Title: Lost and Found
Author: Helen
Posted: 07-05-2003
Email: hwtaft@yahoo.co.uk
Rating: NC-17
Category: Angst, smut
Content: C/A
Summary: This is set in season 5. A little back history is Cordy woke up and Angel helped her get over what happened to her, but then she took off, now she’s back.
Spoilers: I have included a ‘new’ character that has been spoiled from the show itself, just so I can take pot shots and yes, I’ve described her as ‘blonde’ Hee Hee.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution:
Notes:
Feedback: Yes please, this is my 1st so any help is good
Thanks/Dedication:Part 7
ANGELS BEDROOM
They lay together on the bed as they used to before she’d left. His bigger body wrapped around hers, the cover wrapped around the both of them, keeping her body heat in with them and warming him.
“Are you awake” she asked him but didn’t turn around.
He debated not answering and pretending to be asleep, but knew she would never fall for it. He shifted back a little but didn’t move his arm where it was draped over her hip.
“Yeah”
Keep it simple, less likely to put his foot in his mouth and say something to set her off. But he could feel it brewing; there was a heavy expectant air around them.
“Can I ask you something”? asked Cordy in a hushed voice, still facing away from him.
“What” he felt uneasy, usually Cordy would just ask, not ask if she could.
He wished she would turn around so he could see her face, but after what had just happened there was no way he was going to try and make her. He listened to her breathing as she lay there, waiting for her to go on.
“Did you want this, or was it the spell”?
What the hell was she asking him, he turned over and lay on his back, a hand rubbing over his face, What to say? It was daybreak which was hardly his best time of day and he had a killer hangover.
When he stayed silent for so long, she lost it and shot out of the bed so fast all he could do was stare at her.
“Ok don’t answer that, I don’t want to know”, she was jerking her clothes on as she spoke the words stiff and a little choked.
Last night she hadn’t cared but now she did, it hurt and she just wanted to get out of there and away from him. She shouldn’t have stayed, scratch that she thought, I should have just left him lying on the floor.
“Cordy wait”
“Stay the hell away from me” she tossed back as started to stalk towards the door.
He suddenly materialised in front of her and she shot out a punch straight for his nose, his hand caught her fist but he didn’t try and keep hold of her, but backed up a step while still blocking the door. At least he’d wrapped one of the towels around his hips.
“Please, will you just wait and give me a chance to answer” His eyes were pleading his expression strained.
She crossed her arms and glared at a spot on his chest, refusing to meet his eyes. “Do it and hurry up” she snapped.
He sighed but tried anyway “I did want you, both times and not just because of the spell”.
He waited for a few beats, hoping she would at least look him again, finally she did. Her gaze steady but still not appeased.
“I always want you” he said softly, hoping desperately to convince her.
“The first time out there”, he nodded towards the sitting room, “I was almost out of control but I knew I wanted you and then later in here. I knew exactly what I was doing”.
She said nothing, just kept looking at him as if weighing his words against what she saw on his face.
A part of him hated admitting that, he couldn’t remember all of the details yet, it was still a little hazy and he wasn’t sure she’d been willing. Admitting he’d been in control of himself meant he might have done something so terrible it hurt just to think about.
But lying to her was wrong and he had promised her a long time that he would not lie to her again, no matter what. Some promises just had to be kept.
“What about you? did you” he struggled to ask, “erm did I, I mean where you..” he trailed off, the words stuck in his throat and he had to look away from her.
“Did I what”? She looked confused but he was still looking away and didn’t see it, her voice was no longer tight with anger though.
He tried again. “Where you willing”? He asked with a grimace and a darting look up.
She gaped at him as he met her eyes again, “Was I willing, Angel you big dork, of course I was willing. I practically seduced you”.
She smiled then “Don’t you remember”
He shrugged reassured but still paler than usual “Most of it, but some of the details are still a bit unclear”.
“Oh’ said Cordy, disappointed, then she jumped towards him in alarm as he started to sway where he was standing.
“Angel are you OK” She put her arms around him, trying to help him stay on his feet.
“Yeah I just need to get back down” His voice was weak and unsteady too.
“OK just lean on me”, they made their way back to the bed just fine if not in a straight line.
Angel fell back on the bed and winced, moaning and pressing the heel of his hand to his forehead.
“Got a hangover have we” asked Cordy brightly, reassured when he nodded and gave another moan as the movement caused his head to throb again.
“Do you feel sick” she asked laying a hand on his shoulder.
“No” he replied. Turning on his side, his eyes squeezed tightly shut.
“You big baby, how old are you? She laughed
In response he hooked an arm around her hips and pulled her towards him, she didn’t resist and when she was sitting next to him, he lifted his head and snuggled down into her lap, his face pressed into her belly.
She laid a hand on his dark head and stroked down and over his broad back, he heaved a sigh and wrapped his circling arms around her hips a little tighter.
“What am I a pillow now”? She asked a smile lighting her already beautiful face, soft full lips curved in amusement, dark hazel eyes sparkling with amusement at his antics.
“Hmm” was all she got out of him
“Are you still mad at me” he asked after a few moments had passed and she hadn’t tried to move him off her.
He sounded muffled and she could only just make out the words. He certainly wasn’t in any hurry to move.
“No, I’m not mad anymore” It was true, as much as he had hurt her, he’d managed to dig himself out of it, “I must be going soft”.
“You wanna get comfortable again then” he sounded so hopeful she grinned down at his head and started to slide back until she was lying down. He moved then to face her and lifted a hand to stroke her dark silky hair away from her face.
His dark brown eyes were clear and he smiled delightedly at her. She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, had he been putting it on in a play for sympathy.
He saw it and guessed what she was thinking and said quickly “I feel better lying down”.
Yeah right.
EVE’S APARTMENT
“This had better have worked”. She pressed play on the vide player and leaned forward on the couch, an icepack held to her swollen nose, below bruised eyes.
The TV screen changed from static to the sitting room with her smiling in the chair, she watched it from that point. Dispassionately analysing as it showed her attempt to seduce Angel, followed by the interruption.
She froze the screen on Cordelia’s friend purely out of curiosity and as she hadn’t paid much attention at the time. Plain Jane; pale with no makeup, mousy brown hair stuffed into a ponytail, baggy jeans. Not exactly a femme fatale or anything close. But she’d need checking out anyway.
She turned it back to play again, the rest she hadn’t seen. Her face went tight and pinched with rage when she saw the dark haired bitch getting all down and dirty with the guy she was supposed to have seduced.
You’d have to be blind not to see the difference in the way Angel had reacted to the two women, with her he’d been unable to not respond because of the spell but he’d just lain there. With Cordelia he’d all but run her to ground and then started to rip her clothes off.
This was not good and the Senior Partners were not going to like it, she would have to find other uses for this goddamn tape. She mentally ran through her options.
Two looked promising, she decided finally, but both individuals would need to be tracked down before she considered sending a copy to them, anonymously of course.
A MOTEL ROOM
Cathy tossed and turned in her sleep, brown hair matted with sweat, face pale and strained and scrunched up as is if in pain. Nightmares assaulted her mind, images of death, killing torture and pain.
She kicked the sheet off her body and her arms flailed around as if trying to push the dreams away. Then she quieted for awhile as the tone of the dreams changed. More pain but this time with guilt and sorrow and a deep aching loneliness.
Then more pain as it came to her in flashing images a child loved and lost, taken and abused only to return and be lost again. Her breathing hitched and then stopped altogether. She sat bolt upright amongst the mess of the bedclothes, moaning and clutching her head with tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Shit, Oh shit” she kept repeating it as she staggered up on weak legs and went into the tiny bathroom to splash her face with cold water. She could barely catch the water in her cupped palms, she was shaking so hard.
A while later she sat on the chair in the corner with blue yes red rimmed and bloodshot. A mug of strong coffee in her still trembling hands. All she could think was that Cordy must have lost it and he’d picked it up and kept it on him. So where was Cordelia, she tried again just in case but could only find him, she blocked it.
“Where are you Cordy”, she wasn’t particularly worried, well only a bit. Its not like she kept permanent tabs on her, Cordy knew all she had to do was take it off and the link was severed. But that’s not what had happened there was still a link, only now it was Angel.
ANGEL’S BEDROOM
Angel woke up to find a note from Cordy on the pillow next to him, remembering the last note she left him, he panicked until he read it. She’d had to leave on an errand but would see him later, he relaxed again.
He left the bed and took a shower, happily preparing to face the afternoon and night ahead. He returned to the bedroom to finish dressing when something caught his eye, lying on the bed where he’d been sleeping.
He reached over and snagged it up, it was a slim leather cord, with a small piece of wood attached to it. He rubbed his finger over it; it was smooth but otherwise unremarkable to look at, except for the fact there was blood on it, old blood but still there anyway. His brows drew together as he vaguely recalled it had been around Cordy’s neck. What was it some kind of talisman?
He fished out of his pocket the note she had left, she’d written down her cell phone number in case he wanted to talk to her, smiling again he memorised it carefully. Should he call her or wait until a little later? He didn’t want her to think he was being obsessive or anything.
Part 8
EVE’S APARTMENT
Eve answered the door and stood with one hip cocked, blocking it with her other arm. Her face was bruised and swollen still, but she still managed to look arrogantly assured.
“What do you want”? She looked with disdain at Cordy. “What’s up did lover boy kick you out of bed? A classy girl like you too, damn it’s such a shame” taunted Eve.
“Hardly, but that’s none of your business” Said Cordy steadily.
“A girls gotta have some fun,” said Eve mockingly “come on where’s the gossip”?
Cordy ignored her and pushed her way past the smaller woman only to turn around and give a scornful smile of her own.
“Is that the closest you can get to a sex life Eve, gossip or is that before you’re forced to resort to drugs and magic”?
“Oh I wouldn’t be so uppity if I were you, looks to me you got something out of that too” Said Eve with a sneer on her face.
“It’s interesting you should say that. Exactly how do you know that, since you were out cold at the time”?
Eve just walked past Cordy and into the living room to lean on a sideboard, her feet nonchalantly crossed at the ankle.
“What did you come here for Ms Chase?”
“I want the videotape you took out of Angel’s apartment”
“I don’t know what you mean” said Eve, not even bothering to try and lie well.
“I found the camera you had hidden in the room, so I know you’re a lying bitch” said Cordy matter of factly.
“Maybe with all the excitement I forgot to put one in”. She smirked and then feigned a shiver.
“Security said you came back afterwards, why was that if not to get the tape”? Asked Cordy, hiding the rising anger, how could I have ever fallen for this woman’s crap?
“Look Cordelia, this has been interesting and all but I have work to do, so you get to leave now”, Eve smiled at her, assured that Cordy would not get what she wanted out of this little chat.
“I’m not going anywhere until you give me that tape, so just get used to the idea and save us both some time, not to mention me the pleasure of your company” said Cordy her voice dripping with deadly sarcasm
“Or what, you gonna hurt me? Well maybe I like pain” said Eve mockingly, opening her arms wide in invitation.
“Oh purleaze is that supposed to impress me with how much of a sicko you are. Like I don’t know that already”. Cordy sauntered closer with a cold smile.
“You know something I think I actually miss Lilah, unlike you, at least she had some standards” Cordy let scornful eyes wander over the woman’s clothes. “I mean c’mon if those shorts got any shorter you need a pickaxe and a tow truck to get them out of your ass”.
“Maybe she did, until you killed her” said Eve maliciously, but her face went pinched with anger. That had hit home.
“You might want to bear that in mind” Cordy answered coolly.
Eve turned around and pulled out a drawer, she took something from it but didn’t close it. It was a small camera tape; she tossed it onto the nearby couch.
“You got what you came for, now get out”
“How do I know if this isn’t the right one....?” Cordy didn’t get to finish
“It is” said Eve
“Did you make a copy”? This had been way too easy, she would never have believed that Eve would hand it over so easily, what did I hurt your ‘widdle’ feelings.
“How could I it’s only been a few hours and I’ve been here ever since. Do you want it or not”? Asked Eve with a show of boredom.
Cordy moved to the couch and carefully reached down to pick it up. It looked like the right type but she didn’t trust this set-up, something niggled. She took her eyes of Eve for a moment.
That was all Eve was waiting for, Cordy was slightly unbalanced for only a second but it was enough. Eve aimed a kick straight for her chest; Cordy managed to twist out of the way but lost the battle with gravity and fell backwards. Eve was on her in an instant.
She literally fell on her with an elbow thrust out, Cordy tensed her stomach muscles but she was not fully back in shape yet. Oh god it hurt, she saw stars and had to struggle not to throw up, she managed to avoid the next blow to the same spot. What was with this woman and body blows?
She jammed an arm out and smashed the heel of her hand up to Eve’s jaw, which snapped shut loud enough to make her think she might have cracked some teeth. Good.
Eve squealed as blood started to pour from her mouth, she’d bitten into her tongue. As Cordy still struggled to recover from the earlier blow, Eve staggered up and ran back to the sideboard. She reached back into the open drawer and withdrew a dark metallic object and pointed it at Cordelia.
Cordy watched frozen as the other woman cocked the weapon, ready for firing
She carefully schooled her expression to keep it calm as she met Eve’s eyes, over the small black gun aiming right between her eyes.
She raised her hands and tried not to look down the black hole of the barrel, silencer attached and all.
“I left a note, people know I’m here”, said Cordy, sounding cool and collected, when she felt anything but. Ignoring as best she could her pounding heart and the awful sinking feeling in her belly
“I doubt Ms Independence would have told anybody in case they tried to get all ‘protective’ on you. No I think your lying” Eve struggled to get the words out of her damaged mouth.
“I think that I can kill you now and get you out of my way, permanently” Her china blue eyes sparkled with rage and malice.
“You are so wrong” said Cordy quietly, she knew her only chance of getting out of here alive was to convince psycho woman that she would not get away with it.
She didn’t doubt that Angel would suspect Eve anyway, but without proof it might only take dumping her in some seedy alley to convince people that she’d been the victim of a mugging or something. Probably the reason for the body blows, less obvious.
“We’ll see” said Eve
Cordy’s cell phone started to ring out, shrill and demanding. Eve lost concentration for a moment and Cordy seeing it, took a risk. She picked up and threw one of the cushions off the couch and thanked god for an accurate aim.
Eve instinctively lifted a hand to protect her face and the gun wavered off target for a few precious seconds. Cordy answered the phone.
She didn’t bother with saying hello or even wait for the caller to identify themselves.
“I’m in Eve’s apartment and she’s got a gun one me”.
Eve stalked towards Cordy, her face screwed up into a caricature of rage, her mouth twisted with it and still oozing blood. She jabbed the weapon so close to Cordy’s face, she couldn’t prevent a flinch from showing.
Eve was undecided; she needed to find out who was on the other end of that call. It had been OK to kill Cordy and dump her before, but now. Dammit who was on the other end, did they matter?
She was to snatch it away and find out for herself, when Cordy smiled at her and handed it to her anyway.
“I think you’d better take this one”. She pushed the phone closer towards Eve, who had yet to take it, “Your boss wants a word with you”.
Eve went utterly still and backed away a little; keeping the gun out of reach should Cordelia try and take it off her. Hoping it was a trick she took the phone with her free hand. The gun still trained on Cordy.
“Who is this”? She said. The answer had her flushed face turning white.
ANGEL’S OFFICE
Angel was standing behind his desk, leaning with one hand planted on the desk surface, the phone receiver clutched so tightly in the other hand; he had to consciously relax it or risk cracking the plastic.
“Eve, this is Angel”, his knuckles went whiter again “Just shut up and listen to me”. His dark eyes were staring at a spot in front of him but not seeing anything, narrowed to glittering slits. His voice low, furious and deadly.
“If you hurt Cordelia, I promise you that when I’ve finished with you and dumped your broken body in the sewers, it’ll look prettier after rotting for a few weeks.”
He waited a few seconds for it to sink in and then said “I expect to hear Cordelia talking calmly to me as she is walking out of the door unhurt, you got that. If I don’t, your life is over and I’m warning you now do not test me”.
He listened for a moment “Now give the phone back to Cordelia”
EVE’S APARTMENT
“Hi, it’s me again. Yeah I’m leaving now” said Cordy, watching as Eve lowered the gun until it hung at her side and then slumped down to sit on the edge of a chair.
Cordy backed out of the room, the phone still to her ear, keeping an eye on Eve until she had closed the door behind her. The tape in the other hand.
“OK I’m out” She told him. The next minute she winced and had to take the phone away from her ear for second. “Owwwww OK, stop with the yelling I’m not deaf ya know”.
“Look I’ll see you later and explain it then, I promise”
Back inside Eve still hadn’t moved from the chair but was rocking back and forwards her arms hugging her body.
“At least I still have a copy” she whispered to herself, grasping at straws. The videotape wouldn’t do, it wasn’t enough and she was dead anyway if she didn’t make some progress soon.
“I wish I’d never started this, it should have been so easy. It was supposed to have been easy” tears of self-pity stung her eyes.
They’d underestimated him, even before she’d been getting nowhere with him. They’d concentrated on the wrong one, instead of researching the slayer they should have done Cordelia and taken the opportunity when she left to make sure she never came back alive.
As it was she’d gone about it all wrong and now she was going to die, unless she came up with a plan to pave the way for someone else to try and get to the vampire. She knew she’d blown it but if she laid the groundwork well, maybe they would be lenient with her.
She had an idea, it was a long shot but it had worked before. She got shakily to her feet and over to the sideboard again. She needed a messenger who was quick and reliable.
She found the entry she wanted and made a call.
FRED’S OFFICE – WOLFRAM & HART LAB
Fred’s email popped up with a new message. It was an electronic report telling her Eve had placed a call on a certain date and time as well as the number she’d dialled. The same happened with calls Eve made from her office at work and all emails sent from home and work too. Oh the wonders of modern technology.
She smiled and fought the urge to check behind her to see if she was being watched. It was a chess game, she’d guessed Knox checked her emails and so she built electronic walls to stop him. He then found a way around them and she had to build another. This being the case, before they could implement the plan to keep tabs on Eve, they’d had to find a solution.
Finally Wesley had helped her come up with that solution and so far Knox and/or someone else had not been able to breach it yet. To help keep the possibility of being found out less of a risk, only she got the reports and then distributed hard copies to both Angel and Wesley.
ANGEL – AROUND & ABOUT
Once the deadly confrontation between Eve and Cordy had finished and he knew she was safe. Angel pulled Gunn off a case and asked him to stake out Eve’s place.
After hearing what Eve had tried to do to Cordy, he’d been all over that idea, at least once Angel convinced him not to just kill her. He didn’t want her dead yet and definitely not at the hand of any of his people. The senior partners would more than likely take care of that little problem themselves.
The fact was Eve was going nowhere that they wouldn’t know about and they were checking into that call she’d made straight after the confrontation with Cordy.
It made him uneasy, that she’d been feeling chatty enough to call someone after what had happened. He knew he’d frightened her badly, even over the phone he could almost taste it. She was upto something and they needed to find out what. Fred was working on that right now.
He pushed it out of his mind until they knew more, Gunn had Eve under surveillance right this minute and anyway he had made certain Cordy was safe. He’d assigned a surveillance team to watch over her, he knew she wouldn’t be pleased but he needed to know she was safe and it was only until they found whoever this call was made too.
He had an hour or so until he was meeting Cordy at her apartment, but he wanted to get a gift, a sort of welcome back present. She might think it kind of sappy, but it’s not like he got to be sappy very often and he thought she would appreciate it.
He was inside a print shop and professional framers, the guy he’d spoken too had assured him that he could reprint the photograph he’d couriered over earlier both bigger and better than the original and then frame it for hanging.
Angel was paying the guy extra for staying late, he’d used the excuse of being in meetings and could he pick it up at such and such a time. You tell people sunset and they look at you weird, it must be instinct or something.
The shop owner was a middle aged beaming bearded man who chattered non-stop. Angel had to fight an urge to invite the guy to meet Lorne, what a pair they would make. Not that he really minded the guy was genuinely helpful.
Plus he did a wonderful job, Angel grinned delighted by the quality of the reprint despite the fact that it had been blown up to nearly triple the size. He remembered Cordy insisting on the photograph being taken back during the happier days at the Hotel, with Fred just coming out of her shell and before a pregnant Darla showed up.
It was of the five of them, all huddling next to the counter in a line grinning, pleased to be together. It had taken nearly a whole roll of film as Cordy had insisted on taking numerous shots just in case, considering she had set it on automatic. It was lucky she had, this was the only one that had turned out.
But it had got ripped somehow and it had been one of Cordy’s favourites. Well it was fixed now and fitted to a honey pine frame, it was a rich warm wood and it looked expensive. He didn’t care so long as it beat the cactus.
The shopkeeper asked him if he wanted it gift wrapped and he started to say no, thinking of brown paper but the guy pulled out some pale blue tissue like stuff and royal blue plaited cord. He gave him a charming smile and agreed that would be great.
Angel left the shop with an hour to spare, plenty of time to go and pickup some wine, he knew what she liked. He was just walking back to the car when suddenly; the package was snatched from under his arm. It took him a few seconds to get over the sheer surprise of having something taken off him, which gave the thief a small head start.
After running flat out for nearly ten minutes, Angel finally caught up with the thief in a deserted building hidden behind a bar and pool hall. The noise from it might have drowned out the running footsteps but the smell of his would-be thief was more than enough to keep him on his trail.
This guy was damn fast he would give him that, not to mention a hell of a hard time when he got his hands on him. During the chase he’d seen enough to tell it that whoever it was they were only small, not much bigger than a child, but fast and definitely not human, hence the smell.
The pungent aroma was even stronger when he entered the building and approached the figure crouching near one corner.
“Hey that’s mine” Angel growled at it.
“Mine now” said the figure, it even sounded like a child, petulant and possessive.
It shuffled to the side when he came too close; clutching the package to its body and looking at the vampire out of blinking green eyes the size of saucers. Its skin was almost translucent, a tracery of veins visible all over its skinny face and hands.
Angel sighed deeply and stood over it, assuming an authoritative ‘hands on hips and losing patience’ stance. The demon looked too delicate and childlike for him to consider hurting it. But he was going to get Cordy’s present back no matter what it took.
“I want it back and you are going to give it to me”, he used a booming voice to try and scare it into giving it up.
“I want it” it said back, still holding tight.
“Why” asked Angel frustrated, why me, he thought, this kind of thing doesn’t happen to any other guy trying to get his a girl a gift.
“Cos it’s yours” came the reply, obscure much.
“Do I know you” he asked finally.
“No but I know you, you’re the vampire with a soul”, it gave a little grin, showing small razor sharp teeth that nevertheless looked like they might snap if they bit into something too hard.
“So what, you wanted a souvenir” asked Angel incredulously
“No I wanted you to meet my mother”, it seemed to think that explained everything, NOT.
“Why would you want that” asked Angel feeling he had to play the game to get back what was his, without having to hurt it.
“Cos if my mom kills you, then I’ll can tell all my friends and show them this picture to prove it”.
As reasons go that made no sense whatsoever, was this for real? Angel just stared at the little demon. He could feel his temper rising, he was going to be late if he didn’t get a move on.
Enough was enough, he leaned down to snatch it away “Gimme that” he snarled, vamping out in an attempt to give the demon-child a fright and maybe cause it to turn loose.
He heard a crash then and some pretty serious sounding snarls coming from just in front of them, behind some crates and trash piled high. Looking at it he realised from the way it was organised that this was probably the start of a nest of some kind.
“Mom I presume” he said to the enormous sized creature that came roaring out, leaving a trail of broken boxes and other trash in its wake.
“Wow kid, you’ve got some growing to do yet haven’t you” he said to the evil grinning demon-spawn. Just his luck; he was tonight’s entertainment and trophy to impress pals all rolled into one.
Like hell, he had somewhere to be and better things to do.
He kept his game face on and charged at ‘Mom’, who flipped him onto his back, which wouldn’t have been so bad except it was after throwing him at least twenty feet away. “Owwww”
He got back up and dusted himself off, looking at the creature, searching for weaknesses. He hadn’t come out armed because he had intended on going straight over to Cordy’s apartment and anyway he had a trunk full of weapons. No good to him now though.
The demon apparently lost patience waiting for him to make a move, so it came to him. The only similarities between mom and spawn were the skin and eyes. The teeth on this thing gave even him pause and as for being delicate, he was only surprised the floor didn’t shake with each ponderous step.
That was one thing in his favour, she wasn’t exactly nimble on her feet, or whatever was hidden under the baggy clothes and bindings strips that covered where the feet would be.
He hefted up a wooden crate upto his chest and let it loose at her head, it hit with a resounding crash and the wood splintered around the things face. It shook the pieces loose and swiped the rest away, but it was bleeding, no tough hide on this one then. Good.
He looked around for some kind of sharp object but came up with nothing, then he was out of time and had to just throw a punch, dodging the smashing blow it aimed at his own head. It staggered back a little and he threw another one and then another, left and then right fisted, driving it back.
He backed off as it stood shaking its meaty head as if trying to clear the ringing, he knew how that felt. He took a step forward and then spun on his heel, bringing his other foot around in an arc to land a powerful kick, sending it crashing sideways back into its nest of trash.
“Stop it, stop it” cried a voice next to him, the little demon clung onto his leg and wouldn’t shake loose even when he tried to kick it of him.
“Here have your stupid picture, just leave my mom alone” it said tearfully, running to the fallen demon and kneeling down next to it.
Angel had the wrapped picture in his hand, he lifted up to the light, it was OK. He turned to leave, Mom would be OK, it was just stunned, he was done here.
Part 9
He’d had no idea that the whole incident had been watched by someone else in the building. If this was a movie the hero would have got a prickling sensation or something to show he was aware of some danger but Angel was oblivious to it.
She watched him leave, her large eyes watching him with a kind of sick hunger, a wide smile on her mouth. Dark as midnight hair curling around her heartshaped face. Her eyes did not turn to the other two until the door had closed behind him with a bang.
Then she came out of her hiding place; she was tall for woman and walked with unusual grace across the dirty floor, as if all she needed was a full swinging skirt to follow the gentle sway of her hips. She stopped beside the fallen demon and its spawn.
The youngster looked up at her with its saucer like eyes, all blazing green. “He hurt my mom”
“Mummy’s fine darling” she said curling hands around its chin, digging her nails in for a second on that fragile looking skin.
“You said you’d pay me if I got him here, but I don’t want it now.” Its lips quivered “I shouldn’t have done it”.
She pouted at him, still stroking his head “I needed to see Daddy, but I should have known I was too late”, she wrapped her feminine looking hands around its little throat and started to squeeze with crushing force.
“I’m always too late”, tears squeezed out of her eyes and her head swayed from side to side as if unable to understand something. She looked down to find it lifeless now, lying next to its oblivious mother.
She giggled and smacked her own hand; she hadn’t meant to kill it. She’d wanted to find out more about the picture and what was so important about it?
“It’s all his fault you know”, she hissed in a whisper “The Angel beast”
“I’m all alone, nobody loves me or cares for me” Tears dripped freely down her face now, “But not him, he has a new family and a new love”. She threw back her head and gave a howl of rage.
*He has to pay you know” she said harshly to the dead demon-child.
Then in a horrifyingly abrupt change of mood, she burst into song and twirled and pranced back toward the door, her arms held out as if she where holding a partner at a dance.
CORDY’S APARTMENT
She answered the door to find him standing there looking nervous and yet smiley at the same time. She smiled back, all he needed to do to complete the picture of a nervous boy was shuffle his feet, which was kinda funny coming from such a big man.
Angel relaxed when she smiled at him and then stood back in silent invitation. Until she remembered he needed more than that and grinned cheekily at him, cocking her head to one side as if considering what to do. He raised a brow and assumed a ferocious scowl, playing the game.
“Come on in”. No admonishments about behaving himself this time at least.
“Here let me take the wine, Ooh I like this one” she said to him as he followed her across the small living room towards the tiny kitchen.
He had the package under his coat; she hadn’t spotted it yet. He laid it on a table before joining her. “Nice place” he said looking around him and then back at her, unable to keep his eyes off her.
It had been difficult before to not just stop what he was doing and stare, it was even harder now since last night. Now he knew her body in the way he’d wanted to for so long but had never dreamed he would be able to.
She smelled absolutely gorgeous, all warm damp femininity and slightly flowery, she must have only just recently bathed and her hair was still a little damp but as glossy as ever.
She was wearing a sleeveless blouse that was dainty and feminine and a flirty skirt that showed off her fantastic legs. He looked away before he embarrassed himself, adjusting his pants where they had gone snug in the last few seconds.
He took the glass she offered him, filled with ruby coloured red wine and lifted it to his lips as she did the same.
“So you were going to tell me what got you haring off after Eve today,” he said it with only a touch of exasperation.
Cordy told him about the camera she’d found and the fact that the tape was missing and then described the confrontation and the fight that followed. He took the tape she handed to him and turned it over in his hands.
“I haven’t seen it, so I don’t know what’s actually on there. It can’t be played on a normal video player without the equipment so”. She shrugged and left it at that. Angel decided to do the same.
Angel the tucked the tape into a pocket in his leather duster and then took the coat off, placing it carefully on a chair. Cordy sat down on one corner of the couch and he sat next to her, they faced one another, suddenly awkward.
Cordy hated awkward silences and so decided to jump in at the deep end. If she wanted to know how he felt about her, she was going to have to poke away at some sore spots. She took a deep breath and then let it out slowly, her hazel eyes watching him carefully.
“Tell me about Buffy”? She asked it was more of a demand than a request, however soft the words were uttered.
He’d been expecting it, he still hated talking about it but he’d known she would want to know. So he started from the beginning, telling her about the trip to Sunnydale and what had happened.
He left nothing out and he couldn’t look at her when he got to the bit about kissing Buffy so he missed Cordy rolling her eyes towards the ceiling, when he told her Buffy’s Cookie analogy.
“Why did you do it, tell her you would wait”? She wasn’t going to let him get away with that one.
“I don’t really know” He ducked his head, embarrassed, knowing it wasn’t good enough. He had to try and make her understand he wasn’t being evasive, it was the truth.
“I can’t explain it; I got over Buffy a while ago”
He defended himself quickly when she gave it him ‘that’ look. “Longer than even you know” he finished with a direct stare.
He moved closer a determined look on his face. “Look what I do know is that I don’t want to be given a choice, for me there is no choice to be made”.
He was going to lay himself on the line, he’d decided earlier that he had to take a risk and tell her what was in his heart, either that or lose her again.
“I feel bad about Buffy, because she deserves to be loved, but I can’t do that anymore, not in the way she needs. I love you now, love you and need you in a way that I never have before even with Buffy”.
“You left thinking I was going back to Buffy, but I didn’t and even if you hadn’t come back, I still wouldn’t do it. I’m not the guy for her and she’d not the girl for me”.
Cordy’s eyes dropped, hiding her expression, her cheeks becoming a little flushed. Then she looked back up him and smiled. She leaned forward and clasped his large hands in her own so that they were joined when she spoke again.
“I love you too, but just so you know, I’m not sorry that I left”. He looked like he had mixed feelings about her answer, but he let her carry on without interruption.
“I was too needy and dependent; I had to get over that”
“I didn’t mind,” he said quickly.
“I did,” she said back just as quickly.
He nodded understanding that was part of what he loved about her, the strength and independence. Although he had to admit her independence did cause him a few headaches.
“So where do we go from here”? She asked him
He looked at her, the lamplight reflecting the depths of his brown eyes, turning them into liquid pools, hiding and revealing some of the emotions he was trying to keep hidden or at least less obvious. He didn’t want to scare her off; he pursed his lips before twisting them into a wry smile.
“I want it all,” he said clearly, watching for her reaction.
She cocked her head again, her brows lowering just a bit in confusion, “What do you mean”?
“I know that I shouldn’t expect too much, I’m a vampire and a freak of nature. But I want”. He stopped as if searching for the right way of putting it.
“Before you decide if you want to be with me, I need you to know that it won’t be like with Buffy”. He looked at her, wanting to see that she understood what he meant.
“I won’t stand by and just watch if you decide you want someone else. I’m jealous and possessive and I know that’s wrong but I can’t help it”.
If he breathed he would have been holding it now, all he could hope was that he hadn’t just dug his own grave.
“Angel...”, she stopped herself, looking into the distance. The only thing stopping him from panicking was the half smile tugging the corners of her full lips.
“If you decide to be with me, I need to know that your mine and that you won’t get cold feet and just leave”. There he’d said it. He watched and waited, not knowing what to expect from her.
“I’m not going anywhere Angel and as for the rest. I don’t care what’s PC these days. I’m a woman and when a guy loves me he damn well better be possessive of me, or I’ll know why not”.
They stared at one another for second then Angel eased forward to press a kiss to her parted lips, lingering for moment to see if she would pull back. She didn’t, instead she kissed him back, her tongue darting inside his mouth once before she broke the kiss and leaned back so that she could see him fully.
“I have a present for you” He said, looking into her slightly dreamy hazel eyes and watched them widen with excitement, enjoying the blazing smile that lit up her whole face.
“You do, where is it”? Her eyes darted over him and then came back to his face with an expectant look.
He got up and went over to the table, where the package lay as yet unnoticed by Cordy and brought it back to her. Instead of sitting back on the couch he squatted down in front of her, just before her knees and placed it on her lap.
“I hope you like it” He said softly hiding a sudden feeling of uncertainty, maybe he should have just got a cactus again.
She darted him a glance full of excitement and pulled at the wrapping, he stayed where he was, watching her. Finally she held the picture and frame on her lap, staring down at it.
“It’s just a house warming gift,” he said to her.
Her fingers traced the photograph over the glass cover and along to the edge, feeling the smooth carved wood of the frame. She looked at him then with tears sparkling on her lashes.
“It’s lovely, thank you”, he wasn’t so sure she wasn’t just saying that, what with the tears and all but then she put the picture carefully down beside the couch and threw her arms around him in a bear hug, simultaneously placing a smacking big kiss on his lips.
Relieved and chuckling Angel picked her up off the couch so that she was high against his chest; she carried on kissing him, trying to wrap her skirt-clad legs around his waist. She moved onto his jaw, nipping slightly and then soothing it with a lick. His neck beckoned her, especially where it joined his ears but he had other ideas.
He sat down on the biggest of the chairs, ignoring the couch now, he wanted her as close as possible. Cordy found herself on his lap, with her head laid gently down on one arm of the chair and her legs draped over the opposite one.
She looked up at him quizzically, she couldn’t really do much in this position, he was too far out of reach. She tried to sit up but he placed a hand on her chest, his lips turned up in a sensual smile as he said, “Turn about’s fair play”.
She was still confused and then it clicked, He was talking about her exploration of him the night before, while he was still out. At least she thought he’d been out, maybe not. She’d ask him later she decided, too engrossed in watching his strong fingers as he started to undo the tiny buttons of her top, one by one and taking his own sweet time about it.
Finally she was bare to the waist and laid back spread before him like some kind of golden offering. She didn’t mind, in fact her belly was swirling with excitement and a keen sense of anticipation that made her skin roughen and goosebumps appear on her skin.
She licked her lips and watched his face as it tightened and darkened with desire, it was a look that she could easily learn to crave from him.
But she was a bit nervous too; her relationships so far hadn’t really prepared her for this. The only one with regular sex had been Groo and he’d been eager to please but not exactly creative when it came to love play. She shivered slightly.
Angel speared his fingers into her hair and gently the cupped the top of her head, kneading with sensitive fingers. He lowered his head until his lips hovered over hers.
“Do you trust me”? He asked she nodded her eyes wide.
“Then give me your tongue”.
He closed the distance and touched his lips to her, she did as he asked and he sucked gently and rhythmically on it. Cordy was forced to clutch her thighs together as desire speared straight to her loins causing a piercing ache to start there.
His free hand cupped one firm breast, circling the taut peak of her nipple, tormenting her with the need for increased pressure. He leaned further over her, to take the nipple in his mouth and suckle, strongly. She moaned at the pool of increasing heat between her legs.
He moved his lips further down her body, stopping to gently kiss the bruised area that Eve had caused, before dipping a pointed tongue into her belly button, stabbing repeatedly, all the while his callused fingers continued to tease her breasts with incredible skill.
She wished he would undress too so that she could touch him, but he snagged her fingers when she tried to undo the buttons on his shirt. He brought the hand to his mouth and nipped warningly at the middle finger, before kissing the same spot and draping the arm back out of his way.
He moved back up to her breasts to torment with kisses, dangerous little nips and flicking licks of that clever tongue. His hand travelled down her taut belly, stopping to knead it firmly with his long fingers spread, occasionally dipping below the waistband of her skirt to touch the beginning of curly damp hair.
She squirmed on his lap, desperate to feel him touch her there. He was hard under her bottom and she pressed down trying to incite him to go faster, do more. God please she needed him to touch her there.
Then he did and she nearly shot upright at the sweet pain of finally feeling him rub and stroke the sensitive flesh, he kept her down by the weight of his forearm and his mouth still suckling at one breast. He stroked her with one finger, inside and around, spreading the moisture her frantically aroused body was producing, nature’s way of enticing penetration.
He pushed one long finger into her and pressed deep, searching for the spot that would bring her the most pleasure, he found it and she arched, her legs widening as she helplessly tried to increase the depth. His lip returned to her mouth where he penetrated her with his tongue at the same time as with two fingers between her legs, matching the rhythm of both to drive her to the edge.
His thumb circled her clitoris and then stroked the stretched flesh of her vagina, the nerves made more sensitive by the invading, smoothly thrusting fingers. She couldn’t bear it and came after only a short time the pleasure almost too much. She arched wildly up, the feelings so intense she tried to evade him, her hips bucking and thighs clenching tight.
She came back to her senses to find he had turned her so that she was curled up on him, her skirt straightened and tucked back down. He held her tight, one hand under her bottom to keep her high, the other stroking the back of her neck.
He kissed the top of her head and she could feel his smile and guessed he must be looking pretty damned pleased with himself. She thought well two could play at that game; after all it was only fair.
She could feel him still rock hard beneath her hip and raised her head off his chest to kiss his smiling lips, “My turn now”. He leaned back and gave a quirk of a brow, amused.
“Well if were doing a role reversal thing here, then I think it’s my turn to hold you down and take us both for a ride, don’t you”?
She didn’t wait for answer but wrapped both hands around his face and plunged her tongue into his waiting mouth.
Part 10
CORDY’S APARTMENT (A CHAIR!)
“Well if were doing a role reversal thing here, then I think it’s my turn to hold you down and take us both for a ride, don’t you”?
She didn’t wait for answer but wrapped both hands around his face and plunged her tongue into his waiting mouth.
She slowed down the kiss after a few seconds, wanting to enjoy the taste and feel of him. She licked his lips and sucked gently on that full yet masculine bottom lip, kissed the corner of his mouth. She made little forays inside then to stroke along his tongue but retreated when he wanted to go deeper. Teasing him by not giving him another of those deep possessing kisses.
She could feel his hands tighten on her and then relax as he let her lead and it excited her. An idea sprang to mind and she gave a little shiver and smiled as part of her shied away from it. A pulse still throbbed slow and deep between her legs from before only now it became stronger and deeper as her loins pooled with heat again.
She had Angel, her best friend, ex-boss, vampire with a soul and brooding hero at her mercy could she honestly deny an urge to test all that control again. Last night had been mind blowing, but she still wasn’t convinced he’d hadn’t been influenced by the spell. Should she try and find out or was she taking too big a risk.
She slid off him and looked up into his face, she saw his nostrils flare a little and knew he could smell her arousal and felt herself moisten even more. His eyes were hooded and he watched her with an intensity that made her mouth go dry. His mouth, rosy from their kissing was unsmiling now and she didn’t need to be empathic to know he was almost vibrating with a frustrated and hungry passion.
Her eyes dropped to his shirt as she started to undo the buttons, slipping them free and revealing his broad, muscular chest in the widening vee. When she had all the buttons undone, she pushed the material aside so that she could admire him. Her hands with fingers spread wide explored each dip and curve of his deep chest, marvelling at the smooth skin over hard muscle.
Cordy pulled him up to lean forward, so that she could push the shirt of magnificent shoulders that were wide enough to make her feel small and vulnerable kneeling before him. They looked at each other with hungry eyes, both anticipating what she would do next. She dipped her head and licked along his right collarbone and up his neck to nip at the sensitive point where his jaw joined.
His head turned to her so that there lips were only a fraction apart, his expression demanding until she gave in and her lips travelled back to his and finally gave him the wild and hungry kiss he’d been after.
Her hands roamed over his chest restlessly, finding his nipples and rubbing her palms over them, feeling them harden into stabbing points, begging for further attention, which she was happy to oblige. Her head lowered again as she pushed him back down, lathing each nipple with twirling licks, followed by little sucks with soft slips.
He groaned and grasped her by her sides, pushing her down onto his lower body while he pushed up with his hips, desperate to feel her weight on him. She went to slide out from his hands and after only a moments indecision he let go and watched as she leant back to smile at him, an almost feral look of satisfaction on her face.
He groaned again and gritted his teeth as another surge of lust went straight to his head and further tightened his already hardened sex. She looked wild and sensual, her dark glossy hair was a little curly and dishevelled now, framing a face of startling beauty, her hazel eyes sparkled with lust and pure joy, lips always full were now red and slightly swollen.
She was seduction incarnate and it was killing him. He wanted to strip the rest of her clothes off, tuck her small frame underneath his and penetrate her and then watch as she arched up, taking him deeper and deeper. He wanted to do everything he could think of to that gorgeous body and hear her scream his name. But he couldn’t this was Cordy’s time now and he had to just grit his teeth and bear it, he had to.
She found the zipper of his trousers and pulled it slowly down, delighting in the evident bulge underneath, when the zipper was all the down she grasped the waistband and tugged downwards. Once he was naked she sat back on heels to admire her handiwork.
Wow, if she’d known what he’d been hiding under all that black all these years she’d have jumped him years ago, she thought to herself. Not realising she was wearing a very definite ‘cat got the cream’ look on her face like a neon sign but it only aroused him more.
She couldn’t help but go straight to it, her fingers wrapping around the hard and pulsing length and he lifted his hips in an instinctive little thrust. He started to groan and shake his head when he saw the way she licked her lips and slowly bent down to him take him in her mouth.
It was too much, the wet heat of her mouth around him, her tongue flicking and swirling around the already damp head. He felt helpless to do anything but take it; she was enjoying it and god, so was he.
His vision started to swim and he knew he was going to come if she didn’t stop, finally he couldn’t take it and pulled her up by her arms lifting her higher and higher until her hips where level with his. Then he slipped off the chair so that he was sitting with his back to it.
Still holding her up but now by the curve of her hips he buried his face in her damp curls and flicked his tongue along the sensitive crevice, she started to a little thrusting motion gently in rhythm with the darting pleasure. He stopped and she moaned out a protest only to gasp in pleasure when he sank her down and impaled her on his rigid shaft.
She didn’t to be coaxed but he held her hips in a firm grasp to lift and lower her on him, her back arched and her hair hung down her back in a glossy curtain. He wrapped it in his hand and grasped her neck, keeping her arched so that her breasts brushed against his chest.
His other hand came up to cup her full breast as she rode him, fingers brushing and then pulling at the hard little peak before he brought it to his mouth to suckle so strongly that she cried out at the hot licks of fire that arrowed down to that other hot and wet place.
He released her hair and kissed her deeply, forcing her mouth to part and make way for a thrusting all consuming kiss that literally stole her breath. She lost it then and couldn’t do anything other than feel so he carried on for her, thrusting high and so deep he touched her womb and she came apart in an explosive orgasm that had him joining her, utterly done in by the milking pressure of her inner muscles on his sex. He arched his back as he came, driving her further up his body and their lips fused again as he strained upwards to catch from her a final soul stealing kiss.
EVE’S APARTMENT
There was a knock at the door, she went to answer it then stopped with her hand about to unlock it, frozen what if it was him, come to kill her after all. Then a voice called out through the wooden panels.
“Eve, open the door it’s me”.
She pulled it open before she thought whether it was wise, what if this was a summons by the Senior Partners. He eyes were huge in her pale and still bruised face; streaks of old tears covered her cheeks. Her visitor took one look and laughed.
“God you are so pathetic Eve, I can’t believe they replaced me with you”
“Lilah” said Eve, her eyes darting around to see if she was alone.
“Yes I’m alone” sighed Lilah, put out by not being invited in yet. She pushed the door open and barged in much like Cordelia had done.
She took in the state of the rooms and shuddered “Have you got no pride”. She walked back to Eve still smiling and then slapped the blonde women hard across the face.
Eve held a hand to the reddened spot, blue eyes wide and new tears formed, Lilah saw them and snapped “you deserved that and more for ruining a perfectly well laid plan, you stupid little fool”.
“What’s going to happen to me” Asked Eve, terror making her knees weak so she had to sit down.
“You’re going to die and then live in eternal torment of course” mocked Lilah, not inclined to try and soothe the terror-filled woman.
“What the hell happened, did you go insane” asked Lilah, who apart from the anger was genuinely curious.
“It’s not my fault” wailed Eve “It was Cordelia Chase; he was so wrapped up in her when she came back round I had to do something”.
“You should have stuck with the plan, at least then you wouldn’t be were you are now. Maybe we did miscalculate about the slayer’s importance to him after all these years. But what with last year and all and then the kiss at Sunnydale, we decided emulating the slayer was the best way” said Lilah, stalking around the apartment.
“You were wrong and I knew it, I had to improvise” whined Eve, clutching at Lilah’s sleeve as she walked past her. Lilah yanked herself free and looked down with scorn at a quivering Eve.
“’Improvised’ is that what you call it now, you were supposed to be all sweetness and light and accessible to him, like the slayer was. We did enough research for god’s sake” Lilah placed her hands on her hips, glaring at her, before resuming the pacing.
“But no you had to throw it all away because you were convinced you knew better”
“But I thought I could be like both of them and it would be a win-win situation”
“So you pranced around trying to give him orders like the slayer and arguing with him like Cordelia. Well that worked a treat. You are so stupid it takes my breath away, well it would if I had any”
“I don’t know what to do” said Eve in a whisper, lost.
“Well I do, we have a new player in town, well actually it’s an old one. A vampire called Drusilla has decided to pay us another visit and I think we should be hospitable, don’t you”.
Lilah didn’t wait for answer but continued, “I have arranged a meeting between the two of you. I trust I can leave the details to you”.
AN ALLEY
Night had fallen and the sky was turning a deep indigo above the surrounding rooftops. Eve shivered despite the warmth that remained from the heat of the day she’d been standing here for only a few minutes, waiting as instructed in this alley at this time.
“All that blood and your feeling cold” asked a voice from behind. “Would you like me to warm you up”? The voice was strangely old fashioned, from a different era.
Eve turned sharply with an indrawn breathe, to find a tall dark haired woman standing directly in front of her with arms held out as if waiting to gather her into an embrace. Eve jumped back unable to stifle an instinctive screech of pure fear. The forgotten little girl inside screaming at the sight of a monster.
The woman scrunched up her face as if about to burst into tears, her arms retracted back to hug her body, moaning pitifully at the cruel rejection. Then she vamped out and snapping and snarling, shoved her face into Eve’s horrified one before darting towards her neck.
“Lilah sent me” Eve’s voice quavered.
Drusilla moved back a fraction but did not release the brutal hold of her upper arms. “Angel needs to suffer” whispered Eve, eyes wide with terror and waited to see if it was enough to save her life.
Drusilla smiled and kissed her neck, but didn’t bite. “How are we going to do that then, my sweet”, she could feel the lifeblood of a warm living thing and felt a sudden overwhelming need to hold it closer, to bite and drain it all away. No No No, she told herself, mustn’t spoil it.
Drusilla released Eve and smiled coyly at her “Come on now and tell Drusilla. I’m waiting and I hate to wait, it makes me sad”, her bottom lip quivered.
Eve stared at her, shocked by the sudden mood swings, from smiling to pathetic misery in a heartbeat, this thing was as mad as she’d been warned.
We erm, uh” she gulped and tried again. “He’s a vampire still even with the soul; we must attack him through the heart. Not with a stake but with the things he loves most in the world”.
“Ooooh yesss Angel loves to love, not like Daddy who loves to hurt” Drusilla’s mad eyes turned dreamy with the memories of pain and sick torment.
“So my sweet, my dark dove with hair like gold, tell me who is the light of his darkness, what awful deed would cripple him the most”. Malice dripped from every word uttered from lips with pointed and glistening fangs.
“Cordelia Chase first. We vamp her and she goes after the others. When they are all gone, dead or dusted by him, then he’ll be all alone again”. Eve’s heart was pounding still but with excitement now, just looking at this creature, seeing it she believed what it was capable of and knew that here was her salvation.
“You’re so evil” hissed Drusilla, feigning horror and covering her gleaming eyes with both hands as if to hide from something more horrible than herself.
Then she laughed hysterically and swept an unwilling Eve into a manic dance, the music was all in her head and she finally had a new dancing partner.
CORDY’S APARTMENT
Cordy was daydreaming, her hands cupping her chin as she gazed off at something, a blush staining her curved cheeks. She closed her hazel eyes as if remembering something and then snapped them open.
“I need to buy some handcuffs” she said decisively.
“You what”? Asked Cathy standing in the doorway leading to the kitchen, an expression of dumbfounded amazement on her face.
Cordy’s blush spread all over her body when she realised she’d said it out loud, she’d been doing it again, thinking about the other night when she’d last seen Angel, right in this room and on this chair, which was now a firm favourite, even over the couch.
“Sorry my mind was on other things”? She smiled a sweet smile and hoped Cathy wouldn’t ask what things.
“I bet”. Who needed to ask, pretty damn obvious really, she hid a delighted smile and left Cordy to get over her embarrassment while she finished making the coffee.
“So he just gave it back to you, no questions asked” She called after a minute or two had passed.
“Yup, he had other things on his mind too” Cordy smirked, she couldn’t help it and laughed when Cathy snorted and coughed out coffee which she’d swallowed the wrong way trying to smother a giggle.
“Don’t worry its safe and sound in my jacket”. Cordy smiled her thanks at Cathy as she came over with a mug for her.
“Stop with the worry lines OK, he didn’t notice anything odd and even if he did I wouldn’t tell him anything that would get you in trouble or anything”. She said to reassure the nervous woman.
Cathy almost always looked nervous, unless she was mad and when she got mad, boy did she get MAD. But now she was extra spooked and not without reason. Cordy tried to imagine how Angel would react if he found out one of her closest friends was another freakishly old immortal being with incredible psychic powers. Unfortunately after recent history she could imagine his reaction all too easily.
Thinking about it from his point of view she could understand why he would react badly, if things hadn’t happened the way they had, she would have too. But she trusted Cathy and knew without a doubt that it was not a case of being controlled. Cathy was more of a victim than any of them had ever been. When she thought about it or when something else came out, about the bad things, she would wonder how her friend had managed to carry on but then she would remember that the other woman had no choice.
Cordy sighed and turned her attention back to the laptop she had booted up half an hour ago and then forgotten about. She checked her emails and found only the one, it was from an address she didn’t recognise and the title was blank, she checked it anyway, it’s not like she got overloaded with them.
“That’s weird” she said, not turning away from the screen until Cathy was standing next to her. “This is from an old friend, well I met him a few times and he was really sweet his name is David Nabbitt and he’s filthy rich. He says he wants to meet to discuss a case”.
“What’s weird about that” replied Cathy reading the email over Cordy’s shoulder.
“Well nothing I suppose, but why come to me and not Angel”, then she shrugged “Never mind, we need the work to build a rep, so whatever it is we’ll take it”. She smiled pleased at the thought of David’s money coming in her bank account and not Wolfram & Hart’s coffers; wait till I tell Angel she thought.
“He wants to meet me tonight at a meat packing plant downtown, there’s a factory there that he wants me to see” Cordy’s face screwed up in a grimace at the less than glamorous location but then she mentally shrugged and it smoothed out.
“It’s got to be something pretty dangerous if he says you mustn’t phone him at all costs, in case it alerts the ‘wrong people’, do you think it’s safe for you to go” Asked Cathy.
“Of course it is and anyway aren’t you coming with me” replied Cordy, standing up to go and get a refill on the coffee, she needed the caffeine.
“You know I will if you want me too”. She thought of asking if Cordy would mind if she checked it out first, but Cordy didn’t like that unless it was necessary or there was a definite danger and anyway most of the time the future wasn’t shown, except for the immediate future which wouldn’t help them now.
“It’s a plan then” said Cordy with a smile, resisting the urge to jump for joy at the prospect of another job.
MEAT PACKING PLANT
A few hours later Cordy and Cathy parked up outside the dark factory and looked at it. Cordy’s enthusiasm took a dive when she thought of them having to enter the forbiddingly looking building. All of a sudden she wished she’d spoken to David personally first.
Shaking of the trepidation she got out of the car and waited for Cathy to join her and then both women walked cautiously towards a small door to the left of a fire escape ladder leading to the roof. The big shuttered heavy double doors looked unlikely as a way in.
The door was unlocked and Cordy opened it going in first with Cathy right behind her, both of them staring into the darkness of the factory, straining to see more than a few feet in front. Cathy bumped into something that clanked and swung and she only just managed to avoid the back swing of the big meat hook.
“Great, get yourself skewered why don’t you” she muttered angrily to herself.
“You OK, asked Cordy who had jumped a mile into the air in fright, her nerves where strung that tight.
“Yeah, sorry watch were you step yourself OK” replied Cathy in a whisper.
At least now they could see a bit better, their eyes having adjusted to the darkness. “Where is this friend of yours then” asked Cathy, still whispering.
They both heard movement up ahead of them, deeper inside the factory. The sound was that of more clanking metal, it carried on longer that it should have and moved closer towards them as if someone where walking down the walkway, hands trailing and pushing at the cold curved metal spikes.
Cathy stiffened in horror as the stench came to her then, she grabbed Cordy’s arm and tried to lead her way but the noxious odour that assaulted her nostrils made her want to gag and it took a few seconds before she could gasp out.
“Run now, I’ll distract it” she tried to push Cordy, but Cordy wasn’t budging.
“Oh no you don’t we’re not going through that again. You are not bait and I’m not running away” Hissed Cordy but backing away all the same.
“What is it, what’s the problem” She asked and stared into the gloom trying to pierce it and see what was coming.
“The smell, it’s bad and it knows we’re here” replied Cathy in the lowest whisper she could manage and still be heard.
Cordy nearly groaned, but didn’t doubt what she was being told. Whatever was in here with them was either not human or the kind of human being that makes demons look like boy scouts. Cathy could smell souls like other people did perfume or body odour.
She once told Cordy that each individual soul had a unique smell, but there was always one common pattern, the soulless or just plain evil souls stank like the worst kind of shit imaginable.
Then Cordy remembered she’d stuck a penlight in her jacket, it was so much easier to carry that the other bigger one, not to mention less powerful, but it was better than nothing.
She switched it on by twisting the cap and trained it down the walkway where they had heard something approaching. The noise had stopped when Cathy had first spoken as if whatever it was had come to a standstill and was maybe just watching them.
It must have been pure luck but the first thing she picked out was a pale face, framed by dark hair, a familiar face and still filled with madness. “Drusilla” she whispered and her heart clutched and seemed to stop in her chest, before resuming with a fast and furious beat.
Drusilla smiled and then disappeared, desperately Cordy flashed the light around, trying to locate the vampire again, but she came up with nothing.
“Drusilla” she yelled, answer me damn you.
“Don’t be frightened kittens; I’m not going to hurt you, yet.” Drusilla’s voice drifted down from up above them and Cordy swung the light and saw that the female vampire was crouching perched on top of the metals hanging hooks, peering with glee down at their frightened faces.
“Then why set this up” Asked Cordy, her voice strong despite the fear that wanted to freeze her throat.
“So you will know that I want to play” Answered Drusilla
“Play with what” Asked Cordy, afraid she knew the answer, why else where they here.
“Why with Angel’s pets of course, starting with you”, Drusilla sounded pleased at the prospect.
“Hey not a pet or a cow just human, got it” snapped Cordy with a flash of rage that dulled the fear. “Anyway why me, why not just go and fight Angel and get yourself staked”.
“So confident in your demon lover are you”? Snickered Drusilla, “But Angel won’t know about it until it’s too late”.
“Do you think, Not! Angel will get to know within a few minutes. Then he’s gonna hunt you down and put you down like the animal you are”. Cordy waited for the obvious you’re going to die right now speech and loosened her arms preparing to fight.
“You won’t tell him” replied Dru, unconcerned with the thought of facing her sire.
“Are you mental” snapped Cordy backing away and pulling a silent Cathy with her by the hand.
Cathy gripped back and froze for a moment, she said nothing but she relaxed against Cordy’s hold, she leaned over and pushed hard at the closest hooks to mask her voice as she whispered to Cordy.
“She has no intention of killing us now, this IS just a warning of what’s to come”, given the circumstances Cordy really liked the sound of that, she’d worry about the rest later. She just had to get them out of here.
“You won’t tell Angel because you don’t want him to suffer and he will if he kills me, the guilt will eat at him all over again. I was a good girl once, before he did terrible, nasty things to me”. Drusilla stopped and gave a belly laugh, shaking with it before jumping down in front of them again.
She ran her hands over her arms like a lovers caress and shimmied her hips “Delicious things, would you like me to tell you what they were”? She looked wide eyed and expectant at a revolted Cordelia.
“No, spare me the details” replied Cordy, I mean really spare me, she shuddered.
“Even if you did tell Daddy, I would not let him find me, but I would go and find a nice house with an innocent little family like the one you killed. I would knock gently and ask to be let in, using a sweet beseeching voice just like you did and then” Drusilla paused for dramatic effect.
“Then I would kill them all, slaughtering them and the little children and all in your name, because of YOU” Drusilla approached a stricken and silent Cordelia.
“So will you tell Angel about our little game” she looked deep into Cordelia’s eyes, satisfied at the pain she saw there.
“No” whispered Cordelia, unable to say anything else, hardly registering that Drusilla had backed away with an evil smile and disappeared and that Cathy was tugging at her to get her moving.
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