Chapter Twenty-One.
Cordelia lifted her head and winced at the pain which shot through her skull. Her head felt huge and it took her a while to gather her thoughts and remember what had happened then she felt panic clutch at her chest.
"Jade?" she whispered and waited for a sound to signify that Jade was somewhere in the dark room with her. She heard a sigh and then a moan of confusion and held her breath.
"Cordelia?" Jade sounded terrified and lost and Cordelia wished that she could reach out and comfort her in some way but as she had already discovered her hands were literally tied.
"Yeah its me Jade, do you know where we are?" Cordelia heard Jade's sobs and bit her lip in an attempt to stop her own,"Should we play anywhere but here for a while?"
She knew it was a childish thing to suggest but she no longer cared, for the first time in ages she felt immense fear claw at her skin, she didn't know where they were so how the hell were Angel and the others supposed to figure it out? The men who had abducted them had not been mere mentally challenged hoods, they had known all about her and while it didn't take a genius to connect the event with her earlier vision and deduce that it was Wolfram and Hart behind it, it still did not explain where they were being held.
"Anywhere but here?" Jade sounded confused by her suggestion and Cordelia found it hard to believe that in all the years Jade had been held captive by Lavuc that she had no played the game.
"Yeah, where would you like to be most in the world..." Cordelia began to explain and was interrupted by Jade's simple answer,
"With Lindsey."
She was silent for a moment, processing the now uncertain knowledge that Jade had fallen for the ambiguous and complex man before she took a deep breath and allowed herself to tell Jade something she could not know for a fact.
"He'll save you Jade," she whispered," He and Angel will get us out of this."
****
"Where is she? What happened?" Lindsey raged as Wesley sat on the sofa and began to explain everything to Angel.
"As I am trying to explain Lindsey," Wesley said, staring straight at the ex-lawyer,"I don't know, it all happened so quickly, safe to assume though that your former employers have something to do with it."
"It doesn't take a genius to figure that out," Lindsey snapped," but I came here to keep her safe and yet she's gone and they are doing god knows what to her. You do know that they will hand her back to Lavuc don't you?"
Angel nodded and began pacing the floor. He had hoped they would be able to gain the advantage of bringing Lavuc to their turf but that hope was now gone, as much as he was loathe and afraid to do it they would have to go to him. He knew that Wesley would have done everything short of getting himself killed to protect the girls but the sad fact was he had let them be taken without any hint as to where they were now.
"Lindsey," he said and for the first time he placed his hands on his shoulders as a friend not in an act of aggression, something which didn't escape Lindsey's notice," Where are Wolfram and Hart likely to hold them?"
"There are a few places they use for situations like this," Lindsey replied but then his eyes darkened again," I would reckon we can strike them off the list. They are bound to have taken them some place I know nothing about. They have the advantage here Angel."
"I know," Angel mused for a moment then looked back at him," Do you think Lilah might know?"
Chapter Twenty-Two.
Cordelia could hear Jade crying again and was beginning to worry about her. Sure it was dark and scary but Jade hadn't stuck her as irrational or a scaredy-cat up until now. She ssshed and soothed her as best she could but Jade's tears were beginning to get to her.
"Jade, you have to tell me what's wrong," she insisted gently and heard Jade gulp back the tears.
"He's going to do it again, I just know it," Jade whimpered," Whenever I disobeyed him this was my punishment."
"Locked in a dark room?"
"Yeah, but not just that. He would tie me up in the darkness and then release all sorts into the room with me, rats, cockroaches...all sorts. And he would leave me at their mercy, leave me in the darkness so I could feel them crawl over me or brush past me....I cant stand it anymore Cordelia," Jade's voice became high pitched as the hysteria began to take hold and Cordelia shivered as she thought of being locked up with vermin and insects.
"Is he here?" she eventually asked, trying to block out the image which was flooding her head and wondering whether her skin crawling was due to a cockroach attempting to make her skin its home.
"I think so," Jade murmured and began crying again. She had been a fool to believe that she could ever escape him she realised, no-body could defeat him and in her selfishness she had put other lives in danger, she deserved whichever punishment he deemed to give her.
"Jade, we'll get out of this," Cordelia repeated, although she was believing it less with each passing moment," We just have to keep telling ourselves that okay?"
"Darkness devours Cordelia," Jade replied cryptically and then she went quiet, only her breathing audible through the blackness.
****
Lindsey straightened his back and rolled his head until the cramp in his neck subsided then he raised his hand and knocked sharply on the door in front of him. He waited for what seemed like an eternity until he heard then lock click and a bolt being scraped back and gave a weak, unfeeling smile as Lilah's face emerged through the crack.
"Lindsey!" she gasped and he watched as she quickly regained her cool exterior," To what do I owe the..."
"Lilah, I don't know if I trust you or whether I am making a mistake coming here but I really need your help," he blurted and stared at her eyes, looking for a sign that she was about to dupe him.
"About Jade?" she replied solemnly and when Lindsey nodded pulled back the door to allow him entry," I don't know much."
"Why not?" Lindsey insisted as he walked into her home," I mean, you're the head of the special project...."
"For some reason Nathan does not class Jade in that, despite her connection with Angel, she is essentially everything to do with Lavuc and therefore Nathan's case."
"Oh," Lindsey sat down as he felt the unfamiliar deflation of defeat.
"I know that Lavuc adores luxury," she added and Lindsey snapped his head up to look at her," He thinks he is a king and should therefore be treated as such and I doubt when he has her within his grasp that he would be willing to have her held anywhere away from him."
"So you're saying....?"
"If you find Lavuc, you've found Jade," Lilah nodded and smiled before walking towards her kitchen," While you're here why don't we take this opportunity to catch up? I have a bottle of Bordeaux chilling in the refrigerator if you would like a glass?"
"No time," Lindsey practically jumped from his seat," Thank you Lilah."
She looked so disappointed and for a moment Lindsey was wracked with guilt until he realised that although she was acting as a friend she was also leading him straight into the arms of the beast. Great trap if it were such and crummy plan if it wasn't. He held out his hand and when she accepted it he shook hers gently.
"I mean it, thank you."
"No problem. Try not to get killed okay? Its kinda nice knowing that Lindsey McDonald beat the bastards and lives to tell the tale. You'll be a legend some day," she gave him a sad, wry smile and then followed him to the door, closing it slowly behind him as he raced out into the night.
Chapter Twenty-Three.
The darkness was seriously starting to freak Cordelia out and she could hear her breath increase in speed as she desperately tried to imagine nice things rather than what Jade had mentioned before but her skin was continuing to crawl and the hairs on her arms were standing to attention due to fear.
She inhaled deeply and blew out a raspy breath in an attempt to calm herself and then strained her ears to hear if Jade was still breathing. She heard the quiet sounds of the girl's breathing and sighed with relief.
"Talk to me Jade," she begged," If we keep talking it wont seem as bad."
"I'm so sorry," Jade replied and Cordelia was horrified to hear the listlessness in her voice. Jade had truly given up.
"Don't be, please, we wanted to help you and we still will, this isn't the end Jade," Cordelia started when suddenly light flooded the room causing her to recoil and shield her eyes from the intensity of the pain it caused her. Suddenly she wanted the darkness to return and cloth her from the brightness.
"I beg to differ," a voice hissed in her ear and Cordelia gasped and opened her eyes to be met with the vision of Doyle. She gave a frightened mew despite the initial hope that had filled her, she was wise enough to know that this wasn't her Doyle, that this was someone playing games with her head.
"Lavuc," Jade said desperately," Please leave her alone. Let her go and then I will come back to you."
"That isn't up for discussion Jade, you don't have a choice," Lavuc snapped and when he turned to look at her in Doyle's form his eyes glowed the angry green that Jade had come to fear and despise.
"I will never try to escape again if you free her then," Jade continued to press him for Cordelia's release, determined that she should be the only one to suffer at his hands.
"Oh but its so much fun," Lavuc pouted ironically," You wouldn't want to deny me my amusement would you?"
"I know you aren't Doyle, what do you take me for some grade A idiot?" Cordelia snapped and felt her heart hurt when she saw Doyle's smile again and his lilting Irish accent as he replied,
"No princess, I never thought of you as that. It hurts though doesn't it? To see me? To know I died? To remember the agony and the guilt?"
"Stop this!" Jade screamed and Lavuc spun around in his true form to grab her face with his long taloned hand.
"You do not tell me what to do!" he roared and Jade felt the blood begin to trickle from underneath his claws," I sometimes wonder why I want you around!"
"Then do us both a favour and kill me," Jade stared defiantly at the one who regarded himself her keeper.
"Never going to happen," he hissed and then strode towards the door," I haven't finished having my fun yet....I hope you can take pain Miss Chase as there are people here who wish to ask you questions about Angel."
Jade searched the room desperately, knowing that Lavuc had only agree to Wolfram and Hart's request on the condition that she was forced to watch Cordelia's torture. Lavuc did nothing for anyone else if he could not get something in return. She closed her eyes and prayed for the first time in centuries, begging the powers that be for some miracle to get them both out of this with Cordelia alive.
****
"Do we know of any vacant mansions?" Lindsey asked Wesley impatiently.
"Gunn is out asking questions as we speak and I have the estate agents website up so that's a couple of avenues of investigation at least," Wesley replied, not taking his eyes from the screen and trying desperately not to feel irritated by Lindsey peering over his shoulder.
"Beverly Hills," Lindsey repeated for the third time in the space of five minutes and Wesley ground his teeth with annoyance.
"We know Lindsey," Angel said calmly and led him away from Wesley,"But there are a few houses available at the moment which is why we have Gunn asking around the neighbourhood, okay?"
"Okay," Lindsey couldn't seem to stay still and Angel decided to occupy his time and attention so that he would not be as impatient.
"We need to get our weaponry together," Angel decided and led Lindsey to their arsenal,"I'm not sure what will work so go with enough to defeat the guards they are sure to have, and a crossbow or two because I think its safe to assume there will be vampires."
"Okay," Lindsey seemed to calm down when he had a task to fulfill but his eyes were still frantic," What about Lavuc though?"
"I'm working on securing us a secret weapon," Angel replied cryptically and started to walk back towards the office.
"A secret weapon? What is it?" Lindsey asked, desperate for any sense of hope that Angel could give him.
"A secret," Angel replied with a half smile and then shut the door to the room.
Chapter Twenty-Four.
Jade flinched as she heard the sound of a cracking bone, followed by the ear-shattering scream from Cordelia. Her eyes were wet with tears but there was no way she could help her, although her body was crying out for her to take action.
"Tell us what we need to know and the pain will stop," Nathan Reed said calmly. He was sat near Jade in a comfy chair he had made an assistant carry in especially for him and he lounged back in it like a don.
Cordelia shook her head and tried to bite back another scream as the torturer changed tactics and began applying burning hot coals to her arms, she was visibly shaking and her eyes were wide with the agony she was feeling and despite her gallant effort once again the scream split the air of the room.
"I'm trying to work out whether she is loyal and brave or extremely gullible and stupid," Nathan said to Jade, leaning over to her as if he was conspiring with her about how to handle Cordelia, Jade spat in his face and for a moment felt smug as the anger flashed across the man's eyes," I take it you are going with loyal and brave then."
He turned his attention back to the vile scene and waited as the coals continued to be applied to Cordelia's skin, this time to her collar bone. Jade tried to ignore the desperation in the stare Cordelia had fixed upon her, but the familiarity of it was too much to bear and she frantically tried to think of a plan.
"The pain will stop if you tell me what I want to know," Nathan repeated, louder this time and Cordelia fixed her gaze on him for the first time since he had entered. Her voice was raspy as she attempted to speak,
"Go to hell you son of a bitch," she spat and her head jerked forward as a hand smashed against her back.
"Insubordination is frowned on by Louis," Nathan said with a smile which made him look like a bald cat who had gotten the cream," Are you enjoying the show Miss Logan? My client stated that this would be quite your thing...."
"If I get out of this Mr Reed," Jade chose her words carefully, attempting to keep her voice free of emotion," then I will personally tear the cold heart from your chest and feed it to some street dogs."
"Quite a threat," Nathan laughed and nodded to Louis to continue his earlier action. Jade sobbed silently as Cordelia's screams re-echoed around the room.
****
Gunn bounded into the Hyperion and smiled as all eyes rested on him, each one desperate for good news.
"Found it!" he waved a piece of paper in the air and continued his path down the steps," An old woman remembered that a few nights ago there had been a few comings and goings from this address," he showed it to Angel," Always at night."
"Did she say anything else?" Angel asked, looking up at Gunn.
"Only that the previous owners had made no mention of moving and she didn't see them leave..."
"This is definitely the place then," Angel agreed and stood up to see that both Lindsey and Wesley were already on their feet and ready to go," Lindsey, you got the weapons in the car?"
"All done and ready to go," Lindsey said and watched as Angel strode towards the door," What about the secret weapon? Aren't you taking it?"
"Its meeting us there in about an hour, we'll just have to hold out until then."
Angel walked out into the night with Wesley and Gunn while Lindsey stared at the space he had left for a moment before following them out muttering to himself,
"Its meeting us there? What is it? Some kind of artificial intelligence thing?"
Chapter Twenty-Five.
Cordelia had passed out and in annoyance Nathan had stormed from the room, signalling that Louis should follow him but warning Jade that as soon as Cordy came to then they would commence their torture.
Jade looked at Cordelia with pity and empathy, the girl's skin was raw with blisters and blood dripped from her broken nose. Her face was already covered with the swollen purple hues of bruises and was starting to look unrecognisable.
"Oh god, oh god," Jade murmured and wished that she could at least hold her friend in her arms instead of being bound to watch her at a distance," For your own sake Cordelia, don't wake up yet."
Jade heard the door clatter open and twisted her head to look at whoever had entered, curling her lip in disgust as Lavuc swept into the room.
"Oh dear," he said coldly," Will you look at what they have done to her?"
"I've learned my lesson," Jade said unconvincingly," Take me away now and leave her alone."
"I'm sorry Flora Jade McKenzie but this is nowhere close to being your punishment. You will only have learned not to disobey me once you have been forced to watch each person who helped you die....especially Lindsey, he and Angelus will be killed by my own hand," he stared levelly at her and sneered," and you know how much I have yearned to finish the job I started on Angelus."
"He isn't Angelus anymore," Jade tried to excuse Angel.
"No, but he still tried to take you from me," Lavuc snapped," And just incase they manage to get this far..."
He pointed his fingers at Jade and Cordelia, speaking in tongues as his eyes seemed to illuminate the room. Jade felt her body turn cold and tried to protest as she watched her friend become cocooned in ice, knowing that her own was taking on the same fate.
"It wont kill you or her Jade, it simply ensures that you will not be rescued," Jade couldn't speak or see anything but smudged edges of things she knew were in the room and even though she ached to move her head it was impossible," Now they are on their way so I should think this will be over soon and I will come for you once I have them subdued, I wouldn't want you to miss the final act."
****
The car pulled up at the bottom of the hill, out of sight of the large mansion. Lindsey peered up at it and fought with the urge to jump out of the car and rush headlong into battle. Angel was repeating the plan he had formed and Lindsey knew he should follow it carefully, after all he had been witness to the way Angel Investigations took on evil and won.
"So when is she arriving?" Wesley asked Angel and Lindsey stared at them both in confusion until realisation hit him and he started to feel anger at being left out in the cold.
"So the secret weapon is a she?" he snapped testily," Y'know it would be nice if you let me in your secret club, at least until we have rescued Jade and we can leave."
"I didn't tell you Lindsey because you don't really know her and I thought it better that you see her power for yourself instead of worrying you with things that don't matter," Angel explained rationally, making Lindsey feel like a stupid child.
"Oh," he said quietly," So who is she?"
Angel was staring out of the car window when he nodded at the figure of a girl walking down the hill. Lindsey stared at her and wondered how this frail little red haired dressed in hippy clothing could possibly be their secret weapon. Surely Angel couldn't be seriously considering sending her up against Lavuc.
Angel signalled to everyone that they get out of the car and smiled as he stepped out onto the sidewalk, opening his arms wide as the girl raced towards him. She flew into his arms and hugged him tightly, neither of them speaking for what seemed like an eternity to Lindsey. He coughed impatiently and Angel seemed to snap out of the daze he was in, turning around so that Lindsey could see the girl up close for the first time and he was amazed at the goodness which shone from her smile.
"Lindsey meet Willow. Willow, Lindsey," Angel introduced them and Willow took Lindsey's hand and gently shook it, straightening her back and widening her smile.
"Pleased to meet you," she said then turned back to Angel," Okay so I've got a few ideas from what you told me about Lavuc but all of them rely on you occupying his attention long enough for me to take him by surprise."
"How? What?" Lindsey spluttered, still not understanding why Angel had brought a young girl into their battle.
"Willow is a Wiccan," Angel explained at last," Her powers have been steadily growing so I think she is our best bet," he noticed the intrepedation pass across Willow's face making her look like the shy, nervous girl he had met so many years before,"Not our only bet Willow."
"Oh good," she smiled and relaxed again," Well lets do this shall we?"
Lindsey retrieved the weapons from the trunk of the car and they all selected one or two, securing stakes into their inside pockets, before starting to walk up the hill towards the looming building.
"So how are things?" Angel asked Willow and felt his heart ache as he saw the grief pass across her face.
"Strange, empty," Willow replied," But the same. The battle still goes on, we've been patrolling and things...Giles isn't coping as well...and Spike...."
"Spike?" Angel stared at Willow in disbelief.
"Oh it doesn't matter, he's still helping us and looking out for Dawn...."
"What?" Angel grabbed Willow by the shoulders and spun her to look at him," I don't understand....Spike is helping you? And you trust him to look after Dawn? What have I missed Willow?"
"Oh the chippy thing has made him kinda good," Willow started walking again, explaining things in a way only she could,"Though I think he's only doing it because of the promise he made to Buffy..."
"Promise? To Buffy?" Angel remained standing where he had stopped Willow and she looked back at him.
"Now isn't the time for this Angel," she said firmly," I will tell you everything later okay? Right now we have a battle to win."
"Right," Angel nodded though he still felt hurt that he knew so little of what had happened in Sunnydale after he had left, he felt left out and started to understand how Lindsey must have felt with his little 'secret weapon' game," but Spike?"
"Later," Willow said and continued walking.