MERRY WARS AND SAD SONGS

AUTHOR: Katta - full name Katarina Maria Hjärpe
E-MAIL: head_overheels@hotmail.com
SUMMARY: A powermad demon makes an army of slain warriors. He must be stopped, even though he's actually doing Angel Investigations a favour.
DESCRIPTION: From lightweight drama to dark action and vice versa.
NOTE: I dedicate this story to GK Chesterton, because before he graced the scene, all I had for a title was a few half-bad options and a Shakespeare quote.
DISTRIBUTION: Ask first.
FEEDBACK: As long as you're civil, I love it.
RATING: If you're old enough to watch you're old enough to read this.
DISCLAIMER: The ones from the TV series and belong to the people who made those TV series. Everyone else belongs to me.
**********
The demon giving the message of Angel's latest interference squatted when he saw the look in his employer's eyes. The huge demon rose from where he was sitting and piled up over the frightened creature, rage in his eyes and pretty much everywhere else, too.
he roared.
The demon certainly didn't want to repeat his message, but didn't see a way out.
He was saved by Angel. The vampire, sir. The huge demon was always addressed as , since he was much too bright to give out his real name to people. He knew what name spells could do.
I know who Angel is, you fool! How? No, I don't even want to know. Incompetent bastards, that's what you are, all of you!
Yes sir, the messenger mumbled, relieved when the other demmon moved his eyes away from him.

The demon that had been called moved slowly into his master's range.
How's the new recruit doing?
Well, sir Badly, I'm afraid. He refuses to follow orders, and he claims he doesn't want anything to do with any of us. If nothing changes soon, I'm afraid we will have to kill him.
Kill him? After all those spells and charms I wasted on him? I don't think so. He's got a very powerful ta'risha. But as you have said, he also has a rebellious mind. You know what that indicates, don't you? He grinned.
The trainer swallowed. You want me to mark him, sir?
Mark him, sow him up, and find someone to take over. After that, he'll be perfect for killing Angel. Beautifully perfect
**********
Angel walked into the office and noticed that Cordelia looked unusually tired even for her current state.
Are you okay, Cordy? he asked softly.
Not really, she replied, staring into thin air. It's such a hard effort even to breathe. But I guess you wouldn't know.
He chose to ignore that tactless remark.
I'm just wasted, you know. She tried to smile, but failed miserably. I never thought I never knew that it was possible to miss someone the way I miss Doyle. Even after all this time.
I miss him too, Angel said, quietly. Hey, Cordy, go take a nap. You look like you could use one. I'll take care of things for a while. It seems pretty quiet.
She agreed without arguing and left the room. Angel sat around for a while, but pretty soon the door opened.
How can we help you? Angel asked, viewing the person standing in front of him. His face was wrapped in a middle-east looking scarf. A demon not wanting to be noticed, Angel guessed, as if people wouldn't notice an ayatollah walking around. Why didn't the guy say something?
Do you need help? Do you Angel walked up to the person while speaking, but he didn't have a chance to finish the sentence. Any doubt he might have had about the visitor's species disappeared when he was flung into the wall. The demon moved after him, attempting to finish what he started. Damn it, he had a crossbow. Angel ducked for the first couple of shots, and managed to grip the demon in a way that prevented him from shooting again.
The battle had woken up Cordelia. The demon was startled by her voice and gave Angel the opportunity to use every bit of strength in his body to throw the demon's head down on a table and right through it. The force of the blow didn't fail its mission. Angel felt the demon's body weakening under his grip.
Is he dead? Cordelia had entered the room and looked at the mess they had made without any sign of emotion.
Angel shook his head. Just unconscious. He'll be out cold for quite some time, though.
Well, who is he? What is he?
Angel stared at the lifeless body. He didn't care much to turn it around and try to find out what kind of demon it was. Looking at the ridiculous scarf, a tiny smile flickered on his lips.
The new taliban kind of demon, he said.
Cordelia sat down beside him and took the demon's hand.
Well, *some* kind of demon, for sure, she said, examining the hand. Was he here to kill you?
I guess, Angel started, when the demon suddenly squeezed Cordelia's hand and made her scream with fear. She moved away from it as quickly as possible.
I thought you said he was out cold, she panted with an accusing look at Angel.
I was. He is. Angel frowned and looked at the demon's hand, that was moving around the dusty floor without any seeming connection to the rest of his body. He got a nasty suspicion and lifted the scarf away from the base of the demon's skull to confirm it.
Cordelia stared at the half-healed brand.
What is that? she asked.
It's the monkey mark, Angel replied. He was beginning to feel a little sick. It's a spell that locks a person into his own mind. He can't get any connection to his senses, and his body is controlled from a distance by someone else. Demons use it as a punishment for those who have failed badly or shown illojality, but who are too strong to be allowed to die. In the long run, the guy inside this body will probably go mad. The only time he can get in touch with *any* of his body parts is when he's asleep or unconscious - and even then I guess it takes quite a lot of effort.
, Cordelia said.
Really gross.
But hey, she said, trying to get rid of the thought of what it would feel like to be in that situation yourself, what if he talks in his sleep or something? That could give stuff away, like who sent him?
They usually think of that. He turned the demon around and unwrapped him. The demon turned out to be Brachen. Its face made him stop short for a second.
What's wrong?
Nothing. I just thought I recognized him, that's all. Angel shook his head. Now take a look at this, he said, parting the demon's lips. His jaws are sown together with wire. He's not going to tell us anything.
Cordelia turned away from the sight, and her eyes fell on the place on the floor where the demon had let his hand move. She froze, as she realised that this wasn't random marks of fingers on dust. It was scribbling, and not hard to read either.
Angel, look, she whispered.
Angel looked in her direction.
he said, not quite getting it.
Her voice was barely a breath, and she turned to look at the demon's face. It couldn't be.
Then he hadn't been mistaken. I think it is.
She sank down by the demon, grabbing his restless hand. Doyle? Can you hear me? Oh, God, she had wanted him back, but not like this.
**********
Cordelia tried to speak to Doyle, but got no response apart from the weak movements of his hand. She wasn't even sure he could hear her. After a while she even doubted that it was really him, and turned to Angel.
Angel? You knew this face better than I did. Is it
It's exactly like it was. I don't understand it any more than you do. We saw him die, and yet here he is, in a state I wouldn't wish for my worst enemy. He hesitated for a second and then said: Listen, Cordy, you're not going to like this, but I think we should tie him up. After all, the guy in control of his body wants to kill me, and he will wake up sooner or later.
Cordelia nodded. You do it, she said. Now, where is Wesley when you need him? She sighed and thought for a second. I'm going to call Giles.
As she picked up the phone, her hands trembled. What was she going to say? She couldn't bring herself into saying that Doyle was back, somehow it felt as if that would jinx them. When she heard Giles's voice, she almost jumped.
Giles? It's Cordelia. Hi I need a little help I was wondering whether you know something about the Monkey Mark It's a punishment used by demons Oh, you've heard of it? Do you know any remedy? Okay, I'll wait.
Angel had finished tying up Doyle's body and looked up at her.
He's going to look in one of his books, she said.
I figured that much.
Cordelia tapped her fingers to the desk, waiting for Giles to come back. When he told her he had found the place she held her breath, listening. Then she slowly let the air out. Disappointment was evident in her face.
Are you sure? Is there nothing else you can do? No, that won't be necessary. Thanks for your help Bye.
She slowly put down the phone.
No remedy? Angel asked.
She nodded. they make a human sacrifice. She buried her head in her hands.
Angel thought about what she had said. It was ironic. There was a way to save Doyle, but a way they couldn't possibly go through with. That was worse than none at all.
Angel walked up to Cordelia and held her around her shoulders.
We'll try and find another way, he said.
What if we can't?
He didn't even want to think about that, but he knew what the answer must be.
Then I'll kill him. He deserves better than this.
Maybe you won't have to. If we can't find another way I'll be the sacrifice.
His voice was sharp. Cordelia, do you know what you're saying?
She was pale. He's died once on me already, I won't allow it again. Then I'd rather let it be me.
He rocked her slowly. If Doyle dies again, it will just be death. A sacrifice is different. I've seen what happens to people who are sacrificed, and I know Doyle would stake me if I ever let that happen to you.
She knew he was right and nodded.
Can we at least move him into the bedroom? she asked.

They both helped carry the unconscious demon. After they had put him down on the bed, Cordelia lent down and touched the palm of his hand. His fingers flickered a bit by the touch. She softly drew her finger in a bow, first to the right, then to the left, shaping a heart. If she couldn't do anything else for him, she could tell him the answer to what he had wondered before he died.
**********
The wailings when the demon regained consciousness made them cringe. Whether they thought of him as Doyle or not, it was just as horrible.
Hi everybody. Wesley entered the office and heard the desperate noise. Good Lord! What is that? Without waiting for a reply he went downstairs. It took a short while before he came back, and when he did, he seemed very confused.
Why is there a tied up demon in the bedroom? he asked.
Sit down.
Wesley looked at them, shrugged, and then took a seat.
I know this sounds strange, Angel said, not sure how to continue. But that demon is Doyle.
Wesley looked stunned.
Yes. I don't know how he has returned, and I understand if you can't believe it
I do believe it. Wesley went up, went to his desk and brought up a book. Do you remember the case we had about a month ago with the demon who killed girls and ate their tongues?
Angel nodded, wondering what that particularly disgusting case had to do with anything.
Well, I talked to some other demon hunters, and they swore they killed him long before that. I thought there must be some sort of mistake, but then we had another demon who had allegedly already been killed. So I got curious and did some research. At first I found nothing. Then I found this cult that was around in the sixteenth century. According to their beliefs, a person who had died in battle had a good ta'risha - I haven't quite gotten the meaning of that word yet, but after what I have read, it's something between mental strength and what the hindus call karma. It's supposed to help them in the afterlife. Now, this cult thought they might as well use it in *this* life, so after a battle they worked very hard on spells to bring back those who had been killed. Even the enemies, if they had shown great courage. The more honourable the death had been, the more power had been received by it. Or that's what they thought.
And that's what you think has happened to Doyle? Angel asked.
Doyle and those other demons. Yes.
Cordelia said. That was like five hundred years ago. You don't know it's the same cult.
I don't know for sure, Wesley admitted. But I've talked to people, and there are signs that indicate that it *is* the same cult. For one thing, there are lots of rumours about a demon leader referred to as 'sir'. The cult leaders never used their own name, for safety reasons, and they demanded reverence from their lackeys. There are lots of things that fits into the picture.
Angel thought about it. It made sense, which surprised him. He hadn't expected to find answers so soon.
What does he want then, this 'sir' person? he asked.
Still rumours, Wesley said, but they say he's creating an army. One of those 'take over the world' kind of fellows.
So then we have more than Doyle to worry about, Angel said with a sigh.
Wesley frowned. That reminds me - why are you keeping him tied up? Has he turned to them? He sounded a bit surprised. Although he had never met Doyle, what the others had told him hadn't made him believe the possibility of such an outcome.
He has and he hasn't, Angel said. He's not in control of his own body.
Wesley's eyes widened and he shook his head.
I saw 'Being John Malcovich' the other day and am getting strange flashbacks, he said with a smile that soon disappeared when he saw the looks the others gave him. What do you mean? What has happened?
He's been branded with the Monkey Mark. Do you know what that means?
I've heard of it. I'm so sorry.
Sorry doesn't help much. Cordelia couldn't stand sitting down anymore, she rose and walked restlessly around the room. A counterspell would.
Wesley shook his head in regret. The only thing I know of is
A human sacrifice.
His eyes set on her.
Cordelia shook her head and kept walking. Angel, on the other hand, buried his head into his hands, thinking. To have Doyle die on them had almost broken his heart, and it wasn't until recently that he had learned how to cope with it. He would have thought after living this long he would have been prepared, but he hadn't been. He had found Doyle's death horrible, unnatural and simply *wrong*, but yet this was worse. He wondered to himself if this was some idea of a joke from the Powers That Be. All this time he had wanted to have Doyle back, was this their way of saying: See? Here's your wish. How do you like that? Well, he wouldn't allow it. He would find some way, some acceptable way, of getting Doyle back to what he used to be. Meanwhile, there was business to attend to.
We'd better do something about that army then, he said.
**********
The trouble with the demon army didn't seem to be so much fighting them as finding them. Listening to the gossip of the otherworld and comparing it to what the books said did confirm that it was indeed the same cult that had been up and working five hundred years ago. It also taught the people at Angel Investigations quite a few things about rituals and other habits that they would rather not have known. But when it came to location - zero.
Angel hung up the phone after yet another pointless call to Giles, who hadn't found out more than they had. He hadn't told Giles about Doyle - what was the point? The person controlling Doyle's body seemed to have resignated and was no longer wailing Doyle's lunges out all the time, but he certainly wouldn't let go of the body. He wasted very little energy and did not need sleep any more than he needed food. As it was now, Doyle's body might as well have been left as ashes by the Beacon. He had no use for it, and neither did the sod who had brought him back.
Angel's thought wandered off in another direction, and he rose quickly, causing Cordelia to stare surprised at him.
I'm going to see the Oracles about Doyle, he said.
She seemed to have expected that, because she simply nodded and said:
Good luck. I hope they tell you something helpful for once.
Angel left, and Cordelia stayed in the office, looking through some books in random. She had looked before, and she knew she wouldn't find anything. Eventually, she began to doze off.
She woke by a heavy pounding on the door. Her first thought was that it was Angel coming back, but then she realised he wouldn't have to knock. Yawning, she went up to open it, and stared at the people outside.
You're having some serious enemies, aren't you? Xander asked politely.
Part of her wanted her to ask him please get the hell out of her life and preferably rot forever, but the part that wanted to know what he was talking about won.
she said, wishing she could have come up with something better.
Buffy has kicked some heavily armed demon ass, he explained.
I would have killed him, Buffy said, but I figured he might come up with something useful. She shoved the defeated demon in front of her inside the building, giving Cordelia a friendly nod on the way by. Hope you don't mind us intruding here. Giles thought a few more people around here would be handy. I guess he was right.
I guess. Cordelia was actually grateful to have them here. If they helped taking care of the army, she didn't have to feel as guilty for worrying more about Doyle.
So, where's Angel? Xander asked, looking around the office.
He went of to see the Oracles.
Xander looked confused, but Buffy nodded.
Is he going to ask them about the cult?
Well, kind of.
Cordelia looked at them and hesitated, but finally decided to go along with it. So she told them about Doyle. The whole story. It felt good. She only wished she knew how the story would proceed.
**********
We have already discussed this matter. The Oracles were displeased.
When he was dead. Now he is alive.
That was his choice, not ours.
His choice? Angel was bemused, and he struggled to understand. I thought he was brought back by a cult.
He was. But they couldn't have brought him back against his will. He had once chosen death, now he had the right to choose life.
Angel felt anger rising in him.
But you never told him what kind of a life it would be?
We never tell anyone that.
He couldn't hold himself from yelling at them.
Have it your way, then. Why should you feel guilt for having him locked inside a body he can't control? Let me just know - are you planning to keep him this way forever?
That is up to you.
Angel silenced. Okay, tell me what to do then.
His recovery demands a death.
Angel closed his eyes. The human sacrifice. I know about that, but I won't go through with it.
Those are your words. We only said death.
They didn't seem to want to be more specific, and when they saw the look on his face they added: If you want, we are willing to take him back.
Angel's answer was determined. I'll get him back the way he was.
Was there tiny smiles on their faces? He didn't know. They didn't look entirely displeased.
You must fight your war well, and use your opponent's strength against him. We make no promise, but you have the ability to set the messenger free. Whether or not he will be alive is another matter.
**********
Angel felt a door slamming behind him and found himself inside his own office. That was a pretty rude way of saying , he thought.
He noticed Buffy and Xander sitting in the back of the room and the unknown demon forced into their corner. The demon intrigued him, but his eyes were set on Buffy. He couldn't stand seeing her again, but at the same time he never wanted her out of his view. What are you doing here? And who is the demon guy?
He says he's here to reclaim a warrior, answered Buffy, ignoring the first question. It would need too much answering for the moment.
Angel immediately forgot all bittersweet emotions.

I don't know his name, the demon said. He had tried reluctancy, but since it didn't work he had resigned. , he nodded at his wardens, say that he is called that. All I know is that he's powerful and that Elil wanted him back.
Elil is the guy who did the branding, Cordelia explained to Angel.
Angel stared at the demon in disgusted rage and couldn't help changing into vampire form as he gave the short command:
The demon talked. Because Angel made him nervous, he talked very quickly and rather incoherently.
Well, uhm, I told them already. This guy, Doyle or whatever, he's really important, right? He's got a fantastic ta'risha and they want him back, not just killed off. So Elil sent me to fetch him. And he said if I could kill Angel, he swallowed, - that would be you - as well, it would be a really neat thing. But I think their main concern is just getting their warrior back. They had a really hard time bringing him back from the dead in the first place, since he didn't have a body and had been dead for so long, but they seemed to think he was worth it. Even though they lost a piece.
Lost a piece?
The demon only shrugged. He didn't know anything else about that.
Do you know anything about a demon they call 'sir'? Angel pushed.
The demon nodded.
He's our leader. He brings back the dead. He has great powers. But I've never met him. I've already said that I don't know how to find him.
He knows where this Elil guy is, though, Cordelia said. Gave us pretty good directions, I'm sure I can find it.
Well then.
Angel backed away from the demon and got his human face back. He wanted to get away as soon as possible, to find this Elil who turned heroes into marionettes. The demon licked his lips.
May I wish for a quick death?
Angel stared at him.

The demon waited breathlessly. Giving away information was among the worst acts of treason that existed. The death waiting for him was worse than he wanted to think of. Anything would be better than to be sent back, but any death frightened him and he could only hope for a quick and merciful one from the vampire.
He was lucky.
**********