The Pendant

Lorne had grown accustomed to sudden trance states induced by music. Even so, he avoided exposure to chanting where he could. Sometimes it just happened, like when a CD display started auto-playing a selection of Buddhist mantras.

Before Lorne could sidle away, an uninvited vision overtook him. He stood on an elevated walkway, and a young man leaned over the edge of a balcony directly above him.

"Take it!" the youth hissed through his teeth.

It?

Lorne studied the young man, whose fair hair shaded earnest eyes. A slight frown drew the corners of his mouth downward to point at his narrow chin, an expression that seemed to bemoan what an inconvenience this whole situation was for him.

"Here, quickly!" The young man tugged a small crystal pendant from his neck and dropped it into Lorne's hand. "The magic-wasters are coming!"

What magic-wasters? "I don't like being pulled into your-"

"No time!" the youth counter-objected. "In fact, if they get their hands on that, there will never be time again."

Lorne shrank into the shadows as hands above him reached for the young man. What little he could see of the assailants reminded him strongly of the demon shamans employed by Wolfram and Hart.

The vision dissolved abruptly, leaving a dizzy Deathwok demon leaning against a tacky CD display. It had begun playing bagpipe music now. Taking a deep breath, Lorne steadied himself.

A small crystal pendant sat in his pocket, and apparently the fate of the world with it. What kind of idiot would entrust the entire world to a lounge-singing demon from Pylea?

"Idiots."

Furiously, Lilah Morgan paced around the magic circle. At its center sat a newly summoned being, and for all the world he looked human. She scowled at the demon shamans. Then, fixing a forced smile on her face, she turned to the stranger in the room.

"Welcome to Wolfram and Hart. My name is Lilah."

Blond brows arched slightly. "I'm not entirely certain I've had the pleasure of meeting a..." He laughed a small, socially awkward laugh. "What is the word for an animate corpse?"

Lilah's scowl returned. "Who are you?"

The young man tilted his head, bird-like, and examined the summoning circle. Then he bent forward in a lazy little bow. "Houmei."

"And you are the guardian of the Timepiece?" She really was beginning to lose her patience.

"Timepiece?" Shifting, Houmei slouched back on his elbows. "That crystal thing the river dragon gave me?"

Giving up information easily. Lilah did enjoy interrogating amateurs. "Yes, the crystal with the hourglass-shaped flaw at its center."

"Hmm." His eyes closing, Houmei smiled. "I don't have it."

"You don't-!" Lilah started to lunge for him before she managed to check her anger. That Timepiece would give her the ability to live again. "Where. Is. It?"

Houmei shrugged.

"I suppose there isn't really any rush. You'll tell us." Lilah nodded, and two demons came forward to seize the young man. Houmei stood up just in time to avoid their first grab for his arms.

"No need for force," he insisted, still smiling. "I'll tell you what I know." He turned, and a second grab missed him narrowly.

"Which is what?" Lilah said through gritted teeth.

Houmei stepped toward her. The two demons attempting to seize him met in a clumsy collision. "I gave the crystal away because Buddha told me to."

If the undead could suffer aneurism, Lilah would have dropped on the spot.

Notes:

This story is the result of a dream which conclusively demonstrates how one should not read Saiyuki Ibun and the Spike Omnibus in a single week. You have my apologies.

Furthermore, I have read precisely none of the Angel comics, and therefore I am ignorant of any canonical discrepancies. Please do not waste your time pointing them out to me. Thank you.