Disclaimer: I own nothing. Qoute from Angel Graphic Novel, Spotlight: Illyria.
"I was born human…which I got a feeling you weren't." the murderer said. "Yet I have a human body. Stronger, faster than the norm. But still human." Illyria replied, head cocked to her right. Angel, "Spotlight: Illyria"
It had been days since she had arrived at the Burkle's doorstep, a lie on her lips about a Wolfram and Hart limo leaving her on the corner. After all, when it came to her and the Burkles, everything was. A lie, that is. Things unfamiliar and familiar all at once overwhelmed her senses. The smell of Trish Burkle's rose bushes which wafted through the tiny suburban property; the smoothness of the hardwood floors laid down by Roger. The bedroom filled with faded soft toys, posters of pop bands from another decade, and the soft, downy duvet over Fred's bed.
She could hear the Burkle's concern through the thin wooden door that separated them from her, but her eyes were fixated only on the old fashioned television before her. Illyria watched her own face on the screen laughing in joy over a birthday cake frosted in dozens of hues, and touched her cheek, trying to recall how it felt like to twist that way.
On screen, Winifred, aged six, was now on a stage; she was a princess in a castle, waiting for her prince who was wearing a costume two sizes too big for him.
Illyria blinked her blue eyes. Liquid splotched down on her clothing, blossoming in dark spots over the material. Something twisted in her chest.
"Fred? Honey?" Trish's voice was muffled, but the concern was unmistakable.
"Did you need something Mom?" Fred's voice responded.
"Are you ok in there? Would you like to join us for dinner? I made your favourite."
Illyria frowned, and then asked,
"Tacos?"
There was a short silence.
"Alright, your second favourite. I made buttermilk fried chicken."
The Goddess couldn't help but smile slightly.
"So what's new sugar?" Roger asked, pushing away his plate. "Is everything ok in L.A.?"
"Of course Daddy!" she said with a wide smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I just needed a break; I was gettin' real stressed from dealing with all that research and just wanted to come home for a bit."
"Well you shouldn't work yourself so hard. Callyanne, remember her? Drove herself right into a nervous breakdown in New York just last month." Trish said, looking at Illyria with serious eyes.
"Don't be silly you guys. I just needed a day or two away from the lab."
The older couple looked at each other, and Roger sighed.
"Fred, honey, is this because of a boy?" he asked.
"Or a girl! I mean, if that's what you like, its ok. We want you to know that we understand if you like other girls." Trish added hurriedly. "I mean, that would explain why you haven't mentioned any nice boys you were interested in, in the last year after that nice Charles boy, but really, we love you anyway sweetheart. Do you think you might want to adopt a baby though? We ain't pressurin' you but we do so look forward to the patter of our grandchildren's feet…"
"Trish, hush up!" Roger said, turning a shade of red Illyria was sure Fred had never seen on her father.
"But Rog…"
What would Fred do?
"I didn't just break up with a boy. And I'm not lesbian." The Goddess sounded slightly affronted.
"Oh. Well that's fine too." Trish sounded slightly disappointed. It was clear this was a topic she had rehearsed often. Then she brightened up.
"You remember Shawn, your old schoolmate? The one who married Brenda Jennings?"
Good looking boy who Fred once had a severe crush on in high school, Illyria thought.
"Well, Shawn just got a divorce last year. Brenda up and left him for a young gentlemen in Chicago. Never did like that little tramp."
The Goddess did not like where this was going.
"Well, as I was saying, Shawn's running a lovely horse farm not from here, and he's done really well for himself. He comes by often too, with those square things from his Momma."
As in on cue, someone knocked on the front door.
"In fact, there he is now!" Roger said, and the ancient being stiffened, knowing that she had been lured into a cunningly designed trap.
"Well, I'm going to…go clean up these things. Don't want company seein' this mess!" Trish said as she grabbed soiled dinner dishes off the table, trying to ignore the female's stern glare.
"You remember Fred dontcha Shawn?" the Burkle patriarch said, walking in with a young man.
"Sure I do Mr. Burkle." Shawn said, looking at the woman seated at the table with a half grin. "Hello Fred."
"Hello Shawn." Illyria replied sullenly, knowing when she had been bested.
"You kids should go out and enjoy yourself. The night's still young. You shouldn't be here with us old bats." Trish said, bustling between the kitchen and the dining table.
"Really, I would rather…" Fred's voice said.
"You know what you guys should do? Try out that new burger place by the highway. I heard they make great milkshakes." Roger said, bouncing on his heels.
"Daddy, I just ate." The Goddess said pointedly.
"Well, you still can use some dessert."
"What about it Fred?" Shawn sounded highly amused. "Your parents seem determined to get rid of you."
Illyria could feel eyes boring into her. With an uncharacteristic sigh, she pushed her chair back and stood up.
"Their milkshakes better be really good. Or I'll destroy them in such a way that generations for centuries to come will speak of it in terror and shaking."
The anticipation turned into confusion.
The Old One rolled her eyes, and pasted on a wide smile.
"Lead the way Shawn!" she chirped.
"Alright. Now that we're alone, would you rather go to Frank's for a real drink? I have a feeling you might need it." Shawn said as he started his car.
"It doesn't matter." She replied. "Do what pleases you."
"Right." Shawn said. "Ok."
They drove in silence. Illyria watched the houses passing by dispassionately, trying to picture her body playing, walking among these buildings.
Finally, they pulled into a parking lot, in front of a building that read "Frank's Bar and Grill" in a large green sign over the entrance. Snake like drawings intertwined between the letters in the words, mouths drawing back in welcoming smiles.
What would Fred do?
"I've never been in here." She said abruptly. "My parents used to warn me to stay away from here. I almost went in once, but then I kept thinking about how I'd be guilty forever, and…"
Shawn laughed.
"What?" Illyria asked.
"Nothing. It's just…you haven't changed a bit." He smiled. "Still babbling away a mile a minute like back in school."
"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"
"No, God, don't be silly. I just meant…" he flushed slightly. "I just meant I always wanted to talk to you, but you seemed to talk about such smart things, and I didn't know what to say to you, or how…how. You know what I mean?"
"Oh."
As an afterthought, Illyria allowed her own face to colour.
"Come on." Shawn cut the brakes.
Unclipping her seatbelt, she opened the door and stepped out, the ground crunching beneath her shoes. The sky above had already darkened, and the first star shone coldly down on her. Closing the door, Illyria walked towards the doors of the bar. She looked up at the sign again, and frowned.
Had the snakes moved in the last few minutes?
"Everything ok?" the man behind her asked.
"Just…perfect." Illyria answered.
"Good. Just what I wanted." He replied, and shoved her through the swinging wooden door.
"This the sacrifice?" a reedy voice said to Illyria's left.
"Yep, fresh from L.A." Shawn said behind her.
"Well she'll do." A third voice said; it came from the huge male behind the bar, eyeing her lasciviously. "Though I don't see why we can't have some fun before the ritual."
"We're late enough as it is."
She felt herself shoved forward again, forcing her onto her hands and knees.
"No hard feelings Freddy. I was runnin' late and didn't have time to find some other girl tonight. And our Master gets cranky if we're late with his dinner." Shawn said, sounding apologetic. "Trust me, I wish it could be someone else. I really like you."
"Explain yourself." Illyria said, feeling her armor fusing over the shell's skin. "You mentioned sacrifice."
"Yes, to Kai'alil." The other individual in the empty bar said, sauntering over, a small leather bound book in his hand.
"Why?" Illyria began to draw herself up.
"Money. Of course. He brings us business with his mojo. Nasty business, but still business you know?" the bartender said, drawing an elaborate dagger from behind the bar.
"Shawn, grab her. You, start read…holy shit." His eyes widened as he took in the blue goddess in all her battle garb.
"Fred?" Shawn asked hesitatingly.
"She's not in." Illyria said, turning around and pushed back at the man behind her. Shawn flew back and out the swinging wooden door, crumpling into a stunned heap. Behind her, she could hear the sound of a gun being drawn, and bullets racing towards her.
The shooter behind the bar found his head slammed into the wooden counter. The ceremonial dagger Illyria assumed they had wanted to use on Fred pinned his hand into the grained surface. The man screamed loud and long.
The man holding the book stood shaking, staring at the tableau before him. The front of his pants were wet.
Striding towards him and without any visible effort, Illyria lifted the young male in one hand.
"Summon him." She commanded.
"Wh…what?"
"Read your incantation. Summon this false god who would presume to use me as his sacrifice."
He looked at her in blind incomprehension, terror rendering him slow in wit. She tightened her fingers slightly. With fumbling fingers and great difficulty, the young male found the page in the book and held it before his bloodshot eyes. In choked tones, he began to read.
The middle of the room began to churn and glow. A cold wind blew outwards, sweeping all the furniture in the room into the corners.
"Who dares to summon Kai'alil?" a voice crashed through the bar.
A large serpent-like creature slithered out, and reared back, looking down at Illyria and the frightened, sobbing man in her hand. A very human-like brow frowned on It's face.
"Illyria? No, it can't be." It exclaimed.
She dropped the male, who scuttled backwards.
"Where have you been man? It's been what, five thousand years? Last time I saw you, you commanded this army and…"
"This isn't a social call." Illyria said flatly.
"Oh. Well." The creature looked around at his fallen and defeated worshippers. "Right."
"Your peons attempted to use me as a sacrifice."
"I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding." It eyed her small stature. "They probably thought you're just another helpless girl for dinner."
"Is this what you do now? Put on theatrics for paltry offerings?" Illyria asked in disgust.
"Hey, its hard for a giant snake in the twenty first century. The Old Ones are forgotten, and no one cares about us. Do you know how embarrassing it is for some of us? Ituvel, remember him? Lord of the Gryphon Reaches? He has to work at a gas station disguised as a high school kid just to make ends meet. No friend, this is not an easy world for us Old Ones where no one respects us and what we stand for."
"Friend?" Illyria tilted her head to the side. "I was never your friend. Your liege yes, but never your friend."
Kai'alil looked at her, and It's expression turned wolfish. Lips drew back to reveal two rows of razor sharp teeth.
"You're just an itty bitty girl. Guess time hasn't been kind to you either eh boss?"
The serpent struck fast. Illyria crouched and rolled away quickly.
"I'll make it fast, I swear." It said.
She said nothing in response. Instead, she leapt upwards, spinning her body to land right above Kai'alil's monstrously large brow. She drew her arm back, and then brought it crashing down, smashing past hair, bone and tissue. The creature gave an earth-shattering scream, thrashing mightily for a few seconds, before collapsing onto the dirty floor of the bar.
With a sickening squish, she withdrew her arm from the deaths of Kai'alil's skull. Ignoring the young male muttering and crying to himself in the corner, and the softly mewling bartender, she walked out into the darkness of the parking lot where Shawn was stirring.
"Fred?" he asked.
"No." Illyria responded.
He rubbed his head, looking up at her.
"Are you going to kill me?" he asked, sounding like a scared boy.
Illyria lifted a foot, prepared to bring it down into his gut.
"Ohgodohgodohgod…" he put his arms in front of his face.
She hesitated for a long moment and finally stood up straight, both feet on the ground.
"Leave town. Run as far away as you can. If I ever catch you close to the Burkles again, I will make you wish I had killed you this night."
Without another word, Illyria turned away.