Tecothra joined Angel and Wesley in the room with the television. The news was on, but neither of them were watching it. Instead, they were studying some books that appeared to be centuries old. Well, she reminded herself, Angel is a vampire. Of course he has a vast collection of old books.
"Hello again," Wesley uttered, barely giving Tecothra a glance before going back to reading. "Did you have an interesting conversation with - " he arched his eyebrow thoughtfully, "The ghost?"
She sighed, slumping onto the sofa. "No,"
"Oh,"
"He doesn't want to come back."
"And by 'come back' you mean - "
"To life." she said through her hands as she covered her face. She ran her fingers through her hair, letting it fall over the back of the couch.
Angel cocked his head to the side, glowering at her. "Why doesn't he want to come back to life? Why wouldn't he want to come back to life? That doesn't sound like - " Cordelia and Lorne entered then, so Angel had to cover their conversation, " - a very good car."
"No," Tecothra picked up on the thread, "No, its not a very good car at all. I'll have to get someone to look at it for me."
"You guys can't lie to me." Corelia announced. "I know you were talking about something that you don't want me to know about, and that's fine. I won't even ask."
Lorne had to fight to keep the skepticism from his face. He sat sideways on the other side of the couch, facing the others. He found himself studying Tecothra again. Her eyes were closed, and her expression revealed that she was deep in thought, working something out.
"So, what were you guys talking about?" Cordelia asked, filling the space between Lorne and Tecothra. The demon looked away, disappointed.
Angel and Wesley awaited Tecothra's response, not wanting to be the ones to get Cordelia's hopes up. Especially since Angel was not buying any of what the relative stranger was telling them.
Tecothra opened her eyes to find Doyle glaring down at her from behind, making him upside down to her. She supressed the urge to laugh, then said, "Nothing of importance. Angel thinks I'm a liar, and Wes - well, I'm not sure what he thinks I am. Only Lorne and - Eye believe me." she had almost given it away.
The others took the 'eye' part to mean 'I', as in herself, so they did not understand why Lorne chuckled. No one questioned it, either.
"If it's not important, then you can let me in on it."
Tecothra turned her head in Cordelia's direction. "Or you can let it go."
The other girl raised her eyebrows at Angel, like he was supposed to step in and tell Tecothra off. He looked away, so she turned a now questioning gaze on Wesley. He too, avoided direct eye contact. "Alright, fine," she muttered in defeat.
"Did the Powers tell you that you could be mean to Cordy in your mission statement?" Doyle grouched rhetorically.
"Well, fine. What do you want me to say?" Tecothra asked the spectre.
"No, forget it, I don't care." Cordelia sat back, arms across her chest. "You don't want me to know, you don't want me to know."
"It's not like that, Pumpkin," Lorne said soothingly.
"Tell them exactly why you're here. Tell them what you told me."
"I can't do that without telling them about you."
Doyle moved around the couch. He settled onto his haunches in front of Cordelia, and looked into her eyes. She continued to stare straight into the floor, boring a hole down to the basement. "They have to hear it eventually."
"They won't believe me. To them, I'm talking to myself, remember?"
"Angel, this woman is clearly unstable." Cordelia got up and strode over to the vampire, going right through Doyle. She whirled around as the chill in the space he occupied enveloped her legs. "What was - that was - who are you talking to?"
Tecothra watched Doyle shimmer as he stood up. Cordelia turned her back when the other was reluctant to respond, so Doyle took her wallet out of her purse that was sitting beside the couch. He took the pictures out, and flipped to the one of him.
"Cordelia," Tecothra intended for her to turn around to see Doyle's gesture, but it did not work.
"Don't talk to me." she barked.
"Turn around, Cordy," Lorne coaxed.
She spun on her heel. "Why?"
The picture floated higher so she could see it better. "Tell her - tell her something comforting. Tell her it's me."
Cordelia recoiled in horror. "Why are you doing this?"
"I'm not doing this. It's Doyle, Cordelia. He wants you to know that he's here." Tecothra tried to explain.
"Bullsh - AAAHH!!" she fell back as a vision took over.
"Cordy!" Doyle instinctively grabbed for her, but his hand went through hers.
Angel was there to catch her and Wesley was not far behind. She writhed on the floor as she was bombarded with images of The Scourge murdering a family of rodent-demons.
When the vision had passed, she sat bolt upright, tears streaming down her face. She shook her head, "This can't be."
"What did you see?" Wesley inquired softly.
"Rats..." she took a deep breath. "They were some kind of rat demons."
"Slujars," Tecothra filled in the name. "I've encountered them in the past. Very sweet, but very self-conscious." she explained, even though no one was listening. Scratch that, she realized, Lorne's listening.
"What was happening to the rat demons?" Angel asked, trying to get Cordelia back to linear thinking and out of the chaotic mess the visions always left in their wake.
"Murdered. All of them."
"By whom?" Wesley's turn again.
Cordelia met Tecothra's ponderous gaze, and the other woman could tell by the wild look in her eyes what the answer was.
And so did Doyle. "The Scourge,"
Tecothra's face went pale. Lorne put his hand on her shoulder. "This is that trouble, isn't it?"
"'Fraid so, Honey,"
"Wait," Cordelia pushed herself to her feet. "You knew? You knew they were coming?"
"I didn't - "
"And you didn't think it was important enough to tell us? Do you realize what kind of danger you've put us in? Do you even know who - what The Scourge is? Do you?"
"Cordy!" Lorne stood up suddenly. He could no longer keep the rising anger under control. She was pinning responsibility on Tecothra without any logical reason. "I saw something coming, but not what it was exactly. Stop being silly. It's not like Tec planned - "
"Oh, so you're on her side too, Lorne?" Cordelia cut him off. "That's just great!" she pushed the Pylean aside. She gathered up her wallet and its contents. As she reached for Doyle's picture, which had been dropped on the floor along with everything else, the rage she felt subsided. He could always do that to her...
She put the wallet back in her purse, then straightened. "I'm going for a walk." she informed them more calmly.
"But Cordy," Wesley tried to sound wistful, "What about your vision?"
She rolled her eyes, angry again. "Screw the damned vision!" and with that, she stormed off.
Doyle threw Tecothra a menacing look over his shoulder before following Cordelia out.
Tecothra buried her face in her face in her hands. "This is not going well."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Angel yelled at her. He hated seeing Cordelia hurting.
"Angel - "
"No, Lorne, it's okay." Tecothra reached over and squeezed his hand as a thank you for standing up for her. "Doyle told me to tell them, and to be completely honest I'm glad she left. It'll be easier this way." The demon sat down obligingly. "Alright," she exhaled, "Here goes. As I said earlier, The Powers That Be sent me here to resurrect your friend Doyle. How long has he been...hanging around? Pretty much since his death. The Powers were grateful for his sacrifice, thus redeeming his soul, and they offered him the opportunity to make a special request, as so happens when one redeems one's soul. So, Angel, you have something to look forward to, but choose carefully, 'cause these things can backfire.
"Doyle's request was to remain at Cordelia's side until her passing, to watch over her and protect her. The Powers granted his wish, and so he has remained on our plain of existence without anyone knowing. Until today.
"You see, The Powers always make restrictions when it comes to requests, and Doyle's was that he could only interfere under extreme circumstances, lest he should lose his priviledge and be forced to Cross Over.
"Now that he's made his presence known with that little picture fiasco - which point in fact only proved to make me less credible - I'm not sure how long The Powers will let him remain."
"But they sent you to bring him back. Won't they just let it slide?" Wesley asked, trying to better understand the situation.
Lorne anwered, "That's the funny thing about The PTB. They won't let it slide. We now have a time limit."
"We?" Angel scoffed. "You haven't convinced me yet."
"I don't know what else you expect me to say, Angel." Tecothra sighed.
"You've told us all about why you're here, but how do we know you're not making it all up? I'm tired of being pushed around and manipulated by - "
Tecothra's eyes flashed yellow, and when she spoke it was in Akishya's voice, "Angel, Champion of Light, you will cease to irritate our Giver of Second Life, or we will be forced to suspend your existence until this business is complete."
Wesley gaped at the Oracle's words, Angel looked flustered, and Lorne bore a lopsided grin. It wasn't everyday one saw The Powers assert their influence; they mostly stayed in the background.
Tecothra's body went limp, and she slumped back against the cushions. Lorne tucked the stray lock of dark brown hair behind her ear.
Her eyes fluttered open at his touch. "Well, that was a new experience." she said groggily.
Lorne smiled kindly at her. "Was that the Oracle you were talking to earlier?"
She nodded, eyebrow arched. "How do you know I was talking to an Oracle?"
"I was standing outside the door, remember?"
"Eavesdropping, Lorne?"
He averted his eyes. "Eavesdrop? Me? Tell, me, honey, why would I have to eavesdrop when all I have to hear is a tune from your voice to know what's going on in that li'l ol' head of yours?"
Tecothra smirked, but said nothing more of the matter.
"Who was that?" Wesley asked. "The woman who took over?"
"Aki. She's an Oracle." she was looking at Angel's stoic face when she said, "And Angel knows all about Oracles."
"Now are you convinced?" Lorne queried.
The vampire sighed. "I guess I have to be." he shrugged. "So what supplies do you need to carry this out?"
Tecothra muttered, "A willing participant would help."
* * *
Commander Noktwar of the Scourge entered the Target department store flanked by four of his fellow demons. The man to his left, Denattar, was acting as guide. He was the one who had seen the woman enter the store no more than ten minutes earlier. She was an alone and easy target. Noktwar grinned.
This was a revenge mission more that anything, although both objectives qualified for their Cleansing as well. Cordelia Chase was tainted with visions, given to her by her demon half-breed lover before his death, and Angel was a vampire with a soul.
A mother picked up her five year old son and hurried out the door. Noktwar sneered at them as they passed. "Thabo, Denattar, guard this door. No one gets in or out. If anyone tries to get past you, kill them. Gratchu, you're with me."
"Commander, what if Chase tries to escape? Do we kill her as well?" Thabo inquired.
Noktwar considered the possibilities, but decided on a simple action. "No. Chase will deliver the cursed vampire right into our hands. If she happens by, detain her."
The other two demons saluted. Noktwar and Gratchu set out in search of Cordelia.
She tucked her hair behind her ears as she tried to figure out if she was craving salt 'n vinegar or dill pickle chips. Doyle watched her, amused by the frustration such a simple decision evoked. "You really do miss the little things." he said to himself, as no one else could hear.
Cordelia groaned, turning away from the chips. The truth of the matter was that she could not take her mind off of what had happened back at the hotel. Had that really been Doyle? How long had he been there? Was he here now?
She scanned the aisle, seeking any trace of him, though she realized that was futile. Cordelia exhaled slowly. "Doyle, if you're here...um...pick which chips I should get."
Doyle regarded her in a stupor. She was waiting anxiously for his reply - or rather, for the bag of chips. A grin spread across his face as he moved past her and took one of each. The look that came over her face as the chips floated towards her was indescribable.
"It's really you!" she said joyously. "I don't believe it! I - I wish I could hug you! Or see you! I - "
The chips dropped to the floor suddenly. Doyle stared, wide-eyed in horror as two members of the Scourge came up behind Cordelia.
"What? What is it?" she asked in confusion.
Doyle had to think fast. He had to get her out of here. he grabbed a jar of nacho cheese dip.
"You want me to get nachos instead?" she arched her eyebrow.
"You'd better duck, Princess." he said, as he threw the jar at the Scourge.
"Hey!" Cordelia screeched. A roar erupted behind her, and she spun around. Her eyes went wide. She stumbled back before turning and running.
Doyle continued to launch jars of chip dip at the demons so that Cordelia could escape.
Noktwar knew not what was sending jars his way, but his patience was out. he went around the corner, going down the next aisle. Gratchu followed suit, so the ghost lept through the shelving. Cookies. He grabbed a bag in each hand, then chucked them at the Scourge. The demons strode right through the spectral form. they were confident - too confident, Doyle realized.
Cordelia screamed, the sound coming like the snap of a whip. "Cordy!" he ran through Noktwar, as well as every row and shelf marring his path.
Cordelia struggled against the the hold of the Scourge demon. "Let me go!" she hollered, stamping on his feet, beating his arms, and trying to pull away.
"Ah, good work, Denattar. Good work indeed." Noktwar praised.
"What do you want?" she demanded.
The demon smiled at her, and it was the most repulsive thing she had ever seen. "Our goal is simple: Revenge." he replied. "On you and your vampire friend."
Doyle looked frantically for more objects to throw. To the right of the doors the demons were guarding were bottles of water. He hurried over to them, grabbed one off the shelf, then smashed it over Denattar's head.
Cordelia wrenched away from the stunned creature, only to be knocked unconscious by Gratchu.
"No!" Doyle exclaimed.
The demon slung her over his shoulder, as Noktwar scanned for other menacing produce. "Let's go. Before something else attacks us."
Denattar was the first out the door. He was still rubbing his head. "Who did that?" he growled.
"A ghost," the commander replied easily. "She has a friend."
Doyle watched them, pondering what to do. He chose to follow the demons back to their hideout, since they would be unaware of his presence as long as he kept the lid on his temper. He ran after the four Scourge, jumping into the back of their black van. He sat huddled in the corner, watching helplessly as Gratchu bound Cordelia's hands and feet.
The van sped off.