Angels Gift
Harmony burst into Angel's office without knocking, nothing unusual in that.
"Your 2 o'clock's here. Somehow I don't think you're going to like it."
"There are very few things around here I like Harmony, you barging in unannounced is one of them, why don't you show them in." He scowled at her
"Fine." She stated strutting back to the door. "I like what's behind door number two by the way."
"What?"
"You'll see."
Angel checked his desk organiser to see exactly who this next interruption was. "Lord Meenotuk. Who the hell is that?" He muttered.
"He's the Heffner of the demon world only not quite so cuddly." Spike stated appearing beside Angel's desk.
"Thanks for the bio now get lost Casper."
"Not a chance, this I have to see."
"Has everyone lost it today or what?"
"Lord Meenotuk to see you Sir." Harmony lilted at the door.
"Thank you." He growled nodding at her to show them in. She opened the door wide and held it while the most grotesquely fat man in a dress waddled into his office holding three golden chains in his podgy fist. Following the chains with his cool brown eyes Angel couldn't believe what followed.
On the end of one gold chain was a very tall, very slim, blonde woman wearing little more than a bronze bikini with some flimsy material barley covering her lithe body. The second was a fairly handsome boy of barely sixteen looking worried but just as scantily clad. The third was a raven- haired, small, elfin girl who had the most amazing blue eyes. She was dressed more plainly in what appeared to be a white toga, looking almost dowdy in comparison to the other two.
Angel rose to greet his guest with a puzzled expression. "Welcome to Wolfram & Hart Lord Meenotuk please take a seat, can I have Harmony bring you something to drink?"
"No thank you." Came the reply in a high falsetto.
"That will be all. Thank you Harmony." Angel dismissed his secretary who seemed less than eager to leave. She closed the door after shooting her employer an icy stare.
"What can I do for you?" Angel asked taking his seat and clasping his hands over his desk blotter. The Lord had taken a seat facing the desk and the three "attendants" arranged themselves on the floor at his side. The tall blonde leaning demurely on one arm, the young man sitting cross-legged and the dark haired girl kneeling primly, her hands on her thighs, sparkling eyes downcast. His attention was drawn by the obese mans reply. "I would like to retain your companies services, my previous legal representation is no longer viable and I wish Wolfram & Hart to replace them." "No longer viable?" Angel asked, quizzically.
"They are dead." He answered blandly, examining his painted fingernails.
"Oh, I see how that could present a problem." Angel stated raising his eyebrows.
"As you are now the head of this fine establishment I have come bearing a gift. These are three of my best pet's I would be delighted for you to choose your favourite." The fat man offered, smiling.
"That's very kind, but totally un.." The Lord scowled
"Angel, a word mate." Spike interrupted. Angel turned looking infuriated by the interruption.
"Not now." He spat through gritted teeth. Spike bent to whisper in his ear.
"To refuse a gift from these people is a huge insult. It's their culture Angel and he's worth a bit of shmoozing, after all clients you've killed lately. It's not like he's offering you someone's head on a plate."
"No Mate, he's just offering me someone!" He whispered back, as loudly as he dared.
"I vote the leggy blonde." Spike giggled
"You would." When Angel returned his attention to his overweight visitor the three "pet's" had risen to there feet.
"This is Morven, she has studied music and dance, I'm sure she could keep you "entertained"." He stated indicating the exquisite blonde, "This is Daniel, he is young but very athletic, he would make an excellent slave. Finally we have Ariane, she is not much to look at but she is a seer, her visions are occasionally useful." The girl's eyes were still downcast and the man tugged at her chain. She raised her head and the sapphire blue eyes were brimming with unshed tears.
"Truly Lord, you are too generous, I couldn't accept .."
"Are you refusing my token?" He asked enraged.
"Told you!" Spike smirked.
"No of course not, I am at a loss to choose between them." Angel lied forcing a smile. He glanced along the line. "How could anyone hand out human beings as gifts?" He thought, the idea abhorrent.
"I am going to die today." She thought. The prospect though not inviting, was also not unexpected. Since her first day of offering she knew it would be her fate, "Third time is the charm." Her mentor had told her, knowing in her case it would not be so. She shifted where she stood, wincing slightly with the movement. The bruises had still not faded from the flogging she received after her second offering was unsuccessful.
This man would choose Morven; her beauty and poise were irresistible. Morven was everything Ariane was not.
"Foolish." She admonished herself. "Have some dignity, face your fate and do not cower before it."
"How could he be expected to choose between three living breathing human beings. Decide their fate like the flip of a coin. Still Spike was right the blonde was exceptional."
"Just pick one for God sake, it's not like it's difficult." Spike muttered.
"Thank you for your advice Spike." Angel nodded graciously to the wraith, vowing to make his existence as unpleasant as possible for the foreseeable future.
The small female smiled biting the inside of her cheek in an effort to keep from giggling.
"Is she reading my thoughts?" He wondered. Her eyes, which had dropped back to the floor rose again to look directly at him.
"Indeed." He heard a quiet, delicate voice reply. A voice most definitely not his own. "But how?"
"Morven is as gracious as she is beautiful. She would be of benefit to you I have no doubt. You have chosen well sire."
Without hesitation Angel turned to the gargantuan Lord. "Ariane." He announced.
"Are you positive." He asked shock obvious in his voice. "Please take your time."
"I have made my choice, are you rescinding your offer?" Angel asked perturbed.
Lord Meenotuk attempted to disguise his disbelief with gracious indifference. "As you wish. It is yours." He yanked the chain, almost pulling the girl off her feet, and handed the jewelled restraint to Angel.
"Our transaction is complete. I will bid you good day." Lord Meenotuk strode to the door with his two, puzzled looking, attendants in tow.
"Eh. Thank you for your "Gift"." Angel turned to the girl the instant the door closed.
"How the hell did you get inside my head?" He yelled. He instantly regretted his tone when she cowered before him, obviously terrified. She threw herself to her knees, placing her forehead on his shoes.
"I am sorry Master, I thought when you asked if I could .. I assume too much."
"Hey Angel, what's it like to have women falling at your feet?" Spike asked smirking at him from behind the desk.
"I'll deal with you later." He spat. "Please get off the floor. I didn't mean to shout, I'm sorry." His tone softening as he returned his attention to the kneeling figure.
"I do not understand?" She stated, raising her remarkable eyes but making no move to stand. Angel crouched down beside her and grasped her elbow to assist her to stand. She winced at his touch.
"Are you hurt?" He asked knowing he had not griped her tightly.
"It is nothing sire. It will not prevent me from performing any duties you require."
"Yeah Sire, what exactly will her duties be? I could think of more things that blonde could have done." Spike stated.
"Your wraith is correct sire. Morven would have been much more useful to you. I'm sure if you ask, Lord Meenotuk would be agreeable to an exchange."
"Yeah Angel an exchange, that sounds great!"
"No!" He replied coldly.
"But .." Spike protested.
"I said no Spike." His tone broached no discussion.
"I do not wish to be an inconvenience Sire."
"Don't call me sire." Angel replied coldly.
Please let me know what you think. This is my first attempt at writing and I'm more than a little nervous. Sorry if you thought it was a waste of your time.
Harmony burst into Angel's office without knocking, nothing unusual in that.
"Your 2 o'clock's here. Somehow I don't think you're going to like it."
"There are very few things around here I like Harmony, you barging in unannounced is one of them, why don't you show them in." He scowled at her
"Fine." She stated strutting back to the door. "I like what's behind door number two by the way."
"What?"
"You'll see."
Angel checked his desk organiser to see exactly who this next interruption was. "Lord Meenotuk. Who the hell is that?" He muttered.
"He's the Heffner of the demon world only not quite so cuddly." Spike stated appearing beside Angel's desk.
"Thanks for the bio now get lost Casper."
"Not a chance, this I have to see."
"Has everyone lost it today or what?"
"Lord Meenotuk to see you Sir." Harmony lilted at the door.
"Thank you." He growled nodding at her to show them in. She opened the door wide and held it while the most grotesquely fat man in a dress waddled into his office holding three golden chains in his podgy fist. Following the chains with his cool brown eyes Angel couldn't believe what followed.
On the end of one gold chain was a very tall, very slim, blonde woman wearing little more than a bronze bikini with some flimsy material barley covering her lithe body. The second was a fairly handsome boy of barely sixteen looking worried but just as scantily clad. The third was a raven- haired, small, elfin girl who had the most amazing blue eyes. She was dressed more plainly in what appeared to be a white toga, looking almost dowdy in comparison to the other two.
Angel rose to greet his guest with a puzzled expression. "Welcome to Wolfram & Hart Lord Meenotuk please take a seat, can I have Harmony bring you something to drink?"
"No thank you." Came the reply in a high falsetto.
"That will be all. Thank you Harmony." Angel dismissed his secretary who seemed less than eager to leave. She closed the door after shooting her employer an icy stare.
"What can I do for you?" Angel asked taking his seat and clasping his hands over his desk blotter. The Lord had taken a seat facing the desk and the three "attendants" arranged themselves on the floor at his side. The tall blonde leaning demurely on one arm, the young man sitting cross-legged and the dark haired girl kneeling primly, her hands on her thighs, sparkling eyes downcast. His attention was drawn by the obese mans reply. "I would like to retain your companies services, my previous legal representation is no longer viable and I wish Wolfram & Hart to replace them." "No longer viable?" Angel asked, quizzically.
"They are dead." He answered blandly, examining his painted fingernails.
"Oh, I see how that could present a problem." Angel stated raising his eyebrows.
"As you are now the head of this fine establishment I have come bearing a gift. These are three of my best pet's I would be delighted for you to choose your favourite." The fat man offered, smiling.
"That's very kind, but totally un.." The Lord scowled
"Angel, a word mate." Spike interrupted. Angel turned looking infuriated by the interruption.
"Not now." He spat through gritted teeth. Spike bent to whisper in his ear.
"To refuse a gift from these people is a huge insult. It's their culture Angel and he's worth a bit of shmoozing, after all clients you've killed lately. It's not like he's offering you someone's head on a plate."
"No Mate, he's just offering me someone!" He whispered back, as loudly as he dared.
"I vote the leggy blonde." Spike giggled
"You would." When Angel returned his attention to his overweight visitor the three "pet's" had risen to there feet.
"This is Morven, she has studied music and dance, I'm sure she could keep you "entertained"." He stated indicating the exquisite blonde, "This is Daniel, he is young but very athletic, he would make an excellent slave. Finally we have Ariane, she is not much to look at but she is a seer, her visions are occasionally useful." The girl's eyes were still downcast and the man tugged at her chain. She raised her head and the sapphire blue eyes were brimming with unshed tears.
"Truly Lord, you are too generous, I couldn't accept .."
"Are you refusing my token?" He asked enraged.
"Told you!" Spike smirked.
"No of course not, I am at a loss to choose between them." Angel lied forcing a smile. He glanced along the line. "How could anyone hand out human beings as gifts?" He thought, the idea abhorrent.
"I am going to die today." She thought. The prospect though not inviting, was also not unexpected. Since her first day of offering she knew it would be her fate, "Third time is the charm." Her mentor had told her, knowing in her case it would not be so. She shifted where she stood, wincing slightly with the movement. The bruises had still not faded from the flogging she received after her second offering was unsuccessful.
This man would choose Morven; her beauty and poise were irresistible. Morven was everything Ariane was not.
"Foolish." She admonished herself. "Have some dignity, face your fate and do not cower before it."
"How could he be expected to choose between three living breathing human beings. Decide their fate like the flip of a coin. Still Spike was right the blonde was exceptional."
"Just pick one for God sake, it's not like it's difficult." Spike muttered.
"Thank you for your advice Spike." Angel nodded graciously to the wraith, vowing to make his existence as unpleasant as possible for the foreseeable future.
The small female smiled biting the inside of her cheek in an effort to keep from giggling.
"Is she reading my thoughts?" He wondered. Her eyes, which had dropped back to the floor rose again to look directly at him.
"Indeed." He heard a quiet, delicate voice reply. A voice most definitely not his own. "But how?"
"Morven is as gracious as she is beautiful. She would be of benefit to you I have no doubt. You have chosen well sire."
Without hesitation Angel turned to the gargantuan Lord. "Ariane." He announced.
"Are you positive." He asked shock obvious in his voice. "Please take your time."
"I have made my choice, are you rescinding your offer?" Angel asked perturbed.
Lord Meenotuk attempted to disguise his disbelief with gracious indifference. "As you wish. It is yours." He yanked the chain, almost pulling the girl off her feet, and handed the jewelled restraint to Angel.
"Our transaction is complete. I will bid you good day." Lord Meenotuk strode to the door with his two, puzzled looking, attendants in tow.
"Eh. Thank you for your "Gift"." Angel turned to the girl the instant the door closed.
"How the hell did you get inside my head?" He yelled. He instantly regretted his tone when she cowered before him, obviously terrified. She threw herself to her knees, placing her forehead on his shoes.
"I am sorry Master, I thought when you asked if I could .. I assume too much."
"Hey Angel, what's it like to have women falling at your feet?" Spike asked smirking at him from behind the desk.
"I'll deal with you later." He spat. "Please get off the floor. I didn't mean to shout, I'm sorry." His tone softening as he returned his attention to the kneeling figure.
"I do not understand?" She stated, raising her remarkable eyes but making no move to stand. Angel crouched down beside her and grasped her elbow to assist her to stand. She winced at his touch.
"Are you hurt?" He asked knowing he had not griped her tightly.
"It is nothing sire. It will not prevent me from performing any duties you require."
"Yeah Sire, what exactly will her duties be? I could think of more things that blonde could have done." Spike stated.
"Your wraith is correct sire. Morven would have been much more useful to you. I'm sure if you ask, Lord Meenotuk would be agreeable to an exchange."
"Yeah Angel an exchange, that sounds great!"
"No!" He replied coldly.
"But .." Spike protested.
"I said no Spike." His tone broached no discussion.
"I do not wish to be an inconvenience Sire."
"Don't call me sire." Angel replied coldly.
Please let me know what you think. This is my first attempt at writing and I'm more than a little nervous. Sorry if you thought it was a waste of your time.