Chapter 6
~ Even Angels Bleed ~
"This is a recording of a conversation with an Angel in Sunnydale, California, United States of America. The time is 3:04 am, the date is February 21st, 2001. I am Victoria Falding, Secretary of Heavenly Affairs for the Council. With me conducting this interview is Mr. Rupert Giles, Watcher for the Council, and Ms. Buffy Summers, the Chosen One.
"Thank you for allowing me to record this conversation. Could you please explain who you are and where you come from?"
"I will tell you all that I can. Much of the information I have, I do not have the authorization to tell," the Angel began. "My name is Christopher. I am Entracee of the Order of Archangels. I was recently promoted to this position after serving for years as an Angel in the Order of Guardians. I'm afraid I can't tell you much more about where I come from."
"How long have you been an Angel? That is, how long have you been in existance?" Victoria asked.
"I started as a Guardian 1300 years ago, in a small village in what you call France." Christopher said. "My job was to protect a small girl in a Frankish Tribe. Like most First-time Guardians, I failed miserably.
"Over the years, I moved up through the order, receiving more and more difficult jobs. When I reached the highest class of Guardian earlier this century, I began taking assignments to guard the most difficult humans to protect."
"Such as?" Giles asked.
"Such as Soldiers, Priests, Inner-city youth," Christopher answered. "My last assignment started 20 years ago with a young girl named Willow Rosenberg. Growing up in Sunnydale required extreme attention and care. By the time the young lady had become strong enough to take care of herself, I had become strong enough to ascend to the next order of Angels."
"Is there anything else you can tell us about your experiences as a Guardian, or of the Orders themselves?" Victoria asked.
"No," Christopher answered. "This is a sharing of information because I may end up needing the Slayer's help. I can only answer questions related to my current mission."
"And that is?" Buffy asked.
"Recover what is known by the Vampires as Heaven's Key."
"What, exactly is Heaven's Key?" Giles asked.
An audible sigh could be heard on the tape. "About 400 years ago, an Angel was slain in a battle with several demons in Norway. The only thing that survived the battle was a small key, a key that all Angels carry with them. It's not known exactly how the key survived, as, when an Angel is killed, the Key is destroyed. However, it did survive, and fortunately, the demons that found it never understood its true purpose."
"And that is?"
"It's the way back to our realm," Christopher responded. "It is nearly indestructable, but it is attached to our living essence. If we die, it is destroyed. Over the years, it served as little more than a trophy to the demons who had destroyed the Angel. No attempts were made to get the key because, simply, we didn't know they had it.
"Eventually, a vampire acquired it, and wore it around as a symbol of his power. He began to realize just how powerful he was when, battle after battle, he walked away without a scratch.
"Over the years, it has passed from hand to hand, either through betrayal, or through trade."
"Why would anyone want to trade such a powerful weapon?" Victoria asked.
"Peace never follows the key. He who wears it is constantly in fear of losing it. My mission on Earth is to get it back. Before the Vampires who hold it realize the true potential the key holds."
"You mean, before the Vampire opens a door to your Realm?" Giles asked.
"If a doorway were created, and left open, anything could walk into heaven. Our flank would be open, and the dark forces could hit our defenses from behind on the other side."
"Is this why your Fallen Angel' wants it? To lead an army in?" Victoria asked.
"Wait, wait!" Buffy interrupted. "I don't even understand what a Fallen' is, exactly."
"Thousands of years ago, there was a war in our realm between Angels," the Angel began. "The dark one revolted against my master. The war shattered all creation. No one could trust who was on what side. Eventually, the dark ones were routed by Michael's forces, and cast out of our realm.
"There were, during this war, Angels who would not declare what side they favored. They simply stood back and watched all others fight. When the war ended, they expected to join the winning side. However, Michael was not pleased with their lack of loyalty, and he cast them out of our realm, as well. However, he didn't cast them into the hells. Because they did not fight against us, he simply pushed them into this realm.
"Over the centuries, hatred has swelled in the Fallen. They have become distorted beings, turning blue, their wings turning black and constantly molting. One by one, they have fought against Angels on Earth, and been destroyed, until there aren't many left.
"The one in Sunnydale, named Adonis, is after the Key, the same as I. His aim is not to let demons in to Heaven, rather, he wishes to get back in himself. If he were to get the key and get in, he would begin to tear apart all in heaven. He would destroy many souls, and destroy dozens of Angels that could well make a difference in the great war."
"Fascinating" Victoria whispered. "You've taught us more about your history in five minutes than all the books we've ever found."
"Now," Christopher continued, "A few weeks ago I was sent by Michael to London. Ourin the city had finally found the location of the Key. I came there, tracked down the box that supposedly had carried it in an alleyway. The two Vampires had something else, though. A fake copy of it, I guess meant to draw off other Vampires.
"Anyway, I tracked down Aurelius, or Fang, as you know him, and attacked his nest. To save his own life, he told me he had sent the key with a trusted Vampire to the Hellmouth to destroy the Slayer."
"Me?" Buffy asked. "Why does he want me destroyed?"
"Fang collects Slayers," Giles answered. "He keeps their skulls as trophies to his great power."
"That's when I came here. It wasn't hard to track him down," Christopher said. "That's all I can say. Now, I need your help tracking him down. With the Fallen after it, too, I'll need an advantage of having someone who knows the city. You help me get the key back, and I'll help you get rid of Aurelius."
"No probs," Buffy answered, stifling a yawn. "But, we have to wait until daytime. And, no one goes out alone. We stay together to fight these things off."
"Agreed."
***
The first rays of sunlight peeped over the mountains as the storm clouds draped off into the distance. The lights were still on inside the house, even though the sunlight came in and lit up the room, as a woman, very far from home, continued to look through the papers that covered the table.
"Damn," she whispered to herself, flipping the papers over. "Can't find that blasted docket."
Victoria stood up and stretched, bringing her arms straight over her head. She quietly walked into the living room, trying carefully not to step on the sleeping teenager who finally crashed in front of the television.
"Giles," Victoria whispered, tapping the Watcher on the shoulder as he slept in a reclining chair, book still open on his chest. "Ripper, wake up, I need your help."
"Hum? Wha?" Giles startled, jolting up in his seat.
"Shhh. Terribly sorry to wake you, but I need to go back to your house and I don't know the way."
"We have to wait until sunrise before we can go so the Vamps don't get us," Giles responded, holding his head which hurt from a horrible sleep-headache.
"Ripper, it is sunrise. C'mon, it's very important."
Giles rose to his feet and fumbled for his keys. "What do you need to get?"
"Some remaining files and some clothes and things, sorry. I didn't think we would spend all our time here."
"Aren't you tired?" Giles asked as they stepped out through the door.
"No, jet lag has me all screwed up. I think I'm catching a second wind."
Giles started to complain but stopped when he noticed a figure standing in the yard. "Wh–what are you doing, out here?"
"You shouldn't go," the figure replied. "I can't protect you if you do. I have to stay and guard Willow and the Slayer. At least until Willow wakes up."
"It's okay," Victoria answered. "It's sunrise: We'll be all right. Besides, I have Ripper to protect me, Christopher," she added, smiling and putting her arm under Giles'.
The Angel never looked at the two as they walked by and slipped into Giles' car. His attention was on the sunlight as it came over the horizon. He stood and watched, amazed at the beauty.
Giles started the car and took off.
"Really, Ripper, my career just took off last night!" Victoria smiled as they came in through the door. "I mean, I never in my whole life would have believed that I would ever get the chance to speak with a live Angel!"
"Yes, well, don't take offense, Victoria, but I wish the circumstances were different," Giles answered. "Please hurry, I don't like being gone from there too long if it can be helped."
"Wait here, I'll be right back," Victoria said, running up the stairs to her room.
Giles let out a breath and tried to keep his eyes open, looking around the room. Something seemed different. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something was wrong. The Watcher looked down at his coffee table and noticed something that was never there before: A white feather that was over 7 inches long.
"What the bloody–"
Giles hit the floor hard, after being hit in the back of the head.
"Ripper?" Victoria asked, stepping out of her room and looking down the stairs. She noticed his body sprawled out on the floor. "Oh, my god!" she yelled, running down the stairs. The Englishwoman stopped suddenly, as another body, standing over Giles, came into view. "Good Lord, no," she cried.
A gentle laugh echoed through the room. "I know you, don't I?" the man asked. "Yes, that's right. I bloody well killed that man right in front of you while you cried in London, didn't I?"
Tears began to roll down Victoria's cheeks. "You bastard," she whispered as she took a few steps back towards the railing.
"So, what was the big deal?" Fang asked, stepping over Giles body. "Was he your brother? Your lover? I do so love it when it's a personal kill, don't you?"
"How–How did you–"
"How did I get in?" the Vampire asked. "You mean without being invited in? Amazing thing, this little key. Cancels out almost all of the little bad things involved in being a Vampire. Why, I haven't seen a sunrise since they nailed Christ to the cross. But, thanks to my little love, here, I can stroll down the beach anytime I want. Can enter houses at will, now, too."
Victoria let out a cry and turned to run up the stairs. Tripping on the first step, she slammed her head into the stairs. She was up quick, trying not to let the pain knock her down, and she ran up the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Fang asked mockingly. "I can follow you, anywhere, my pet."
The Watcher ran into her room and slammed the door, then moved the bookcase in front of it. She turned and threw a wooden chair against the wall, splintering it.
Outside the room, she could hear it walking, step by step to the door. She held the quickly made stake close to her fast-beating heart and stood quietly, sweat rolling down her face.
The door blew open, shooting wood boards, the bookcase, and books throughout the room. Victoria was thrown against the wall and fell to the floor. She pulled herself up, fighting to keep awake.
"There you are!" Fang yelled, laughing. He darted across the room, and slammed the woman against the wall. "Oh, hell, maybe I'll have a little fun, huh?" the vampire asked. He turned and threw her down on the bed.
Victoria wept aloud, now, fear overtaking her. She felt Fang crawl on the bed. "Fight, damn you! Fight!" she yelled in her mind. However, fear had taken over. She could not move.
"Tha's right, pet," Fang whispered. "Just wait for–"
Fang was knocked out of the bed by a blow to the head.
Giles grabbed Victoria's hand and yanked her out of the bed. He reached down behind the dresser, pulled out a hidden axe and turned to the Vampire, a look of utter determination on his face.
"Oh, mate, you're gonna pay for that one," Fang laughed, wiping blood from his lips. He looked up over the bed and was instantly hit with a baseball bat that swatted him into the wall.
"Stay the hell away from us!" Giles yelled, throwing the axe. Slicing through the air, the Axe penetrated Fang's skin and pinned him to the wall. "RUN!" Giles yelled.
Victoria covered her face and charged through the mess at the door, Giles right behind her. The two charged out the front door and into his car. They could hear the screams of anger from the Vampire in the house.
"Go, damnit!" Victoria cried out. Suddenly, the window on the second story blew out as a large chair was thrown threw it, and Fang jumped out, in hot pursuit.
Giles started the car and sped off, squealing the tires.
"Thank you, oh thank you!" Victoria cried, kissing Giles on the cheek. "I justI was just I don't understand why I couldn't fight, I just don't unders–"
"It's quiet all right!" Giles yelled, as he stopped at the red light. "This city has a way of making people not know what to do."
"It's just that.."
"No, seriously, don't worry!" Giles said. "He's far behind us, now. We're safe. He wouldn't dare charge into the house of the Slayer. Especially when an Angel is there, too."
"I know, I know. I just feel that I should have been"
"We all are afraid the first time we fight a Vampire," Giles smiled, trying to comfort Victoria. "Next time, you'll beat the holy living hell out of him."
Victoria let a little smile slip out.
"There, now, see?" Giles laughed. "It's over."
"NoNo it's not," Victoria said, looking into the right rear view mirror.
"What?" Giles asked, looking into the mirror. A very large truck was beginning to fill up the mirror. Behind the window was the Vampire they just ran from.
Giles hit the gas, charging through the red light, but was a little late, and Fang hit them from behind. However, Giles did have enough speed to keep from being knocked off the road.
"Hold on!" Giles yelled. The car shot down the road, closely followed by the truck. Giles swerved in and out of slower moving cars, as Fang simply plowed through them in his bigger truck.
The red convertible swiftly turned at the next red light, and, tires squealing, took off down the street. Giles looked in his mirror as the truck broke through the brick wall of the building on the corner, sending brick, glass, and toys everywhere.
"Good lord," Giles said. "Does that blasted key affect the truck, too?"
Giles pushed the car as fast as it would go down the road, but the truck easily caught up with them with nothing blocking its path. The truck slammed into the car, shaking the passengers. "Damn it!" Giles yelled, as the car was slammed again.
"What's he doing?" Victoria asked, looking back at the truck. Suddenly, the windshield was blown out, and the truck fell behind as Fang jumped out and onto the red car.
"He's on the car!" Victoria screamed.
Giles looked in his mirror and saw the Vampire holding onto the back seat, smiling at him. He swerved the car back and forth, trying to lose him, but he held on too tightly.
Victoria reached under the seat and found a stake. She stepped over the seat and slammed the stake down onto the Vampire's head, but it did not penetrate the skin. She slammed him again and again, but all it did was anger him.
The Vampire grabbed Victoria's wrist and quickly twisted her around. She tried to fight back, but his strength was incredible. He reached up to her head and yanked it aside, exposing her neck. However, before he could strike, the car suddenly swerved around and came to a halt, throwing Fang from the trunk of the car out onto the pavement.
Victoria's head slammed into the door of the car, and she was finally knocked unconscious. "Vampire!" Giles screamed at the top of his lungs, reaching over to grab Victoria and pull her up. His hand was yanked away from her before he could reach, though. He looked up and watched Fang smile at him. "Good lord," He whispered.
Fang lifted him into the air and threw him several yards threw the air. Giles braced for a hard impact with the ground, but, instead, he felt himself steadied, and lowered gently to the ground. Giles slowly opened his eyes, and saw the familiar face of Willow's Guardian Angel standing above him, smiling. "Vamps?" he asked.
Before he could answer, Christopher shot through the yard straight at Fang, sword raised. The Vampire raised his arm and stopped the blow from the sword, to Giles' great surprise. Fang turned and threw his fist into the Angel's face, knocking him back. Another shot knocked him to the ground.
"How?" Giles asked.
The Angel's eyes glowed bright blue, as he let out a roar that almost shook the very earth he stood on. Christopher jumped to his feet, and threw his fists into Fang's stomach again and again, knocking the Vampire back across the street. Fang recovered, though and countered with a few blows. The fight was almost a stalemate.
Finally, Fang brought his fist back and sent it flying, knocking the Angel on his back. He started to move in, ready for the kill, but his glance upwards to the yard changed his mind. Running across the yard were the Slayer and two watchers, fully armed.
"You're lucky, Angel," Fang spat. "But your luck's running out. Tonight, fire dances through the city, and you and your pet Slayer can't stop it!"
Fang turned and darted off through the bushes. Christopher started to get up, but he felt a sharp pain on his face. He reached up and felt his lip. When he brought his hand back, it was covered with a thick, red liquid.
"Blood?" Buffy asked, surprised, when she ran up to him.
"Even Angels bleed," Christopher replied, cringing in pain.
***