Chapter 8

"I find it rather restful and a surprise that you've agreed to join me for breakfast," Faisal said as he tucked the napkin on his lap. "After all when one cooperates there are rewards."

Angela made a slight eye roll at that as she picked at the slice of bacon that was on her plate. She wasn't hungry but she couldn't afford to be rude either. Not if she wanted to escape this place. She broke off a tiny piece and popped it in her mouth and chewed. It was like having to sit through a tedious dinner party at Onigen.

Faisal watched her and noticed that she didn't respond. In fact she looked rather uncomfortable sitting there. He asked, "Surely you aren't that uncomfortable being around someone who is like you?"

"We may come from the lines of vampires but we are not alike," Angela corrected. There were some things that she could take and others that she couldn't. That was one of them.

"We actually are very much alike," Faisal countered like they were enjoying themselves. "We both understand that there are larger goals in mind, a bigger picture that we strive to keep safe."

"More like the feathered dicks try to make happen," Angela muttered. She picked at the piece of toast she had buttered and took a small bite. Her nail clicked on the edge of the plate. "People are not pieces on a board to be moved around at a moment's notice."

"And that is where you are wrong." Faisal took a healthy drink of his 'wine'. Drinking at breakfast was considered to be unusual but for Faisal it was more in line with his necessity. "Everyone has a purpose. Some just have to be given a helping hand to do what they are meant to do."

Angela looked up and glared at Faisal. "We all have a purpose but we are to discover it for ourselves and not have it shoved in our faces."

"You didn't seem to mind that when you were told who you are and who you will be," Faisal pointed out as he speared some eggs and took a bite. He really didn't need human food but he wasn't going to be rude and just sit there. Besides he did like it on occasion.

"I was young and foolish and didn't understand the consequences of such actions," Angela replied after she slowly blinked to keep her temper. The Old Man had a way of goading her to the max and she really wanted to take her fork and stab him right in the chest at that moment but she had to be the good little dhampir for now. It really was a test on her patience and it had her wondering how Dean was ever able to improve when she goaded him. "And after that I was not in the best place."

"Ah yes. The aggression that will serve you well when you go to end this and bring paradise on earth."

Angela stared at Faisal. She was stiff enough to be a statue but her stare was enough to intimidate people. She deeply regretted those days even though she did help bring down a lot of demons. It was who she had to become to do that; it really bothered her and was a fear of hers when it came to dealing with the monsters and with the Winchesters in tow.

It was natural for her to get indignant whenever that was brought up or a tell that left the door wide open for her to be mocked. This time though, she blinked slowly and replied, "That aggression was nothing more than misplaced anger."

"Don't lie to yourself. You know that you wanted all demons to suffer."

"Misplaced anger," Angela repeated in a calm tone. "The one who deserved it was not within my reach. I couldn't do anything about that." She took a pancake and rolled it up and took a bite, no syrup or anything else. "In the end he got what he deserved."

"And you certainly had a nice stroll down memory lane."

Angela chewed her food. It was truly trying since she wanted nothing more than to hurl her plate at the man. It was childish to do but it would make her feel better. Sometimes getting to be a child was better since they could wear their emotions on their sleeves. Being more like Dean, she took another bit of the rolled up pancake and said, "If you must know, I did enjoy giving back Alistair what was rightfully his. What I didn't appreciate was having someone who didn't need that being forced to do it."

"And are you sure it was by force? I seem to recall that Dean said it was both or none at all."

"And I said leave it to me." Angela knew that Dean made his choice and despite her insistence that she could do it alone, he stayed and it was for her. The man ended up in the hospital because of her and that was one way of putting it. She did acknowledge, "Like you said, it was his choice and his reasoning far outstrips anything done in the logical or because it's destiny crap. There are a lot more important things than that."

"So you say."

"Figuring things out is the only real freedom anyone ever has." Angela finished her food and put what was left down. She had barely touched anything but she did have some food in her stomach and what she had been fed the day before refueled her body. She realized that by having not eaten, she was starving and she could almost hear Sam begging her not to hurt herself. "Or I could say that freedom is the ability to say that two plus two equals five. If that is granted all else follows."

Faisal started laughing at her. She was being serious and yet that wicked sense of humor was making itself be known. "Apt of you to quote Orwell's 1984. You must really have read it thoroughly in order to buy into that."

"Only because it is the truth. Like I said, we all have a purpose but our freedom lies in choice. You could say that it's call free will." Angela looked at Faisal before excusing herself. She really didn't want to sit there any longer. She got to the door and was blocked by the baby face that she cheek pinched earlier and he looked ready to get physical. She said, "You really want to go there kiddo?"

The baby face guard scowled and was going to say something when he was interrupted by Faisal saying, "Let her go. She does have roaming privileges."

Angela waited until the guard stepped aside and then muttered, "Good thing he stepped in. I'm running low on essence of asshole." She then left through the door and started wandering the compound. She knew she was being followed and watched. She was a prisoner after all and that was what they did. She just had to…

She found her way into what could be a fairly decent library if it didn't look like an old abandoned warehouse in the process. Maybe the prison library, she thought with a wry sense of humor. It would certainly fit in this case given the appearance. She looked around and noted the books and thought it was similar to Bobby's collection. It seemed the learned men traveled in similar circles. She picked up a book and looked through it.

It just happened to be her luck… or coincidence… that she picked up an esoteric text related to the Apocalypse. It was in a language she was sort of familiar with but the princess was the real expert especially when it came to her dead languages. She studied it long enough to raise her brow once she figured it out and continued to read before shuffling down a few pages to what really sparked her interest.

The final seal, the Seal of the First, can only be broken by the First. The First is of the Morning Star, the first soul changed by his hand. Creation at its hideous best…

Angela made a slight face, Tell me about it. Creating demons isn't exactly a pretty thing. She continued reading since she had the patience for it.

The First craves the blood of the young and innocent, barely touched. Blood is life… The First shall break and the seal shall break. Blood must flow. As the First was changed so shall the Slayer be changed…

Angela blinked at what had been written. From her understanding the Slayer would kill Lilith and her blood will… open the gate? It was a rough translation since it was an archaic form and words changed over time but from what she garnered, Lilith was the final seal.

"So, are you ready for the endgame?"

Angela turned to see Zachariah standing there smiling that used car salesman grin she would like to wipe off. She raised her brow and replied, "If it contains me stabbing you in the face then I would say yes."

Zachariah merely chuckled at that since it was like watching a dog with all bark and no bite. "No don't be so melodramatic. You get to be a part of something that will be beneficial."

"To whom?"

"Everyone," Zachariah replied like it was the most obvious choice in the world. He looked at her as if she might have something wrong in her head. "You are the Malachi of Absolution, the earthbound angel and a protector of man."

Angela heard the condescension about man in Zachariah's voice. It seemed that the higher up she went in the angel hierarchy the contempt for humans increased. She didn't like Uriel's reference to them being mud monkeys and the tone Zachariah was using; it was like when she used to listen to the peacock nobility back in the day and in some cases today. She replied, "I know the stories. I've been read them and fed them and double time that since I became Absolution."

"Then this should be easy for you. Making sure Lilith breaks the final seal, Lucifer is out and you get to help Dean end it."

"You make it sound all nice and neat," Angela commented slowly. She managed to add a grin in there that was anything but friendly or happy. "However, there is the problem with the whole I kill Lilith and the seal breaks thing."

"You wanted to kill her," Zachariah replied like it was nothing. "The bonus is that Lucifer is set free and you get to finish it."

"So that's the grand prize in all this."

"I don't why you're so angry. You missed your chance with Azazel and Alistair. Lenya is still on the loose. A puppy got Alighieri… This is your chance to add to that list of yours."

It was a tempting offer. Anyone hell bent on revenge would have snapped it up and not care about the consequences that would follow. At one point she would have been like that. She would have said yes because it put her closer to the one that she wanted to kill. At that point she believed that killing the one who wronged would make things better. Now, even a monkey could see where Zachariah's 'plan' was faulty.

Zachariah looked at Angela as she held the book she had 'found'. It was going to take serious engineering to get her to go in the direction they needed her to be in. Who would have thought nearly four hundred years ago that she would get a stubborn streak that would only get worse on account of the Winchesters? It was perfect and yet the biggest headache it was since she fought back and hard and with no mercy. He wheedled, "So what do you say?"

"No."

"No?"

"No." Angela shook her head slightly as she closed the book and put it down. She faced the angel head on and continued, "I am not going to help you start the Apocalypse by killing the First."

"And why is that?"

"Oh you know why. I won't rain down fire upon people and then ride in to save the day. That is egotistical and wrong on so many levels." Angela looked at the angel with a firm look. She started to walk out of the room. "You guys are such dicks."

"You would do well to change your attitude."

At that moment the doors to the library shut. Angela stopped and looked at them. She then turned and looked at the angel with her eyes narrowed in anger. "I won't do it."

"Who said anything about you doing it?"

Angela frowned at that, "I am the Slayer. The first of that breed."

Zachariah took in the look of confusion and grinned. This was going to be interesting. He replied, "You may be the Slayer, the first, but there are other ways to get things started. We know that Sam is willing to kill Lilith and the interesting thing is that he is doing it for you. You always could inspire such loyalty."

"Don't cheapen it," Angela warned. It was high time for her to be getting particular but it struck a particular chord with her

Zachariah looked at her and continued as if he hadn't been interrupted, "So there are two choices: he kills Lilith and Lucifer is let out or you kill her and let Lucifer out. Either way the Apocalypse starts."

Angela paused. She could actually hear Ares' warning from before and because she was so strung out then, she hadn't fully contemplated the words. The god of war was trying to warn her for certain. He may be a bastard but he wasn't one to manipulate like that. He was capable of it yes, but he was not one to… she really couldn't say. It was a gut thing regarding Ares.

It put her in a hard space. She couldn't let Sam do it even though he was under the impression that it was the right thing. She could foresee it breaking him if he learned the truth. If she did it… it would surely break her because it would make her no better than the things she hunted. This was one of those choices that made people either love or hate… She looked at the angel.

Zachariah knew that he had her and added, "Now I'm sure that with some subtle persuasion Sam can be pushed in the right direction."

"Fuck you."

"Then say that you will do it and this will all be over," Zachariah said in a firm tone. When she didn't answer, he stepped closer until there was about a foot distance between them. "I grow tired of this insubordination. Say you'll do it and it will all be over."

Angela looked at the angel, trying to reign in the burning anger that was burning within. It was like the old flames of hatred she had for Alistair and everyone associated with that. It threatened to get out of control but she had to control it. She glanced behind the angel as if that would offer an alternative to the choices in front of her.

The hard part with choices is being able to look back and say that you did everything you could… There is no fate… There is always one more thing; nothing is either/or…

Closing her eyes Angela thought about it and then slowly opened her eyes and diverted them to look at the angel. With a firm look she replied, "Fuck it all."

Zachariah knew what that meant and narrowed his eyes. "I've been patient with you. Faisal has manipulated the situation as best as he could throughout the years… where did I go wrong?" He looked long and hard at her. "You leave me no choice…"

Before anything could be done, there was a flash of light and the angel was gone. Angela blinked and looked around. From behind an old bookcase emerged John. His hands were covered with blood and behind him she could make out the angel banishing sigil. He said, "Well bugger me."

Angela smiled at that and said, "We got to hurry."

John was surprised that she was able to heal the cuts like that, "Well I'll be a monkey's uncle."

"You are one you Scottish bastard."

"Dhampir bitch. Come on. There isn't much time before they figure out what happened." John led the way out of the library holding his rifle like he would on a mission his team would be sent on. "The west end to the clearing should be clear."

"Lead the way Mac." Angela replied as she put on her pack that John had brought. "The sooner the better to get out."

"Aye. That blighter that caught your fancy."

"Shut up."

They crossed through the compound. Angela knew that Absolution and her chakram were in a place that she couldn't get into short of learning the demon teleportation trick or Angel Air methods. It would hurt to leave behind her blade but what other choice did she have at that point? Knowing Faisal he would eventually return it since he was so big on the whole destiny thing. He wouldn't deny something that belonged to someone that was important to the fate of the world and all that. The important thing though was to get out and get to Sam.

It still rankled her that she had obvious clues and she didn't see them. Ares wasn't even subtle when he wanted someone to know something unless he did it on purpose to have fun. She had to find out through the damn esoteric book and then Zachariah coming in. It occurred to her that the angels thought the more direct approach would garner more cooperation from her. No wonder they wanted her and Dean separated. Another reason to want to stab Zachariah in the face.

"Keep looking like that and I'm beginning to think that you are pissed off at me."

Angela looked at John who was glancing back at her while checking his corners. She realized she had been frowning and felt her teeth grit. She relaxed her face and explained, "Just frustrated with myself. Should have seen this coming."

"You know you can't always be right."

"But knowing enough and not enough is the difference between life and death. You should know that from experience."

John nodded at that. In his line of work, the part that was saving the world from terrorists and the like, you needed information to plan and execute mission templates. The more info was better and too little often led to the possibility of death or mission failure. "Aye but we're only human."

"Sage advice coming from you."

"Like you said. I save the world from terrorists and monsters."

Angela smirked and chuckled at that. She could tell from John's back that he was also smirking. Those were good times then and while she had this respect for life, she was well aware that there were some monsters that didn't deserve to live. "And I save the heroes."

"You'll always be mine, lass."

It was slow work moving through the compound. John had mapped out where the guards were since she was to have free reign. They were placed in the areas she would most likely go and for the most part they were where she went. The library was one of the places but she didn't expect to have Zachariah show up when he did. It worked out that he gave what he knew and she ran with it. She could only hope that they get to the clearing before trouble started.

They were halted by the gate that led to the forest and that was being guarded by a guard up in the tower where the control was. John looked around and up at the tower. "Shite. One tango on the tower. I really don't want to…"

"Save it for the terrorists, Mac. I got this," Angela replied as she moved up. She glanced at John and around. It was unnerving that there was only the one guard but then again ti was assumed that she would be accompanied. If that was the case and they were caught, John could say that he was the escort.

John covered her flank while she made it to the wall and pressed her body against it. It was something to see as she scaled it with the grace of a gymnast. He wasn't sure a woman her height was able to bend like that but she did and she made it to the guard. He never saw it coming when she tapped him on the shoulder and touched his forehead.

John had never seen anything like that before and figured it was some trick she learned. At least the guard wasn't hurt and no blood would be spilt. That could change if things were to get a little rough. Then it was a whole other ballgame. He looked around and walked through when he heard the buzz for the gate. He walked to the right to press against the wall and waited.

Angela knew how to fall. Having being around Romani and other beings and of course Laurie the thief, she picked up a few things. Once she made sure the gate controls were set, she did a final check on the guard to make sure her stunner spell didn't have any adverse effects. It was the same one she had used on Sam. The difference she figured was that Sam had the will to recover from it. Also it was because she was in a bad place emotionally and it wasn't at full capacity. She was will to go with the latter since it was the same spiel she gave Isabella.

It was short work to swing her legs over, sit on the wall and then drop. She landed softly on the ground and not in the direction John was looking at. She teased, "Bang."

John turned and countered with, "Very funny shite arse."

"Oh so the Scotty boy has bite," she teased back.

"When this is over I'm taking leave just to come back here and kick your arse," John replied as he led the way into the forest.

"I'd like to see you try. I can still whip you," Angela countered with a wry smile knowing that it was more or less going to be a wrestling match or running a CQB course. "I'll even let you bring the bug you're so fond of."

"And you say I'm the bastard," John's Scottish accent came through thicker than ever.

"You know I love you."

There was a scoffing noise and the pair continued down towards the clearing where she had been dropped off. It was a theory but she was willing to put it into practice. She had done it already with the dogs and even the cat and it looked a bit promising. She didn't want to hope or have too much faith since there was always the possibility of failure and that would mean she would need to go further to physically get off the compound and she remembered how that went though there was the danger the Old Man figured it out.

They made it to the clearing and John motioned that she was to do her thing. Angela stood in the center and closed her eyes. It looked weird but John trusted her while he kept an eye on things. When nothing happened she opened her eyes and muttered, "Bugger."

"Yes, bugger," Faisal said as he stepped out of hiding along with his guard. They surrounded the pair and pointed their guns at them. "Did you really think that I wouldn't notice your diversion?"

John lowered his weapon slightly but not completely. There really was no way out if they tried to shoot their way out. He looked at Angela who was staring at Faisal and asked, "Do you have a plan B?"


A/N: The escape is on and it looks like the Old Man knew what they were up to. What will be Angie's next move? Find out on more Descent into the Maelstrom...