Chapter 1
"This is suicide. We need to pull back!"
The words were barely heard over the din of the oncoming horde. Demons sized from the meek to the mighty charged recklessly forth through the dirt-ridden city of Los Angeles towards the remaining group of battered heroes. Angel watched, his brow furrowing as he attempted to gauge the number of adversaries en route.
"Did you hear me or am I talking to myself?" Spike yelled again. Angel locked his gaze onto Spike, and a brief moment of indecision waved over him. He looked at Gunn who, despite heavy injuries, was still standing and ready to fight. He looked back towards Illeria, who showed no signs of being daunted in the slightest.
It was true that a head on attack would be tantamount to suicide. Angel weighed his options and looked around. There was no sign of cover, and the demons came ever closer. Finally, he looked down.
In a blink of an eye, Angel swooped down and tore the manhole out of the ground. "Go, now!" His shouts fell not on deaf ears but indignant ones. His friends, his allies, his warriors, were there and willing to fight until the end. But it finally dawned on him that his work was not quite complete. He could not leave this world until he was sure that he had done all that he could to stop evil in its tracks. Leading a head on charge meant certain death, and while the thought of going out in a blaze of glory was very appealing to the vampire, he knew that his lot in life was first and foremost to battle evil, but also it was important to stay alive in order to do so.
"Do it!" Angel shouted angrily.
"Well, you don't have to tell me twice…" Spike jumped into the darkness in the blink of an eye. Moments later a splash of water could be heard and, if one listened closely enough, a few choice curse words.
Angel turned to Gunn next. "Gunn, you have to keep pushing on."
Gunn's eyes said it all. Wordlessly, Angel understood that Gunn's injuries were too severe to allow him to keep up with the group in a retreat. Angel's lips parted slightly, but no more words escaped them. There was nothing left to say really. Gunn shook his head, then, mustering what strength he had left, charged with a primal roar towards the oncoming demons.
"Illeria…"
"Why do we run? I am not a coward." The former-God looked very indignant.
"We have to go now. We'll be able to strike back, but on our terms. And I think I have a plan. Just go, now!"
A pained look appeared on Illeria's face. Wordlessly she plunged into the open manhole. Angel started to follow, but spared one more glance in the direction of the horde. Gunn had met with the first of the incomers, tearing the demon apart with his burst of feral rage. But the numbers proved to be far too many, and as Angel also disappeared in the hole, he knew that the look he shared with his friend would be their last.
The sewer system was dark and wet, its odor putrid. As Angel landed along side his comrades in the sewage, he let out an explicative. But there wasn't time to worry about the scent that he would have when he walked away from this, only time to worry about actually being walking away in the first place.
Angel recklessly ran through the winding tunnel system, Spike and Illeria at his heels. The cacophony of wailing demons at his back gave him speed beyond any he had felt before. There was no fear rushing through his head anymore, just instinct. Instinct to survive, and to persevere.
Crashing through from above, a massive winged demon swooped down upon the group. It had set its sights on Angel and, with a swift motion, had him pinned underneath a claw. The beast let loose an unholy howl, and more demons poured through the hole to the surface.
The winged demon collapsed on the ground, a fist bursting through its chest cavity. Illeria stood tall, her face showing the slightest signs of a smug grin. "These demons are lesser beings. Let us continue."
Two vampires fell down in between the group as many more watched on from above, ready to join their comrades. Spike swooped underneath a punch aimed for his head and pushed all his weight into his attacker, causing the vampire to lose footing and fall splashing into the layer of murky water underfoot. He then lifted up his leg and, with every bit of strength, plunged it into the vampire's throat, crushing his jugular. The vampire's eyes bulged, unable to move as he squirmed weakly and, before he could reach for his neck, a stake pierced his black heart.
Angel ran headlong with his sword towards the second vampire. The vampire swung his fist, knocking the weapon from his hand, but Angel countered with a swift blow to his stomach. The vampire keeled over, and Angel reached for his stake nestled in his jacket. Before he could even bring it out, the vampire burst into ash as his head rolled on the ground, joining suit. A now very pleased Illeria stood where the vampire once was.
"Hey, you know, I'm the hero here…" Angel muttered disapprovingly.
Illeria laughed, and then her face returned to the stern yet curious gaze a moment ago. "What was that I just experienced? It felt good. I wish to feel it more."
"You just laughed at a joke," Angel said with disbelief. "You don't do a lot of that as a tyrannical God who rules the world with an iron fist, I guess."
"Your humor means nothing to me." Illeria broke her gaze with Angel, once again indignant. The sound of more demons dropping into the water caused Angel to turn his head back.
"Lets talk about this later, alright?" With a panicked burst of energy, Angel took off after Spike as Illeria followed suit.
As they ran, Illeria caught up to Angel. "This pace is insufficient. In my true form I could alter time to my will, and now I am constrained to human confines. You were a fool to diminish me."
As he ran, Angel mulled over these words. Perhaps there might be a way to defeat the Senior Partners after all. If there were a way to put enough energy back into Illeria, but not too much to cause her to become volatile again, The Wolf, The Ram, and The Hart might be caught off guard. Angel could only assume that the vast horde of demons on their tracks was all that they could muster. With Illeria's former abilities, they could attack the home office in a split second. "Maybe I was a fool," he muttered in response.
The demons still nipping at the group's heels, Angel was losing strength. His muscles ached, and despite his supernatural strength and endurance, he knew he could not continue much longer. Ahead of them Spike was losing speed as well. Headlong, a demon that was reminiscent of the rotting corpse of a dog pounced towards Angel and knocked him to the ground. Another vampire jumped forward, a curved knife in hand. He lifted it up, ready to plunge it into the hero's chest and…
And then they were all no longer in the sewers. They were suspended in nothingness save a radiant white light. Angel felt a wave of pleasure roll over him so strong he was afraid he would turn into Angelus. His face contorted, trying to distract himself from the feeling.
"You are worried, hero," a voice came, "That your true form will be unleashed again. You needn't worry. You will be fine."
"Who are you? Where are we?" Angel muttered softly. He had a strange desire to not disturb the peacefulness of that place.
A man stepped forward. He was dressed all in white, and circles of pale yellow and white light seemed to flow around him. He was dark skinned and looked to be of Arabic descent. He stepped around, looking upwards as if trying to find the words to explain himself.
"I am what is and what is not. My words are to be understood and are to not. I can speak only in riddles because what I have to say cannot be heard. But rest assured you are, for now, safe."
"But… What are you?"
Before the man could respond, Angel heard Illeria speak softly.
"This man was once my enemy. His name is Dorian. He is a coward and would not face me."
Dorian smiled genuinely. It made Angel feel another wave of pleasure and he smiled as well.
"Illeria. You now know the spark of humanity. Your understanding of this is important. What shall happen is preordained. I did not defeat you because of this."
"Defeat me," Illeria snorted. "You were but a pest to me. A bothersome insect."
"Are you…" Angel paused. "Are you one of The Powers That Be?"
"I am and I am not. To you, I am. In truth, I am not. I am the counterpart of Illeria. His will bent time as my mind foresaw it. I instilled this will unto others. My foresight was theirs when it was necessary. But I would be wrong to say that I am such a Power. Nevermore will The Powers That Be visit upon humans. They have turned their backs."
Angel paused for a moment. He was having trouble making sense of all that was happening.
"We are in a place outside of time. But we have a problem," the man said.
"You do not have such a power. Only I—" Illeria trailed off.
"That is the problem," Dorian said.
"So you're all juiced up on Illeria's powers as well," Spike replied.
"This I can say wholly, and what I can say is yes."
"So what's the problem?" Angel asked.
"As I said, I do and do not exist. This balance remains important. Balance is all that matters."
Angel understood now. "And you are now unbalanced?"
"To this I can say yes," Dorian replied.
"Alright then," Spike said sarcastically. "So balance yourself and help us kill those bloody bastards."
"This I cannot do."
"Oh just bloody great. So you want to tell us if we're gonna live through this?"
"This I cannot do."
"Can't do much of anything, can ya," Spike snorted.
"I can tell you that you were brought into existence once again of my will."
Spike was speechless. Angel paused for a moment, and asked "So you can bring people back from the dead?"
"I can, and I cannot. I can because I have. But I cannot because I do not have the ability to."
There was another pause. "I must try to explain further. Spike's sacrifice was irreversible by the traditional reality alterations. Magic could never bring him back. The Powers needed life for life. This is why I am, and I am not."
Angel squinted his eyes and thought deeply. "So you gave yourself to The Powers to bring Spike back. But then how are you here?"
"This I cannot say."
"Your words are in riddles and are that of a fool's. Additionally, your speech has become less coherent to me and I am agitated," Illeria quipped.
"The humanity in you screams to be allowed to rest. And in this comfortable pocket of time, that is what you all must do. Your destiny awaits but you must be alert and prepared. I now must not exist, yet I will exist when it is time. Sleep."
Angel thought to protest, but immediately the calm and soothing feelings his had earlier returned tenfold. He felt his eyes closed, and within seconds he drifted off.
"This is suicide. We need to pull back!"
The words were barely heard over the din of the oncoming horde. Demons sized from the meek to the mighty charged recklessly forth through the dirt-ridden city of Los Angeles towards the remaining group of battered heroes. Angel watched, his brow furrowing as he attempted to gauge the number of adversaries en route.
"Did you hear me or am I talking to myself?" Spike yelled again. Angel locked his gaze onto Spike, and a brief moment of indecision waved over him. He looked at Gunn who, despite heavy injuries, was still standing and ready to fight. He looked back towards Illeria, who showed no signs of being daunted in the slightest.
It was true that a head on attack would be tantamount to suicide. Angel weighed his options and looked around. There was no sign of cover, and the demons came ever closer. Finally, he looked down.
In a blink of an eye, Angel swooped down and tore the manhole out of the ground. "Go, now!" His shouts fell not on deaf ears but indignant ones. His friends, his allies, his warriors, were there and willing to fight until the end. But it finally dawned on him that his work was not quite complete. He could not leave this world until he was sure that he had done all that he could to stop evil in its tracks. Leading a head on charge meant certain death, and while the thought of going out in a blaze of glory was very appealing to the vampire, he knew that his lot in life was first and foremost to battle evil, but also it was important to stay alive in order to do so.
"Do it!" Angel shouted angrily.
"Well, you don't have to tell me twice…" Spike jumped into the darkness in the blink of an eye. Moments later a splash of water could be heard and, if one listened closely enough, a few choice curse words.
Angel turned to Gunn next. "Gunn, you have to keep pushing on."
Gunn's eyes said it all. Wordlessly, Angel understood that Gunn's injuries were too severe to allow him to keep up with the group in a retreat. Angel's lips parted slightly, but no more words escaped them. There was nothing left to say really. Gunn shook his head, then, mustering what strength he had left, charged with a primal roar towards the oncoming demons.
"Illeria…"
"Why do we run? I am not a coward." The former-God looked very indignant.
"We have to go now. We'll be able to strike back, but on our terms. And I think I have a plan. Just go, now!"
A pained look appeared on Illeria's face. Wordlessly she plunged into the open manhole. Angel started to follow, but spared one more glance in the direction of the horde. Gunn had met with the first of the incomers, tearing the demon apart with his burst of feral rage. But the numbers proved to be far too many, and as Angel also disappeared in the hole, he knew that the look he shared with his friend would be their last.
The sewer system was dark and wet, its odor putrid. As Angel landed along side his comrades in the sewage, he let out an explicative. But there wasn't time to worry about the scent that he would have when he walked away from this, only time to worry about actually being walking away in the first place.
Angel recklessly ran through the winding tunnel system, Spike and Illeria at his heels. The cacophony of wailing demons at his back gave him speed beyond any he had felt before. There was no fear rushing through his head anymore, just instinct. Instinct to survive, and to persevere.
Crashing through from above, a massive winged demon swooped down upon the group. It had set its sights on Angel and, with a swift motion, had him pinned underneath a claw. The beast let loose an unholy howl, and more demons poured through the hole to the surface.
The winged demon collapsed on the ground, a fist bursting through its chest cavity. Illeria stood tall, her face showing the slightest signs of a smug grin. "These demons are lesser beings. Let us continue."
Two vampires fell down in between the group as many more watched on from above, ready to join their comrades. Spike swooped underneath a punch aimed for his head and pushed all his weight into his attacker, causing the vampire to lose footing and fall splashing into the layer of murky water underfoot. He then lifted up his leg and, with every bit of strength, plunged it into the vampire's throat, crushing his jugular. The vampire's eyes bulged, unable to move as he squirmed weakly and, before he could reach for his neck, a stake pierced his black heart.
Angel ran headlong with his sword towards the second vampire. The vampire swung his fist, knocking the weapon from his hand, but Angel countered with a swift blow to his stomach. The vampire keeled over, and Angel reached for his stake nestled in his jacket. Before he could even bring it out, the vampire burst into ash as his head rolled on the ground, joining suit. A now very pleased Illeria stood where the vampire once was.
"Hey, you know, I'm the hero here…" Angel muttered disapprovingly.
Illeria laughed, and then her face returned to the stern yet curious gaze a moment ago. "What was that I just experienced? It felt good. I wish to feel it more."
"You just laughed at a joke," Angel said with disbelief. "You don't do a lot of that as a tyrannical God who rules the world with an iron fist, I guess."
"Your humor means nothing to me." Illeria broke her gaze with Angel, once again indignant. The sound of more demons dropping into the water caused Angel to turn his head back.
"Lets talk about this later, alright?" With a panicked burst of energy, Angel took off after Spike as Illeria followed suit.
As they ran, Illeria caught up to Angel. "This pace is insufficient. In my true form I could alter time to my will, and now I am constrained to human confines. You were a fool to diminish me."
As he ran, Angel mulled over these words. Perhaps there might be a way to defeat the Senior Partners after all. If there were a way to put enough energy back into Illeria, but not too much to cause her to become volatile again, The Wolf, The Ram, and The Hart might be caught off guard. Angel could only assume that the vast horde of demons on their tracks was all that they could muster. With Illeria's former abilities, they could attack the home office in a split second. "Maybe I was a fool," he muttered in response.
The demons still nipping at the group's heels, Angel was losing strength. His muscles ached, and despite his supernatural strength and endurance, he knew he could not continue much longer. Ahead of them Spike was losing speed as well. Headlong, a demon that was reminiscent of the rotting corpse of a dog pounced towards Angel and knocked him to the ground. Another vampire jumped forward, a curved knife in hand. He lifted it up, ready to plunge it into the hero's chest and…
And then they were all no longer in the sewers. They were suspended in nothingness save a radiant white light. Angel felt a wave of pleasure roll over him so strong he was afraid he would turn into Angelus. His face contorted, trying to distract himself from the feeling.
"You are worried, hero," a voice came, "That your true form will be unleashed again. You needn't worry. You will be fine."
"Who are you? Where are we?" Angel muttered softly. He had a strange desire to not disturb the peacefulness of that place.
A man stepped forward. He was dressed all in white, and circles of pale yellow and white light seemed to flow around him. He was dark skinned and looked to be of Arabic descent. He stepped around, looking upwards as if trying to find the words to explain himself.
"I am what is and what is not. My words are to be understood and are to not. I can speak only in riddles because what I have to say cannot be heard. But rest assured you are, for now, safe."
"But… What are you?"
Before the man could respond, Angel heard Illeria speak softly.
"This man was once my enemy. His name is Dorian. He is a coward and would not face me."
Dorian smiled genuinely. It made Angel feel another wave of pleasure and he smiled as well.
"Illeria. You now know the spark of humanity. Your understanding of this is important. What shall happen is preordained. I did not defeat you because of this."
"Defeat me," Illeria snorted. "You were but a pest to me. A bothersome insect."
"Are you…" Angel paused. "Are you one of The Powers That Be?"
"I am and I am not. To you, I am. In truth, I am not. I am the counterpart of Illeria. His will bent time as my mind foresaw it. I instilled this will unto others. My foresight was theirs when it was necessary. But I would be wrong to say that I am such a Power. Nevermore will The Powers That Be visit upon humans. They have turned their backs."
Angel paused for a moment. He was having trouble making sense of all that was happening.
"We are in a place outside of time. But we have a problem," the man said.
"You do not have such a power. Only I—" Illeria trailed off.
"That is the problem," Dorian said.
"So you're all juiced up on Illeria's powers as well," Spike replied.
"This I can say wholly, and what I can say is yes."
"So what's the problem?" Angel asked.
"As I said, I do and do not exist. This balance remains important. Balance is all that matters."
Angel understood now. "And you are now unbalanced?"
"To this I can say yes," Dorian replied.
"Alright then," Spike said sarcastically. "So balance yourself and help us kill those bloody bastards."
"This I cannot do."
"Oh just bloody great. So you want to tell us if we're gonna live through this?"
"This I cannot do."
"Can't do much of anything, can ya," Spike snorted.
"I can tell you that you were brought into existence once again of my will."
Spike was speechless. Angel paused for a moment, and asked "So you can bring people back from the dead?"
"I can, and I cannot. I can because I have. But I cannot because I do not have the ability to."
There was another pause. "I must try to explain further. Spike's sacrifice was irreversible by the traditional reality alterations. Magic could never bring him back. The Powers needed life for life. This is why I am, and I am not."
Angel squinted his eyes and thought deeply. "So you gave yourself to The Powers to bring Spike back. But then how are you here?"
"This I cannot say."
"Your words are in riddles and are that of a fool's. Additionally, your speech has become less coherent to me and I am agitated," Illeria quipped.
"The humanity in you screams to be allowed to rest. And in this comfortable pocket of time, that is what you all must do. Your destiny awaits but you must be alert and prepared. I now must not exist, yet I will exist when it is time. Sleep."
Angel thought to protest, but immediately the calm and soothing feelings his had earlier returned tenfold. He felt his eyes closed, and within seconds he drifted off.