"You did it, old boy, you finally did it," Angel murmured to himself, to his reflection in the window. "You're a true-blood cold-hearted assassin, ain'tcha? Big bad Angel of Death, works for Don Vincenzo, gets the cash and the ladies. Except the lady that really counts, right?" He knocked backanother mouthful of White Russian.
He shut his eyes, shuddering when he could hear Dani's voice in his mind.
"Come on, Angel," she'd tease, gazing up at him with her wide brown eyes. Then she'd drop thehook, and reel him in every time. "Come osi, Angelus."
He could never resist a dare, could he? He sucked in his breath sharply, holding back a sob. Hethought he was strong, but he wasn't. He was weak. He had to get out of town. He'd donehis last hit for the Don, now he was getting out while he still could.
He entertained no thoughts of going back to his condo to get anything before he left - too manymemories. He knocked back another shot, blinking his eyes at the hot sting in his throat. He'dloved Dani, truly loved her, in all his thousands of years wandering this earth. And he'd killedher. He'd looked her in the eyes and told her he loved her, then pulled the trigger. He'd clutched her body to him, sobbing like a broken child.
Down with another shot. She'd been the only good thing in his life, the only candle in the darkness. And he'd snuffed out her life. He'd never hold her again, never kiss hear, never hearher voice...Down with another shot. Why wasn't he getting drunk? The pain of a broken heart was still there, an acute throbbing in his chest.
"Gee, Angel, alcohol doesn't affect immortals," he muttered to himself with fake cheerfulness.
"Aw, Angel, you feeling sorry for yourself?" Asia slid into the booth opposite him, wearing a smirk.
"I hate you because you sent me here," he muttered, flashing her a glare.
She shook her head. "Oh, no, you don't hate me yet, blame Sector Three for RW jobs." She cockedher head to one side. "So what's wrong?"
He glared again, knocking back the last shot. "I just did my last hit for the Don."
"You should be happy then." She was gazing at him inquisitively, but there was a mischievousglint in her eyes that he didn't trust. She wrinkled her nose at him. "Your breath is strangelysweet. What have you been drinking?" She peered at the bottle.
Angel clutched it close protectively. "White Russian."
Asia snickered. "That's a girl's drink."
"So what?" He sighed; the bottle was empty.
Asia leaned forwards, sympathy written on her face. "What's wrong?"
"My last hit was the girl I love," he mumbled.
She sat back, face hard. "Oh. Did you love her that much?"
"Don't have words for it." He blushed at the cliché.
"Well, the love was an illusions, so ditch the White Russian and move on."
Angel's eyes flashed. "Don't you dare say that!" He leaned across the table and grabbed her bythe collar. "I love her. What we had was real. Don't you even begin - "
He froze and drew back when her features began to change, shifting slightly. Her eyes became brown,her curls straightening, skin turning olive tan...Her face was the face of one he knew so well, wearing a smirk.
"No..." He couldn't believe it; before his eyes, Asia became Dani. "No, you're lying. You're the one using illusion..."
She leaned across, widening her eyes slightly.
"Come on, Angel. Come osi. I dare you."
He shrank back against the seat, gaze fixed on her.
She threw her head back and laughed and became Asia again.
He sucked in a breath sharply. "I hate you."
She smiled innocently. "What, you thought it would happen to the others and not you? You all had to do it."
He was shaking his head in disbelief. "I hate you."
She shrugged. "You're a real assassin now, huh?"
He clenched his fist, and the bottle shattered. He ignored the blood dripping out of his hand.
"I HATE you."
Asia stood up. "Welcome to the world of assassins, man, welcome to the Dagaz."