Angel Slayer
Mirany crept through the graveyard, carefully trying to avoid making any noise. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a long ponytail and her bright blue eyes scanned the graveyard for any sign of movement. Over her three hundred-ish years, she had learnt that vamps who didn't care about their images would always drag their prey to the graveyard. Those vamps were the most dangerous ones. They didn't mind getting their hands dirty to get a meal. Or several.
A shadow started to emerge from the darkness, walking slowly and silently, which meant that it hadn't yet found someone to drink. Mirany felt her face change to its vampiric form. Her brow furrowed and her eyes glowed yellow as her teeth lengthened to fine points. She had gotten quite a shock when she found out that she was destined to kill her own kind and any other demon. Of course, the extra Slayer powers had come attached to a soul, which she had definitely not bargained for.
The shadow was tall and broad shouldered, meaning Mirany would have to put up a fight to bring down this vamp. She crept closer to it, pulling a stake out from her sleeve. She was barely three metres away when the shadow turned. Mirany saw its own vampire face and received an unwelcome shock.
"Angelus?"
...
1694
Mirany's hair was curled into millions of ringlets but only a few hung out from the knot her maid had put together at the back of her head. Her dress was a light gold colour and it fanned out from the waist down, with thin sleeves that hung at breast height on her arms. Her corset felt a little too tight but she didn't dare try to loosen it, lest she loosen it too much.
Her feet ached from wearing the skinny heels that were pressing against her toes but she would not take them off. She had strict instructions on what she was to wear and how she was supposed to look from her maid. Only she, her most trusted servant, knew of her infatuation with Angelus, the charming man that would be coming to the ball tonight.
The seventeen year old stood on the balcony high above the ground, sunlight making her dress glitter, looking out at the road for the first sign of his carriage. She did not care what her father thought of the man, Mirany knew that she had fell in love at first sight. She was not going to marry any man that her father picked for her. Angelus was her Romeo and she would make sure that she was his Juliet.
A carriage trundled into view, heading towards the castle. Mirany knew at once that this was Angelus'. The windows had all been blacked out, giving him a rather pale complexion. He was the only man she knew that did this but she found the pale skin rather comforting. She hurried down the stairs into the ball-room. This was the night that she would win his heart.
It took him a little over ten minutes to stride into the ball-room. Angelus was wearing a crimson jacket with gold emblazoned seams. Underneath the jacket was a white shirt with frilly cuffs and his tights were the same colour. His light brown hair was tied back in a short ponytail and his coal black eyes stared around at the ball-room, taking in the decorations and, more importantly, the people.
...
Angel stared at the vampire in front of him. She was wearing a green tank top and cargo shorts. She looked very different from when he had last seen her, but that didn't mean he didn't recognise her.
"Oh my God," he muttered. "Mirany?"
They stared at each other for a few more seconds before speaking at the same time.
"What are you doing here?"
...
Angelus caught sight of the teenage girl he had met before and made his way over to her.
"Mirany. How are you milady?"
His English accent was mixed very slightly with Irish, Ireland being his home town, though only for his life. His death had presented him with the opportunity to acquire many different accents. He reached down and took Mirany's hand, kissing her fingers lightly. She flushed a light pink and curtseyed.
"Very well thank you, Angelus," she replied.
"May I have this dance?" he asked as the music changed to a slightly slower song which he thought was more appropriate, seeing as he knew exactly what sort of shoes she was wearing under that dress, and wanted to make a good impression on her.
"You may," she said, not taking her eyes off his.
Angelus drew her out to the middle of the floor, where a number of couple were twirling to a slow waltz. They set off, turning smoothly in a large circle. She was a surprisingly good dancer for her age. No doubt she had been subjected to many of these sorts of balls and was unable to refuse a dance. He had her, Angelus had no doubt about that. He was quite sure she had been waiting for him to arrive.
...
Angelus' hair was short now and spiked up messily all over his head. Since the last time Mirany had seen him, Angelus had changed dramatically in the way of muscles as well. He was wearing a long sleeved, black shirt and matching jeans. Mirany's face changed back to normal but she did not lower her stake. It would be hard to kill a very old flame but she had done it before. But Angelus had been her sire…
As she looked more closely at him, she saw that he too, was holding a stake that he had lowered slightly.
What is he doing with one of those?
"Mirany, is that really you?" asked Angelus, looking delighted.
Mirany let her hand fall to her side and she tucked the stake back up her sleeve. There was no way in hell that she was going to be able to stake Angelus, demon or not. And especially not while he had a stake. Which I still don't know why he's carrying. What would Angelus want with a stake? And why is he in LA?
...
The song ended, much to Mirany's disappointment, and Angelus led her back to the edge of the ball-room. That was when she spotted her father. He was watching her shrewdly and Mirany knew all too well what that look meant. He wanted her to keep her distance from the handsome man in front of her. Well, he was too late for that. But he did seem to want her to come to him, an ominous sign.
She must have been watching for just a little too long because Angelus turned and looked over at her father as well, but unlike her, he looked to the people just around him.
"It looks like your father's got you a man," he said, turning back to her.
Mirany sighed.
"Please, this will only take a minute," she said.
Before Angelus could reply she had hurried off to where her father stood, but only keeping one eye on him. Her other was making sure she knew where Angelus was at all times. He didn't seem intent on leaving the place where he was standing and she took that as a positive sign. Even more positive was that he too was still watching her.
"Yes father?" she asked.
Her father started to speak but Mirany wasn't listening. Angelus had moved away from the wall and was cutting his way through the crowd, making his way towards them.
"Mirany! Are you listening to me?"
Her father grabbed her arm and pulled her back around.
"This is Edmund," he said, gesturing towards his newest pick.
Mirany shot Edmund an uninterested glance, taking in his tasteless blue clothing and his blonde curly hair that was undoubtedly a wig.
"How do you do?" she asked, though not at all wanting to hear his answer.
Her father frowned. He could already tell that she was not interested in Edmund. He was well practised at picking her reluctance by now. Angelus had made his way to her side now. She gulped as her father looked him up and down.
"Mirany, who is this?" he asked, his mouth forming the thinnest of thin lines.
"W…w…well he's…uh…he's," stuttered Mirany.
"My name is Angelus," said Angelus, bowing slightly in her father direction and nodding appreciatively at Edmund. "Mirany was just telling me about you."
Mirany worked hard not to let her jaw drop. He had had all of two seconds to think of something to say and he had said it as though it had actually happened. He might have been a good liar but Mirany was far from it. When her father looked at her, asking what she had been saying with his eyes, she flushed a deep red.
"I…um…I was just telling him about your…uh…your good taste in men?" she squeaked, the words sounding more like a question than an answer.
Angelus sighed softly. Her father nearly snapped it. He was more than aware that he was being lied to, at least, by Mirany.
"Stay away from my daughter," he snarled at Angelus then addressed Mirany. "And you, leave this hall. Now. Get out of my sight."
He all but threw her towards the doors and turned away. Angelus caught Mirany as she stumbled forwards and led her towards the doors.
They started up the stairs together but Angelus stopped before they had even gotten to the first landing.
"Mirany, meet me in the garden tomorrow night," he said. "At around midnight. Do whatever you have to do to get out."
Before Mirany could reply, he was gone.
...
"Don't lower your weapon until you're sure that you can," said Angel, though he was slowly lowering his.
"That's rich. After a hundred and fifty years the first thing you tell me is not to lower my weapon," said Mirany. "I should have known. Is an 'I missed you' too much to ask? Or are you busy finding some other damsel in distress to turn?"
Damn it. She had to get that out now, did she? In his three hundred and eighty-seven years, Angel had never met someone quite as unpredictable as Mirany. Angel put his stake back into his belt and reached out to take her hand. He could only think of one reason that she would also have a stake. Mirany reluctantly placed her hand in his and allowed herself to be drawn into him.
...
Angelus saw the brass lamp up ahead and hurried towards it. Mirany turned as she heard his approaching footsteps. She was wearing a simple white dress that had a slight blue tinge to the upper half. She smiled when she saw him.
"I didn't expect you to come," said Angelus.
"But I did," said Mirany.
He held out his hand for her to take and she placed it gently in hers. They began to walk through the garden, talking every now and then but mainly just enjoying each other's company. Angelus stopped, seeing his opening and bent his head towards her neck. Mirany didn't try to squirm away, at least, not until his fangs pierced her flesh.
...
"Angelus, I…" Mirany started but he cut her off.
"It's just Angel now," he said.
"Angel," corrected Mirany. "I have to wonder why you have a stake."
"I could ask you the same thing," he said.
Mirany frowned. He hadn't been quite so testy two-hundred years back. They started to walk through the graveyard, hand in hand.
"I asked you first," she said.
Angel smirked.
"I left because I had been given a soul by gypsies. I hunt vampires instead of make them."
Mirany saw him brace himself, expecting her to crack it at him, but of course, she didn't. Angel looked immensely surprised that she hadn't yet hit him.
"The Powers That Be decided that they needed a Slayer that already had super-powers," explained Mirany. "I got more but they gave me a soul for no extra charge."
...
Mirany's eyes widened in horror. The only man she had ever loved was a night walker. A blood drinker. A vampyre. She tried desperately to worm her way out of his grip and away from his fangs but he had now drunk enough of her blood that Mirany was hardly able to stay awake. Angelus pulled his teeth out of her neck and grinned at her, a bit of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"I like you too much to dispose of you," he said, stroking her cheek. "You're far too pretty to go to waste. You can come with me."
He drew a knife from his sleeve and Mirany struggled harder to get away from him, but he didn't touch her with the blade. Instead, he cut into his own skin.
Blood dripped from the wound and he grabbed Mirany's chin, forcing her mouth open and holding the cut up to her lips, letting the blood dribble inside her mouth.
"Drink love," he said. "Soon you'll be like me."
Mirany tried not to gulp down the liquid that now seemed to be pouring into her mouth but as it started to run down her throat, she grasped Angelus' arm and sucked at the wound until it was dry.
"Good girl," whispered the vampyre. "Don't worry my love. You won't take long to change. I'll see you when you wake up."
Mirany's vision blurred as her heart started to slow. By the time she had hit the ground, it had stopped completely.
...
Angel couldn't believe his ears. He turned and stared at Mirany.
"You're a Slayer?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes," said Mirany grudgingly. "I don't think the Powers That Be were thinking straight when they hired me."
Mirany caught sight of his smile and narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"What?" she asked.
In response to this question, Angel lifted her up by her legs and she wrapped them around his waist, her arms around his neck.
"You may have lost your hair," she said. "But you definitely haven't lost your touch."
"I like it short," said Angel defensively.
Mirany ran her hand through it and wiped off the excess hair gel on Angel's shoulder.
"So do I," she said, leaning down and kissing him. "But I would try to limit the amount of hair gel you put in it. It's all slimy."
"Well excuse me for not being able to use a mirror," said Angel.
"Don't you ever read the instructions on those things?" asked Mirany. "You're only supposed to use a little bit. Just enough to make it firm, not slimy."
"You seem very up to date for some who was born nearly four hundred years ago," said Angel.
"Three-hundred and four, thank you very much," said Mirany, annoyed.
"Close enough," said Angel, shrugging.
"Is not," said Mirany indignantly. "Do I look four-hundred to you?"
"Drop it Mirany," said Angel. "You look young enough to be my daughter. Which, technically, you are."
At this, Mirany smiled and changed the subject, getting off Angel and starting to walk again.
"So, how do you afford so much hair gel?" she asked.
"I'm a demonic PI," said Angel. "People come and say that a demon took their best friend or something, I find the demon and I kill it. It doesn't get a lot of business, but there's enough to pay the bills."
Mirany sniggered.
"You run a business? Not exactly the job I would have picked for you."
Angel rolled his eyes.
"Spike works with me."
"Spike?" asked Mirany. "As in William the Bloody, Spike?"
"Yep," said Angel. "He got a soul from gypsies too."
"It's been a while since I've seen Spike," said Mirany.
"I bet you still remember the first time though," said Angel, grinning.
"That is a memory that still seriously annoys me," said Mirany, scowling.
...
1743
"See that girl over there?" whispered Angelus in Spike's ear, nodding at Mirany's back. "You should definitely take her."
Spike sneered at him, his white blonde hair hanging in his grey eyes.
"Her? She's puny. She won't have enough blood in her for an appetiser."
"But have you smelt her?" asked Angelus. "She smells so sweet. I thought I'd let you have her. I filled up on the mayor."
Spike bared his fangs, grinning stupidly now.
"I'll see you soon," he said, slipping into the shadows around the building and following Mirany down a back alley.
Angelus followed at a distance. He was eager to see Mirany's face when Spike bit her. It was even worth Spike's outrage at him. And Mirany's when she found out that he had put Spike up to it. Spike was an old friend of his. In fact, he was his very first victim. He had been Angelus' companion for fifty years before they had gone their separate ways. Angelus had run into him just a few weeks before and had been keeping it a secret from Mirany, wanting to introduce her to Spike in a slightly less normal way.
Spike crept up on Mirany - completely silent - and pounced on her, attaching his teeth to her jugular. Mirany yelled and threw Spike off him, sending him flying straight into a building. The blonde vampire slid down the wall, dazed.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" she snarled at him, her face changing in her anger.
It took all Angelus' self control not to burst out laughing.
"Oh dear Spike," he said. "Looks like you followed the wrong girl."
Mirany and Spike both glared at him.
"You evil…" started Spike but Mirany cut over him.
"You put him up to this?" she asked, advancing on Angelus.
"You get him girl," said Spike.
"I'll get to you," Mirany snapped at him, shutting him up.
"Mirany, there was a girl near you that looked very similar to you from the back. I told him to follow her, not you. Spike got it wrong and holds full responsibility over this."
"You're Spike?" Mirany barked at him.
Spike nodded.
"You're an idiot. Could you hear a heart beat when you were following me?"
"W…w…well I…I wasn't really paying attention to it," stuttered Spike.
Mirany, though she was getting better at spotting Angelus' lies, was still very easy to trick into anything. Angelus watched with vindictive pleasure as Spike backed away from Mirany.
"You're very lucky she's in a good mood Spike," said Angelus. "She'll only beat you up a little bit."
"This is a good mood?" Spike squeaked.
"It's as good as it's going to get around you," snapped Mirany.
"Let him off this time, love," said Angelus, wrapping his arms around Mirany's waist. "He's sure to stuff up again and you can murder him then. But for the moment, let him be an idiot. He's only going to be with us for a little while."
Mirany glared at Spike, considering. Spike could tell that she was having difficulty trying to decide whether to fight off her hormones and continue killing him or whether to let him off the hook. But her love for Angelus was too strong and she turned to him, her arms slithering around his neck.
"Alright. Just this once."
...
"So," said Angel. "When did you become the Slayer?"
"A couple of years back. When that blonde chick died. Buffy, I think."
"Buffy," sighed Angel. "Do you know how she died?"
"Drusilla," said Mirany. "I like her style actually. The whole, torture then kill thing works for her. You knew the Slayer? Huh, guess you really did have a soul if you didn't…"
Mirany caught Angel's expression and quickly changed the subject.
"Do I know anyone else that works with you?"
"I very much doubt it," said Angel. "Cordelia Chase, she's a twenty-five year old version of you, without the vampire features, Wesley Wydam-Pryce, he's a…"
"Watcher," finished Mirany. "I've met him. Nice looking guy. Brown hair and glasses right? He tried to stake me once actually. Well, I suppose he had reason to. I did t…"
"I don't want to hear it," said Angel, holding a finger to her lips. "Really. Spare me the details. Anyway, there's also Francis Doyle, he's a cross breed. A something cross human, I forget. He gets visions from the PTB's. They tell him when someone's in trouble. Black hair and green eyes. Charles Gunn, he's black and lived on the streets for a while, so he's pretty muscular."
"That's a lot of people for some like you to wind up."
"Not finished yet. There's also Winifred Burkle. We just call her Fred. She's small, does research. She's not a fighter. Mousy brown hair and hazel eyes. And Lorne, our favourite demon."
"I thought Doyle was the demon."
"Half demon," said Angel. "Lorne runs a demon karaoke bar. He can get info on things pretty quickly. And he's full demon. Green and red."
"Oh."
"And you," said Angel.
Mirany looked up at Angel, her eyes shining.
"Really?" she asked.
"I live in a hotel. We have more than enough spare rooms both above ground and underground. And we can never run out of muscle."
Mirany frowned slightly.
"What about the others? What about Wesley? He'll kill me if he sees me again and Spike. We haven't exactly ever gotten along well."
"So, you're scared of a Watcher that has no muscles and a vampire that has a crush on you?" asked Angel. "I still don't understand you."
"You seriously don't think that they'll try to hurt me?"
"Wesley might try and Spike will hit on you but you can take that. I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise."
Mirany stopped and kissed Angel again.
"I have to say, I've missed that," said Angel when they broke apart.
"Well you don't have to anymore," said Mirany. "I accept your offer. Lead the way."
"Not just yet," said Angel, pressing his lips to hers again.
...
Angel knew that Wesley was the type to hold a grudge, especially when it concerned a vampire, but he had hoped that Mirany hadn't done too much to him. He was very wrong. Wesley's cry of rage was enough to prove that.
"What the bloody hell is she here for?" he asked, already drawing a stake from his belt. "Why isn't she dust yet?"
Spike stared at Mirany in amazement and Cordy, Gunn and Fred all stared at Wesley in confusion.
"What's going on?" asked Cordy. "Is she a vampire?"
"She's the vampire that killed my father and tortured me," snapped Wesley.
Mirany bit her lip as she used Angel as a shield against Wesley.
"Sit down Wesley. She's the Slayer. She's got a soul," Angel snapped at Wesley, then stared at Mirany. "You killed his father and tortured him?"
"You said you didn't want to know," she said weakly. "Um, okay. Wesley, is it? I'm not here to kill people. Like Angel said, I'm the Slayer and I have a soul. What I don't have is a Watcher."
"Another vampire with a soul," muttered Fred. "Must be becoming a fashion."
"Wesley, I don't care if she murdered all of England," said Cordy. "She looks like me which means she has some fashion sense. You should become her Watcher. Any vampire with a taste for good clothes is not allowed to be dusted and certainly entitled to a Watcher. Oh wait, that doesn't really work. Angel and Spike's fashion sense…"
"I was thinking more along the lines of 'she's got a soul so she's not going to hurt anyone any more' but if you have to go with fashion sense," said Angel, cutting over her.
"Fine," spat Wesley. "I'll be the vampire's Watcher."
"Can I ask what your name is?" asked Fred, addressing Mirany. "I doubt it's 'she' or 'the vampire.'"
"Mirany," she said.
"Now this brings back memories," said Spike.
"Bad ones," said Wesley angrily.
"If you try to attack her I will snap your neck," said Angel threateningly. "Mirany's a part of the team now. Respect that."
Wesley glared at him.
"She…"
"I know what she did Wesley and I'm sure Mirany regrets it but there's nothing she can do about it," snarled Angel. "If there was, I know she would have already done it. And it's not as if you liked your father. That was probably the best moment of your life to see him being killed. And as for torturing you, be thankful she didn't kill you, though if you keep this up it won't have counted for much."
Wesley frowned as he slowly sat back down.
"My name's Fred," said Fred, trying to give the lobby a happier atmosphere again. "Well, actually it's Winifred but nobody calls me that anymore. And this is Cordelia."
"Nice to meet you," said Mirany.
"Where's Gunn?" asked Angel.
"Pontish demon tried to take off his arm," said Spike. "He should be back soon."
"And Doyle?"
"Does anyone know where Doyle goes?" asked Cordy pointedly, getting up and pulling Mirany over to the couch. "How do you get your hair like this if you can't see what you're doing?"
"Practice," grunted Mirany. "Look, I'm tired, it's nearly sun-up, we can fuss over my hair tomorrow. Or maybe the night after. I don't plan on getting up for a while."
Angel smirked. She had no chance of that.
"You can sleep in my room for now. Come on. I'll take you downstairs."
"No need Angel," said Spike. "You probably have some paperwork to complete. I'll take her down for you. You go do whatever you need to do."
Mirany rolled her eyes and kissed Angel to prove her point.
"I think she'd prefer it if I took her down Spike, but thanks for offering to do my paperwork for me," said Angel, still smirking as he led Mirany downstairs.
"Underground rooms. Nifty," said Mirany.
"It was difficult to find this place," said Angel. "Underground areas are not popular in hotels."
"Why a hotel?"
"Because everyone else lives here too. This is it."
Angel held the door open for Mirany and she walked into the room, looking around. Angel's walls were covered with weapons hanging on hooks and sitting in brackets. The little bits of the walls she could see were coloured a deep crimson red.
"You don't like visitors down here, do you?" asked Mirany.
"Not enough people come down here for me to answer that," said Angel.
"I though so," said Mirany. "Thanks for letting me stay here."
"Anything for my girl," said Angel, stroking Mirany's cheek.
"Now that is what I've missed," said Mirany.
