Darkness_Devours
Darkness Devours

By Kaz Jack

Summary - When Lindsey decides to return to LA to seek Angel's help in ending the suffering of a girl doomed to live with the memory of her one true love's death, he finds not only answers, secrets and lies, but also that his life is once again in danger.

Rating - 16+

Disclaimer - Oh how I wish that I held the power that Joss and his godly writers do, but I don't...I can only aspire to write a good read and play with the characters so perfectly created by their hands :)

Feedback - I'll beg if need be ;)

Chapter One

"Oh goodness infinite, goodness immense, That all of this good of evil shall
produce, And evil turn to good" - Paradise Lost

He had watched her from afar for so long, his eyes had traced her delicate features until he could see them when he closed his eyes at night and yet now, while he tried to convince his legs to move and his heart to stop thumping, it was as though he had just caught sight of her for the first time.

The loneliness had yet to leave him and he wondered if he was cursed to have it as a companion for the rest of his days along with the heavy weight of his heart and conscience. So many mistakes, so much to feel guilty about and no-one to share in, or relieve, the memories of his past in any way.

He supposed it was divine retribution and that he would have to get used to it before he found himself burning for eternity in hell and at night these thoughts would rouse him from his slumber via cold sweats and shivers.

The fact was that he could die at any time, that while at this very moment he was working hard to build his life back up again, at any second it could be snatched so horribly from him. Would they really just let him go so easily, evil hand or not? Wolfram and Hart had made their mark and gained loyalty from fear and murder alone surely they would not allow him to embarrass them so?

This had made his attempts at his new life seem pointless and futile and was the very reason he had not sought solace in a relationship of any kind. Sure, he didn't really care what they did to him, after all he had nothing much to lose in the long run, but he just couldn't put someone else at risk. Until now.

It was as though she lit up the room with her smile, even though it seemed subdued compared to her companions, as though she too were locked in some sort of cell of misery and reprisal and he wondered if that was why he was currently experiencing nerves like never before, not even when he was sitting in Holland Manners' office waiting for a bullet to be shot into his skull.

He reached the table and almost kept walking as everyone who sat there, chatting amiably, eating the rich food the restaurant provided, drinking wine, all turned their eyes upward to him. He fought back the urge to run, suddenly overwhelmed with the need to know who she was, and then held his hand out towards her, silently willing it to stop shaking.

"Lindsey McDonald," he said calmly and quietly and returned the smile she graced him with.

"Jade Logan," she replied and smiled again, taking his hand in her own and sending a shock of electricity through it as she did so," Pleased to meet you Lindsey."





































Chapter Two

"I was wondering if I could buy you a drink?" he asked, not able to remove the rare smile from his lips. Then panicking as he watched her turn to her friends again. What was she doing? Was she ignoring him? Deliberately turning her back so that he would get the message and leave? Should he leave?

"Sure," she said eventually as all her friends nodded in unison then she pushed back her chair and stood to face him allowing him to see her completely for the first time. She was slightly smaller than he had imagined she would be but he was sure that was more to do with him building her up to be larger than life and her figure was petite and curvy, causing a pang of fear and regret to hit his heart when he suddenly realised that she was about the same size as Darla.

Darla. The one name that simply broke his heart whenever it popped into his head. All his life people had abandoned and used him and she had simply continued that tradition and even though he could see that all the signs had been there right from the start it still hurt him to that day.

He couldn't form words as he placed his hand on the small of Jade's back and silently guided her towards the bar which was situated near the door and his mind stumbled over a million and one topics for small talk.

"Um...what's your poison?" he eventually asked and a small blush flooded his cheeks as he glimpsed the amusement dancing in her eyes.

"White wine please,"she closed her eyes for second and Lindsey quickly seized the opportunity to grimace at his bumbling behaviour, cursing himself inwardly for his sudden lack of grace and cool,"I cant really handle much stronger. Not one for the alcohol. Affects my vocal abilities."

She laughed and Lindsey was once again taken with the way it seemed to be lacking something, unable to cover her hurt completely.

"Tell me about you," he blurted out and then cringed as she blinked twice and her mouth formed a small O.

"Nothing much to tell," she mumbled and averted her gaze so that she was looking sadly at the marble floor beneath them," I'm 22, I work in an office, I come here every Friday and I..."

He waited for a moment, expecting her to finish her sentence and then when he realised that she had fallen silent, he placed his hand on her arm. Again she blinked and then coughed to disguise her embarrassment.

"I almost blurted out that I have no family. I mean, why the hell would you want to hear that?" she laughed again but this time it was full of bitterness that Lindsey empathised with completely.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better. Me too," he said and nodded a thank-you to the bartender as he placed their drinks before them,"What happened to them?"

"They died," she replied matter-of-factly and took a sip from her glass," but lets not talk about sad things Lindsey, the world is so full of them that its our responsibility to seek out the good, right?"

"Yeah...right," he gulped down his shot of whiskey and then turned his back to the bar so that he could rest upon it and look into her eyes. Beautiful hazel eyes, he noted, then chastised himself for his sudden love sick thoughts.

"So..."

"So...?" Lindsey pleaded inwardly for something to spark up their first meeting, for him to suddenly be blessed with wit and kindness and the ability to charm this woman entirely.

"About you?"

"28, from Oklahoma, new here, I haven't got a job yet but I'm making pocket money by singing in a bar on 27th Street," he frowned, desperately trying to think of something else to tell her so that she wouldnt just walk away.

"You sing?" she seemed amazed and intruiged.

"A little, you should..."

"Come see you play?" she smiled yet another of the smiles that seemed to flip his heart over and then nodded," I'd be honoured."

"Can I interrupt?" a tall woman was looming over them and Jade seemed to shrink back under her gaze, her face suddenly turning pale and her eyes darkening with tears," You have work in the morning Jade, I don't think its wise to spend the whole night talking to this....stranger....do you?"

"No, Evelyn, I don't," Jade was now almost grovelling at the woman's feet.

"And I cant believe you have forgotten Paul so quickly."

Jade's eyes snapped up to stare disbelievingly at the woman and she opened her mouth as though to answer the accusation but then simply sighed and closed it again.

"Excuse me," Lindsey said and felt his blood begin to boil when the woman blatantly ignored him," Excuse me but if you wouldnt mind leaving so that we can at least say goodbye."

He could have swore that he heard a low growl coming from her robust form and that her eyes glowed green for a brief instant but when he focussed on her she was simply smiling a cold, emotionless sneer.

"Goodbyes can be said in front of people surely?" she snarled," and we really must be leaving."

"Goodbye Lindsey,"Jade muttered as the woman grabbed her by the arm roughly and again Lindsey fought with the rage that was shooting through his body. He grabbed her hand and held it for a moment, determined to feel her skin one more time, just in case it should be the last.

"Try?" he said simply and smiled as she nodded her understanding and affirmation," Bye Jade."








































Chapter Three

The nightmares still occupied every minute of his sleep from the moment he closed his eyes to when he opened them again the next day and even for hours afterwards while he would pad through the small apartment he now called home, at least for a while.

He would remember how he had acted when it came to Darla and he would hate himself so vehemently. All of the lawyers who had died at the hands of her and Drusilla were his ghosts, he had killed them when he had acted on his superiors orders and killed, yes killed, Darla when Angel had saved her soul.

He had convinced himself then that he had saved her, that he had done what Angel should have by having her turned, but at that point he was so blind with jealousy and love that he couldnt see how much wrong he was becoming entangled in.

And now he had to pay the price and the nightmares were part of it, as was the ever-present heavy, suffocating guilt.

He flopped down in a thread-bare chair that he had managed to pick up for a pittance at the nearby flea-market and closed his eyes, desperate for the image of Jade to grant him some peace for at least a moment. A small smile swept across his face as he saw the way she had smiled at his nervousness but then it quickly vanished as the quick goodbye ambushed him. He saw Evelyn snatch her away and was almost certain that she had indeed growled. There was something more to all of this he realised, straightening in his seat as he opened his eyes, he couldnt just leave this alone.

***

Jade sat stiffly in a high-backed chair, her hands clasped tightly together on her knees as Evelyn paced the floor in front of her.

"Did I not make myself clear? I would have thought you would have learned by now," the woman was shouting and each word made Jade flinch and cower back slightly," When I said you would never love, I meant it."

Suddenly the woman turned to Jade and her features began to melt away revealing a large, cloaked man, with human features and flourescent green eyes. He had a sword strapped to his waist and his finger nails were long and curved as he gripped the handle fiercly.

"Are you going to force me to repeat what I did to Paul?" he growled and Jade quickly shook her head in terror, her eyes glistening with tears.

"No Lavuc, please no," she whispered, still shaking her head.

"Then do not anger me. I mean, after 460 years surely you know what I am capable of? I told you when you rejected me that you would live to regret it with each passing day and I am not about to forget my vow am I?"

"No Lavuc," she muttered and cursed him silently. All she wanted now was to be allowed to die and every day she prayed that he would tire of her and end her misery but of course that was exactly what he didnt want to do. After being cursed to see the mutilation of her fiancé, Paul, over and over again Lavuc still felt as though she needed to be punished more and that was when he had decided to make her immortal like him.

She envied the other immortals who inhabited the planet, the Vampires of the world who could be beheaded or staked and would then be nothing more than a small pile of ashes blowing in the wind. They at least did not have souls, or consciences and anything that they did remember from their human lives no longer mattered. She, on the other hand, was still human and was nothing special except for that fact that she could never die. Not until Lavuc finally had mercy or until someone killed him.


***


Lindsey picked up his guitar case and cast his eyes around his apartment. It was humble to say the least and nothing compared to the lifestyle he had been living in when he worked for Wolfram and Hart but he felt strangely comfortable in his new surroundings, at ease.

"Going back to my roots," he mumbled and for once that thought didnt fill him with fear the way it had so often before. That had been the reason he had stayed in the firm when he should have walked, the thought of returning to the poverty he had grown up in and it had also been the cause of so many bitter arguments with his father when he had called him.

His father had stopped trying to make amends a long time ago now and Lindsey knew that he had simply grown weary of apologising for something he could not have changed. He pondered picking up the phone and ringing his family then but shrugged the idea away. Although he was no longer afraid of being poor he was still terrified of rejection.

He sighed and pulled open the door then stepped out into the corridor before walking down the cold cement stairway to his truck that waited patiently at the side of the road. Climbing in he thought about Jade again and wondered if he would catch sight of her sitting in the modest blues bar he was playing in that night.

He prayed that he would so that he would be able to discover her secrets and why she seemed so afraid of the strange woman who had dominated her so












Chapter Four

=They love me like I was a brother / they protect me / listen to me / they dug me my very own garden / gave me sunshine / made me happy / nice dream=

Lindsey sang with his eyes closed, clutching his guitar to him like a security blanket as he concentrated on the words, unconcerned by the audience, just simply singing to relieve his misery. He remembered hearing the song on the radio and being amazed by how much it touched his soul and had then looked everywhere to secure a copy of it. Nice Dream by Radiohead.

=I call up my friend the good Angel / but he's out with / his ansaphone/ he says he would love to come help out but/ the sea would electrocute us all / nice dream.=

He had thought it ironic that an angel should be mentioned in the song and had decided to adapt it to his own needs, changing the she to he. He also wished that Angel really was a friend and although they had been civil in their last meeting Lindsey knew he had a long way to go before Angel ever trusted him.

=If you think that you're strong enough/ if you think you belong enough/ nice dream=

He opened his eyes and lifted the guitar strap over his head as the audience applauded him. He loved the sound of clapping as it made him feel wanted for at least a few minutes, as though these people accepted him into their folds. He nodded a thank-you to them all and then descended the steps at the side of the stage, winding his way through the tables towards the bar where the bartender had already set down a glass of scotch. For a moment Lindsey wondered whether he should change his drink of choice, discard yet another bad memory from his time in LA, but he took a sip all the same.

"You were amazing," a voice said from behind him and he whirled round, already recognising the voice, excitement pounding through his temples.

"You came!" he said and fought back the urge to throw his arms around her.

"I was in the neighbourhood," Jade said shyly and pushed herself onto a bar stool beside him, shaking her head when the bartender asked if she would like a drink.

"C'mon," Lindsey urged," Have a drink with me."

"I'm sorry Lindsey," Jade said, her eyes filled with pain," I cant stay long. I just thought I would come and satisfy my curiosity."

"I'm starting to think you are Cinderella," Lindsey joked," Your clothes gonna turn into rags if you stay out past midnight?"

"Something much worse," Jade mumbled and Lindsey stared at her.

"Come on, come with me," he said eventually and took her hand in his then led her through the people who filled the bar towards the door.

"Where are we going?" Jade asked, her voice beginning to take on the edge of panic.

"I think we need to talk and we cant really do that in there," he replied as they walked out into the warm night. The sounds of the city seemed muted aside from the cars which passed by them regularly. Now that they were outside Lindsey was suddenly at a loss to where they should go. He stood in front of her, awkwardly shoving his hands into his pockets, and then he tilted his head, attempting to catch her gaze which she had nervously dropped to look at the cement sidewalk.

"I need to know what you are so afraid of Jade," he said, keeping his voice low and calm.

"It would be safer for you if you didnt," she mumbled and Lindsey found himself taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilting her face upwards so that she would look at him.

"Believe me when I say that I have seen it all," he said," Nothing much frightens me now."

Suddenly Jade grabbed his hand and began running along the sidewalk, dragging him behind her. Lindsey tried to make her stop but her terror seemed to give her extra strength and she continued to pull frantically at his hand.

"Do you have a car?" she asked, her voice high-pitched with fear.

"Over there," he nodded his head at his truck and Jade ran towards it with Lindsey following close behind her.

"Quick! Quick!" she screamed as Lindsey fumbled with his car keys, attempting to insert them in the lock but missing it as his hands shook," Please Lindsey! Quick!"

Finally he managed to open the door and Jade dived inside, signalling for him to hurry up and get in. He climbed into his seat and started the engine, glancing in his rear-view-mirror before he pulled out onto the street and gasping as he saw the image of a man behind them, eyes glowing green, sword held out before him as he charged towards the truck at amazing speed, the black robe he wore billowing out behind him like bat wings.

"Holy shit!!" Lindsey said and stomped his foot onto the accelerator, the tyres screeching on the tar mac as the truck sped out of the space and along the road.

Lindsey kept glancing in the mirror for a sign of the man as he twisted and turned down back streets in an attempt to lose him. Jade simply sat huddled against the doorway, her head down and tears streaming over her cheeks. Finally Lindsey could no longer see the figure and he began to slow slightly, his heart beat still beating hard against his chest.

"Who the hell was that?" he said, his words coming out in short bursts as his breathing took a while to even out.

"It's a long story Lindsey, I shouldnt have gotten you involved," Jade replied, shaking her head as the tears continued to fall.

"Never mind that," Lindsey said soothingly," I'm involved now and I want to help you."

Jade held his gaze for a moment, her body seeming to relax slightly and then she gave him a sad smile.

"You ready for all of this?"

"A hundred percent," Lindsey replied," Hit me sister."

Jade laughed a little at his humour and Lindsey glanced at her for a second, smiling at the sound of her giggle.

"Okay, a while ago I was just a girl living in a small village," Jade said and Lindsey could tell she was choosing her words carefully and wondered why," There was a wizard called Lavuc who tried to court me..."

"Wizard? Court?" Lindsey interrupted, " What century are we talking about here?"

"1541," Jade muttered and Lindsey looked at her in disbelief.

"You're a vampire?" he asked disbelievingly, he was usually excellent at sensing a vampire, years of working with them he supposed, and he hadnt felt the vibe from the girl who was now sitting beside him.

"No, just a girl...let me finish my story."

"Sorry, go on...oh but maybe we should pull over somewhere?" he so badly wanted to look into her eyes as she told her tale, so that he could recognise the emotions in her face.

"No!" Jade placed her hand on his forearm and he could sense her desperation," He will find us if we stop...he always finds me."

"We cant drive forever though," he said realistically as his mind whirred through possibilities.

"For a while longer? We need to get out of this city at least."

"I've got just the place," Lindsey assured her," Now you were saying?"











Chapter Five

1541 - Falkirk, Scotland.

Flora Jade McKenzie stepped out of the modest thatched, dry-stone cottage that she shared with her parents and four brothers. She smiled as she watched the children of the clan running about and scurrying over the local hills and her smile grew as she imagined the future with Paul, of being married and starting their own family.

She gathered her skirts in her hands and padded bare-foot down to the burn nearby and the sounds of the birds in the trees and the frogs which hid in the swaying reeds filled her with happiness. She whistled as she washed her face and hands, running over the tasks she would have to fulfill that day before Paul returned from his travels.

The men of the village had travelled to Stirling to sell some of their cattle and the pottery she and the other women had made and he had promised to buy her something to wear on their wedding day, even if it was only small. She tried to remember the day she had first fallen in love with him, after years of playing games and trekking the hillsides like the younger children did now. She supposed it was simply a natural progression, but his beautiful blue eyes had suddenly seemed to capture her own one day and after that she had been helpless to the feelings which possessed her so completely.

She heard a sound from behind her, and turned slightly, expecting to be ambushed by Conor or John, two of the most mischievious children in the village, then fell backwards in fright as she looked up at a strange cloaked figure. After a moment of terrified confusion she realised who he was.

The clan had all talked around the fires at night about the strange wizard who inhabited King Edward's castle. She had assumed that it was just myth, something created to add fear about Longshank's reign and to ensure that the children would never be duped into believing the evil King's lies. They had said that the wizard did all there was to ensure that King Edward would never be defeated, protecting him with sorcery.

And now he was looming before her, holding out his hand to her as though expecting her to fall under his spells and take it.

"Go away!" she screamed and pushed herself backwards a little.

"No need to be afraid my sweet Flora," the voice chilled her to the bone and she bunched her fists over her ears to try and block out the sound,"I have come for you, my love."

"No, no," she muttered," I know who you are, I know what you are. You are evil."

"Do not anger me," his voice was now low and threatening," I can give you everything you desire, a life of luxury and riches, I can take you away from this....hovel"

"Go away before my fiancé returns and beats you to death,"Flora said, desperately hoping that the sound of horse-hooves would soon echo in the glen.

The figure roared with laughter then stopped suddenly and grabbed her by the front of her dress, pulling her up to look into his eyes. She gasped and struggled wildly in his grip as his green eyes seemed to penetrate her skull.

"Your fiancé is as good as dead Flora, do not make me angry."

"Please! Please!" she screamed and then, just as she heard the roar of her father's angry voice and felt herself falling onto the soil, she passed out.

For days afterwards she wasnt allowed to be on her own for more than a moment, always protected by one of her brothers, her father or Paul. Her mother sobbed when her father had told her what he had seen and she kept mumbling over and over about her being cursed now, that they were all doomed.

Flora couldnt sleep, she would lie awake and jump at the sounds of the tree branches hitting the stone walls or the fire spitting as the wind blew the sparks into the night sky. She knew that he would return and fulfill his promise but she didnt know when and this meant she could find no peace.

Then one night she heard her mother scream and as she peered out of the doorway she saw him approach the village, his cloak flapping behind him as he steered his black horse over the land. He pulled the reins back to halt it and raised his hand so that a huge bright light flew from it and set alight the roof of her uncle's home.

"I come for Flora," he shouted, and did not seem alarmed as her family and Paul all charged towards him," Give her to me and you all will live. Resist and die."

"I'm not afraid of you!" Paul roared and threw himself at the horse. The wizard seized his throat with ease and pulled him up to face him, Paul's legs thrashing in thin air, pedalling frantically in an attempt to find ground. His face was turning blue and a gargle was all that was escaping from his lips.

"You're killing him!" Flora screamed as she raced out of the house, her only interest to save the man she loved.

"This isnt killing him," Lavuc sneered as he ran a finger across Paul's throat, smiling darkly as blood began to spurt from it," This is killing him...and this..."

Suddenly he pulled Paul forward and Flora shrieked as she saw the glint of steel protrude from Paul's back, dark with his blood. Lavuc smiled again and then threw his body away from him with disdain, watching with glee as it landed like a ragdoll in the campfire, the smell of burning flesh filling the air.

"I come for Flora," he said again," Resist and die."

Flora stared at the people of her clan, willing them all to do something, but all the family's were huddled together in horror, terrified by what they had just seen. She saw her father begin to step forward but jumped to stop him, placing her hand gently on his arm.

"Its me he wants to punish Father," she whispered," he will kill you too."

"Flora, please no," he said, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he realised what his daughter was about to do.

"I love you all," she murmured as she rested her head on his chest, her tears dampening his tartan sash," Don't forget me. Take care of Paul."

Her father nodded solemnly, knowing that she meant to tend to his cairn, then he slowly unclipped his broach and held it towards her. She took it and closed her eyes, feeling the cold of the cast iron on her palm.

"It was going to be my gift to Paul for your wedding day," her father said, his voice hoarse and croaky as he forced himself to say goodbye to his only daughter.

"Enough of the cheap sentiments," Lavuc shouted.

"Goodbye," Flora whispered again and was suddenly snatched up onto the horse beside the wizard, only able to snatch brief glimpses of her village as they galloped back into the hills.





























Chapter Six.

Lindsey concentrated on the road ahead, stealing little glances at Jade as she slept. He knew that she had only just begun her tale and that he had so much more to learn about her life with Lavuc but what he had already heard was enough to tell him that he had to help her.

Beams of light swept through the interior as cars passed on the other side of the road and Lindsey was once again captivated by her beauty. Just when he thought he had every line memorised there was another expression to add. The way her eyelashes lay on the tops of her cheekbones as she slept, the curve of her mouth when it was not moving, the way her chest rose and fell in a slow steady rhythm.

He couldnt fall in love again, he told himself, even though it did not convince him to think it, he would help her but he would not love her.

He watched the cat's-eyes as they illuminated under the lights from his truck, glimmering like fallen stars and for a moment he allowed himself to believe that where he was right now was heaven on earth. He wanted to be touched by the beauty of it, he wanted to look for the good just as Jade had said when they had first met.

He rolled his head back to try to relieve the cramp that was now shooting up his neck, then he moved a hand to kneed the muscles, hoping that they wouldnt seize up.

"Are you okay?"

He jumped slightly at her voice then turned and smiled unconvincingly. She was frowning at him as concern about his welfare filled her and Lindsey felt his thoughts lighten a little as he realised, that even if it was only because he was the only one helping her, she did care about him.

"I'm fine...did you have a nice sleep?"

"It was okay..." Jade trailed off as she looked out of the window,"...where are we going?"

"LA," he replied and concentrated on the road again so that she would not be able to sense his apprehension. She had enough to worry about without adding his troubles to the equation.

"Really? I've never been there, what's it like?"

"Oh you know..." Lindsey replied vaguely.

"Did you live there before moving to Chicago?" Jade continued to press him for information, leaning forward in her chair slightly as she pulled her legs up onto the seat.

"For a while..."

"Jesus Lindsey," Jade suddenly snapped," This is like pulling teeth. I might as well be playing twenty questions with a lump of coal."
"I don't want to worry you," he said and gripped the steering wheel tighter.

"Well this worries me...the fact I am sharing a ride with someone who is hiding something...oh god, you could be a serial killer...you're not a serial killer are you? Cos I have to tell you that it would be pretty pointless trying to kill me..."

"Okay okay!" Lindsey cried and looked at her sullenly," I was a lawyer with the law-firm Wolfram and Hart...junior partner...anyway, I left...they wont be happy and I don't have anyone to help me which is why I moved to Chicago."

"Wolfram and Hart?" Jade stared at him wide-eyed," Then you know Nathan Reed?"

"Yeah," Lindsey snorted, then cast her a confused glance," How did you..."

"Nathan personally handles all of Lavuc's cases," Jade replied and pulled her legs up closer," Talk about frying pan and fire Lindsey."

"Oh god...I didnt know..."Lindsey stammered, fearing that she would order him to pull over and then leave his life for good.

"Why are we going there?" she continued, though her tone was not accusing in any way," I mean you must have a reason for going there."

"There's this guy..."Lindsey's mood darkened again at the thought of Angel, and the fact that he may choose to ignore their plight,"...he may be able to help. He's the only person I can think of at least."

"Then I trust you," Jade whispered and moved closer to him," Its kind of cold in here isnt it?"

Despite his mind crying out for him not to do it, Lindsey draped one arm over Jade's shoulder and pulled her closer to him, his body suddenly overcome with the sense of her skin touching his. He blocked out the doubting voice and decided to take every moment as it came. After all, life was a series of moments.