Title: Liam
Author: Mythology
Posted: 06-25-2003
Rating: PG-13 I think. But if you’ve ever read my stuff, you know I might be underestimating.
Email:
Content: C/A
Category:
Summary: “what if” scenario. Suppose the elements of the Angel Season One mythology had been introduced in Buffy Season Three. This story is a reworking of the Angel pilot “City Of”. It also takes place within a 24-hour time frame. This is also the first story of what could possibly be a trilogy. While I don't know if I will write three stories, I promise to write two.
Spoilers: Buffy Season Three I suppose.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: NF, other's ask first.
Notes:
Feedback: Hell Yeah!
Part 3
9:26 AM
Angel gazed thoughtfully at the glowing tip of his cigarette. Life, or unlife, whatever the case may be, was a funny thing. As Angel stood in the sewers beneath Excelsior Avenue, he couldn’t help but muse over the fact he was preparing to do what he was about to do. He was going to get vengeance for the death of a woman he had barely knew for five hours.
But here he was, smoking a cigarette and waiting for Adele to arrive with the goods they would need. It was probably the damndest thing he’d ever done. At least in the past century anyway. He had never went out of his way to help someone before, at least, never before when Buffy wasn’t involved. Angel had never been the hero before. He was off to a bad start, but he could make sure that Jameson was stopped. That wouldn’t correct Julie’s death, but it was a start.
The cigarette dropped from Angel’s hands and hissed slightly when the flame touched water. He glanced briefly at his watch and cursed. Just as he was wondering where Adele was, the manhole cover behind him was lifted. He made sure to avoid the sunlight as Adele dropped down.
“Do you take all the girls you know down into the sewers?”
“I don’t know that many girls. Do you have them?”
“Yes.” From the backpack she was wearing, Adele pulled out two sets of blueprints. She unrolled them both and began to explain. “This first set is the mansion itself. Seeing how it’s daylight, we need to find a way in underneath.” She handed Angel the building schematics and moved to the other set. “These are the tunnels beneath the mansion. You see these access tunnels here?” Angel did. “These go right by the basement. Since Jameson has vampire minions, I’d say this is how they’d move about.”
Angel nodded. That seemed like the best place. But as he gazed at the building schematics, he felt a twinge of depression. “There are a lot of rooms here. It’d take a long while to search them all for Jameson.”
Adele looked and pointed to a room on the second floor. “This should be his office. It’s big and spacious. One main access point plus two secondary entrances. Several Internet jacks and phone lines. It’s the perfect spot for an office.”
Again, it would appear as if Adele was right. He pretended to stare thoughtfully at the blueprints. Adele noticed that it was merely an act.
“Donovan should be fine,” Adele murmured. Angel stayed silent. “I took him to the police. They brought Child Social Services in. I think they’ll try to find him a foster family for the time being. And it also looks like you’ll need a place to stay. The police sent several units to the mansion.”
“I never liked that place,” Angel joked badly. “Had a shitty view.”
“Angel…”
“I know, Adele. I can’t joke this away. But I can’t be bothered with it right now. There’s work to do.”
Adele rested a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. “I agree. But we will talk later.” Her tone left no room for argument. So Angel merely nodded. He then reached down and hefted up a rolled up brown blanket. He extracted the long sword and handed it to Adele. Angel took the battleaxe and gave it a quick twirl.
“How come yours is bigger than mine?” Angel raised an eyebrow. Adele rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe I asked that. Now shut up and follow me. The access tunnel should be just ahead. And didn’t I say shut up?”
“Did I say anything?” Angel smirked as he followed Adele fifty feet deeper into the tunnels.
“No, but you were thinking it. And I really don’t…what’s wrong?”
Angel stopped dead in his tracks when they reached the grating covering the access tunnel. He sniffed deeply a couple times and glanced about with a perplexed look. “Do you smell that?” he asked.
Adele sniffed the air and detected a light citrus odor. “Is that oranges?” Angel agreed that it was. “It smells like hand cream or something.”
“Why does it seem familiar to me?”
“An old conquest?”
It was Angel’s turn to roll his eyes. “I’m leaning towards no.” He then pointed to the tunnel grating. “Ladies first.”
“Whoever said chivalry is dead was sorely mistaken. Why has no woman swept you off your feet yet?” Adele removed the grating and tossed it aside.
“I tend to play hard to get.”
“It’s men like you that make me glad to be a lesbo.”
“Five minutes alone with me and I’ll straighten you out.”
“Wow. You’re a sweet talker, too. My knees are getting weak.”
The banter continued long after the pair made their descent into the tunnel.
***
9:32 AM
After living on the Hellmouth for a certain length of time, it started taking more and more bizarre stuff to freak out Cordelia Chase. A girl could grow a tolerance to the freaky-deaky that went on. After seeing vampires, reptile boys, and worm men, Cordelia prided herself on not being rattled as easily as she had been only a couple years earlier. But as she snuck a glance at Mr. Jacob, a cold chill went down her body.
He was sniffing her.
In Jameson’s absence, Mr. Jacob sat behind the oaken office desk and swayed back and forth in the swivel chair. Cordelia did all she could to avoid his gaze, but the guy was just freaking her out.
“I like oranges.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your hand cream. It smells of oranges. I like oranges.”
If Hollywood ever did a movie about a young Hannibal Lecter, this guy had the role down pat. “Thanks. I bought it at this nice little boutique in the mall. You can buy a jar to give to your girlfriend. Oh wait, since you are a freak and don’t have a girlfriend, you can buy a jar just so you can sniff it yourself, you big fat weirdo.”
Mr. Jacob paid little attention to her. He was obviously lost in his own little world. “Orange hand cream should provide an interesting flavor when Mr. Jameson eats you.”
“Uh huh. That’s lovely. Have I mentioned that you suck?”
Mr. Jacob seemed to refocus on her. “I’m sorry. You were saying? I lost focus because I haven’t eaten today.” He licked his lips. “Has anyone ever told you that you possess a marvelous forehead?”
“You don’t get many dates, do you?”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. I ramble when taken hostage. Sorry. You go back to your twisted fantasies.”
“You’ve got a smart mouth on you, girl.”
“At least you’re not focusing on my forehead anymore.”
Before Jacob could retort, a piercing wail echoed through the mansion. It was obvious that sound was the alarm system. If that were so, then there must be an intruder. And Cordelia had a good idea who it might be.
“If it isn’t too much trouble, can you send Angel by after he kicks everyone’s ass? I’d like an escort outta here.”
“I’m about five seconds from beating your…”
The door to Jameson’s private bathroom opened up. The head honcho stumbled from the room, toilet paper attached to his left shoe and a Victoria’s Secret catalogue under his right arm. Cordelia thought that perhaps he was occupied when the alarm went off.
“What the hell is that?” Jameson bellowed.
“Perimeter alarm. The mansion has been breeched.” Jacob reached to his belt and found a walkie-talkie. “Ronald,” he spoke into it. “What’s the problem?”
“Intruders in the basement. The tripwire over the vampire access tunnel was triggered.”
“Fine. Send all available personnel down to the basement. Seal off all avenues of retreat.”
“Do we take the intruder alive sir?”
Jacob glanced at Jameson. He shook his head no. “Negative. Intruder is to be terminated. I’ll be down to assist.” Jacob flipped off the walkie-talkie. “You should stay here, sir. I’ll leave a security detachment with you.”
Cordelia stood up from the chair and motioned to the door. “Maybe I should help out. I think I’ll go make sure the front door is locked. You never know, the intruders may try the direct approach.” Jameson put a hand on her shoulder and forced her back down. “Ew. You did wash that hand, didn’t you?”
“Shut up,” Jameson ordered. To Jacob he said, “Go. If it’s Angel, he’ll be difficult. Use whatever means necessary.”
“Of course, sir.” Jacob snapped off a bow and rushed from the office. Cordelia noticed several others scurrying about in the hallway. They were really taking this seriously.
“So. Jameson. Sure you don’t want me to check the locks?”
***
9:38 AM
“I once read in a book that vampires were supposed to be stealthy bastards. What the hell happened to you?”
Angel grabbed the handle of his battleaxe and then pushed up to his feet. He brushed some of the dust off his duster and glanced back at the tunnel they just exited. The reason the alarm above the opening was blaring was because he stepped on the tripwire-and that was after Adele warned him it was there.
“I’m not going to hear the end of this anytime soon, am I?”
“No, and you’re avoiding the question. What happened to the stealth, grr-boy?”
“I traded it in for a sense of humor.”
“Wow. You got the short end of that deal.” Adele sighed and pulled the sword from out under her jacket. “Okay, Vampy. Now that covert has gone to shit, any suggestions on how to approach this?”
“I’m leaning towards killing anything that comes into the room.” They both heard the sounds of footsteps barreling down the basement steps.
“Would it help if we created a distraction?”
“Maybe. Why? You weren’t planning on flashing your breasts, were you?”
Pause. “No.”
“Uh huh.”
The easy banter was interrupted when a group of vampires walked down the concrete stairs in the corner. There were eight total and all looked big and pissed. They fanned out and advanced forward. Angel and Adele backpedaled slightly, both calculating which vamp would be the first to attack. With a silent look between them, Angel and Adele each knew how to respond to an assault.
One of the middle vamps jumped first. Angel answered by quickly stepping up and kicking him hard in the gut. When the vampire bent over and gasped for breath, Angel leapt up and disappeared into the rafters. Adele stepped forward and cleaved the head off the hurt vamp. As the rest rushed forward, she executed a handspring into a cartwheel before using a wooden crate as a launching pad to leap into the rafters.
The seven remaining vampires craned their necks up and peered up into the darkened rafters above. They were confused and nervous. Being fledglings, the vampires were unsure how to approach this new situation.
At the top of the stairs, Angel dropped down silently. He smiled as he watched the vampires, their backs turned to him, stare up at the ceiling waiting for them to drop down. It seems it didn’t occur to them that he and Adele would use the rafters to just move behind them. Angel reached up and helped Adele down. They watched the vampires for a moment. Shrugging at the stupidity, they turned and walked up the rest of the stairs.
The top of the basement stairwell appeared to open up into a hallway. Angel paused long enough to lock the door behind him before following Adele as she turned left. The vampire frowned as he began to recall the schematics he saw only minutes earlier.
“We’re heading towards the main hall.”
“Yup.”
“You don’t want to find another way up to the office? Perhaps a way that doesn’t involve going through a section of the house that for certain will have security in it?”
“Wouldn’t have that problem if somebody didn’t set off the alarms.”
“I’m never going to live that down.”
“Nope. And you have a long time to live, too.”
The corridor opened up into a large lobby. This was the main entrance to the mansion. The front doors were straight ahead. Set on each end of the hall was curved staircases leading up to the second floor. Hanging from the ceiling were a pair of massive glass chandeliers. Angel took a moment to appreciate them.
“Sort of a 19th century Russian design. I’ve always loved their architecture and sense of style.”
“Uh huh. Angel, focus. We’re here to kill bad people.”
Angel shrugged. “I’m just saying.” He lifted his axe to his shoulder and took the lead. Adele followed him up the left staircase. They only got halfway up before Angel stopped in his tracks. Adele bumped into his back at the sudden halt.
“What gives?” She peered around Angel’s body and glared at what she saw. It was Jacob. “It’s you. I got a bone to pick with you, asshole.” Adele slipped by Angel and escaped the arm that tried to hold her back. “I’m gonna enjoy cutting off both your heads.”
“Um, Adele?”
“I’m going to cut the little one off and shove it so far up your…”
“Adele.”
“…that the term ‘Deep Throating’ will be redefined.”
“Adele!”
Adele finally snapped around to see what Angel wanted. When she did, Adele noticed the five vampires at the base of the stairs.
“Take care of them. I’m busy.” Adele turned back to Jacob and resumed her tirade. Angel looked surprised for a moment before nodding and doing as he was told.
***
9:41 AM
Oz smiled slightly as he watched Willow fold and refold her three hundred dollars. As Buffy kept ranting about how wrong Angel was acting, his girl was babbling about what to buy with her new cash. He vaguely remembered mention of a fuzzy sweater, eye of newt, and a puppy. Oz was kinda distracted though. Willow was just so darn cute when she rambled.
“What kind of puppy should I get?” Willow mused. “I’ve always thought beagles were so cute. But what would I name it?”
“Snoopy?” Oz offered.
Willow grinned in that adorable way of hers. “Snoopy. I love it! You’re so smart!” Willow latched onto Oz’s arm and rested her head on his shoulder. He gently stroked her hair as they watched Buffy continue her rant.
“Something is wrong with Angel, Giles. He’s never acted this bizarre before.”
“And this is coming from a guy who redefined bizarre.”
“Xander, you are not helping. Giles!”
Giles took off his glasses and rubbed them clean on his shirt. Leaning back in his chair at the table, Giles looked up at Buffy in sympathy. “I’m not sure what it is you wish me to do, Buffy. I’ll readily admit that Angel’s behavior was uncharacteristic, but I do not see how that concerns us. He is his own man, so to speak.”
“Giles!”
Rupert Giles knew that tone. It was the tone Buffy used when she was about to take matters into her own hands. Giles gripped the arm of the chair tighter to brace himself. Buffy narrowed her eyes. Her nostrils did that little thing. Oh yeah. Here it comes.
“Willow!”
Willow snapped her head up from Oz’s shoulder and sat at attention. “Uh yeah?”
“What was that address that you gave Angel?”
Little beads of sweat broke out on Willow’s forehead. Her stomach lurched. “Uh, it isn’t policy to divulge information such as that to anyone besides the paying client. The ethics behind….”
“Willow!”
“223 Excelsior Avenue.” Willow would never be able to work for the CIA. The whole keeping secrets thing was just too damn hard.
It didn’t take Buffy long to put a few stakes, a crossbow, and a short sword into a duffle bag. She looked expectedly at the rest of the gang. In moments, everyone was on their feet and shuffling after Buffy. It seemed they were off to see what everyone’s favorite vampire was up to.
***
9:46 AM
A vampire exploded into a cloud of dust as Angel jammed a table leg into its chest. That made seven that had gone poof in as many minutes. Angel had managed to kill four of the original group when another five vamps showed up as reinforcements. Two more of the vampires charged valiantly. Angel kicked up the fallen battleaxe, and performing an expert pirouette, decapitated them both. There was eight and nine.
He glared at the remaining vampire, a woman. Angel realized she was fairly attractive when she was human. The yellow eyes and bumpy forehead was doing nothing for him now.
“Come on. What say you just run?”
The vampire considered it for a moment. Angel groaned when she made up her mind. When the vampire charged, Angel swung the axe up and imbedded it into her chest. With a quick twirl, Angel rammed the handle through the vampire’s heart. A cloud of dust marked the demise of the final vampire.
Bent over, hands on his knees, Angel surveyed all the little piles of dust on the floor. He wasn’t anywhere near full strength. This kind of activity was wearing down on him fast.
“Ack. Angel!”
Angel turned to find Adele in a heap of trouble. She was laying flat on the stairs with Jacob atop of her. Jacob had his hands wrapped around her neck and was slowly squeezing the life from her.
“Did you ack?” Adele managed to shoot him the finger. Angel decided to take pity. “Hey boy!” Jacob released his grip on Adele and twirled around to glare at him. Angel went wide-eyed at Jacob’s demon visage. His face was dark green and his eyes were blood red. A double set of twisted fangs snapped at him.
“Damn,” Angel drawled. “You don’t get many dates, do you?”
Jacob launched himself into the air and dropped back down five feet in front of Angel. “Have I mentioned how much I hate vampires?”
“Have I mentioned how much I don’t care?”
Jacob attack ferociously, but Angel deftly avoided the attack. In a swift and brutal move, Angel twirled about and brought the axe blade down. Jacob’s head rolled a good twenty feet until it hit the front door.
“Was that so difficult?” Angel helped Adele up and received a scornful look. The girl shifted back to her human visage.
“Yeah, you can say that stuff when you’re all grr and superhero-ey. For all us mortals, things like fighting for survival don’t come as easy.”
“Do you women do anything besides bitch and moan?”
“Buddy, you better watch it. After we kill Jameson, you and me will have a talk.”
Angel led the way up the rest of the stairs. If memory served him correctly, the first door on the right would be Jameson’s office. Angel hefted the axe up to his shoulder. He would enjoy slicing his head off.
***
9:51 AM
Giles gritted his teeth and stepped on the gas. Xander, Oz, and Willow were in the backseat debating whether the Flintstones or the Jetsons was the better cartoon. Buffy was in the passenger seat fidgeting nervously.
“There is nothing wrong with my car,” Giles defended.
“It’s old and slow,” Buffy countered. “Kinda like you.”
“Would you like to walk the rest of the way?”
In a low voice, Buffy muttered, “Might be quicker.”
“I heard that.”
“I’m just saying the resemblance between Bam-Bam and Elroy is remarkable.”
“Because they were drawn by the same animators.”
“Wouldn’t it be neat if the Flintstones were actually the ancestors of the Jetsons?”
“They do have different last names though.”
“Judy was an attractive person.”
“I totally agree with that, Will.”
***
9:53 AM
The office door exploded into splinters at Angel’s kick. The instant Cordelia saw him she bolted from her chair. Deftly eluding Jameson’s hands she rushed to the safety of her rescuer.
“Angel! Thank God you’re here! I knew you’d be around because this asshole killed this girl and I knew you’d want to bludgeon his ass and I knew you’d rescue me in the process and you’re the girl that kept hitting on me last night!” Cordelia glared at Adele and completely ignored her rescuer much to Angel’s chagrin.
“Uh yeah,” Adele stuttered in embarrassment.
Cordelia’s tone immediately softened. “How’ve you been? Are you all superhero-ey too?”
As Cordelia chatted up Adele and seemingly forgot the danger, Angel lifted his battleaxe and prepared to confront it.
“You had Julie killed.”
“Julie?” Jameson played dumb. “I don’t know of any Julie.” He backpedaled as Angel slowly advanced on him.
Angel shifted into vampire face and growled. “You took advantage of her and then whored her out so you could make a profit. That alone was enough to seal your death.”
Angel lifted the axe blade and prepared to wheel it around in a deathblow. He was interrupted when a section of wall opened up to reveal the room’s hidden passage. A half dozen guards armed with pistols stormed into the room. Jameson, who a moment earlier was reeling in fear, now straightened his suit and smiled in satisfaction. He was much braver with support.
“It was only business, Angel.”
Growling, Angel held his ground. If he were alone, he would not hesitate to stick around and fight this out. But he had to get Adele and Cordelia away. “Girls, run.” He didn’t hear them move. Twirling around he roared, “RUN!” When they finally got moving, Angel hefted the axe and flung it directly at Jameson’s head. As the first bullet impacted his chest, Angel cringed when Jameson narrowly ducked the blade.
Wheeling around, Angel sprinted away, but not before a couple more bullets lodged in his back. He hung a right down the hallway and caught up with the girls.
“What do we do?” Adele shouted. “We can’t go back to the tunnel because of the vamps!”
“Then we take the front door!”
“But the sun…”
“I smell rain!”
The trio began to barrel down the stairwell when several more guards appeared and moved to cut them off. Angel turned the girls around and ushered them back upstairs. Another bullet slammed into Angel’s body. He stumbled a moment before recovering and guiding the girls to the left and down the hallway.
The office guards emerged from the shattered doorway. Angel barely had time to throw his body in front of Cordelia to interrupt another round’s path. He grunted loudly. There was a whole lotta metal he’d need to have removed when the day was over.
They continued to rush down the hallway, Angel bringing up the rear and acting as a bullet shield. Bullets whizzed past and shattered a Victorian era vase. Angel cringed at that loss more than when a round embedded in his rear.
When they reached the end of the hall, Adele kicked down the door on the left and the trio burst through. It appeared to be the master bedroom. On the far side of the room were sliding glass doors that opened up onto a balcony. Sure enough, all could see that storm clouds were effectively blocking out the sun. The rain would provide enough cover for Angel to not burst into flame.
Angel quickly slammed the door shut behind him and tipped over a dresser to block the entrance. Adele slid open the glass doors and peered over the railing.
“About a thirty foot drop!” she called back. “When we hit the ground we can run to that far wall with the ivy!”
Cordelia and Adele were still looking over the ledge when Angel rushed out onto the balcony. They heard the sounds of guards pounding on the bedroom door behind them. Cordelia squealed when Angel swept her up into his arms.
“You ready?” he asked Adele.
“Sure. Why not?”
“You’ve got to be shitting me!” Cordelia screamed when Angel lifted a foot up onto the railing and jumped off. Adele tucked and rolled when she hit the ground. Angel’s knees buckled with Cordelia’s weight and the wound in his rear. Adele noticed him grimace.
“You okay?”
“No! I got shot in the ass!”
“Grin and bear it. We gotta run.”
It was a hundred yard dash to the ivy wall that ran along Excelsior Avenue. A few bullets began to whiz by as guards finally made their way onto the lawn. But Angel and Adele were far too quick. Adele easily used her demon agility to leapfrog the fifteen-foot wall. A wounded Angel found it more difficult. He barely cleared the top and somehow managed not to drop Cordelia in the process.
They had made it out. But Angel wasn’t satisfied. He went in to kill Jameson.
“Worry about him later,” Adele said. She clearly knew what he was thinking. “We need to get Miss Chase here to safety and take care of those wounds.”
Angel nodded slightly. Cordelia and Adele latched onto his arms and helped him to cross the street. They still needed to get far away. Adele’s Taurus was parked in the nearby alley. But before they could reach it, a rusty looking shitbox of a car came to a screeching stop in front of them.
“Bloody hell,” Angel murmured. “I can’t catch a break.”
Buffy was out of the car in an instant. “What the hell is going on here? We came to the address Willow gave you to see what the hell was wrong with you! And why are you out during the day? You could go poof! And why the hell is Cordelia with you? And who the hell is that? What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Madame Rosalita. I am Monsieur Angel’s personal masseuse…” Adele was silenced when Angel elbowed her in the ribs.
Angel glared at his girlfriend. He really didn’t want to do this now. So he decided he wasn’t going to. “It’s none of your concern Buffy.”
“The hell it isn’t…”
“It’s none of your concern!” Angel snapped. Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies recoiled at the sharp tone. “I don’t feel like getting into this with you right now. I want to get inside before the sun decides to show. And if you were smart you’d leave before the nice people with guns showed up.”
“Did he say people with guns?” Xander asked in the background. The Scoobies snapped to attention at the sound of pistol shots in the near distance. The gang quickly ran back to the car, all that is, except Buffy. She turned back around to question Angel further but found that Cordelia and the other girl were helping him to a car in the nearby alley. Knowing her questions must wait, Buffy rushed back to Giles’ car and jumped in. The rusted British auto speed off south on Excelsior. The Taurus pointedly headed north.
***
11:47 AM
“This is a position I never thought I’d find myself in.”
“Glad I’m not the only one.”
Angel, propped on his elbows and knees, rested on the hotel bed, his naked…rear…sticking straight up in the air. Adele held a pair of tweezers in one hand and an alcohol soaked cloth in the other. She gritted her teeth and used the tweezers to try and dig the bullet out of his ass.
“Bloooodddyyy heeellllll!” Angel drawled.
“Ssh!” Cordelia admonished from her spot on the floor. “I’m trying to watch Andy Griffith.”
Angel continued to grunt and moan until Adele finally latched onto the bullet and jerked it out. He howled a bit more when she dabbed the alcohol soaked cloth over the wound. After Adele proclaimed “All better”, Angel mumbled a few obscenities and pulled his pants back up. He watched as Adele disposed of the six bullets pulled from his body.
“It’s not over,” he stated flatly.
Adele rinsed the blood from her hands in the sink. She grabbed a towel and dabbed the water away. “I know.”
Cordelia leaned forward and flipped the television off. She looked up and between Adele and Angel. “You’re not going back after him are you?” The concern in her voice surprised even Cordelia. “I mean, you obviously killed that weirdo Jacob guy and whooped the hell outta his guards. Jameson won’t try anything. Will he?”
Angel said nothing as he grabbed his duster from the corner chair. “Go check on Donovan,” was all he muttered before opening the front door and exiting the hotel.
***
1:02 PM
“Mr. Jameson, I promise you that Wolfram and Hart is taking this situation very seriously,” Lilah Morgan assured. She, along with several other firm representatives and members of Jameson’s staff, was gathered around a conference table on the first floor of the mansion.
“This assault on your home and against your operation is egregious and unwarranted. As a representative of Wolfram and Hart and as the council designated to your firm, I have been instructed to inform you that we intend to seek out the responsible party and bring him into a situation in which he faces the consequences.”
Jameson, with a shaky hand, slammed back a tumbler of bourbon. He was obviously still disturbed at his compound being breeched. “Thank you, Miss Morgan. Your help at this time is appreciated.”
Lilah nodded courteously. “As a client of Wolfram and Hart you are covered in the event of certain unfortunate scenarios. And since you have been with the firm for several decades, your needs are a high priority.”
The meeting was interrupted by the sounds of the mansion alarms going off. The door at the front of the room swung open and Angel swept in, his black duster flowing behind him.
“Wow. Short search,” Lilah observed. She lifted up from her chair and interrupted Angel’s advance. Lilah had no reservations about turning on her most seductive smile and using her sweetest voice.
“Mr. Angel, I presume?” Angel nodded in a bored fashion. “My name is Lilah Morgan and I represent Wolfram and Hart. Mr. Jameson is a long-standing client of ours. He is a respected member of the community and a pillar of moral rectitude. Any further assaults against him and my firm will be forced to bring you into the light of day. And somehow, I don’t think that would be a good thing for you.”
In a calm and deadly voice Angel spoke. “Mr. Jameson is a murderer. I’m here to administer justice.”
“That is slander. My firm will make sure to take note of that.”
Angel was tired of listening. He shouldered past Lilah and stood in front of Jameson. The man looked incredibly frightened. In a desperate attempt for survival, Jameson began to plead his case.
“Mr. Angel, you must be aware of how the world works. After all, you are obviously a cultured and civilized man. The world operates on capitalism, free market, open business. It’s all about making money. Julie was a means to that end. It’s only business, Mr. Angel. Nothing personal.”
Angel nodded slowly. He stared down at Jameson with a look that turned the man’s blood cold. “It felt very personal. And my killing you is more of the same.”
Jameson couldn’t even move as he watched the long blade slide from the right sleeve of Angel’s duster. A quick stroke later and Lilah went wide-eyed as a head rolled on the floor. Angel twirled the blade and imbedded the point in the head of the table. A small smile played at his lips when he saw Lilah’s stunned look.
“Looks like you lost an account.” Lilah’s stunned expression turned scathing as Angel breezed by her. Before he left the conference room, a sudden thought crossed his mind. “I wouldn’t suggest doing something stupid like coming after me. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
Angel then left.
***
7:17 PM
Angel continued to sip his beer as Adele sat down at the neighboring stool at the Bronze’s bar. He nodded slightly at the bartender to inform that Adele’s drink would indeed be on him. Adele took a swill of red wine deposited before her. The pair sat in companionable silence and sipped on their drinks.
A band called Holy Water belted out some weird reggae/new wave garbage. Angel disliked them starting with the band name. Most of the club’s patrons didn’t mind the shit they played. They danced oblivious to the fact that creatures such as him existed. That creatures such as him prayed on their innocent flesh and blood. He spotted a young couple groping in a darkened corner.
Well, innocent in a metaphorical sense.
“You know a Juan Ramirez?” Adele asked suddenly. Angel nodded that he did. He was the guy that ran the strip club. “It seems the police raided the bar and took him into custody. I was at the station inquiring about Donovan when they suddenly came across information he might be involved in a prostitution racket and conspiracy to commit murder.” Adele smiled innocently at Angel’s glance.
“How is Donovan?”
“Still not quite understanding the situation. He’ll be in foster care for the time being. Maybe someone will adopt him. They’re contacting Julie’s known family to see if they have a taker.”
The last half of the beer was drained in a long gulp. Angel slammed the bottle down and indicated for another. In moments he had one.
“Angel, you did good. You killed the baddie.”
The vampire laughed derisively. “And what good does that do? It was too late to save Julie. I thought that was the purpose of this whole damn thing. To get into people’s lives. To make a difference. Who’s life did I make a difference in? Certainly not some little boy’s who is now missing a mother. So who, Adele?”
“Mine,” a voice said. The pair turned around slowly to find Cordelia. She looked completely different from any time Angel had seen her. She looked liked a normal person, not like Queen C. Must be the casual clothes, Angel mused.
“You made a difference in my life,” Cordelia continued. “You saved it.” She glanced quickly at Adele. “Both of you did. I want to thank you for that.”
Angel was stilled confused by the attitude. And when Cordelia accepted Adele’s invitation to join them, Angel removed his coat from a neighboring stool and allowed her to sit down. Cordelia ordered a Diet Coke and the three sat down and drank. And despite the ordeals of the past twenty-four hours, Angel found himself enjoying the experience. He smiled slightly as he watched a happy and very much living Cordelia joke and laugh with Adele. As he did so, Angel came to a vague conclusion.
Maybe he had made a difference.
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