Chapter 3

Cordelia stood staring blankly at the store clerk. Sunnydale, I know I've been there before, I can feel it.

"Miss are you sure you're alright?"

Cordelia shook her head slightly, bringing herself back to reality, "Ah, would you happen to have a bathroom I could borrow?"

"Well, it's just that it's for employee's only."

"Please," she did her best to beam a bright smile in the clerks direction, "I'll be really quick."

The clerk seemed to melt under her gaze. She noticed this and a little vanity took over and she smiled wider. Did she have this effect on all men? She could only gather that she must be quite attractive. She imagined that the clerk would not pay quite as much attention to her if she wasn't.

"Well, ok. It's just through here."

The clerk placed his hand on Cordelia's shoulder and led her behind the counter and through to the bathroom. Cordelia beamed another smile and was sure to lock the door behind her. She gasped when she looked in the mirror. I'm BLONDE! She certainly didn't see that one coming, but by the look of her roots seeping through, it certainly wasn't permanent. Thank God! So what was her problem with blondes?

She ran her hands across her face, making sure the reflection was hers. She looked as though she was in her early twenties, as she had suspected. The were no abnormal facial features. She inspected her teeth. No, not too large. She ran her hands across her cheeks and down her neck. Nothing wrong ther- wait a minute. Cordelia turned her head to the right and ran her hand across the two small lumps she felt. She lent into the mirror and look a little closer. It was some kind of scar that ran across the artery. Huh, maybe a vampire bit me? She stopped for a moment. Why did that thought seem more fathomable then any other she had had since this whole ordeal started. You're completely nuts.

She turned the tap on slowly and watched the water stream into the basin. She let the cool liquid run over her hands and in between her fingers. She cupped her hands and let a small pool form within. She then brought them to her face and let the liquid run across it. She lifted her head so that her reflection stared back at her. Who was this stranger? Why didn't she recognise her?

She removed a few sheets of paper towel from the wall and padded her face dry. She stepped back suddenly as she saw something in the mirror.

"I'm scared…but I know it's the right thing to do."

Cordelia looked franticly around the bathroom. She looked at the mirror again as her reflection spoke to her.

"This is the last test."

"I'm in love…with Angel."

Angel? The Angel I was going to meet? What test? How many tests were there?

"TELL ME!" She yelled at her reflection, but it was gone.

"Miss?" There was a tap at the door, "Miss, is everything ok?"

Cordelia regained herself and opened the door, smiling.

"Yes fine."

"Uh, are you sure?" he lent in a little closer, "Cause I'm from Sunnydale myself and I know when things are a little weird" He air quoted weird.

Cordelia eyed him for a few moments. Her stare was obviously making him uncomfortable.

"You're from Sunnydale?" He nodded, "Well then, I wonder if you could help me."

She gave him another large smile.

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Gunn slowly circled around Angel. Was he going to need a stake for this situation. Angel had hold of Fred. Yes a stake would be necessary.

Angel drew a line with his nose up Fred's neck. A slight growl escaped his throat.

"Angel man, don't you do that! Don't you growl at my girl."

Gunn surveyed the foyer for a stake. They were in the office's desk draw and the weapons cabinet that Angel was standing in front of. Gunn moved closer to the foyer lounge. He glanced at the wooden side table next to it. Gunn lifted a leg and brought it down on the table. Wooden shards scattered along the floor. He picked up one of the chair legs and moved into fighting stance.

"Look, I know I've said on occasion that I wouldn't have a problem doing this…"

Angel pulled Fred a little closer, a small squeal escaped her throat.

"And this won't be any different!"

Gunn lunged at Angel, knocking all three to the floor.

Fred went sliding across the tile and hit her head on the weapons cabinet.

Gunn was fumbling to retrieve the table leg that had escaped his grip.

Angel was crouched near the office, now in vamp face. He drew his hands to his temples and shook his head from side to side. He gazed over at Fred and turned his head to the side. He lifted his head slightly and sniffed at the air.

Gunn gathered himself and was on his feet. He moved in toward Angel, stake held ready.

"Charles! No!" Fred yelled out to him as Angel looked continuously between herself and Gunn.

"What do you mean no, he tried to kill you. He's Angelus again!"

"No, I've seen him like this before. Distract him."

Fred started to move towards Angel, heading for the office. Angel turned to her and grabbed her arm. Within moments Gunn was on top of him and Fred was free. The two struggled as Fred disappeared into the office.

Angel was getting the upper hand when he suddenly lifted his head and sniffed the are again. He turned to face Fred coming out of the office. Blood slowly dripped from her hand as she held it high in the air. She dipped her hand into the tub of blood again, then returned it above her head. Angel ran over to her and grabbed the tub, drinking hungrily.

"Charles go down to the butcher and get as much blood as you can."

"I'm not leaving you here with him."

"I'm fine, go and get the blood."

"But he tried to kill you!"

"GUNN!"

Fred looked at him with a stern face. He turned and exited the hotel. She never called him Gunn.

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Morning…

"I still don't like this."

Gunn and Fred were standing outside of Angel's room.

"How do we know that's not him, not Angelus?"

"Have you ever encountered Angelus Charles?" He shook his head, "Well neither have I," Gunn was about to interrupt her, she held and finger and a stern look to his face. "BUT, from what Cordelia and you-know-who has told us, I imagine that I wouldn't be standing here right now. He'd be torturing me or I'd be dead and so'd you."

Fred turned and put a hand to the doorknob.

"Just…we have to be careful."

Fred revealed a stake tucked into the side of her pants. She put a hand to Gunn's face.

"Aren't I always."

Gunn smiled at her, took her hand and placed his lips softly against her pale skin.

Together they entered the room. Angel was sleeping amongst ruffled sheets due to an extremely restless night. There were several empty plastic cups laying around the bed, traces of blood along their sides. Fred slowly moved towards Angel as she gave Gunn a reassuring glance. Gunn stood at the end of the bed observing, ready to pounce.

Fred knelt down beside Angel and placed a hand to his forehead, the other rested on the bed. She softly brushed his hair off his face as his hand came to her's wresting on the bed.

"I'm so sorry Fred."

"Hey, there you are." A smile moved across her face as she glanced across at Gunn, who was unmoved. Well he wasn't going to show it anyway.

"I'm so, so sorry."

"It's alright, I knew you weren't goin' to hurt me. Well, ok that's not all together true, but, I'm ok. Charles is ok too, see?"

Fred looked over at Gunn and motioned with her head for him to come closer. Gunn obeyed. Angel repositioned himself on the bed and looked toward Gunn.

"I'm sorry."

Gunn nodded. Fred was a little peeved that Gunn wasn't more forthcoming, but she knew he was just being protective.

"Are you feelin' ok?" Asked Fred, "Cause we can get you more blood."

"No, I'm fine"

Angel sat himself up on the bed. Fred slid a chair closer and took a sit.

"Where were you man?"

"Charles!"

Fred looked at him in disbelief.

"Bottom of the ocean." Angel showed little feeling with the comment.

"What?" Fred shifted her gaze to Angel.

"Well, that explains the water."

"How?"

"Um…" Angel's eyes shift as he searches his memory, "Connor and the red head, where's Cordelia?"

"Connor?" Fred was a little shocked, but at the same time, she wasn't.

Angel suddenly became very distraught. He jumped off the bed and grab Fred and brought her to her feet.

"Where is Cordelia, I was supposed to meet her!"

Gunn moves around the bed and reaches out toward Fred.

"Let her go man."

Angel draws Fred closer to his face. Fred couldn't tell if Angel was expressing anger, pain or fear. She steady her breath and calmed herself down.

"WHERE IS SHE?!!"

He shook Fred violently. A cry escaped her body.

"She's gone Angel!"

Angel released his grip when he heard Gunn's words. Fred's slight frame fell to the floor.

"Gone, what do you mean gone?"

Gunn ignored his question as he tended to Fred. A hand wrapped over his shoulder and pushed him back several steps. Angel didn't need to, but he breath heavily as he gave Gunn a questioning stare.

"SHE'S GONE ANGEL! GONE!" Gunn regained himself as he heard his own words. He then spoke softly as he reached toward Angel, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry!" Angel brushed off Gunn's gesture. "What do you mean your sorry?" Angel took a moment, "Well, we have to go and find her. Let's go and find her."

"We can't."

The soft voice came from Fred as she moved between Angel and Gunn. She took his hands in hers as tears streamed down her face.

"She's dead."

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