Sorry for the delay! Hopefully the New Year will give me a kick in the right direction and I will start updating on a more regular basis.

Constructive feedback is welcome as always and for the disclaimer, please see chapter one.


The air was clear after the storm. A fresh breeze drifted in from the ocean, amazingly strong despite the typical polluted smell that hung above the city. Doyle and Yeva had picked up their coffee and decided to walk the long way back to the offices, not willing to leave the twilight sky behind just yet.

"Have you killed many demons?" The statement from Yeva made Doyle laugh out loud; the topic seemed so out of place on an evening like this.

He shrugged his shoulders, trying to look humble, "Some, I mean, not me personally but Angel's clocked up a few. I've seen him take down some nasties since we teamed up and he always comes out with barely a scratch on him."

"Wow, he's pretty tough then" Her eyes glistened with hope and she turned her head away, embarrassed.

Doyle caught the look and placed a reassuring hand on her arm "Hey, we'll beat this. You'll be okay."

The eyes looked back at him, wide and quivering, "Can you promise?"

"No." She looked crushed, understandably but Doyle pressed on, "But we'll do our best, whatever happens."

Yeva smiled and pushed his arm aside, lingering slightly on his hand. A lump formed in Doyle's throat and he found himself smiling in return.

They moved on ahead, progressing only a few steps before a large clawed hand appeared from nowhere and plucked the young girl off the street. Her scream bounced off the walls, pounding into Doyle's ears as he cried out and dashed down the passage after her.

The demon had one of his hulking arms wrapped around her neck and was half dragging, half carrying her into the shadows. Doyle tore down the alley and threw himself at the beast, grabbing its arm and attempting to pry it away from the girl.

"Let go of her!" His valiant effort was quickly dealt with as the monster swung out with its free hand and belted him round the face, scattering sparks across his eyes.

He felt the familiar tinge as the blue spikes erupted from his face and the demon strength that came with his other half raced through his body. He took another swing and this time felt a satisfied crack as it connected with the demon's chin.

Before it could fully recover, Yeva bit down on the hand that held her and the demon finally released her. Knowing that there was little they could do again the huge beast, Doyle grabbed her hand and ran. Back into the harsh light of the street lamps and back into relative safety. But the monster behind them was faster and they were snatched up by the collars of their clothes and lifted cleanly off the ground.

"You won't get away this time" For the first time the hulking creature spoke, the gravely, rumble of a voice reaching Doyle's ears as he struggled against the grip.

He realised quickly that the demon's attention was focused solely on Yeva but, before he could formulated a plan, it tossed him aside into the wall, dazing him briefly.

"Doyle!" Yeva's scream echoed through his fractured brain. He wasn't going to let it kill her.

He shook the spots away from his eyes and ran back into the fray. This time he leapt onto the creature's back, wrapping his arms around its neck and clung on for dear life. It roared again, flinging itself around in an attempt to dislodge its attacker.

Doyle was almost hopeful that he was making ground until the demon reached over and landed a large hand on his back, dragging him off and once again sending him airborne towards the wall. He lay for a moment, temporarily stunned and helpless as it reached into a pouch hanging from his tattered clothes and removed a piece of crumbled parchment.

"I will get what is mine!" It lifted Yeva closer to its growling face and snarled.

Doyle caught the terrified look in her eyes and realised that there was nothing he could do. His heart was thundering in his ears and there was a sickening roll in his stomach and he prepared himself to watch this young girl died right in front of him.

When the familiar blur of Angel's coat flew past him, a dizzying wave of relief washed over him and he almost laughed in celebration. The vampire tackled the demon, prying its arm away from Yeva and setting the girl loose, pushing her away from the threat and putting himself in harm's way.

The scroll was still hanging in the demon's grip and Angel was sharp enough to know that it was something he should relieve the beast of. Feigning a punch, he ducked the creature's heavy swing and snatched the parchment away, invoking a raw cry from the demon who charged straight at him. But Angel was wiser and had the bruises to prove it, he easily sidestepped the charge and it crashed into the brick wall. Using the momentary break, he called back to Doyle who was standing shakily next to a sobbing Yeva.

"Go! Get out of here!" Doyle nodded and began pulling the girl away.

Angel knew what he had to do now – make a better target. As the creature picked itself up off the floor, he let out a sharp whistle.

"Hey Sunshine! Looking for this?" Angel held up the scroll like a red rag and as the demon began its charge, roaring and foaming at the mouth, the vampire turned and ran like he had never ran before.