Chapter 11
Angel sent us off 'to live' our last day. He was being realistic, not expecting us to live and he was right. Cordelia was gone, dead and buried, Fred's body belonged to Illyria, every bit of our Fred erased, burned up and gone…
By the end of the night Wesley would be dead as well and nothing could change that, my hands were tied.
And I couldn't go back to the Hyperion.
He was there, had been there for the past week, ever since I had him thrown out of the building. Gunn had been useless in getting the documents signed and with this fight coming up the annulment documents would have to wait.
I'd been sleeping badly, my apartment was in the building next to Angel's and every bit of it was bugged. Very uncomfortable what with the horror stories I'd heard from Lorne about the bug Eve had put on Angel.
I don't like bugs, don't like snakes though I can stand them unlike spiders; I hate spiders. All of them.
Angel suggested I get my family out of LA but where would I send them? Mortals weren't allowed on Hêl'ia. It didn't matter though, because I'd set up shields at every entrance, nothing evil was getting in. Well, nothing that meant my family harm was getting past my shields. That was one of my better lessons, shields were my forte. I could put up shields that even the oldest Guardian's and Fury's had trouble tearing through. I'm even proud to say they gave the smug Lord of Fire some trouble, even if he did manage to rip 'em up.
They all went, lived their last day.
Lorne, I knew he'd go sing. He'd sit up on the stange, some crazy colored drink in his hand and sing… It's all he'd ever wanted to do.
Gunn, well I'd peeked and he was going back, looking up the old gang, maybe try and remember what it was he'd started out doing, where he came from and not where he was.
Wesley… he was where he wanted to be. At least where he thought he should be; caring for Illyria. Helping her adjust to life on this plane and though she hadn't asked me again I knew it was only a matter of time before she grew restless enough to demand I take her somewhere new.
He didn't listen, Wesley. I told him not to torture himself but he couldn't help it, even the shell of Fred was better than not having her, not seeing her…
And I?
I wasn't letting Ryan keep me from my family; I went back to the Hyperion. I changed into my uniform avoiding him by using the portals. (More practice for me.) Temoc and Sebastián were in his room playing video games. It was nice, they had each other so even if Maya stayed with Vala in StarCity Temoc wouldn't be lonely and Sebastián had another boy to play and talk with.
"Mom!" Sebastián spotted me in his door. How he managed that while engrossed in his video game is beyond me but I was happy to get a word alone with him.
"Amor, I don't know how you do it." I hugged him once again surprised by how tall he was. "Temoc, alright boys. There's trouble coming soon and you might have to keep Gramps out of it."
"We?" Temoc asked. I could see he was nervous; memories of his family slaughtered by Bringers were still fresh in his mind. I imagine living with the Hell'sAngel's hadn't made it easy for him to try and forget. Temoc also knew his sister was in constant danger now that she was a Slayer.
"Come on, it'll be like in Halo. We kill the bad guys and you're better at it than I am." Sebastián urged, unlike Temoc my boy was excited at the prospect of fighting. It was all that time with the Hell'sAngel's and the guns. I know both boys can use a gun, hell, Bastián has good aim and Temoc… the boy is an excellent marksman.
"Uh-huh, you two stay inside the hotel. Never go outside don't even stick a finger out a door or window-any opening at all. Entienden?"
I made sure both boys looked me in the eye and agreed before moving on to the next item on my list.
"Ok, so Gramps is going to want to go looking for me. He might just sit and wait but…" I pulled out a blue vial from the pouch at my side. The light from the TV made it look brighter than it was. "Try not to use the entire vial, boys. I don't know how long this fight is going to last and my Dad might need more than one night of rest. So four drops in his coffee, y nada mas."
"Four drops." Sebastián repeated taking the vial from my hand. "Got it, Mom."
"Four drops." Temoc agreed also nodding. "In the coffee."
"Good. Any more and you poison Gramps." I said walking out of the room.
"Poison?" they whispered to each other. I smiled because all my Dad would get from an overdose was a slight rash and a constant need to pee.
Annoying but not deadly.
****
"This may come out a little pretentious, but... one of you will betray me."
Very melodramatic if you ask me, starting with the betrayer speech but Angel was giving out assignments.
"Vail is the sorcerer of the bunch. You know that game. You've seen his believes you'd make a play for my spot."
I couldn't take my eyes off him. I knew what was coming, knew where Angel was sending Wesley and to what.
"That's not very flattering."
Please tell him you changed your mind, Wes. Tell him you'd rather kill off some other bad guy…
"It'll get you in the door."
And dead.
It was going to get him dead and I couldn't say a word, couldn't do anything to change it.
Not a damn thing.
What was the point of being here? Why come back for this? Why couldn't I save Wesley? What was so bad about helping him live?
"You mustn't intervene, Phade. Let events play out as they should or you'll force the Od VaiLumen to act when they should abstain."
Then more would die, entire races, worlds, timelines that hadn't even begun to exist yet… I'd make a big mess of the universe or rather the Od VaiLumen would.
"Phade."
I turned to Angel, realizing it was my turn.
"You'll take the Covenant of Four."
"Of course."
We'd already discussed them, the Werewolf, the Warlock, the Witch and the Demon. The only ones never in the same place at the same time since the day of their pact. I was going to have to jump times to get them all but first I'd have to find them. To do that I would use the Væxça'táÿ.
(It means the view screen.)
Once I had them all I had to do was open a portal and take them out. The others could've done it as well, there are any number of spells Wesley could have found to open a portal and scrying might have worked to locate the four. I'm sure they'd all had experience taking down a Werewolf or two and the Witch; well she couldn't be that much trouble although the Warlock might be tricky, he being older than the Witch, he might know a couple nasty tricks. Then there was the Demon, not much was heard of this one but he appears to be the leader, the instigator and the most powerful.
I just hope he doesn't look like the one in Monte Rio.
That was just creepy and me having dreamt my death there only made it worse. Though it turns out I was dreaming Xyne's death, not mine.
"The alley just north of the Hyperion. Everyone who makes it meets there. If we do any damage at all, the senior partners are gonna rain hell on us. So be ready."
"Raining hell." I repeated with a smile. "Like we haven't had some hell rain down on us before… Cant wait to see what this one's like."
"Your kind were made for this." Illyria said and that was curious. How could she know where we came from? She gave a curt nod and moved off with Gunn and Wesley.
He glance back, aware that I had been staring at him the entire meeting. I smiled at him, trying not to look sad. He returned the smile, sort of anyway and took that as my cue to approach him.
"Wes," I hugged him before I changed my mind. I didn't want him to think too much about why I was behaving so strangely, not that I hadn't hugged him before but ever since I showed up I'd kept to myself. Mostly because I was trying not to interfere, afraid I might change something I'd seen already but this… this was goodbye. I wouldn't get to see him again, tell him how much I'd really appreciated him, his help when I first got to the Hyperion. Even when he was banging the evil bitch I couldn't hate him.
"You are a good man. Better than most."
He stared at me for a long moment not saying anything but what was he going to say? Thanks just didn't seem to mean anything after that. Ultimately Wesley nodded, gave me a hug and walked out of the apartment.
Lorne had been fidgeting and as he left Angel to go on his 'hunt' I took his arm as he passed by.
"I'm going to miss you."
He was startled, looking over his shoulder but Angel and the infection were the only one's left. Everyone else had gone to 'work'. I smiled at him gently and led him to the door.
"You peeking in peoples heads again."
His question made me laugh.
"No, I've just been paying attention."
"Think they know?" Lorne asked with a worried look to the door behind us. "Besides Angel, I mean."
"They've been busy, grieving, worrying, jumping to conclusions in regards to their Champion…"
He gave a little grimace at that but they'd had reason to believe Angel was going dark side. "They won't stop you, Lorne."
"I feel like the worst coward." He moped. Maybe he was regretting his decision to leave but this wasn't for him, the job- all the things we had to do and even then we couldn't save them all. No, Lorne was too good for this, like Fred had been.
"Don't. You may look frightening on first glance but Fred was right." We stopped in front of the building, he looking at me curiously. "You wouldn't hurt a fly."
A slow smile spread across his face as he remembered the first night we met. Me sleepy, tired and grumpy looking for a room and him with a drink in one hand and an ax in the other.
"… Fly… You know, I'm wishing I could trade for that right about now, … a fly."
He looked so wistful…
"They can say what they want about you, but you are not disloyal." He didn't brighten up much at that.
"Loyalty…" we both remembered the same thing, all three of them packing up Wesley's stuff and Fred dropping off his box while he was still in the hospital.
"Makes life a little harder." I admitted.
"Well, I hate goodbyes-."
"Then don't." I said. From my pouch I retrieved the charm I'd made for him, a polished stone so black it seemed to suck out the light. "Here, if you need help… and even if you don't. You can find me with this. Just call for me… I'll answer."
He took the stone, a sad smile on his face and then he nodded and walked away, the stone still in his hand.
****
The Hyperion was silent, the lights turned down for the night and its only inhabitants were tucked into their beds.
Two bright spot materialized in the lobby, small but steadily gaining in mass, the light pulsing and suddenly winked out. In its place two figures stood armed and ready for war.
They moved in opposite directions inspecting the lobby and finding everything as they had seen before.
"Jericho-."
The sudden noise from outside drew their attention. Jericho motioned his sister to his side, both unsheathing their weapons as they looked to the shadows for cover.
"I don't think we should be here." The male voice said as he entered the lobby. Behind him another male came in, a duffel bag in hand.
"Shut up, Jax."
The third shoved past them, a female and both immediately recognized her.
Jericho realized too late his sister would want to address the woman and then the Hell'sAngel's noticed Valkyrie.
"You are not welcome here." Valkyrie stated in her coldest voice, her eyes glowed and a warm wind seemed to ruffle her long hair. Both males stood slack jawed at sight of the Fire Fury.
Jericho sighed and moved into the glow of the lobby noticing the third figure enter the lobby just as silent. He recognized him immediately, being one of their favorite Hell'sAngel's to view.
"Who are you?" Jessy demanded, her hand straying to the pistol at her side.
"She's hot." Tripp said pushing around Jax and coming down one step. Jax gripped his shoulder pulling him to a stop nodding towards the black clad figure of the Guardian who approached.
"We're not leaving." Jessy declared coming down the steps to stand in front of Valkyrie. The Fury had to tilt her head up but didn't loose the aura of danger about her. Jessy could feel the heat around the young woman.
"You can't have him." Valkyrie stated flatly and Jericho could see the hot glow of her fisted hands, the warm breeze around his sister fluttered her hair.
"Werewolf." Jericho said at her back. He smirked glancing at the Hell'sAngel's who seemed surprised he would know that.
"Name's Oz."
Valkyrie smiled remembering the adventures she'd viewed with Jericho. They'd watched their Mom take down the werewolves in the small town with Oz at her side.
"You can stay." Valkyrie conceded, watching his lips turn up in a smile at her words.
"You're hers." Oz murmured coming down the steps, looking them both over. He tread carefully but not out of fear. He sniffed, a slight flaring of his nostrils only Valkyrie and Jericho noticed.
"Hers?" Jessy echoed but they all ignored her.
"How can you tell?" Valkyrie asked moving to stand before him, a smile on her face. Oz tilted his head, searched the face- dark brown eyes with deep flecks of green, slightly almond shaped framed by long lashes, the slightly tapered nose, the tip barely upturned and the soft lips-. He leaned in and took a small whiff, confirming what he'd already known.
"You're like her."
"That's my sister you're sniffing." Jericho growled with a fake glare at the werewolf. It got their attention and before Jessy could demand to know what was going on another voice joined them.
"Oz!"
All eyes turned to the top of the stairs where two boys looked over the balcony. They quickly hurried down the stairs getting high five's from the Hell'sAngel's.
"What are you guys doing here?" Temoc asked though his eyes kept straying to the leather clad pair in the lobby. Jax and Tripp answered at the same time, their reasons completely different and false.
"She has brought them here." Valkyrie glared, her eyes on Jessy.
"How…come?" Sebastián asked her though he couldn't help glancing at the girl in leather. He couldn't figure out why she looked familiar.
"She wants our Dad." Jericho answered. Sebastián turned to the tall guy, his eyes widening is shock.
"Our…?" but the Hell'sAngel's drowned out his half asked question. They were all curious, surprised and in total disbelief but Sebastián ignored them. "Who are you…?"
Both ignored the Hell'sAngel's questions and moved to stand before Sebastián, each one smiling.
"Jericho Wolfe."
"Valkyrie Wolfe."
There was immediate silence for all of two seconds before the barrage of questions assaulted the twins.
"My Mom- she-." Sebastián couldn't believe his Mom hadn't mentioned it, hadn't told him she'd had more kids- hers and Ryan's. What did that mean? Didn't she think he deserved to know? And what if she were replacing him? She was married now though how long that was going to last… she hadn't wanted to talk to Ryan, she didn't even come home anymore. Sebastián had regretted having called Ryan in the first place, disobeying her but Phade hadn't reprimanded him for it, never even mentioned it.
"Didn't want you to feel this way." Valkyrie said softly. She gripped his shoulder, very gently and comforting. Sebastián looked up, saw her smile and wondered…
"How old are you?"
"Don't worry." Jericho chuckled. "You're still the oldest."
"In this dimension, anyway." Valkyrie agreed.
"But she's dead!" Jessy shrieked completely outraged at how easily Ryan was being taken from her. After the last year, all the time she'd spent with him, they'd – he just couldn't throw her aside, not after they-. "You can't!"
"You wish our Mother was dead." Valkyrie snarled getting in Jessica's face.
"Get out." Jericho ordered but Valkyrie wasn't done with her yet.
"Think that'll make our Dad forget her? You think he's not in love with our Mother? Even with you slithering into his bed?"
Jessy paled at her words.
'They're his, his children. With her.'
It wasn't fair- wasn't at all fair to have come so close, to have been with Ryan and now- now this!
"You can't do this!" Jessy screamed. "He can't just leave me!" had Jessy paid attention to the Hell'sAngel's she would've left Ryan alone, avoided herself the heartache but she'd wanted him. She wanted Ryan anyway she could get him. Anger washed through her again and she pushed Valkyrie out of her way.
Valkyrie smiled, well please with the woman's reaction and stepped in her way again. Jessy tried shoving past once more but Valkyrie wouldn't move.
Jericho pulled his brother away from the 'fight', drawing Temoc away as well. He sighed almost able to sound as if he were resigned to seeing his sister start another one. The truth was Jericho had wanted to do the same since hearing the woman speak.
Valkyrie slapped her fist aside and backhanded Jessica. The blow sent the woman across the lobby where she lay unmoving. All three Hell'sAngel's froze on the bottom step, eyes wide and mouths hanging open. They'd seen Phade do some damage, heard Dom retell her and Oz's werewolf hunt and the one she took out with her bare hands.
"Damn!" Jax exclaimed.
"You're so her kid!" Tripp agreed while Oz went to check on Jessy.
"How come Phade never mentioned you?" Temoc asked, both boys completely ignored the others. Temoc tentatively raised a hand to Jericho's uniform, the small hand lingered on the silver short sword at the Guardian's side.
"You're Temoc?" Jericho asked the boy who nodded. "Mamá wanted to wait until things settled down here."
"You're late." Temoc replied moving around to check out the dagger in the sheath behind the sword.
"Mom and the others." Sebastián spoke up. "They left." He kept thinking about what they said, and maybe his Mom wanted to let him get used to the idea of her being home, wanted to give him her undivided attention.
"Gone where, brother?" Valkyrie questioned. Sebastián looked into his sister's face, little sister even though she didn't look it. He could see it now; see why he'd thought she looked familiar. More than the uniform, Valkyrie had his Mother's eyes, just the shape and the set of her lips, like when their Mom wanted to do something and things kept getting in her way. Stubborn. That's what it was.
"To fight." Sebastián answered.
"We were spying, heard Ryan arguing with one of them on the phone…" Temoc trailed off at the looks he was getting from the Hell'sAngel's.
"You get caught?" Tripp asked.
"Nope." Both boys replied almost in unison.
"High fives, dudes." Tripp exclaimed please that both had learned the tricks they'd been taught while in San Diego.
"It's starting." Valkyrie turned to Jericho.
"What is?" Jax butted in but the twins ignored his question turning to the trio instead.
"Keep my brother safe." Jericho ordered as he took Valkyrie by the arm to go out.
"Our." Valkyrie corrected.
"Brothers." Sebastián interjected. The twins looked down at both boys but it was Jericho who asked.
"Isn't there another…?"
"My sister, Mayahuel." Temoc replied a little uneasy. After all he was adopted by their grandfather like his sister, so it wasn't like they were blood relatives. "She's with the senior Slayer, in StarCity."
"Gramps…he's…" Sebastián glanced at Temoc sharing a slightly devious smile. "Resting."
Jericho and Valkyrie glanced at each other knowing the boys had dome something…
"You drugged him." Valkyrie accused with slightly narrowed eyes. Her lips twitched wanting to smile but couldn't let them see it.
"Hey!" Sebastián exclaimed affronted by their intrusion. "You can't do that!"
"You can't." Jericho smirked. "We can."
"I'm older!" Sebastián retorted as if that mattered.
"It has to be Mom's genes." Jericho turned to Valkyrie with a laugh to see her smiling.
****