| Title: Soulripper Author: Liam Rating: NC17 for violence, sex, and strong language. Summary: In the aftermath of �Loyalty� and �Sleep Tight�, things at AI go from bad to worse. When Angel loses his soul, Cordelia begins having powerful visions that she is responsible for it. Did Cordelia cause Angel to lose his soul, or is there a deeper conspiracy at work? Notes: This will become a crossover with Buffy, but don�t expect to see the slayer herself. Willow and Tara will become major players by the time this story is done. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Teaser Her moans of pleasure were driving him absolutely wild. His gasp of excitement as she dragged her nails across his back only furthered her own. Never before had it felt so good to have someone inside her. She never wanted to let go. �Angel,� she moaned as his lips traveled around her body. �Please,� she cried. She never thought that torture could feel so good. �Please, I need�� the electricity that shot through her body silenced her words. �What do you need, Cordelia?� he asked. �Do you need me to release you?� Her strangled moan was his answer. �Do you need me to love you?� She gasped again in response. �Do you need me?� he asked. �Always,� Cordelia moaned. �I�ll always need you. I�ll always want you.� Angel liked that answer. He gently kissed her forehead. �Good girl,� he whispered. *********** Fred was scared senseless when Cordelia bolted upright in the bed. The Seer was confused. This was not where she last remembered to be. At least, she didn�t think it was. �No, Cordy, don�t do that,� Fred said. Cordelia was desperately pulling at the sensors and tubes attached to her body. When she pulled the one off of her heart, the machine began making furious beeping noises. �Cordy, please?� the girl pleaded. But Cordelia would have none of that. She wanted the damn thing off. She wanted out of this place and she wanted to know what the hell was going on. A nurse came into the room, alerted by the beeping. Trailing right behind her was Gunn. �What happened?� the young nurse asked. Then she saw that the patient had awakened. �Miss? You shouldn�t do that,� the nurse said. �Fuck you,� Cordelia answered. �Get these off me and get me some clothes. I WANT OUT!� The nurse had no idea what to do, so she did all that she could. She went to find her supervisor. Gunn sidestepped out of the girl�s way before approaching the bed. �Yo, Cordelia, anyone ever tell you that ya got a knack for dealing with people?� �What the hell is going on?� Cordelia asked again. She was in no mood for jokes. Fred looked sadly at the Seer before turning her eyes to Gunn. She had no idea what to say. �It�s a good thing you�re sitting down,� Gunn said. He took a seat next to Cordelia�s bed and began to tell the story. ************* One cannot explain the feeling of the taste of warm blood accurately if it is not in one�s nature to drink it. It�s ambrosia to a creature that feasts on it to survive. When the first drops hit the tongue, it�s like an atomic explosion of sensation coursing throughout the body. It�s truly orgasmic. Nothing could compare to the hot and spicy elixir as it travels down the throat into the stomach. Sometimes the sensation was even better than sex. Just sometimes, Angelus reaffirmed. Nothing could really beat a great fuck. Well, eating the woman afterwards could technically beat it, but Angelus wasn�t into technicalities. Not when he was hungry. He saw the one he wanted. Angelus licked his lips. Redheads were especially tasty around a full moon. Add to that a bottle of Chianti and it had the potential to be a jolly good time. And this one reminded him of a redhead he knew a few years back. �It�s really been too long,� Angelus muttered to himself. �Let�s see if I still got the touch.� Smoothing out his leather pants to ensure they showed off his assets, Angelus sauntered over to the attractive redhead. �Excuse me, darlin�,� Angelus spoke in his old Irish accent, �but what�s a fine lady like you doing in a part of town like this?� The woman smiled at the handsome man. He could smell her attraction. Angelus smiled wider. He still had it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 1 - Released �I can�t believe it,� Cordelia whispered. Her special little man was gone, and she hadn�t been here to stop it. And it was all because of a friend�s betrayal. �Where is he?� Fred and Gunn both shrank back. In a matter of seconds, the brooding and morose woman before them changed. She was now radiating an anger that even non-demons could pick up loud and clear. �We don�t know,� Gunn told her. �He was at this hospital. Someone found him and called 911. But a few weeks ago he disappeared. The police and staff seem convinced he left on his own.� �I guess he didn�t want to face Angel,� Fred added. �But you don�t remember any of that, do you?� Gunn asked. Cordelia shook her head in the negative. It was all so fuzzy. �No, I remember returning from somewhere with Groo and then this,� Cordy indicated the bed she was in. �How long ago was that?� Neither responded quickly. �How long ago?� she demanded. �Three weeks,� Fred said. Cordelia was stunned. She had no memories of the past three weeks of her life. �How did I get here?� �No one is quite sure,� Fred admitted. �One night you were just found on the hospital�s doorstep. They ran tox-screens to search for any drugs that you might have been administered, but the tests came out clean. We don�t know where you were.� �Fred and I have been coming in to check on you often,� Gunn said. �But where kinda stretched thin. It�s just us two, Groo and Lorne at the Hyperion.� �Where�s Angel?� Cordelia asked confused. Fred and Gunn gave a long look at each other. Neither wanted to tell the bad news, but Gunn decided he would do so. �Well, there�s a little problem with Angel.� ************ It might come as a shock to many, but Angelus was a very good cook. One doesn�t exist for nearly three centuries without picking up on various trades. Of course, soulboy didn�t flaunt the talent. He had to hold on to whatever masculinity he actually had. �My Sire, Darla, used to love it when I made her ziti,� Angelus told the redhead. �We�d eat, then feed on some poor maid at whatever hotel we stayed at, then we�d fuck for days.� Angelus sighed at the memory. �Those were good times.� Angelus placed two plates on the table. Taking the bowl of pasta, he served helping onto both. He then cracked open a bottle of wine and filled a pair of glasses. �I must say,� Angelus said. �I�ve truly enjoyed our evening together. I�d love to do it again sometime.� The girl moaned as she slid further down in her chair. The blood loss was threatening to send her into unconsciousness. Angelus looked upon her with mock sympathy. �Oh dear, I believe you have had too much to drink.� He moved the glass of wine away from her and then took her wrist. �You don�t mind if I do this, right?� Angelus then took a knife and made a thin slice into her wrist. Holding the bloody girl�s arm over his pasta, he allowed the life-fluid to drip over it. �I�m sorry,� he said. �I really was going to make a sauce for this, but I simply ran out of time.� When a sufficient amount dropped on his ziti, he dropped the girl�s wrist away. She soon slipped into unconsciousness. �Poor dear, you really must learn to say when you�ve had enough.� The vampire took a bite of the pasta. Chewing slowly he savored the taste of the blood and herbs. Taking a sip of the wine, Angelus made a slightly disgusted face. Glancing at the bottle, he saw the problem. �Americans. When will they learn to make a decent red wine?� ************ Cordelia leaned on Gunn for support as she entered the lobby of the Hyperion. Groo was the first to envelope her in a hug. Cordelia returned the embrace. After prying herself from his arms, she accepted one from Lorne. �It�s good to have you back, Princess,� the demon solemnly said. Cordelia smiled slightly and took a set on a couch. The Seer was too much in a state of shock to do much else. Angel, her Champion, had lost his soul. Gunn and Fred had explained it to her. Shortly after returning with Groo, she and Angel went missing. A few days later, her comatose form was found outside the hospital. Everyone had assumed the worst about Angel when he didn�t show up. Then nearly ten days ago while on patrol, Gunn and Groo came across�him. It wasn�t her Champion any longer. It was a monster, and they found it feeding on a teenage boy. Angelus. The demon was set loose and no one knew how. Over the next couple of patrols, Gunn said that he felt a presence around him. It was Angel, he said, only it wasn�t. He could feel the dark brown eyes watching his every movements, only now it wasn�t out of curiosity and benevolence. They were eyes that were searching for the next meal. �Cordelia?� Gunn asked. �Is there anything you want?� �Can you help me to the kitchen?� she asked. Gunn bent down and allowed the Seer to wrap an arm around his neck. They had barely gone three feet when Cordelia gave a strangled cry and went limp. The vision was unlike any she had ever experienced before. She moaned as images of Angel filling her played through her mind. Images of him being tender and gentle, his tongue tasting every inch of her body. Images of him being rougher, pounding her into the mattress as she cried his name. It wasn�t real, she told herself before passing out. **************** Somebody left the window open, Angelus mentally sang. With catlike grace and silence, the vampire entered the room. Those mangy humans had finally left her alone. Cordelia. For once, Angelus had to applaud soulboy�s taste in women. This one certainly was a delicious little number. Angelus lightly crawled onto the bed, careful not to wake the girl. He positioned himself right above her, hands to each side of her head. He made sure that no part of him touched her. Although, there was one part of him he wouldn�t mind touching her with. Angelus inhaled deeply. He smelled her hair, her neck, her mouth. Only a faint linger of her vanilla perfume remained. The time in the hospital had given her a sterile scent. Oh, it would be so much fun to play with this one. Even Nancy-boy admitted that. Even he wanted this one, wanted to turn her and claim her, to make her his. And Angelus wanted the same. Patience, he reminded himself. All good things come to those who wait. And Angelus had every intention of making this on �come� to him. But he restrained himself. The game hadn�t even started yet. It would be no fun to turn her now. He wanted the pleasure of systematically destroying this one�s soul. He wanted to watch her pain as the shell of her best friend committed monstrosities against all she cared about. Tentatively, Angelus trailed his tongue along her cheek. The beauty stirred but didn�t wake. Oh God, this one tasted good. �Goodnight, Cordelia,� he whispered in her ear. �Sweet dreams for now, Little One. Because I soon plan on making your existence a nightmare.� Gently the vampire removed himself from the bed. Taking an envelope from his pants pocket, he placed it on the table next to the bed. After brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, Angelus disappeared into the dark Los Angeles night. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 2 - Business Propositions The first rays of sunlight slipped through the blinds into Cordelia�s room. She squinted her eyes and tried to turn away from the offending light, but to no avail. It was time to get up. Cordelia fumbled for the alarm clock on the table when her hand found an envelope. Forgetting about her desire to know the time, Cordy grabbed the envelope and opened it. What she saw inside made her gasp in shock. She had seen this before, and she knew exactly who was responsible. It was a pencil sketch of her. She was lying stretched out on the bed, her nude form painstakingly drawn to be as accurate as possible. �Angel,� she whispered. It was her best friend that drew this beautiful and haunting portrait. No, this wasn�t her friend, Cordelia told herself. Her friend had a beautiful soul. The person that did this was the monster within. Cordelia folded the paper back up and put it back in the envelope. She then tucked it in her pants pocket before heading downstairs. She found Lorne, Fred, and Gunn reading through a stack of files at the counter. Groo was taking stock of the weapons closet, fingering the swords and clubs. The Pylean immediately stopped what he was doing when his saw his Princess. �Cordy?� he said, the name still sounding strange on his tongue. �Are you feeling well now?� �I�m fine,� Cordelia assured him. She gracefully avoided the hug he tried to give her. She had no idea how to behave around him after her �dreams� of Angel. �Hey Sweetcheeks,� Lorne greeted her. �How are you feeling this morning?� �I�m fine,� she said again. The green demon looked at her skeptically. Cordelia knew he was getting vibes from her, but she silently dared him to call her on it. Finally, Lorne just shrugged and let it drop. �Was that a vision you had last night?� Fred asked her. �No,� Cordy answered. �I just over-exerted myself. I was kind of weak from the hospital. I�m better now, honest,� she told the girl. �You haven�t ransacked Wesley�s office or anything have you?� �No, why?� Gunn asked. �Because I need to make a call. With Angelus on the loose and Wesley nowhere to be found and myself being recently de-comatosed, I think we should call in some help.� Lorne, Fred, and Gunn just stared after her. Something was up with the Seer. Groo, still hurt from Cordy�s less than enthused greeting, turned back to the weapons cabinet and began fiddling with a crossbow. Inside Wesley�s office, Cordelia shut the door for some privacy. Searching his desk, she found a Rolodex. Flipping through the alphabet, she found the card she wanted. RUPERT GILES Palmetto Lane, Sunnydale CA 555-1989 Cordelia dialed the number. After a few rings, an electronic voice informed her that the number was no longer in use. Cordelia stared at the phone a moment as if it had grown a second head. Why was that number no longer in use? Cordelia thought for a moment. They still needed help. With the demon expert missing, and her best friend doing a Darth Vader impersonation, the AI gang needed all the assistance they could get. But who to call? Suddenly, inspiration struck. Searching through the Rolodex, Cordy was disappointed not to find the name she wanted. Nothing was ever easy. She had her second Eureka moment in as many minutes. Grabbing the phone, she dialed the operator. �Hello?� Cordelia asked. �I need you to look up a number for me.� ********************* Los Angeles was a fascinating city. It was a world-class tourist spot. There were movie stars and big time sports teams. But Angelus didn�t like it because of that. He liked it because it was possible to get a good lay and a hot meal in one nice little stop. He liked it because of the miles upon miles of underground sewer systems that allowed for travel to any part of the city at anytime of day. Walking through said sewer systems, Angelus thought about his game plan. For years, the name Angelus was a name that was feared by vampires throughout the world. His ruthlessness and sheer brutality was legendary and unmatched. But then he killed that damn gypsy girl. Then vampires for an entirely different reason feared his name. He was a nightwalker that hunted and killed his own brothers. He became a mercenary of sorts, someone who was paid to kill others that were just like him. There wasn�t a vampire in this city that didn�t know the name of Angel. But soon, he thought, they will once again know the name Angelus. But as much as he hated to admit it, he needed help to do that. But thankfully, he knew of the person that could help him. Lifting the cover off the manhole, Angelus quickly climbed into the shaded alley outside the old factory. This was the palace of Kelemoke. It had been over a century since Angelus had seen the tribesman, but he always heard his name. Kelemoke was a villager living on Africa�s Ivory Coast when he had been turned in the late 1850�s. He was from the Order of Versailles, a very powerful lineage that could almost equal Angelus� in strength. His Sire had been Alexondra, a woman who had been rumored to once been the niece of an Egyptian Pharaoh. While the pharaoh part was probably false, she had been a very powerful vampire. Kelemoke said he owed Angelus a favor for staking her. And now Angelus had come to collect. He walked past several other vampires and entered the dark halls that Kelemoke reigned over. While the outside was definitely in need of repair, the inside was an entirely different matter. Kelemoke had certainly been spoiled by his years in Southern and Western Europe after his turning. The walls had been covered in fine red clothes. Victorian style chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and beautifully cut French furniture from the time of Napoleon lined the walls. Authentic Italian Renaissance paintings were put proudly on display all around. Very ironic that a man who�s upbringing valued the simply life should become someone who so cherished his luxuries. �Who are you?� a voice demanded from behind him. Angelus turned to look at the speaker. The vampire was obviously a fledgling. This one could be intimidated. �Who are you?� Angelus demanded in return. �Do you work for Kelemoke?� The fledgling was surprised by the harsh tone. This vampire was obviously old and powerful. �Yes,� he stuttered. �Then tell your master that Angelus has arrived.� *************** The phone rang seven times before someone finally answered. �Hello?� the voice asked. �Dawn?� Cordelia questioned. �Yes? Who is this?� the teenager asked. �This is Cordelia in LA. Is Willow around by any chance?� �Yeah, hold on.� Cordy pulled the receiver away from her ear as Dawn shouted for Willow to come to the phone. �Cordelia? Is that you?� Willow asked �Yes, it�s me. Willow? We need your help.� ***************** Angelus was led to a large and well-furnished room below ground. When the minion left him, Angelus took the opportunity to snoop. Kelemoke certainly had done well for himself. In the center of the room was a large oak desk that looked 18th century. On either side were plush leather chairs that Angelus felt envious of. Slowly, he took a seat in one of them. Angelus sighed as he relaxed in the highly comfortable chair. The vampire took note of the large bookshelf behind the desk. There were several first editions of novels by Austen, Twain, and Cervantes. His collection of poetry was quite impressive also. He�d never seen a first edition of �Leaves of Grass� before. �You have five seconds to prove you�re not that souled bastard before I stake your ass,� a voice with a slight African accent commanded. �Do you smell a soul upon me you savage Negro bastard?� Angelus smirked. Kelemoke laughed in return. �Indeed I do not, you Irish whore.� The African extended his hand, which Angelus gladly shook. The vampire was exactly as Angelus remembered. He had the same piercing brown eyes that he first saw in Barcelona so many years ago. Despite the fact that Kelemoke was only perhaps five foot five, he stood with a confidence that stated he was not someone to fuck with. And he wasn�t either. Angelus had seen first hand the ferocity and ease in which the vampire across from him killed. He was cool and calculating, and Angelus respected him for that. �You are without soul,� Kelemoke commented. �How did this occur?� �I�m not certain,� Angelus said honestly. �One night I went to bed as Nancy-boy, the next thing I knew I was once again without the soul.� �Interesting,� Kelemoke said as he sat down in his chair. �But that isn�t why you are here. What can I do for you, my friend?� �To the point as always,� Angelus smiled. �I need minions, and I would like them as soon as possible. You do owe me a favor,� he reminded Kelemoke looked at the vampire thoughtfully. �Indeed, I do owe you a favor,� Kelemoke admitted. �I shall give you the help you seek, but first, I�d like to know what you wish to do with them.� �I wish to build a Kingdom,� Angelus said. �And I wish to have a Queen by my side.� �And you have chosen Los Angeles?� Kelemoke asked. �And this Queen, have you someone in mind?� �I might have found a suitable mate,� Angelus smirked. Kelemoke laughed. �This mate isn�t another blonde?� he teased. �She isn�t,� Angelus laughed. �I have vowed never again to make that error.� �And may I expect some compensation for the usage of my minions?� Kelemoke inquired. �Would Santa Monica be suitable?� Angelus grinned. Kelemoke grinned with him. Angelus certainly had a habit of making things interesting. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Three: Vinco Vici Victum The gang was really starting to worry about her. That morning she made a telephone call, to whom they didn�t know. On her face was a mixture of sadness and resolve. She then sat on a couch in the lobby and didn�t move for three hours. Then it happened again. She gave a long cry of anguish, or at least Fred thought it was, Lorne wasn�t so sure. Her body went limp once more, but this time she was able to stay conscience. She refused any attempts of aid, a fact that discouraged Groo mightily. He didn�t like it when his princess wasn�t happy and healthy, and right now, she was neither. �What do we do?� Gunn asked. �I think we just give her time,� Fred said. �I still think she trying to comprehend that Angel isn�t Angel anymore.� �I think we�re all trying to come to terms with that one, Cupcake,� Lorne added. �But I�m getting some strange readings from the Princess. I think she may be hiding something.� The three turned at the sound of the front door opening. The small form of Willow Rosenburg appeared in the doorway, followed by a dark blonde form that they didn�t recognized. �Cordelia?� Willow called. The Wicca spotted the brunette on the couch, but was confused when she didn�t respond. She jumped in surprise when a green hand touched her arm. �Hello there,� the green demon greeted. Both girls looked at him with a tinge of fear in their eyes. �Wow, a couple Wiccans,� the demon noted. �Strong ones, too.� He held out his hand in greeting. �I�m Lorne. The bald fellow over there is Gunn and the cutie beside him is Fred.� Willow took his hand tentatively. �I�m Willow,� she said. �And this is Tara.� The blonde behind her shyly smiled and waved. �Cordelia called me and said she needed help.� She saw that Cordelia was still staring out into space. �What�s going on? Is Cordelia ok?� �She didn�t tell you what�s happened?� Lorne asked surprised. Willow shook her head. �Well then, sit down. I�ll fix us a couple Sea Breezes and tell this twisted tale. But a long story short: things couldn�t be worse.� ************* Angelus stalked silently along the rooftop of the old warehouse. His demon eyesight allowed him to see through the windows and the darkness of the neighboring building. He motioned to the minions on the street across from the building. It was nearly time to attack. With ease, Angelus leapt the twenty feet and landed on the opposite rooftop. Followed by a pair of minions, he crept to the glass sky roof in the middle. Peering down, he saw nearly two-dozen vampires. The Steiner Clan. William Steiner was a relatively young vampire, just over a century old. But he was a good businessman. William ran a racketeering organization in Buffalo during Prohibition. During the Cold War he had gained a reputation for developing the best fake identification money could buy. Vampires, as well as Russian defectors, paid good money for him to create birth certificates and Social Security papers for them. Starting in the mid 1980�s, Steiner moved to Los Angeles and became a major player in drug trafficking. His main claim to fame was helping turn Metamphetamine from a local drug of choice into a pipeline stretching into the Midwest. He also ran Crack and LSD, as well as some guns, but Metamphetamine continued to be his main crop. But Angelus didn�t care about drugs, although a few of his minions might. What he cared about was the fact that William Steiner had power. With power, there could be resistance, and with resistance, Angelus� hope for creating his own empire could be shattered. So William Steiner had to be destroyed. The vampires inside were stunned when the front and rear doors were shattered. His minions rushed in and immediately began to drive back the enemy. Angelus decided to make his grand entrance. All looked up as Angelus dropped in a shower of glass. Leather duster flowing, Angelus was a menacing sight. Drawing a stake from his pocket, he dusted the first awestruck vampire he saw. Two more quickly followed before Steiner�s minions remembered to fight back. Angelus then drew the sword strapped to his belt. Leaving the fight to his minions, he went in search of Steiner. Kicking open a door, the smell of steam told him it lead to a boiler room below. Throwing caution aside, Angelus rushed down the steps, his demon senses trying to pick up the scent of a vampire he�d met only once before. Thinking he found it, Angelus allowed his nose to lead him. A hatchet whizzed by his head and opened a steam valve. The hot gas momentarily blinded Angelus. Steiner quickly used the opportunity to attack. The small vampire used his speed to beat a reeling Angelus back against a boiler. The elder vampire managed to deflect the blows of his opponent�s sword, but just barely. He was still hurting from the steam. Steiner swung his sword in a quick arc towards Angelus� head. The elder managed to duck as the sword punctured another pipe and blasted the younger in the face. It was all Angelus needed. Quickly turning, Angelus delivered a vicious cut to the younger vampire�s side. Steiner tried to turn and counter, but a quick slice severed the hand that held the sword. Steiner�s scream of pain echoed throughout the basement. Angelus� grin grew wider at the sound. �Veni, Vidi, Vici, William,� Angelus taunted in his Irish accent. �I came, I saw, I conquered.� One cut was all it took to end William Steiner�s existence. His head didn�t even hit the floor before his body turned to ash. �Sorry Billy,� Angelus said. �It�s just business.� ************* �Is she okay?� Tara asked as she sat next to Cordelia. The young brunette seemed to be in a trance of sorts. Her vacant eyes were dilated and her breath was coming in short pants. �She seems to be doing that often,� Fred observed. �Cordelia?� Willow asked. The redhead gently laid her hand on the other girl�s shoulder. Cordy gave a short shout of surprise and nearly fell of the couch. It took a few moments before she was able to remember where she was. Finally, she looked up and saw that Willow had arrived. �Hi,� she said with a small smile. �I didn�t hear you come in. This must be Tara?� The blond next to her smiled and nodded. �Now that you guys are here, let�s go to Wesley�s office and talk shop.� Cordelia slowly stood up and led the way to the office. A confused Tara and Willow followed. The rest of the gang looked on. Maybe these two would be able to help get their friend back. ************** �Kelemoke!� Angelus called out triumphantly. The vampire led his minions through the halls of Kelemoke�s palace. In his right hand Angelus held a leash, the collar around the neck of a young girl. The brunette didn�t look a day over 16. The frightened child stayed as far behind the vampire as she possibly could. When she reached the end of her leash, Angelus would jerk the cord, making the girl whimper in fear all the more. �Angelus!� the tribesman greeted. �Did all go well?� Kelemoke took Angelus in a quick embrace that the other returned. �Indeed it did,� Angelus replied happily. �William Steiner is no more.� He then motioned to the girl behind him. �For the use of your men, I bring you a gift. How rare it is to find a girl her age still a virgin.� The vampires laughed as Kelemoke happily took the girl�s leash. �Thank you for the consideration, Angelus. But I have a gift for you as well. I hope you find her suitable.� Kelemoke motioned to a minion who brought out a petite blonde girl. This girl looked to be a teenager as well. �I�m sure I can find a purpose for her,� Angelus said. Angelus turned to one of the minions behind him. �Take her to my quarters. And I better not find any marks on her when I arrive,� he warned his minion. Turning back to Kelemoke he said, �Shall we go to your office and discuss business?� �Certainly Angelus.� Kelemoke turned his prize over to a minion that dutifully took the child to his master�s chamber. Leading Angelus towards his office he inquired, �So William Steiner�s clan has been defeated?� �Indeed they have,� Angelus answered. �There were perhaps six who offered their services to me. They will replace the three that we lost. Now that Steiner has been destroyed, it shouldn�t be difficult to take the rest of north Los Angeles.� �True,� Kelemoke said. �Alexander of Yorkshire has a small clan in the north. Thomas Hobbes is in control of the Hoffman Clan since Jacob was killed two years ago by yourself I believe.� Kelemoke grinned at Angelus� smirk. �It was Soulboy that buried a stake through his undead heart,� Angelus said with some disdain. �But Alexander is an idiot and Thomas is little better. Neither is capable of handling leadership of a clan.� �That is true as well,� Kelemoke admitted. �The Hoffman Clan had been a major rival of mine until Jacob�s demise. How do Americans say it? Thomas isn�t the sharpest knife in the drawer?� Angelus laughed heartily at his friend�s use of the saying. Reaching the office, Kelemoke threw open the doors and walked to his liquor cabinet. �So when do you plan on making your next move?� Kelemoke inquired. �In two nights,� Angelus answered. �I have �other� business I must attend to tomorrow night,� Angelus answered vaguely. �Well,� Kelemoke smiled. �Try not to cause too much trouble.� He handed Angelus a glass of brandy. Angelus accepted the offering and smiled. �I wouldn�t dream of it,� he smirked. ************* �So you�ve been having X-Rated visions of you and Angel�?� Tara started. �Doing the nasty?� Cordelia finished for the shy Wicca. Tara blushed at Cordelia�s frank verbiage. �Ever since I�ve woken I�ve seen flashes of Angel and I doing things I wouldn�t allow myself to dream of.� �Are you sure it isn�t just your imagination?� Willow began. �Because I know back in Sunnydale, you kinda had the hots for Angel.� �No!� Cordelia shouted. �Angel is my best friend. I don�t think of him that way.� Cordelia sighed and amended her statement. �Okay, occasionally I do, but I remember just as well as anyone what happened the last time this guy got a really good lay. No matter my feelings for him, I wouldn�t risk that if it meant there was even the slightest chance Angelus could return.� The brunette plopped down in Wesley�s chair. �But still, you think that somehow you and Angel had sex and that he lost his soul?� Willow asked. �Well,� Cordy said, �I�m having sweaty sex fantasies about my best friend who just happens to be currently soulless. You think there might be a connection?� she asked sarcastically. Cordelia sighed and rubbed her temples. �I�m sorry Willow,� she said. �It�s just that things are so bad right now, and I have no idea what to do.� She looked at the Wiccans with tear filled eyes. �I just need to figure out how to get Angel back.� �W-w-well,� Tara stuttered, �there might be something that we can do. Something that might help unlocking your memories.� Cordelia wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at her with a determined look. �How soon can we do it?� -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 4 - Into the Abyss Angelus rolled out of bed a pulled on a pair of his leather pants. Grabbing a tank top and his shoes, he barely looked back to the bed. Kelemoke�s �gift� lay shivering in a small pool of her own blood. The blond child was in a state of shock from blood loss and the multiple rapes. Hannah couldn�t understand why the man with the bumpy face had kept her alive. She was surprised he hadn�t killed her. After last night, she wanted to die. But maybe that�s why he kept her alive. He knew she wanted death. The monster wouldn�t give her what she wanted. The monster exited the bathroom and gave the girl a disgusted look. Now fully clothed, Angelus grabbed his duster and sword. �Clean yourself up before I return,� he ordered the girl. Hannah just stared after the monster as he left. It was nearly half an hour before she gathered enough strength to get up. The pain made it almost too much to walk. But Hannah was a strong girl, no one had ever said differently. She�d make it to the bathroom. And somehow, she knew she would survive. ****************** Tara and Willow had explained what would need to be done. The next day, Tara would go to a nearby magic shop and get the ingredients she would need. Cordelia knew about Willow�s �condition�, and she accepted whatever help Willow could give. Lorne showed the Wiccas to a couple of spare rooms. Cordelia ignored all the curious looks that the gang gave her and retreated to her room. She shut and locked the door behind her. Was this really just the second night since her return from the hospital? Already it had felt like a month. Stripping from her sweater and blue jeans, Cordelia grabbed a towel from a drawer and went into the bathroom. Setting the towel on the rack and grabbing her bubble bath from underneath the sink, Cordelia had a sudden thought. Returning to the bedroom she closed and locked the glass windows. While He could still get in if he wished, at least Cordelia would be alerted to His presence if He tried. Feeling reasonably safe, Cordelia went back into the bathroom. Turning on the hot water, she added two capfuls of her favorite vanilla bubble bath. Tying her hair back into a high ponytail, Cordelia gently stepped into the water. Slowly she sat down and leaned back into the hot water. Closing her eyes, she allowed the steam and smell of vanilla to calm her. But as much as she would like to allow the calming sensations to overtake her, Cordelia knew there was planning to be done. Tara would be taking the lead in all magic activities that might need to be done. The Seer had listened on in sympathy as Willow had told her story of addiction to the darker magic. Cordelia completely understood Willow�s reluctance to partake in such practices; she also knew that it presented a problem. Despite Willow�s assurances that Tara was very skilled in the arts of magic, Cordelia had seen something akin to worry in the blonde�s eyes when the words �soul restoration� were spoken. Even Tara admitted that she didn�t know if she were strong enough to perform such a task, even with Willow�s assistance. But that would have to wait anyway. They still didn�t know what the cause of the problem was. But hopefully, tomorrow they would know. Tara would use her magic to enter Cordelia�s mind, much as Willow had done to Buffy once. It had worked then, they told a worried Seer. Even if she were slightly fearful of such a mind invasion, Cordelia knew she had to suck it up. This could be the key they needed to learn the secret of what happened to her friend. But first, Cordelia had to climb out of this tub before she fell asleep. It wouldn�t do to drown before they could do the Vulcan Mind Meld. Cordelia extracted herself from the cooling water and grabbed the fluffy black towel. It was one of a set that Angel had given her. It was just like him, Cordelia decided. Dark, but warm and secure. *************** �Are you ready?� Willow asked. Cordelia nodded that she was. Carefully, she took the cup that Willow offered. �That will help put you into a trance state,� Tara explained. �It will calm your body and make it easier for me to look inside you.� Cordelia sat Indian style in the center of her bed. Around her, incense candles were burning. �Don�t you have any that smell like cinnamon or strawberries?� she joked lightly. �Sorry,� Tara smiled. �We witches strictly use the stinky stuff. Adds to our power,� she whispered in a conspiratorial voice. �Now go ahead and drink.� Cordelia obeyed the light command. It wasn�t bad, she decided before she slipped into the trance. Like flavored tea. She�d have to get the recipe. The Seer fell backwards onto the bed, the empty cup spilling from her hand. Willow took it before Tara joined the Seer on the bed. Saying a few archaic words in Latin, Tara placed her hands on Cordelia�s temples. Rubbing softly, Tara continued to softly mutter in Latin. Her lovely face knitted in concentration as she searched the recesses of Cordelia�s mind, trying to find the answers that the brunette desperately wanted. After a few moments, Tara�s eyes began to make REM-like movements behind her eyelids. Her head twitched from side to side in an almost rhythmic time. Her breaths began coming in shallower pants, until suddenly her eyes snapped open. �Whoa,� Tara breathed, a blush rising in her cheeks. �X-Rated is right,� she told her former lover. Slightly embarrassed, Tara touched Cordelia�s temples once more. She�d never done the whole man thing before, but even Tara had to admit some of that looked like fun. Several long minutes passed before Tara once again broke the connection to the Seer. �What did you find?� Willow asked. Tara looked slightly confused. �Did you know that she was part demon?� she asked. Willow was surprised. Cordelia Chase was part demon. Even after all the glowing things the people downstairs said about Cordelia, that revelation still managed to shock the hell out of her. �Interesting,� Willow admitted, �but I meant did you find anything about these triple-x visions she�s been having.� �Oh, that,� Tara said. �It�s strange. They feel like memories, but at the same time, they don�t feel natural.� �What do you mean?� Willow asked. �Is some kind of spell responsible for this?� �No,� Tara answered. �I don�t feel any magical residue coming off her. I don�t think these memories are hers, but I don�t know what it could be.� Willow pondered it for a moment. �Tell me when she wakes up. I�m going downstairs to look into something.� She gave Tara a lingering squeeze of the shoulder before going. Tara stared at the doorway long after the woman she still loved left. But all that would have to wait. Tara had to figure out how to help Cordelia. ************** Tara helped lead a still woozy Cordelia down the Hyperion�s stairs. Groo quickly jumped from his seat and took his Princess and helped her to a couch. The rest of AI came out of Wesley�s office from studying files that had been neglected since this whole ordeal began. From behind the desk counter, Willow powered down her laptop and joined them in the lobby. �First, I want you to know that I told everyone about the dreams,� Willow said. �I hope you don�t get angry, but if we�re to work together, they need to know.� She was relieved when Cordelia didn�t snap at her, instead the Seer just nodded tiredly. �So, did you find out anything from the lookie-loo inside my head?� Cordelia asked. �I�m pretty sure the visions aren�t real,� Tara started. �They just don�t have an authentic feel to them.� Cordelia tried to wrap her still foggy brain around this. �So, is it magical or what?� �I don�t think so,� Tara said. �Normally when someone has been targeted by some kind of magic, there is a type of mystical residue. It�s like an aftereffect that can cling to the person for some time. If someone used magic to make you see these visions, then there should still be some of this residue.� �Then what then?� Cordelia asked. �I think it�s psychological,� Willow said. Cordelia raised an eyebrow at that. �So you think I�m nuts?� she asked half joking. �No!� Willow quickly amended. She was about to apologize when she saw the playful smile on Cordelia�s face. �What I meant was, I think it�s something called False Memories.� �What�s that?� Gunn asked. �False Memories are a big reason why hypnosis isn�t a widely accepted form of therapy,� Willow explained. �In hypnosis, a psychologist asks objective questions to a subject while they�re in a trance-like state. The object is to allow the patient to bring out repressed memories. But a major complaint is that psychologists can make patients remember events that never occurred. �Instead of objective questioning to unlock repressed memories, a person can implant a desired memory into a subject�s subconscious. These memories can prove to be very traumatic and seem totally realistic.� �So you�re suggesting that someone implanted memories into Cordelia�s head of her and Angel doing the nasty?� Gunn asked. �Why?� �I think the bigger question right now is who,� Lorne interjected. �And it�s a pretty short list,� Fred added. �Short?� Cordelia said derisively. �There�s only one name on the list. Wolfram and Hart.� *************** For several hours the gang had talked downstairs about what to do. Cordelia, Tara and Gunn would pay a visit to Lilah Morgan the next day. There was no one at Wolfram and Hart that hated Cordelia and Angel more than she, and if anyone knew what was going on, it would be her. Cordelia was the first to decide to retire for the night. The tea was still playing hell with her brain. Only some good sleep would lift the fog rolling through her head. When Cordelia entered her bedroom, she headed straight for the bathroom sink. Brushing her teeth and washing her face, she went back into the bedroom. It was then that she saw what she missed the first time. Cordelia couldn�t stop herself from vomiting. She had seen dead people before, but not like this. The nude form of a young woman lay spread-eagle across her bed. Her belly had been ripped open, exposing the internal organs. The girl�s small intestine snaked out of the body and wrapped her hands around the bedposts. Her hazel eyes were dull and lifeless. Blood matted down the lovely young girl�s short brown hair. The rest of the girl�s blood and soaked the sheets and began to pool on the floor. One thought rang throughout Cordelia�s mind: The girl was a dead-ringer for herself. Cordelia dropped slowly to the floor. Tears flowed freely from her eyes. She then saw the writing on the wall above the bed. It was written in blood. SHE WAS A SCREAMER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 5 - Semper Idem Despite the common stereotype that the Los Angeles Police Department was consisted of morons and worse, they were extremely thorough. Cordelia might even go as far as saying too thorough. Detectives had questioned them all non-stop, all except Lorne, who had wisely decided to leave before they could arrive. Everyone had followed Cordelia�s example: They didn�t know who the girl was. As for who was responsible, it�s possible that it was a former client that was dissatisfied with an investigation. Cordelia couldn�t watch when the body was brought down in a bag. The image of her cold, dead eyes still haunted Cordelia whenever she closed her own. This wasn�t the work of her oftentimes morose best friend. This was Angelus. Cordelia didn�t fool herself like Buffy Summers had. She didn�t try to separate the demon and soul into two entities. Cordelia had always known that Angel and Angelus were opposite sides of the same coin. It was like bipolar disease from hell. But she, unlike many others, accepted that the demon was part of what he was. She had to accept it, because she loved who Angel was, and the demon was part of that. But this was completely different. This was pure, 100% Angelus. There was no soul in him now. It wasn�t the being that had become so important to her the past few years. She had told Angel once that if the demon was ever let loose, she wouldn�t hesitate to kill him. Angel had thanked her for that. Gunn had told her that Angel had said the same not too long ago to him. Staking her best friend had long been a nightmare of hers. But bottom line, if there were no other options, she could do it in a heartbeat. She owed it to him to do so. Cordelia knew that the soul of the boy once known as Liam wouldn�t forgive her if she did otherwise. �Miss?� A female detective finally drew her attention away from her thoughts. �Miss, if you have another place where you can relocate your business for a time, it would be for the best. We want to cordon off the building as a crime scene.� �Yeah,� Cordelia said. �We can move.� �Good,� the detective replied. �You�ll understand if we need to contact you or any of your associates?� �Yes. Thank you detective. If you�ll excuse me, I�d like to speak with my friends about relocation.� The detective nodded and let Cordelia go. Everyone was waiting in Wesley�s office for her. �So what happens now, my Princess?� Groo asked her. Cordelia felt sorry for the man. He was in a strange land, and had no idea what was going on at the moment. He didn�t understand why everyone was suddenly so afraid of Angel. The man seemed distant at times, but Groo liked him. He had excellent weapons. �Well, it�s been �suggested� that we find someplace else to conduct our business for the time being.� �They�re forcing us out?� Gunn asked incredulously. �That�s bullshit. Why?� �They want the entire building blocked off as a crime scene. Personally, I think it�s not such a bad idea. This place is too large and Angelus has easy access. I was thinking about moving us to my apartment for now. Tara, can you do an un-invitation spell?� �Yeah, no problem,� Tara answered. �Good. Because Angel had a standing invitation to the place. Fred, call Lorne and tell him where we�ll be at.� Fred immediately grabbed the phone. �I guess now we just gather up whatever books and supplies we might need. We can try to get as much as we can moved, then later I want to go see Lilah.� �You really think this law firm may be responsible?� Willow asked. �This isn�t a normal law firm,� Gunn said. �Most lawyers are blood suckers, these guys actually represent them. They specialize in demonic shit. They�re the same people that raised Angel�s sire from the dead.� �They�ve been a thorn in our side for a long time,� Cordelia said. �I bet they�re just loving Angelus being on the loose.� ************** �So everything is being finalized for tonight�s assault?� Kelemoke asked. �The details are being ironed out,� Angelus answered. �Tonight we shall eliminate the Hoffman clan, tomorrow it shall be Alexander. After that, I want to regroup and then concentrate efforts in the south part of Los Angeles.� Kelemoke poured a couple glasses of wine and handed one to Angelus. �Here, I think you will appreciate this. It�s Italian. Bottled in 1876.� Angelus grinned as he accepted the glass. �I have no idea what you are referring to Kelemoke. I think that primitive African brain has finally given out on you, my friend.� �Bite me, you arrogant Irish pig,� Kelemoke laughed. �You know exactly what I refer to. That whole �Inheritance� scam you put on that Venetian girl and her father.� �One of my finest moments,� Angelus admitted. �You wooed the man and his daughter. You then convinced the old bastard to will his money to you when he died, and all the while, you fucked his daughter behind his back. You killed him and then turned the girl.� �The townspeople saw two puncture wounds on his neck and saw his recently vampirized daughter leaning over the carcass. They reached the obvious conclusion.� �You really were a conniving bastard, Angelus,� Kelemoke smirked. �Good to see some things never change.� �Semper idem, my friend. Always the same.� �Indeed,� Kelemoke said. �If I may ask, where did you go last night? You didn�t cause any trouble, did you?� �Of course not,� Angelus laughed. �As I said before, Kelemoke, I wish to have a Queen for my Kingdom. I had to go off to court my lady. And as you know, what�s a good courtship without the giving of gifts?� *********** Lilah Morgan was tired as hell. Things at the office were always fairly hectic, but the past few weeks it was hectic to the exponent of x. All the wanted was a shot of scotch, a couple of Percodan, and a soft bed. She turned the lock on door and entered her lonely, dark apartment. She threw her briefcase to the floor, not caring where it landed. She immediately headed for the liquor cabinet. A loud clicking behind her stopped her pursuit for alcohol. �You�ve got five seconds to tell me what the hell you did to Angel before I pierce your skull with this crossbow.� ************ An easy battle was like a bad fuck, Angelus thought. Sure, you got off on it, but it just wasn�t as powerful an experience. Defeating the Hoffman Clan proved to be ridiculously easy. And what made it worse was the fact the their leader, Thomas Hobbes, had the gall to beg for mercy. Having mercy was God�s job, not Angelus�. His own forces had sustained no losses, not that Angelus cared. It didn�t take long to create a new minion to take a fallen one�s place. But still, Kelemoke could be fickle about things like that. He didn�t like losing minions. And Angelus genuinely liked Kelemoke, so he would try to avoid unnecessary losses. The only positive about this battle was the bounty. Hobbes might have been an imbecile, but he kept some nice looking wenches around for personal pleasures. Angelus spotted a brunette that he could have a lot of fun with. Hobbes also kept some fine weaponry. Angelus was particularly fond of a 15th century Japanese katana he found in a closet downstairs. That would be going in the personal collection for sure. �Is anyone else as disappointed as I am?� he asked of his minions. �Who else would like to attack Alexander�s clan tonight?� His minions cheered the idea. They too wanted to fight. And the chance for more prizes was also an enticing prospect. �Then it�s settled,� Angelus said. �Saddle up. We move in ten minutes.� The minions shouted approval once more. They quickly finished moving their bounty into the vans outside. After so long a time of sedentary living, it was good to be in battle once again. *********** �I really need a better home security system,� Lilah muttered. From the shadows appeared Angel�s bitch, accompanied by two others. �Well, I know Mr. Gunn, but who�s the blond with the bags under her eyes?� �You�d better start talking,� Cordelia threatened. �Or I make sure you walk with a limp for the rest of your life.� She lowered the crossbow and aimed for Lilah�s thigh. �You brought one of those into my home before. As much as I know you wanted to, you didn�t use it on me. What makes you think you could?� Cordelia released the bolt before Lilah had time to blink. Lilah hit the ground hard, the arrow sliced through her leg and imbedded in the floor behind her. �You bitch!� she screamed. �It�s just a flesh wound,� Cordelia said. The arrow had left a deep and bloody gash on the inside of Lilah�s left thigh, but the wound wasn�t fatal. �And now that you�ve tested my resolve, I suggest you start speaking.� Behind her, Tara and Gunn stood in shocked silence. Cordy didn�t say anything about shooting anyone. �Um, Cordy?� Gunn started. �Be quiet,� she told him. �You,� she pointed to Lilah, �start talking.� �I know surprisingly little,� Lilah said. �Wait, that�s the truth,� she cried as Cordelia loaded another bolt. �I was kicked out of the project.� �So Wolfram and Hart is responsible for this?� Gunn asked. �Yes!� Lilah shouted, the pain in her leg increasing. The bitch had ruined a brand new pair of hose, too. �They are responsible for your visions and they are responsible for Angelus being set loose.� �But not you?� Cordy asked sarcastically. �Not me,� Lilah defended. �I voted against any plans to release Angelus.� ************** �Where is Angelus?� Kelemoke asked a minion. �I do not know, Master,� the minion responded. �He disappeared shortly after we crushed the clan of Alexander.� �He wasn�t killed in the battle?� Kelemoke asked slightly fearful. �No Master. I saw him briefly after the fighting. He wasn�t even wounded,� the minion said with pride. �He led us to two great victories tonight, Master.� �Indeed. But if you or anyone should happen to see him, tell Angelus that I wish to speak with him about the night�s battles.� �Yes Master.� The minion bowed and set off to collect his share of the night�s treasure. Perhaps he�d be fortunate enough to be rewarded one of the women. He did kill five enemies on the night, after all. Didn�t that deserve a good reward? *************** Angelus crouched on a nearby rooftop, his black duster whipping in the wind. Across the street, he could see clearly into the apartment. There was his Queen. Angelus unconsciously began to take short, quick breaths at the site of her. Her short brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail. She wore a pair of tight, faded blue jeans that hugged her curves nicely. The oversized flannel shirt she wore completed the look. Cordelia Chase was the picture of perfection. His mind drifted off into memories of waking dreams that he�d been having the past few weeks. Every few days he�d experience a new one. He was sure that they were not memories. Perhaps they were uncontrollable fantasies. Angelus had one shortly after crushing Alexander�s clan. It sparked an immediate desire to see his future Queen. Perhaps it was some latent or unconscious connection that had led him here, but sure enough, he had found his Queen talking the Her. Angelus didn�t like that. He didn�t like Lilah Morgan. Angelus had toyed briefly with the idea of turning her, but quickly nixed it. Oftentimes evil humans become shitty vampires. But to be certain, this was a situation that would have to be rectified. But not now. Now he would be content watching his Queen hold a crossbow to the whore. Next >>>> Archive |