Chapter Three-The Mission Continues
The Vampire Angel was alone again. Just like he was alone 10 years ago, he had no one. No friends, no enemies, no lovers. It was as like his self imposed exile many years ago, before Sunnydale, before Buffy. He wondered the streets feeling guilty over the lives he took, but now the souled vampire felt a new kind of guilt, a guilt he hadn't felt since Doyle's, his first seer, death.
It was his fault his friends they all would still be alive. Wesley died fighting a battle Angel had begun, Fred's life ended because of his decision to join Wolfram & Hart, an evil law firm, and Cordelia died because of her loyalty to him. The beautify seer would have had a life of fame, if she had not met him at a party five years ago.
Their deaths weighed on Angel's already burdened soul. His friends' deaths only made it ten times worse.
Angel walked the dark streets of LA. Not really caring where he was or who was around him. He needed to get out of the hotel. Actually, it was more like something pushing him out onto the streets, something inside telling him that he should get out of the hotel.
Now that he was out on the night darkened streets of one of the more seedy neighborhoods of LA, Angel wasn't sure why he listened to that inner voice, that wasn't his own. He wasn't sure until he heard a woman's voice cry out from the alley ahead of him.
Angel felt the need to help the woman, but a day or two ago he decided not to continue on with the mission. He no longer felt he had a purpose. There was no longer a reward for him. He signed his Shanshu away.
The vampire sped up his pace. He wanted to ignore the woman's cries. He could sense three vampires in the alley. They were much younger than he, but old enough to know the fun of playing with their food. They weren't going to kill the woman for another few minutes. There was still plenty of time to save her.
Angel continued to walk, they alley drawing closer. The woman's fear invaded his senses, reminding the vampire that he hadn't eaten for over a month. He could easily slip into the alley, scare away the younger vampires, and have the woman all to himself.
"No, you don't want her," a woman's voice said in his head.
The same voice that whispered to him to leave the Hyperion.
Angel brushed the voice off as his conscience, his soul telling him right from wrong.
"You want to save her," the voice said.
Angel tried to shrug the voice off as he went to pass the alley. The woman was seconds away from her death by this time. The voice in Angel's head kept calling out, telling him to save the woman.
"Save her," the voice kept repeating and Angel found himself standing at the mouth of the alley. His dark presence casting a shadow down the narrow space, causing the vampires to turn to see who was disturbing their fun and meal.
"Hey, pal, beat it," one of the vampires ordered.
Angel stood still, saying nothing, staring at the scene before him.
One vampire, a very round vampire, stood behind the frightened woman. One hand on her hips, arm wrapped around her waist, holding to his form. His other hand was clutching the woman's jaw, forcing her head to tilt, exposing the woman's soft, milky neck.
In front of the round vampire, was a slender vampire, about Wesley's build when he first appeared in Sunnydale. The vampire was dressed entirely in denim, trying to look tougher than he really was.
The third vampire was short, barely Oz's, a young werewolf who had been part of Buffy Summers' team in Sunnydale for about 3 years, height. He couldn't have been no more than 15 when he was turned and Angel could tell out of the three, he was the eldest. Probably, used the others to hunt for him. He was more than likely the smartest out of the trio.
"Hey, buddy," the thin one said. "Keep walking or you'll be next."
"Help me," the woman whimpered.
"Shut up," the round vampire exclaimed, forcing the woman's head further back.
"What's wrong with you?" skinny asked.
He began to approach Angel and Angel's body tensed, ready to attack and rip the younger vampire's head off if he came any closer.
"Watch it, Petey," the kid warned. "This guys an old one, older than me."
"I ain't met no one older than you, Sam," Petey said in disbelief. "He would have to be over a hundred."
"Let's not worry about him," Round said. "I'm hungry."
Sam continued to stare at Angel. Every bit of his instincts told him to run for it. He somehow knew Angel wasn't there to steal their meal.
"No," he ordered. "We need to get out of here."
"But, Sam," Petey whined. "There's three of us and one of him."
Angel flinced. Not because of Petey's words, but because the voice was back.
"Save her," it said again. "It's your purpose, it's your mission."
Angel's muscles tightened further.
"Do it now dumbass," the voice screamed and Angel let out a fierce growl, kicking in a wooden crate beside him, and picking up a piece of the debris.
He attacked Petey first, shocking the slim vampire. Petey didn't have a chance to fight. Angel took the piece of wood and stabbed Petey in the heart. The younger vampire dissipated into dust.
Sam backed further into the alley, behind the round vampire and the woman. His yellow, demonic eyes staring into Angel's, also yellow eyes.
The round vampire tossed the woman aside. She hit the wall hard and rendered unconscious. The unnamed vampire attacked Angel. The battle was short. Angel had age behind him and even in his weakened state he was stronger than the round vampire. It was almost effortless for him to plunge the makeshift stake into the stout vampire's dead heart.
Meanwhile, Sam made his escape, taking the opportunity to run off. He was smarter than he looked. He knew he could not face Angel and survive.
As the dust settled to the already grimy cement floor of the alley, Angel approached the fallen woman. He was hungry and she was hurt, probably cut her head on the wall. He could smell the fresh blood in the air. It was calling to him. He was so hungry.
The vampire lifted the woman's body. He stared down into her tear-stained face. She was hurt, blood running down the side of her young face. She couldn't have been no older than Cordelia was when she died.
Pushing thoughts of his lost seer away, Angel wiped the blood onto his fingertips. He slowly brought them to his lips, just like he did with Tina's, his first innocence when he moved from Sunnydale to LA. Before his red tinted fingers touched his lips, the woman's eyes opened, quickly.
Startled, Angel dropped the woman and stood backing away. The woman stood effortlessly. She slowly walked up to angel. She grabbed Angel's face and stared into his eyes and he noticed one eye was brown and the other was glassed over, nearly completely white.
As the woman gazed up into the surprised vampire's eyes, her face began to glow. The dark all began to brighten as if the sun was rising. The glow from the woman became so bright a flash blinding Angel and for a moment, the vampire couldn't see.
A second later, Angel found himself in a blank plain, like the white room in Wolfram & Hart, only different. The room had a warm feeling to it, like home, like family. The white room at the law firm always felt cold, like someone was always watching.
"Angel," said the voice Angel had been hearing all night.
The voice was familiar. It was like a distant memory, something Angel had forgotten long ago.
"Who are you?" he asked sternly.
"An old friend," the voice answered with humor in her voice.
"What happened to the woman?" Angel asked.
"Oh, she's here and there," the voice answered. "A vessel to bring you here?"
"Why am I here?"
"So you can understand are still needed in the great battle between good and evil."
"I'm done with the good fight," Angel insisted.
"You may be done with it, but it is not done with you," the voice said. "And you will be rewarded for your efforts. This reward will not and can never be taken away. Beings higher than the Powers That Be believe you deserve to be rewarded."
"I don't want anything you have to offer," Angel said firmly.
"We will see," the voice said and with another blinding flash of light, the blank plain vanished, replaced with the dark alley.
"Your reward begins when you return to the Hyperion Hotel."
END OF CH.3
