelus� eyes traveled up and down her body and he raised an eyebrow ((always wanted her)). Cordelia let out a gasp as the stranger lowered his head to her neck. She froze in her position, pushed up against the wall. Her hands pressed on Angelus� chest, trying to shove him away. Instead of biting her, he chuckled. �Scared?� he growled. A low growl. A dangerous growl. To her own surprise, Cordelia felt her body respond to him. His voice. This was the tone of voice that drove her mad. The �Cordelia...� warning voice. �A-Angel...� Cordelia stammered. �I-� Angelus pulled away from Cordelia and slammed her head against the wall violently. �Name�s Angelus.� He snarled, his eyes teetering between vague amusement and utter hatred. �Liam. Angelus. Angel.� Cordelia repeated, leaning forward in her chair. Angel glanced at her from his stretched out position on the couch. �God, I feel like your therapist.� A slim hand ran through her long brown hair. Wesley would kill her if he knew she was discussing this with Angel. �So what the hell?� A bemused grin played on Angel�s lips. �I have many sides to myself.� He joked wryly. Cordelia nudged him with her foot. �Okay, Mr. Cryptic. So you�re saying Liam and Angelus still lie in...you? Like there�s three people inside that one body?� Angel sat up slowly and faced her. �There are days I feel like grabbing you, taking you to a dark room, and having my way with you.� He muttered, his face taking a grave motif. Cordelia sat up straighter. Now there was something more to their conversation. �That�s Liam. Then there are days I want to just laugh and talk and just be with you. That�s Angel.� A darkness clouded his eyes. �And there are those days, those rare days, I just want to grab you, fuck you and torture you. There are those days I just want to murder everyone....That�s Angelus.� His face was hardly readable. Cordelia stared at him incredulously. �Um...that�s not often, I hope.� Angel blinked from his reverie and smiled. �Close to never.� Cordelia felt tears sting her eyes. Angelus� hand crept up to her face, gently yet harshly stoking her face. �You�re so pretty when you cry.� He said, his voice barely audible ((keep crying...you deserve it)). His other hand drifted down, brushing the fabric of her skirt, pulling it up partially. Cordelia clutched his shirt tightly. �Angel...please-� Her plea was cut short by a backhand to her face. Angelus grabbed her hair and threw her into the desk. �I told you.� He muttered, his voice chillingly calm. �Name�s Angelus. What is it you don�t fucking understand?� Cordelia fumbled to her feet, fear shining in her eyes ((you should be afraid...)). In an flash Angelus was in front of her. He crushed her upon the desk, his hands feeling her body ((I will have her)). His face once again lowered to her neck, and he scraped his teeth against her jugular. Cordelia�s breathing came in heaves now, her mind running in fast-forward. A growl escaped his lips, and he peeled off her jacket, tossing it across the room. Cordelia struggled now, trying to move her body from under him. Angelus� hands moved to her shirt and he ripped it open. He yanked the girl up into a sitting position and let a finger go down her face, down her neck, to her cleavage. �So scared to die...� He muttered. �I relish that.� With a hard blow, Cordelia had kneed him in the crotch, sending him down. She jolted from the room. Angelus laughed. �Aw don�t run! I wasn�t gonna kill you- yet-� He ran after her. Angel was in absolute heaven. Well, as far as he could go. Cordelia placed her hand on the side of his face, and giggled quietly. He planted several small pecks on the girl�s lips. Cordelia�s back touched the bookcase. His hands rested on her waist lightly. Cordelia loved that. Always the gentleman. She couldn�t believe it. They were just standing there talking about, of all things, demons. Cordelia flipped through a book. Then, during a moment of silence, Angel moved close to her, and asked to kiss her. Just like that. �Can..I- uh...kiss you? Just a bit?� His face was adorable. She couldn�t resist. It was all too childish, too tender. Too foolish. Wesley and Gunn were just outside the closed door. He kissed her again, an innocent kiss. The door opened. Angel and Cordelia separated instantly. Cordelia spun around, facing the bookcase, Angel flew to the desk, absently clicking computer keys. Wesley stepped in, and stopped. He looked at the two. Angel peered at the man, and felt his non-beating heart stop. Wes knew. Angel knew he knew. �Cordelia-� Wesley murmured. �Gunn needs help with the Peterman files.� Cordelia nodded and walked out of the room. Angel knew he let his glance last too long. Damn. Wesley stared at Angel, now trying to escape the room. �Don�t do this.� the man said quietly. Angel stared back at Wesley. �What?� �Don�t get involved with your Seer, Angel. It can only lead to heartbreak. For her. And possibly for you.� Angel chuckled. �I don�t know what the hell you�re talking-� �You know exactly what I�m talking about.� Wesley said sharply. �The looks. The prolonged touches. It�s all become too obvious. And you will only hurt her. You know this.� Angel rolled his eyes. �Please, Wesley- you don�t know what you�re talking about. Just mind your own business.� Wesley ignored his snub. �Leave Cordelia alone. Before something horrible comes of it." Cordelia ran blindly through the lobby. It was so dark, she couldn�t see anything. Before she could react, Angelus had tackled her to the ground ((I love a good chase)). Cordelia attempted to crawl away, but Angelus had grabbed her hair and slammed her head on the hard wood floor. Cordelia felt herself lose consciousness slightly. Everything was hazy, all she saw was shadows. She was going to die. Angelus forced her skirt over her hips roughly. �You and I,� He hissed. �We�re gonna have a little fun...� His hand pushed Cordelia�s head into the floor, the other worked its way to her hips and ripped off her panties. Cordelia struggled harder, then she stopped. She had to play his game. Angelus grabbed her by the hair and twisted her around, so she was on her back. He pressed himself on top of her, undoing his pants. He entered her hard, and thrust in her relentlessly. To Cordelia�s surprise, and probably Angelus�, she found her hips moving to meet his this ((bitch is something else...)). Her hands groped his face and she kissed him. He growled and kissed her hard, biting her lower lip hard until he felt blood. They were animals in the darkness. Biting, clawing, and wrenching. The vampire ripped at her clothes, feeling the silk bra and the fabric of her torn outfit. She sensed herself losing control as he pushed savagely. She couldn�t resist. He didn�t care if her cries were in pain or in pleasure. Want, Take, Have. He forced her leg over his hip and Cordelia threw her head back, revealing her neck ((too easy...)). Angelus gripped her hair tightly. Cordelia panted in a array of emotions. Her orgasm overpowered her, but the pain was fierce. Angelus� movements below the waist subdued, but he wasn�t done. Angelus morphed into the demon within and plunged his teeth into her throat. The blood flowed into his mouth, and he gripped Cordelia�s tiny wrist in his large hand. Cordelia gasped loudly, clutching his back. The only sounds were the girl�s gasps and the vampire�s growls. He drank from her, then it was done. All was still. Part Three Angelus nestled Cordelia�s face with his roughly. She had been still for too long. She let out a strangled groan and pushed him off her. Angelus licked his lips and watched in amusement as she groped for stable ground so jaded.... Cordelia�s eyes wandered to the clock resting on the counter. 10:42. She shook slightly, trying to lift herself up. Angelus decided to help her. He grabbed her hair and yanked her up. He licked her face. �Had fun?� He muttered coldly, his face barely visible in the darkness. Cordelia felt dizzy. He had drank from her. The ache on her throat told her that. She stared into his eyes. And saw nothing. Cordelia screamed. It echoed through the hotel. She ran across the room and hugged Angel tightly. �Oh my God!!� She yelled. �I love it! I love it!!� In her hand was a box. A jewelry box. Angel laughed and hugged her back. He knew she would find it on her desk. Cordelia pulled away and opened the box. There laid a necklace. A silver cross, adorned with red rubies. Cordelia squealed. �Put it on! Put it on!� Angel smiled and carefully grabbed the chain. He lifted her shoulder-length hair off her neck. He locked the necklace in place. �So I guess you like it?� Cordelia hopped on her toes in response. Angel couldn�t hide his grin. �Well, then. Happy Birthday.� He paused. �Now you�ll always be protected.� Cordelia looked into the mirror, and saw only herself. She wasn�t afraid. �You really didn�t have to.� She whispered. Angel lowered his face to her ear. �But I wanted to.� He murmured. �I had to get you something that I knew would mean something. Something no one else could get you. Turn the cross around.� Cordelia flipped it around. There was a phrase etched into the back. �It�s Latin.� Angel said quietly. �It means �None Without You�. I think it has a great meaning and-� Cordelia spun around and faced him. �Thank you thank you thank you!!� She grabbed his face and kissed him. Angel froze. They only time she had kissed him like that was right after Doyle died. He was brought back to earth by Cordelia�s cheerful singing. Angel laughed. �So I guess it�s a good present?� Cordelia nodded wildly and before she knew it, she had hugged him. Angel shouted and stumbled away, holding his smoking chest. Cordelia gasped and held her hands out. �Oh my God, Angel! I�m so sorry....I forgot!� She gently touched his hand. �You okay?� Angel smiled painfully. �I swear- you�re really gonna hurt me one of these days...� Angelus shoved Cordelia against the wall, harshly kissing her neck. Cordelia shoved him, and he punched her. �Come on, Cordelia-� He hissed. �Before you were dying for this...I can arrange the dying part.� Cordelia grabbed the nearest item, a lamp, and smashed it against his head. She ran the other way. Angelus grabbed his bleeding head and laughed. �Don�t run! Wes tried to run!� Cordelia opened the basement door. Weapons. She needed a weapon. She ran down the stairs and tripped over a heavy object. She tumbled down the stairs. The light flickered on. Cordelia looked up and immediately screamed. She was staring into Wesley�s lifeless eyes. He laid at the foot of the stairs, his neck at an unnatural angle. His face was bloodied, and his face was a frozen expression of horror. Angelus walked slowly down the stairs and grabbed Cordelia�s arm. He dragged her up the stairs. �An-Angel- why?� She murmured. Wesley�s body kept running through her head. Angelus threw her into the office. �Ah, he was bugging me. So prim and proper...gets on a man�s nerves.� Cordelia backed into the desk, and reached for a familiar item. Her eyes brimmed with tears. �You didn�t have to kill him...� Angelus chuckled. �Oh, but I did. See, I�m evil. And I do evil things. It would be a waste of time if I just did community service, ya know.� He walked toward her. �I think if I was like Prissy-Boy in the basement I would kill myself.� He laughed dryly. �Oops...already did that.� A long pause. �Or rather, you did. You�re such a cock tease....� Cordelia stared at him hard. It was no time to be crying. �I�m going to hurt you.� She said as firmly as she could. Angelus smirked and placed a finger on her lips. �Oh, I like this attitude...Remind me to fuck you once more before I kill you.� With one swift movement, Cordelia threw the bottle of Holy Water in his face. Angelus roared and stumbled back, gripping his face and chest. Cordelia staggered back, trying to distance herself from the monster. His head jolted up, and they locked eyes. Something was different. Cordelia froze. �Cordelia?� He choked, a mixture of confusion and pain in his eyes. Cordelia stared at him hard. �A-Angel?� She whimpered. Angel staggered toward the girl. She reached into the desk and grabbed a cross. �Stay back.� Angel stared at her, astounded. �Cordelia...help me.� He whimpered. Part Four Angel felt the girl�s arms wrap around his neck. He smiled to himself and continued writing in his notebook. Finally, he tilted his head back. �Can I help you?� Cordelia looked down from her standing position behind him and sighed. �I�m bored. Whatcha doing?� She peered over his head at the notebook. Angel slyly covered the pages with his hand. �I�m making myself scarce.� �In your room. In the dark. Good job.� Angel raised an eyebrow. �Wesley�s in a bad mood, I avoid the rage. It doesn�t matter where I�m at.� Cordelia raised her eyebrow in response. �And where is Gunn?� Angel smiled. �He left an hour ago. Wesley scared him, I think.� Cordelia chuckled slightly and peered over his body again. �Cordelia...� Cordelia sighed. �What, now I can�t hang out with my best friend? I mean, come on-� He interrupted her by pulling her face down to his. He kissed her forehead. �And don�t interrupt me by giving me affection, it doesn�t work.� �Damn. And I thought I had a good plan.� He resumed writing in his book. Cordelia grabbed the book. �What are you writing?!� Angel climbed on the seat and snatched his notebook back, sitting back down. �Something.� Cordelia walked around the chair and kneeled down in front of him. She opened his legs and moved her body between them. Angel fidgeted slightly. �Cordelia....� Cordelia looked coyly at him. �Yes?� Her fingers walked up his lap. Angel stiffened. �Don�t do that.� �Why?� Angel closed his eyes. �Wesley�s right downstairs in the basement...if he catches you-� �Us.� She corrected. �Us.� Angel murmured. His hands unconsciously moved to her shoulders. He pulled her up gently to his lap. �He�ll kill us.� Cordelia kissed his neck gently. �Cordy- I�m serious...� She moved her hips against his slowly. �Please, Cordelia...� he exhaled. �Stop. Now.� His hands gripped her shoulders. Cordelia looked at him. �I thought you were dying for this...� She frowned. �And we�re by ourselves...� Angel moved her off his lap. �What�s wrong with you. You know we can�t.� Cordelia looked down at him. Sadness shadowed her eyes. �I-I�m lonely....so shoot me.� Slowly, Angel stood up, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her. He kissed her lips, moved up to her nose, and to her forehead. �You�re never alone.� He whispered. �I�m always here. Got it?� She nodded. He kissed her again and pushed her hair from her face. �Go back downstairs before Wes starts yelling.� Cordelia turned to leave. �Cord-� She turned back. �Love ya.� Cordelia smiled and left the room. Angel sighed and sat back down. Wes was right. Their flirting was getting out of control. It took all of his power to stop her. He started writing fervently. And ignored the yelling that had started downstairs. Cordelia slowly set the cross down. �Angel?� �C- Cordelia...� His stammered response. He looked at her, clad in a ripped shirt, black silk bra, and rumbled skirt. Her nose and mouth were bleeding. It all came back. �Oh, God...� Cordelia walked slowly, cautiously, in front of him. �Angel?� She whimpered. Angel suddenly embraced her in a frantic hug, burying his face in her neck. �Oh, God- I gave up.� He sobbed. �I gave up...I thought you didn�t want me. Angelus wanted out- I gave it to him...I keep smelling blood- what did I do?� He gripped her tightly. �Cord- why....I thought you-� Cordelia began to cry silently. �I-I didn�t want to hurt you...I thought- I�m so sorry, Angel...� Suddenly, the man stopped. Cordelia halted. �Oh, that�s what Wesley said...he�s sorry....you�re sorry....everyone�s so sorry...� His grasp grew tighter, and more painful. She struggled to move away. He lifted his head up, anger flickering in his eyes. �Damn! That bastard is SO annoying! Tried to take his body back.� He flung Cordelia into the wall. He chuckled coldly. �He really loves you, ya know.� He muttered, pacing in front of her. �Begged me not to hurt you...he�s not very smart.� He pushed her against the wall by the throat and reached to the desk. He grabbed a letter opener. Cordelia whimpered quietly. Angelus drew the weapon down her face, leaving a thin slice of blood down her cheek. He licked the blood off, and cut her chest lightly. A fine gash of blood appeared, blood dripping down. Angelus smirked and bent over. He licked the wound slowly, making the act slightly erotic. He pulled Cordelia�s leg over his hip. Cordelia shook visibly. Angelus lifted his head up lethargically, keeping eye contact with her. Cordelia watched him. �You�re going to die.� Angelus laughed and threw her onto the desk. He climbed on top of her. Cordelia punched him, a hard punch. He restrained her. �Talking dirty AND foreplay...I like it.� He lowered himself on her. Angel stared at the floor blankly. Cordelia had left exactly 7 hours ago. And he hadn�t moved. He closed his eyes, and the taunting continued. ((She doesn�t love you...you�re a failure.)). Angel sighed painfully. ((What made you think she would love you?)) Angel lifted his head up and walked to the counter slowly. �You�re right...� His voice bounced off the empty room. ((You might as well just let me take over...you have nothing to live for now....you�re dead...)). Angel shook his head. �You�re wrong.� ((Name one thing.)) Angel was silent. He ran a hand through his hair, distressed. He looked up at the ceiling, then down to the counter. The silver cross he had given her just over a year ago, her birthday present, laid on the polished wood. The clasp must�ve broken off in their embrace earlier on. Angel grabbed the chain and stared at the shining silver, spinning. The words �None Without You� shot through his head. Finally, Angel sighed sadly and clutched the chain. �Take it.� He dropped to his knees, as searing pain drove through him. He cried out in pain. He only saw Cordelia�s face. He gasped, and started to beg. He didn�t want this. He wanted this to stop. Then the pain ceased. He collapsed to the floor. It was over. Angelus finished violently, holding Cordelia by the throat. Cordelia tried to move away, but he jerked her back. �Don�t fight me.� He hissed, pushing her hair from her face. Cordelia mumbled incoherently and turned her face away. Angelus smirked. �You will make a great companion.� His face morphed into the demon. Part Five Cordelia struggled to regain her vision, and looked directly into the face of a monster. With her last ounce of strength, she reached beneath her. She felt the smooth silver of the letter opener. Angelus lowered his face to her neck. Cordelia grasped the weapon and pierced it into his back. Angelus roared and slipped off her, gripping his back. Cordelia stumbled off the desk and took off running. Angelus tugged the object from his back. �Okay-� He yelled. �I�m really, really pissed!� He walked after her. Cordelia limped through the lobby, desperately looking for the door in the darkness. She spun around and Angelus was in front of her. He was furious. Blood covered his forehead, lip, and shoulder. Cordelia felt a quiet satisfaction. She had given it as well as she took it. He grabbed her throat and dragged her to the counter, kicking and screaming. He threw her over the booth, and slowly walked to her. �Cordelia, Cordelia, Cordelia...� His voice was deadly. Cordelia crawled her way to the dark corner of the floor, silently praying. He bent over and grabbed the girl by the hair, picking her up so high her feet dangled. Cordelia held her breath, as the tears began to fall. Angel and Cordelia stared at the framed photo. It was the two of them at Caritas. Angel frowned and turned his head sideways. �I�m not photogenic, am I?� Cordelia smiled. �You look good.� Angel shook his head. �No...you look good. I look- pale. I�m really pale.� Cordelia giggled and nudged him. �You are really glutton for punishment, aren�t you?� Angel lowered his head and leaned against the hotel counter. �Always...� Cordelia wrapped an arm around his waist. �It�s okay, Broody, you look good. You know I always tell the truth.� Angel slowly smiled and mumbled an agreement. Cordelia pulled away. �Wesley, on the other hand...� Angel chuckled. �Okay, Truth-Giver,� He paused, then decided to go for it. �Do you love me?� Cordelia gave him a look. �Angel, after all the crap you put me through, you really have to ask that?!� Angel gave her a blank look. Cordelia sighed and grabbed his hand. �Angel, if I didn�t love you, I wouldn�t be here right now. I love you and will always love you no matter what. So yes, I do love you...in a friend kind of way.� Angel smiled. �That�s all I needed to hear.� He pulled her in a hug. �I love you too....in a friend kind of way.� Cordelia laughed. Angelus pushed Cordelia against the counter, and stared at her. Cordelia opened her eyes. �What.� She muttered. Angelus leered at her. Cordelia stared back blankly. �Go to hell.� she whispered firmly. Angelus smiled slowly and lowered his fangs to her neck. The girl gasped and clutched his back in pain. He drained her slowly, for what seemed like hours. Finally, he pulled away, chuckling. He held Cordelia up, for now she was slowly faltering. Angelus licked his lips and kissed her callously. With her last ounce of strength, Cordelia bit the monster�s tongue hard. He recoiled and she shoved him hard, stumbling past him. Angelus laughed and watched her. Cordelia got as far as the lobby before she fell. Her vision failed her, and she saw spots in her eyes. She gasped for precious, desperate air. Her heart slowed. She finally collapsed on the floor, heaving. She turned on her back and stared at the ceiling vacantly. She swallowed hard, tasting a bitter copper go down her throat. Ultimately, her breathing wavered. Her heart stopped. And it was over. Angelus watched Cordelia drop to the floor and he leaned against the counter, staring. He must�ve stared for hours. Angelus laughed. He had won. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees in pain. He yelled as something filled him. Angelus let out an animalistic howl and his head fell. Angel jolted up, breathing hard. He had won. He looked around, unsure of where he was. He looked to his left, and let out a tortured cry. Cordelia laid motionless on the floor, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. One arm was sprawled out, the other over her torso. The black bra she wore was soaked in sweat and blood. Her skirt was wrinkled horribly, and rested just above her knees. Her hair was matted to her face, and her legs spread out slightly. Angel stared, astonished. He heard Angelus laughing inside him ((I won.)) Angel stumbled toward Cordelia. Maybe it wasn�t too late. He dropped to his knees, desperate tears running down his face. He began to mumble deliriously, and touched Cordelia�s face gently. �Oh, God...� He whispered. Suddenly, Cordelia�s eyes opened with a jolt. Angel crawled back. She sat up slowly. �Cordelia?� Angel whimpered, reaching out to touch her face. �I�m so sorry...� Cordelia�s eyes blazed and she punched him hard, standing up. Her face morphed slowly into her demon. �I�m not.� She hissed and ran from the hotel, bloodlust overcoming her. Angel stared, horrified. He stood up slowly. He had lost everything. ((Love makes you feel invincible until it�s thrown in your face)) He looked around, everything he did coming back. ((You think love will conquer all when in fact it�s the death of you.)) Finally, Angel sighed sadly. He walked over to the weapons cabinet. ((Emotions carry us, and in the end drive us mad....)) He grabbed a stake and a bottle of holy water. ((You think you�ve won when you find love. But, in fact, you�ve lost.)) Angel spun around and walked out of the hotel numbly. He had things to do. FIN Archive |