| Soulripper (continued) Part 7 - Rueba de las Almas �You voted against releasing Angelus? Why do I not believe that?� �Believe what you want, you fucking whore, but I didn�t want Angelus freed,� Lilah shouted at Cordelia. �Without a soul, he couldn�t feel the pain of loosing his son. Without a soul, he couldn�t feel the guilt when we fucked with your mind. I want the son of a bitch to feel pain. But now, the monster is on the loose and apparently we have no idea where he is.� �Wolfram and Hart had been keeping tabs on him?� �Apprarently,� Lilah spat. �But a couple of our people turned up dead a few weeks ago. I guess Angelus knew someone had been watching. I don�t know much beyond that. Except that some Indian looking man seems to have taken up residence in our offices. He wears a necklace all the time. Has a bunch of small glowing beads on it.� �I find it hard to believe you haven�t done any snooping,� Cordelia said. Lilah spat at her while trying to keep pressure on her leg wound. �The bosses have buried me in work and deadlines. They didn�t like that I voted no. Now they�re making me do secretarial shit.� �I�m crying on the inside,� Cordelia said. Kneeling beside the bloody lawyer, she poked the arrowhead into Lilah�s gut. �This is my best friend we�re talking about. If for one minute I think you lied to me, or kept some key bit of information from me, I will come back and I will kill you.� Cordelia shoved Lilah flat against the floor. Without a second glance, Cordy tucked the crossbow out of sight and left, followed closely by Gunn and Tara. �Was she telling the truth?� she asked Tara as they piled into Gunn�s pickup. �I think so,� Tara said. �Her mind was clear. I don�t believe she was hiding anything.� Gunn put the truck in gear and took off. �What the hell was that?� he asked Cordelia. �I know that woman�s a bitch, but I wasn�t expecting you to shoot her.� �I heard once the threat of pain is oftentimes worse than pain itself. I needed her to know that I was fully capable of inflicting it on her. Besides, it got us some information, didn�t it?� Gunn reluctantly agreed. �Now we go through the books and see if we can narrow down who that Indian man is.� ************** �Hello Cordelia,� a silky smooth greeted from behind her. Cordelia turned to find Angelus standing in her bedroom doorway. Dressed in tight black leather pants and a midnight blue silk shirt, Cordelia could almost let herself forget who this was. �How did you get in here?� she gasped, all the while staring below his waist. �You let me in,� he said innocently. Angelus smirked when he saw where she was looking. �See anything you like?� he asked as he gyrated his hips. �I know I do.� Although she wanted to run, Cordelia�s desire to stay overrode the flight instinct. She was powerless to move as Angelus slowly sauntered over to her. He gently fingered the straps to her black thigh-length dress. �I know I like this a lot,� he whispered to her. His right hand dropped down to just below her knee. Slowly, too slowly, it began to make its way upward. His hand continued to move until he found the object of his desire. �No knickers,� Angelus teased gently. �I didn�t take you for that kind of girl. Nice to see that you�re ready for me.� �No,� she denied softly. �Yes, you are. I can smell you.� Angelus took a slow, deep breath. �It�s surrounds you like a fine perfume. I can also feel you.� Cordelia gasped loudly as two fingers slowly entered her. �You�ve wanted this for a long time,� Angelus insisted. �Why else would you be wet and waiting? Admit it, you�re just a horny little slut.� Angelus smirked at her shocked expression. He was easily able to block the hand meant to slap him. �Just lay back and let Angelus do the work,� he ordered softly. Cordelia was shocked when she seemed to obey. �That�s my girl,� he whispered. Angelus took hold of the dress straps and pulled them off her shoulder. �Lift up,� he said. Cordelia obeyed once more. Angelus slowly slid the dress down her body, his mouth leaving a trail of kisses over her breasts and stomach. �Good girl,� he told her. Cordelia watched in a daze as Angelus painstakingly began to undo the buttons on his shirt. �Fuck that,� Cordelia cried as she grabbed his shirt and ripped it open. Buttons flew everywhere, as her hands took on minds of their own. They made several sweeps across his chest before finally settling on his belt. �Off, now!� she shouted. Angelus grinned at her eagerness. He liked a woman that could be assertive. That�s why he stayed with the syphilitic whore for so long. Cordelia batted his hands away when she decided he was taking too long. The belt was undone in moments and was promptly thrown away, hitting a bedside lamp and knocking it to the floor. �Pants, off, now,� she said more to herself than him. Angelus adjusted from his kneeling position above her to allow Cordelia to pull his pants down. She jerked down hard on them, leaving angry scratches on Angelus� sides. The vampire moaned at the sensation. This he liked. Now that he was naked, Cordelia took the initiative. Kneeing him in his side, Cordelia flipped him onto his back. �Just lay back and let Cordelia do the work,� she said with a smirk. Cordelia then raked her fingernails down his chest, leaving angry red trails down to his waist. The guttural moan he emitted sent shock waves through her. �You think you�re evil?� she taunted. �I can do worse.� Cordelia wrapped a hand around his erection and began to slowly stroke him. Angelus arched his back so far, Cordelia thought he�d fold backward. �For the love of God, woman,� Angelus moaned. �Cordelia, you need to wake up.� Angelus looked her directly in the eyes. �Cordelia, you need to wake up.� *************** Cordelia shot awake. A large demonology book that had been resting on her chest fell to the floor beside her bed. �Cordelia,� Willow said. �You need to wake up. I think I found something.� Cordelia stared up at Willow in confusion. Breathing heavily, She tried to calm herself enough to understand what Willow was saying. �What?� she asked in a ragged breath. Willow stared down in concern. �I said I might have found something about this guy you told us about. The Indian dude?� She saw recognition flash in Cordelia�s eyes. �Cordelia? Are you okay?� �Yeah,� Cordy lied. �I�m fine, just a weird dream. Let�s go see what you found.� **************** Angelus splashed cold water over his face. Looking in the mirror to the spot where his face should be, he was vaguely amused to see water droplets trickle slowly in midair. He grabbed a towel and dried his face roughly. That dream was�intense. That foreplay had been more exciting that any he�d ever experienced. But it had all been a fantasy, hadn�t it? It also went to prove, at least in his mind, why she was the perfect Queen. She was strong in will, perhaps even stronger than himself. She had been assertive, commanding, and he liked it. But perhaps she had been that way merely because he imagined her to be. No, Angelus thought. Nancyboy knew well enough what the woman could be like. Strong, independent, yet playful. He was getting a hard-on again. And so soon after a wet dream. The last time he had one of those, Angelus was 12 and dreaming of Betty McCormack. Damn, that woman had an effect on him. Angelus reached and grabbed his silk shirt off a hanger. There would be time to imagine later. He had business to attend to now. Putting on the shirt, he went back into his bedroom. On the floor lay the pale body of the �gift� Kelemoke had given her. The little minx had come at him with a knife. Angelus had to admire her courage. Of course, that hadn�t stopped him from snapping Hannah�s pretty little neck like a twig. It was a shame really. The girl had been a great fuck. He really liked the way she screamed when he entered her. She was one in a million. Angelus laughed at that. Who was he kidding? He�d just find himself someone new when he went out tonight. Angelus grabbed a black bag from beside the bed and then put on his coat. So little time, so much to do. Well, if Angelus got going now, he should be able to finish up by morning. If not, he didn�t have anything pressing to do tomorrow morning. Whistling �The Goldberg Variations�, Angelus blew a kiss to Hannah�s cold body. He was gone to make a house call. ************* Willow placed a large tome in Cordelia�s lap. On the page was a drawing of a necklace with tens of beads on it. �What is this?� she asked. �I think it�s the necklace that you were told about,� Willow explained. �In many Native South American cultures, there are stories of men who traveled through the forests of Columbia, Venezuela, and Brazil. They wore these necklaces. �The Spanish called them �fantasmas�, meaning ghosts, since these men seemingly had the ability to disappear at will. Many of the Natives also used a Spanish phrase to describe them, since many tribes believed these men harnessed another ability. They called them �Rueba de las almas�.� �What does that mean?� Willow looked away for a moment before answering. �It means The Stealer of Souls.� ************** Lilah Morgan limped off the elevator when it reached the Wolfram and Hart parking garage. All day she�d been in pain because of what Angel�s whore did to her. On top of that, she�d got her ass chewed because she�d yet to file a report of the Davidson case. If Lilah had known that voting �no� would have reduced her to secretarial chores, she�d have kept her fucking mouth shut. Pulling out her keys, she hit the button on the chain that unlocked the door to her Mercedes. Opening the door to the car, she tossed her briefcase in. Lilah never heard Angelus come up from behind her until it was too late. Holding the chloroform soaked towel over her mouth, Angelus grinned as Lilah slowly lost consciousness. Opening the back door, he tossed her in a heap across the seat. �Now Lilah, we�re going to go to your place and discuss what you and my Queen talked about last night. I hope you have some wine stocked, because later, I was hoping you�d join me for dinner.� Angelus climbed behind the wheel of Lilah�s baby. �Damn!� he said. �I love a stick shift! Makes me feel all manly.� Angelus peered at Lilah in the rearview mirror. �I guess that�s why you got it, huh?� Angelus started the car and popped it in reverse. �I wonder how fast this thing hits 60?� Angelus shrugged his shoulders. �Only one way to find out.� Throwing the car into gear, he hit fourth by the time he hit the street. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 8 - It's the Thought That Counts �You know something Lilah? You hold a very special place in my heart.� Angelus wrapped his arm around her shoulder as he leaned back against the bed�s headboard. Taking a sip of his wine Angelus made a pleased expression. �Wow. A woman with good taste in liquor. This is an excellent white wine, mademoiselle. But what was I saying?� Angelus stopped in concentration. �Oh yes, I was telling you of the special place you hold in my heart. You see, I�ve never hated a woman in all my life more than I hate you. Not even that peroxide slayer from a few years back. Although I must say, she does come close. After all, sending a fellow to hell doesn�t really promote endearment. Do you understand what I mean?� No sound came from Lilah�s mouth as she tried to scream. �I�ll take that as a yes,� Angelus said. �Although, she did have a nice rack. I may have to pay her a visit after I take over this city. Maybe make her my whore. Have you seen her lately?� he asked Lilah. �She isn�t quite as attractive now, I think. Lost a lot of baby fat, especially around the face.� Lilah again tried to scream, but only a dry wheeze left her mouth. �Would you like a drink? I�m sure your mouth must be dry.� Angelus pressed the wine glass to her lips. Most just trickled back out. �I�m truly sorry about this,� Angelus said, although the tone of his voice spoke to the contrary. �But I couldn�t have you screaming, so I decided to remove your vocal cords. Hope you don�t mind.� Angelus laughed as Lilah�s eyes widened at that. �I also have another small confession to make,� he whispered. Angelus then slowly removed the white lace nightgown he�d dressed her in. Lilah followed his movements, but was too weak to offer any resistance. If she had the capacity anymore, she would have screamed in horror at what she saw. Running the center of her chest, going from just above her belly button to between her breasts along her sternum, was a nasty network of sutures. The skin around the brown thread was a raw and angry pink color. For the first time since waking from her drug-induced slumber, she noticed all the tubes running from her body. One entered her body at a small incision located below her left shoulder blade. Another ran out of her chest, inserted between the sutures lining her sternum. She could see the tubes ran back to a device sitting on the floor. About the size of a water cooler, Lilah heard the distinct sound of a small engine running inside it. Lilah knew exactly what it was. �Do you like it?� Angelus asked excited. �I first made one of those around 1864. I admit, it�s the product of a bored and overactive mind, but it remains one of my finest accomplishments. And also, the technology wasn�t as sophisticated back then. No internal-combustion engines and all that, ya know?� Grabbing Lilah�s head so she looked directly into the yellow eyes of his game face, he asked, �Didn�t I tell you I could keep you alive for days through transfusions? I told you I had the experience.� Letting go of her head, Angelus tried to calm himself. Taking a sip of wine, he continued. �Of course, back in those days, it only worked about thirty percent of the time. Even vampires didn�t really understand the concept of blood types.� Looking up to Heaven, Angelus mocked, �But thank God for the 21st century and donor cards. It makes blood typing so much easier.� Angelus saw the questioning look in Lilah�s fearful eyes. �Oh, you�re wondering what the sutures are for? Hold on a minute.� Angelus jumped from the bed and ran to the kitchen, where Lilah heard the refrigerator open and shut. When Angelus returned, he carried a Tupperware bowl covered in tin foil. �You know how I was talking about accomplishments I was proud of? Well, here�s another one. I tell you, I was doing this shit successfully decades before the Mayo Clinic or whatever could.� Sitting back down next to her, Angelus slowly peeled back the tin foil. �It�s a human heart,� Angelus explained at Lilah�s horrified expression. �More accurately, it�s your heart. But don�t worry. Connected to that thing there,� Angelus pointed to his machine, �you can live a relatively long and somewhat happy life.� Angelus then pulled Lilah close and kissed her passionately. �But then,� he said, �what would be the fun it that?� Taking one of the tubes in his hands, he pressed it together so no blood could flow. Lilah tried valiantly to summon up whatever energy she had to escape, but Angelus held her tight. Placing butterfly kisses on her lips and eyelids, Angelus cooed at her, trying to get Lilah to be still. �Just look at it this way, if Saint Peter compares my life to yours, you stand a decent shot at getting into Heaven.� Angelus smiled down at her as Lilah�s breathing slowed before coming to a stop. �That�s my girl,� he whispered. Releasing the tube, Angelus decided to clean up his mess before taking a shower. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was well past dawn. That was fine by him, Angelus didn�t have any place to be until tonight. With a sudden thought, Angelus went over to Lilah�s desk and found a phonebook. Flipping through the Yellow Pages, Angelus found the number he wanted. �I�ll call them later,� he said aloud. �As for right now, I�m kind of hungry. I wonder what Lilah had in the cupboard?� ************* �This man steals beings souls?� Cordelia asked. �I think so,� Willow said. �The necklace he wears. Each bead is a charm that encompasses the soul of each victim.� Tara put aside a magic book before picking up the story. �Whenever humans had their souls stolen, they would fall into a comatose state. Unless the soul was return, the person spent the rest of their life in a state called soul-death. The brain and other organs kept working, but the essence that made them living beings was gone.� �But Angel�s not human,� Cordelia said. She knew what Tara was saying. �Yes,� Tara agreed. �With Angel, the soul wasn�t the dominant part of his being. The demon inside of him is, and it has a life of its own.� �So this is good, right?� Fred asked. �We don�t have to do a soul restoration. We just have to find this man and his necklace, right?� �Essentially,� Willow said. �When the bead housing the soul is shattered it releases the soul. The soul then finds its way back to the body that housed it.� �Then I suggest we find this �fantasma� fast,� Cordelia said. Her tone left no room for argument. The ringing of the doorbell broke the tension in the room. Cordy got up from her seat and went to answer. Peering through the peephole, she saw a UPS man. Cordelia thought for a moment. She wasn�t expecting any packages. Opening the door, she greeted the man. �Sign here, Miss,� he said as he passed the electronic clipboard. Cordelia quickly signed and took the package. �Have a nice day,� the man said. Cordelia mumbled a farewell and shut the door. Taking the package into the kitchen, she set it on the table before retrieving a knife. She stared at the markings saying �Refrigerate Upon Opening� and �Express Delivery� in confusion. Slicing through the tape sealing the package, she unfolded the flaps. On top she found a note, and below, a Styrofoam container. She pulled out the smaller Styrofoam container inside and cut it open as well. Opening the package, she dropped the knife it horror. �Come here!� she yelled to the people in her living room. �What�s wrong?� Willow asked running into the room. The rest of the gang was right on her heels. Cordelia pointed to the box on the table. Looking inside, Willow had to run quickly to the sink so she could vomit. �It�s a human heart,� Lorne said in shock. Cordelia ignored the sickened gasps of the rest of the people. Instead, she opened the note. Written in blood it said: WONT YOU BE MY VALENTINE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 9: An Unforeseen Occurrence �Hello my Queen.� Cordelia slowly opened her eyes and found the smirking form of Angelus leering at her. Her impulse to coil back in fear was stopped. She was handcuffed to a pole. And why the hell did her head feel so weird? �You�re so beautiful,� Angelus whispered. He gently stroked Cordelia�s cheek. He was only slightly put off when she shied away from his touch. It would just take a while to adjust to the new him. �Don�t touch me,� she said with more bravado than she had. �Cordelia,� he whispered. �I love you. I can worship you. I can make you a Goddess. I can make the world worship you.� �I don�t want to be worshiped. I want Angel back.� Angelus stood slowly, a look of anger on his face. �You�d rather have that impotent jackoff than me? I can give you the world. What can he give you?� Cordelia fixed her most steadfast glare on the vampire. �Happiness,� she said simply. Angelus screamed in frustration. Taking a chair, he threw it with all his might into the wall, shattering it into pieces. He paid no attention to his Queen as he slammed his bedroom door when he left. Cordelia struggled against the handcuffs, her eyes never leaving a pointed leg of the now broken chair. ************ Gunn stumbled down the hallway, using the wall to support his weight. It took most of his strength to knock on the apartment door. The door opened in a flash, nearly sending Gunn crashing to the floor. Fred was by his side in an instant. �My God, Charles! What happened?� Blood oozed from a gash on the back of his head. The rest of the gang had heard the commotion and came running. Willow had grabbed an ice bag from the freezer, and Tara was toting a First Aid kit from the bathroom. Fred gently settled her boyfriend onto the couch. Clutching his hand, the terrified girl couldn�t be pulled away. Tara had to administer treatment around her. �Gunn, where�s Cordelia?� Willow asked. Gunn shook his head. �I dunno,� he said. �He took her.� Gunn was openly crying. �Cordy and I went to get some of the supplies we needed. When we got back to the truck, he came out of nowhere. Son of a Bitch hit me with a crowbar or something. By the time I came too, Cordy was gone.� Trying to hold back the tears, he said, �I�m sorry. I lost her.� �My Princess is gone?� Groo asked shocked. �We must get her back. We must find where Angel took her.� �That�s a fine thought, Pumpkin, but where the hell would we start? This is a big city,� Lorne said. �Lorne�s right,� Willow agreed. �It�s like a needle in a haystack.� �But we must save her,� Groo insisted. Tara finished taping a bandage to Gunn head. �Guys, it�s been said. The chances of finding Cordelia are slim. We need another plan.� �We already have one,� Gunn said through his tears. �We go ahead with Plan A. The best way to save Cordelia is by saving Angel first. We collect the ghost dude and his necklace, and the problem is solved. Vampy gets his soul back and he can�t hurt Cordy.� �I think Gunn�s right,� Willow said. �It�s just not feasible to go around every hole in Los Angeles trying to find Cordelia. This is the best option.� Gunn accepted the Kleenex Fred offered and wiped away his tears. �The stuff is down in the truck. I managed to put it in before Angelus clubbed me. Has everything else been taken care of?� �Yes,� Willow answered. �Tara and I went and rented a couple cheap cars today. They should more than do the job.� �I got the van that we needed from my friend,� Lorne said. �The color�s been changed and the license plates are fake, so that�s all set.� �Good,� Gunn said. �Then tomorrow we do it. Tomorrow we save our friends.� ********** Angelus sat Indian style a few feet away from his Queen. His eyes were transfixed on her shapely curves that were accentuated by her tight jeans and tank top. She truly was a most beautiful woman. �Is it so hard to believe that I could love you?� he asked. �You don�t love me,� Cordelia snapped back at him. Whatever drug she had been given had long since worn off. �You just want to control me. You just want me to be your bitch.� �No!� Angelus angrily denied. �I want to treat you the way that you deserve. I want to give you all the things Soulboy couldn�t. To give you all the things he was afraid to give you. You know Nancyboy loved you?� Cordelia stared at Angelus in shock. Cordelia had noticed all the little things, but she denied them. She thought maybe he was transferring his feeling for Buffy to her. Maybe because he saw her as Connor�s mother, so he felt obligated to love her. �No,� Cordelia said. �Yes,� Angelus spat. �He was afraid that if he acted he�d lose his soul. And ya know what?� He bent down so he was eye level with the Seer. �He was right. Like a fart in the wind, the soul would have been gone. But a part of him didn�t care. You know why?� �Why?� Cordelia asked, despite her fear of the answer. �Because he knew that I loved you, too. He wasn�t afraid that I�d hurt you. He was afraid of what I�d do to everyone else.� �That�s not true. It can�t be�� Cordelia trailed off as she suddenly fell limp. �Cordelia?� Angelus was feeling for her pulse in seconds. It was strong and steady. �What the hell?� Angelus shouted. Suddenly his nose began to twitch. Leaning closer, the vampire smelled it. Or rather, he didn�t smell it. �She�s without soul.� *********** The �fantasma� smiled and placed the small crystal bead on the necklace. �Just as you wished,� he said to the Senior Associates. �Now the Seer shouldn�t present you with any problems.� -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 10: Every Action� Los Angeles wasn�t like what you saw in the movies. In the movies, it�s always a bright and sunny day. There is never a cloud in the clear blue sky. Bullshit, Fred thought to herself. Most Los Angeles days, the sky had a faint yellow tint because of all the smog. And today certainly wasn�t bright and sunny. Dark storm clouds threatened in the horizon. Rain would be here in an hour, maybe less. It was Monday, about a quarter past noon. Fred stood at her post with binoculars in her hands and a walkie-talkie around her neck. She had a clear view of the entire playing field. She was the point man. It was up to Fred when to alert that the �fantasma� had appeared. It was up to her when to tell the teams to execute their respective assignments. The �fantasma� and his two guards would set off for the diner at around 12:30. When they reached the Smithson and Ambercrombie intersection, the distraction would occur Willow would be parked on North Smithson, while Tara would be parked on East Ambercrombie. At Fred�s command, they would pull out into the intersection and have an �accident� with each other. While the crowd�s, and most importantly, the guard�s attention was distracted, Lorne would drive up in the van from South Smithson. Pulling up behind the guards, Groo and Gunn would grab the �fantasma�. If all went according to plan, the operation should take no longer than a minute from the command to move to the time the �fantasma� was loaded up. In the van located two blocks away, the three men waited nervously. It was almost time to execute. Grabbing the walkie-talkie, Gunn checked in one final time. �Alright everybody, listen up, it�s almost showtime. We can�t screw up on this people,� he said gravely. �This is our one and only chance at grabbing this guy. If we fail here, then we may never be able to save our friends.� The gravity of the situation wasn�t lost on anyone. All knew what was at stake. This was the best and only chance they had to perform this mission. All radioed in with a �Roger� before silence once again reigned. Glancing at the van�s clock, Lorne noted the time. �12:28,� he said. His green hand fiddled nervously with the gear stick. Gunn silently chewed on sunflower seeds as he mentally went over the plan. Groo reached into a plastic bag and removed a length of rope and duct tape. He also pulled out a strange bottle marked �Chloroform�. Grab, contain, evacuate. That was the plan. Then the call came. �Subject has just appeared with two guards,� Fred called over the radio. Lorne quickly turned the engine on. �This is it,� he said. �It�s time.� �Now we just wait for our cue,� Gunn replied. ************ Kelemoke stared at the girl in confusion. Checking her pulse, he found that it was steady and strong. Taking a breath, he noticed it too. There was no soul in this body. �Very strange,� Kelemoke said. �I�ve never heard nor seen such a thing in all my existence. You say she was fine one moment, but was like this the next?� �Yes!� Angelus shouted irritably. �I was speaking with her one second, but then she collapsed unconscious.� �Very strange,� Kelemoke repeated. She was a highly attractive girl. If Angelus wasn�t so set after her, Kelemoke might be tempted to claim her for himself. Even if she was part demon. �I do not know of anyone with the power to remove a being�s soul. It must be powerful magic.� �I do not know who would hold that power either,� Angelus said. �But I know who would.� Angelus stormed from the bedroom into the main hall of the palace. �Minions!� he called. All eyes turned to the vampire who�d led them to victories. �Gather your weapons! We go to war!� *********** As vampires began moving underground to begin their operation, the humans above were beginning their own. �Get ready,� Fred called over the radio. �Team One now!� A few moments passed before she yelled, �Team Two now!� Tara and Willow each threw their cars into gear and sped into the intersection. Willow made sure that her car impacted the passenger side of Tara�s. The crowd of pedestrians, including the �fantasma�, stopped at the sight of the hard collision. Good Samaritans rushed out into the street to help the two women. The gang prayed that seatbelts and airbags would keep them safe. Moments after the collision occurred, the van was coming to a stop behind the �fantasma� and his two guards. Gunn and Groo leapt from the back of the van. With two quick swings of a baseball bat, Groo sent the guards flying to the ground. Gunn smothered the small �fantasma� with the chloroform cloth. He grabbed the man�s arms while Groo grabbed his legs. They speedily tossed the man into the van and climbed in. The rear doors weren�t even shut fully before Lorne put the pedal to the metal. A few people cursed at the van for speeding past a wreck, but beyond that, nobody paid much attention. Fred nonchalantly hailed a taxi as soon as she saw the van was away. After being helped from the vehicles, Tara and Willow slipped away in the confusion. They were confident the fake identification they used to rent the cars couldn�t be traced back to them. It also helped they wore gloves in the car. Police could find fingerprints. *********** By one o�clock, everyone at Wolfram and Hart knew that something very wrong had happened. Many of the big shot attorneys had been called into a board meeting with the senior officials. The staff knew better than to ask questions. When people started asking questions, they had a nasty habit of disappearing. Being in the dark wasn�t a bad thing. It sure as hell kept your head attached to your body. Suddenly, throughout the building, alarms began to go off. The people at the firm had heard this sound before. �Damn it! Is this another fucking fire drill?� �Jesus Christ, it seems like we have one every month!� The staffers began to file to the stairwell. While the money here was good, the fire drills got fucking annoying after awhile. ************ Through the sewer tunnels located in the basement garage, vampires began to climb out and get in formation. By the time Angelus emerged, nearly three-dozen minions had formed, ready for battle. Angelus was furious. Somehow he knew that it was these lawyers that were responsible for what happened to his Queen. He didn�t care how many sons of bitches he had to cut down; he was going to find out how to fix her. He began to divide off the minions. They would sweep the building and gather up as many hostages as possible. He led five minions across the garage to the elevators. Hitting the floor he knew housed the big shot lawyers, the troop rode silently. Alarms had long since sounded. �Do not worry,� he told the minions. �They are only prepared for an isolated vampire to enter, not a legion. And remember, no killing until I give the word.� The minions nodded in acknowledgement. With a slight buzz, the elevator door opened on the Fifth Floor. He spotted a few people heading to the stairwell doors. Turning the corner, Angelus couldn�t believe his good fortune. From the conference room emerge the biggest names at the firm. �Well, if it isn�t the cocksuckers that I wanted to see.� Shifting into gameface, Angelus stalked toward the frightened crowd. �A dozen ripe plums ready to be picked,� he observed. His eyes fell on an attractive woman in front. �My, aren�t you a tasty looking bitch? I may have to kill you first, just so you don�t have to watch me gut the rest of these pigs. Gentlemen, if you would return to the room whence you came.� His minions advanced on the group, sending them scampering backwards. Angelus stopped one and said, �Go around and tell the rest of the men to assemble here. Tell them to bring desert, because we may have a feast here shortly.� The minion took off to find the others and relay the word. Grinning, Angelus turned to join his group in the conference room. Without warning, searing pain ripped through his chest, sending the vampire to his knees. Collapsing to the ground, it was several minutes before he rose. �Oh my God. What have I done?� ************* Cordelia�s eyes snapped open. Gasping for air, she tried to jerk away, but the handcuffs stopped her. �Holy shit! What the hell was that?� -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 11: �Reaction The sound of thunder echoed loudly, even in Room 17 at the Rest and Go Motel on the outskirts of Los Angeles. �I know we�re on a tight budget here,� Lorne stated, �but couldn�t we get a hotel a little less roach infested to hide out in?� �We could have,� Gunn agreed. �But that would entail staying in LA. It�s best to clear ground zero for a while. At least until we get an idea what Wolfram and Hart�s reaction in gonna be.� �I guess,� Lorne agreed. �But what do we do about him?� All eyes turned to the still anesthetized figure of the �fantasma�. �First, we get Angel�s soul back. After that, well, I guess we�ll figure something out.� Crouching by the body, Gunn began to search his pockets for identification. Finding a passport, he read aloud. �Everyone, say hello to Senor Carlos Ramirez Diaz.� �Hello,� Groo said. Gunn and Lorne stared at him for a moment, wondering what the hell Cordy ever saw in him. �Senor Diaz has been here since the 15th of February. This is a Peruvian passport,� Gunn observed. �Well, buddy, your passport has just been revoked.� Tossing the passport aside, Gunn removed the necklace from Diaz�s neck. �All we gotta do is bust this thing and the souls are released?� �That�s what Red said. No incantations or anything.� �Well, that�ll make it easy.� Gunn placed the necklace on a small table. Grabbing the complimentary Bible from the bedside drawers, Gunn prepared to do the job. Raising the book high above his head, he brought it back down hard on top of the beads. The three occupants watched in awe as souls of all colors drifted slowly into the air. Pinks, blues, oranges, and greens filled the room. �That�s something you don�t see every day,� Lorne whispered. A hot white flash blinded the occupants for a moment. When they recovered their vision, the colors were gone. �I guess that�s it?� Gunn asked. Any answer was interrupted by the sound of knocking. Crossing to the door, Lorne looked out the peephole. He quickly undid the bolt and opened the door. A drenched Willow, Tara, and Fred came in. �Did you do it?� Willow asked. �Done and done, Red,� Lorne answered. The women shed their rain-drenched coats and tossed them aside. �You might want to turn the television to a news station,� Tara said. �We heard something pretty bad on the way here.� Gunn grabbed the remote control and flipped the TV on. The sounds of a news report were quickly joined by images of the exterior of the Wolfram and Hart building. �This is Debra Morris reporting live from Los Angeles at a scene that police are calling a massacre. Behind me is the law firm of Wolfram and Hart, a well-respected office. Inside are the bodies of two-dozen individuals reportedly the victims of a possible gang attack. �This brutal attack occurred only hours ago. Police are stunned by the discovery of the scene. At this time, authorities seem to have little idea who could possibly be behind the attacks. �Once again, this is Debra Morris reporting for Channel 8 news. We will provide more information as it becomes available.� The scene went back to a newsroom shot of some gray haired man trying to look sympathetic. Gunn flipped the television off. Everyone was stunned by the news. �He fucking led a massacre,� Gunn said in disbelief. �If only we�d destroyed the necklace in the van, maybe we could have stopped that.� �No,� Willow admonished. �Giving Angel his soul back wouldn�t have stopped that. There had to be at least a dozen other vampires to do that. We did all that we could do.� Willow almost believed that, and she saw that Gunn almost believed it too. �I guess we�ll never know for sure, will we?� Gunn asked. �Um, I hate to ruin the guilt thing,� Lorne started, �but I think Mister Diaz-Rahi or whatever is waking up.� The �fantasma� was beginning to move slightly. �Well, tape his mouth shut,� Gunn said. �Can�t have the son of a bitch screaming.� Looking at the gang, he asked, �So who votes we poor concrete around his feet and take him to the beach?� ************* The old woman shrank back from Angel as he stumbled through the halls of Cordelia�s apartment complex. Edna Rhodes quickly unlocked her apartment and darted inside as the rain soaked form of the resouled vampire walked by. Angel reached the end of the hallway. He grabbed the door handle and turned. Locked. �Hello?� he called meekly. He was greeted by a pair of resounding knocks. �Dennis, please, it�s Angel. Let me in.� Angel heard the deadbolt turn. The door swung open. Tentatively reaching out, his hand was stopped by the barrier. �I can�t come in,� Angel said softly. �Please, I need to know where everyone is.� As a puddle of rainwater pooled at his feet, Angel watched as a piece of paper was pulled from a desk drawer. A magic marker began to scribble upon it. Dennis then floated the paper to the door. �Come in� it read. Reaching out again, Angel was able to cross the threshold. �Thank you, Dennis,� Angel said. The vampire hesitantly stepped into the apartment. The place was an absolute mess. Makeshift beds were strewn all over the living room floors. The dining room table looked like a SWAT team command center. Glancing through the schematics, Angel realized his friends performed some sort of operation. �But that doesn�t help me,� Angel muttered. �Dennis, I need you to tell me where the others are at.� When nothing happened after a few moments, Angel tried again. �Dennis, Cordelia is in danger. I need to know where everyone is so we can save her. Please, Dennis.� A phone book was pulled from a drawer at the desk. Angel stepped closer as the pages turned. It was a strange sight to see. It looked as if a wind picked through the apartment and opened the book. When the pages stopped, Angel glanced to see what the ghost wanted to show him. In the Yellow Pages, the Rest and Go Motel was circled in red marker. �Is this where they are?� Angel asked the ghost. Two knocks was his answer. Ripping the page from the book, he stuck it in his pocket. �Thank you, Dennis,� Angel said. �Now we have to go save Cordelia. *************** Cordelia tried jerking on the handcuffs, but she only succeeded in making her wrists raw. �This would be a great time to manifest demon strength,� she muttered. Cordelia adjusted to a more comfortable position against the pole as she contemplated the recent occurrences. First, she would like to know what the hell just happened. She remembered arguing with Angelus, and then she woke up with a nasty hangover. A burning sensation shot through her body. It was nothing like she had ever felt before. It was nothing she ever wanted to feel again, either. She also wondered if the gang went ahead with the plan. She sure as hell hoped so. Cordelia would much prefer not having to face Angelus again. She wouldn�t have to stake him then. But then, that made her wonder where the soulless wonder was. As much as Cordelia despised his presence, at least when he was around she could keep an eye on him. Who knew what he was doing, or killing, when he wasn�t around. Cordelia strained her ears to listen to the noises outside the room. She could barely distinguish the sound of the black vampire�s voice. Kelemoke, she remembered. He sounded angry. �What the fuck is going on?� Cordy wondered aloud. ************ Peter had the unfortunate assignment of telling his Master that Angelus was missing. He didn�t like it, but he drew the short straw. It was also a bitch because Kelemoke had a habit of killing the bearer of bad news. This time was no exception. The minions stared at the spot where Peter had stood just moments before. A pile of dust was all that remained. �Angelus just vanished?� Kelemoke shouted at his minions. �Yes, Master,� Luke answered. �He disappeared as I went to inform the others of where to gather. He may have been the one to call the police.� �Damn!� Kelemoke screamed. �Gather up some of our best minions. Sweep the city. I want you to search every hole and kick over any rock that son of a bitch might be hiding under! I want him brought here so I can ask the bastard why he ran. Then I will kill him.� Luke obeyed his Master�s order. Gathering a dozen men, the vampires set out upon the city, searching for the warrior that had given them victories ************** Diaz wouldn�t be waking anytime soon. Willow gave him a shot of some kind of sedative. He could try mumbling some kind of spell, she reasoned. Not that the gang minded, they really didn�t want to deal with the �fantasma�. As Groo played with the television remote in awe, the rest of the gang tried to come up with some sort of plan. They looked to Gunn for some sort of leadership, but he was clueless about any sort of action. �Hey, I just said follow through with today�s plan,� he defended. �That doesn�t make me Macarthur. Red, you�re smart, what do you think?� As all eyes turned to her, she said, �Right now I think we need to concentrate on finding Angel and Cordelia. I think we can put of dealing with him for a while.� Everyone glanced at the him in question. Still unconscious. �Easier said than done, Sweetie,� Lorne said. �We can assume Angel took Cordy to basecamp, but we have no idea where that is. And who�s to say we�ll find Broody. Wesley ran because he betrayed us. Angel�s worst nightmare came true. His demon attacked the people he cares about. Who says that he won�t try to run?� A knocking at the door stopped Lorne�s speech. Rising to her feet, Tara crossed the short distance to the peephole. Turning back to Lorne, she said, �You were saying?� Unlocking the door, she opened it to reveal a rain soaked Angel. �Hello,� Angel said softly. �Can I come in?� -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 12: Answers Angel had a stake pressed against his heart in a matter of moments. Gunn was up instantly and jammed a stake across the threshold at Angel�s chest. �Give me proof right now that you�re not Angelus, otherwise I stick this in,� Gunn threatened. �Gunn!� Lorne called from behind. �Cool it, I can feel the guilt coming off him. It worked.� Gunn never took his eyes off the vampire. Angel avoided his gaze, preferring to concentrate on the raindrops falling on his head. �Can I come in?� he asked again. Gunn had to strain to hear him. Gunn slowly lowered the stake away from the vampire�s chest. �Yeah, come in.� Angel had barely stepped into the room before Fred barreled into him. The small girl held on for dear life. �Angel! We missed you so much! I�m glad you�re back!� Angel slowly wrapped his arms around Fred. �I�m glad to be back,� Angel said. Fred looked into the eyes of her first Hero. He was so sad, so guilt ridden. This certainly wasn�t the monster they had been afraid of. But it wasn�t really the man she had come to know over the past months. This was a man she had never seen before. It was a man no one save Willow had ever seen. Someone whose soul is tortured to the point of total hopelessness. Angel gently pried himself away from Fred and began to drift toward a far corner. The individuals in the room gave him a wide berth, not from fear, but from respect. Once settled in a chair in the darkest corner, Angel finally noticed the man bound against the wall. �Who is he?� Angel asked. �That is the guy responsible for the whole �no soul� thing,� Willow answered. �We sorta kidnapped him outside Wolfram and Hart.� No one missed the painful wince Angel gave at the mention of the law firm. �Angel?� Willow asked. �Do you know what happened there today?� Willow slowly approached the vampire and kneeled in front of the chair. Angel nodded slowly, his eyes trying to find anything to look at besides her. �Angel? What happened?� �Something happened to Cordy,� he whispered. �I thought that Wolfram and Hart would know what happened.� Millions of questions started to fly at the mention of Cordelia. Angel grimaced and pressed himself deeper into the chair. Willow waved frantically at everyone to shut up. When they finally settled, Willow resumed. �What do you mean something happened to Cordy?� Angel had finally found a flaw in the wallpaper near his chair. That was a good place to focus. He couldn�t see everyone�s stares then. �Angel?� Willow asked again. �I was talking to her, then she drifted off. I couldn�t smell her soul anymore.� Angel finally focused on the woman who saved his soul so many years ago. �Her soul smells like peaches,� he said in a melancholy voice. �I like peaches.� Willow rested her hand on Angel�s, only to have him jerk away. She apologized before asking, �Angel? Do you know where Cordelia is?� �She�s in danger,� Angel replied. He turned away from Willow and focused once more on the wallpaper. ************ �Have you found anything?� Kelemoke demanded of Luke. �The men swept throughout the city, but were unable to locate Angelus,� Luke answered. �However, I did go to the woman�s apartment. I couldn�t enter, but I could smell his presence. He had been there recently.� �He went to find her friends,� Kelemoke mused. �Master, there is something else.� Kelemoke looked upon the minion with a questioning glance. �When I was at the apartment, the scent was Angelus�, I have no doubt of that. But, I swear it was different somehow, like there was also�� �A soul?� Kelemoke supplied. The minion nodded the affirmative. �Then Angelus is no more. It is merely Angel now. However, I still want him dead.� �It may be difficult to find him, Master. The rain prevented me from tracking him outside. I could not tell where he went after visiting the apartment.� �You are right,� Kelemoke acknowledged. �He will be difficult to find. But then again, here in these halls lays an item that Angel and Angels held most dear. There is no reason to believe he won�t return for it.� ********** Now would be a great time to develop ESP as a demon attribute, Cordelia mused. Then she could shoot a message to Gunn, the Pope, Santa Claus, or any other person who could get her out of this hellhole. �Damn handcuffs are chaffing my wrists,� Cordy muttered. The clank of the cuffs against the pole was the only sound in the room. �At least Noriega got to listen to Van Halen. I�d settle for some fucking Yanni.� Cordelia didn�t like the quiet. It was a proven fact that bad shit always happened when it went silent. She�d seen enough slasher movies to know that was true. Hell, she�d been raised in Sunnydale. She knew vampires didn�t often wears bells around their necks. And here she was, in some building with a shitload of them. Including one that seemed really pissed off at Angelus. Cordelia�s nose twitched as her ears picked up on the sound of footsteps approaching the door. �Speaking of the devil,� Cordy mumbled. �You don�t seem surprised to see me,� Kelemoke observed. �I smelled you coming,� Cordy answered. �Do I really smell that bad?� Kelemoke asked amused. �No,� Cordy said honestly. �In fact, I may have to ask where you got the bath soap you use.� �Coverdale�s,� Kelemoke supplied. �It�s down on Sunset. I normally get a spicy blend, but you seem more the peaches and cream type of woman.� �You�re right, I am. But thanks for the info. I also think that bath soaps aren�t what you were wanting to discuss.� �They aren�t, but it�s always nice to have a woman appreciate my efforts to smell good. I just came to tell you that Angelus seems to have betrayed us. He possibly has his soul back. We�re having difficulty locating him, so we thought we�d just use you as bait.� �Good plan, because I honestly think Angel likes me.� �Well, I�m not the Master because of my good looks. Although I could be. But you could just tell me where he is. I�d forget about the bait idea.� �Sorry, don�t know where he�d be. But if he�s really Angel again, I couldn�t really tell you. No offence to you or your hospitality, but I kinda want to be saved now. Unless of course you want to set me free.� �No offence taken, but I can�t set you free. I want to kill Angel quite badly, and you�re my best bet to get at him.� �Then I guess I wait here then. Anything else on your mind?� �Not really. I�ll leave you to your attempts to break out of the handcuffs.� �Yeah, thanks,� Cordelia called as he left. She had the weirdest conversations with people sometimes. ****************** It took several hours before Diaz woke from his drug-induced haze. When he finally woke, the vampire greeted him. �I�d like to know why,� Angel said quietly. The vampire removed the tape from the soul stealer�s mouth with a quick jerk. �Why did Wolfram and Hart do it?� Diaz gasped in pain. It felt like his lips and just been jerked off. He kept his eyes transfixed on the vampire. �Because they were idiots,� he said in a Spanish accent. �They saw it as the perfect time to destroy your little group. With the Watcher gone, they decided to finally remove the thorn from their side.� �But why Cordelia? Why not just me?� �A couple years ago, it would have been just you. But Wolfram and Hart felt the Seer had become too key a player. They began to view her as a threat. Don�t look so shocked,� Diaz said, noting Angel�s look. �Remember Billy? That was just a much about screwing with her as it was freeing him. They hired a psychologist to implant false memories into her head. The hope was that they would incapacitate her. But for some reason, they didn�t.� �Because she is half demon,� Lorne supplied. Diaz looked at Lorne in surprise. �Well, that would explain it. Demons aren�t as susceptible to mind altering as humans are. Guess Wolfram and Hart didn�t know that she was a half-breed now.� �But why take away my soul?� �Because they thought you would destroy the people you cared about. They should have known you�d play mind games with everyone, kill a few people you didn�t like, and generally screw up their plans. They actually thought they could control you.� �Silly them,� Gunn said, unamused. �Very,� Diaz said seriously. �But then, all I cared about was the money.� �How much?� �For you? A quarter million dollars. I received half that for your Seer.� �So you�re the reason Cordy didn�t have her soul.� �Yes,� Diaz said without much remorse. �So, uh, any chance now that I�ve spilled my secrets that you�ll let me go?� �Not a chance in hell.� Diaz shrugged. �Thought so.� �Um, Angel?� Tara asked. �I think I have something here that might be of use to us.� Everyone turned to face the young Wicca holding a magic book. �But, I�m not sure if it�s something he should be hearing.� Willow removed another vial from her bag. Filling a syringe, she plunge the needle into Diaz�s arm. �Hey!� he protested. �Can you at least use rubbing alcohol? I could get an infection!� In moments Diaz succumbed to the drug. �You were saying?� she asked Tara. �I think I found a way to make sure he doesn�t hurt anyone again.� Next >>>> Archive |