Buffy closed her eyes again as Angel kissed her forehead. . Angel returned her kiss, setting his hand on the small of her back and sliding her in closer. She was so warm, so soft and delicate.. He wanted it all and wanted it so much it hurt. After living for so long, Angel had endured many varieties of pain, but the pain of loving and wanting Buffy was the worst.
"Angel…" Buffy whispered and tilted her head, exposing her neck. Angel moved down and placed a few tender kisses there on her neck.
Buffy and Angel quickly pulled away from each other and Angel fell onto the floor and made a grunt, when the door opened and Wesley hurriedly stepped inside.
Buffy looked down at Angel and made a soft laugh. Angel quickly got up and straightened his suit to be presentable. Buffy did the same as she smoothed out her white cotton skirt.
Wesley cleared his throat. "Well at least you two are still using your tongues to drive each other crazy."
Buffy made an embarrassing smile as she looked up at Angel who returned her gaze. "Isn't that the truth." Buffy said, making Angel chuckle.
Angel turned to Wesley. "So. What's up?" Wesley nodded. "I researched the drug that was implanted onto Buffy….there's some good news and some bad news."
Buffy winced. "Oooh. Umm. I want the good news….NO! wait the bad news." Angel looked over at Buffy, and nodded. Wesley went through the papers in his hand.
"Well. ….It's mythical….It seems it was designed just for you…you will regain your strength." Buffy nodded. "Is that the bad news?" Wesley shook his head. "The only way for you to do that…is to give into…the one thing you can't have." Buffy looked over at Angel. "Is it Carbs?"
Angel gave a faint smile and shook his head. "Me…perfect happiness." Buffy nodded. Understanding. "Oh…and because of the whole curse grrr thing…that won't be happening."
Wesley nodded his head. "We can't risk it…You two have the most forbidden love…and I'm sorry…we'll figure out another way.'' Angel nodded and looked down at Buffy. That deal didn't sound too bad to him. But the consequences would be catastrophic, he couldn't risk Buffy's like that. HE would not be the one to cause her death.
Wesley nodded. "I'll get to work." Wesley then left leaving the two lost lovers together.
Angel turned to Buffy, he lifted her chin with her finger, to have her look up at him. "Hey…I'm sorry….It's not that I don't want to…because believe me….I do…nothing would make me happier." Buffy gave a faint smile, loving the way he always tried to make he feel better. "That's the problem isn't it?"
Angel nodded, as Buffy placed her hands on top of his, reassuring him, that she understood.
"I'm going to keep you safe." Angel said, caressing her cheek. Buffy nodded, and whispered to him. "I know."
Angel pulled away and cleared his throat. "Okay…I have to go to a meeting…I can't get out of it…I have to take care of something. Buffy smiled. "I'll be okay." Angel kissed her forehead lightly, and pulled to look at her. He looked deeply in her eyes.
"Why, don't you get out for a little bit…take one of my cars. Ant car you want….go shopping…get some Italian." Angel pulled out his credit card and handed it to Buffy.
"Well. I can't say no to that." Angel smiled. "Just don't max it out." Buffy nodded. "You got it boss." Buffy went passed Angel and was about to leave when she turned around an jumped in his arms one more time and planted a soft, passionate kiss. Angel took her into his arms and kissed her one more time. "Don't forget about me." Buffy whispered to Angel.
Angel smiled, as he stroked her hair. "Never." Angel replied. Buffy jumped down and gave one last look before she walked out the door.
Angel walked through a dark hallway into a chamber. Angel stood in front of a raging fire in a doorway. Angel listened carefully as he heard a man being beaten on the other side.
Without hesitation Angel leaped through the fire to the chamber on the other side. Angel paused as he saw a kneeling man being beaten by robed men with sticks. Angel pulled the beaten man to his feet, and pulled off the bag over his head, and looked into the bloodied face of Hamilton
Hamilton looked into Angel's eyes and paused, he didn't know what to say. "I'm glad you could make it to the meeting Hamilton."
"Thank-you." Hamilton said as he coughed up blood. Angel gave a smirk. "No. Thank-you." Angel then vamped out and bit into Hamilton's neck as the robed and masked men looked on. Angel drained Hamilton's blood as he moaned painfully. Angel stepped back and twisted his head until his neck broke. Angel pushed Hamilton's body to the floor, without any emotion.
A robed, masked demon's red hand glows with a fiery symbol in its palm. The demon reaches out to Angel's bared chest and pressed his palm over Angel's heart, branding him
"Welcome to the thorn." The demon said. "Name is Sabissis." Sabissis handed him a glass of blood, that Angel could smell was human.
The other masked men, unveiled their robes and all got a glass of blood, and gathered around the long table for the secret meeting.
"Kudos, child. I must say, it's gratifying to see you've returned to form, Angelus. " Angel shook his head. "It's still Angel." Sabissis chuckled. "For now."
Sabissis drank what appeared to be a blue liquid in a champagne glass. "The circle does not abide secrets." Angel gave a soft chuckle. " Which is interesting for a secret society"
"Remember your place. Angelus." "My place is in the circle." Angelus replayed quickly.
"This mornings actions did not go unnoticed" "You mean Buffy." Angel questioned.
"She's a distraction to you…she's bears your soul…and that bothers us." Sabissis then pulled out a cylindrical document holder, and pulled out a document , and unrolled it on the table in front of Angel.
"This is the Shanshu Prophecy." Angel said, not being able to take his eyes off it. What laid before him, was his future. His future with Buffy, for what he longed for…he could give her everything she deserved. A life outside of darkness.
"The Original." Sabissis said, engaging in Angel's attention. "The vampire with a soul will play a pivotal role in the apocalypse. And as a reward, will become human. A paranoid person might think you're trying to manipulate us in an attempt to fulfill this prophecy.
"What do you want from me?" Angel asked, getting annoyed and frustrated, not knowing where they were going with this.
"To see where your heart and soul truly lie. You've proven your loyalty to the circle. Regrettably, there's something stronger than loyalty... Love" Sabissis got up and walked over to Angel. "So ask yourself….what is truly more important to you her life or yours?"
Angel shook his head. "That's not even a question." Sabissis nodded. "Good. Then you won't mind signing it away…and becoming the one person she loathes the most?"
"And if I don't?" Angel asked crossing his arms. "She will die, you wont be in time to save her…trust me." Angel nodded. "Will you sign it?"
Angel nodded. Agreeing to himself. That his Shanshu did not compare to Buffy. She was much more important to him. He couldn't let her die. He wouldn't. His humanity didn't exist without Buffy.
"Of course." Sabissis took out a pen; Angel leaned forward to begin to sign it.Sabissis then grabbed the pen from Angel, and stabbed him in the left hand "It's gotta be signed in blood." Sabissis said with a grin. Angel grunted as he pulled the pen out of the back of his hand. He then signed his name on the top of the document with his right hand.
Sabissis walked over to him. "You mustn't tell anyone about our agreement, you warning them about becoming the true Angelus again well cause more rift And of you tell your girl about it, I'll kill her with a snap of my finger, and with her being the helpless little girl she is. I'm sure it will be painful. Pass our little test and the prophecy will be fulfilled…and if you don't kill her…you can have what you've longed for. For so long. You have one hour."
Angel looked up, he had signed on for the wrong thing. Angelus was being brought forth and he finally understood why. To bring forth the end of days. To kill Buffy. Angel then felt a jolt go through him as he was thrown back into his office.
Angel landed on the floor with a thud, he brought himself up, and looked around them room, there was no sign of Buffy. She must still be out, he thought. Angel went over and looked out the window, and saw her down on the street, coming to the office.
He knew he loved her, and now she may die by his hands. Angel closed his eyes on the thought. He knew the Black thorn, would take her out, and not even drop a sweat. He also knew that she would find a way to bring him back…he was going to hurt her in more ways than one. Angel could feel already, it being released and Angelus coming forth.