Part 2
The monastery
A month later
The monastery was a very strange place. Not many people - or other creatures know where to find it. It's location was a well kept secret. some of the monks were human and some of them were half demon. All of them saw no longer a reason to live outside the walls of this place. It was their sanctuary. This monastery was not about religion it was about peace and shelter. Some of the monks tended to the gardens, some studied old books and scripts and talked about prophecies. But nobody was forced to do so. In some way each of them lived his own life but together they were a close community of peaceful beings.
Then one day or rather one night four months ago someone new had arrived. It had been more than ten years since the last arrival of a new brother and visitors seldom came. But this night someone was in front of their gate. To say they were surprised would be an understatement. Everyone one of them had heard or read about this creature. Most them knew the facts about his horrible past, some of them had heard rumours nobody wanted to believe. And they certainly had not the wish to grant access to the monastery to the vampire known as the Scourge of Europe. There was no place for an evil demon in this community. All the demons or rather half demons of the community were good demons. And since the foundation of the monastery no vampire had ever been allowed into the sanctuary - not that any of them had ever looked for shelter here but there had been some of them looking for blood.
But then they listened to his story about a gypsy curse, a new beginning and the wish for redemption. And they learned about his love and his loss. Looking into his eyes they saw his grieving soul and so he was allowed to enter.
Angel was walking through the gardens since sunset. After living with the monks for nearly four months he had finally come to a decision. Now he was looking for the abbot to talk to him. He found him sitting on a bench.
"I'm sorry to disturb your thoughts but I need to talk to you."
"There is no need for an excuse. You know I like talking with you, Angel!"
"I have made my decision."
"So are you finally ready to return to L.A. Seeking redemption by saving lost souls is a difficult task but I'm sure you will make you way. You are strong."
"That's not it, father. I wanted to ask for your permission to stay here. How can I save other souls if my own is too weakened, too torn after it lost it's other half. How can I help others when I have lost myself?"
"So you need for time to grieve for her?"
Angel bowed his head "Yes."
"There is no need to be ashamed, my son. You know we grieve with you. The Slayer is a very important warrior. And every loss of one of these special girls is a reason for many tears. But your loss was even greater. You didn't only loose a fellow warrior but also the woman of your heart. Your soul mate even. Angel, you are welcome here. I told you this when you first came to us and I haven't changed my mind. Stay as long as you want. This monastery will be your home until your soul finds the peace it needs."
"Thank you, father. This means a lot to me. And I will contribute to this community as much as I can."
And so Angel stayed in this secret place far away from his friends. Far away from everyone and everything that reminded him of Buffy. It was the only way for him to go on because he still had to much to amend for so greeting the early morning sun was out of the question.
His days and nights were filled with hours full of brooding - no surprise there -, translations of old texts, studying old prophecies, long talks with the monks and the abbot and even gardening in moonlight.
And so the years passed.
TBC