Disclaimer: Not mine. I am just having fun.
Part 3
The fang gang arrived at JFK shortly before four am, and proceeded into the baggage claim area. As Angel and Wes slowly gathered everyone's luggage, the rest of the group slowly gravitated towards the luggage carts. Cordy yawned, while stretching both arms towards the ceiling. She was wearing hip hugger jeans and a shirt which was cut high on one side, but swooped around at an angle and came to a point right below her belly button, so Angel couldn't help but take a peak when she stretched the sleepiness out of her.
"Angel! You need to pay attention. You just missed Fred's suitcase." Wes shouted, slightly annoyed.
"Sorry," Angel said, thankful nobody noticed what he was doing, "I am just somewhat tired from not sleeping on the plane."
"Ahh, Cordy's snoring. I see." Wes joked back. "Well, Gunn can help with the luggage then."
"I heard that, and I do not snore." Cordy shot back.
"No, you just drooled all over my shoulder." Angel responded, then turned to Cordy to make sure he didn't face her wrath. "Not that I mind, honestly."
"Yeah, yeah. I can't wait till we get to the hotel. Especially since the Waldorf-Astoria is supposed to be very classy, definitely my kind of place."
"I'm hungry." Fred declared as she watched Gunn and Wes collect all of their luggage and place it on the carts.
After they gathered all their belongings, they headed outside the terminal to catch taxis to their hotel. Cordy hailed down two, and they began to load the trunks. She directed each taxi to take them to Waldorf-Astoria, then she hopped in the cab with Angel and Lorne, while Fred, Gunn and Wes shared the other.
"Isn't it great how this is an all expense paid trip?" Cordy mentioned as she began to get excited. "A case and a vacation in one, it's fabulous."
"Now, listen up guys, Wes has been doing the research of what the Bhorai demons could possibly want with Madame Zelda, but there are some places I know of where we could get more leads. There's a club in Manhattan on Avenue of the Americas with a vampire theme called Club Dark. Although on the surface it looks like it serves the gothic chic of New York City, there are actual occult connections if you know who's who there. And man, do they make some great Electric Watermelons. Anyway, if we don't get any leads there, I know some people who own magic shops in Greenwich Village that could help us, but stay away from Mistress Jhula, she will rob you blind. Literally, she steals your eyesight."
"Thanks Lorne, I really appreciate your help." Angel responded, even though his mind was still on the brunette sitting next to him. She turned and smiled at him, as she leaned over him from the middle seat to look out the window into the dark. He just wanted to reach out and grab her.
"I can't wait to go shopping." She said.
++++
Everyone arrived at the front of the hotel and proceeded to check into their rooms. They were amazed at how gorgeous and rich the place looked; the place oozed wealth to anyone who saw it. The immaculate presentation of the concierge and the clothing worn by the employees indicated the high prices of the rooms. After signing in, they found that there were three rooms with two full sized beds in each. While being led to the rooms, everyone in the team started to argue amongst themselves over who would be sharing rooms. Wes and Gunn decided it would be best to share a room, like everything else, these two seemed to stick together. That left Angel, Cordy, Lorne and Fred to pick rooms. Cordy didn't seem into the idea of sharing a room with Fred.
"I like her Angel, trust me, I do," she whispered when they were walking a little behind the group, "but I just don't think I could handle being in the same room with her all night. She talks a lot, and it just might drive me a little nutty."
"I know, but don't you think this would ruin the nice pattern we have here? Two guys, two girls and two demons. It makes sense."
"Angel, I don't know why you don't want to share a room. It's not like I haven't spent the night at your place before. So what's the difference? Besides this hotel being a little nicer, of course."
Before Angel could counter what Cordy said, she caught up with the rest of the group and told them how they were sharing rooms. Lorne and Fred seemed okay with the idea, so Wes passed out the keys, and everyone went into their rooms.
While Cordy started to unpack, she began to get frustrated over Angel's behavior. What was with him? Ever since they started out on this.case, trip, whatever, he was acting a little strange - even stranger than usual. She felt like he was holding something back, and she didn't like him not telling her what was going on. This is what usually led to problems between them, and she didn't want to go down that road again. Most of all, it made her feel like he couldn't open up to her, and that hurt. He was the most important person in her life, and she didn't want to feel like that didn't matter to him.
After everyone was situated in their rooms, Cordy decided she needed a cup of coffee. She went back to her room to find Angel reading on his bed. He looked troubled and trying to ease himself in the book to escape from whatever was on his mind.
"Well, it's 7 o'clock already, and I am dying for a cup of coffee. The sun is up now, so you really can't go outside, I know. Anyway, I am going to go to some stores afterwards, maybe even get something for that club we have to go to tonight." Her tone was soft as the anger started to subside now.
As she left, Lorne and Fred came by to announce they were going to the Village to check out some of his contacts and see if they knew about any of the whereabouts of Madame Zelda. They informed Angel that Wesley was going to stay in his room and continue some research. Meanwhile, Gunn decided he wanted to spend the day as a tourist, so he went off sightseeing.
++++++
Right before the sun was setting, everyone started to arrive back at the hotel. Cordy came back carrying six bags full of clothing, including a pair of black, leather pants and a red corset. She also had a gothic, black dress with a low cut bodice which was form-fitting at the waist and an ankle length skirt which flowed loosely away from the body. Cordy held them up and asked Angel which one she should wear tonight.
"So...Faith, or Drusilla?"
Angel almost choked on his coffee he ordered from room service when she said that. "Uhh.you pick."
"I think I will go with the leather ensemble, the bouncer is more likely to respond to it."
She turned away and started to sort through all the clothing she had bought. A girl has to take advantage of an all expenses paid job when she can, and so she did.
Gunn saw the door was open, so he came inside and told them about his day as a tourist. He went to the top of the Empire State building, as well as checking out Times Square.
"Yeah, I enjoyed it." Gunn said. "That is until hundreds of screaming girls almost trampled me to get to MTV. Apparently Enrique was appearing on TRL today, so that place was packed."
"You saw Enrique?" Cordy said as she turned her head towards Gunn.
"Nah, I just did some CD shopping," Gunn smiled as he held up a T-shirt displaying 'I Love NY' on it, "and I bought this. So what did you all find out?"
Fred and Lorne arrived and hovered in the doorway, relaying to them what the word in the mystical world was.
"Hey!" Fred called out as she waved to everyone.
"Listen guys," Lorne started, "apparently, there have been a lot of whispers in the Village about some sort of sacrifice. A lot of books have been pointing to-"
"If someone of a mystical nature is sacrificed by tomorrow's sunrise, the whole world will be sucked into hell!" Fred shouted.
"You like doing that, don't you sweetie."
"Sorry." Fred quietly mumbled.
"It's okay, pumpkin. Miss Brains here noticed something in one of the shops that seemed strange."
"Yeah," Fred explained "I noticed in one of the more unfriendly places we visited there was a man in there buying some strange herbs and book on Hellmouths. He looked like he was hiding something. Apparently he frequents Club Dark, and according to the lady working at the cash register, he is well known among the club goers there. I don't think his intentions are pure."
"So Cordy and I should be watching out for this guy at the club?" Angel asked.
"Yes," Lorne replied, "but do not be too slow about it, we need to get this done before sunrise."
Cordy and Angel were both on Angel's bed, leaning against the headboard and thinking about what they were heading into. Gunn was sitting on Cordy's bed, taking everything in and thinking about which weapons he would need tonight. Just as they were discussing the possible plans for tonight, Wes strolled in between Fred and Lorne, who were still standing in the doorway, with two books in his hand, staring down intently at the pages.
"A-ha! I think I figured it out." He blurted out as he went and sat next to Gunn at the edge of Cordy's bed. "The Bhorai demons are using the blood of a true mystic to open up a forgotten portal to hell. It took awhile to figure out, since there isn't a real connection between Bhorai demons and apocalypses, but I did a little research on any paranormal activity in New York and came across this doorway to hell. Sadly, I cannot pinpoint the exact spot in New York, as these books don't list a specific place."
"But why Madame Zelda? I am sure there are genuine mystics in New York." Cordy asked Wes.
"That is what I can't figure out, nor can I guess the intentions of why the Bhorai demons would be trying to do this. They are usually uninvolved in these matters." Wes responded, resigned to finding out the answers at this point in time.
"So I guess that just leaves the lead on the co-owner of Club Dark." Angel added. Cordy and Angel looked at each other, knowing it was up to them to find out what exactly was going on, so they decided to get ready and hit the dance floor.
++++
Angel and Cordy were patiently waiting in line outside of Club Dark. They were surrounded by beautiful people, all dressed up and ready to hit one of the hot spots in New York. The night had a slight chill in the air, causing Cordy to shiver. The streets were alive with people going about their business, ready to enjoy a night out, completely oblivious to the fact if Angel Investigations didn't come through, the whole world would be sucked into hell.
Cordy was wearing the outfit she bought earlier, the tight, corset accentuating her narrow waist and curvy shape. She wore deep, blood red lipstick to match her top only serving to highlight her striking, dark features. The leather pants she wore hugged her form, revealing the shape of her body, and this didn't go unnoticed by Angel. Angel stood next to Cordy, trying not to ogle her; meanwhile, every woman in line couldn't keep their eyes off him. Usually Cordy didn't go for the black on black look, but tonight she made sure he wore it to give him the more 'authentic' vampire look. He even wore some eyeliner, making him more Angelus-like in appearance.
They weren't talking very much. Most of the tension on this trip was still there, and so thick you could cut through it. Angel was still uneasy about these feelings he was slowly becoming more aware of, while Cordy was upset by Angel's recent distance. She just wanted to reach out to him, but something was holding her back. She didn't like the closed off vibes she was getting from Angel; she knew he was keeping something from her, and that always added up to problems in her book. Right now she would focus on the case before she decided to talk things over with Angel.
They gradually made their way to the front of the line, and after Cordy gave the bouncer a huge smile, he waved them through. They paid the cover charge and entered the dance club. It was already beginning to fill up with people, soaking up the gothic atmosphere of romanticized vampirism. Not only was Angel uncomfortable with the crowds, he didn't enjoy the notion of the beautiful vampire. He knew what it was like to be a vampire, and it was anything but pretty. Violence, gore and pain - that is what being a vampire is really like.
Eventually, they made their way to the bar and Cordy began to mingle. While she ordered a Margarita, she began to describe the man Fred and Lorne told her about to the bartender.
"Hi," she said flirtatiously, "I am wondering if you've seen a man here tonight. He's about 6'2, jet-black hair, muscular, blue eyes, and very pale. He comes by often."
"That's Jeff, but he usually doesn't arrive till 1am, so you are going to have wait awhile for him."
"Thanks."
Cordy grabbed Angel's wrist and looked at his watch, noticing it was only barely midnight. They had an hour to kill, and she was determined to enjoy herself while she was there. She quickly finished her Margarita and ordered another.
"Hey, slow down there. You've barely ate anything tonight and we are still on a case." Angel whispered to her as he pulled her closer.
"We have an hour till he arrives, so why not enjoy ourselves until then?" Cordy casually said as she began to walk towards the dance floor.
Angel quickly ran to catch up with her as she walked towards the center of the club. The music was blaring through speakers and Cordy slowly began to sway with the rhythm. She began to feel a slight buzz from the alcohol, so she began acting more mischievous. She pulled Angel to the dance floor with her, even though he protested.
"Cordy, you know I don't dance."
"Well, you do now." She replied.
Cordy danced next to Angel, allowing the beats to guide her. Angel just stood there, staring, too self-conscious to move. Cordy continued to dance as the song changed to Closer by Nine Inch Nails.
Angel decided he would humor Cordy, unaware of the song playing. He moved reluctantly, and bit by bit, he got into the music. Although he wasn't the most amazing dancer, he was adequate. Cordy came closer to Angel and motioned him to follow her lead. Their bodies were moving in sync with each other, the beats pounding through them, causing the uneasy tension to turn sexual.
You can have my isolation
You can have the hate that it brings
You can have my absence of faith
You can have my everything
Angel moved his face closer to Cordy. With her standing right in front of him, the music swirling in his head, all he wanted to do was lean in and kiss her, let her know what was going on inside him. To clear up all the confusion and uncertainty he felt about their relationship.
Help me
You tear down my reason
Help me
It's your sex I can smell
Help me
You make me perfect
Help me become somebody else
Cordy was unsure whether Angel was sending out signals of his desire, or if her head was fuzzy with tequila. More alarming was her own response to him. Was she being turned on by her best friend? Angel has always been off limits to her. There were way too many issues before she got to really know him: the curse, the fact he's a vampire and his emotional baggage. On top of that, now he was the closest person to her emotionally. He could hurt her, and he has. Cordy always guarded her feelings, not letting anyone in. She'd already let Angel in, and she was afraid of risking letting him in more.
I want to fuck you like an animal
I want to feel you from the inside
I want to fuck you like an animal
My whole existence is flawed
You get me closer to God
Their bodies swayed with the music, closing in on the gap between them. Heat radiated from Cordy's body, her breath quickening, reminding Angel of what he wasn't and what he wanted. He wanted to taste her, to make her his, to let her know just how he felt. He felt lust course through his dead veins, but was reminded of his limitations. She was the humanity in his unlife, and it wasn't quite in grasp yet.
Cordy reached to touch his face, insecure of what she was doing. She looked into Angel's eyes, before he looked away and started shouting in her ear over the music.
"Look over there, I think that is the guy we are looking for."
"He sure looks how Fred described him."
Cordy grabbed Angel's hand and led him towards the bar where the dark haired man was sitting. As he ordered a drink, Cordy indicated to Angel to stay back a bit. She sauntered over to the bar, all the while trying to clear her head of what just happened on the dance floor.
"Hi," she said as she beamed as she held her hand out "I'm Cordelia, and you are?"
"Jeff. Nice to meet you Cordelia" He looked Cordy up and down, checking her out and nodding with approval. Angel noticed from a distance and glowered at him.
"So, do you come here a lot?" Cordy continued.
"All the time."
"I heard this is the hottest place to go."
"Yeah, it is. I like the vampire theme."
"Yeah, but who believes in vampires and all of that stuff."
"I do."
"You do?"
"Yeah, I even practice magic." He said, leaning in towards her.
At that moment, Angel, feeling a tinge of jealousy and irritated that he disrupted what could've been a chance to tell Cordy what was on his mind, stepped forward and interrupted their conversation.
"Sorry, I just can't handle this anymore. What do you know?"
"Angel!" Cordy chastised.
"Know about what?" Jeff asked.
"About Madame Zelda." Angel said coldly.
"Who is Madame Zelda?"
"Okay, don't play dumb. Just let us know." Angel retorted as he walked towards him.
Suddenly, Fred entered the club and came running towards them, frantically waving her arms, clad in the Goth dress Cordelia bought. She was sent by Wes to check on them and make sure everything was okay.
"Angel, stop. That isn't the right man!"
"Huh? We described him to the bartender, and he said it was a man named Jeff."
"Yeah, but that ain't the one I saw." Fred said as she looked down, shyly smiling as one side of her face pulled back. She then pointed to a dark- haired man sitting in the corner, surrounded by people. "The man I saw earlier is over there."
"I don't have time for this." Angel moaned. He dashed over to the table as Fred and Cordy chased him. He picked up the man, turning towards Fred to confirm if it was the right guy this time.
"Is this him?" he asked.
"Yeah, that's him."
"Alright, you are going to tell me all you know about Madame Zelda." Angel uttered angrily through gritted teeth, as the pent up anger started to surface. "I don't want to hear any lame stories, and I don't have time for any games. If you don't talk, I will get it out of you my way."
"Okay, okay," the guy responded, "let's go outside so we can discuss this in a quieter place."
Fred and Cordy exited the club with Angel, dragging the guy in tow. Angel was frustrated and confused - again. Dealing with evil was his way of dealing with his inner turmoil. It's what he resorted to when he didn't know how to handle what was brewing inside.
As they emerged out of the club and into the city, the fresh, new rain fell down onto them while they stood there, waiting for Angel to interrogate the man he was pulling behind him.
"Angel, is something wrong?" Cordy asked; it was obvious Angel was agitated.
"Cordy, we will talk about this later. Right now, we've got to deal with this," he gestured towards the dark-haired man he had pinned against the wall, "or else the whole world will be sucked into hell, and we won't be able to discuss my problems."
"No need to be testy."
Angel paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, then apologized to Cordy. "Sorry."
"Guys, we don't have time for this. Right now we need to figure out where Madame Zelda is." Fred interrupted.
"Right, so what do you know about Madame Zelda?" Angel demanded. "Don't make me beat it out of you."
"I will tell you what I know. I was asked by a friend of mine to bring him a book and some herbs today. I was told to drop it off at a sewer in Harlem. I do know they were keeping Madame Zelda there, but I don't know why they were needed."
"You swear that's the truth?"
"Honestly."
Angel let go of him and watched as he dropped to the floor. After standing in the rain for that brief moment, everyone was drenched. Fred was shivering and confused by the way Angel had just acted. Cordy leaned down to get the exact location of where in the sewer they had to go. Afterwards, she got up and hailed a taxi. All three of them got in and headed towards Harlem.
"Angel, I don't know what's going on with you, but you are acting very strangely."
"We'll talk about it later, Cordy."
"You were a little rough with that man back there."
"Now's not the time, let's just finish this case."
"Cordy, I think we need to focus on the case right now," Fred said, "and get back to this later. We don't have much time left."
Cordy glared at Fred and turned to look outside the window.
"I'm just saying." Fred quietly stated, almost under breath. As she looked out the window, she remembered she had to get the rest of the gang. "Oh, wait! That's our hotel!" she shouted. "Stop right here, I'll be back in a moment!"
As Fred leaped out of the car to get everyone else, Cordy continued to stare out the window while Angel looked down. The world was ending, and it didn't seem like Cordy and Angel would go on good terms.
Part 3
The fang gang arrived at JFK shortly before four am, and proceeded into the baggage claim area. As Angel and Wes slowly gathered everyone's luggage, the rest of the group slowly gravitated towards the luggage carts. Cordy yawned, while stretching both arms towards the ceiling. She was wearing hip hugger jeans and a shirt which was cut high on one side, but swooped around at an angle and came to a point right below her belly button, so Angel couldn't help but take a peak when she stretched the sleepiness out of her.
"Angel! You need to pay attention. You just missed Fred's suitcase." Wes shouted, slightly annoyed.
"Sorry," Angel said, thankful nobody noticed what he was doing, "I am just somewhat tired from not sleeping on the plane."
"Ahh, Cordy's snoring. I see." Wes joked back. "Well, Gunn can help with the luggage then."
"I heard that, and I do not snore." Cordy shot back.
"No, you just drooled all over my shoulder." Angel responded, then turned to Cordy to make sure he didn't face her wrath. "Not that I mind, honestly."
"Yeah, yeah. I can't wait till we get to the hotel. Especially since the Waldorf-Astoria is supposed to be very classy, definitely my kind of place."
"I'm hungry." Fred declared as she watched Gunn and Wes collect all of their luggage and place it on the carts.
After they gathered all their belongings, they headed outside the terminal to catch taxis to their hotel. Cordy hailed down two, and they began to load the trunks. She directed each taxi to take them to Waldorf-Astoria, then she hopped in the cab with Angel and Lorne, while Fred, Gunn and Wes shared the other.
"Isn't it great how this is an all expense paid trip?" Cordy mentioned as she began to get excited. "A case and a vacation in one, it's fabulous."
"Now, listen up guys, Wes has been doing the research of what the Bhorai demons could possibly want with Madame Zelda, but there are some places I know of where we could get more leads. There's a club in Manhattan on Avenue of the Americas with a vampire theme called Club Dark. Although on the surface it looks like it serves the gothic chic of New York City, there are actual occult connections if you know who's who there. And man, do they make some great Electric Watermelons. Anyway, if we don't get any leads there, I know some people who own magic shops in Greenwich Village that could help us, but stay away from Mistress Jhula, she will rob you blind. Literally, she steals your eyesight."
"Thanks Lorne, I really appreciate your help." Angel responded, even though his mind was still on the brunette sitting next to him. She turned and smiled at him, as she leaned over him from the middle seat to look out the window into the dark. He just wanted to reach out and grab her.
"I can't wait to go shopping." She said.
++++
Everyone arrived at the front of the hotel and proceeded to check into their rooms. They were amazed at how gorgeous and rich the place looked; the place oozed wealth to anyone who saw it. The immaculate presentation of the concierge and the clothing worn by the employees indicated the high prices of the rooms. After signing in, they found that there were three rooms with two full sized beds in each. While being led to the rooms, everyone in the team started to argue amongst themselves over who would be sharing rooms. Wes and Gunn decided it would be best to share a room, like everything else, these two seemed to stick together. That left Angel, Cordy, Lorne and Fred to pick rooms. Cordy didn't seem into the idea of sharing a room with Fred.
"I like her Angel, trust me, I do," she whispered when they were walking a little behind the group, "but I just don't think I could handle being in the same room with her all night. She talks a lot, and it just might drive me a little nutty."
"I know, but don't you think this would ruin the nice pattern we have here? Two guys, two girls and two demons. It makes sense."
"Angel, I don't know why you don't want to share a room. It's not like I haven't spent the night at your place before. So what's the difference? Besides this hotel being a little nicer, of course."
Before Angel could counter what Cordy said, she caught up with the rest of the group and told them how they were sharing rooms. Lorne and Fred seemed okay with the idea, so Wes passed out the keys, and everyone went into their rooms.
While Cordy started to unpack, she began to get frustrated over Angel's behavior. What was with him? Ever since they started out on this.case, trip, whatever, he was acting a little strange - even stranger than usual. She felt like he was holding something back, and she didn't like him not telling her what was going on. This is what usually led to problems between them, and she didn't want to go down that road again. Most of all, it made her feel like he couldn't open up to her, and that hurt. He was the most important person in her life, and she didn't want to feel like that didn't matter to him.
After everyone was situated in their rooms, Cordy decided she needed a cup of coffee. She went back to her room to find Angel reading on his bed. He looked troubled and trying to ease himself in the book to escape from whatever was on his mind.
"Well, it's 7 o'clock already, and I am dying for a cup of coffee. The sun is up now, so you really can't go outside, I know. Anyway, I am going to go to some stores afterwards, maybe even get something for that club we have to go to tonight." Her tone was soft as the anger started to subside now.
As she left, Lorne and Fred came by to announce they were going to the Village to check out some of his contacts and see if they knew about any of the whereabouts of Madame Zelda. They informed Angel that Wesley was going to stay in his room and continue some research. Meanwhile, Gunn decided he wanted to spend the day as a tourist, so he went off sightseeing.
++++++
Right before the sun was setting, everyone started to arrive back at the hotel. Cordy came back carrying six bags full of clothing, including a pair of black, leather pants and a red corset. She also had a gothic, black dress with a low cut bodice which was form-fitting at the waist and an ankle length skirt which flowed loosely away from the body. Cordy held them up and asked Angel which one she should wear tonight.
"So...Faith, or Drusilla?"
Angel almost choked on his coffee he ordered from room service when she said that. "Uhh.you pick."
"I think I will go with the leather ensemble, the bouncer is more likely to respond to it."
She turned away and started to sort through all the clothing she had bought. A girl has to take advantage of an all expenses paid job when she can, and so she did.
Gunn saw the door was open, so he came inside and told them about his day as a tourist. He went to the top of the Empire State building, as well as checking out Times Square.
"Yeah, I enjoyed it." Gunn said. "That is until hundreds of screaming girls almost trampled me to get to MTV. Apparently Enrique was appearing on TRL today, so that place was packed."
"You saw Enrique?" Cordy said as she turned her head towards Gunn.
"Nah, I just did some CD shopping," Gunn smiled as he held up a T-shirt displaying 'I Love NY' on it, "and I bought this. So what did you all find out?"
Fred and Lorne arrived and hovered in the doorway, relaying to them what the word in the mystical world was.
"Hey!" Fred called out as she waved to everyone.
"Listen guys," Lorne started, "apparently, there have been a lot of whispers in the Village about some sort of sacrifice. A lot of books have been pointing to-"
"If someone of a mystical nature is sacrificed by tomorrow's sunrise, the whole world will be sucked into hell!" Fred shouted.
"You like doing that, don't you sweetie."
"Sorry." Fred quietly mumbled.
"It's okay, pumpkin. Miss Brains here noticed something in one of the shops that seemed strange."
"Yeah," Fred explained "I noticed in one of the more unfriendly places we visited there was a man in there buying some strange herbs and book on Hellmouths. He looked like he was hiding something. Apparently he frequents Club Dark, and according to the lady working at the cash register, he is well known among the club goers there. I don't think his intentions are pure."
"So Cordy and I should be watching out for this guy at the club?" Angel asked.
"Yes," Lorne replied, "but do not be too slow about it, we need to get this done before sunrise."
Cordy and Angel were both on Angel's bed, leaning against the headboard and thinking about what they were heading into. Gunn was sitting on Cordy's bed, taking everything in and thinking about which weapons he would need tonight. Just as they were discussing the possible plans for tonight, Wes strolled in between Fred and Lorne, who were still standing in the doorway, with two books in his hand, staring down intently at the pages.
"A-ha! I think I figured it out." He blurted out as he went and sat next to Gunn at the edge of Cordy's bed. "The Bhorai demons are using the blood of a true mystic to open up a forgotten portal to hell. It took awhile to figure out, since there isn't a real connection between Bhorai demons and apocalypses, but I did a little research on any paranormal activity in New York and came across this doorway to hell. Sadly, I cannot pinpoint the exact spot in New York, as these books don't list a specific place."
"But why Madame Zelda? I am sure there are genuine mystics in New York." Cordy asked Wes.
"That is what I can't figure out, nor can I guess the intentions of why the Bhorai demons would be trying to do this. They are usually uninvolved in these matters." Wes responded, resigned to finding out the answers at this point in time.
"So I guess that just leaves the lead on the co-owner of Club Dark." Angel added. Cordy and Angel looked at each other, knowing it was up to them to find out what exactly was going on, so they decided to get ready and hit the dance floor.
++++
Angel and Cordy were patiently waiting in line outside of Club Dark. They were surrounded by beautiful people, all dressed up and ready to hit one of the hot spots in New York. The night had a slight chill in the air, causing Cordy to shiver. The streets were alive with people going about their business, ready to enjoy a night out, completely oblivious to the fact if Angel Investigations didn't come through, the whole world would be sucked into hell.
Cordy was wearing the outfit she bought earlier, the tight, corset accentuating her narrow waist and curvy shape. She wore deep, blood red lipstick to match her top only serving to highlight her striking, dark features. The leather pants she wore hugged her form, revealing the shape of her body, and this didn't go unnoticed by Angel. Angel stood next to Cordy, trying not to ogle her; meanwhile, every woman in line couldn't keep their eyes off him. Usually Cordy didn't go for the black on black look, but tonight she made sure he wore it to give him the more 'authentic' vampire look. He even wore some eyeliner, making him more Angelus-like in appearance.
They weren't talking very much. Most of the tension on this trip was still there, and so thick you could cut through it. Angel was still uneasy about these feelings he was slowly becoming more aware of, while Cordy was upset by Angel's recent distance. She just wanted to reach out to him, but something was holding her back. She didn't like the closed off vibes she was getting from Angel; she knew he was keeping something from her, and that always added up to problems in her book. Right now she would focus on the case before she decided to talk things over with Angel.
They gradually made their way to the front of the line, and after Cordy gave the bouncer a huge smile, he waved them through. They paid the cover charge and entered the dance club. It was already beginning to fill up with people, soaking up the gothic atmosphere of romanticized vampirism. Not only was Angel uncomfortable with the crowds, he didn't enjoy the notion of the beautiful vampire. He knew what it was like to be a vampire, and it was anything but pretty. Violence, gore and pain - that is what being a vampire is really like.
Eventually, they made their way to the bar and Cordy began to mingle. While she ordered a Margarita, she began to describe the man Fred and Lorne told her about to the bartender.
"Hi," she said flirtatiously, "I am wondering if you've seen a man here tonight. He's about 6'2, jet-black hair, muscular, blue eyes, and very pale. He comes by often."
"That's Jeff, but he usually doesn't arrive till 1am, so you are going to have wait awhile for him."
"Thanks."
Cordy grabbed Angel's wrist and looked at his watch, noticing it was only barely midnight. They had an hour to kill, and she was determined to enjoy herself while she was there. She quickly finished her Margarita and ordered another.
"Hey, slow down there. You've barely ate anything tonight and we are still on a case." Angel whispered to her as he pulled her closer.
"We have an hour till he arrives, so why not enjoy ourselves until then?" Cordy casually said as she began to walk towards the dance floor.
Angel quickly ran to catch up with her as she walked towards the center of the club. The music was blaring through speakers and Cordy slowly began to sway with the rhythm. She began to feel a slight buzz from the alcohol, so she began acting more mischievous. She pulled Angel to the dance floor with her, even though he protested.
"Cordy, you know I don't dance."
"Well, you do now." She replied.
Cordy danced next to Angel, allowing the beats to guide her. Angel just stood there, staring, too self-conscious to move. Cordy continued to dance as the song changed to Closer by Nine Inch Nails.
Angel decided he would humor Cordy, unaware of the song playing. He moved reluctantly, and bit by bit, he got into the music. Although he wasn't the most amazing dancer, he was adequate. Cordy came closer to Angel and motioned him to follow her lead. Their bodies were moving in sync with each other, the beats pounding through them, causing the uneasy tension to turn sexual.
You can have my isolation
You can have the hate that it brings
You can have my absence of faith
You can have my everything
Angel moved his face closer to Cordy. With her standing right in front of him, the music swirling in his head, all he wanted to do was lean in and kiss her, let her know what was going on inside him. To clear up all the confusion and uncertainty he felt about their relationship.
Help me
You tear down my reason
Help me
It's your sex I can smell
Help me
You make me perfect
Help me become somebody else
Cordy was unsure whether Angel was sending out signals of his desire, or if her head was fuzzy with tequila. More alarming was her own response to him. Was she being turned on by her best friend? Angel has always been off limits to her. There were way too many issues before she got to really know him: the curse, the fact he's a vampire and his emotional baggage. On top of that, now he was the closest person to her emotionally. He could hurt her, and he has. Cordy always guarded her feelings, not letting anyone in. She'd already let Angel in, and she was afraid of risking letting him in more.
I want to fuck you like an animal
I want to feel you from the inside
I want to fuck you like an animal
My whole existence is flawed
You get me closer to God
Their bodies swayed with the music, closing in on the gap between them. Heat radiated from Cordy's body, her breath quickening, reminding Angel of what he wasn't and what he wanted. He wanted to taste her, to make her his, to let her know just how he felt. He felt lust course through his dead veins, but was reminded of his limitations. She was the humanity in his unlife, and it wasn't quite in grasp yet.
Cordy reached to touch his face, insecure of what she was doing. She looked into Angel's eyes, before he looked away and started shouting in her ear over the music.
"Look over there, I think that is the guy we are looking for."
"He sure looks how Fred described him."
Cordy grabbed Angel's hand and led him towards the bar where the dark haired man was sitting. As he ordered a drink, Cordy indicated to Angel to stay back a bit. She sauntered over to the bar, all the while trying to clear her head of what just happened on the dance floor.
"Hi," she said as she beamed as she held her hand out "I'm Cordelia, and you are?"
"Jeff. Nice to meet you Cordelia" He looked Cordy up and down, checking her out and nodding with approval. Angel noticed from a distance and glowered at him.
"So, do you come here a lot?" Cordy continued.
"All the time."
"I heard this is the hottest place to go."
"Yeah, it is. I like the vampire theme."
"Yeah, but who believes in vampires and all of that stuff."
"I do."
"You do?"
"Yeah, I even practice magic." He said, leaning in towards her.
At that moment, Angel, feeling a tinge of jealousy and irritated that he disrupted what could've been a chance to tell Cordy what was on his mind, stepped forward and interrupted their conversation.
"Sorry, I just can't handle this anymore. What do you know?"
"Angel!" Cordy chastised.
"Know about what?" Jeff asked.
"About Madame Zelda." Angel said coldly.
"Who is Madame Zelda?"
"Okay, don't play dumb. Just let us know." Angel retorted as he walked towards him.
Suddenly, Fred entered the club and came running towards them, frantically waving her arms, clad in the Goth dress Cordelia bought. She was sent by Wes to check on them and make sure everything was okay.
"Angel, stop. That isn't the right man!"
"Huh? We described him to the bartender, and he said it was a man named Jeff."
"Yeah, but that ain't the one I saw." Fred said as she looked down, shyly smiling as one side of her face pulled back. She then pointed to a dark- haired man sitting in the corner, surrounded by people. "The man I saw earlier is over there."
"I don't have time for this." Angel moaned. He dashed over to the table as Fred and Cordy chased him. He picked up the man, turning towards Fred to confirm if it was the right guy this time.
"Is this him?" he asked.
"Yeah, that's him."
"Alright, you are going to tell me all you know about Madame Zelda." Angel uttered angrily through gritted teeth, as the pent up anger started to surface. "I don't want to hear any lame stories, and I don't have time for any games. If you don't talk, I will get it out of you my way."
"Okay, okay," the guy responded, "let's go outside so we can discuss this in a quieter place."
Fred and Cordy exited the club with Angel, dragging the guy in tow. Angel was frustrated and confused - again. Dealing with evil was his way of dealing with his inner turmoil. It's what he resorted to when he didn't know how to handle what was brewing inside.
As they emerged out of the club and into the city, the fresh, new rain fell down onto them while they stood there, waiting for Angel to interrogate the man he was pulling behind him.
"Angel, is something wrong?" Cordy asked; it was obvious Angel was agitated.
"Cordy, we will talk about this later. Right now, we've got to deal with this," he gestured towards the dark-haired man he had pinned against the wall, "or else the whole world will be sucked into hell, and we won't be able to discuss my problems."
"No need to be testy."
Angel paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, then apologized to Cordy. "Sorry."
"Guys, we don't have time for this. Right now we need to figure out where Madame Zelda is." Fred interrupted.
"Right, so what do you know about Madame Zelda?" Angel demanded. "Don't make me beat it out of you."
"I will tell you what I know. I was asked by a friend of mine to bring him a book and some herbs today. I was told to drop it off at a sewer in Harlem. I do know they were keeping Madame Zelda there, but I don't know why they were needed."
"You swear that's the truth?"
"Honestly."
Angel let go of him and watched as he dropped to the floor. After standing in the rain for that brief moment, everyone was drenched. Fred was shivering and confused by the way Angel had just acted. Cordy leaned down to get the exact location of where in the sewer they had to go. Afterwards, she got up and hailed a taxi. All three of them got in and headed towards Harlem.
"Angel, I don't know what's going on with you, but you are acting very strangely."
"We'll talk about it later, Cordy."
"You were a little rough with that man back there."
"Now's not the time, let's just finish this case."
"Cordy, I think we need to focus on the case right now," Fred said, "and get back to this later. We don't have much time left."
Cordy glared at Fred and turned to look outside the window.
"I'm just saying." Fred quietly stated, almost under breath. As she looked out the window, she remembered she had to get the rest of the gang. "Oh, wait! That's our hotel!" she shouted. "Stop right here, I'll be back in a moment!"
As Fred leaped out of the car to get everyone else, Cordy continued to stare out the window while Angel looked down. The world was ending, and it didn't seem like Cordy and Angel would go on good terms.