An American Vampire in London, Chapter 3
Angel's attention was brought to two more women, wearing the same clothing as the one's before them., but it was the woman, 'no, girl', Angel thought, that took his breathe, if he had any, away.
The girl was dressed very differently to the others as she wore a long, pale blue dress that reached to her feet. It was similar in design to that of the priestess' but more regal-looking. On the whole, the girl looked like a princess. She wore a gold necklace, covering her fragile neck. Her hair, unlike the others, wasn't poker straight, but fall down her back in cascading ringlets. It was a rich brown, which seemed to change colour when she moved her head.
When he looked to her face, he stopped. Her nose was long and slender and her lips were a pouty red, which was a stark contrast to her pale face. She wore kohl around her eyes but it was her eyes which Angel couldn't stop staring at. They shone a deep, luminous brown, almost black and seemed to radiate a great knowledge and power. But they also showed pain and vulnerability, something that Angel had never seen before except in Buffy, whom Angel didn't want to think about.
The girl's beauty, however, was marred by the look of sheer terror on her face and the shrieks coming from her mouth. She trashed violently against the two holding her, trying to escape from their vice-like grips. She screamed, seeing the statue, obviously knowing what was to come next.
Angel realised that he and Spike were watching an ancient ritual take place. The girl still struggled as she was pulled, dragged through the group of woman, calmly watching her, who'd parted to allow the three to pass through. She finally managed to break free but was quickly stopped by the women. She was dragged back to the priestess who, although he couldn't tell, seemed to look on with a calmness that unnerved him.
The girl, who was sobbing uncontrollably now, was pulled onto the altar and was strapped into place by the two who'd brought her in. Making sure there was no escape for the girl, their job done, the two moved back into the crowd of worshippers. The priestess raised her arms towards the statue.
'Oh mighty Anubis,' she spoke, the words echoing around the hall, 'We bring you a sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice in bringing back the god that is and was Osiris, king of Egypt, lord of the underworld, wife to Isis and father to Horus. This sacrifice shall bring forth the power and might needed to resurrect our great lord, once achieved by Isis, wife-sister to Osiris. Use your magic, and this offering of flesh and blood, to bring back the true Lord, Osiris. I give a my earthly body, a mere gift, as a vessel for the Lord.'
She moved to the sarcophagus that was in alignment with the altar and the statue, although a considerable distance away from both.
'Oh mighty Anubis, bring you healing powers forth!'
The sarcophagus swung open and the priestess walked in. Seconds later, a flash of light shot through the hole in the roof, hitting the statue, which then reflected onto the altar where the girl lay. The light bathed her body and she gasped as the beam continued to reflect onto her. Her body began to slowly levitate above the altar even though she'd been bound earlier on. Seeing this, the woman fell to their knees and began to chant once more. The light beam then somehow shot towards the priestess, who'd removed her mask, to show a scarred and disfigured face. She stood as if waiting for the beam to hit her, knowing that it would.
She too gasped when the pale whiteness washed over her. Colours shimmered round the two bodies as the bright light carried on shining on them. But while the priestess looked positively invigorated, the scars on her face fading fast, the girl seemed to be struggling to breathe.
'She's draining the girl's life, her energy, 'Angel thought.
The door to the sarcophagus slammed shut. Suddenly, the body fell back to the altar, looking totally lifeless. Angel and Spike, realising something was wrong, rushed to see if there was a chance she was still alive.
Angel pulled the girl towards him and began to rock her gently. The girl was alive, just barely. A slight movement showed she was conscious. Angel looked down to see the girl staring at him, the sparkle in her eyes receding by the second. She coughed, the action bringing blood to run down her red lips. Angel stopped himself from licking the dripping liquid, and realised she was trying to say something.
'What?' She mumbled, too weak to say much.
'What?' he asked again.
'Sp…Spi…Spike…Spike.'
'You want Spike,' he asked gently, not having a clue how she knew their names. Spike, hearing his name, moved closer.
'Yeah love, I'm here. Shhhh…I'm here now.'
'Mmm mm-hm mm.'
Spike looked at Angel. 'What? Say it again.'
'I forgive you.' Both had to strain their ears but they heard it. Spike was confused.
'What? What she forgiving me for? Never seen her in me entire life. I mean, I could have bitten her, but there's been so many…'
'Shhh'. She continued.
'I forgive you. Remember that. Please.'
'Uh yeah,' Spike answered, still confused.
'Good.'
She lapsed into silence, alarming the two vampires. But before they could do anything, Spike was thrown back into a wall and a booming laughter jerked their heads up to see the priestess watching them, her eyes a demonic green. The sarcophagus was empty, the door fully open.
'You pathetic people! All of you!' She indicated the women.' You brought me back thinking I was your salvation yet I will bring your death!'
The temple began to shake and crumble. The disciples became unsure and hysterical and ran around, not having a clue what was happening, the great saviour they'd been expecting clearly being different. Trying to escape, some were hit by debris; others were being reduced to dust by the priestess/Osiris being.
Angel pulled the girl under the statue and Spike followed him, not before seeing another building from the roof that was caving in. A familiar building. Which at the moment was in London, and not Egypt.
He shouted at Angel. 'You're here aren't yah? In London. What the fuck are you doing here?'
Angel, not clearly hearing, shouted, 'What? I can't hear you. Tell…'
But before he could say any more the girl gasped, trying to breathe but coughed up more blood instead. Angel wiped her mouth and pushed her hair out of her face.
A flashing light made him shield his face and eyes. The priestess/Osiris was standing arms out engulfed in light. S/he spoke, being clearly heard over the screaming.
'Let the darkness come…'
'Angel!' The girl screamed. 'Angel!'
'What? What? I'm here. Tell me.'
'Angel! I'm sorry. So sorry.'
'But why?'
'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.' She began to mumble, tears falling down her sooty, bloodstained face. As Angel looked on, he saw a red stain on her dress begin to grow between her legs. In seconds, her lower body was covered in blood.
'Let the darkness come! Let the pain and the fear grow!'
She took her fingers to her lips, covering them with the blood she'd coughed up. She slowly moved her hand towards his face, and her fingers touched his lips, smearing them with the bright red liquid. She smiled, happy. 'I'm sorry. I love you.'
Darkness fell.
Spike woke up to see his childe peering into his face, concern showing. Cameron moved back when he realised his sire was awake. Spike began to cough.
'Help me get up, then you ponce.'
'Oh right. You ok?'
'I'm fine.' Spike glared at him, and Cameron shut up, but started again.
'What happened Spike? Why did you black out for so long…'
'What makes you think anything happened?'
'You were mumbling all this stuff and Egypt and statues and Angel… He's your sire isn't he?'
'Whatever.' He looked Cameron in the eye. 'Doesn't matter anyway. We've got us a fanged puppy to find.'
Angel opened his eyes to darkness, realising he was back in the future. He tried to get up but an aching head made him think again.
Lips dry, he began to lick them, which unusually tasted coppery. A taste he would never forget, damned as he was. Blood. The girl's blood. Whatever had happened had been real.
Angel's attention was brought to two more women, wearing the same clothing as the one's before them., but it was the woman, 'no, girl', Angel thought, that took his breathe, if he had any, away.
The girl was dressed very differently to the others as she wore a long, pale blue dress that reached to her feet. It was similar in design to that of the priestess' but more regal-looking. On the whole, the girl looked like a princess. She wore a gold necklace, covering her fragile neck. Her hair, unlike the others, wasn't poker straight, but fall down her back in cascading ringlets. It was a rich brown, which seemed to change colour when she moved her head.
When he looked to her face, he stopped. Her nose was long and slender and her lips were a pouty red, which was a stark contrast to her pale face. She wore kohl around her eyes but it was her eyes which Angel couldn't stop staring at. They shone a deep, luminous brown, almost black and seemed to radiate a great knowledge and power. But they also showed pain and vulnerability, something that Angel had never seen before except in Buffy, whom Angel didn't want to think about.
The girl's beauty, however, was marred by the look of sheer terror on her face and the shrieks coming from her mouth. She trashed violently against the two holding her, trying to escape from their vice-like grips. She screamed, seeing the statue, obviously knowing what was to come next.
Angel realised that he and Spike were watching an ancient ritual take place. The girl still struggled as she was pulled, dragged through the group of woman, calmly watching her, who'd parted to allow the three to pass through. She finally managed to break free but was quickly stopped by the women. She was dragged back to the priestess who, although he couldn't tell, seemed to look on with a calmness that unnerved him.
The girl, who was sobbing uncontrollably now, was pulled onto the altar and was strapped into place by the two who'd brought her in. Making sure there was no escape for the girl, their job done, the two moved back into the crowd of worshippers. The priestess raised her arms towards the statue.
'Oh mighty Anubis,' she spoke, the words echoing around the hall, 'We bring you a sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice in bringing back the god that is and was Osiris, king of Egypt, lord of the underworld, wife to Isis and father to Horus. This sacrifice shall bring forth the power and might needed to resurrect our great lord, once achieved by Isis, wife-sister to Osiris. Use your magic, and this offering of flesh and blood, to bring back the true Lord, Osiris. I give a my earthly body, a mere gift, as a vessel for the Lord.'
She moved to the sarcophagus that was in alignment with the altar and the statue, although a considerable distance away from both.
'Oh mighty Anubis, bring you healing powers forth!'
The sarcophagus swung open and the priestess walked in. Seconds later, a flash of light shot through the hole in the roof, hitting the statue, which then reflected onto the altar where the girl lay. The light bathed her body and she gasped as the beam continued to reflect onto her. Her body began to slowly levitate above the altar even though she'd been bound earlier on. Seeing this, the woman fell to their knees and began to chant once more. The light beam then somehow shot towards the priestess, who'd removed her mask, to show a scarred and disfigured face. She stood as if waiting for the beam to hit her, knowing that it would.
She too gasped when the pale whiteness washed over her. Colours shimmered round the two bodies as the bright light carried on shining on them. But while the priestess looked positively invigorated, the scars on her face fading fast, the girl seemed to be struggling to breathe.
'She's draining the girl's life, her energy, 'Angel thought.
The door to the sarcophagus slammed shut. Suddenly, the body fell back to the altar, looking totally lifeless. Angel and Spike, realising something was wrong, rushed to see if there was a chance she was still alive.
Angel pulled the girl towards him and began to rock her gently. The girl was alive, just barely. A slight movement showed she was conscious. Angel looked down to see the girl staring at him, the sparkle in her eyes receding by the second. She coughed, the action bringing blood to run down her red lips. Angel stopped himself from licking the dripping liquid, and realised she was trying to say something.
'What?' She mumbled, too weak to say much.
'What?' he asked again.
'Sp…Spi…Spike…Spike.'
'You want Spike,' he asked gently, not having a clue how she knew their names. Spike, hearing his name, moved closer.
'Yeah love, I'm here. Shhhh…I'm here now.'
'Mmm mm-hm mm.'
Spike looked at Angel. 'What? Say it again.'
'I forgive you.' Both had to strain their ears but they heard it. Spike was confused.
'What? What she forgiving me for? Never seen her in me entire life. I mean, I could have bitten her, but there's been so many…'
'Shhh'. She continued.
'I forgive you. Remember that. Please.'
'Uh yeah,' Spike answered, still confused.
'Good.'
She lapsed into silence, alarming the two vampires. But before they could do anything, Spike was thrown back into a wall and a booming laughter jerked their heads up to see the priestess watching them, her eyes a demonic green. The sarcophagus was empty, the door fully open.
'You pathetic people! All of you!' She indicated the women.' You brought me back thinking I was your salvation yet I will bring your death!'
The temple began to shake and crumble. The disciples became unsure and hysterical and ran around, not having a clue what was happening, the great saviour they'd been expecting clearly being different. Trying to escape, some were hit by debris; others were being reduced to dust by the priestess/Osiris being.
Angel pulled the girl under the statue and Spike followed him, not before seeing another building from the roof that was caving in. A familiar building. Which at the moment was in London, and not Egypt.
He shouted at Angel. 'You're here aren't yah? In London. What the fuck are you doing here?'
Angel, not clearly hearing, shouted, 'What? I can't hear you. Tell…'
But before he could say any more the girl gasped, trying to breathe but coughed up more blood instead. Angel wiped her mouth and pushed her hair out of her face.
A flashing light made him shield his face and eyes. The priestess/Osiris was standing arms out engulfed in light. S/he spoke, being clearly heard over the screaming.
'Let the darkness come…'
'Angel!' The girl screamed. 'Angel!'
'What? What? I'm here. Tell me.'
'Angel! I'm sorry. So sorry.'
'But why?'
'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.' She began to mumble, tears falling down her sooty, bloodstained face. As Angel looked on, he saw a red stain on her dress begin to grow between her legs. In seconds, her lower body was covered in blood.
'Let the darkness come! Let the pain and the fear grow!'
She took her fingers to her lips, covering them with the blood she'd coughed up. She slowly moved her hand towards his face, and her fingers touched his lips, smearing them with the bright red liquid. She smiled, happy. 'I'm sorry. I love you.'
Darkness fell.
Spike woke up to see his childe peering into his face, concern showing. Cameron moved back when he realised his sire was awake. Spike began to cough.
'Help me get up, then you ponce.'
'Oh right. You ok?'
'I'm fine.' Spike glared at him, and Cameron shut up, but started again.
'What happened Spike? Why did you black out for so long…'
'What makes you think anything happened?'
'You were mumbling all this stuff and Egypt and statues and Angel… He's your sire isn't he?'
'Whatever.' He looked Cameron in the eye. 'Doesn't matter anyway. We've got us a fanged puppy to find.'
Angel opened his eyes to darkness, realising he was back in the future. He tried to get up but an aching head made him think again.
Lips dry, he began to lick them, which unusually tasted coppery. A taste he would never forget, damned as he was. Blood. The girl's blood. Whatever had happened had been real.