Connor woke up with a crick in his neck, one arm twined around his sister's waist. Sitting up, he stretched until his bones cracked and feeling came back into his legs. The sun streaming through the window lit the room entirely, showing more grime and dust. Well, it was better than a blood-soaked cave at any rate, and he'd spent a few nights in those before.
"Cait," he said, poking her. "Cait, wake up."
"I am awake," she muttered, rolling away from him. "What?"
"Unlock the door for me, will you? I'm going to go get our stuff from the hotel."
Rubbing her bad eye, Caitlin got to her feet and started to disable the rough traps she'd made for that night. "No, you're not."
"What?"
"I'll go. If Angel's there, maybe you shouldn't be."
Connor sighed. Arguing with her was a complete waste of time. "Want a weapon?"
"I've got knives in my boots," Caitlin said, still fiddling.
That didn't surprise Connor. Neither twin had relaxed enough in the summer even to consider going unarmed. He always wore long sleeves that a stake could be slipped up and Caitlin tended to have no less than three knives with her at any one time: one in each boot and one at the small of her back.
"Keep them close, just in case. And don't wander off," he told her sternly.
Rolling her eyes, Caitlin pulled the door open. "Yes, mother."
"Just be careful."
xxx
Angel prowled through the Hyperion. He had nothing to do until Fred and the others had finished checking the names given to them by Lorne and even if he did have something to do, the sun's presence in the sky put any errand running out of the question. Faintly, he could hear Cordelia and Wesley arguing downstairs and found himself remembering when he'd come down one morning to find them screaming at each other with nothing apparently in mind except pissing each other off. That had been when Darla was playing with his mind, plaguing his thoughts and dreams. Remembering how he'd snapped at them, Angel realised that nothing had been the same since they'd moved into this hotel two years ago. Darla's return, his one-man campaign against Wolfram and Hart, his epiphany, Pylea, Holtz, all that fighting and what was the result? Two children who he loved but didn't know and who were so scared of him that they ran away when faced with his imminent return.
His feet, as they tended to do, led him towards the rooms that Connor and Caitlin had claimed for their own over the summer. Connor's room stank of old fear, the smell blending with the boy's scent until Angel could barely distinguish between the two. So Connor had been terrified all summer, but from what the others had said, he'd been happy.
If only he could remember what had happened in that cave! The last thing he could remember clearly, convinced it was true, was turning around to find that the others had all disappeared. Most of what he remembered after that made no sense, just disjointed images and feelings. But something must have happened in there, something to scare Connor. What if Angel himself attacked the boy?
As he was walking silently along the corridor, Angel froze; someone was in Caitlin's room. He'd heard the floorboard creak. Angel edged along until he was just out of sight of the room and paused.
Leaping into the room, Angel grabbed the intruder and slammed him up against the wall. And then he actually looked at him. Him who was actually her.
"Caitlin," he said, letting go. "Um, hi."
"Hey," she replied. "You look good, all things considered."
"Could say the same about you." Gently, he touched the scarring around her eyes. "It seems those caves were good for something."
"Yeah, they gave me back my sight and then didn't let me see my father for a couple of months. Real fair."
"If you want to see me, why are you leaving?" he asked, gesturing at the bags by her feet.
"Look, I don't really know you, however much I want to. And I've already proved that my instincts kinda suck when people are involved, so I'm going with Connor on this one."
"And Connor thinks you're not safe with me?"
Caitlin shrugged. "I suppose. Before... before Holtz took my sight, he trusted you. In the hospital, he trusted you enough to back off and let us talk to each other. I don't know what happened between then and you disappearing, or even if anything happened, but he's changed his mind. And Connor, he... he attacks first where I concerned and I kinda don't want you to die until I can figure out whether I care or not, you know?"
"So you'll give me a chance?"
"Yeah," she said. "But only one."
Picking up the bags, she slipped past him, leaving Angel standing there, alone.
xxx
Erin ran one hand through her cropped hair, enjoying the spiky feeling. She'd always had her hair long before, but it had been so weird seeing herself in the mirror with black hair that she'd lopped it all off the moment she spotted red roots. The look on Liam's face had been priceless. Add to that all the new piercings and Erin's look had definitely changed.
Her attitude, though, was the same as always.
"Look, you arrogant little pus-boil," she snapped. "Either you can stop messing me about or I will come over and smack you about."
The demon, small and edgy with pathetic horns, managed a weak smile. "Ah, here's the order," he said, scrabbling for a piece of paper. "Three jars of pickled gnats."
She snatched the bag he offered. "Thanks," she said, being sure to favour him with a smile. It wasn't a nice smile.
Erin turned and started to elbow her way through the Underworld Market, or as everyone called it, the Scum Pit. She was less than halfway to the exit when she reached out and grabbed a young boy who was sidling past.
"Hey, tell me who watches this place," Erin said.
"Free territory. No fighting allowed," he said and hurried on.
Erin nodded to herself. Places like this were normally useful for judging the local players. It was one of the first places Uncle Paul would check out in a new town. Of course, the lack of fights would make that harder, but she was intelligent, or could pass for intelligent in bad lighting.
"Hey, Erin!"
She glanced over her shoulder to see Gunn waving at her. Smiling, she walked over to join him and the boys he was standing with.
"Hey," she replied. "You suddenly got a craving for stewed virgins' saliva?"
"Negotiations. We're hoping to start hunting in the Kwaini's territory," he said, grinning. "This is Rondell and Kiddo. Guys, Erin."
Erin smiled at the two men. "Nice to meet you."
"G, we'll be heading back," Rondell said. "See you around, Erin."
As they wandered off, Gunn caught the look Erin was throwing at him. "What?"
"Kiddo's aptly named, huh? Isn't he a little young to be fighting?"
"I don't let him hunt and he's safer with us than out there on his own," Gunn said, shrugging. "Have you had breakfast yet?"
"What?"
"You know, breakfast? Most important meal of the day?"
"I know what breakfast is," she said, smiling in spite of herself.
"Well, have you had any?"
"Not yet."
"Come on, then. I know this great place."
xxx
Slowly, Angel walked back down the stairs to the lobby of the Hyperion. The argument between Wesley and Cordelia had petered out and from the smirk Cordelia was wearing, Angel guessed she had won again.
"Anything new come up?" he asked, resting his elbows on the old reception desk.
"Two more missing people reported to us, and even the LAPD has noticed the trend," Wesley said. "Several of Lorne's clients are among the missing."
"I went online and checked their database," Fred explained. "The number of vampire-related deaths has rocketed in the past fortnight, not that they know that. Muggings gone wrong is their current explanation."
"Gunn said he'd been killing more vampires than normal recently," Angel added, nodding his head.
"So the vampires are being drawn here?" Cordelia asked, brow furrowed.
"Or a master vampire has risen. Spike or Drusilla, maybe," Wesley offered.
"No," Angel said, shaking his head. "I'd be able to sense them."
"You didn't realise Penn was in LA immediately," the Englishman countered.
"Still, neither Spike nor Drusilla is exactly low-profile," Cordy said. "They would've tried to kill Angel already."
"Well, there are other strong vampires. Fred, could you find those reports for me again?" Wesley asked. "I'd like to see if there is any pattern."
With a smile at Wesley, Fred pulled her laptop back towards her and started work. Wesley himself fetched the tomes that specialised in the Great Vampires, those demons that had gained enough of a reputation to be noted and specifically hunted.
Angel left them to it, absentmindedly going to the weapons' cabinet and opening it. And stared.
"I re-organised it when you were gone," Cordelia said, following him. "What's wrong, Angel?"
"Caitlin was here."
"Well, yes, she lived here for a while," she said, uncertain as to what exactly he was talking about.
"No, I mean, she was just here," Angel said, starting to de-organise the weapons. Why did Cordy always do this when he went away?
"Oh. Did you... talk to her?" Cordelia asked tentatively.
"Yeah."
"What did she say?"
"That Connor didn't trust me anymore. She didn't know why, though. And that Connor attacks first when she's in danger, that he doesn't think about it."
A clatter behind Angel made him spin around. Fred had dropped a mug, spilling coffee all over the floor.
"Sorry," she called, getting down to clear it up.
"Butterfingers," Cordy said and smiled at Angel as she went to help Fred. The moment she had her back to Angel, the smile vanished. "What?" she mouthed at Fred, who shook her head helplessly.
"Well, it's nice to see you're as subtle as ever," said Angel, leaning over the desk, one eyebrow raised. "Fred, what is it?"
She blushed, looking at the split coffee. "Just before you came back, I found a demon who knew a bit about those weird caves. He said..." Fred took a deep, shaky breath. "He said that only a blood-relative could trap someone in there," she gabbled.
"Oh, god," Cordy whispered.
xxx
"So," Gunn said, leaning back in his chair, an empty plate in front of him. "What is your deal?"
"I'm a bartender," Erin replied, still finishing what she had to admit was a pretty good breakfast for only five bucks.
"Yeah, right."
"Hm, I detect scepticism. I'm hurt, really I am."
"Come on, Erin. You move like a fighter, work for a green-skinned demon from another dimension, oh, and I met you in the Scum Pits... So, what is your deal?"
Erin considered him, head slightly to one side. "So I know what's what. Not that big a deal."
"Why don't you fight?"
"Not everyone's a fighter. Some are just spectators."
"Not you, though, right?" Gunn asked, raising one eyebrow. "Come on, I saw you checking out the competition in the market."
"Look, I have to go," she replied, standing up. "Uh, thanks for the meal."
Gunn slumped back in his chair as Erin almost ran out of the diner. "Nice girl," he murmured.
xxx
Connor was trying to walk on her hands when Caitlin returned. Her knock on the door made his concentration falter and Caitlin was more than a little worried to hear a loud thud and a groan of pain before Connor yanked the door open.
"You ok?" she asked, throwing the bag at him.
"Marvellous," he replied, rubbing a sore shoulder. "Everything go smoothly?"
"Yeah," she replied. "Couldn't get any food; Cordy and everyone was there."
"Everyone as in Angel?"
"Yeah."
"Did he hurt you?"
"No, of course not." Caitlin sighed angrily. "Look you don't want to tell me why you dislike him all of a sudden, fine. Don't ask, don't tell, just like always. But stop assuming the worst, ok? He hasn't done anything to us."
"Not yet."
"I said, stop it!" she yelled. "Just... stop, ok? Things are difficult enough for me at the moment without you being all doom-and-gloom."
Still furious, she pulled a bag towards her and started to unpack.
xxx
Lorne had told Erin that he nearly always slept late after a busy night, so she was half-heartedly praying he'd still be asleep when she got back. She badly wanted time to think.
So, of course, Lorne was up, about and far too cheerful when she came through the back door.
"There you are, my little ex-devil," he said. "We're out of bull's blood and otter's."
"Well, I can get the bull's blood from the butchers, but where do you get otter's blood?" Erin asked as she dropped the shopping bag, hitching herself up onto a table and swinging her legs. "Aren't they a protected species? And here are the pickled gnats. You wouldn't believe what I had to go through to get them."
"A demon in the warehouse district farms otters. I've already placed the order and it's all paid for, but he doesn't deliver," Lorne said, looking at her hopefully.
"Welcome to my glamorous LA lifestyle," she said jokingly and took the address he offered her.
"So where were you?" Lorne asked curiously as she prepared to leave. "I didn't think even Tipsy could argue about orders for that long.
"Gunn asked me to breakfast," she answered without looking at the demon.
Lorne focused on her slightly.
"Hey, don't you go reading me!" Erin said.
"You like him."
"No, I don't."
"Have you ever dated?"
"Yes, Lorne. Whilst being dragged all across Europe by my probably insane uncle, I found time for a rich and varied social life. Oh, and let's not forget the evil cult stalking us who were trying to kill me very dead indeed."
"Didn't think so."
"Look, it was only breakfast. It doesn't mean anything."
"Ah, so you do want it to mean something."
Erin opened her mouth, shut it again, and pulled her jacket off the back of a chair. "I'll be back soon."
Lorne let her go, grinning.
xxx
"Angel?" Cordelia called, peering into the basement. She knew he was down there, either that or Fred had taken up kick-boxing against the punch bag. Sighing, she reached along the wall for the light switch. He'd been brooding for hours already.
Just as she had suspected, Angel was slamming into the poor abused punch bag. He didn't look up as she came down the stairs and sat on the bottom step.
"Wow, anyone else would think you were pissed at something," she said casually. "Which would be understandable if, oh, your son just happened to the be the reason you spent the summer in a magic crazy-making cave-"
Angel stopped, rubbed his hands. "I'm not angry with him," he said quietly.
"Oh. So what's with the badly repressed rage?"
"There has to be a reason Connor did what he did."
"And you think you know what that reason is."
"Remember when Wes told me where Holtz was? And I told you I didn't kill him?"
"Uh, Angel...?" she asked nervously. Cordelia did not like where this conversation was going.
"He's still alive. But I- I tried to feed off him. I think Connor was there."
"Did Connor say anything?"
"He was scared of me after that night, more scared than I'd ever seen him. I was planning to talk to him but Caitlin disappeared and then..."
"You disappeared," finished Cordelia.
"I understand why he did what he did. I just wish I could tell him that without fists becoming involved."
"Well, give him time. Give yourself time. It'll be ok. Maybe go and, I don't know, save his life."
"What?" Angel asked, looking up.
Cordy was clinging to the banister for support, eyes opaque as whatever the vision showed overruled her natural sight.
"Cordy, what is it?" he asked, grabbing her shoulders.
Breathing frantically, Cordelia looked at him, face pale. "Someone's going after the twins, tonight, just after nightfall. She's strong, brutal. She'll kill them."
"No, she won't," Angel replied, face deceivingly calm as he straightened. Grabbing his coat, he walked toward the sewer entrance.
"We don't know where they are," Cordelia protested to his back.
He paused. "No, we don't. But I can find out."
xxx
Erin sat on a beer crate, holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder as she used her hands to sort out several boxes of assorted drinks. "What did you say it was called? Uh-huh. Never heard of it. What's it do? Sounds perfect; let me guess, you have no idea where it is." Giggling at Liam's response, Erin shifted the phone to her other ear. "Well, I'll ask around for you. No, he hasn't bothered me yet. I told you, I'm working for Lorne, not him. And speak of the devil," she said as Lorne poked his head around the door. "Gotta go. I will. Speak to you soon." Dropping the phone onto her lap, she smiled at her employer. "Liam says to tell you that he doesn't appreciate having his conspiracies torn apart by green skinned demons. And also 'hi'."
"It's so nice to be appreciated," Lorne said with a wry grin. "Erin, I have a big favour to ask you."
"What?" she asked cautiously.
"Angel's here and he's frantic. Cordy had a vision; the twins are in danger. Will you led Angel to them?" Lorne asked, voice gentle. "You can say no."
"In that case, no," Erin said, shaking her head. "He scares me. Gunn knows, if it's desperate."
"I'll tell him."
Erin watched Lorne leave and tried to stop trembling. What she had said was true; Angel terrified her, although she had no real idea why. She didn't even know him, just knew of him. But it would be ok, she didn't have to see him if she didn't want to. She could hear Lorne and Angel arguing faintly. Carefully, she concentrated on her work.
"Erin?"
She looked up to see the vampire standing just inside the store-room's door. Erin resisted the urge to start shaking again. "I told you, Gunn can tell you what you need to know."
"I've been looking for him for hours," Angel replied. "My children are going to be attacked after sunset."
Erin glanced at the nearest window. The light was already dimming.
"I have to help them," Angel continued. "Please."
She hated this life, she hated lying and, right now, she hated herself. "Fine, they're at-"
"Can you show me?" he interrupted.
"Ok, but let's hurry."
"No arguments here," Angel said as they left the room.