Series: 24 for 24
Title: Four: Long Forgotten Son
Author: Jmaria
Rating: FR-15
Disclaimer: Joss owns the Destroyer, Kenyon owns the Destroyer. I own Zip.
Spoilers: General (but few) for One Silent Night & Acheron
Series Summary: Twenty-four stories and crossings of worlds (read: insanity) to celebrate twenty-four years.
Part Summary: Jumping into random portals - not always the brightest move.
Words: 507
Quote Source: My Heartstrings Come Undone by Demon Hunter
A/N: Ironically, this song that provides the quote comes from an Angel & Connor mix. Serendipity.
24 for 24 I will wait for you, pray for you, before I make my final run
Four: Long Forgotten Son
Connor braced himself for a battle as he dove through the portal the creature had tried to flee through. Wasn't the brightest move he'd made in a while, but it seemed only right that he follow the hunt through to the finish. No matter what hell dimension he found himself it. It had to beat L.A.'s hellish undertone it had taken after his dad's dragon-slaying moment.
He hadn't heard from any of them in months, so he'd taken up the Fang Gang's banner - helping the helpless. Which included, apparently, vampires who weren't interested in sucking the blood out of their victims. That was something new.
Connor hit with a resounding thud, on his feet in an instant to attack whatever it was that he'd followed into this new hell. Except it really wasn't overly hellish. It was almost - like Eden? If that even made sense.
"Who dares enter my kingdom?" a beautifully eerie voice shook through his very being as he turned to face a beautiful blonde with the palest eyes he'd ever seen.
"The Destroyer," Connor tilted his head to the side.
"You've heard of me?" a smirk crossed her lips. "How did you find yourself in my prison, mortal?"
Since he could feel the power rippling off of her, Connor thought it was in his best interest to not contradict the other Destroyer. She felt old - older than even Angel or Illyria. She'd probably had the name longer than his nineteen years. He also wasn't going to tell her he wasn't strictly human. But then, he'd never been really classified as anything but a Miracle child born of two vampires. Did that make him a dhamphir - or what?
"I followed the anemic vampire -"
"You followed a Daimon into Kolasis?" she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Is that where I am?" Connor frowned.
"What kind of stupid are you?" she shook her head at him.
"You haven't even met my father," Connor shook his head.
"Oh, a lost boy with a hatred for his father in his heart," she looked happy to hear that. Not that he hated Angel - much anymore. But, it seemed wise to play it up.
"Yeah, dear old Dad's not really around to be much help these days," Connor nodded. "And Mom died bringing me into the world -"
"What is your name, mortal?"
She was apparently also wickedly fast, because she crossed the courtyard in a blink of an eye. Connor tried hard not to flinch at all that power wafting over him. Damned hard.
"Connor, son of Darla and Angel -"
"The son of two vampires, who shares my epitaph as the Destroyer," her eyes seemed to swirl just the tiniest bit. "You didn't correct me. Smart boy."
"I respect women," Connor quickly altered what he was going to say. If he learned anything from his made-up family, it was to not comment on a lady's age.
"I am Apollymi, the last of the Atlantean pantheon. Come and sit with me a while, Connor."