To the best of my knowledge Angel is the property of Joss Whedon.
All homage to the great creator Joss!
Angel's POV
Angel shook his head in self disgust, as he trudged through the sewers towards the small door hidden against the stone wall. "What am I doing here?"
The Powers That Be wanted to see me again and had sent a very powerful message through Cordy – that's what I'm doing here. But I knew nothing good could come from their 'summons', the last time they had informed me that I was chosen to become the champion of the world.
Me, a vampire destined to save humanity? What a joke of cosmic proportions. Didn't the PTB see the joke when I turned back into Angelus and took innocent lives?
"I must be crazy for listening to Cordy and Lorne," he thought.
Lorne had really felt I should do listen to Cordy's vision, it was his fault I was here now. All I really wanted was the chance to go home and sulk, alone and away from my friends looks of pity and concern. What I really wanted was out of this life. I'm no hero, and I was starting to feel that there was no way to really make a difference. I knew I was losing hope. Who was I kidding, since I'd lost Buffy, I had no hope and the thought of going through an eternity long existence alone was a sentence in hell.
I pushed inside the summoning chamber and lit the nearest torch . As the light grew in the room two familiar forms, one male and one female, shimmered into existence sitting on the marble thrones.
"You called?" letting my impatience show in my voice.
In a blink the female was standing next to me almost peering into my ear and said, "He wants us to know he is upset, he hopes to anger us with disrespect."
She flashed again and appeared standing to my far left, leaning on a pillar, turning her hands before her admiring their form.
From his seat, the male said, "He should not...it is unwise..." Then his head click to the right and he said, "Ah, that is his goal, he wishes to prove that we were wrong in our choice."
He blinked away and then appeared behind me and placed his hand on my head, "Yes, his feelings...do present a problem we may not have considered."
The female's eyes became cloudy and she focused on nothingness,"Yes, this will require our intervention, maybe a gift or an aid..."
The male returned to his throne in a blink, "It is agreed. And he will fulfill his destiny."
Angered by the way the spoke around me as if I was not in the room, deciding deciding my destiny for me, I growled, "You two just don't get it, I am not the right guy for this job, find someone else!"
The female blinked back to her throne beside the male, then they said in unison, "You will fulfill the destiny we have called you to."
With that the room grew cold suddenly, vortex winds began to swirl in the center of the room. I stepped back to the wall just as a body materialized and fell to the floor in the center of the maelstrom.
As the dust settled the form rose, examining the surroundings warily. From behind it, I first noticed the intricately carved katana sword attached to its back. Then I realized that the form was female. As I continued to look, she turned with cat-like grace, taking in the PTB and myself.
A roar that sounded oddly lion-like escaped her mouth as she reached with both hand to her boots and pulled out matching sai blades from each taking a defensive stance then asking, "Why have you brought me here."
The female PTB responded, "Calm yourself, Lady Evangeline, the Powers That Be have chosen you for a special duty. You will aid him," and she pointed at me, "fulfill his destiny as Earth's champion against the dark, demons and vampires."
The one called Evangeline spun on her heel and stared me up and down and sniffed the air. A grimace wrinkled her face and she spat, "Aghh, he is a vampire! I will only help the vile creature end his existence!"
The male PTB bellowed at her, "Silence! You both test us sorely today! You will be not harm our chosen champion and you will fulfill the duty given you here."
Then he looked at me and said, "The gift is your responsibility, you will help her find her way in your world and she will aid you in your battle."
The two PTB said together, "You will fulfill the destiny." Then they faded away.
"No!" Evangeline screamed and sank to her knees as they faded from view. "You can't leave me here, I want to go home! Please!" She fell forward as sobs wracked her body.
With the exit of the PTB the torch light started to wane and I knew we needed to leave soon. I took one step towards the door behind her, and she looked up at me with lightening reflexes again ready to fight, a growl rolling in her throat.
"Don't come near me beast!" she said her eyes full of hate.
"Okay, so just to be clear, you don't want to be here and I never asked for your 'help'." I made air quotes to emphasize my feelings about her.
"For the record, I am not like other vampires, I have a soul, I don't bite and I'm one of the good guys. So stop pointing those swords at me unless you want me to paddle your teenybopper ass. The torch is going out and it will be cold, dark and uncomfortable in her very quick. You can come with me while we figure out how to get you home or you can stay here, but I'm leaving" and I pointed to the door behind her.
She looked from me to the door then turned and inspected the room one more time. I guess she decided that she didn't want to be stuck in the equivalent of a marble tomb and slowly lowered her sai blades.
"I will go with you for now, but you'll understand if I'm skeptical about you being a 'good' vampire."
I started towards the door and this time she only stepped aside allowing me to pass then followed at what she felt was a safe distance.
It was almost daylight, but I had enough time to take her to Cordelia's apartment. I figured Cordy would be a better companion for her than 'a vampire'. Plus once she was occupied, I could find a way to get rid of her, she was the last thing I needed – an extra burden – no matter what the PTB thought.
We walked through the streets as twilight crested the night. She stayed three steps behind me at all times, but I could tell she was hyper aware of her surroundings. Again I found myself reminded of a cat by the silent way she moved.
When a scream broke the silence, I didn't have to think, I just ran towards it and yelled back, "Keep up or wait there! But stay out of the way!"
As I rounded the corner and saw four figures advancing menacingly upon two smaller female figures, I charged in taking two out with one roundhouse kick.
Before I could turn around, I heard, 'oof, then a body hit the ground, quickly followed by the sound of two succinct hits and saw a body fly into fence in front of me.
As I quickly glanced over my shoulder, I saw that Evangeline had taken out the other two quickly and best of all quietly. No need to draw the attention of the police. She stood unobtrusively behind me as I went to tend to the innocent.
The two women were huddled together hiding their eyes and had not seen the dispatching of their attackers.
"It's okay now, no one will hurt you," I said in a calm and reassuring voice.
As the women or girls I should say, because neither could have been more than nineteen looked up, I asked, "Do you live nearby or have a car? We'll make sure you get home safe."
It mere minutes before daylight by the time I made it to my small underground apartment. The unexpected rescue prevented me from taking my new responsibility to Cordelia's apartment. I had no choice but to bring her home with me.
When I held the door open for her to enter, she slowly edged in, keeping her back to the wall. She only looked away from me when she bumped into my living room lamp knocking it over. With inhuman speed and reflexes she caught and righted the lamp.
"Pretty good," I said, closing the door and headed to the kitchen. "back on the street too. Are you hungry?" I asked over my shoulder. I wanted coffee and a chance to think of what to do next. I heard her slowly enter the room taking in my meager decor.
"What could you have that I could eat, vampire?" she asked with a nasty emphasis on 'vampire'.
"Angel." I said as I scooped coffee beans into the grinder.
She looked up scanning the ceiling, I guess looking for apparitions.
"I have a name. Angel." I explained, "And I'd appreciate it if you could be polite enough to use it, especially in my home."
I continued, "The PTB called you Evangeline, is that right?"
"Yes I am Evangeline, what are PTB?" she asked looking confused.
"It's sort of a nickname my friends have for the Powers That Be."
"You have friends? Are they vampires or different types of monsters?"
This girl had a way of saying all the wrong things, shesh! I really didn't need this.
"My friends are human, most of them at least, Lorne's a Deathwok clan demon, but he's a pacifist."
I turned around and she was press against the door frame, just barely inside the small kitchen. This was the first time I could really looked at her.