Title: Hero
Author: The_angelic_black_queen
Posted: 07-28-2002
Rating: NC 17
Email: anamrijahorvat@hotmail.com
Content: C/A,D/Aus in the past and other pairings.
Summary: Angel & Cordelia are sent to the past to stop a horrible murder of taking place in the future!Set after Provider.
Spoilers: A bit of "Darla" and season three in general, mostly Connor.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Nothing fancy-all others just tell me where it went.
Notes: It's my first fic & I'd really love,love,love if you told me what you think.
Feedback: As I said;I'd love it.
Part 1
"The other people u couldn't save-they got off easy.You see,their pain was short but breaking someone like you is so much more fun than breaking someones neck-if we factor that the neck breaking will come later.",Angelus said as he slowlly moved to a beautifull girl who was naked & in chains.
Darla walked up to him,wearing nothing but a smile & put a hand on his chest:"Let me,darlin'.Maddy,dear-your neck won't be broken anytime soon-lots is to come before that."With that Angelus handed her the whip and she made a deep cut bettween the girls breasts with it.
That's how it started-the fifth night in a role.He didn't understand it and neither did Cordy-at the time when he was supposed to be happy,well,not happy happy,but as happy as he could get without getting soul-free,he was having horrifying nightmares.He had remembered having similar ones on Christmas Eve three years ago but this...Every night he dreampt the same thing-just like he was not living but seeing it again.Word to word he remembered one of the worst deaths he & Darla had ever caused.There was a lot of those though.It started one night after they had battled a really bad demon-he was known as a TyLLack-they didn't kill him but Cordy's vision had told them it would be back soon-five days to be exact.He & Cor had fallen asleep that night on his bed-making plans with Connor between them only to have Cordelia & Connor be woken up by Angel's screams.He hadn't gonne into details-all he had told her was that it was something he did in the past.She comforted him & stayed with him the night afterwards-offcourse,she never told him that was the reason but he knew-the "too tired to drive home" excusse didn't work.Again,he woke up & went to try & get Connor to fall asleep-yeah,right,that was an "easy" job.Connor just kept on crying-and Angel felt helpless.
"He can sence it you know.",Cordy said from the door,"Your not feeling okay so neither is he-let me."She said as the took the babby,rocking it a little & Connor stopped crying."Angel-it's the fifth night in a role."
She senced his suprise at the fact that she knew-he had told Fred not to say anything."Fred can't lie to me.I pushed her for the truth-the truth my best friend wanted to lie to me about.Angel,you don't need to protect me.Now tell me what's wrong."
She putt the babby down & went to sit next to him on the bed.For a second,he wanted to tell her nothing-to keep it all inside so it wouldn't burden her.But this was Cordy;she was the one person in his life he felt he could compeletlly open up to-she was like his rock to lean on.And he did,like so mayn times before.
"I don't know-I'm not sure.I mean every night I see it but..."
"See what?"
"A murder.Something horrible.Me & Darla did it about a 175 years ago."
"And your reliving it?"
"No-that's just the thing-I'm seeing it-unable to stop it.Word by word-everything is exactlly like it happened.I mean,I've had nightmares before but this..."
"Hey,it's okay.",she said & put a hand on his back."Do you know why your seeing it?"
"No,I have no idea.I mean,why that one?Darla is dead & the girl we..."
"I understand.Tell you what?We can talk to Lorne about it-even if it means having to sing."
"Oky,thanks Cor,I really appriciate it."
"You don't need to thank me."***Well,except for the "having to hear you sing again part"*** "You'll pick something short,right?"
Meanwhile,Fred was listening to Wesley explain to her all about the demon they were supposed to kill very soon.After six hours of research the night before today he was entitled to a little bragging and after all,she was actually interested.Gunn,on the other hand,wasn't-all he was interested was Fred & the way Wesley seemed around her-he wondered if he even had a chance.
"So,anyway,",Wes continued,"This demon can shift dimensions,places,even time.I'm beggining to wonder if it's even here for evil."
"But if it aint here for that,"Gunn interupted,"Than how are me & Angel gonna kill it and are we even gonna kill it?And does Angel even know about the "might not be evil" theory?"
"Yes,he does,I told him yesterday night.He will be prepaired to not go fight it."
"To *not* go fight it?"
"Well,when the demon wants to make someone shift a dimension or two he can-but only with demons or vampires."
"But that means Cordy can't go aswell?",Fred asked.
"Precieslly.And if the three of us..."
He was interupted by a girl that walked it-she was beautifull-a georgeous brunette with long wavey hair,dressed in leather pants & a white shirt.The only allarming thing about her was the blood all over that shirt & the tears streaming down her face.
"Can we help you?"
"I hope...please,I need to find Angel."
Gunn went to get him but just as he got near the stairs she stopped him:"Tell him Maddy wants to see him.My name is Madeline."
Gunn entered Angel's room to find him sitting next to Cordy-"just talkin'".Just like they were "just friends".It was like Fred said,they had the kye rumption thing goin' on.His mind wandered for a second-did he & Fred have that?Or did she have it with Wes?***No way-those two didn't have that!***He hoped they didn't have it...then his mind snapped back to the crying girl.
"Angel,sorry to interupt man but there's a girl down there-she needs help.Says to tell you her name is Madeline."
Angels eyes widdened & he rushed down the stairs...to find the girl in her full vamp face on,Wesley on the floor-not dead but unconsious & her arm wrapped tightlly around Fred's neck.Gunn & Cordy went down the stairs behind him & were horrified.Then Madeline spoke:"Huh,why the shock on your face Angelus?It's all just good,clean fun.Well,maybe not good or clean but fun nontheless."
"Madeline,"Angel said as he moved closer to the vampiress,"just let her go & we can talk about this."
"Talk?I never thought talk was in order for you.Wasn't it just maim,kill & torture,oh yeah,I forgot fuck.Don't know how I could ever forget that."
"Things,people change.Now let her go & we can talk about this?"
"We don't talk Angelus,we never did.Where's Darla?I heard she died,no,killed herself to save your babby."
"Yes-that's true."
"Never thought she had it in her-to die for someone.Even you.But you've "changed" too,right?"
"Yes,I have."
"your like a vampire slayer-like I was,now aren't you?"
"Yes."
"And you have feelings?",he nodded & tried to move closer but she gripped Fred's neck tighter making her scream."Don't.I really wouldn't recomend it.You know for how long they chased me?Fifty years.Do you have any idea what it's like to fun & hide for fifty years?!"
"As a matter of fact I do."
"And afterwards I couldn't find either of you-you were gonne & she was with her blasted clan-the order seems to have dissapeared with her.And imagine my suprise when I foud "Angel Investigations" flyers.Then I talked to this very interesting woman-Lilah Morgan-do you know her?She told me lots about you-all about your soul.And your kid-how is good old Connor anyway?I'd really like to get to know him-you know-snap that preety little neck.After I snap hers that is."And faster than Angel could reach her Madeline snapped Freds neck sending her falling to the florr-dead.
Angel rushed up to her & hit her hard-his missery,grief buillding up to undeniable anger.Gunn ran to Fred,tears streaming down his face & held he close."Fred,babby...",was all he could say.After a few hits Angel was leading the fight-he kicked her & she fell.As he moved to stake her she hit him between his legs-he fell & Madeline was on top.She reaissed her own stake but before she could kill him a sharp pain went trough her back & she blew to dust.Cordelia dropped the stake & helped Angel up.They looked at each other,the deep sadness visible in their eyes,the tears just falling down & held each other tight.Wesley woke up & when he saw Gunn cudlling Fred he knew exactlly what happened."No..."he whispered & ran to the black man holding the much paller girls body.She looked like a sleeping beautty though the signs of pain were visible on her neck & face.As he moved to her a flash of light appeared & the Tyllack demon was there.He started to mumblle some acient language,and if Wesley wasn't compeletlly out of it maybe he would have recognised it.A golden light had surrounded Angel & Cordelia & they had dissapeared.
Their embrace broken,Angel & Cordelia fell to the ground-right into a puddle of muddy water,probablly from a strom.He got up & helped Cordy stand.She looked around & said with a thin,weak voice:
"Where are we?"
Part 2
"Where are we?"
London 1825.
"I don't know."Angel answered in a pain filled voice.
"We're lost.",Cordelia said simplly and started to cry.Then,both not carring about their dirty clothes hugged each other-hanging on as tightlly as they could.It was just all to much to take at a time:Fred was gonne,they were God knows where...times like these Cordy just wanted to burry herself in Angel and he wanted the same thing-to simplly get lost in her warmth.
But this wasn't the time to give up-he had to figure out what place they were brought too-what...time!He pulled back & took a long look around-he couldn't see much more than threes & bushes but he could smell a whole lot.For one thing there was no smog wich made him sure of one thing-this definetlly wasn't 21. century L.A..There was only one way to make sure:
"Give me your hand?"
"What?Why?"
"To see if your bloodflow is still.Wesley told me that the demon that did this to us could transform us to different places-even times.If it is still it means we're back in time."
"Yeah,right,Angel this is a real good time to make bad jokes."
"I'm not joking Cordy-when people are put back in time there bloodflow remains still because they weren't supposed to be the age they are in that time or even exsist-you stay preserved.If we're back in time it means we can save Fred!"
"Okay,for Fred.Wait-why can't you see that on yourself."
"Cor,my bloodflow is allways still-has been for 248 years-it's why I don't age."
"Here.",She handed him her hand & he pulled out a small pocket knife:"This won't hurt-that much."
Trying to disstract herself Cordelia asked the question she had to know the answer to:
"How will you know that my blood is still?"
"It'll be really cold-the kind of cold that would be in a dead person-or a vampire like myself."
"Oh,okay-weird but okay."
With that he made a small cut on her middle finger & she bit her lip-she didn't want to scream like a two year old because of the tinniest wound-and definetlly not infront of Angel."So?",she asked.
He moved her finger to his mouth & tasted the blood for a second-if he had done it for more than a second his mind would have taken him to places he really shouldn't be thinking about now."Cold as ice."
"And this means we're in the past?!"
"Yeah,we can save her!"
Both of their faces brightened up.Then Cordy thought of something;"How do we save her?I mean were in a huge forest in the middle of nowhere plus we could be a few days earlly."
"Days?At the best case scenario-I mean we could be months even years earlly."
"What?"
"We don't know yet.But don't worry-no matter how earlly we are we can't age."
"Well,that's good.Now let's see where & when we are."
They walked trough the forest for hours-Angel following his sences & Cordy trying not to trip on anymore rocks.She was getting sick of it:
"Explain to me why I can't turn on the nightlight on my watch?"
"Because,if for instance we're in the times when they burned witches we'd be burned alive-and the fact that we don't age doesn't mean we can't die."
"Yeah,and why would we be in those times?Theres no reason-"
"Shhh,look.",he pointed to small light that seemed close.They walked thoards it & when they saw where it was coming from both of their mouthes dropped.It was a small wooden house with the sign IN painted on a wooden plate wich was hung next to the door.
"Oh my God.",Cordelia said,"Either you were right or this is a retro house."As Angel knocked on the door Cordelia muttered a silent prayer for it too be a retro house.When she saw the woman who had opened the door she knew her prayer was not nearlly answered.The older woman was wearing the kind of dress you could onlly see in museums or movies like "Gonne with the wind" only not nearlly as flashy as Scarlet.
"What can I do for you nice folks-",the woman stopped herself,"What,in Heavens name,happened to the two of you?"
Cordelia wanted to speak,she really did,but no voice was coming out.Thankfully,Angel manidged:"We were attacked in the woods-our carriage was stolen & my wife & I have been trying to find a place to rest.Will you please you help us?"
"Yes,offcourse,it wouldn't be Cristian to leave two lost souls in the cold.Come in."
As Angel & Cordelia came in the womans face darkened:"What for goodness sakes is your wife wearing-it's offencive at best."
Cordelia looked at her clothes-yes,here white tank top & black pants were dirty but certainlly not offensive!"Hey,wait a minute,I'll have you know that-"
A gentle tap on her arm made her stop because she realised-in this time-her clothes were offensive.
"They stolle my wife's dress-that's why she was left in this state.We appologise for asking but could you borrow us some clothing.Cordelia will frezze & I have my worst ones on.Please?"
"Yes,I will give her some of my clothes after she takes a bath & I will give you some of my older sons clothes.Now come with me dear.",Cordelia apart from defending her wardrobe was still in shock.
Angel leaned in to her & whispered:"This might not be as bad as it looks;I'll tell you later."With that Cordelia left with the woman.
Angel looked around again,the dessign although modest so clearlly reminded him of...
This is just the first part of PART 2.-read on to see the rest!And tell me what you think afterwards!
It had been a rather tierring trip from Spain that they had to endure to get to their destination in England.The weather just got worse & worse-rain,rain,more rain & then,what a nice suprise,snow.It's not that they minded the cold but it did prolongue their journey by quite a bit.
But it was overshadowed by what their vacation in Spain was like.As usuall Darla & Angelus were adored by people there-they had killed with such delight & Darla took immense pride in one specific kill her darling boy had done-he threw a very modest carpenter infront of a raging bull,made his soon to be bride watch & then,after they drained her together,he put her body next to the remains of her fiance's.
Now they were in London-it seemed a nice place this time of year-or it usually was and as it was soon to be Christmas Darla & Angelus decided they would spend it tradicionally:with the ritchest people-killing them one by one while they celibrate the birth of their Savior.
"We're here.",Angelus said as he saw their house-the one they had rented for Christmas-also the most expencive house in town-neither of them desired less.
"Finally,this dreadfull journey has ended."
"Are we married this time?I'm getting flat sick & tired of us being siblings-if another servant mistakinglly enteres out room and screams how we're offending the very basic laws of God my patience will be lost."
It was their usuall-they had made up stories about their backround to get into rich society-mostlly that they were brother & sister but he was right-servants seeing them in bed was fun at first but it just became dull.
"Married precious-and enjoying a wonderfull honeymoon."
"Good-I have a suprise."
"Really?An earlly Christmas present?"
"Not exactlly-but a good one nontheless."
He took out a velvet patted wooden box and opened it-inside were a georgeous necklass,earings & two mathcing rings;one bigger one smaller.The gifts had only one thing that made them simillar-all of them had a rare blue diamond in the middle-wich Darla immediatlly recognised as the Lasoratie Vidda Morrie-roughlly translated from an acient language called Klittius as "The gem of taste".It was a rare red diamon that lost it's power after being worn for two & half weeks but it's power for that time was great.It made it impossible for a slayer to sence the vampire who wore it and it had been very important for them not to be senced on this trip.One of her vampire friends send Darla a message about a slayer who was resident in London-one that could sence vampires fast & kill them even faster.Angelus wanted to kill her like he did the others but since the girl had such power Darla would have hated the idea-it put them both in danger,a greater one than the other three slayers Angelus killed presented.
He loved killing them but not like most vampires did-a quick & pointless fight-back agains the wall,nothin' but stakes & fangs.No,that wasn't his style & it was also the reason most vampires lost their lives to slayers-he wanted to brake them.Give them a long & tortured death-one that brought him lots of pleasure & brought them lost of pain-both to their body,mind & heart.So,before she had a chance to read it Angelus burned the letter & decided to tell Darla lated-she had no idea what he had done but now she was getting a pretty good one.She wasn't mad though-the gem would ensure their safety for some time-but there was one question that plagued her mind:
"Amasing,how did you get it'"
"While in Spain I mett a demon that could get his hands on it-I simplly threatened death & he had to get it for me.So you like it then?"
"Offcourse-but this means you have your heart set on another slayer-since you were so thoughtfull to get these I am not allarmed though I do wonder how much the Watchers Council actually has on us.Does this mean our little darlin' is rich?"
"The slayer is quite weallthy-her name is Madeline Brook-she has quite a reputaion-three years now."
"Any specific plans for her precious?",she asked as they stepped out of their coach & the minions rushed to carry their boxes & bags.
"Not yet-I have to mett her first."
"Wich is why we're going to the Christmas party-we will surrelly be invited."
As they entered the house they were greated by about a dozen servants & the owner,offcourse:"Misster & Misses Lorreal-I hope you've had a pleasant journey-well,one as pleasent as this dreadfull weather could provide.Before I take you on a grand tour of the mansion I must inform you that the invitations to the Jameson's Christmas party arrived yesterday.The familly would be very happy if you made an appearance-it's the best & most well known party of the year."
"We'd be delighted to come,wouldn't we love?"
"Offcourse darling.",Darla said & returned Angelus's smile-it was so easy-like taking candy from a dead babby.
Cordelia really couldn’t belive this-here was she,a half demon Seer from 21. century L.A. putting on a dress over her corset!It looked so preetty in the movies but right now she would dissmis it in a second-for something Xander would have worn.
While she was getting dressed up Angel was watting with the woman who wanted to see if her dress fit his “wife”.He had to know if he was right about when he thought they were so he tried to make smalltalk:
“So uhm”,he really sucked at this, “The weather really is bad this time of year I mean last year it was better.”
“Yes,I haven’t seen it this rainy since five years ago,wich year was it 1820?”
**Bingo!** “Yes,I suppose it was.”,ha answered simplly.
And then his thoughts were instantlly broken as he got a look of Cordelia;wearing a simple thoguh nice dark blue dress-she looked apsolutelly amasing.
“Deary,you look better now.I told you the dress would fit.”,the older woman said as Cordelia looked at Angel who was at a loss of words-did he think she looked that bad?“Now,you two can rest.I have put my sons clothes on your bed so you can change.”
“Thank you.”Angel manidged to say and he & Cordy moved to their room.
“Do you have any idea how bad it is to wear this.”Cordy said.
“It can't be that bad and–“
“You have no idea how this hurts-you’ve only taken it of of women not worn it so you can’t know!”
“True-I haven’t worn it but I know it takes time to get ussed too. Plus,you look great.”
“You really mean that?I mean your not just saying it to get me to shut up?”
“No,Cor I mean it,you look really beautifull.I really mean that.”
“Thanks,”she said while sitting down next to him & looked around their very,very old room, “Now,please,tell me how this isn’t a as bad as it looks.”
“Because were not going to have to wait to save Fred.This is the year me & Darla turned Madeline-I’m sure of it.And judging by the weather,wich get’s a lot better in the next few days,it’s the day we arrive,or have arrived anyway-we’re pretty near to London wich is where we did it.Now all we have to do is get there soon & stop it.”
“Wow,that’s great!We save two lives in one.”
“Yeah and as soon as we do we’ll be back in L.A.”
“How?”
“Well,Wes said that the poeple the demon transforms back in time are brought back to their original time when they complete their mission-and we allready know what ours is,so...”
“We’re not going to have to be here as long as I thought!But how do we save her?”
“We’ll just yas she's in grave danger & tell her to run.”,that was the moment when he realised how stupid that sounded-no slayer would run away if she knew there were murderous & very dangerous vampires out in the city-especially not Madeline.”I don’t know.“
“We could tell her the truth.”
“That I’m a vampire with a soul along with his half demon Seer from the future-I really don’t think that’ll work.She’ll think were crazy plus we don’t have proff.”
“Yes,we do.”Cordy said & pulled out a picture of herself with Angel & Wesley.”I don’t think they have pollaroids yet.”
Angel smilled at his allready smilling Seer.”Your brilliant.Do you know that?”
“Offcourse.”
“Now all we need to do is get there.”
“Ok but how will we travel?We can’t make it on foot.”
“And we won’t –we’ll get there by horse.Do you know how to ride?”
“Yeah,I mean it’s been a while but my father had a ranch...”
“Don’t worry-it’s been a while for me too-it’s one of those things you never forget-kinda like-”
“Sex?”
“I was going to say riding a bike but yeah,sex,offcourse,even more so.”,he replied as she cursed herself mentally for saying that.”Now we need to get some sleep-we’ll need the rest.”
“Yeah,I for one am tired as Hell.”,she went to lie down on the bed, & then felt the inabillity to breathe kick in again,“I just have one question-how am I supposes to sleep in this thing?”
* * *
Angel had gotten only a few hours sleep that day-the rest of his time he spent to ask the woman who owned the IN if they could borrow a horse & the other part-watching Cordelia sleep.She had manidged to sleep in a corset & boy did she look beautifull.He wished he could wake up next to her every day but telling her how he felt wasn’t an option yet-not untill they got out of this mess.
But first he had to do something he had been dreading for the last ten minutes-wake her up.He leaned in closer,brushed the hair of her cheek & whispered “Wake up” to her ear.Nothing-no reaction whatsoever.He tried again but a little lowder “Wake up sleepy head.”Again,no reaction at all.Three tries later he knew he had no other solution-but the final solution.
“Cordy!”
She bolted up,now fully awake:”What?!”
“Good morning.”
“Yeah,right,I bet it isn’t even mornign-is it time to go?”
“You’ve got a few minutes to get ready-we have a hour to get to London & a hour to get Madeline & Richard to not go to the party.”
“Richard?”
“Her Watcher.”
“Oh,I just need to grab a few things,give me a second.”
When they came out of their room they had quite a site to see:a man was yelling at the IN keeper.
“Mama are you crazy?!Giving not only a room,clothes & food to people who came here in the middle of the night supposedlly robbed but giving them Lilly!?She’s one of our best horses.”
“Calm down Michael,I belive God sent us these people so we could help them.”
“They are not the ones who are robbed-we are!”
Angel had no idea how to react-all he knew is if he lost that horse he would have no chance at saving Madeline’s life.Lucklly for both of them,Cordelia knew exactlly what to say:
“No,we really were robbed.”,she said in a most sweet & gentle voice and Michael was now the one who was speechless-Angel knew exactlly how he felt.Then Cordelia continued.”But we’re really,really, sorry to dissturb you.We’ll be fine without the horse-I’ll just walk to London.”
“No,no,I insist you take the horse.”
“I couldn’t possiblly....”
“I insist.”
“Well,if your sure it’s not a problem.Thank you so much.”,she said & hugged the man but pulled away even quicker. “Me & my husbant are eternally greatfull.”
And for the second time the man was speechless.Cor turned to Angel & smilled,mouting the phrase “works like a charm”. "Will you show us the horse?Please?"
"Uhm,offcourse,offcourse.",he said as he led Cordelia & Angel to the barn.
* * *
By the time Angelus got to the masterbedroom his anger at what happened that day had worne of.Last night he & Darla had taken a small,young,redhead survant girl as a plaything.When it came time to get rid of the body the two minions entrusted with the job did fine but when they had to wash the bloody sheets two servants saw them.He & his Sire had to spend an hour not only killing the minions but the servants aswell & that was just pointless waste of labour around the house.
He entered the room & saw Darla-behind the desk dressed in a red gown,the necklass he had given her allready surrounding her neck & her hair half up half down with lots of diamons pins in it & perls-there was no doubt that is had to have taken her hairdresses a bundlle of time to create another one of his masterpieces-but he was lucky,his talent was the only reason he had been kept alive this long.All in all-she looked fantastic.
But it didn’t take him long to notice that the blond perfection with whom he was delighted at spending eternity with wasn’t reading something as she said she would be but drawing.Being that both of them could allways sence the others presence,before he could get a look at what she was drawing Darla shut her black leather notebook.
“It’s a suprise precious.”,she spoke,”but not one I want to show you-yet..”
“I like suprises-especially yours.You look apsolutelly delicious Sire.”
“So do you-I picked that out for you in-“
“Paris.”
“Uhm,Paris.”,she said as she moved close to him, “We had such a naughty time in Paris.”
“An unforgetable time.Not that anything concerning you is forgetable love.But ther is one problem with your gown.”
“And that would be?”
“I really want to ripp it off of you.”,he said as he pulled her even closer-their lips only inches away.But she pulled away:
“As much as I’m love you to do that & so much more-we have a party to attend.There’s time enough for that tonight.”
“I hate waiting.”
“I know you do.Will you let me taste her?”
“I just might.But give me a reason why I should.”
“I could give you plenty.I’m sure you have a few ideas.”
“I do-but,as you said,we don’t have time for that now.I’ll tell you after the party.”As they walked down the staircase Angeluses mind was filled with images & ideas-this was definetlly going to be fun.
“So what your saying is the world will dissapear if you run into Angelus?”,Cordelia sked Angel as they rode to town.
“Exactlly.Wesley told me that if I was to run into my former self that it would be a comfrontation between the past and future & being that they aren’t supposed to meet in one person the future would be erased & the past would dissapear.”
“Wow,talk about “Back to the future part 4.".But what if I ran into him?”
“Nothing,because you two aren’t the same person.”
“But neither are you two.”
“Mentally-no-but in body-yes we are and if...Cordy?Cordy are you allright?”,he said as he looked at her-she looked like she was mentally-somewhere else.
“Angel-I just had a vision-we need to go back!”
Part 3
"Angel we have to go back!"
"Go back? We can't - we're ten minutes away from London. If we don't get to Madeline soon..."
"We don't have a choice," Cordelia said trying to hurry him. "We're on a mission here."
"Yeah, to save Fred and Madeline."
"To protect the innocent and right now we have to protect the people in that Inn. My vision said that six vampires would attack it soon. Angel, we have to go."
"Alright." he said reluctantly.
With that she turned the horse around and they rode a lot faster, every second counted.
They approached the Inn to see six horses in front of it and the door kicked down. As they entered they saw the group of vampires stepping closer and closer to the people, most of which were huddled together in fear.
"We're going to have ourselves some fun." The apparent leader spoke to the group.
They had just sired a new vampire, Nicholas, and had decided to show him what a good time was all about.
"Why don't you leave that to me?" Angel answered and the group turned.
"And who the hell would you be?"
He was determined to make this as fast as possible, so he decided that he would use the name he hadn't given himself in over a century of being souled.
"Angelus."
"Angelus, I had no idea you already picked this place." The vampire replied growing more scared by the moment.
Angelus and Darla had a reputation that not only made humans fear them but vampires as well. All in all, they were not the vampires he wanted to get in a fight with.
"Yes - I did. And Darla will be here soon. Unless you want to make this a whole lot more bloodier than it's going to be, get out."
"We will." The leader spoke and signaled his group to the door.
Everyone moved, everyone except Nicholas.
"Who's he to tell us what to do?" He spoke through his disappointment that his group would back off over a sight of a vampire that was no different than the rest of them. "I'm not leaving. If you want a fight - you can have it."
"Sorry to disappoint you," Angel said as he turned to the leader. "But you sired an idiot."
With that he plunged a stake in his heart. As he went to the others Nicholas threw himself at Cordelia. She kicked him a few times and staked him. It turned out the other vampires were much better at fighting then Nicholas. Angel and Cordy managed to kill them all but it took up some time, time that they didn't have. As Angel sliced the last vampires head off, him blowing to dust instantly, the Innkeeper and all the people moved closer to them. She spoke.
"Thank you. Thank you so much, you saved us all from those creatures."
"It's what me and my friend do." Cordy answered.
"Bless you both child. If you like you can go stay in the room you two slept in today. Me and Michael will bring you some food."
"Thank you so much but I don't think we'll be staying, will we Angel?" She turned and saw that Angel had just closed the door of that room. "Well, apparently we will. I'm going to go to him but, I'm sorry to ask, do you have anything to sleep in?"
"I have a nightgown. I'll bring it to you along with your food."
"Thank you." Cordelia said and rushed after Angel.
As he entered the room one fact became clear to him - he had lost. He had no other chance to save Madeline, being that he blew this one. The ball was just starting and it would secure that, two weeks from now, Madeline would be turned into a vampire. He dropped down on the bed trying not to think about it - but he had to. He hurt Madeline so bad - he and Darla ruined her with all the things they did.
Cordelia entered the room slowly and when she saw him on the bed sat down next to him.
"It's not to late you know. I bet we can still save her. It's not like she was turned today."
"She might as well have been. No, no, that would have been too simple. If me and Darla had just killed her, that would have been too easy. You have no idea what we did to her."
"Then tell me, Angel, what happens tonight? What happened at that party?
He didn't want to tell her but he needed to. He needed to open up to her and she deserved to know.
"Right about now we had arrived at the ball."
* * *
Angelus and Darla had entered the Jameson's house on time and were greeted by Phillip and Ellen Jameson.
"Mr. and Mrs. Loreall we're so pleased you could make it."
"Thank you," Angelus answered. "We were delighted to be invited."
"Let us introduce you." Phillip said and led them to the drawing rooms.
Their house had been perfectly designed for this kind of party. Instead of a long hallway there were a few drawing rooms that led to the huge ballroom.
It had taken so much time to get introduced to half the people there and, still, no Madeline. She must have been in the ballroom. Even though her appearance was lacking in the drawing rooms, Angelus and Darla had done their job perfectly. Most of the people there now knew the story about how the two met, or rather, the story they made up about how they met and everyone had adored them. Angelus could hear that, as soon as they left one room, he had become the topic of all the lady's conversations. They had already formed a spotless reputation. Now if they could only get to Madeline.
As they danced Richard and Madeline whispered to each other.
“So you’re sure that there are no vampires here tonight?"
"Yes, Richard, I'm positive. I haven't sensed anything. I think maybe my dreams were mistaken." She said as the music slowed and stopped.
"Don't be a fool Madeline. Your dreams are never wrong and you know that."
"Yes, but none have ever been this unclear. I didn't see the vampires, it was just..."
"Death."
"Yes, but I also couldn't see whose. It was probably just a nightmare." She said as she sat down and Richard stood next to her.
She had been trying to convince herself that it was a nightmare all day, no other dream had ever scared her as much.
"I know that's what you want to believe but I don't think that's true." He said as quietly and as considerately as he possibly could.
**Damn him** she thought. He was so right about this, as he was about most things.
"I don't sense any vampires. When I do I'll tell you and I'll stake them. The job will be done."
"Alright, I'll let you enjoy yourself. Also, I promised Elaine a dance."
"She had the biggest crush on you. Did you know that?"
"I thought she might like me." He said not wanting to embarrass the young girl.
Elaine had been begging him for a dance when they had run into each other earlier that day in the park. He liked her, he really did, but he couldn't let himself develop that feeling; the love he felt for Madeline was just too strong to let him do that.
As he walked up to Elaine, and led her to the dance floor, Angelus and Darla entered. Madeline, like most of the people, was left without a word as the couple entered. The couple looked like a match made in Heaven. He was the kind of handsome books were written about. She instantly knew he would overcome the minds of all the girls there. Darla was the one that took her breath away though. She was shining. She was beautiful, no doubt, but she seemed different from all the other women there for some reason. Special.
Darla turned, surveying the room, and caught Madeline's glance. The girl was gorgeous. Her dark hair just a bit lighter than her almost black eyes, her white dress enriching her beauty and the diamonds necklace showing off her pretty little neck. She had noticed the way the girl was looking at them, differently than the others in the room. She was, no doubt, smitten by her boy. A light tap on his shoulder and he turned to see the girl.
"The Slayer?" He asked so quietly that if Darla was human she wouldn't have heard him.
"I think so."
Unfortunately, Madeline's view was broken as a man stepped next to her to ask her to dance. Daniel had been planning to marry her but, unfortunately, he had quite the competition. Madeline was one of the most beautiful women of London's rich society - many suitors desired her hand in marriage. He was sweet she knew that. But like all the others, she felt nothing for him. She had stopped believing in what the other girls believed in a long time ago - that she would find her prince charming, her so called soul mate. Most other girls had been jealous because of all the attention she had received. Madeline, on the other hand, had just wanted peace. Since last year, when she turned 16, she hadn't had peace at any ball. Men were surrounding her and she couldn't have a real conversation with any of them. Most just stared at her while they danced, asked her a few questions and were pushed out of the way by the next one who had come along.
Richard was the only man she cared for in her life, the only man who ever really cared for her, except for her father and he had passed away a long while ago. Richard was everything to her and yet she still managed to hurt him. Last year he had told her he loved her and gave her first real kiss, and again, she felt nothing. She didn't want to break his heart but she had to tell him that she didn't feel for him, not in that way he did for her. Luckily, he had accepted it and they moved on to being what they were before, brother and sister. Richard never dared to tell her he still felt that way about her, he knew she didn't and he didn't want to put in jeopardy what they did have.
Five dances, with different men, later and Madeline had felt suffocated. Angelus noticed that and whispered something to Darla after going to her.
Just as he saw Arthur had asked her to dance he moved near her and spoke.
"But you already promised a dance to me Miss."
Her confused look was instantly gone from her face as Angelus winked at her and she understood.
"Off course Sir." She said as he escorted her to the dance floor.
"I saw you were beginning to get nauseous from all of them and decided you needed a break. We don't have to talk, you can just relax." He said whilst they danced.
"Thank you and I'd love to talk for once. They mostly don't talk with me about anything but the usual tedious questions. I don't mean to be offensive but -"
"I understand. Completely."
"I'm glad," She said as he twirled her around the room "So, what brings you to London."
"My honeymoon. It was Darla's idea for us to go to London."
"Really? She had good taste. London is a beautiful place. You two must be a perfect match." She said whilst looking at Darla who was just talking to Annabella, the wife of William Marcus whom he had met in Italy.
Angelus noticed where she was looking and went along with it.
"Darla is amazing. She's different from every woman I've ever met. A bit like you."
"How do you know I am so different?" She asked.
If he only had a clue how different she really was from other people.... but there wasn't the slightest chance this man had even known about Slayers, much less known that she was one.
"Just a feeling I have. You can tell a lot by those."
"I suppose you can. When you met her, how did you fell?"
"Smitten completely. I couldn't get my eyes of her. Have you ever met someone who made you feel that way Madeline?"
She took a long glance at his ‘wife’ and stated a quick "No."
"Well, you will," he answered knowing just how big of a lie what she said was. "Well, thank you for this dance Miss, I will leave you to all your suitors."
"Thank you Mister Loreall." She said, as she moved off.
Angelus went back to Darla who was surrounded by some noble men and a few of their wives.
"Excuse me everyone but Darla would you please accompany me on this dance? You know how much I love the waltz."
"Of course, darling."
As they moved Darla whispered to him.
"So, how is it going? Is the little girl completely smitten?"
"Yes she is. But I'm not the one who should be playing this game darlin' - you are. She is completely in love with you."
"What?"
"Look at her - it's so obvious. The way she looks at you," As they turned she looked at Madeline. He was right about this one. The two exchanged glances as he continued. "Seduce her darling."
"Why do you want me to? You are the one who wanted to get a Slayer but I know there's one thing you adore and that's the game. How come you’re asking me to play it now?"
"Because it's perfect - and I do have a craving."
"Do tell."
"If you do seduce the Slayer let me watch the two of you - together." He said while they spun around.
She knew exactly what he meant when he said "together".
"How deliciously perverted. But what's in it for me?"
"You get the Slayer. Isn't that enough?"
"No, I have a request as well."
"What precious?"
"You let me draw, on you. It's what I've been drawing. Your back is amazing - it would be even more so with something drawn on it. You would definitely like it, the pain..."
"Would be thrilling from your hands. I accept, Sire, but only if you succeed with the Slayer."
"Is there a doubt in your mind that I will?"
"None whatsoever."
"Good."
"I'll send a message to the minion's for a little surprise for Madeline and you tonight, to get you two closer. She's on the balcony, go with her."
* * *
"So Madeline fell in love with Darla?" Cordelia asked.
"Yeah, as soon as she saw her."
"Must be tough, you know, being a lesbian in those times."
"She didn't know. She had no idea she was."
"But you did?"
"It was pretty obvious. The way she looked at Darla, she didn't even know it but she was falling in love with the completely wrong person. And me and Darla decided it was too good of an opportunity to pass up."
* * *
Madeline walked out to the huge balcony out of the ballroom. She tried to get away from all of the people. She loved the view this house had. It always calmed her down.
"This house has a fantastic view, doesn't it?" Darla asked as she went over to the balcony edge.
"Yes, you can see half of London from here. It's enchanting. As a little girl I used to..."
Her sentence was broken as a hand went around Darla's neck and one of her minion's had attacked her. Angelus had made sure that they would make it look real so he had given them strict instructions to attack Darla as a human. If they didn't he would stake them the second they refused.
Madeline kicked the vampire's face and had pushed him to the other end of the balcony as Darla turned and looked at her minion.
With a voice trembling full of false shock she whispered "Oh my God. What is that?"
"A crazy man, just get away Darla!" Madeline screamed between kicks.
"No, I want to help you!" She said as another minion approached them. "There's one."
Madeline turned and pulled out a stake, plunging it into the first vampire’s heart. She turned to the other one and hit him so hard that it send him flying into a plant. She came close to him, wanting to stake him but he kicked her in her stomach and she hit the floor, her head hitting the edge of the balcony. Her stake fell down off the balcony and as the vampire leaned in close on Madeline to make the kill Darla kicked him in the face and off the girl. She helped Madeline up and the girl pulled out another stake and killed the vampire making him turn into nothing.
"Thank you.” Madeline said as she turned to Darla.
"You're the one who killed it. What was that?"
Madeline wanted to tell her but Richard had insisted they never told anyone so she tried to lie.
"It was just a man who probably ran out of a mental institution."
Lying wasn't her strong side, unfortunately.
Lucky for her, acting was one of Darla's best.
"He blew to dust - he wasn't human. What was he? I need to know."
Madeline didn't know what to say.
Darla sensed that and continued. "You can trust me - I won't think your crazy. I saw him disappear when you saved me. Please, tell me."
"A vampire - that was a vampire. Do you know what a vampire is?"
"Yes, I've read about them in novels. I just never thought they were real. How come you’re so strong, as strong as them?"
"I'm the Slayer. In every generation one is born. I'm destined to fight them. To protect people."
"How long have you been one?"
"For three years now. Richard, he isn't really my cousin. He trains me, prepares me for battle. He's my Watcher. He guides me."
"A Watcher, oh."
Darla pretended she was taking this all in, truth this was so much fun for her. Their plan was working perfectly with the slayer.
"Why did they attack me, I mean why here, why at this party? They could have been seen by anyone."
"I don't know. I've been having dreams, prophecies really, and I sensed something really bad might happen; I think maybe you’re a target. But don't worry, I'll do everything I can to protect you."
"Thank you. I feel a lot safer knowing that."
Richard went out to the balcony and went to the two women.
"Madeline, we really must be going, it's becoming rather late." He said hoping she would understand what he meant. It was time for a patrol.
"Of course Richard, give us a minute so I can finish telling Miss Loreall all about our beautiful concert hall."
As he left Madeline turned to Darla.
"I need to go, patrol time. I need to check the city for some other vampires."
"Madeline, please meet me tomorrow night near the park. Angelus won't let me go out during the day, because of the appearances he has to make at the houses of the people he's trying to strike business deals with. He's trying to get them to invest in the hotels he's building and I know he won't be home tonight. He's got too many women he'll want to ‘see’. I need to know more about this, please met me there."
"Alright but bring a stake with you for protection."
"I will, thank you," She said to Madeline as the girl rushed to the door. "Take care of yourself." She added and the girl turned around for a moment.
"You too."
With that the both of them entered the ballroom and Darla walked up to Angelus.
"How was it precious?" He asked her while he looked at the slayer.
"Perfect. It worked like a charm."
* * *
"And from then on we continued the game. Darla played sweet and innocent and Madeline believed her." Angel said to Cordelia who now understood why he thought the situation was so helpless.
No matter what they said Darla could have turned it to her advantage. Man she hated that woman...pire.
"I understand, even if we did show her the picture now..."
"Darla could say it was another attack on her with black magic and she and Angelus would come after us. I know them. Hey, wait a minute, what if we show her the Watcher's diaries? Then they'd have to believe us."
"Yeah, and it would get you staked. Angel we can't do that. No Angelus equals no you and no Darla equals, as much as I hate to say it, no Connor."
He got up and hit the wall.
"Damn it. This is so helpless. It's all my fault."
"No, it's not."
"I killed her."
"Angelus killed her. You didn't have say in that matter." She said as she went to him.
"Every time I close my eyes I see her. All the things we did to her..."
"It's not your fault. When you close your eyes you should be seeing the people we rescued here. Or all the other people you saved."
He looked at her, full of hope, and she continued.
"He's not what I see when I look at you Angel. You wanna know what I see? I see a man that saves lives, someone who's made me see the kind of person I want to be. A wonderful father, someone I know I can always turn to when I have a problem. The person I trust more than anyone else in the world. That's what I see."
He looked at her, completely mesmerized by her. And he did the one thing he never ever had courage to do, the one thing he had promised himself he wouldn't do until they got back. He knew it shouldn't happen yet but it felt so right.
Angel leaned in and kissed her. After only a second of initial surprise Cordelia responded.
Part 4
Angel pulled Cordelia closer and their once innocent and very gentle kisses became more intense. Although his desire for her overflowed him Angel somehow found it in his power to break the kiss.
He had to tell her how he felt, she had to know - he couldn't let her think this was a meaningless, just in the heat of the moment, kind of thing.
As he pulled away so did Cordelia, the shock over what just happened completely visible on her face.
"Uhm...that was...I..." She tried to speak, to somehow realise how something that was supposed to be a comforting moment between two friends turned into a moment, that if it wasn't broken, would have led them way past friendship and into ‘no clothes’ land.
"I love you.” He said simply and she again fell into a deep state of shock.
"What?"
"I love you. And not just as a friend. I'm in love with you. I have been for a very long time and I was going to tell you. I meant to do it when we got back to L.A. but this moment just...felt right. I'm sorry I kissed you before I told you I just..."
"No, that was a...good kiss, definitely a good kiss," Cordelia said trying to make sense out of everything and then realised there was only one way to do that. "Angel I need some alone time, to think. I'm gonna go take a walk. It’s not that it's bad...what you told me...but I need to get my feelings straight, okay?"
"Yeah, take my jacket, it's cold this time of night."
"Thanks." She said. She took the jacket and rushed to the door.
* * *
Cordelia walked for so long, she wasn't sure how much time had passed, maybe a couple of hours. She tried to make sense of everything; how he felt, how she felt towards him.
After a while she finally got tired and sat down on an old tree that had been knocked down, probably during a storm.
As she stopped thinking for a moment she started to watch the sunrise. She hadn't watched one in ages and as the golden beauty of the sun seemed to overcome the sky Cordelia remembered something.
Angel could never take her into this light; he could never see the sunrise like she did right now with him.
And then it hit her - she didn't care about that. All that mattered was that he loved her and that she loved him.
With that Cordelia got up and ran towards the Inn as fast as she could.
By the time she had reached it she had been pretty sure she had to learn how to breath all over again - if there was one thing corsets weren't meant for it was running. But she didn't care, not one bit.
She ran up to their room and as she entered she saw him sitting on the bed. He looked up at her and she saw what she had done to him when she left. His expression was filled with sadness and he had only bits of hope visible in his eyes.
"I love you." She said and his expression changed to one with overwhelmed happiness, the happiness she had rarely had the privilege of seeing on his face.
"Angel I'm so sorry I left. I didn't mean to worry you, I just needed some time to think and you must admit this was all very sudden. But I thought and I realised it - I'm in love with you too."
He got up and kissed her again. It quickly became more passionate and Angel's mouth moved to her neck, tasting her skin while his hands moved to unbuckle her dress.
"Angel, we can't go too far. I don't want to lose you." She said trying to make herself not forget that.
He looked at her and spoke, his deep voice almost caressing her skin. "That'll never happen. You'll never lose me. We can't make love, I know that, but there's a lot we can do. Just let me get you out of that corset."
With that Cordelia moved closer and their mouths found each other’s.
* * *
Cordelia had moved away from the window, closing the shutters and she slowly got back to bed, as quietly as she possibly could so she wouldn't wake him. The sun had set and it was time to go to London but she couldn't tell him that. It was all just so perfect, no Angelus although through all they did they walked a fine line at saying yes to all the temptation. But they didn't. They loved each other too much to do that. Funny, Cordelia should have been asleep right now, finally resting but she didn't want to. She couldn't sleep - she just watched him. And she was happy, happier than she had ever been with anyone. She wouldn't have traded him for anything and she wanted the moment to last so waking him up wasn't something she wanted to do.
But she had to. She moved closer to him and kissed him tenderly. He responded instinctively and opened his beautiful brown eyes.
"Good morning." She whispered as his hand moved to her cheek.
"Not good, perfect. We can wake up like this every day. That's perfect."
"Yeah, it is. But as much as I dread getting out of bed, we have to."
"Why?"
"London, we have to go there."
"In two weeks. We can stay here till then."
"Angel, I know you don't want to see her, or be close to her, but I think I figured out the reason we were brought to London so early. You see, that town is lucky - it's getting its own Angel Investigations for two weeks."
"I like that."
"Knew you would but, before we go, I’m sure we could spare an hour or so..."
"I know we could." He said and turned them around so that now he was on top of her.
"Oh my God, no!" She said looking straight ahead. Angel realised, after a second of initial surprise, why she hated that pose from now. She was having a vision. "No don't hurt her! Don't hurt her, it’s not her fault!"
"Cordy, shhh, it's okay. It's okay."
When the vision stopped and she looked at him, really looked at him, she answered him:
"No, no it's not. A group of people are attacking a little girl, she can't be more than seven."
"Why?"
"She's half demon but she's good, Angel I know she's good, I could sense it in my vision. Her mother knows, she’s trying to stop them but she can't - we have to."
"Okay." He said and got out of bed along with her and both of them started to get dressed and this time, no corset for Cordelia. She put on her, thanks to the Innkeeper, clean tank top and clothes.
They ran out of their room and Cordelia went immediately to Michael.
"Can we borrow another horse? A little girl is going to get attacked - I sensed it just like I did that you we're in danger. On two horses we can get there faster."
"Of course, you can take Marcus. I’ll take you two to him."
* * *
They rode as fast as possible, Cordelia following Angel's lead. She had explained to him where in London exactly she saw the girl and he was sure he had known that place.
As they entered the city Cordelia tried to suppress the amusement at how the town looked. She had been there for a summer six years ago; wishing she was in someplace like Hawaii but with her parents there was no argument.
Now London was completely different from the town she had remembered, even though most she had remembered of London were the malls. Everything was so completely new yet so very old and even though it had possessed a beauty you couldn't see anywhere anymore right now she would have much rather been in one of the dirty, vampire infested L.A. streets - those streets weren't much but they were home. She missed Los Angeles - even the worse parts.
Angel was, on the other hand, trying to repress memories of that town. They had done so much evil in London. Madeline, Drusilla, Spike and so many others had died in his hands or because of him. Cordy was right though - they would help people in town for two weeks, make it a little better. Only a little though, nothing could ever compare to the evil he had done. But Cordelia also made it so much better; having her love him was the best thing that ever happened to him, besides Connor. Having her look at him the way she did - it was his shanshu; it made him feel so alive so...human.
They rode past the Jameson’s, their house and all the other mansions to finally reach the poor street where it was happening.
A mob of people had attacked a little girl and was tying her up. As her mother tried to get to her child a man held her strongly, trying not to hurt her.
"Allyson, she’s evil, she is the devil child and she must be killed!"
"No John, you don't understand, she’s not evil, she’s just..."
She stopped herself trying to find the words to explain to him that their daughter was half demon, just like she was. She had never told him that and had done a pretty good job at keeping it a secret; which gave her false hope that she could do the same with their daughter.
She had never intended to marry because of what she was but when she met John... it was safe to say everything changed. Allyson was almost completely sure that their child was human until a few months ago when their daughter started switching from her human to demon face and she remembered what her mother told her:
"Sometimes, you can't know what you are until an older age, but that doesn't change who you are."
With that belief in mind Allyson begged John to trust her on the matter but he wouldn't. As she tried to push past him, he grabbed her, harder than ever before.
"I won't let her hurt you!"
"She would never hurt me!"
"You've seen her face, you know she would!"
"No, she wouldn't," Cordelia said to Angel as they got off their horses. "But we can't hold them back without killing them. I know how we can stop them, just stay here!" She yelled while running trough the mass. **At least I have a feeling I do.... hope I'm right.**
Cordelia got in the middle of the people who yelled at her to get away. She paid no attention & just closed her eyes, concentrating on their emotions.
Soon Angel was the one staring in shock. Cordelia literally lit up with white light almost pouring out of her and onto all the other people, besides the girl and her mother.
When the light went out a few people went to untie the girl while her father started to cry. Allyson held him with a look of sheer gratefulness towards Cordelia.
Cordy looked around and though she was happy and proud at what she had done Angel saw something was wrong. She had a hard time keeping her balance and to him it seemed she was struggling to see everything.
"Cordelia!" He yelled and ran to her. She looked at him running and tried to see his face, but she couldn't - it was all too blurry. Suddenly, everything went black and she collapsed.
* * *
It had been five days since what happened. Although he was really alarmed at first it turned out Cordelia wasn't in any real danger - it was pure exhaustion that caused what happened. Cordy had never done what she had to those people before and to do it to so many took a lot out of her.
Angel had carried her to another Inn and had stayed with her the whole time until she woke up. Then, and it took a lot of Cor's convincing that she could survive half an hour without him, he went to do something he really didn't want to. But there was no other choice; he took some of his and Darla's money out of the bank so he and Cordy could pay for where they were, food & so on.
At first their plan was that Cordelia was going to work but considering her state that wasn't possible. He could have worked but the "not in daylight" factor was a big "no" on that matter and he didn't want to leave Cordelia alone.
So he decided on the final option, and had taken just enough money for them but nothing that noticeable; if Angelus had thought anyone had tried to steal from him...that bank wouldn't have a good fate in store for them, and a serious lack of people that work there. Angel didn't want to cause another persons death - it was a good thing though that Angelus & Darla weren't fully aware of how much money they had, they knew they had too much to count.
He had bought some clothes, including a beautiful light purple dress for Cordelia, his most expensive purchase of all though nothing nearly as expensive as those Darla wore. Although Cordelia deserved much better than her Angel did the best he could and it turned out Cordelia loved the dress, she insisted they take it with them to L.A. when they return.
Cordelia woke up early in the morning and got up, Angel lying on the bed next to her - too tired to wake up. More than half of last night he had spent hunting a Provien demon. He had a few human sacrifices but the problem was they were all over town. As she walked to the bathroom a vision hit her but nothing like ones before.
She looked around and saw a street she was sure she had seen somewhere in London. As she tried to move she felt a force that stopped her, blocking any of her movements. She then realised why. Cordelia looked down and saw that she was floating a few feet above ground and she started to move forward, floating.
**Where the hell am I going?** Cordy thought, trying to control her own movement but it seemed it wasn't possible. She passed a few blocks and went into an old abandoned house, a mansion really, and dropped down. But she didn't fall flat down on the floor - she stood up. Against her own free will she started walking and she saw a wall very different from all the others.
This one was perfectly clean and had something written on it in a language she never saw before. Cordy's hand went to touch it and her finger moved and started writing something on the wall in Latin. This time she understood what it meant, "As my mission is brought fourth my life is changed. As a heart is thrown into the fire the other remains. As the past is changed the future excels."
She remembered it word by word - no, no she didn't. It felt like it was literally engraved in her memory, like she had no choice but to know it. Still, Cordelia thought she understood what it meant - it was probably that Madeline's heart, that is life, is given for Fred's but something brought her out of that thought.
As the Tyllack demon appeared he spoke instantly, in English!
"Tell him to come here - it's for the good of the world that you two are on this mission and this time. I must teach him and make him understand that."
With that Cordelia saw a bright white flash and she was back in the bathroom again. She had remembered everything perfectly and had a feeling the demon meant no harm. She had to tell Angel and she would, after he got his good day sleep; he couldn't go there before nightfall anyway.
* * *
As Richard entered their garden he saw Madeline on the swing, with a smile pasted on her face. It was so odd, so much energy in a girl who had had virtually no sleep that night. Not that that was any different from the previous nights; all of them she spent first going on a tiny patrol and the most part with Darla.
He walked up to her and when he saw she didn't even notice his presence, or rather noticed but paid no attention to it, Richard spoke:
"You've got a delivery for you."
"Who from?"
"Miss Loreall - not that you had to ask. All the..." He didn't get to finish.
Madeline had got up from the swing in mere seconds and took the book and the blood red rose from him. She looked at it, just like she had thought "The book of love with all its truth" by Veronica Franco. Darla had told her about the female poets in 16th century Venice whose writings amazed her and were better than what most men had written, though that certainly did not apply to Shakespeare - a favorite to both of them.
In life Madeline had learned early on that she could not express her honest opinions about mostly anything in public but she had realised that with Darla that wasn't the case. She could tell her anything and Darla was also completely honest with her. She had told her everything about her marriage with Angelus; how they had barely met before the wedding, that her father had given Angelus her hand because he was so wealthy and how their "honeymoon" wasn't at all the reason they came to London, business was.
Madeline almost felt guilty for believing Angelus’ pretence over their marriage but Darla had told her Angelus held appearances of very much importance. The two had gone on to talk about anything and everything. So many things she had never been able to say to anyone, not even Richard, came out so easily with Darla.
Funny, how knowing someone for only a week made her feel like she had known her for a lifetime.
"Who’s the book by?" Richard asked. He was becoming seriously worried for her; he had a bad feeling about Darla. For one thing he had never seen her around during the day but he knew that if she were a vampire Madeline would sense it. Still why were they never around during the day? The story about the business seemed a little unbelievable to him and the fact that Angelus simply let his wife be gone for the whole night.... Some other facts didn't seem to lead him to a conclusion that these were normal people. He repeated his question and Madeline was brought out of her thoughts.
"What? Oh, Veronica Franco, have you heard of her?"
"Yes, I have, I didn't know you did. She was a courtesan."
"She was a poet. She found a way to get people to listen to her words, I'd call her intelligent. And Darla says her poems are beautiful."
"I presume they are. You seem to be spending a lot of time with Mrs Loreall."
"We're friends Richard, why not?"
"For one thing; has it ever occurred to you that with being around her all the time your putting her in danger?"
"Putting her in danger? I'm keeping her safe. She got attacked by two vampires at a gala two weeks ago and..."
"Do you know why?"
"No, I don't, but I..."
"Maybe it’s coincidental, maybe it wasn't aimed at her at all."
"Richard, a vampire would have to be incredibly dumb to attack at such a gathering if he didn't have a good, well not good, but an important reason."
"And you haven't made the slightest effort to uncover that reason."
"Of course I have. I talked to Darla and she has no idea why they attacked her and..."
"Madeline, she says she doesn't. Did it ever occur to you that she's not telling you everything?"
"No, because we're friends and I trust her."
"You’re the slayer. She must have good reason for spending so much time with you and maybe it isn't what you think."
"Richard, I have a friend, no ones ever been that for me like she has. Accepting me for who I am completely. Why are you trying to take that away from me?"
"I'm not. I’m just trying to protect you."
"I don't need that, I can take care of myself. I don't remember any slayer making it as far as I have. Why can't you just let me go?
"Because I'm your Watcher and…"
"I'm your sacred duty?! That's just it; this is the first time anyone’s ever looked at me not because I was rich, or pretty or what the Watchers Council assigned them to, but because I was me and for the first time, that was enough. I'm not going to let you take that away from me!"
She ran off while he stood, yelling her name. How did this turn out so wrong? He didn't care for her because she was the slayer but because he loved her for whom she was.
As Madeline reached her room she started to cry; she and Richard had never fought like that. But if that's what it takes to keep her friendship with Darla, it's worth it. With that she wiped her tears away and started to read.
* * *
Darla entered their bathroom and dropped her black, almost see through, robe as she entered their huge bathtub which was already filled with hot water, scented and bubbles all around. Angelus was already in it and as he pulled her close to him he asked:
"So, what’s the newest idea for our little girl?"
"I've got one but I'll tell you later. I finished my drawing."
"Really, will you show me soon?"
"Of course precious” She said and moved one hand from his neck to his back.
"I'm thinking of putting it right here, what do you think'"
"Perfect." He said as he pulled her into a kiss his hands exploring wonderful body.
* * *
Angel had followed the directions Cordelia had given him and as soon as he entered the house found the same inability to move where he wanted to that she told him about. He walked up to the wall that was just like Cordelia had described it and the Tyllack showed himself.
"Are you aware of your mission?"
"Yes and I will kill Madeline soon."
"That is only part but not the reason you were brought here. Your mission has a different purpose."
Continue on...