Preface
Summary of Information
As the title suggests, the following is a detailed account of the lives and deaths of the children spawned from the man (or demon) we've all come to know and love (or loathe) as Angel (or Angelus). It is not a pretty tale, and in places can be downright horrific, but it is a tale which must be told. I shall attempt to do so as honestly and objectively as possible, without disrespecting the memories of the fallen, or disregarding the noble sacrifices of heroes.
Author's Intentions
In the past, there has been much discussion, written and verbal, about the life, death and undeath of the vampire known as Angelus. His crimes against humanity have been recorded, analyzed, and recreated in a variety of formats, including the popular television programs, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel". While Mr. Whedon's account of events was for the most part accurate, vital details of Angelus' history have been omitted. While, this is quite understandable given the strict regulations placed on network television, these omissions included what I feel to be potentially life-saving information about the notorious vampire.
Chiefly among these is the family Angelus left behind when he became a vampire. Mention has been made again and again with regards to his parents and his young sister, whom he brutally murdered almost immediately upon arising from the grave. Not a word has been said, however, about his children or grandchildren. Yes, Angelus (or Liam, as he was called in life) did indeed father a child before his untimely demise. More specifically, he fathered two of them- twins. These children in turn had children of their own, and so on. Yet there has been not a single mention of them. These women led tragically short lives filled with terror and uncertainty. For many of them, death was long and painful, and Angelus was directly responsible. To continue to ignore their tribulations, and the bravery with which they faced adversity would be a travesty. This document is an attempt to correct that. It is primarily for them that I write.
Also omitted from Joss Whedon's re-creations were many of the atrocities Angelus was responsible for before regaining his soul. We were given only a cursory overview of how he earned his reputation as "The Scourge of Europe". Who was the young gypsy that led to Angel's re-ensoulment? What did Cordelia Chase witness as a Higher Being that was so terrible as to cause her to rethink having a romantic relationship with him? These questions and others will be addressed throughout this document.
Even post-soul Angel has his secrets. These secrets have been kept for far too long. Though he has done many heroic deeds in recent history, including saving the world on more than one occasion, he is by no means an angel. He has been the cause of a great deal of heartache and bloodshed, even after regaining his soul. Though attempts have been made to cover up, excuse or even deny such unpleasantness outright, it is a fact that Angel, in full possession of his soul, has tortured, and even killed human beings. While he didn't always perpetrate said heinousness himself, in many cases he willfully stood by and not only merely allowed it to happen, but in some instances, enabled it.
Finally, the main purpose of this document is to provide the knowledge necessary to protect oneself from becoming just another notch on Angel's already guilty conscience. Angelus may be buried, for the moment, but as long Angel lives, the potential exists for Angelus to resurface once more. By sharing the history of Angel/Angelus and his descendants, and illuminating his strengths and weaknesses, it is my hope that future deaths, and/or injuries at Angel's hands, accidental and otherwise, can be avoided.
Sources of Information
Before I begin, I feel it's important to explain where my information comes from. My sister, Kestryl and I are the twelfth of thirteen generations directly descended from the man who was once called Liam Gallagher, who eventually became known as Angelus, the one with the angelic face, and now calls himself simply, "Angel". Over the past ten years or so, I have come to know my grandfather quite well. He has been both my protector and my tormentor, my friend as well as my enemy. I have listened patiently while he confessed his sins, and sat transfixed with horror as he boasted of his brutality.
Additionally, it seems Angel isn't the only one in our family saddled with a curse. With few exceptions, one way or another, the women in my family tend to fall victim to vampirism, only to rise again as demons themselves. Most of them are more or less amiable, eager to share their stories, particularly where it paints Angel (or more specifically, Angelus) in a negative light. For reasons which will become clear as you read this tale, not all of them are as excited to relive their struggles as others, but all recognize the necessity to have the information made public. As a result, I have had the unique opportunity to interview and interact with most of my ancestors from the previous eleven generations. It is these conversations, and my personal experiences with Angel/Angelus from which I draw the bulk of my knowledge. When such conversation was not possible, diary entries and correspondence have served a similar purpose, and I have included excerpts where appropriate.