Title: Incense and Peppermint
Author: David Falkayn
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: The characters and universe of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” all belong to Joss Whedon, Dave Greenwalt, Mutant Enemy, and Productions who hold all rights and copyrights. This is purely a work of amusement; no profit is being asked for or received from this work.
Notes: This story takes place after “Birthday” but before the events of “Waiting in the Wings”, so the Grooster hasn’t made his appearance yet. This is also my first “Angel” fic, so any help as regards characterization or anything else that you can think of that would make this story better, please feel free to let me know. I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I am enjoying writing it.
Part 8
(Notes: While the Doors breakthrough album came out the summer of ’67 at about the same time as The Beatles’ “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band” and the Jefferson Airplane’s “Surrealistic Pillow”, the Doors did tour local nightclubs in the LA area, so, had Sunnydale and the Bronze been real, it would have been very probable that they would have played there.)
***********
“I don’t know if I’m up for this…” Felicia sighed as she got ready for her shower. “I mean…I just don’t feel right about going to the beauty parlor and shopping so soon after what happened…”
“I know…I know…” Cordelia consoled in a soft voice as she gently hugged her friend. “I only knew Lenny for a couple of weeks and, well…”
“He was a good man.” The strawberry blonde bowed her head as she wiped away her tears. “Why did they do it, Cordy? Why did they have to shoot him?”
“I don’t know.” The young seer replied sadly as she gently shook her head her mind once again replaying the events of that horrible afternoon. “I guess the soldiers got scared…”
“But Lenny?” Looking up into the hazel eyes of her roommate and friend, the young college student pleaded, trying vainly to understand what happened. “I’ve known him for two years now…I introduced him to Edie. Why did he have to die because of this stupid war?”
“I wish I could tell you, Licia.” Tears filled Cordelia’s eyes as ghostly visions of Jesse, Harmony, Larry, Kevin, Jenny Calendar, Doyle, and so many others flitted through her mind. “I wish I knew. All I know…” She then said as determination filled her eyes, “Is that I think he was the sort of guy who’d want us to get on with our lives.” Then, her face reflecting her concern, the young seer asked, “How’s Edie holding up?”
“She’s taking it really hard.” Felicia sobbed. “I talked to her on the phone last night…she called while you were out…” The young woman explained. “She said her and Lenny…made it to Cincinnati ok…” She then shook her head sadly as she continued to relate her conversation. “She told me that Lenny’s folks…well…some of ‘em aren’t exactly the most…you know…”
“Yeah…I know…” Cordelia said softly as she remembered some of the looks and nasty remarks that Edie and Lenny had to endure because they were an interracial couple.
“His old man doesn’t even want her to go to the funeral!” Felicia snapped, her face now crimson with rage. “How could he!!” She swore as she balled up her hands into fists. “I mean…when I heard that I got so hacked off…”
“I understand, Licia.” Cordy consoled. “Did Edie say what she was going to do?”
“Yeah.” Felicia then flashed a slight smile. “Edie said Lenny’s mom’s a nice lady. She told her she’d make sure the old man keeps his damn mouth shut and behaves himself.”
“That’s good.” The lovely brunette smiled approvingly, and then, looking kindly at her roommate offered, “You know…if you’re really not up for this, I can call Jenny and cancel out…”
“No…” Felicia shook her head as she forced another smile. “You’re right. Lenny wouldn’t want us to stay here crying for him. He’d tell us the best way to remember him would be to go out and have a good time—and that’s just what we’re gonna do!”
***********
Approaching the Chief Acolyte, Luke knelt and bowed his head in respect. “Any news, Brother, on the Grandmaster’s arrival?”
“Soon…soon.” The deputy leader of the vampiric Order of Merovinus replied in a haughty tone as he looked down upon the burly child of the Master. “He will be here within a fortnight.” Then, motioning for the kneeling figure to arise, he continued, “However, there are certain items we need before the rituals can commence. My brothers have been conducting inquiries—some of those items are here.”
“Whatever you need, Master…” Luke said reverently as he motioned with his hand towards Darla and the other vampires gathered, “We are yours to command.”
***********
“Hey Licia!” Cordelia called out from the living room of their tiny two-room apartment to her roommate who was now in the bathroom to her roommate waiting on her in the living room of their tiny two-bedroom apartment. “You, Ok?”
“I’m better.” The young strawberry-blonde girl answered back, poking her head out the bathroom door. “I’ll be out in a few.”
“Cool.” Cordelia smiled warmly before taking a slip of paper out from her purse. Then, gazing at the phone number she had jotted down days ago, she frowned as she tried to figure out the time difference between Sunnydale and London. “Ok, it’s about nine in the morning here so that means it should be…five in the afternoon there…I hope!” Cordy said softly as she picked up the heavy ceramic receiver from the hook. “Licia?” The young seer then called out to her friend, “I gotta make kind of a private call—it’s an international call to a friend of my family’s in London, so when the bill comes in…”
“’S Okay, Cordy!” Felicia called back. “I still gotta put on my warpaint…”
“Thanks, Licia—you’re the grooviest!” Cordelia yelled back as she dialed the number.
About six rings later, a child’s voice answered. “Hello?”
Initially startled as she had expected a butler or some other English type domestic to answer the phone, not a child, Cordelia quickly recovered. “Hi…is this the Giles residence?”
“Yes it is.” The young man replied.
“Great.” The young seer grinned in triumph. “I need to speak with…now, which one’s the Watcher…” Cordelia said to herself in a soft voice, forgetting that the person on the other end of the line could hear her.
“Father!” The child’s voice then called out.
“Yes, Rupert.” Cordelia then gasped inaudibly as she heard the name the other voice had called the child, it dawning on her that the little boy she had been speaking to would one day grow up to become the librarian and Watcher that she had come to know so well.
“There’s a lady with an American accent that wants to speak with you.” He then added in a serious tone. “She knows about Watchers…”
“Hello?” Another voice, a serious voice with a polished English accent, then came across from the phone. “With whom am I speaking?”
“Hello? Mr. Giles? I know you’re probably not gonna believe what I’m gonna tell you at first, but please listen to me—it’s important!” Cordelia gasped, her words coming out as a torrent as she prayed inwardly that the Englishman on the other end of the line would at least listen to her before hanging up
“Very well, young lady.” Giles senior replied. “Why don’t you start by telling me your name?”
“Ok, my name’s Cordelia Chase…” The young seer said as she took a deep breath. “I’m calling from Sunnydale, California, in the United States, and you need to get here with whoever’s the Slayer now, cause if you don’t, a whole lotta people are gonna get killed here in Hellmouth City sometime in the next few months.”
The English Watcher, now thankful that he had not given in to his initial impulse to simply hang up on the American, sat down in his chair. Whoever she was, she obviously knew about Watchers, knew that he was a Watcher, and knew about Slayers and the Hellmouth as well. “I think you need to tell me everything you can, Miss Chase.” Giles senior instructed as he gratefully accepted a cup of tea from his wife.
“I can’t talk long, Mr. Giles.” Cordelia said softly, then added quickly, “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you everything—it’s just that my roommate’s gonna be ready soon, and I don’t really want her to hear what I gotta tell you—and I don’t think you want her to hear either. But I can tell you this—it involves the Master and a weird vampire cult trying to raise him.”
Upon hearing the name of the powerful ancient vampire, Giles stiffened in his chair. Then, he spoke in a soft voice as he made an immediate decision. “I quite understand, and agree. If what you say is true, then this is a most dangerous situation.” I shall be enroute to Sunnydale as soon as possible.”
“Great!” The seer then sighed in relief. “Here’s my home number and my work number—give me a call when you get here and I promise, I’ll tell you everything—oh, by the way, I picked up a copy of De Cultibus Vespertilionibus at the library a few days ago…”
“The Latin edition by Titus Livinius?” The Watcher, both surprised and impressed by the young lady’s statement, asked as he finished jotting down the phone numbers the strange American had just given him.
“Yeah.” Cordelia, mildly amused at the changed inflection in the Englishman’s voice, replied. “Figured that it’d save you some time.”
“It would indeed, young lady.” The Watcher’s voice tone reflecting his approval, he then asked, “Were you able to obtain Langston’s Vampyre?”
“No.” Cordy replied ruefully. “The library didn’t have it.” Hearing Felicia coming out of the bathroom, the young seer said in a rush, “My roommate’s coming out now—I’ll see you when you get over here.”
“I shall most definitely be looking forward to hearing the rest of your story, Miss Chase.” The diffident Englishman said softly as his brow furrowed in concern while he cleaned his horn-rimmed glasses. ‘If this young lady is telling the truth about the Master…’ The Watcher thought, ‘Then the entire world is at risk…and if she’s lying…’ He frowned as he contemplated the probable course of action the Council. ‘If she’s lucky, the Council will settle for just having her confined in an institution for a few years, but they might not settle for that as from the little she’s already told me, I’d say she already knows too much for the comfort of the Council…’ Then, fetching his copy of Vampyre from the bookshelf he sighed. “Well…we’ll just have to see what she has to say.”
***********
“The first item we shall need…” The chief Acolyte instructed, “…is the Liber Arcanum. It should be found in the crypt of Gilles St. Reine.”
“I’ll get it.” Darla volunteered with a sly grin as she stood up. “We’ll have to wait for nightfall though—it’s in the middle of the cemetery and there’s no way to get to it during the day.
“Very well, then.” Luke nodded his head, approving her plan. “Take Chester, Dylan, and Mariel…” He further instructed, pointing towards the vampire trio several feet away feasting on a young Sunnydale High student who had wandered a little too close to the blind alley they had hidden in last night. Then, turning his attention back to the acolyte, he asked, “What else do you need, sire?”
“The dagger of Agamemnon.” The cultist answered. “It is being held in the museum.”
“Ah, yes.” Luke replied with a sly grin. “The Mycenean exhibit…I shall obtain it personally.”
“Excellent.” The acolyte responded. “With those two items, the Grandmaster will be able to begin the ritual to bring…Him…” His voice dripping with fear and reverence, the acolyte motioned with his head towards the pool where the Master laid waiting for the day of his rising, “…back to us.”
***********
“Didn’t I tell you this was a good idea?” Cordelia, smiling broadly, practically shoved Jenny in front of the mirror at the Mod Shoppe. “That hair style definitely says something!”
“Ok, Cordy…” Felicia, playing along with her friend, then asked with a smile, “What does it say?”
Continuing their little game, Cordelia answered without missing a beat, “It says ‘I’m outta sight and I know it!”
“Really?” Jenny, not believing her eyes as she gazed at the reflection in front of the mirror, seeing her hair cut in the latest geometric style, asked somewhat dubiously as Cordelia, smiling triumphantly, held a vinyl minidress of alternating black and white squares in front of her.
“What do you think, Licia?” The seer asked appraisingly, “Think this’ll turn some heads?”
“Oh, yeah.” The strawberry blonde replied with a wicked grin. “Especially with that black hat over there, that black belt…” She then motioned towards a wide black vinyl belt hanging nearby, and…I don’t know…white boots or black here?”
“Black…definitely.” Cordelia smiled back. Then, turning her attention to Jenny, the young seer smiled, “Why don’t you go try ‘em on?”
“Ok.” The young girl, smiling shyly, took the dress, boots, belt, and hat and ducked quickly into a nearby changing room, leaving the seer and her roommate to continue looking through the dresses and blouses.
As she came across a particular minidress, a wicked grin crossed Felicia’s face as she took it out and held it up against Cordelia. “Perfect.” She smirked. “You oughta wear this to the Tom Jones concert.”
As she looked at the dress, Cordelia gasped as she realized that she could see right through it. “No way, Licia!” She exclaimed as her face flushed crimson. “I mean…it’s…almost totally…transparent!”
“It’d be perfect for the concert, Cordy!” Felicia giggled as she waved the dress in front of her friend. “It’s outta sight!”
Cordelia, deciding to turn the tables on her friendly tormenter, then teased, “If it’s so outta sight, Licia…then you wear it!” Seeing the look on her friend’s face, Cordy pressed home her attack, “After all…we’re about the same figure…so…if it’d look good on me, then I know it’d have to look good on you!”
After thinking about it for several moments, an evil grin once again crossed her roommate’s features, causing Cordelia to gulp in fear. “I got an idea.” The strawberry blonde grinned mischievously, “Let’s make a bet. You know, I still haven’t met this new guy of yours…tell you what…this new group, the Doors, are playing at the Bronze tonight. If he shows up and he’s as gorgeous as you say he is, then I’ll wear it to the concert…”
Cordelia, knowing that she could at least get Angel to make an appearance at the Bronze, chuckled in amusement, feeling confident that this bet was a sure thing. “Ok…” Her lips then turned up into an evil grin of her own, “But you gotta wear it braless…”
“Ok…” Gulping momentarily, Felicia rallied and agreed to her roommate’s condition. “But, if he doesn’t show…then you gotta wear it—braless—and with those sexy white lace panties you bought the other day—and he’s gotta make the scene by nine o’clock—before they start their first set—he can’t just pop in at the end and then blow the scene—he’s gotta stick around for the whole show—cause I wanna get a good look at him—deal?”
“Deal!” Cordelia grinned as the pair shook hands.
A few minutes later, Jenny showed up, modeling her new outfit, “Well…what do you think?” She asked with a nervous lilt to her voice.
“I think it looks absolutely groovy!” Cordelia grinned widely as she looked approvingly at her protégé.
“Oh, yeah!” Felicia agreed. “Outta sight! You’re gonna drive all the cats at that dance crazy!”
***********
Knocking on the door to Angel’s apartment, Cordelia sighed in relief as the door opened. “Hi Angel!” The seer grinned as she breezed into his apartment, wrinkling her nose at the mess. “When are you going to clean this place?” She sighed dramatically as she picked up one of his t-shirts by two fingers, dropping it on to a rapidly growing pile of laundry.
“Ummm…what can I do for you…Cordelia?” The tormented vampire, still unable to figure out this strange person who had so recently stormed, totally uninvited, into his life, stammered as he sat down at the corner of his bed.
Taking a deep breath, Cordelia spilled it all out in a rush, “I need you to do a big favor for me…would you meet me and my friends at the Bronze tonight?”
Surprised at her request, Angel asked, “What?”
Shaking her head at her future partner’s denseness, the young brunette repeated, slowly and clearly, “I…said…would…you…meet…me…at…the…Bronze…tonight?” Then, with a smile, she added, “The Doors are playing, and I thought you’d like to hear them…” Seeing the disbelieving look on the ensouled vampire’s face, she sighed, “Ok…I made a bet with my roommate. If you show up, then she’s gotta wear a see through mini we bought today to that Tom Jones concert that I told you about last night that we’re going to in a couple weeks. If you don’t go…then I gotta wear it.”
“I see…” Angel, with a rare smirk, replied as he looked into the hazel eyes of his future seer.
“No…you’re not gonna see…me…in that dress, that is…cause you’re coming tonight.” Cordelia then said, making up the vampire’s mind for him.
“I guess I’ll be there, then.” Angel, realizing when he’s been beaten, said softly, not believing the effect this strange woman was having on him.
“Good.” Cordelia smiled as she made her way towards the door. “I’ll see you tonight then—nine o’clock—don’t forget.”
***********
“The ol’ Bronze is sure crowded tonight!” Cordelia, pulling down on her lime green micro-mini gasped in surprise as she saw the throng of people gathering inside Sunnydale’s main center of entertainment.
“Tell me about it!” Felicia grinned back as she absent-mindedly fingered one of her gold-disk earrings. Then, spotting Donny already at a table, she waved, “Hey Donny! Groovy! You saved us a spot!”
“Hey, chicks!” Donny, wearing a crushed blue velvet Regency style coat and white silk shirt with a lace cravat, grinned widely as he made room for the two ladies. Then, after kissing both of them on the cheeks, he asked curiously, “So…is this Angel cat gonna make the scene or what?”
“I told him he’d better have his…” Cordy quickly stopped herself before saying undead, and then smoothly continued without missing a beat, “…ass here by nine—or else!” She said as she flashed an evil grin at her roommate. “Cause I’m really looking forward to that concert in a few weeks…”
“Yeah…” Felicia grinned back, “And I’ve got your outfit all picked out for you…” She then turned towards Donny and smiled sweetly, “You are going to bring your camera to take a picture of us—aren’t you?”
“You know it, babe.” The young man, aware of the bet his girlfriend and her roommate had made, figured that however it turned out; he was going to come out the winner here—seeing that he was the cameraman.
“Well…” Felicia then said as she looked at her watch, your boyfriend better hurry, Cordy—the first set’s in about twenty minutes or so…”
“He’ll show…” Cordelia said, tapping her foot nervously as she gazed down at her watch.
***********
Zipping up his leather jacket, Angel glanced at the clock on the wall. Seeing the time—8:40, he shook his head in disbelief. “Better hurry…” He said to himself as he closed and locked the door to his tiny run-down apartment. “I got a feeling that it wouldn’t be a good idea to stand this girl up…” As he made his way through the night, he shook his head in wonder and disbelief as he saw a pair of hippies walking together holding hands. “If it wasn’t for the guy’s beard…” Angel said inwardly as he got a good look at the young man, his dark brown hair flowing all the way down below his shoulders, “I wouldn’t have known he was a guy.”
Then, spying the entrance to the cemetery, he nodded his head. “Cut through here…” He grinned triumphantly, “And I can get to the Bronze in about ten minutes—plenty of time to spare.”
***********
“I hear the lead singer is soooo far out!” Felicia gushed as the rock group finished its sound checks on their instruments.
“Yeah.” Cordelia, seeing the minute hand draw ever closer to the magic nine o’clock hour, agreed absentmindedly with her roommate as she sipped her drink. “I heard that too.”
As he passed the crypt in the center of the cemetery, Angel spied movement from the shadows. His curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to investigate.
At the Bronze, the owner of the club took to the stage, and grabbing the microphone, spoke in a loud clear voice, silencing all the talking and laughing. “Ladies and gentlemen! The Bronze is pleased to introduce the next big name in rock and roll—The Doors!”
As the band rushed to take their places, Cordelia’s heart skipped a beat as she gazed upon the lead singer. As she looked upon his boyish face and shoulder length black hair and tight jeans, the young seer gasped. This was Jim Morrison at his best—before the alcohol and drugs would take their toll on his body and spirit. “God!!” Cordy said in a soft voice, “He is hot!!”
“Tell me about it!” Felicia sighed dramatically as she licked her lips. “Me…him…”
“Yup.” Cordelia replied as she felt her face flush as Ray Manzerek’s electric piano hit the first notes of a tune familiar even to the young seer, soon followed by Bobby Krieger’s guitar and John Densmore’s drums, and then, at last, Jim Morrison’s unmistakable whisky rich voice,
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher
As he approached the crypt, the ensouled vampire saw a sight someone that he had not seen in years—his sire and former lover, Darla. Flashing back to the last time they were together, during the Boxer Rebellion, Angel growled, “Darla.”
“Angelus.” The blonde seductress grinned sensuously as she held the book of magic that she had been sent to obtain close to her chest.
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre
As the mournful tunes of Ray Manzerek’s piano, accompanied in the background by John Densmore’s drums filled the nightclub, Felicia turned towards Cordelia and whispered, a small amount of concern mixing in with her triumph at possibly winning her bet, “Where is he?”
“He’ll show.” Cordelia said as Morrison’s voice once again rang out, “He better if he knows what’s good for him.”
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah
“What are you doing here?” The vampire with a soul demanded as the rest of Darla’s party hovered protectively around her and the book.
“Don’t have time to talk now, but you’ll find out soon enough, lover.” The blonde temptress smirked and then, turning towards her companions, she ordered as she took off running, “Get him!”
Manzerek’s piano once again took center stage as the long instrumental portion of the song began, with Dennsmore’s drums once again providing background accompaniment.
“You sure he’s ok?” Felicia asked, her concern growing as she looked at the clock, now showing 9:05.
“I hope so…” Cordelia replied, her voice now showing concern as she thought. ‘Cause he’s gonna be sooooo staked if it’s anything less than a squad of angry vamps jumping his undead bones.’ Then, as Bobby Krieger’s guitar joined in, challenging Ray Manzerek’s piano in the instrumental, the young seer allowed herself to get lost in the strangely hypnotic music.
“Damn!” Angel swore as the undead trio rushed him. Dodging, he avoided the rush of the nearest vamp. Then, kicking, he struck the woman in her stomach, forcing her to the ground. Seeing a nearby tree, the ensouled vampire then took off at a dead run, the other vampires hot on his trail.
“Looks like he’s a no-show.” Donny said consolingly as the instrumental portion reached a crescendo with Densmore’s drums joining Krieger’s guitar and Manzerek’s piano in a grand climax. Then Morrison’s gravely voice once again filled the club as the song reached its explosive finish,
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
“His ass is soooo dead!” Cordelia cursed as she finished her drink.
Reaching the tree just ahead of his enemies, Angel grimaced as he noticed that there was nothing that could pass as a stake lying on the ground. Then, seeing a hubcap lying on the ground, he flashed an evil grin. Picking it up and hefting it, he threw it as if it were a discus at the closest vampire to him, smiling in triumph as the sharp edges of the metal cap sliced cleanly through the neck of his quarry.
You know the day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run
Tried to hide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side, yeah
Angel rolled as the momentum of the second vampire’s rush threw him to the ground, his face shifting as the demon once again showed itself, the former Scourge of Europe growled as he clawed at his foe.
We chased our pleasures here
Dug our treasures there
But can you still recall
The time we cried
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Yeah!
C'mon, yeah
Struggling to his feet, Angel picked up the second vampire by the collar of her dress, tossing her as if she were a rag doll at a large headstone. Seeing a child’s wooden stick horse lying against a small headstone, Angel smirked as he took it, snapping off the horse’s head. Seeing out of the corner of his eye the male vampire closing on him, the vampire with a soul thrust out instinctively finding his mark as his prey disappeared in a pile of dust.
Everybody loves my baby
Everybody loves my baby
She get
She get
She get
She get high
I found an island in your arms
Country in your eyes
Arms that chain us
Eyes that lie
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through, oww!
Oh, yeah!
His last opponent, seeing that his boss had already fled, turned to escape. “Oh no…” Angel, still in demon face, sneered as the bloodlust overwhelmed him. “You started this…” The cursed vampire taunted as he launched an uppercut that connected square on to the chin of his foe, launching him several feet into the air. “So you gotta stick around for the ending…” He smirked triumphantly as he plunged his makeshift stake into his enemy’s heart.
Made the scene
Week to week
Day to day
Hour to hour
The gate is straight
Deep and wide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through
Break on through
Break on through
Break on through
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Looking down at the rapidly dispersing remains of his beaten enemy, Angel slapped his forehead as he rolled his eyes. “Cordelia…the Bronze…” He sighed as he shook his head. “Maybe she won’t be too mad at me for being late…” He thought ruefully, not really believing his own words, as he made his way towards the Bronze, and what was sure to be a rather unpleasant encounter with this strange, yet oddly fascinating, woman.
As the group prepared to launch into its next song, Felicia turned towards Cordelia and with a smile that was both playful and warm, said, “You know…if you really don’t wanna wear the dress, that’s ok—if you wanna call the bet off, I’ll understand.”
“No…” Cordelia said definitively. “I made a bet, and I don’t welsh.” Then, her eyes flashed her anger at her inappropriately late date as she balled her fists. “And as for Angel…just wait ‘til he sees what I’ve got in store for him…”
***********
(Jenny’s hairstyle can be found at:
http://fashion.about.com/gi/dynamic....com/SoHo/4473/
And here’s Jenny’s hat:
http://fashion.about.com/gi/dynamic...atspajamas.com/ )
Part 9
After paying his cover charge, he entered the dimly lit Bronze, his eyes scanning the entire club as he sought a particular person. Finding her sitting at a table near the stage with her friends, the ensouled vampire cringed inwardly as he saw the grimace on her face. Quickly recognizing that he was reason for her irritation, Angel, squaring his shoulders, strode slowly towards his fate.
“What I’m gonna do to him…” Contemplating her revenge, the grimace that had formerly marked the young Seer’s face slowly turned up into an evil grin, “…will make what I did to Xander that time at the movies look like a walk in the park…”
“So…” Flashing a wicked grin of her own, Felicia encouraged her roommate, “What did you do to this Xander cat and what you got planned for Angel?”
Chuckling maliciously, Cordelia first recounted how she had taken an especially pointed revenge upon her former boyfriend for taking her to a gory horror movie instead of the date movie that she had expected him to take her to, and then described, in painstaking detail, just what she had in store for the ensouled vampire who had had the nerve to stand her up.
Then, as the Doors took the stage once more, Cordy gasped as Jim Morrison, looking right into her hazel eyes with his deep penetrating brown ones began to sing, almost as if he was singing directly to her…
You're lost little girl
You're lost little girl
You're lost
Tell me who
Are you?
The young brunette barely held back her astonishment as she heard his words. Gulping down her beer, she continued to listen dumbfounded as he sang in that powerful, raw, hypnotic voice of his,
I think that you know what to do
Impossible? Yes, but it's true
I think that you know what to do, yeah
I'm sure that you know what to do
‘It’s almost like he knows who I am!’ The young seer, mesmerized by the spellbinding gaze of the lead singer, gasped inwardly as she listened intently to the lyrics.
You're lost little girl
You're lost little girl
You're lost
Tell me who
Are you?
Angel, feeling the electricity between Cordelia and the lead singer, froze in place, unable to move as the singer finished his song.
I think that you know what to do
Impossible? Yes, but it's true
I think that you know what to do, girl
I'm sure that you know what to do
You're lost little girl
You're lost little girl
You're lost
The song concluded, Cordelia gasped once again in surprise as Morrison nodded his head at her and then, a wide grin on his face, broke into his next song,
Well, she's fashionably lean
And she's fashionably late
She'll never wreck a scene
She'll never break a date
But she's no drag
Just watch the way she walks
She's a twentieth century fox
She's a twentieth century fox
No tears, no fears
No ruined years, no clocks
She's a twentieth century fox, oh yeah
Hearing the words, Cordy gasped momentarily as she could have sworn that he had emphasized the words ‘years’ and ‘clocks’, but, seeing the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, she couldn’t help but laugh merrily as it became apparent to everyone in the club that he was singing to her.
Angel, hearing the words to the new song, relaxed as he saw the lightened mood of the strange woman. Deciding that, now she’s smiling, the chances of him being staked had diminished somewhat, he once again approached the table where she and her friends sat.
She's the queen of cool
And she's the lady who waits
Sent to manless school
It never hesitates
She won't waste time
On elementary talk
‘My God!’ Cordy thought to herself as she smiled broadly at the handsome singer. ‘He does know me inside out! That song is about me! Both those songs were about me!’
'Cause she's a twentieth century fox
She's a twentieth century fox
Got the world locked up
Inside a plastic box
She's a twentieth century fox, oh yeah
Twentieth century fox, oh yeah
Twentieth century fox
She's a twentieth century fox
Walking off the stage as the song finished, Morrison then grinned like a little boy as he kissed Cordelia square on the lips as one of the Bronze’s photographers took their picture. “Don’t worry.” The photographer smiled back at the young seer, “I’ll make sure you get a picture.”
Returning to the stage, the lead singer yelled out to the crowd, “Thank you, Sunnydale!” Then, with a final flourish, the band departed just as Angel reached the table.
“Man…that was the grooviest!” Felicia gushed in awe as she looked on at her roommate. “I can’t believe he did that!”
“Yeah, that was outtasight!” Donny added, flashing a broad smile.
“It was something.” Angel, now standing just behind Cordelia and speaking in a soft voice, agreed.
“Huh?” Turning around quickly in her seat, the young seer’s eyes shot daggers at her dilatory date as she verbally expressed her displeasure. “Ok, Buster…just where the hell were you? I thought I told you to get your un…to get your bony ass here by nine!”
“I’m sorry…” The ensouled vampire replied shyly as he suspiciously eyed Cordelia’s friends. “I don’t think it’d be a good idea to talk about it here…if you know what I mean…”
Taking a look at her future partner’s disheveled appearance and seeing through the dim light the faint traces of ash on his dark jacket, the lovely brunette nodded her head in understanding. “Ok…we’ll talk about it later…” Then, flashing a wicked grin, she added in a coy voice, “’Sides, I know just how you can make it up to me…”
Seeing the gleam in her friend’s eye, the pretty strawberry blonde smirked, “Cordy…you wouldn’t…I mean that’d be really mean…”
“Oh yes!” Cordelia flashed an evil grin as she motioned for the tormented vampire to sit down with them. “And Angel…in the future, whenever you think about standing me up again for anything, I want you to remember what you had to do to make this up to me…”
Reluctantly sitting down next to the young seer, the dark vampire shifted about uncomfortably in his seat as he contemplated his fate. “What do you want me to do?” He asked as he tried to avoid the curious looks being given him by the other couple at the table after the introductions were made.
“Oh man…” Donny smiled sympathetically as he regarded his fellow male with a mixture of envy and pity, “You don’t wanna know…believe me…you don’t wanna know…”
***********
“Is it…Council business, darling?” Walking gracefully over to her husband, the willowy Evelyn Giles wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close.
“Yes, love.” Edmund replied as he lovingly kissed his wife, first on the forehead, and then on the lips. “Otherwise, you know I wouldn’t miss our son’s big day.”
“I don’t know, Edmund…” Evelyn, now looking every bit the protective mother, said doubtfully. “You know how Rupert feels about becoming a Watcher…”
“Yes.” The elder Giles chuckled. “Today he told me he wanted to be a grocer. Last week it was a fighter pilot.” Then, with a serious expression, the Watcher continued to speak, “But, I told him that it was his duty—as it was mine and my mother’s before me. Since time immemorial, one of our bloodline has always served as a Watcher. It’s a calling that transcends duty…responsibility…it is something that he will grow to understand and, I pray, eventually accept.”
“It’s a shame that he has to start his training at such a young age.” Evelyn sighed mournfully as she poured a sherry for herself and her husband. “It would have been nice for him to have remained a child for a little while longer, at least.”
“I know.” The Watcher flashed a quick smile at his spouse as he accepted the sherry, gratefully sipping it. “But, there is so much for him to learn…so much to understand…especially if the prophecies are correct…”
Changing the subject, Evelyn asked, “So…when must you leave for the States?”
“I leave on the first available flight.” Edmund smiled ruefully as he reached out for his wife’s hand. “I fly out on a Boeing 707 from Gattwick to New York. Then New York to Los Angeles on another 707, and then a train from Los Angeles to Sunnydale.” Then, quickly remembering, he asked, “Are the books that I need packed?”
“Yes, darling.” Evelyn flashed a smile that was at the same time longsuffering and tender as she explained. “The books that you said that you would need with you are packed in your carry-on bag, while the other books will be sent via special courier from the Council. Quentin said that they should arrive no later than a week after you.”
“Thank you, love.” Edmund smiled affectionately at his wife as he once again took her in his arms. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
***********
Did Jim Morrison know who and what Cordelia really was? Well...he was the Lizard King...he could do anything...
Part 10
“Great!” Cordelia smiled broadly as she spoke on the phone. “I’ll be there.” Heaving a sigh of relief she hung up the phone and turned towards Felicia, at that moment sitting on the couch watching ‘The Man from UNCLE.’ “Hey, Licia!” The lithe brunette called out as she playfully tossed a pillow at her friend. “Think you can tear yourself away from Ilya and Napoleon long enough to answer a question?”
“Not now!” The young strawberry blonde groaned as she tossed the pillow back at her roommate. “You just interrupted the grooviest fantasy. I was on the beach with Napoleon and Ilya and they were rubbing me down with. . .”
“I don’t wanna hear it!” Cordelia teased back. “Cause I’m taking Napoleon and Ilya in mine and they’re taking me out for dinner and dancing and then back to my place where we’re gonna. . .”
“Cordy!” Felicia gasped, a look of mock horror on her face. “You are one NASTY chick!”
“I know.” The young seer smirked. Then, getting serious, she changed the subject, “Ummm…Felicia, I just got off the phone with that friend of my family’s—you know the one I was telling you about that lives in London?”
“Yeah.” Felicia replied, nodding her head.
“Well. . .he said that his plane had just landed at LAX and that he’d be here on tomorrow morning’s train.” Then, taking a deep breath, knowing how much her roomie doted over her red Corvair, Cordy asked in a rush, “And I was wondering if you’d loan me your car so that I could pick him up at the train station in the morning?”
Chuckling with amusement at the look on her roommate’s face, Felicia mock pouted for a moment as she seemed to think about it. “Uhhh. . .I’m not sure. . .” She teased, “You know how much I love my baby. . .”
“I promise I’ll gas it up and bring it back without a scratch.” Cordelia pleaded.
“Oh. . .all right!” Felicia, snickering, at last agreed. Then, flashing a wicked smile, the young strawberry blonde added a condition. “But…you’re gonna have to do the dishes the next three days.”
“Ok!” Cordy mock pouted as she flopped down on the couch next to her roommate. “You drive a hard bargain, Licia.” Then, as the two women saw Napoleon Solo on the screen entering the Headquarters of UNCLE, Cordelia licked her lips, “Don’t you just love how he fills that suit?”
***********
As the train pulled into the station, Cordy stood in the passenger’s lounge, tapping her foot nervously as she held up her sign with the name ‘Giles’ printed on it. As the travelers entered the lounge, her alert eyes scanned each and every one of them as she tried to figure who was the one most likely to be the father of the high school librarian that she remembered. ‘Nope…too short.’ The time traveling seer shook her head as she dismissed a gentleman wearing a business suit and porkpie hat and carrying an attaché case. ‘Too fat.’ She thought as she dismissed another man, this one wearing a plaid sports coat and smoking an especially smelly green cigar. Then, she saw him.
His tweed suit, sandy blond hair, and rugged good looks immediately catching the young brunette’s attention, she permitted herself an appreciative leer. “Figures.” She grinned in amusement, shaking her head at how much he reminded her of the first time that she had seen his son. “Tweed must run in the family.” Then, getting a good look at his face, she nodded her head approvingly as she licked her lips, “I can see where Giles got his cheekbones from.” Holding her sign above her head, she sighed in relief as the Watcher, recognizing her sign nodded his head and smiled slightly.
Entering the lounge, Edmund, clutching his valise in his right hand, looked about anxiously, then, seeing the sign with his name printed on it, smiled as he got his first look at the strange woman who had contacted him just a few days earlier. “A most attractive young woman.” He said in a low voice as he took in her lithe form, clad in a pink top with cream pants, a scarf covering her chin length blonde highlighted brown hair. Making his way towards the young woman, he motioned for the porter carrying his bags to follow. “Miss Chase, I presume?” The Englishman asked somewhat diffidently.
“The one and only.” Cordelia smiled back, then noticing the large steamer trunk, observed with a chuckle, “Traveling lightly, huh?”
“Books. . .and so on.” The Watcher replied in a shy voice. “I brought what I thought would be most helpful to us immediately. More references should be here within a day or so.”
“Thank God!” Cordy sighed in relief as she led Giles and the porter towards the parking lot and the red Corvair that her roommate had loaned her. Then, making her way toward the front of the car, she popped the hood.
“Oh. . .I see. . .” The Englishman flashed an embarrassed grin. “The boot is in the front in this car.”
“Yeah.” Cordelia smiled back as the porter, straining under the heavy burden, placed the luggage into the front trunk and then closed the hood. “Took me a little time to get used to it too.”
Tipping the porter, the Watcher then opened the driver’s door, holding it open for the young woman who, with a broad grin, put on her sunglasses and slipped in behind the steering wheel. “Hop in.” She said, maintaining her sunny smile. “I’ll take you to your hotel so you can check in and all, and then we’ll swing by my pad—my roommate’s out for the afternoon with her boyfriend so we can talk freely…at least ‘til they get back.”
***********
Entering the underground cavern, the robed figure strode majestically between two rows of similarly clad figures towards his chief acolyte and the two children of the Master. As he approached them, the three knelt and bowed their heads reverently. Holding out his hand, the Grandmaster flashed a cold smile as first his junior, and then the others, kissed the ring on his finger, the large ruby reflecting the dull light coming from the candles on either wall.
“Arise.” He commanded as the ancient vampire pushed back his hood, revealing to all that, like the Master, the demon that had taken up residence within the Grandmaster’s body had almost completed its transformation of the human host.
“You honor us with your presence, Grandmaster.” Luke spoke reverently as he stood. “We all anxiously await the return of our Master.”
“As do I, Luke.” The Elder replied as he looked about the cavern. “I have been told that, while all is nearly in readiness, that there appears to be a …complication of some sort?”
“Nothing serious, Most Unholy One.” Luke assured. “Angelus appears to have made the acquaintance of someone new…a half-demon woman…nothing that we cannot handle.”
“I hope so.” The Grandmaster cupped his chin as he looked deeply into the eyes of the Master’s child. “Angelus plays a vital role if the Master is to be returned now, and not thirty years from now as the Prophecy states.”
“We will have him.” Luke stated definitively. “And his female companion will be dealt with.”
“Then, I shall leave the matter to you.” The ancient vampire, satisfied with the other vampire’s words, nodded his head in assent. “It has been a long voyage and I am both tired and hungry, and there is still much to be done before the ritual can commence…”
“Darla shall show you to your quarters.” Luke volunteered as the blonde temptress stepped forward, flashing a smile at the powerful cult leader as two other vampires stepped forward, the twisting and terrified form of a young teenage girl between them, their powerful arms restraining her. Seeing the frightened youth, a cold smile crossed the face of the Elder as Luke, happy at the pleased reaction of the powerful vampire, flashed a satisfied grin, “And please accept this tender morsel to ease your hunger, Unholy One.”
***********
“I mean. . .I’ve been trying to get through all that gunk that dead Roman guy wrote, but it’s really confusing—I’m so not up to Wesley’s or even Angel’s level as far as Latin goes.” Cordelia rolled her eyes as she stood up from the couch where she sat next to the English Watcher, volumes of Langston’s Vampyre, and of Titus Livinius’ De Cultibus Vespertilionibus, amongst other references sprawled about the coffee table in front of them.
Coughing slightly as he took in the beauty of the lithe form stretching before him, a somewhat distracted Edmund took off and cleaned his glasses. “Why don’t we take a short break then?”
“Sounds good to me!” Cordy smiled back as she strode towards the kitchen. “How’s about I make us some tea?”
“Ummm…well…” The Englishman, not expecting his American host to know how to prepare a proper cup of tea, yet at the same time not wanting to offend, stammered as he tried to come up with an appropriate reply.
“Don’t worry.” Cordelia, sensing the reason for her guest’s unease, chuckled with amusement. “I work with an Englishman…I know how to make tea right. How does Earl Grey with some milk sound?”
“That should do nicely.” A surprised Edmund replied, a slight smile crossing his features as he spoke.
“Cool.” Cordy smiled back. “I’ve put the kettle on—it’ll be a few minutes.” She then spoke in a soft voice, “Go a lot easier if I had a microwave!”
“Excuse me, Miss Chase?” The Watcher, hearing her mutter, asked.
“Oh…nothing, Giles. I was just…thinking about a few things…” Cordelia replied as she fetched the tea bags and a pair of cups. “By the way, you can call me Cordy.”
“Very well…Cordy.” The Englishman, not really used to American informality, answered back, somewhat tentatively. Then, after a few minutes of silence during which he continued to peruse De Cultibus Vespertilionibus while waiting for his host to return with the tea, his eyes fell upon a sketch of a robed figure and then another one of an inverted pyramid with an eye in the middle. Quickly looking up, he called out as the young brunette returned to the living room bearing a TV tray with a pair of cups with steam rising from them and smelling with the telltale oil of bergamot that marked the Earl Grey tea inside them and a creamer containing milk. “Miss…I mean Cordy…”
“Yeah, Giles.” The young lady, setting the TV tray down before them, asked as she poured milk from the creamer into both of their cups. Then, seeing the look of alarm on his face, she inquired, somewhat nervously, “What is it?”
“The figures that you saw in your vision...” The Watcher then pointed towards the sketches. “Did they look something like this?”
As she saw the robed figure and the sketch of the medallion, she gasped, “That’s exactly what I saw! Who…what are they?”
“Oh my.” The elder Giles sighing in a manner that reminded Cordelia once more of his son, explained. “That is a symbol of the Order of Merovinus—a very powerful vampiric cult. If your visions are correct, Cordy, then the situation is far graver than I had at first feared.”
***********
“Ok then.” Cordelia said as she sipped her tea. “Exactly who—or what—is this order of Merovinus supposed to be?”
“They are an ancient cult.” The elder Giles began as he warmed up to his lecture, “That has its origins in ancient Carthage. You see…” The diffident Watcher said before taking a sip from his own cup, and, finding it to his liking, smiled. “They were the true cause of the Third Punic War. They were the real reason why the Roman senator, Cato, ended all his speeches with the phrase, Cartago est delenda.”
“Carthage must be destroyed.” Cordelia translated, then, seeing the raised eyebrow of the Watcher, smirked, “Hey…I’ve got layers.” Then, shaking her head, she admitted, “That’s also one of the few things I remember from my world history class back in high school. I always thought it sounded kinda neat—in an ancient, dead language kinda way.” Seeing the stuffy Englishman beginning to laugh in spite of himself, Cordelia smiled warmly. “Gotcha.”
“Quite.” Giles smiled back as he continued with his lecture. “As I was about to say, Cato realized that, should this cult not be stopped, it, with the help of certain other forces, would bring on an apocalypse that would consume the world, so, he agitated and maneuvered and pressured until, finally, he convinced the Senate to declare war, and, with the sack and destruction of Carthage, removed the threat posed by the Order…for a time at least.”
Taking another sip of tea, the young seer grew serious again as she asked, “So now they’re back. Okay, you got any ideas on how they’re planning on bringing the Big Ugly Guy back?”
Taking a deep breath, the Watcher then said, “First, I need to tell you about the prophecy of the Master’s rising.”
Remembering her first encounter with the world of vampires that time years ago when Buffy had confronted and slain the Master while she, Willow, Giles, and Jenny Calendar were trapped in the library fending off the hordes of attacking vampires, Cordelia sighed deeply. “You don’t have to tell me, I already know it. Short version, the Anointed One leads the Slayer to the Master who then drinks her blood and that releases him from his prison.”
“How could possibly know this?” Edmund demanded, his curiosity and suspicions both rising, “That particular prophecy is only known to a handful of people and even we don’t know the full divination—one important book in particular is missing—so how could you possibly be familiar with this?”
“Look.” Cordy shook her head. “If I tell you, you’re probably not going to believe me—or you’ll think I’m crazy…”
“Now see here…Cordelia…” The English Watcher replied, deliberately addressing the seer by her formal name. “I’ve come all this way on a few snippets of information and blind trust. You obviously know who I am and the nature of my…profession…but I know nothing about you except that you called me telling me that you saw these visions of future events and that you know about the Watchers Council and the Slayer, and now you tell me that you are familiar with an arcane prophecy. If we are going to work together successfully here, we need to trust each other. In other words, I think it is time for us both to…as you Americans are so fond of saying…put our cards on the table.”
“You’re right.” Cordelia reluctantly admitted as she looked into the determined eyes of the man seated next to her, once again not believing how alike father and son were, or would one day be. “Okay…here goes…don’t forget though…you asked for it.” Taking a deep breath, she then asked, “So what do you know about time travel magic and another set of prophecies concerning the Champion and the Seer?”
Part 11
“That is a most…intriguing…story, Cordelia…” The English Watcher, stunned by the bombshell dropped on him by the young woman sitting next to him, remarked as he took off his glasses and cleaned them.
“I told you that you wouldn’t believe me, or that you’d think I was crazy.” The time traveling seer snorted as she sipped her tea. “So, which is it—am I a liar or just plain loony?”
“I don’t think you’re either.” Edmund, slowly recovering his equilibrium, said compassionately as he placed his hand on top of that of the young lady’s. “But you must admit, what you have just told me is rather remarkable, to say the least…”
“This coming from a cat who knows vampires and demons exist?” Cordy said with twinkle in her eye as she slowly relaxed.
“Point taken.” Giles admitted with a wry grin. “But, I’m sure you understand why I’m more than a little…”
“Wigged?” The lithe brunette teased as she refreshed the Englishman’s tea.
“If by ‘wigged’ you mean flummoxed, then yes…you might say that I’m rather…’wigged’…by what you’ve just told me.” Edmund confessed as he sipped his tea. “You must admit, it’s not everyday you meet someone who says she’s part demon and a Seer and that she comes from over thirty years in the future…”
“Yeah…well…I guess I don’t blame you.” Cordelia conceded as she stood up and began to pace. “I was kinda wigged myself when Fred told me that I was the only one that could do this cause of my being half…” The seer then sighed before finishing, “…demon. So, I guess I can imagine what you’re going through.” Then, taking a deep breath and holding it, she asked once again, “So…you believe me?”
Setting down his cup of tea, the Watcher looked up into the hazel eyes of the young woman standing before him, “Yes…Cordelia…I do.” Then, picking up a notepad, he added, “But I do have further questions, and I’d like to enquire further into your…demon…attributes…if I may.”
Edmund, seeing the reluctant look on his new partner’s face, quickly explained, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, my dear…but, I need to know exactly…please forgive me, but I can’t think of a better way of phrasing it…what you are. In other words, exactly what aspect of the demon do you have? Also, I have other questions about the time travel magic used by this young witch—her name was—or will be…” The English Watcher then shook his head in bemusement as he tried to sort out all the ramifications of time travel magic, “…Tara, I believe? What sort of witch is she…how powerful…and, last of all; I need you to tell me everything you can about Angel. You see, the last mention our records indicate of Angelus was a sighting during the Boxer Rebellion where he was still in the company of Darla, William the Bloody, and Drusilla. Now, you tell me that not only is he in Sunnydale, but that his soul has been restored thanks to a gypsy curse. Needless to say, this is a matter of some importance.”
“Yeah, I know…” Cordelia nodded her head and then came to a decision. “Okay, I’ll tell you all I can, but you’re gonna have to promise me something—that you won’t tell anyone else this until…well, until 2002 at least. I mean…I don’t want to mess up the future…if you know what I mean…”
“I understand and agree with your reasons why this should be kept confidential.” The Englishman said in as reassuring a tone as he could muster. “What about this? I promise that anything you tell me will remain in a sealed confidential journal that will only be passed on to my son with the explicit instructions that it not be opened until the appropriate time. Does this meet with your approval?”
Remembering fondly the son of the gentleman seated next to her, the Seer smiled broadly. “Yeah…I know I can trust your son with my life…”
Surprised and astonished by this inadvertent revelation, Edmund asked in a soft voice, “You know Rupert?”
Embarrassed by her lapse, Cordelia stammered, “Yeah…look, I don’t wanna talk too much about what happens in the future, but…” Looking the Watcher straight in the eyes, she then finished, “I guess I can tell you this much—you’ll be proud of what he becomes…I mean…he’s saved my life and the lives of my friends more than once—not to mention helping to save the world…oh…five or six times at least…” Then, flashing an amused grin as she remembered the night of the band candy, she added with a twinkle in her eye, “Just don’t be too rough on him in the next few years—don’t worry, he’ll get it together—just give him time.”
Not quite sure what to say, the elder Giles, his pride in the sort of man his son would one day grow up to be evident in his features, cleared his throat before replying with a sincere, “Thank you.” Then, he commenced his gentle, yet thorough, interrogation of the time traveling Seer.
“Boy…that was some grilling.” Cordelia quipped after Giles had finished his very detailed questioning.
“I’m sorry about that…but, as I said earlier; I needed to know everything possible…”
“Yeah, I know.” Cordelia brightened her smile. “So…you got everything you need?”
“Yes. I believe I do—for now, at least.” Edmund smiled back as he regarded the lithe brunette seated next to him. “So…you say that once you’ve accomplished the task set forth by your visions that the spell Tara cast will bring you back…”
“Yeah…just like a boomerang.” Cordy grinned, then, seeing their teacups empty, offered, “Here…I’ll make us some more tea and we can talk some more if you want…”
But, before the Englishman could answer one way or the other, the pair heard laughter and the sound of the door opening. Cordelia then smiled warmly as she heard her roommate’s cheery voice. “Hey, Cordy!” Then, seeing the Englishman sitting on the couch, Felicia flashed a wicked grin as she appraised the roguishly handsome, yet distinguished looking Watcher, “So…who’s the cool cat?”
Smiling nervously, Cordelia answered, “Ummm…this is Edmund, that friend of my family’s from London I told you I had to pick up today.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The diffident Englishman said as he shook Felicia’s hand. Then, turning to Cordelia, he said, “I’m afraid I must be leaving now, Cordelia…we shall talk more later—perhaps then you can introduce me to Angel…”
“If you wanna meet Angel, Edmund…” Felicia interjected, “Then stick around. We’re all going to the Tom Jones concert tonight and he’s Cordy’s date. He should be here by the time we get dressed.” The strawberry blonde then flashed a wicked grin at her roommate as she held up a bag from the Mod Shoppe. “Oh, by the way Cordy…I got that dress for you—and the other stuff we talked about. And Donny said he was gonna bring his camera.” She smirked as she handed the bag to her roommate and then, glancing down at the Englishman, flashed a triumphant grin. “Hey! I gotta great idea…Edmund can take a picture of all of us and then we can get Donny to take one with just Edmund and you!” Then, turning towards the English Watcher, Felicia grinned once again. “Just make yourself at home, Edmund, and turn on the TV—Ed Sullivan oughta be coming on pretty soon. Donny and Angel’ll be here in a little while and it shouldn’t take us too long to get changed.”
Sighing and shaking her head, Cordy managed an embarrassed grin. “Might as well stick around, Edmund—my roomie can get awful stubborn sometimes.”
“Better believe it!” Felicia smiled as she breezed into the bathroom, calling back, “I got first dibs on the shower!”
***********
Much later, as Edmund sat watching Jack Benny on the Ed Sullivan Show, chuckling with amusement at how the gifted comedian had turned Ed into his straight man, he heard the sound of rapping on the door, soon followed by Felicia coming out of her bedroom wearing, to the proper Englishman’s sensibilities, a rather daring silver mini with a diamond cut out exposing her navel and no small portion of her belly. Putting on her earrings, large white triangles dangling from silver chains, she rushed towards the door. “Coming!” Opening the door, the young strawberry blonde squealed as her boyfriend gathered her into his arms for a hug. “Donny!”
“Hey, babe!” Donny smiled as he stole a quick kiss. “Looking groovy!”
“You too.” Felicia grinned back as she took in the young man’s stylish double breasted sports coat and tie. “Cordy’ll be out in a minute—I think she’s a little shy…” Then, in a teasing voice, she called out to her reticent roommate. “Come on, Cordy! Donny’s here! We gotta hurry or we’re gonna miss the opening act!”
“Okay…Okay…Give me a few minutes!” Cordelia replied and then asked, “Has Angel showed up yet?”
“Not yet, but he’s still got a few minutes.” Felicia called back as she winked knowingly at her boyfriend and the English Watcher.
Angel had in fact just arrived at the door to their apartment just then. As he stood in front of the wooden door, the cursed vampire once again shook his head in disbelief—first at how thoroughly the half demon woman that he had just met had so easily bent him to her will, and second that a small part of him was actually enjoying it! Squaring his shoulders as he resigned himself to his fate, he knocked on the door.
Opening the door, Felicia immediately recognized Angel from their meeting at the Bronze. “Hey, Angel!” The lovely strawberry blonde smiled winningly as she took in the muscular form of the vampire. ““We were just wondering when you’d make the scene—come on in! Cordy’ll be out in just a minute!” As he entered the apartment, Felicia continued with the introductions. “You know Donny…” She then motioned towards the Englishman, who realizing that someone else had entered the apartment, had stood up. “And this is Cordy’s friend from England…Edmund…” She then turned her head towards the distinguished Watcher “Right?”
Edmund, nodding his head, gave the ensouled vampire a cautious look. ‘So…this is the famous Angelus…the Scourge of Europe…’ The Watcher thought as he nodded his head in the direction of Angel. “Angel...” The Englishman barely acknowledged stiffly, barely stopping himself from adding the ‘us’.
The cursed vampire, realizing immediately that the man standing before him had gone to a heightened state of alert, replied in as quiet and unthreatening a tone as he could muster, “Edmund.”
“Cordelia has told me a great deal about you.” The Watcher said meaningfully, maintaining his cautious demeanor as he regarded the ensouled vampire standing only a few feet in front of him with a mixture of fascination and fear.
“She has?” Angel, maintaining his calm exterior, asked as his eyes scanned the room and the occupants within it.
“Oh, yes.” Edmund replied, “She told me everything.”
Felicia, sensing the growing tension between the two men, moved quickly to break the ice, “Hey Cordy! You coming out or not?”
“All right…all right already!” The seer answered back as she opened the bedroom door. “Here I am!” She pronounced as she strode with as much confidence as she could muster into the room, smiling with smug satisfaction as she saw all three men’s jaws drop upon seeing her in her see-through mini.
“All I gotta say, Cordy is…WOW!” Donny exclaimed as Felicia playfully jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
“Ah…ahem…yes…quite…” Edmund stammered as he tried, not completely successfully, to avert his eyes from the young seer’s shapely breasts, her nipples barely visible beneath a translucent horizontal stripe when the light hit just so, her white lace panties clearly visible beneath the transparent dress.
As Angel drank in the loveliness of the woman standing before him, he silently gave thanks to the God that he had long ago abandoned for the fact the was unable to blush, otherwise, he admitted to himself, his face would have been as crimson as that of the Englishman standing next to him.
Cordelia, seeing her future partner’s discomfort, flashed an amused smile as she teased. “So…Angel…you like?”
“Ummm…” The vampire, at a loss for words as his eyes strayed to Cordelia’s breasts, stammered, “Uhhh…yeah…you look…”
“Outta sight.” Donny interjected, coming to the rescue of his fellow male.
“Yeah.” Angel quickly added, then muttered a whispered, “Thank you” to the young man next to him.
“Don’t mention it, man.” Donny whispered back, and then flashing a quick leer, took out his camera. “Ok, chicks and cats…picture time!”
“Hold it!” Cordelia then ordered with a wicked grin. “First, Angel’s gotta get changed!” She said with a wink.
“Changed?” The cursed vampire, not liking where this was going, protested as his future seer arched an eyebrow.
“Yep.” The lithe brunette confirmed. “Changed. I’m wearing this…” She then pirouetted, giving everyone in the room a good view of her charms beneath the see-through mini, “…cause you couldn’t even make it to the Bronze on time…”
“I explained why…” Angel stammered weakly, but Cordelia quickly cut him off.
“I don’t care if LBJ came by to personally draft you!” The Seer jibed, much to the amusement of everyone else in the room, including Edmund, who cracked a slight smile of his own at the vampire’s obvious discomfiture. “No one…I mean NO…ONE…ever…EVER…stands me up—and gets away with it! You got that buster?”
Flashing a self-satisfied grin as the wayward vampire weakly nodded his head, Cordy commanded, pointing towards her bedroom. “Now, get in there and get changed. Your clothes are all laid out on the bed waiting for you. Then, smirking, she added, “Me and Licia chose ‘em just for you.”
Several minutes later, a different, and obviously uncomfortable, Angel emerged from the bedroom wearing a peach Nehru jacket with gold chains and love beads around his neck, white slacks, black shoes, and peach tinted Ben Franklin style sunglasses.
As both of the ladies took their time appraising him, the cursed vampire shifted nervously. Seeing his discomfort, Cordelia managed a warm smile. “You look groovy, Angel.” She said as she grazed the arm of his jacket.
"Yeah, Angel." Felicia added. “You look outtasight.” She then turned towards the Englishman and smiled broadly, “Edmund? Think we can get you to take a pic of all of us?”
“But of course.” The Watcher, taking the camera, replied as Felicia herded everyone together—Angel and Donny in the center, their arms around the waists of their dates for the evening. “Very good then…what is it you Americans are supposed say at times like this…Cheese?” Then, as everyone smiled he took their picture, the flash temporarily blinding everyone.
“Great!” Felicia smiled. “Now…how’s about one of me and my roomie?” She said as Cordy and the lovely strawberry blonde posed together in an imitation of a Vogue layout that they had just seen. “All right!” Felicia grinned. “Angel—it’s yours and Cordy’s turn…then me and Donny…and then Donny you take Cordy and Edmund’s picture, ‘kay?”
Finally, after the roll of film in the camera had been exhausted, Donny grinned. “That’s it! Then looking at his watch, he added, “If we’re gonna make it to the concert, we better blow this pad now!”
“Yes…” Edmund added, “I must be going too.” Then, turning towards Cordelia, he smiled as he took her hand. “I’ll look into what we discussed and get back with you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” Cordy grinned back as she kissed the diffident, and slightly embarrassed, Watcher on the cheek.
“Ok, cats!” Donny exclaimed, “Let’s split!”
Part 12
(Disclaimer: The characters and universe of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” all belong to Joss Whedon, Dave Greenwalt, Mutant Enemy, and LazyDave Productions who hold all rights and copyrights. This is purely a work of amusement; no profit is being asked for or received from this work. “It’s Not Unusual” copyright Tom Jones; and “Too Much to Dream” copyright The Electric Prunes.
It's not unusual to be loved by anyone,
It's not unusual to have fun with anyone,
But when I see you hanging about with anyone
It's not unusual to see me cry, I wanna die
It's not unusual to go out at any time,
But when I see you out and about it's just a crime,
If you should ever wanna be loved by anyone,
It's not unusual, it happens every day,
No matter what you say
You'll find it happens all the time
Love will never do, what you want it to
Why can't this crazy love be mine.
It's not unusual to be mad with anyone,
It's not unusual to be sad with anyone
But if I ever find that you've changed at any time
It's not unusual, to find that I'm in love with you
Woh woh woh woh
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
As the Welsh crooner finished his encore number, Cordelia found, once again much to her amazement that she was screaming and clapping along with the rest of the mostly female audience. “Wow! He is sexy!” She said aloud, not thinking anyone else could hear. “I guess I can see now why my mom…”
“Huh, Cordy?” Felicia, standing next to her roommate asked as Donny slipped an arm around each of the ladies’ waists.
“Oh…I was just lookin’ at the eye candy…” Cordy smirked as her eyes drifted towards the tight jeans worn by the Welshman who was at that moment just leaving the stage.
“Yeah.” The strawberry blonde licked her lips in agreement, her eyes also wandering in the same direction as her roomies’ as the two women and their escorts joined the other people moving towards the exits.
“So…what am I?” Donny pouted in mock outrage. Then, his voice taking on an exaggerated Texas drawl, he began to impersonate Lyndon Johnson. “I promise I will go anywhere…anytime…to negotiate an honorable settlement…with you two gorgeous chicks.”
“I’ll negotiate something with you…” Felicia purred playfully as she kissed her boyfriend.
Cordelia, snickering, teased, “So…are we talking about a…piece…with honor here?”
“Just as long as there isn’t a…premature…withdrawal…” Felicia, continuing the game, playfully jibed as she winked at Cordelia.
Turning towards the other male in their little party, Donny smirked, “So, Angel…looks like we got us a little domino theory at work here…?”
Shifting uncomfortably, the demon within the ensouled vampire cried out for release as he saw the curves of Cordelia’s luscious body visible beneath the transparent dress she was wearing. “Ummm…well…” Angel stammered as his future Seer all but glared at him, daring him to say something as she noticed that her future partner’s eyes were locked on her noticeable breasts. Taking note of the expression on the brunette’s face, he settled for a slight leer as he remarked, “Well…I think there is something to be said for…taking firm…measure…ments.”
Cordelia, somewhat surprised by Angel’s jibe, recovering quickly, quipped, “Well…get a good look at ‘em now…” She smirked as she thrust out her chest, “Cause that’s all you’re getting!”
“Ouch!” Donny exclaimed as both women giggled. “She socked it to ya, man.”
“I ain’t finished sockin’ it to you, either, Broody boy.” Cordy then flashed an evil grin. “Cause guess who’s buying dinner?”
Somewhat later, as the two couples walked towards their car, Angel pulled his date for the evening to the side. “Cordelia…” He whispered, “I…don’t think this…dinner…is such a good idea…I mean…”
“Look, Angel.” The time traveling seer whispered back, “I’m not gonna make you do anything you don’t…” Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she gave the cursed vampire a look that expressed both tenderness and exasperation. “No…scratch that…I am gonna make you do something you don’t wanna do…cause if I don’t now, no one else is gonna do it for a long time!” Tenderness finally winning out over her irritation, she continued, her voice now softer and warmer as she took her future partner’s hand, “Don’t ask me to tell you how I know this…I just do…let’s just say that someone we both know really well told me recently…right now things aren’t too bad for you…you know…I mean…I know that you’re going through hell, and I know why…believe me I do…but…things are gonna get a lot worse before they get better.” Sighing, she finished, “What I’m trying to say Angel is…take advantage of what you got now—‘kay?”
Seeing the sincere look on the face of the woman standing in front of him, the tormented vampire allowed a rare, slight smile to cross his features. “All right…I’ll…try.”
“That’s all I’m asking, Angel.” Cordelia said as she flashed her brightest smile.
“Wonder what they’re talking about?” Felicia, seeing her roommate and the tall dark man she had just meant engaged in what appeared to the strawberry blonde to be an intense conversation, asked as she allowed Donny to encircle her in his arms. “Looks pretty heavy.”
“Don’t know.” Donny answered back as he gently kissed his girlfriend, “But I’m sure they’ll straighten it out. I mean…yeah…he’s on the quiet side, but Cordy’s a together chick.”
“I know, Donny.” Felicia sighed as she rested her head on her boyfriend’s chest. “It’s just well…there’s something weird about Angel…I can’t put my finger on it, but something just doesn’t seem…right…you know?”
“Don’t sweat it, babe.” Donny said gently as he smiled down on his girl. “Okay, I haven’t talked to him that much, but I don’t get any bad vibes from him that he’d hurt Cordy or anything like that.” He then flashed a quick leer. “’Sides, you oughta be worried about what I got planned for you when we get back to your place…”
“Oh yeah?” Felicia smirked as she kissed her boyfriend. “Why don’t you just tell me…”
***********
“I’m surprised Angel cut out after dinner.” Felicia frowned as the now threesome made their way towards the apartment she shared with Cordelia.
Seeing the look of concern on her roommate’s face, Cordelia smiled reassuringly. “Oh…it’s okay. He works nights…security work…so he had to make an early night of it.”
“See…” Donny said with an amused grin, “Nothing to it…”
“All right…all right…” Felicia said with a smile of her own as the trio turned the corner. Then, seeing the man that Cordelia had introduced as her friend from England standing in front of the door to their apartment, the lovely strawberry blonde asked, “Edmund…right?”
“Ah…yes.” The diffident Englishman replied. “I’m…sorry to appear without first calling, but it’s a matter of some…urgency.” Then, fixing his eyes on Cordelia, he further clarified, “It deals with that matter we discussed this afternoon…”
“Oh…” Cordelia, momentarily taken aback by the Watcher’s appearance, exclaimed as she recovered her wits, “You mean that matter.”
“Exactly.” Edmund confirmed. “Perhaps it would be better if we talked at my hotel?”
“Definitely.” Cordelia agreed and then turned towards her roommate. “Licia? I’m gonna go with Edmund…it’s a family matter…you understand?”
“Ummm…yeah…I guess…” Felicia stammered before adding, her concern for her roommate reflecting in both her facial expression and voice tone, “You gonna be okay? You want we should go with…or you need anything from us?”
“Yeah.” Donny added. “You know if you need us…”
“I know.” The lithe brunette replied with a warm smile. “Me and Edmund got it handled…it’s just family business, you know.”
“Okay.” Felicia said reluctantly, “But if you need us…just give us a call…”
“Thanks cats.” Cordy grinned as she took the Englishman’s arm. “I need you…I’ll holler.” Then, giving her roommate a wink, the young seer added, “You two have fun, now.”
As her roomie and the Englishman disappeared around the corner, a worried frown crossed the pretty strawberry blonde’s face. “I don’t know…you sure she’s gonna be okay?”
“She’ll be fine.” Donny assured as he massaged his girlfriend’s shoulders. Then, flashing a playful grin, he added, “Don’t forget what she told us…”
“Yeah…” Felicia grinned as a part of her remained troubled still, “She did say for us to have fun…”
“And you know how Cordy gets when you don’t do what she tells you to do…” Donny teased gently as he kissed Felicia.
“I know.” Felicia said gently as she returned her boyfriend’s kiss while at the same time opening the door. “So…we better do what she says…”
***********
“So…” Cordelia said as she sipped the coffee that Edmund had thoughtfully prepared. “You’ve found out how they’re gonna bring back Sour Puss, huh?”
“Yes.” Edmund, barely repressing a grin at the irreverent expression the young woman sitting next to him used to describe the ancient vampire, replied. “It involves a complicated and dangerous magical ritual.” He explained, “With several ingredients.”
“Okay…” Cordy prompted, “What sorta ingredients are we talking about here? I’m guessin’ it’s more than your standard eye of newt and wolfsbane.”
“Most definitely.” Giles agreed. “First, they will need the Liber Arcanum and the Dagger of Agamemnon. The Liber contains the liturgy for the ceremony, and the Dagger is needed for the most important of the blood sacrifices.”
“Okay…” Cordelia said as she massaged her temples. “I remember reading in the paper that some sort of dagger was taken from the museum recently in a nighttime robbery—I think that might be our Dagger of Agamemnon.”
“That leaves just the book then.” Giles said as he shook his head.
“I think they might have that too.” Cordelia said softly as she set her coffee cup down and then explained. “He told me that he’d run into some vamps in the cemetery and that one of ‘em was carrying what looked like an old book. I’ve got a bad feeling that that might be our book.”
“I think it would be foolish to conclude otherwise.” The Watcher agreed.
“So that leaves the sacrifices then.” Cordelia said as a lump formed in her throat.
“Yes.” The Englishman nodded his head. “There is the standard sacrifice of innocents—the bloodletting of twelve youths. But that’s not the Dagger’s purpose. The Dagger is used just before that sacrifice takes place—for the sacrifice of The Child.”
“The Child?” The time traveling seer asked, confused.
“The Child.” The Watcher then explained. “You see…for the ritual to succeed, a child of the Master’s must be sacrificed. His or her blood will join that of the innocents providing the necessary mystical energies…”
“Angel.” Cordelia then said in a low voice. “He’s the Child.”
“Quite.” Edmund agreed. “Angel is in a great deal of danger as long as he remains in Sunnydale.”
***********
As Donny drove drown the lonely country road, the top down on his Mustang convertible, he smiled warmly. “I’m the luckiest cat alive.” He sighed as he turned on the radio.
“This is KDSL with the newest release by the Electric Prunes—“Too Much To Dream.”
Last night your shadow fell upon my lonely room
I touched your golden hair and tasted your perfume
Your eyes were filled with love the way they used to be
Your gentle hand reached out to comfort me
Then came the dawn
And you were gone
You were gone, gone, gone
“Far out!” Donny exclaimed as he beat time to the music with his free hand. “Perfect end to the perfect night!” He smiled as the song continued to play.
I had too much to dream last night
Too much to dream
I'm not ready to face the light
I had too much to dream
Last night
As he drove, the young man saw her standing in front of her car, its hood up, leaning over the engine. Pulling over and coming to a stop, Donny, after putting his Mustang in park, leaped out and rushed over to assist the lovely blonde whose back was at that moment turned to him. “Hey, baby.” He smiled. “Can I give you a hand?”
The room was empty as I staggered from my bed
I could not bear the image racing through my head
You were so real that I could feel your eagerness
And when you raised your lips for me to kiss
“Yeah…I think you’ll do nicely…” Darla, turning around, smiled hungrily as she eyed her prey.
Came the dawn
And you were gone
You were gone, gone, gone
Oh, too much to dream
Oh, too much to dream
Too much to dream last night
Oh, too much to dream
***********
“You understand what you are to do then?” Luke glared at Darla and her vampire henchmen. “The time for the Rising approaches. If our Master is to return before the prophesied day thirty years from now, then the ritual must be performed soon.”
“I know.” Darla flashed an evil grin as she held up a vial containing a dark potion. “The contents of this will get us Angelus without any problems—and, as for his companion…” She then leered as she crooked her finger, signaling for someone to approach. “I think we’ve found the perfect tool—right, Donny?”
Upon hearing the mention of his name, Felicia’s boyfriend, now wearing the face of a vampire, smiled hungrily, his newly acquired fangs gleaming in the dim light of the cave. “Yeah, baby.”
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