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Thanks a lot to Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help with the chapter too.

Chapter 10- Soulless

People all over the city looked up fearfully at the roiling black cloud covering the sun and blocking its light.

A group of people had been cornered by a gang of biker Vampires as they got off their bikes, marching to the terrified crowd.

The leader smacked his lips disgustingly. "Well, what do you know, boys, all you can eat!"

But the leader then got pulled back as a cable wrapped around his neck, and he lost his head and turned to dust in that moment, the other Vampires looking around in shock.

Then Daredevil dropped down on his knees amongst all of them as they stared at him. Daredevil then slowly stood up as some of the Vampires ran away in fright, but a handful stayed to take on him, thinking they could take him out if they tried hard enough.

Daredevil pulled out a sharpened wood baton as the first charged but was push kicked into another Vamp as both fell.

Another one came at him but had his feet swept from under him, and was staked mid-air. Matt then moved his head away from a swing from the third and smacked the Vamp's face with the baton before side kicking him away.

The fourth one threw a haymaker Matt caught, then hip tossed him to the ground before staking him too.

He then threw the baton behind him without even looking, dusting the first from before, and so his friend charged.

Matt kicked his crouch, making him keel over and clutch his nuts. Daredevil then kicked his knee, making him kneel, then stabbed his neck with his arm blades and decapitated him, ending these Vampires at last.

Turning to the people, he ordered. "Go into your homes, stay there, and lock the doors. And do not invite anyone inside."

The people simply dispersed as Daredevil scaled up a building and made it to the top of that one, and stood there, listening to all of the chaos prominent in the city now that the sun was gone, allowing Vampires and other creatures of the night to wreak havoc 24/7.

He was going to catch up with Angel and the rest to let them know it had worked, but decided the people of this city needed him first, so he better get to work.

With that, he leapt away.

At Hyperion, Gunn clicked the TV off as he, Cordelia, Fred and Groo cleaned up the mess the Beast had made in the hotel. "I'll tell you what it means. Soon as vamps everywhere realize this town's open for business 24/7, there's going to be a huge rise in undead tourism."

Cordelia pointed out. "We just gotta find a way to bring back the sun."

"Working on it", Fred said before adding. "Failing miserably but working on it. I could really use some help deciphering some of these symbols… or all of them, really." She sighed. "I need Wesley." Then she noticed Gunn's look. "His expertise."

Gunn groaned. "Yeah, well rogue warrior took off without a word right after Electro-Gwen decided to skip town when the going got tougher. Not big on the teamwork, either one of 'em.

Cordelia sighed. "And the only one who might know anything is Angelus, and we don't want him around."

"Me neither", Gunn said, but he decided there may be a point in bringing around Angelus. "But I'm starting to think maybe it's time we did. Maybe Wes is right. Big beastie has got to be stopped and I'm fresh out of ideas. Matt ain't around yet. If there's even a chance Angelus could have inside info we could use—"

"And you think he's willingly going to turn it over?" Cordelia asked.

"I think it's worth a try", Gunn shrugged.

"It is too risky though, and besides, who can do it?" Groo wondered.

"Sucks that the perfect happiness thing is gone, and the magic doc is out of commission, he could have taken the soul easily, put it back in, and taken down the Beast", Gunn sighed, feeling bad about this whole mess.

"Even if it wasn't gone, don't think there is any happiness around here", Cordelia commented.

Angel looked at Lorne questioningly after finishing his singing, if one could call it that. "You're sure?"

Lorne told him. "Sorry, bucko. I got nothing. Although your choice of The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia might have thrown me a wee. I'm personally not huge with the Vicki Lawrence love. And even if I was, I'd prefer my Devil Man sing it."

Angel was still just confused. "It doesn't make sense. I remember everything Angelus did— I did— every family butchered, every child slaughtered, every throat ripped out. I remember every detail of all of it."

Lorne was as confused as he was. "So how come you don't have a smidge of any recollection of a giant magma demon with ram horns and goat legs? Hey, all I can tell you, stud, is if it's in there, it's buried deep. Deep inside Angelus."

Angel shrugged. "Then that's where it stays. Even if I wanted it, there's no way to bring Angelus back right now."

"We have to hold out until Matt returns though", Lorne pointed out. "I'm sure he is gonna let the Devil out."

"Assuming it worked", Angel told him, and Lorne had to concede to that too.

A man in ceremonial hood and robes kneeled on a floor of a monastery, chanting over a mystical symbol and precisely placed talismans while there was fighting and crashing outside.

A man flew through a beaded curtain and landed at the center of the hooded man's spell, as Wesley arrived, wiping blood off his knuckles.

"Rumor has it you possess certain skill I require. I need a soul extracted."

Cordelia came down stairs just as Angel and Lorne emerged from the office as Cordelia asked. "Did Lorne help you remember?"

"No."

"Anything at all?"

"Nothing", Angel turned to Fred. "So what have we got?"

Fred sighed. "A puzzle with missing pieces and some cryptic gibberish. Angel, whatever power this device had got swallowed up by the Beast. It won't bring back the sun. Without the orb, it's as useless as—"

"Us", Gunn said as they turned to him. "Face it, man, we're losing ground. Pretty much the only victory we can claim is that we're not dead yet."

Angel looked around at the defeated expressions on the faces of the people around him. "Okay, look, I know things haven't been going our way lately but things change and we're not down for the count yet. Look, the Beast is not our only concern right now. Until we figure out how to end eternal darkness, it's a devil's playground out there."

"I know", Groo agreed as he walked to the weapons' cabinet and took out a sword and an axe. "So unless you have a way of bringing the sun back, I shall head out and take out any evil creatures."

Angel started. "Look Groo, you are strong and a warrior, but these are-"

"I am prepared to face them", Groo declared firmly. "I will protect this city while it stays like this."

"Offer's appreciated, Mr. Muscle, but yeah, this would be too much for you", Lorne agreed with Angel.

"Lot of things were too much for me, I took them down", Groo shrugged as he took out some stakes too.

Angel realized he couldn't be talked out and sighed. "All right, go. And good luck."

Groo nodded as Cordelia told him. "Be careful."

"It should be them who has to be careful", Groo replied as he walked out of the hotel.

"Well, now we need a plan", Fred muttered.

"Here's one."

All eyes turned as Wesley entered with the mystic. "Him."

Angel immediately asked. "Who is he?"

"Wo Pang. He can deliver Angelus to us with his magic."

Gunn turned to Cordelia. "Thought you said—"

"Me, too."

Wesley asked Fred. "Fred, would you mind brewing some tea for our guest?"

Fred was puzzled. "Sure." She motioned for Wo Pang to follow her.

Angel walked over and took Wesley by the arm and pulled him into the office as Fred led Wo Pang. "Right this way, Mr.… Pang. Any special tea you…"

"How about Orange Zinger?"

Fred was taken aback. "Okay…."

Angel stared hard at Wesley. "What do you mean "deliver Angelus"?"

"Wo Pang's a shaman— order of the Kun-Sun-Dai."

"Dark mystics? You brought a dark mystic here without talking—"

"Claims he has the power to extract souls."

"Claims?"

"He is from the same order as that mystic Rupert Giles hired 4 years ago in Sunnydale to pretend to remove your soul", Wesley revealed, surprising Angel with that information. "More importantly, he can restore them. Once we learn what it is Angelus knows about the Beast—"

Angel was still reluctant. "We're not bringing Angelus."

Wesley pointed out to him. "You don't have a choice."

Angel didn't want it. "Actually, I do. That was it. You want to hear it again? Not with the bringing."

Wesley requested. "Don't make this harder than it has to be, Angel. There's no Plan B as Matt isn't back and we're running out of time. People are in serious danger."

Angel made his own point. "Then unleashing Angelus is the last thing that we should do. If he's here, I'm not. I won't be able to protect anyone from the Beast… or from me."

Wesley assured Angel. "It's only temporary. We'll take all the necessary precautions in the interim. Contain you. I'm not blind to the risks. I know what Angelus—"

"You have no idea what Angelus is, Wesley. All you know is what you've read in books. You've never had the pleasure of his company and you're not going to. Well, there was that one time Rebecca Lowell, but that was just the preview, you don't want the whole film", Angel warned Wesley, and gave his final order. "Get rid of the shaman."

Angel turned and walked back out into the lobby, past all of his stunned friends, and out into the solarium. After a moment, Cordelia followed.

At the Solarium, Angel silently stared up at the black sun as Cordelia came out and sat beside him. "They're all going to die. The flowers, plants, trees. Without sun. Just realizing."

Angel said nothing and moved away from her.

"I just came to say that… I'm on your side. Angelus is the jumbo family-size bad of bad ideas. He'd be a danger to all of us. You made the right call. Wesley, the others… they don't get it."

Angel noted. "But you do."

Cordelia reminded Angel that she had the pleasure of Angelus' company before. "Well, if I didn't when Angelus was loose and killing in Sunnydale, then reliving his past horrors in virtual wide-screen sensurround during my tenure in Floatyville, pretty makes me an expert."

"Right", Angel realized before asking. "Do you think that I'm being used by the Beast without even knowing?"

"No."

"Are you just saying that?"

"Yes. I don't know, Angel. It's possible."

Angel noted. "Well, if I am, then I'm already a danger to you. All of you."

Cordelia pointed out to him. "Well, not like Angelus would be. I mean, he's… he's smart."

Angel was offended. "Excuse me?"

"Well… you know what I mean."

To Angel, it sounded like she'd insulted his intelligence in favor of his evil counterpart. "You're saying Angelus is smarter than me."

"No! You're smart. He's just…"

"Ingenious."

Cordelia added why. "But in that twisted, sadistic, ruthless kind of way."

"Like the Beast", Angel realized.

Cordelia agreed with him there. "Yes, exactly. They think alike. Always a step or two ahead of us. I mean, what is it about evil that jacks up the IQ points? It's like whenever…" She noticed his look. "What?"

Angel abruptly stood up and went back inside.

"Angel?"

Angel strode purposefully into the lobby. "We're going to need a cage."

Lorne inquired. "A cage?"

"Strong one, about 10 x 12, steel-reinforced, two-inch bars. Maybe three. I'll make some calls."

He went in the office and closed the door while taking baby Connor.

Gunn was confused. "What? He thinks something like that's going to hold the Beast?"

Wesley knew why though. Angel had made up his mind.

"It's not for the Beast. It's for him."

Before starting the call, Angel held Connor looked into his eyes. "Hey buddy, daddy is gonna go away for a bit, you will see someone else, who looks like him, but its not daddy, okay?"

He rocked Connor and kissed his forehead, then walked out and called out. "Lorne!"

"Yes Angelcakes?" Lorne turned to him, and Angel handed baby Connor to him.

"No matter what happens, do not bring Connor anywhere near me once its done. Let the others know too."

Groo, a gash on his forehead, dusted a Vampire, then spin kicked a huge Demon away before dodging another Vampire's strike and decapitating him, and then he drove his sword through another Demon, taking that one out too.

Two Demons then grabbed both of his hands and he struggled with them, while a Vamp grabbed him from behind in a chokehold, the three disarming him and forcing him to his knees.

Suddenly, the Vampire turned to dust as Daredevil swung down, kicking one Demon away, and Groo used the opportunity to deck the other and toss him down, before picking up his sword and killing it.

With that, they continued fighting as Groo punched 2 Demons down and flipped another down, falling with him. A Vamp rushed him but Groo threw up a stake, dusting him.

Matt grabbed another Demon and running, hurled into another, throwing them both down. One took out a knife but Matt grabbed his hand and twisted, snatching the knife and hurling it at another Demon, taking it down. He then struck that Demon on the throat and flipped him down.

Groo blocked a Demon's strike and flipped him down. Another picked up a rod to swing at him but Matt flipped at it from behind, spinning and flipping it down to the ground.

He then got up and kicked another away as the Demon got up and swung at him instead with a knife but he dodged two times and blocked the third time and punched his face. He dodged again and side-stepped as the knife got stuck in a wall, and he kneed the Demon before slamming his head on the wall.

Matt then spun, snatching the knife, and sliced the Demon's knee, making him scream in pain, and kicked his face into the wall, then drove his baton into his heart, finally taking him out.

"You finished?" Groo asked Matt.

"Yeah", Matt nodded. "Come on."

They walked together as Groo inquired. "So you were fighting out in the city this whole time?"

"I was", Matt confessed with a nod.

"And did it work?"

"It did."

Groo's eyes widened as he asked. "So you can now-"

"Yep", Matt confirmed. "How are things here?"

"Well, as you can see, it is darkness forever", Groo shrugged.

"A city in the dark. Welcome to my world", Matt quipped with a chuckle.

"And the Princess had a vision in which the Beast met Angelus many years ago, but Angel does not remember the Beast", Groo said, and Matt was puzzled by that.

"How?"

"I do not know, but before I left, Wesley brought in a dark mystic who shall remove Angel's soul and bring back Angelus to give us information about the Beast", Groo revealed, and now Matt was shocked.

"Are they serious?"

"I believe they are."

"We have to get back now!" Matt said. "First, I must go to the hotel nearby to get my stuff, then we go back!"

"All right", Groo said as they first rushed to Matt's hotel.

Matt and Groo entered Hyperion, which was empty, and Matt could hear baby Connor asleep in his room as well.

Everyone was in the basement, and Matt could hear a man he did not know chanting in an unknown language, and knew what he was doing.

"Come on", Matt said as the two walked over to the basement and there stood Cordelia, Wesley, Lorne, Fred and Gunn outside a cage, in which Wo Pang was chanting over the bound Angel.

He then turned to Wesley and said. "It is done."

A small smile played across Angelus' face and he turned his head to look out at Cordelia and the others. Cordelia looked into his eyes and knew. "Angelus…"

On the table behind her, Angel's soul glowed a milky white inside the glass receptacle.

Angelus watched them from inside the cage and then his eyes fell on the shocked Matt. His smile became a chuckle, then turned into malicious laughter which continued for a while.

In that moment, Matt knew that his friend was gone.

Angelus had returned!

Matt grasped Wesley by the shoulder and dragged him out before slamming him onto the wall. "Have you lost your mind? Bringing Angelus back?!"

"We had no other choice!"

"My plan worked! Mephisto unlocked the Devil!"

"Not before we lost the sun!" Wesley snapped back at Matt, who let him go. "Angelus has information about the Beast that can aid us, we will be wise to use it."

"And if he comes after us?" Matt inquired.

"What do you think the cage is for?" Wesley asked back. "And we have various other plans in mind to keep Angelus inside."

"You're walking on thin ice, Wes, this is too much", Matt warned him.

"I know, which is why I shall be the one to talk to him", Wesley revealed.

A while later Matt, Fred, Lorne, Gunn and Groo stood as Cordelia held the glass receptacle containing Angel's glowing soul and Wesley opened the wall safe in the office.

Fred commented. "Seeing Angel's soul all floaty like that kinda makes me crazy."

Lorne assured her. "It's not forever, sugarplum. We're just borrowing it."

"Borrowing alone is very risky", Matt pointed out.

Wesley finished dialing the combination and opened the safe. He turned and held out his hands for the receptacle. "Cordelia…"

She slowly reached out and handed it to him. "Don't drop it."

Wesley took the jar and carefully set it down inside the safe, then closed the door and spun the lock. "Angel is gone."

"Angelus is here", Matt muttered.

Cordelia was in disbelief. "I can't believe… it's done."

Gunn hoped. "Taking out Angel's soul… putting it in a jar… I hope we know what we're doing."

"I do not think any of us know anything at this point", Groo told the rest.

Wesley told them all. "If Angelus knows how to destroy the Beast, it's all we've got."

Lorne agreed. "Yeah, otherwise, permanent midnight."

Cordelia assured the rest of them. "He's dangerous, I know. I've seen it. But we're doing the right thing."

Wesley told them all. "As long as we're very careful. Before Angelus was ensouled, his viciousness was mythic. You all know his history."

Cordelia counted. "Killing, maiming, torture…"

"Puppies nailed to walls— thank you, Cordelia, for that lovely image— but I think that brings us up to speed", Lorne told them.

Wesley then told them. "There's only one thing Angelus will be focused on: getting free so he can slaughter us."

Cordelia pointed out. "We're Angel's only link to humanity. Angelus will hate us for that. He'll want to make us suffer."

Wesley warned them. "Watch the monitor when I go down. Pay attention to everything he does, everything he says. He'll try to confuse you, to play on your emotions so you'll drop your guard. If he succeeds, even for an instant, we're all dead." There was a beat. "I've spent my life training for this and I'm still not ready. He's smarter than I am and a great deal more focused. He'll exploit everything Angel knows about me and go for the jugular. Whatever he's got, I'm not going to see it coming."

Matt scoffed and said. "I'm going out. Someone needs to keep this city safe."

"But Wes said to watch the monitors", Gunn reminded.

"Can't do that", Matt said as he walked out, wanting to clear his head over the fact that his friend was gone and Angelus had come. "Groo?"

"I shall accompany you", Groo agreed and walked off with Matt, leaving the rest.

Lorne rocked Connor in his arms as Wesley said. "I shall go down."

Angelus watched silently as Wesley descended the stairs and stood before the cage.

"Angelus…"

Angelus greeted him jovially. "Wes. Why the long face? Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Should I be?"

Angelus pointed out. "Well, if it wasn't for you and your shaman friend, I wouldn't be here. I'm feelin' the love."

"The choice was Angel's."

Angelus mocked his alter-ego. "Angel-schmangel. You're the man with the brain."

Wesley tried to make small talk. "You're comfortable?"

Angelus shrugged. "Nice acoustics. Wouldn't hate a chair."

Wesley pulled a chair over and sat down on it, just outside the red perimeter line on the floor. He rested a loaded crossbow on his lap.

"You'll have to forgive the accommodations. The last time you were free, you terrorized Sunnydale."

Angelus remembered Buffy and told Wesley. "That Slayer… she's a pistol."

Wesley told him. "I've imagined this moment many times. Years of study… research. I've read everything ever written about you."

"Stop. I'm blushing."

"To be one-on-one with the legendary Angelus… as a former Watcher, it's a high point."

Angelus knew what Wesley was trying to do. Being a master manipulator himself, not much got past him. "Buttering me up, getting me all relaxed… not the most innovative interrogation technique but… okay, I'll play."

Wesley inquired. "Is it a game?"

Angelus shrugged. "Hey, open book. Anything you want to know. How sweet that virgin gypsy tasted, the special smell of a newborn's neck. My first nun— now that's a great story."

Wesley simply said. "We could start there."

But Angelus was just starting to play. "Don't be coy, Wes. You're just dying to know about the big beastie. Fire away."

"All right. Did you know the Beast?"

Angelus was back to his mocking ways. "Well, now that's a question. Not a great question. Not even an insightful question. Not a Wyndam-Pryce-worthy question."

Wesley then asked a Wyndam-Pryce worthy question. "If you knew the Beast, why wouldn't Angel remember?"

Angelus shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he doesn't remember the good times. Maybe he won't let himself. So like him." There was a beat. "Here's one for you. What's the deal with Angel and the little nibber?"

"Connor?"

"Seriously, 'you're this', you're that', all that thing does is cry and piss. What? He crawled? Big WOOHOO!"

"He is a baby, they do that", Wesley simply shrugged.

Up above, all watched Angelus on the cam, glancing to baby Connor in Lorne's arms when he was mentioned.

"Yeah, babies just want some attention", Angelus agreed there. "We all want something, Wes. It's the way of the world. Everybody's got an agenda."

"And you're going to tell me mine."

Angelus started. "You want to come down here, get your vital stats on Lava Boy, play the big hero…"

"I want to know how to kill the Beast. It has nothing to do with being a hero."

Angelus told him. "Sure it does. But why now? Can't be because there's an apocalypse coming. Always one of those around the corner."

"Enlighten me."

"Foul rag and bone shot to the heart. That's where you live."

"Meaning?"

Angelus knew he was on camera, and was going to reveal the whole thing to all now. "You want to impress the girl. Move in, get her to love you. After a couple of days of chocolate-covered cherries…"

He slammed his hands against the bars and Wesley raised the crossbow.

"…you'll bend her over the kitchen counter and—"

"Is that supposed to rattle me?"

Angelus shrugged. "Kind of bony for my taste but… different strokes."

Wesley tried to get the conversation back on track. "The Beast called you an adversary."

But Angelus had latched onto the love triangle of Wesley, Fred and Gunn, and wasn't going to let go. "I bet he loves to rub that shiny bald head against her soft milky skin. Mmmm… good."

Wesley looked up at the camera, worried.

The others just watched Angelus and Wesley on the monitor.

"Come on, Wes. It's not like your schoolgirl crush is a secret."

Fred was nervous. "Charles, remember. We can't believe anything Angelus says."

Gunn pointed out. "How about the stuff that's true? Can we believe that?"

Cordelia explained. "He distorts everything. He lies with the truth. It's part of what makes him so dangerous."

Lorne agreed and told Fred. "Yeah, don't let him get to you, kiwi."

Gunn sighed. "He's not the only one that's gettin'."

"Charles…"

"I know, I know."

Fred assured him. "It's just words."

Wesley said to Angelus on the camera. "You found a vulnerability and exploited it. Well done."

Angelus laughed. "I'm just getting started. I'll tell you this. All that digging you've been doing on the horny giant? Wrong place."

"And the right place?"

"I could tell you… but it wouldn't be sporting."

Wesley reminded Angelus. "But you were adversaries, you and the Beast."

Angelus shrugged. "A guy like me… friends, enemies… hard to keep track."

Wesley pointed out. "If he was an enemy, I'd be doing you a favor by destroying him."

Angelus now went personal. "You know, you're not fooling anyone. Get some new clothes, cool haircut, hit the gym… you're still the same loser none of the other kids wanted to sit with at lunch."

Wesley shrugged. Yet you're locked in that cage and I'm out here."

"So? You got no leverage. What are you going to do? Kill me?"

Wesley was firm. "If I have to."

Angelus laughed again. "Wait till they drop, Wes, then try that line again."

Wesley knew one threat could still work. "I'll put your soul back. You won't talk? No problem. We'll bring Angel back and be no worse off than we were."

Angelus pointed out this plan would fail still. "Making you a failure again."

"You want to waste my time, you can rot down here." Wesley turned to leave.

Angelus used this as an opportunity to bring up the love triangle again. "Nice stamina, Wes. No wonder Fred's not interested."

Wesley was unmoved. "Whatever your connection to the Beast, clearly you don't know anything that can help us."

Angelus knew the tricks well. "Is this the part where I get defensive, start talking to prove you wrong? What else you got?"

Wesley paused on the stares and turned back toward the cage. "You must hate it. That Angel fights evil."

Angelus turned it around on Wesley again. "Eats you up inside, doesn't it? Seeing all those idiots flock around him, calling him a champion. And the blind Devil bastard too, oh he loves taking up all the attention from the idiots. I mean, blind, fighter, Devil, what's not to like? Anyone ever call you a champion?"

"I do my part."

Angelus pointed out the mistakes of his part. "Right. Like letting Lilah suck Lorne's brain. Or here's an oldy but a goody… Faith. Good job being her Watcher. She turned out to be a peach."

Wesley tried to turn it around himself. "And you managed to get your soul back, not once but twice, saving the world several times in the process. Nobody's perfect."

Angelus brought up the worst wound. "Then there's kidnapping the fruit of my loins. Smooth."

"He survived and is still here."

"I guess you just can't understand that special bond between dad and son, given that your own father's ashamed of you."

Wesley then started the important part. "In Cordelia's vision, you and the Beast were standing on a field—"

Angelus now had another topic. "Oh, god, yeah! Let's talk about Cordy, shall we? Huh? Now there's a rack to write home about. Too bad about the personality, though. Yap, yap, yap, yap."

Cordelia stared at the monitor as Angelus mocked her. ""Oh, god… Angel. Oh, Angel… we can't. I love you but you were so bad. You ate babies." Chicks…"

Lorne assured Cordelia. "Sticks and stones, sweet potato."

Gunn reached out to turn down the sound. "We don't have to—"

"No, I'm okay."

Fred reminded Cordelia of her own words. "Like you said, just little bitty bits of truth twisted all up into lies."

"Which failure do you think is worse, Wes? Turning Faith into a psycho or stealing my kid? You failed as a Watcher, you failed as an uncle, both times others had to step in to fix your mess. But at least you thought you were doing the right thing. Hey, who's a guy gotta kill to get a drink around here, huh?"

Wesley then returned in a minute. "He wants blood."

Fred quickly said. "I'll get it."

"Me, too", Gunn added.

Fred and Gunn descended the stairs. Fred carried a glass of blood while Gunn brought a loaded crossbow.

Angelus returned to talking. "Othello and Desdemona. My favorite couple. Oh, wait. Desdemona wasn't in love with the other guy. So much for "stand by your man". Then again, you probably like her on her knees."

Gunn pointed the crossbow at Angelus while Fred got a wheeled cart and set the glass on it. She pushed it over to toward the cage.

Gunn told Angelus. "Keep talking. I'll sweep out the cage when I'm done."

Angelus mocked his strategy too. "Oh, provocative! Get me all riled up. You think that's what your boss would want?"

"Don't have a boss."

"You might want to tell Wesley that", Angelus turned his attention to Fred. "Ah, Fred… you look all fresh and sweet but I hear you at night in your room with Gunn. The things you say… I'm lying there, listening, hands under the covers… I can't help myself. It's so… gripping."

Fred sneered. "You're a pig."

Gunn raised the bow. "Step back."

Angelus chuckled and raised his hands, stepping backward a step. Fred pushed the cart forward, past the red line. Angelus stared at her like a predator, then reached out and picked up the cup of blood.

He held it for a beat, a small smile curling his lip, then he viciously kicked the cart, sending it slamming into Fred's legs. She fell forward onto it and he pulled it back toward the cage.

He seized her by the neck and held her against the bars in front of him.

"No!"

Angelus quipped. "Well, got some with a pig?"

Fred struggled desperately but couldn't get free.

"I like the way you move Fred. Do it just a little to the left…."

"Charles!"

Gunn dropped the crossbow and rushed forward, trying to pry Angelus' fingers from Fred's neck. "Get off her!"

"Come on, Charles, save her! Come on, save her, Char—"

Angelus looked down in surprise as a trank dart slammed into his arm. Wesley was on the stairs with a rifle. He ejected the casing and loaded the next dart as Angelus' grip on Fred loosened and Gunn pulled her free.

Angelus stared at Wesley as he fired again. The second dart struck Angelus in the chest. He wavered a moment before his eyes closed and he collapsed to the floor.

Gunn asked Fred in concern. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

Fred gasped. "No, I'm sorry… that was so stupid… I should have…"

Wesley assured them. "It's not your fault. Angelus is unpredictable. He'll take any opening no matter how small. It's understandable but you played right into his hands." He turned to Gunn. "Never drop your weapon."

Wesley looked down at Angelus' unconscious form then headed back upstairs.

Fred told Gunn. "I was… thanks."

"So you're okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just glad you're here."

Wesley paused at the top of the stairs and watched as Fred embraced Gunn.

Later, Fred entered the office where Wesley was looking though some old books. "Hey."

"Hey."

He shrugged and set the book down.

"I wanted to thank you. If you hadn't have come in when you did…" Fred glanced nervously out into the lobby. Wesley noticed.

"He's not there."

Fred was nervous. "It's… Charles heard what Angelus said. The stuff about—"

"Me."

"Yeah, and—"

"How I feel about you."

Fred nodded. "Yes. Which is very sweet. There's nothing wrong with it."

"Yes, there is."

Wesley suddenly stepped forward and kissed Fred passionately. She didn't resist. In fact, she responded, wrapping her arms around him. She suddenly broke off, guilty, as Gunn walked in from the lobby. Wesley turned back to his books.

"Hey, who's watching the monitor?" Gunn noticed their looks. "What's going on?"

Fred was evasive. "Nothing."

But Gunn wasn't fooled. "Did he just—"

"Of course not. Charles, let's… you're right. The monitor."

Gunn now demanded. "You better tell me what the hell I just walked in on."

"We were just…"

Gunn was sarcastic. "What? Researching?"

Wesley then spoke up. "You want to do this, deal with me. Leave Fred out of it."

Gunn stalked over to Wesley, furious. "You ought to be leaving Fred out of it!"

Fred reminded them. "Hello? I'm here."

Gunn asked Wesley. "You think I don't see the way you look at her?"

"Charles, please…"

Gunn turned to Fred. "And you, running off to him every time you need help, like I'm not good enough."

Fred was desperate. "No! That's not… this isn't the time."

Gunn turned to Wesley. "I'm telling you, stay away from her."

At the basement, Angelus came around and listened to the argument drifting down through the floorboards with a wicked smile. He laughed.

"That was fast."

"….a long time since you were out for anyone but yourself."

Wesley shrugged. "I owe you nothing. Not anymore."

Gunn lunged at Wesley but Fred pushed him back out into the lobby. "You just take what you want, huh? Don't matter who it belongs to."

Wesley followed them out, refusing to back down. "I didn't realize Fred came with a deed."

Fred knew this was out of hand. "Stop it! What's wrong with you?"

Gunn sneered at Wesley. "You don't realize a lot of things, like the fact that nobody wants you here!"

Wesley was calm. "'Cause you do such a bang-up job without me."

The shouting drew Lorne and Cordelia as the former said. "Hey, hey, come on, guys. Let's not say anything we—"

"Shut up, Lorne!" Gunn snapped at Wesley. "Great idea, Wes. Stealing Angel's kid. Oh, was losing him a part of your plan, too?"

Wesley shrugged. "Go ahead. Throw some more blame around. It's what you're best at."

"You want to say that again?" Gunn took a menacing step toward Wesley.

"Oh, god…"

"Face it, Gunn, you can't give her what she needs."

Gunn decked Wesley.

"Charles!"

Wesley held his mouth, then Gunn lunged again. Wesley ducked the blow and landed two of his own to Gunn's abdomen. Gunn pushed him up against the counter but Wesley freed himself and they grappled and traded punches.

Fred hadn't meant for it to go so far. "Stop it! This is insane!"

Cordelia tried to point out. "You're doing exactly what Angelus wants!"

Lorne tried to stop them. "Oh, for the love of Mike Tyson!"

Gunn pushed them back, then hauled his fist back, getting Fred on the mouth. She collapsed to the floor, holding her bloody mouth.

Cordelia and Lorne kneeled next to her and helped her up. Gunn stared at her and realized what he'd done.

"Fred…"

Cordelia looked up at Gunn, then looked behind him to see Matt and Groo walk back in.

Matt looked quite grim, as he had heard the whole thing. Groo simply put his sword away as Matt took off his helmet.

He then wiped some blood from his lip and ran a hand through his long hair, his blind eyes seeming to pierce through them all.

Making a decision, Matt placed his helmet on the counter and walked downstairs, standing face to face with Angelus himself.

"Angelus."

"Oh hey Devil-boy, I so wanted to meet you, you are such a big deal. I mean, you beat pathetic and pitiful Angel, they say you can beat up a Slayer too."

Matt didn't respond as Angelus continued. "Boohoo! Poor me! I have a Devil inside me, I'm cursed! I'm evil!" Angelus laughed. "You should see me. Oh wait, you can't!" Angelus chuckled again. "Maybe hearing is better, you can imagine the sight in your mind." Angelus then asked. "How did it go with Mephisto anyway?"

"You tell me how it went with the Beast back then and I'll let you know", Matt simply offered.

"Ooooh, dear old Wes tried that trick, didn't seem to work", Angelus chuckled. "How about you tell me how it went with Faith? Hmm? And Cordelia? And Lilah? There is a lot of stuff I'd love to do to those…..you'd know a lot, wouldn't you?"

"Don't think they'd appreciate a tattletale for a boyfriend", Matt responded.

"All righty then, Elektra!" Angelus said, and Matt had some emotion on his face at her mention as Angelus now latched onto it. "All your skills, all the terror you exude to make people run from you, and you couldn't save the woman you loved. She died…..twice! What kind of Devil are you? Definitely not the one who can get what he wants, because you have nothing! Faith is just a replacement, isn't she? Bet she'd love that when she finds out after she stops looking at you with rose-tinted glasses. How does it feel to have so much power and still be a failure?"

Instead of looking terrified, Matt smirked. "How does it feel? All that evil, locked away, useless, and see through the eyes of someone else as you do good. Help people, save people, Angel even helped save the Universe, same one you couldn't suck into Acathla's Dimension."

Matt had now crossed over the perimeter.

"How rotten does that feel?"

Angelus lunged through the bars in a rage.

"STOP!"

The Hell-Mark glowed through Matt's suit as his eyes lighted up, and now Angelus froze, his face tense as he tried to resist but failed.

"Now back away."

Angelus did until he was in the middle of the cell.

"Now", Matt said in his normal voice as he sat down and then commanded again. "Tell us about the Beast."

"1789", Angelus began, glaring hatefully at Matt but unable to resist his power. "I was in Prussia, felt like someone was watching me."

As Angelus moved across a field in the dark of night, he came across hundreds of corpses, torn to pieces, littering the ground in all directions.

"There were troops around. I had run into them now and then. Not as sweet as the girls, by the way. But the little massacre I ran into— seriously lacking in military precision. Bodies, bodies everywhere and not a drop to drink."

Matt listened as Angelus continued.

"And so I followed the trail and there was your friend, the one you so cleverly call the Beast."

Angelus watched as the Beast held a man up by the throat, strangling him, then tossed the body aside.

"We had a lot in common."

Angelus stepped up to the man's body and violently snapped his neck.

"But he already knew that. He'd been watching me. He staged the carnage to impress me."

Matt asked. "So he sought you out. Why?"

"Girl trouble. Thought I might be able to help him with a situation."

"How? Tell me."

"You heard of the Svea Priestesses? Very powerful. Big into banishing. The Beast was next on their list. He couldn't touch them. Some kind of mojo. But a Vampire could."

Matt realized what had happened. "So he wanted you to kill them."

Angelus told him the details. "We had it all worked out. I'd scratch his priestesses and he'd scratch my back somewhere down the line— a limited partnership."

"You need not be my enemy. Join with me, Angelus."

"And?"

"I declined."

The Beast's clawed fist slammed into Angelus' face and he collapsed to the ground.

"He didn't ask twice. I probably could have been more diplomatic with my refusal but I'm not big with teamwork."

Angelus lay on the ground, moaning in pain, as the Beast leaned down to finish him off.

"Thought that was going to be the end of me but, like I said, girl trouble."

The Svea Priestesses appeared across the field, dressed in blue cloaks and carrying long staves topped with glowing crystals.

"So they just started up the whammy and… there you have it."

"The Beast was banished", Matt noted before asking. "How?"

Angelus confessed. "Don't know. I was busy with the passing out."

Matt smirked and walked off. "Thank you for cooperation."

Angelus sneered in anger. "Well played, Devil boy, well played."

Everyone was going through the books, looking for information on the Svea Priestesses as Cordelia read. "Slarf demons, spell mantras, Srail'gong technique… but nothing on—"

"The Svea Priestesses— also known as The Svear— a mystical order, all descendants of a powerful Nordic priestess Svea", Fred read out.

"Nothing about the Beast though", Matt said grimly.

Gunn tried to look over Fred's shoulder at the book. She looked at him awkwardly, then handed it to Wesley. Gunn shook his head and moved away from her to the other side of the office while Wesley studied the ancient text.

"Same region. Approximately the same time period."

Fred added. "I'm shaky on Freyan runes but it kinda seems like it's only a general idea of who or what got banished."

"Translation… something like big, hard thing", Wesley translated it.

"Sounds like our guy", Cordelia realized.

"Which means we must find these Priestesses and take him out", Groo noted.

Lorne asked. "So where do we find these banishing babes and how fast can they get to L.A.?"

Gunn slammed the Yellow Pages down on the table in front of them. "About 25 minutes, depending on traffic. They're in Pacoima."

Cordelia, Wesley and Groo headed up the front walk of a small house in a quiet neighborhood. Matt had gone off to protect the city again, while Lorne, Fred and Gunn stayed back.

A small sign next to the door read: SVEAR MON. – FRI. 11AM – 4PM

Wesley rang the bell and they waited but no answer came.

"Are they here?" Groo wondered.

Wesley knocked loud on the door, then tried the knob. "It's open." He swung the door inward and they entered the darkened home.

Wesley called out. "Hello? Anyone home? Hello?"

Cordelia called out too. "Nordic priestesses?"

All three spread out and looked around. Groo saw a set of family pictures on the mantle showing a husband, wife and their children.

Cordelia examined some bills spread out on the dining room table, then sniffed the air. "What is that?"

She looked into the living room and stared in shock. Wesley and Groo saw her expression and followed her gaze. The entire family had been slaughtered, parents and children alike. They lay strewn about the living room, their clothes smeared with gore.

Wesley moved into the room and stared down at the remains. "We're too late. Again."

Cordelia wondered. "How does the Beast know exactly what we're going to do? It's like he's psychic."

Wesley sighed. "Maybe he is."

"Or perhaps he has a way to watch us", Groo commented.

Wesley kneeled down to check the body of the nearest victim, an 8-year-old boy.

Cordelia suggested. "Angelus could have sent him a message. Some kind of demon Morse code."

Wesley knew better though. "No, these people have been dead for a few days. Angelus had nothing to do with this."

Cordelia realized. "Which means by the time the shaman was going all chanty on Angel, it was already too late."

Wesley sighed. "Let's have a look around, see if there's anything useful. Then we should call the police."

Wesley step[ed over to a desk and picked up a narrow piece of parchment. "A banishment incantation. At least, I think it is."

Cordelia knew why they had it. "Then they were trying to get rid of the Beast."

Wesley agreed. "It seems so."

At Hyperion, the door opened and Cordelia, Wesley and Groo entered. Matt had returned shortly before them.

Gunn asked. "What happened?"

"The Beast slaughtered the family", Wesley sighed.

Fred was shocked. "Guess he found a way to kill them after all."

Gunn groaned. "So much for our big priestess rescue."

Fred asked them. "Are we sure Angelus doesn't know anything more? I mean, maybe we should talk to-"

"No", Matt vetoed that thought. "Under the Hell-Mark's influence, he would have told us all he knew."

Gunn realized what the meant. "Which means our last-ditch plan, turning Angel into a soulless monster, it's a bust." A beat. "If Angelus can't help us…"

Cordelia finished him for him. "It's time to bring back Angel."

"Yes, then at least we shall have our leader back", Groo sighed.

Wesley told the rest. "We'll need the shaman."

Cordelia descended the stairs and stood before Angelus who quipped. "Here I thought you'd be halfway to Georgia by now."

"I'm not afraid of you", she said.

"How'd the little field trip turn out? Priestesses still feisty?"

Cordelia told him. "We found a little boy, his sister, mom, dad, grandma… all dead."

Angelus quipped. "Oh, god. I'm always missing the fun stuff."

"The Beast butchered them."

"So? Did you bring me back a souvenir? Maybe a stray baby toe? Or you can bring me my kid's" He noticed her look. "Come on, Cordy! Where's your sense of humor?"

"Guess I lost it."

Cordelia then told him. "So now we're putting your soul back."

Angelus chuckled. "Not gonna happen."

Cordelia responded to him. "Oh, but it is. Just in time for the primo apocalypse that's coming. Too bad. I know how you love those."

"Been looking forward to it all day. Still am."

Cordelia declared. "Thing is, you're never coming back. Angel's going to make sure of that."

Angelus was unphased. "We'll see."

Cordelia took a step closer to the cage. "What you don't get, Angelus, is that you're nobody. Just a disease. And Angel can't wait to be rid of you."

Angelus looked her up and down lasciviously. "I think I'll start with the twins. I just love a woman with nice ripe thighs." His arm shot through the steel bars, his fingers a mere inch from Cordelia's throat. She just stared impassively at him, not so much as a flinch.

"Not even close."

Angelus' calm façade cracked for the second time since Matt as Cordelia turned and headed for the stairs.

"The more you piss me off, the longer I'll keep you alive", Angelus said to himself. "Something tells me she's a screamer."

Cordelia walked into the office where the others were waiting. "Okay, let's—" She broke off when she realized they were all staring at her.

"What?"

"Angel's soul… it's gone", Fred revealed.

Cordelia stared in shock at the empty safe.

4x10 and 4x11 both covered in one. Follow-up comics showed you can remove souls with some magic, so no need for perfect happiness illusion here.

Hope Matt confronting Angelus was enjoyed, thank you to Brainstorm for his help with that and the chapter.

Hope all enjoyed and see you next time with another chapter.