Chapter Five
"Cordy, can you set up the room that joins mine?" Angel carried Susan over to the sofa. "Will you be able to sit a minute?"
Susan waited a second to make sure she was all right then nodded. This beating had left her almost totally helpless. Solcapprodee had made it impossible for her to move even with human help. Susan was beginning to realize that Angel's touch probably wasn't human. So what was he? But at this point she was really beginning not to care. What had they said about total submission? She felt almost to that point.
Angel took a small piece of paper and wrote an address on it. "Wesley go there and ask to speak to Chu Whan. Tell him we need something for demonically induced cuts and bruises and see what he may have."
"Be back as soon as," Wesley replied heading out the door.
Angel went back to Susan and picked her up. "We best see what can be done for those injuries." As they went up the stairs he continued, "I'm sorry I didn't keep my word, to keep you safe."
"I know you did what you could. You found me, that is what is important." Her voice was very weak.
"Hey, I found you, " Cordy said with a fake smile, trying to lighten the somber mood.
"You in the plural form, Thanks Cordy, I know it wasn't easy to look for a demon."
"You're not a demon!"
"Not yet, anyway!"
Cordy had the blankets turned back on the bed exposing fresh clean sheets. "Don't put me there," Susan exclaimed, "I'll get blood on them. They are going to get dirty."
"Don't worry about it. Dirty sheets are the least of our worries right now," Angel said while setting her on the bed.
Cordy pulled the top sheet up to cover Susan while she helped to remove the dirty and blood marked gown. "I should burn this," she said as she helped pull the gown over Susan's head.
"Better not yet. I think it might be best to wait, it seems to be too important," Susan protested.
"I'll wash it again anyway. If it is to be used in some sacrificial ceremony it should at least be clean. I'll fill the tub with water and help you get cleaned up."
Angel had been standing back, waiting for Cordy to leave. Susan lay slowly back on the bed. Her back hurt from the earlier whipping but she was sure that it wouldn't matter which way she lay as to what would hurt the most. Angel waited for her to get as comfortable as possible, then sat on the bed, lifting the sheet and covering her up to the neck.
"Don't let me go to sleep again, okay?"
"I won't let you go through that again. We will stop this, I promise."
"Please don't. It may not be a promise you can keep." Angel brushed some hair out of her eyes as she continued. "When I was under the last time Sol said that you may have the touch, but even you can't help me. He said everyone who tries dies by drowning. I don't understand it, but I believe him. He increased my sensitivity to human touch and then he cut my feet so I wouldn't be able to leave. He said it would all be over soon." Susan laid her head back and closed her eyes. "Angel, he said that even if I kill myself he would still be able to take over my body. I've always believed that suicide is the only sin God won't forgive, but I can't let Sol pretend he is me and turn others away from God and worship him. The only thing I can do is die in a fire so he can't have my body."
"Don't talk that way, Susy! There is a way I should be able to help you."
"Bath is ready," Cordy said coming into the room with a fresh supply of bath things. "Now, to get you there."
Angel pulled the sheet off of the bed and wrapped it around Susy, then picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. She noticed the mirror in this room and was shocked to see how beaten she was, but was more surprised that she couldn't see the reflection of her rescuer. She could see Cordelia in the mirror when she should have been behind Angel and out of sight. Susan looked at him as he gave her his most reassuring smile. Susy had been realizing for a while that he was different and probably not human, but suddenly all of the information clicked. She held her expression as best she could as Angel set her on the edge of the bathtub, sheet and all.
He helped her swing her feet into the tub then took a cloth and some of Cordy's bath gel and started gently washing her face and neck. Susy loosened the sheet so it fell away from her back as he continued down over her shoulders. His touch felt almost as soothing as the soft cloth and water. Angel handed Susy the washcloth and held her as she finished cleansing herself. Cordy had gone back into the bedroom to straighten the bed and replace the sheet. She was very concerned about the attraction that the two seemed to be developing for each other. Cordy had never before seen Angel so comfortable with a woman he had known for such a short time. This could be dangerous for him, very dangerous.
With Angel's help Susy eased her legs back over the edge of the tub and carefully started to pat dry her injuries. "You certainly do have the touch, Angel. I was really starting to wonder why you are the only person who can touch me. When were you going to tell me that you are a vampire?"
Angel sat back on his heels as he had been kneeling on the floor in front of her. "What gave me away?"
"I guess the final clincher was the mirror." Angel looked over to it with a frown.
"I was really wondering why there are no mirrors in your suite. I guess you don't have any use for them. I take it by the quote, unquote 'health drink' in the fridge that you're a non-practicing vampire ... I'm hoping anyway. I've never heard of a vampire actually helping people before." Angel sat quietly. "I have met a couple on the streets, also a few of their victims. I take it that is why you think you can help me when others can't."
He had listened quietly. "I was your typical killing vampire for a long time, until a gypsy put the curse of a soul on me. At least at the time it was a curse. A soul with a conscience attached to it. I finally realized I could help people when others couldn't"
"You mean like me ... A vampire with a soul?" Susan placed her hand over Angel's heart and noticed that it still lacked a beat. "You haven't asked God into it yet?" He pulled back as if hurt. "He does want to be, you know ... I think I am dry now."
With a very serious look, Angel left the room for a moment. He knew that God wanted as much to do with him, as he wanted with Solcapprodee. Susan was so nieve. He returned with the velour robe she had worn earlier and helped her get into it. Again he carried her over to the bed and covered her with the blankets.
"I better see if Wes is back," he said abruptly, and then left the room. Susan knew she had touched a raw spot by mentioning God.
"Cordelia, can you stay? I can't risk going to sleep again." Susan sat up slowly.
"Sure," Cordy placed a couple of pillows behind their guest so she could sit more comfortably. "How about something to eat. I'm starving. Another peanut butter sandwich?"
"Sounds good."
"I'll be back in a minute," Cordy said as she left.
Susan swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She tried to stand but the cuts on her feet served their purpose, and she resigned herself back to the bed.
A second later a quiet knock sounded on the door. "Everyone decent?" Wesley asked before entering.
"Sure, come in."
"Chu Whan seemed to know what you would need for your injuries and mixed up a jar of cream." Wesley handed Susan an old looking porcelain jar that contained a cream of a slightly greenish colour. "He said to rub this on all of your injuries, especially cuts and burns, but it will help the bruises too. I'd offer to help but he said that it can't be touched by human hands other than the victim's."
"That's fine. Thanks for all you've done for me, Wesley. I want you to know how much I really do appreciate it. Even if we aren't successful, it means a lot."
"We are going to do our best, but I must go talk to Angel. Chu Whan had some important information concerning this." Wesley directed a slight smile at her before he left.
Susan started applying the cream on her feet, as that was her most disabling injury. As she put her fingers into it she noticed almost a numbing effect. As the cream touched the cuts it instantly started to work as it bubbled and fizzed. As the action stopped she took a cloth and wiped away a powder that now replaced the cream. She was amazed that in place of the red scab was a white almost healed scar. Excitedly she applied the cream up her legs and over the rest of her body. Even the bruises faded to the pale yellow colour of healing. The burn under her navel was the only thing that didn't heal, but at the very least the burning ended. Susan walked over to the bathroom mirror and started applying the cream to her face and watched as the fizzing stopped and the marks almost disappeared. A smiling face looked back at her but instantly left when for a second she saw her eyes turn black then back to blue. Sol was checking up on her. His power was increasing and time was running out.