Author's note: I wanted to write something a little darker than normal. So this is set in the "Wish-verse," an a/u that takes place during BTVS's season three story The Wish. Go with the basic idea. Angel's POV.
Part one of a series.
Disclaimer: I am not Joss Whedon, nor do I have the kind of money he does.
Feedback does a body good.
Enjoy! Will be updating shortly.
The world is dark and different. I know that nothing is technically wrong, but it just feels fundamentally wrong, like a new coat of paint on a torn up house.
I was supposed to be here. Supposed to meet someone. To help her. But she never came. And here I am in this cage, a lapdog to the Master and his lackeys.
They call me puppy.
What the hell happened?
And the more time I have to myself, the more I think on it. And the more I realize something's skewed just slightly.
I heard them talking earlier about a new kill they had made. Specifically for the Master. Apparently someone Xander used to know. She had been taken by the "white hats" as they refer to some of the human resistance. The girl had been mentioning something the others were very upset to hear. So they had broken into the library, locked up the watcher, and killed the girl right in front of him.
She had talked about getting the slayer. Buffy Summers.
The one I was supposed to be here to help.
Why isn't she here? Why did I come here anyway?
The burns on my chest are still crusty and painful. I hide in the corner of the cage, hoping against hope that Willow will forget that I'm here for a while. She can tear me up and destroy my body, but my mind is still my own. Or is it? What's with the images of a Sunnydale that isn't, a world where the vampires aren't in charge and the humans can still walk around their town without fear?
I hear keys rattle lightly, and try to tuck myself even more tightly into the corner of the cage. Then a whistling penetrates my ears.
"Puppy? You need to go for a walk? Puppy, come to Willow!"
She saunters around the corner, and stops dead at the sight of me huddled in the bend of the old brick walls. "Puppy, what's the deal? Are you afraid of little old Willow? She loves you, baby. Now come here like a good puppy and beg for mama."
She unlocks the cage, and walks purposefully over to me, a link chain in her hand, her favorite zippo lighter tucked in the bodice of her shirt.
Maybe if I behave this time she'll go easy.
She usually gets bored with me after a few hours. Luckily this time, we were interrupted by Xander and the Master, who wanted to talk over plans for the factory.
She was stupid this time, and left me out in the room. Guess she thought I was too beat up to move.
Which is kind of true, but I don't have many opportunities like this one.
I stagger to my feet, blood pooling on the floor from the wounds in my legs and torso. One good thing about being a vampire, you heal fast. And blood loss isn't such an issue.
No guards around for once, and it's too early for the Bronze to be full of demons playing. I sneak quietly through the empty room, and tentatively open the front door a crack.
Dusk. Safe enough.
Just as I am about to slip through, a voice calls out, "Now where do you think you're going, bad boy?"
Damn.
I groggily start awake in what seems like a few hours later. The stone floor is colder than normal, and I try to sit up, but find my neck and arms are lashed to the wall by thick iron links. I also discover that she was a lot smarter this time, and took my clothes as well, so it would be much harder for me to try and leave.
The floor is slick with drying, sticky pools of crimson.
Footsteps sound on the floor, and I quickly close my eyes, feigning sleep.
"What's this you're telling me? The Slayer is here? The stupid humans called on her anyway, even after what you did to the dark haired girl?" Incredulatly echoes in his voice, and Xander answers with some trepidation.
"Master, she has been seen with the Watcher. At least we have the element of surprise. We can take her. Let Willow and I…"
The sound of a hard slap reaches me. "No, you idiot. Let her bide her time, thinking she has the upper hand. We will take care of her in our own way. Nothing can mar the factory grand opening. Nothing! Now post an extra guard at the high school and try to follow her." Out of my slitted eyes I see him turn on his bootheels and leave. Xander rubs his cheek, glaring after the Master. He wisely follows shortly afterward.
I close my eyes again this time, as dizzyness attacks me. I have that feeling again, a lot stronger this time. Something is just not right. When they mentioned the Slayer, I felt it too.
There has got to be a way for me to get out of here. I need to see the watcher. I can help him find a way to set things right.
And maybe do what I came here to do, help that Slayer.
Buffy is a funny name for such an important person.