Chapter 1
After talking on the phone to the Gatekeeper in Boston, Angel was set for transportation. Cordelia was flying because only supernatural beings can travel the ghost roads. They had even managed to leave a message for Oz but it was unlikely he would get it considering the message taker couldn't speak English.
The Druids lived somewhere in central Ireland Angel had figured out from some books on druids. He wasn't exactly sure why they needed him but the PTB were never wrong. He was going to meet Cordelia early the next morning at the airport which gave them enough time to get out of the rising suns way.
He only carried a few possessions. A change of clothes, a credit card, some cash, a few weapons and an ugly looking necklace given to him by Willow many years ago. He was compelled to take it and on the roll that he was on he figured it couldn't hurt. Cordelia on the other hand had a very full suitcase.
"I'll see you in Ireland. Get there safe." She hugged him goodbye as he prepared to leave through a portal created in the office by The Gatekeeper.
"You too. Those planes have been going down a lot lately." He moved towards the portal and braced himself for the suffocating hopelessness that was exuded by the lost souls on the ghost roads.
He entered the portal and it closed behind him. He could feel the empty grey close around him, knitting him into their timeless web. He began walking quickly with his destination clearly in his mind. That would make it easier.
"Can I walk with you?" Angel's head jerked up and he saw the silhouette of Oz coming towards him through the shadows.
"You got our message? "Angel asked doubtingly.
"The Gatekeeper." Oz came into focus. "Kind of cryptic. He said something about fairies being freed and it not being his problem. More of a problem that needs a vampire's help?" Angel shrugged as he looked around. It was hard to figure out where the exit was in a place like the ghost roads.
"Glad you could make it. I'm really not sure. Cordelia got a vague vision and- well I guess I can tell you." Angel grew quiet.
"Yeah?" Oz prompted as he rubbed his arms, cold, from the damp air.
"They used to tell us stories in Ireland. Of the fairies and of all the creatures that lived in their world. They have magic that the Gatekeeper would be awed at. You don't mess with these types of creatures and live. Unless you are very tricky or clever or very lucky."
"Would these type of creatures include mermaids and stuff?"
"I suppose. But the thing I'm worried about is dragons. I've heard stories of the mass destruction they cause."
"Then again there are the stories of nice dragons."
"Those aren't the real stories." Angel shook his head. "We are almost there."
"Quick trip."
"The time is off here." Angel wondered for a moment if any creatures still lingered from the time hell opened up to the ghost roads. The world had no idea how close they were to an apocalypse then. They were lucky, the ignorant ones. They saw the portal opening for them and glanced around, ready to fight off any ghosts that were desperate to escape.
"That's weird." Angel muttered seeing none. It irked him that there were no ghosts around.
"Ghosties? There's an opening?" Oz tried.
"Let's get out of here." Angel leaned through the portal to make sure it way night. It was. He dropped down softly onto some green moss and then Oz dropped down next to him.
"Where to?"
"Ireland International airport." Angel murmured looking around. A heavy fog was creeping around him. He stood up and it came to his knees. He saw lights in the distance and started walking towards them. Oz pulled up beside him and they walked in silence. They came to a dirt road and walked along it. Angel looked up at the sky periodically. It stayed dark.
Just as the sky was starting to lighten a horse drawn hay car pulled up to them. A man in robes was holding the reins. "We are so very glad you came." He said. They climbed into the cart with him.
"We have to pick up my friend at the airport." Angel informed him. The robed man shook his head. "The one who has the visions." The man shook his head for a moment. Angel growled. Then he nodded.
"Can I have a little more information?" Angel asked.
"It is not safe here." The man quieted again. They entered a small village with a few cars.
"Send him for her. The day is coming vampire. You must come with me." The man pointed to Oz.
"I can't send him alone." Angel argued.
"In the car is my brother." The man pointed to a broken down car. The man in the car waved a robed arm out the window. "He will take your friend. I promise they with both arrive back safe to you. Please you have to trust me."
"Fine." Angel snapped. Oz was lead over to the car and the man came back. Angel got back onto the cart and they drove back along the bumpy dirt road. 'He could attack me at any moment and I wouldn't know it." Angel thought to himself as he glanced at the man.
"Where are we going?" Angel inquired at last. He figured he deserved at least that knowledge.
"A castle. A secluded one. It isn't the biggest castle you've seen no doubt but it is home none the less." The druid said.
"So what did you need me for?" Angel asked. That was what he really wanted to know. How he fit into everything.
"Dragons and griffins. Our magic is not strong enough to bind them. You are the greatest warrior on our side."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"No compliment. Just the truth. We are nearly there." Angel looked around. Reds and violets were peeking over the horizon. They were cutting it close.
"Wouldn't the Slayer be of help?"
"WE do not speak for her. The PTB could send her to our aid. We were not instructed to bring her." that made the kind of sense that didn't to Angel so he didn't respond.
"Home." The druid said. Angel looked up at the castle. It stood cold and dark. It looked old. It reminded him of King Arthur's castle in England. He had actually seen it. Before he entered he ran his hand down the weather worn stone. A shiver ran down his spine.
"I've been here before." Angel gasped.
"Have you?" The druid faintly smiled.
"In another life." Angel whispered.
"It is a very small world vampire." They entered the castle. Inside it was dim and it suited Angel. He felt at home. From dark doorways druids flowed around him silently.
"Come with us." They beckoned. He followed them into a large room which reeked of magic. Angel wasn't that surprised he could feel it.
"Bring the mirror." Someone called. A large full length mirror was brought before Angel. "Show us the doorway to the Fairy Dimension." the druid said again. The mirror's surface rippled and then an image came into view. Angel watched as from what looked like a hole in a large tree came a few small fairies. They fluttered forward a few inches but then one and then another was pulled back into the hole. One managed to fly off.
"We can only bind them so much." Angel's traveling companion said. "We have trapped many who have escaped because the hole is close by but we can't get the big creatures. Already there is 2 dragons and a centaur running loose."
"I see your problem." Angel noticed something in the mirror and leaned closer. The necklace from Willow slipped out from under his shirt and hung forward. A murmur went up in the crowd. He quickly stood up straight.
"From whom did you get that talisman?" someone asked.
"A friend." Angel wasn't sure if it was good or bad he had the ugly thing on.
"Your friend knows great protection spells." Angel slightly recalled the time Willow had made him wear it.
"Now that you mention it..." Angel started. "My friend created it when we were attacked by some really big nasties."
"May we study it?" Angle slipped off the necklace. "Yes. It is something I have never seen. We need this friend, vampire."
"I don't know if that is a good idea."
"She could help us save the world from the fairy realm."
"Fine. Her name is Willow Rosenberg. She lives in Sunnydale California in the town over the hellmouth. She is friends with the Slayer."
"The Slayer. The legendary one. Is it meant to be?" Angel's companion asked the group. Someone ran from the room and returned a moment later with a book. It didn't look very old which Angel wasn't used to. Didn't they usually consult old books? Ones about foreseen prophecies and the like?
"Find the one he called Willow." The book druid said.
"Honey I'm home." Angel turned and exuded a sigh of relief. Oz and Cordelia were being ushered in, and they were in one piece. But there was the problem of Oz seeing Willow again.
"This place could use my decorating expertise. It isn't very people friendly" Cordelia said to Oz.
"Hey Angel. "Oz nodded to him. Angel could see he was strained from the car ride with Cordelia. She would always be Cordelia. That made Angel smile.
"It looks like they might be bringing Buffy and the old gang together for this job. "Angel informed them.
"A couple of fairies and the whole world is doomed? "Cordelia said in disbelief.
"You do not know much of the fairy realm." A druid said sadly. "You must be informed." A book was passed to him and he handed it to her. "Read this. You will be better prepared for the battle."
"You must be tired. We shall get you rooms for the day. Tonight vampire we need you to fight."
"Of course." Angel agreed. The trio was lead deep into the castle. Angel and Oz were dropped off in a spacious room with no windows. Cordelia was lead to an outer room where she would enjoy the sun.
Finally when they were alone Angel and Oz could talk. "Are you up to seeing Willow?"
"I'm not really sure. I suppose so. We left it on weird terms. Yeah I think I'd like to see her." Oz decided pulling off his boots. "The monks told me to embrace my past."
"Good advice. Not for me though." Angel mused. "Let's get some sleep."