They said her mother was dead. Undead to be precise. How does one deal with that? The obvious answer would be grief. If you were anybody else, someone who isn't sitting in a hotel owned by a vampire for example, one might say the obvious answer would've been incredulity.
The idea that someone you love, someone who raised you is dead would be difficult enough to except, but to be told that they're now a vampire who arranged the kidnapping of your father? Well that's just gravy.
Veronica paced a little in Angel's office. He'd just dropped that particular bombshell on her and quite frankly, she thought she was taking it well.
"So Mom kidnaps Alicia, Wallace's mother, because she dated my dad?"
Angel nodded. "Seems that way."
Gunn shrugged. "Makes sense to me."
Spike grinned. "I've known a few jealous vamp ladies in my time. You're lucky she didn't kill her." Everybody glared at Spike, who then glanced at an ashen faced Wallace. "Oh right. I'm sure nothing like that will happen." He said hastily.
Logan laughed. Veronica looked at him. "Sorry. I was just thinking that it was a good thing MY dad wasn't around." Veronica conceded the point and everybody else stared. "He'd just try and option this for a movie."
Everyone nodded their head in understanding.
"Who do you think they'd get to play me?" Spike asked.
Angel rolled his eyes. "Not the issue Spike."
"So what do we do?" Wallace asked. "My mom's till in trouble. Not to mention my brother, who's somehow, 'empty.' Whatever that means." He said in disgust. "I hate this shit. I really do."
"We come up with a plan, then we implement it." Angel said confidently. "This is no different than anything else we've handled. You leave it to us, and we'll get your families back."
-
Illyria sat hidden in the shadows outside Lianne's base of operations. She watched the half-breed patrols. Taking stock of their measure, counting their numbers. They were found wanting. In the past, she would have slaughtered them all. Heedless of the danger to the hostages. Their spines and skulls would be made an example to all who dared contradicting those whom she sided with.
But that was in the past. Now, her new conscience would not forgive the loss of even one life. In fact, the thought of harm coming to the Fennel baby filled Illyria with a rage even she fears.
The current situation reminded her of a previous event.
Shortly after her power was diminished, she and Wesley were sent out on a mission for Wolfram and Hart. Actually, it was Wesley's mission. She just tagged along. They were to rescue a child that had been taken prisoner by Howler Demons. The demons demanded ransom from one of the firm's wealthier clients, and Angel dispatched Wesley to handle the delivery.
"I do not understand." Illyria told him.
"What don't you understand?" Wesley asked as he prepped the money.
"You are giving in to their demands. Angel instructed you to kill the demons and make evidence the folly of their actions."
"Yes, I suppose he did."
"Then why do you bring currency?"
"This is a trap Illyria. We are setting a trap. Before the money is exchanged, we kill the demons, rescue the baby, and then go home in time for tea." He finished sarcastically.
"Your tone offends me." She said dangerously.
"Then kill me." He said simply. "I certainly can't stop you."
Illyria stared at him. She wanted to do it. End his insolent tongue, but she couldn't. She knows now it was the soul's influence over her that saved his life, but at the time, she was confused by her hesitance.
Instead, she went with him to ensure a proper example of the demons was made, while Wesley saw to the baby's rescue. When he emerged victorious and carrying his precious bundle, Illyria felt something. It was swift, but frighteningly real.
Tenderness, that's what it was. She looked upon Wesley and the baby and felt tenderness. And loss, love, and a million other emotions that shocked her. Illyria fled that night. She fled into the world that had traitorously changed since her time.
All around her was pointless life. Offending in it's odor, repugnant in it's squalor. But they knew. They instinctively knew what it was to be. To exist. Illyria did not. She was no longer a god, and that was all she knew how to be. She had become less, and more. Her shell was human, and she decided that night to adapt. To learn more about being human.
Wesley told her it was not enough to be human in form. There had to be emotions. There had to be the sense of humanity that is birthright to every person. Ever.
Illyria possesses that sense. It was taken with Fred's soul. At the time, she did not recognize it for what it was. But now she knows, and she will die before failing Darrel Fennel.
She hurried back to the hotel to report her findings.
-
Willow was resting on the couch in the lobby. The location spell had been difficult. Her recent convalescence had weakened her more than she thought. Xander left the Angel's office to check up on her.
"How you doin Will?" He asked, sitting on the coffee table next to her.
"Like a dragon stepped on my head after a truck had it's way with me."
He grinned. "Lucky truck." Willow made a face in lieu of responding. Xander's grin faltered. "Can, uh, can I get you anything?"
"I'm good." She turned to look at him. "How are you holding up?"
Xander waved off any concern. "Don't worry about me."
"I can't help it. It's in my nature."
He snorted in amusement. "Ya think?" Xander held her hand and smiled reassuringly. "Thanks. I'll be okay."
Willow sat up and stared at him sadly. "I know I've said it a million times, but If you wanna talk about what happened in Africa..."
Xander moved to the couch and gave her a one-armed hug. "You'll be the first person I go to."
"You better." She said into his shoulder. "Or I'll do something really nasty to you. Like make your toes all hairy."
Xander pulled away and stared at her with a dubious expression. "My toes." He repeated flatly.
"Or something." She said sternly.
"Right."
-
Veronica was sitting down on the pouf in the lobby. Logan and Wallace to either side of her. She was leaning into her boyfriend and he had his arms around her.
"Do you know what my first memory is?" She asked.
Logan smirked. "Is it interrogating your teddy bear? Or maybe it's tattling on the kid who was eating paste in daycare."
Veronica smiled weakly. "Sorry Lover Boy. Looks like you failed the girlfriend test." Her face grew distant as she fell into the memory. "It was of my mother. I was about four, and she was in the kitchen making pizza. There was some italian song playing in the background and she was dancing and singing along to it." She swallowed and took a deep steadying breath. "I wandered in to see if I could help. She didn't notice me at first, but then I reached up and pulled the pizza down. That got her attention quick."
Wallace looked over, and gave a half-grin at that. Logan let out a full on laugh.
"Oh man! Was she pissed?" Her boyfriend asked.
"Kinda, but I managed to weasel out of it by crying my head off." Veronica's eyes began watering and her breathing grew labored. "The pizza..." She swallowed again. "The pizza fell on me. That's why I was crying. I was scared that I did something wrong." Her voice cracked as she said that. "Mom hugged me, pizza face and all, and told me it was okay." Her breathing was shallow and she began to tremble. "Oh God!"
There was a pressure pushing down on her chest, preventing air from reaching her lungs. Her head began to swim and she could hear her heart pounding in her ears. She had no control. Veronica pushed herself away from Logan's confining arms and stood up.
She needed air! She needed it now, or she'd die! The pressure in her chest was building. It needed to escape, but she didn't know how to let it out. Veronica got two steps before her legs gave away. The pounding in her ears grew louder still. Logan and Wallace rushed to her side. They were saying something. She couldn't hear them.
Her face was wet.
The pressure kept building, and building, until she exploded! Veronica let loose a wail of grief and misery that could be heard throughout the hotel, drawing everyone out. They all gathered around her as she broke down completely.
Logan pulled her close and held her tight.
"You're gonna be okay Veronica." Logan kissed her head as she sobbed. "You're gonna be okay."