Chapter Six:
After everything that had happened in the past couple of hours, Angel somehow felt that Richie deserved to know the truth about him. He was also worried about Doyle. Although he didn't want the Irishman to move away from LA - he needed him as both his seer and his friend - he wondered what would happen if Doyle didn't get the training he needed to play this deadly game Richie talked about. Angel was not a great fan of trusting people, especially with his biggest secret, but the events of the evening had drawn Richie into their lives in a big way, and he too was growing quite fond of the younger man.
Playing for time, he took a moment to check on Cordelia. She had fallen into a light sleep, and he decided to leave her where she was. This would be difficult enough to explain to her without her coming in the middle. Her round of explanations could wait. He returned to Richie and Doyle, glancing at his friend, who just raised an eyebrow. Richie noted the look between them and really wished Angel would get on with it. For some strange reason in recent years his liking of surprises had greatly decreased.
With a start, Richie watched as Angel seemed to change in front of him. He jumped back as he recognised the protruding fangs, pronounced forehead and the glowing yellow eyes which had also belonged to the creature that had attacked him earlier that evening. The vampire. Richie gulped. Maybe this was a trap after all? It wouldn't be the first time someone had pulled a fast one on Richie Ryan. His hand wavered, not quite subconsciously, to his jacket and sword.
"Richie, this is the real me", Angel announced, and then, with a flick of his head, returned to his 'human' face.
"You're a…a…".
"A vampire, yes."
"But you said you killed them?!"
"We do. I'm a bit unusual."
"You're looking at the only vampire with a soul", Doyle put in.
"Huh?"
"Vampires are demons. They have no souls. I was cursed by gypsies, they gave me my soul back, so I could remember everything I'd done as a soulless vampires, for the rest of my long life". The words came out in a rush. Doyle watched Richie as his friend spoke, wondering how the younger man would react. Richie blinked for a minute, startled, and trying to take this new information in. It seemed it was quite a night for secrets and confessions.
"So, you're like…a good vampire?"
"I guess so. I try and help people now, to make up for what I did. Doyle is my contact with The Powers That Be. They send us visions of people in trouble".
"Oh, I see. I think".
"There's something else you probably should know. That guy this evening. He would have killed you. Tortured you, then finally cut off your head."
"You saw this in a vision?"
"Yeah. It didn't make much sense at first. Now of course…" Doyle shrugged.
"You guys saved my life."
"Just doing our job".
"Oh".
"Don't mind Angel, Richie. He doesn't like being thanked and all that. Destroys the image. Or the brooding. Or something."
There was a strained silence as the three men contemplated each other and their stories. It all seemed a bit much for Richie. He was beginning to feel like he'd stepped back into the twilight zone. The sun was coming up, and he realized that they'd been talking all night. He suddenly gave a sudden yawn, and shrugged sheepishly, breaking the tension somewhat.
"Sorry. Guess it's been a long night."
"Maybe you should both get some rest. We'll talk some more in the morning. Doyle, give me the low-down on that vision and I'll go check it out."
"There's a couple of kids about to stumble into a vampires nest. Over on the west-side, near the mall. Shouldn't be too much hassle. "
"Ok I'll go stir up the nest", Angel agreed, with a slight grin.
After a moment, they decided that Richie would stay at Doyle's apartment, and the two of them would come back over to the office later that day. They left Cordelia where she was and made their way the few blocks to Doyle's place.
After everything that had happened in the past couple of hours, Angel somehow felt that Richie deserved to know the truth about him. He was also worried about Doyle. Although he didn't want the Irishman to move away from LA - he needed him as both his seer and his friend - he wondered what would happen if Doyle didn't get the training he needed to play this deadly game Richie talked about. Angel was not a great fan of trusting people, especially with his biggest secret, but the events of the evening had drawn Richie into their lives in a big way, and he too was growing quite fond of the younger man.
Playing for time, he took a moment to check on Cordelia. She had fallen into a light sleep, and he decided to leave her where she was. This would be difficult enough to explain to her without her coming in the middle. Her round of explanations could wait. He returned to Richie and Doyle, glancing at his friend, who just raised an eyebrow. Richie noted the look between them and really wished Angel would get on with it. For some strange reason in recent years his liking of surprises had greatly decreased.
With a start, Richie watched as Angel seemed to change in front of him. He jumped back as he recognised the protruding fangs, pronounced forehead and the glowing yellow eyes which had also belonged to the creature that had attacked him earlier that evening. The vampire. Richie gulped. Maybe this was a trap after all? It wouldn't be the first time someone had pulled a fast one on Richie Ryan. His hand wavered, not quite subconsciously, to his jacket and sword.
"Richie, this is the real me", Angel announced, and then, with a flick of his head, returned to his 'human' face.
"You're a…a…".
"A vampire, yes."
"But you said you killed them?!"
"We do. I'm a bit unusual."
"You're looking at the only vampire with a soul", Doyle put in.
"Huh?"
"Vampires are demons. They have no souls. I was cursed by gypsies, they gave me my soul back, so I could remember everything I'd done as a soulless vampires, for the rest of my long life". The words came out in a rush. Doyle watched Richie as his friend spoke, wondering how the younger man would react. Richie blinked for a minute, startled, and trying to take this new information in. It seemed it was quite a night for secrets and confessions.
"So, you're like…a good vampire?"
"I guess so. I try and help people now, to make up for what I did. Doyle is my contact with The Powers That Be. They send us visions of people in trouble".
"Oh, I see. I think".
"There's something else you probably should know. That guy this evening. He would have killed you. Tortured you, then finally cut off your head."
"You saw this in a vision?"
"Yeah. It didn't make much sense at first. Now of course…" Doyle shrugged.
"You guys saved my life."
"Just doing our job".
"Oh".
"Don't mind Angel, Richie. He doesn't like being thanked and all that. Destroys the image. Or the brooding. Or something."
There was a strained silence as the three men contemplated each other and their stories. It all seemed a bit much for Richie. He was beginning to feel like he'd stepped back into the twilight zone. The sun was coming up, and he realized that they'd been talking all night. He suddenly gave a sudden yawn, and shrugged sheepishly, breaking the tension somewhat.
"Sorry. Guess it's been a long night."
"Maybe you should both get some rest. We'll talk some more in the morning. Doyle, give me the low-down on that vision and I'll go check it out."
"There's a couple of kids about to stumble into a vampires nest. Over on the west-side, near the mall. Shouldn't be too much hassle. "
"Ok I'll go stir up the nest", Angel agreed, with a slight grin.
After a moment, they decided that Richie would stay at Doyle's apartment, and the two of them would come back over to the office later that day. They left Cordelia where she was and made their way the few blocks to Doyle's place.