*****part 3*****

*****part 3*****

Angel had a mission, a sacred duty to achieve, and was very determined to complete it to the end: find Spike's murderer, teach him a lesson and finally kill him, showing the world not to mess with his family. A grieving vampire, and better, a grieving sire, was quite insane and would not listen to any kind of reason till his pain had found some remedy in violence
and mayhem. The logical response of a normal grieving Master vampire, when his childe had been killed by a mortal or the slayer, was to go on a killing crusade and slay the entire community responsible for his loss. Angel still remembered the way his own sire,
Darla, during a full month, had drunk one by one more than two hundred Romani from the clan who had cursed her beloved Angelus. That had been a really terrible time for this community. But it would be nothing in regard to what Angelus would do to this Master Mike
and his clan. History would remember and fear would forever be linked to his name in every demon's heart. They would definitely know not to harm what was his. Never again would he have to suffer through such a loss again. Angel's sadness and sorrow, mixed with Angelus' anger and passion indeed represented a very powerful bomb that would blow this little clan of
cowards and pitiful vampires away as soon as he could reach them.

But first of all, Angel, being away from Sunnydale for more than one year now, had no idea where the vampire community had its head quarters, and where the new master and his childer and minions had their lair. It would not be difficult to gain the information. The old ways were always the best ones, Angel ran to the other side of town, to Willy's little demon hole that he dared to call a bar. This disgusting traitor and filthy excuse for a human being had always been making money with information. And Angel had often used his services, giving him a note or two for his pain. But right now, the angry vampire had no patience and desire to play little games with the bartender. The mixed persona resulting from the temporary merging of the demon and the soul was all for efficiency. He would be given information or he would take it, anyway he thought fit.

And, Willy had read all that determination on Angel's face at first sight, when he had passed the door and came into his dirty bar. Of course he had tried to flee into the back room, but he stood absolutely no chance against vampire speed and strength. The next thing he knew, he was pinned to the wall by a very dangerous Angel in game face. In that moment, his eyes
locked with Angel's cold and vaguely insane ones. Willy understood he had to do as he was told and answer quickly to all questions if he had the slightest desire to stay alive. And he didn't have long to wait before they came.

"It's very simple, Willy. Either you talk, or you die. Understood?" growled Angel, no more than one inch away from the cowering human. He talked in a very low voice, but it was more threatening and terrible than any shout he could have uttered.

"Yee.eesss!" Willy whispered back, scared as he never had been before, and added quickly in a shaking voice "Whatever you want me to tell you, whatever, I swear, Angel!"

"Angel.. Let me think. No! Try Angelus; it's more accurate at the moment, little Willy!" the vampire interrupted, his fangs on the bartender's neck, in a light tone that sent shivers of terror down Willy's spine. With that single sentence, he was sure to attract all the attention he needed in order to make the example as efficient as he wanted it to be in the Demon's underworld, as Willy would not wait one more hour before telling his tale everywhere. But he had not finished what he had come to do. "The new so-called Master Vampire, a Mike something. I want to know who this bastard is, where this coward is hiding and how strong is his ridicule little clan for now. Any childer? How old? How many minions? And I want to
know it NOW!" Angel added really seriously, in a 'don't-try-to-cross-me-or-you-die' tone that Willy understood very well.


"Ah yes! The new Master. some Michael Smith guy. Pretty young if you ask me. Nearly a fledgling, you know. Childe of that Mister something, you know, this vampire who was always kissing Mayor Wilkins' ass. 25 years old as a vampire, at most. He settled here after
the Ascension. He took over the old fabric lair after Spike went away. Spike, that was a real Master, if you catch what I mean. The best after you, of course, Angelus.. Well, that's really no big deal. He is a little bit of a coward and a traitorous bastard, but nothing to worry about. Too young to have real childer. Only stupid weak minions, about fifteen. He even took over one or two of your old minions and included them at his service. The Slayer doesn't even
bother to go after them, so you see." his voice trailed off when he glanced at the very tensed
features of the vampire holding him against the wall. Once his questions answered, Angel walked away from the scared bartender who fell on the ground, panting and sweating, but happy to be still alive.

Angelus had seemed so angry! Willy would not be this Michael Smith for all the gold on earth. When he had to deal with the souled vampire, Angel, Willy was really ill at ease, fearing a violent reaction whenever he teased him too much. But if Angelus was
back. That guy, whatever he had done to upset the Scourge of Europe, would not understand what he would get, and die as stupid as he had lived. Willy was pretty sure about this point. He had answered as truthfully as he could, in a soft and shaking tone, trying all along the way to calm the vampire with flatteries of all kinds. But the killing passion he could read in these yellow eyes was terrifying. What could he have managed to do in order to have such an
effect on him. That made him a little curious, enough for him to dare to ask the most cruel and vicious demon known on earth this days, just before he went out of the bar. "And, by the way, what is the matter with that guy?"

Angel hesitated a few seconds before answering the question, considering that if he wanted to make an impression and teach a lesson to the demon world, he had to explain the meaning of his next move. "That stupid bastard, as you called him, that coward, that traitor thought he could dare to stab my favoured childe, my beloved Spike, with a poisoned knife and kill him! I'll show the world what it costs to harm the Scourge of Europe's family, to defy me in this
way! " And with these words, uttered in a very calm and determined tone, Angel walked away, leaving behind him a shocked and surprised Willy who had finally envisioned the truth of the whole situation.

Once in the street, Angel, too far gone in his revenge crusade and having let loose his demon to take care of this sacred duty, did not even hesitate one moment to contemplate the situation. The odds were certainly positive for him. Of course, Angelus had the surprise effect working for him. And he was immensely stronger than this bunch of fledglings and minions, being two
centuries older and having been a Master Vampire for all this time. And, one thing very few people knew about him: having studied all the ways of magic and mysticism during all his unlife, either in order to end the world, or in order to save it, he had gained a really large experience, that made him one of the most powerful warlocks in the world. More simply, he knew how to fight, and even better, he knew how to terrify his enemies. Only his name would scare half of those damn . insects. He would break them, hurt them, tear all their hope out of them, make them ask for mercy and finally let them die without honour, just as they did his beloved William. No, really, Angel was confident that he would meet absolutely no difficulty.
The scene would be. yes. pleasurable, added Angelus in the back of his mind. Every step that led him closer to this moment was indeed sending shivers of joy and anticipation down his spine, strengthening his resolve even further.

And finally, ten minutes after leaving the bar, Angel was in front of the back door of the factory. There was not even any guard. Really, what a fool, this Master was! Angelus remembered perfectly that one of the first lessons he had taught his childe after he had turned him was to always guard his perimeter. THAT was the proper way to lead a clan. Poor, poor Mike. He would really not know what hit him. Angel's plan was very simple, indeed. First, running up the stairs, up to the catwalks that surrounded the inner space of the fabric, in order to observe the position and number of the vampires, downstairs. There was no reason to be
foolish himself because the enemy was obviously a fool. And then. well. attack and kill them all.

Only ten seconds were necessary to complete the first task in the utmost silence, keeping his position absolutely unnoticed. The floor, underneath him, was occupied by the present master vampire of Sunnydale and his court. But behind these big words was hidden a pitiful reality, just as Angelus had expected it to be after his questions had been answered by Willy. The
master sat in a throne like chair, surrounded by thirteen minions, in the middle of the dirty and dark fabric. Neither Mike's clothes, very casual and cheap, a jean and a soiled T-shirt, nor his physical aspect, small, skinny and almost bald, could inspire respect or fear. He seemed. so normal and yes.average, really.

Angelus could not believe that such a toad could pretend to play in the same world that himself or his childe had. THEY had been the best examples of Masters in the previous centuries, THEY had style and their mere aspect had shown their power, their class, their
good taste, and other important things in vampire High Society. No, really, Angelus could not stand the sight of this thing that had dared to think himself the equal and the superior of a vampire like Spike and cowardly murdered him. He would have been ill only at that idea if his determination had not been at the forefront in his mind. In a few minutes, the suffering
and torture of this rat would begin and Angelus' anger would find its release, and only the sorrow would remain.

Now it was time to start the game. With that thought, Angelus discreetly jumped over the handrail and landed just behind this Mike-rat and his court. None of them had seen him yet, only the minion, standing at the other side of the room, whose eyes widened and mouths
opened in surprise and fear. Angelus recognised him immediately. It was one of his own, a lower vampire, a servant he had created himself three years ago, when he had been free for a few months, before being sent to hell. His blood bond and his submission oath would force the minion to obey his true Master till his death, no matter what. Oh, Angelus did not need him in any way in his plan to slay the whole clan. But one century and a half as the Scourge of Europe had taught him one thing. If he wanted to teach a lesson and send a message by making an example, there had to be a witness to the events. Someone who would have to
spread the story in the demon world in order to make this act he was about to complete as useful and efficient as he wanted it to be. This little minion was very lucky, indeed. He would escape death today, that is, if he did exactly what Angelus would demand. And the first order, given by a silent sign all his minions had learned at his service, was to remain silent, to go to lock the door and to play along with him. If not, the result would be very lethal and painful. Oh, yes. painful.

This detail taken care of in a mere second, after his landing, Angelus decided to make his presence known to his future victims. He stepped forward, very slowly and calmly, before stopping just behind Mike. Very casually, Angelus, still wearing his human mask, cleared his throat and started talking in a light and almost playful tone.

"Ah. Excuse me gentlemen! I'm looking for a Mike Smith. I've been told I could find him here. Would you happen to know where he is maybe?" Everyone who knew him and his ways would have been terrified, knowing how devious and vicious he could be. The more casual
he seemed, the more dangerous he would become, tricking his victim in believing him to be a charming and innocent young man, when the devil himself was waiting just under the mask for the right time to show his true face and intentions.

But apparently, none of the vampires had any idea of the identity or even of the nature of the intruder. It would cost them dearly, as Mike chose a sarcastic answer to this interruption. "Do you have some kind of suicide wish, mate, to come here and annoy me? If it is so, you have found your man!" he snarled, really startled by this surprise visit of this young fool.

"A suicide Let me think.. no, not me ! But you, on the other hand. I believe that you had decided to die when you woke up, tonight, hadn't you?" Angelus stated on the softest tone, a false calm and a deadly seriousness radiating from him, such a contrast with the soon to be dead vampires who burst into laugh at those words. But of course, the little vampire standing before him was not the smartest being in the universe and could not comprehend that, even if he was one of the most dangerous predator of the world, thanks to his nature, he could perfectly be hunted himself by his better. That self-confidence would be his death.

"And who exactly do you think you are, mortal, to come here and threaten me in my lair?" Mike managed to say between burst of laughing. Still no fear nor uneasiness, Angelus observed coldly. But it would come, and sooner than the rat would imagine. For now, he would play with his victim and take pleasure from the mental game he had mastered a long time ago.

"Mortal? Well, it's been a really long time since anyone ever used this term for me!" he casually told the rat, who stopped his laugh, and for the first time doubt crawled over his face. But Angelus did not let him reply and annoy him further more. He immediately shifted his feature into game face and added a few calm but scaring words that froze Mike's blood in his
veins and spread terror all over his body, and did the same to all the minions. "I think that we began on a kind of a misunderstanding. Tonight, you completed your last crime, my little friend. Tonight, you acted as a coward and a loser for the last time. Tonight, you dared to challenge the anger of your elders and betters. Tonight, you murdered someone who was more precious to me than any thing in this world. And for that, tonight, you will suffer. For this last stupidity, tonight, you will die slowly and very painfully. That I can swear." After delivering this very eloquent speech, in which every sentence confirmed the anger and the death decree hidden behind it.

"Wh.. what?" Mike finally uttered, in a shaking voice, not yet understanding all that he had been told, but already sensing the danger and the inner power and strength radiating from the stranger. He stepped back a little, in an unconscious attempt to get away from the threat, but to no avail. It seemed that the stranger's eyes were hypnotising, ordering him to stay where he was, making it impossible for him to escape whatever would come.

"Tonight, little man, you trapped and murdered my favourite childe, my son, my William" he explained, reaching Mike's throat and squeezing it harshly with his left hand. At these words, a few whispers rose all over the room, and the name of "Angelus", fearfully pronounced, echoed against the wall and invaded the closed area, their eternal tomb. "Yes, Spike, alias
William the Bloody, the Scourge of Europe trusted lieutenant, Angelus' favourite childe and heir, MY childe, you worthless little insect!" He finished shouting, spitting the last words at Mike's frozen face. And with a rapid and very efficient move, he grabbed an iron spike and stabbed the rat in the abdomen with it, effectively pinning him to the wall.

Then panic overwhelmed the minions who tried desperately to escape the promise of death that had been made to them. They were running everywhere, not aware of the hunter who one by one hit them all and knocked them out, except for the chosen witness who cowered in a corner, knowing not to irritate his Master by his presence if he wanted to stay alive one more minute. In two minutes, the twelve minions were laying on the ground, all unconscious. Angelus had not dusted them. No, it would be too much compassionate for the likes of them. After all they had let his dear childe suffer for more than four hours. Their punishment would be at least equal to the crime. Angelus would make sure of that he had thought of a much more meaningful way to kill them.

A first examination of the room had revealed a few sets of daggers, five dozen of it at least, and the bottle, still full of the poison used against Spike. Very carefully, Angelus coated the blade of each knife of poison. Then he ordered his minion to carry all the unconscious but still unlacing bodies in the alley, just in front of the fabric. It was there that they would die, seen by every demon passing nearby. Once there, he chose one of them. He really did not care
who it would be, as they would all be treated the same way. But then he thought that the first one would be the one who would suffer the longer and woke the rat by pouring water on his face. He wanted to be sure that he would feel every torture he was about to inflict him. Then, while the rat, Mike, tried desperately to fight his way out, but to no avail, Angelus crucified him on the wall, in front of the East and the rising sun, sticking a poisoned dagger in each wrist and ankle. The awful cries of the minions were a soft music to Angelus ears, the song of
revenge, and the melody of justice. They had murdered by poison, they would die by poison. And a little more suffering was really satisfying. Finally, after playing with a knife and making lacerations all over the young vampire's chest, Angelus carved his bloody signature in the pretended master's cheek, a venomous cross. None of the wounds were really profound or
deadly. But the poison would work for hours and finally, the rising sun would finish the work, in five or six hours. He would have time to regret ever having the idea to attack and kill Angeles's childe.

Angelus, helped by his minion, repeated the process for all the other vampires, the minions, crucifying them all around their leader, six on his left, and six on his right, forming a very impressive and terrifying picture, almost religious in the pantheon of horrors. Once finished this sacred task, he turned toward the wall of torture and spoke loudly, for the dying murderers as well as for the demon world that would be told the story in the next days. "That is the way I will treat every little rat that wants to cross me and hurt me or my family. You are quite lucky, indeed. In the past, I would have kept you alive for weeks for this crime, for the murder of my childe. But, don't mind my leaving you here and enjoy your last hour!"

And with these cruel words, Angelus walked away, as calm as ever, only whispering in the last hour of the night "this is for you my beloved William, my childe". And in this hard time, he almost heard a cherished voice answering softly in his head "Thank you, sire". At that moment, confusion and pain came back at the fore front, and a sob escaped this emotionally
tortured being. Angelus finally let his human mask fall again and, all his anger released and dissipated during the four previous hours, he let himself be locked again in Angel's spirit, abandoning the control again to the soul. The sacred duty had been completed. The anger was gone but grief, sorrow, and pain had remained in this bleeding heart, in Angel who wandered
hopelessly down the streets of Sunnydale toward a mansion that held so many souvenirs of the past, oblivious of the sun that would rise in only a few short minutes.

*****end part 3