***Please review. In future chapters I'll try to explain how Angelus got
hold of Fred and Gunn. If this story is to sick and disturbing for you,
I'm very sorry, but I feel I have to establish how evil Angelus is. PLEASE
somebody tell me how to type in italics, I put it in italics on word, but
when I upload it won't work.
If you can suggest away to bring Buffy into the story, I'll certainly consider it, but I'm lost for ideas on how to bring her in. I'm more of a C/A shipper, but I'm not against B/A***
"I'll pick you up tonight." Wesley said, switching off the engine.
"Pick me up? You never give me a ride home." Cordelia replied, adjusting the rear view mirror so she could see herself.
"Don't play with that." Wesley scolded her and slapped her hand away. She rolled her eyes at him and left the mirror alone.
"So? Why can't I walk home like normal?" She enquired.
"It's getting darker later. I just think it would be safer." He said.
"Safer? Wesley, this isn't LA. We live in the teeniest village in the whole world, practically, I know everyone who lives here. This place is danger free." She argued lamely. Truth be told, she hated walking home alone in the dark, usually Wesley was asleep by the time she got home, she didn't like to ask him to drive her home every night and there were no cabs in the village.
"I'm picking you up." Wesley said in a decisive tone. Cordelia knew the discussion was over and for once she didn't mind she had lost.
"Fine, fine, ok." She said and grabbed her handbag. "I'll see you later then."
He smiled at her and leant over, opening her door for her. She slipped out and started to walk away. She stopped and turned back. She knocked on the window of the car. Wesley raised his eyes skyward and pushed the button. The window opened.
"Is there a reason why I shouldn't be safe?" She questioned meekly. He could see she was scared. He reached out and gripped her hand that was resting on the car door. He squeezed it gently.
"Of course not." He assured her. Her face brightened immediately.
"Ok. I'm going this time, I promise."
*** I
"Come on Lorne! The key to this operation is speed." Fred said, glancing at the empty doorway of Caritas.
"Actually doll face it's silence." Lorne snapped and turned back to his table. The orb of thellessa was sat on it along with a few candles.
"We don't have so much time." She said with a frown.
"Come on, let's just do our part ok?" Gunn interjected and gently laid his hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry, you're right." She mumbled and waved her candle around in the air lamely while Gunn threw some sort of herb around the room.
He was rather miffed that he had got stuck with the smelly stuff throwing. He was sure there was something more manly he could have been doing.
Lorne started the incantation and closed his eyes. The chanting got quieter after a while, and it became obvious that Lorne was struggling to complete the curse.
"Well isn't this cosy?" An amused voice asked. With a heavy heart Gunn turned to see his friend stood casually in the entrance.
"Angel." Gunn said edgily and pushed Fred behind him.
"Hey Charles! Say, this isn't you trying to give me that pesky soul back again is it?" Angelus asked, rubbing his hands together.
"No, but that's Lorne trying." Gunn said and shoved his hand into his pocket. His fingers tightened around the stake he had stuffed hurriedly there.
Angelus strolled down the steps and ran his fingers along the bar.
"Dusty. I think you've been neglecting this place Lorne." He said as if he were telling a kid they had to tidy their room better next time.
"Angel cakes!" Lorne said in his usual cheerful tone and stood up. "Can I get you a drink?"
"I don't think so."
"Come on, we're all friends here!"
"No, no, no." Angelus said and shook his head as he said it. "If we were friends then you guys wouldn't be ganging up on me! Trying to force a soul into me! Do you people have any idea how fucking irritating that thing is?" He asked, stress written across his face. He looked at the three of them carefully, his gaze resting on Fred. "Fred," He murmured taking a step closer. "Beautiful Fred,"
"Leave her out of this man." Gunn warned, looking down at Angelus.
"But she's a part of it all, she's trying to punish me, I don't like punishments."
"I'm trying to save you Angel!" Fred piped up. "You can't honestly tell me that you're happy how you are now. There's still a part of you in there that wants to do good in this world!"
Angelus laughed and grabbed her wrists, pulling her towards him.
"For someone with so many science degrees and a thirst for knowledge, you really are very stupid Winifred." He hissed, staring into her eyes. She whimpered and tried to back away.
"Let her go." Gunn said. His voice was shaking with anger and his eyes.Fred had never seen him look so dangerous before. She couldn't conceal the fact she was scared. Scared of what he might do to Angelus. She didn't want Angelus to be staked, she wanted Angel back.
"Lighten up Charles, I promise you'll see Fred here again. I wouldn't eat a pretty girl like this one. I don't eat the pretty ones Charles, I turn them." Angelus said and turned back to Fred.
Gunn was paralysed with fear, he had never met Angelus before, but he didn't doubt that he would follow through the threat.
"Sorry kids but you forgot something," Lorne butted in. "No violence in Caritas." He said in a disapproving tone. "Everybody's safe here."
In the drama Gunn had forgotten that rule. He breathed a sigh of relief and sank to the floor. Angelus tried to bite her anyway but his head was jerked back and he growled in anger. He threw Fred at her boyfriend. She sobbing into his chest and he wrapped strong arms around her.
"It's ok baby, its ok." He whispered in her ear.
"Unless you're going to spend the night bitch fighting I propose you scurry away dark Angel. Unless you've changed your mind about that drink."
Angelus looked in disgust around the club. How could he have forgotten? And now he'd have to leave. It would be a crap exit too. He was feeling rather dismayed. He wondered what he could do now. He'd already got Wesley and Cordelia. Gunn and Fred were as safe as houses.
He needed to break that orb. It was vital that it was destroyed. He kicked the wall outside of Caritas.
He liked the idea of turning Cordelia and sending her in to steal the orb. But that would take to much time, time he didn't have.
"Fucking stupid pricks," He hissed and kicked the wall angrily. It crumbled a little, but not enough that anybody would notice.
He had limited time; this meant he had limits on what he could do. He had to face reality; in less than an hour he was going to be gone. Angel was going to rein the city again. Idiot.
He had to do something to make this short stint of Angelus memorable. Of course, Cordelia was going to remember tonight's events for the rest of her life. That cheered Angelus up considerably and he smiled a little.
Then he had an idea. *** Cordelia still lay whimpering on the floor of the room. Wesley didn't want to disturb her, didn't even want to speak to her. He wanted to pretend he had no idea what had just happened. He didn't know what to say to her, but he had to convince her to move. They had to get out before Angelus returned.
"Cordy," He whispered eventually. "Cordy, we have to get out!" She looked up from her hands. Mascara was mixed with her tears and was streaked all the way down her face, her cheeks were flushed red and her eyes were puffy and pink. Her face was drenched with tears.
There was already a bruise forming on her neck and still the blood was trickling slowly down her slim, tanned neck. Wesley concentrated on one droplet; fascinated by the way it lingered on her delicate skin. The bright red colour clashed terribly with her flesh and stood out a mile.
Wesley followed the droplet as it moved down her neck. He watched it twist this way and that so painstakingly slowly until it joined onto another drop and the new drop fell off her body and collected in the pool of dark red blood that was gathered around Cordelia.
"Cordy, I have to get you out. You need medical help." Wesley said hoarsely. "Please Cordelia, let me help you!" He was pleading with her now. He didn't care either like he normally would if he had been forced to resort to this.
She made a noise half way between a grunt and a moan. Wesley took this as a yes and hurried over to her pulling clothes over her head as swiftly as he could. He tried so hard to avoid looking at her wounds, but it was hard not to notice the gaping scars or the thin scratches across her stomach. Wesley tried to shake away twisted images of Angelus digging his nails deep into Cordelia's perfect torso.
She was in too much distress to even move. Wesley had heaved her up of the floor and pulled her towards the door, but she hadn't tried to move still and her feet dragged until she was half lying on the floor again.
Wesley stooped over her and gently hoisted her up. He pulled her into his arms and carried her out of the hotel as quickly as he could.
He felt strange walking down the familiar steps down into the main lobby. Everything was different now. If they ever got Angel back Wesley knew that everything would change. He seriously doubted Cordelia would remain friends with Angel after this. Wesley seriously doubted HE would remain friends with Angel after this.
He remembered only to well how badly Cordelia reacted when Angel had fired them. And then he had simply ignored them.
*
It was hours later when Wesley finally pulled his car up outside Cordelia's apartment block. They had entered the hospital at 12:15am. It was now 1:35pm. Wesley had been careful not to mention what had happened, although he was positive the hospital staff suspected him of something. The way she kept crying and crying, refusing to talk. They had been staring and whispering at him all the while he was there. Most giving him dirty looks if he dared ask them how she was.
A thick white patch had covered the marks in her neck. The doctor had insisted she was kept in over night to rest and recover but she hadn't slept. Nor had Wesley. He had been terrified Angelus might turn up again. He had sat faithfully at her bedside all night, occasionally leaving to get coffee and check the hallways, checking they were empty.
If Angelus did appear, Cordelia wondered what Wesley would do. He hadn't been so helpful before. That night, she didn't really give a fuck if he turned up or not. She was past caring. Let him come and torment her some more. It didn't get much worse than this. She felt so flat. Like it didn't matter what happened next. In the grand scheme of things, she didn't matter. If she departed this life....would it be so bad?
"Here we are. Home." Wesley told Cordelia and got out of the car, limping slightly. The doctors had been mildly interested in his injuries, but Wesley had done a good job of convincing them that it was nothing. He could deal with it himself. All his attention was fixed on Cordelia.
Wesley hobbled around the car and opened her door for her. She made a weak attempt at a smile and gratefully accepted his hand. She paused after getting out of the car and got her bearings. She shivered a little in the cool breeze. Her eyes scanned the street, looking for a sign of him.
"It's ok. Daylight." Wesley comforted her. Cordelia nodded and looked over to the building.
"I just want to be home." She croaked.
"I'll stop by my apartment soon. I have the supplies that will allow me to perform the spell that will un-invite a vampire from your home." Wesley said tentatively.
"Ok." She shrugged.
As soon as Wesley was sure Cordelia was settled in her apartment he decided to perform the spell as soon as possible.
On his drive over to his own place he wondered about Lorne and Fred and Gunn. He should catch up with them, make sure they were ok. As long as they had stayed in Caritas they would be ok. He hoped they had managed to complete the ritual. He doubted it though, it was a highly complex spell. He knew they should have asked Willow to do it for them.
As he parked the car he fished around through the small drawer in the front of the car for his cell phone. Wesley switched of the engine and dialled Gunn's number.
When Wesley put the key in the lock he heard it. He could hear the shrill repetitive ringing of a cell phone. Wesley's suspicions were aroused at once. The door was still locked, which meant somebody had got it with a spare key.
"Gunn?" Wesley called clearly and stepped into the apartment. The phone was still ringing. It was coming from the other side of the bedroom door. Wesley called his name again louder this time and started striding towards the door.
Wesley pressed his ear against the blue door and strained to hear any sign that the room wasn't empty. He couldn't hear anything other than the constant ring of the phone. He pressed the End Call button on his own phone and slowly opened the door.
The sight was disgusting. The stench consumed Wesley and the picture in front of him so vile he threw up. Blood, guts and sex filled his nostrils and he retched again, staggering onto his knees taking deep shuddering gasps. This was another nightmare that Angelus had concocted for him.
Fred's mangled naked form lay draped across Wesley's usually neat bed. Now the sheets were crumpled and rich dark blood splattered across them. She was so pale.and her eyes so dead, glazed over but still staring. It was unnerving. Gunn lay on the floor, his head facing the floor. On his leg was a deep gash; it was identical to the one on Wesley's own right leg.
In Fred's stiff, icily cold hands, she grasped a piece of paper. In blood letters were the words;
"Your turns will come."
I
***Thank you to all who reviewed! I thrive of feedback. ( This is more of a filler chapter, but please still review!***
If you can suggest away to bring Buffy into the story, I'll certainly consider it, but I'm lost for ideas on how to bring her in. I'm more of a C/A shipper, but I'm not against B/A***
"I'll pick you up tonight." Wesley said, switching off the engine.
"Pick me up? You never give me a ride home." Cordelia replied, adjusting the rear view mirror so she could see herself.
"Don't play with that." Wesley scolded her and slapped her hand away. She rolled her eyes at him and left the mirror alone.
"So? Why can't I walk home like normal?" She enquired.
"It's getting darker later. I just think it would be safer." He said.
"Safer? Wesley, this isn't LA. We live in the teeniest village in the whole world, practically, I know everyone who lives here. This place is danger free." She argued lamely. Truth be told, she hated walking home alone in the dark, usually Wesley was asleep by the time she got home, she didn't like to ask him to drive her home every night and there were no cabs in the village.
"I'm picking you up." Wesley said in a decisive tone. Cordelia knew the discussion was over and for once she didn't mind she had lost.
"Fine, fine, ok." She said and grabbed her handbag. "I'll see you later then."
He smiled at her and leant over, opening her door for her. She slipped out and started to walk away. She stopped and turned back. She knocked on the window of the car. Wesley raised his eyes skyward and pushed the button. The window opened.
"Is there a reason why I shouldn't be safe?" She questioned meekly. He could see she was scared. He reached out and gripped her hand that was resting on the car door. He squeezed it gently.
"Of course not." He assured her. Her face brightened immediately.
"Ok. I'm going this time, I promise."
*** I
"Come on Lorne! The key to this operation is speed." Fred said, glancing at the empty doorway of Caritas.
"Actually doll face it's silence." Lorne snapped and turned back to his table. The orb of thellessa was sat on it along with a few candles.
"We don't have so much time." She said with a frown.
"Come on, let's just do our part ok?" Gunn interjected and gently laid his hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry, you're right." She mumbled and waved her candle around in the air lamely while Gunn threw some sort of herb around the room.
He was rather miffed that he had got stuck with the smelly stuff throwing. He was sure there was something more manly he could have been doing.
Lorne started the incantation and closed his eyes. The chanting got quieter after a while, and it became obvious that Lorne was struggling to complete the curse.
"Well isn't this cosy?" An amused voice asked. With a heavy heart Gunn turned to see his friend stood casually in the entrance.
"Angel." Gunn said edgily and pushed Fred behind him.
"Hey Charles! Say, this isn't you trying to give me that pesky soul back again is it?" Angelus asked, rubbing his hands together.
"No, but that's Lorne trying." Gunn said and shoved his hand into his pocket. His fingers tightened around the stake he had stuffed hurriedly there.
Angelus strolled down the steps and ran his fingers along the bar.
"Dusty. I think you've been neglecting this place Lorne." He said as if he were telling a kid they had to tidy their room better next time.
"Angel cakes!" Lorne said in his usual cheerful tone and stood up. "Can I get you a drink?"
"I don't think so."
"Come on, we're all friends here!"
"No, no, no." Angelus said and shook his head as he said it. "If we were friends then you guys wouldn't be ganging up on me! Trying to force a soul into me! Do you people have any idea how fucking irritating that thing is?" He asked, stress written across his face. He looked at the three of them carefully, his gaze resting on Fred. "Fred," He murmured taking a step closer. "Beautiful Fred,"
"Leave her out of this man." Gunn warned, looking down at Angelus.
"But she's a part of it all, she's trying to punish me, I don't like punishments."
"I'm trying to save you Angel!" Fred piped up. "You can't honestly tell me that you're happy how you are now. There's still a part of you in there that wants to do good in this world!"
Angelus laughed and grabbed her wrists, pulling her towards him.
"For someone with so many science degrees and a thirst for knowledge, you really are very stupid Winifred." He hissed, staring into her eyes. She whimpered and tried to back away.
"Let her go." Gunn said. His voice was shaking with anger and his eyes.Fred had never seen him look so dangerous before. She couldn't conceal the fact she was scared. Scared of what he might do to Angelus. She didn't want Angelus to be staked, she wanted Angel back.
"Lighten up Charles, I promise you'll see Fred here again. I wouldn't eat a pretty girl like this one. I don't eat the pretty ones Charles, I turn them." Angelus said and turned back to Fred.
Gunn was paralysed with fear, he had never met Angelus before, but he didn't doubt that he would follow through the threat.
"Sorry kids but you forgot something," Lorne butted in. "No violence in Caritas." He said in a disapproving tone. "Everybody's safe here."
In the drama Gunn had forgotten that rule. He breathed a sigh of relief and sank to the floor. Angelus tried to bite her anyway but his head was jerked back and he growled in anger. He threw Fred at her boyfriend. She sobbing into his chest and he wrapped strong arms around her.
"It's ok baby, its ok." He whispered in her ear.
"Unless you're going to spend the night bitch fighting I propose you scurry away dark Angel. Unless you've changed your mind about that drink."
Angelus looked in disgust around the club. How could he have forgotten? And now he'd have to leave. It would be a crap exit too. He was feeling rather dismayed. He wondered what he could do now. He'd already got Wesley and Cordelia. Gunn and Fred were as safe as houses.
He needed to break that orb. It was vital that it was destroyed. He kicked the wall outside of Caritas.
He liked the idea of turning Cordelia and sending her in to steal the orb. But that would take to much time, time he didn't have.
"Fucking stupid pricks," He hissed and kicked the wall angrily. It crumbled a little, but not enough that anybody would notice.
He had limited time; this meant he had limits on what he could do. He had to face reality; in less than an hour he was going to be gone. Angel was going to rein the city again. Idiot.
He had to do something to make this short stint of Angelus memorable. Of course, Cordelia was going to remember tonight's events for the rest of her life. That cheered Angelus up considerably and he smiled a little.
Then he had an idea. *** Cordelia still lay whimpering on the floor of the room. Wesley didn't want to disturb her, didn't even want to speak to her. He wanted to pretend he had no idea what had just happened. He didn't know what to say to her, but he had to convince her to move. They had to get out before Angelus returned.
"Cordy," He whispered eventually. "Cordy, we have to get out!" She looked up from her hands. Mascara was mixed with her tears and was streaked all the way down her face, her cheeks were flushed red and her eyes were puffy and pink. Her face was drenched with tears.
There was already a bruise forming on her neck and still the blood was trickling slowly down her slim, tanned neck. Wesley concentrated on one droplet; fascinated by the way it lingered on her delicate skin. The bright red colour clashed terribly with her flesh and stood out a mile.
Wesley followed the droplet as it moved down her neck. He watched it twist this way and that so painstakingly slowly until it joined onto another drop and the new drop fell off her body and collected in the pool of dark red blood that was gathered around Cordelia.
"Cordy, I have to get you out. You need medical help." Wesley said hoarsely. "Please Cordelia, let me help you!" He was pleading with her now. He didn't care either like he normally would if he had been forced to resort to this.
She made a noise half way between a grunt and a moan. Wesley took this as a yes and hurried over to her pulling clothes over her head as swiftly as he could. He tried so hard to avoid looking at her wounds, but it was hard not to notice the gaping scars or the thin scratches across her stomach. Wesley tried to shake away twisted images of Angelus digging his nails deep into Cordelia's perfect torso.
She was in too much distress to even move. Wesley had heaved her up of the floor and pulled her towards the door, but she hadn't tried to move still and her feet dragged until she was half lying on the floor again.
Wesley stooped over her and gently hoisted her up. He pulled her into his arms and carried her out of the hotel as quickly as he could.
He felt strange walking down the familiar steps down into the main lobby. Everything was different now. If they ever got Angel back Wesley knew that everything would change. He seriously doubted Cordelia would remain friends with Angel after this. Wesley seriously doubted HE would remain friends with Angel after this.
He remembered only to well how badly Cordelia reacted when Angel had fired them. And then he had simply ignored them.
*
It was hours later when Wesley finally pulled his car up outside Cordelia's apartment block. They had entered the hospital at 12:15am. It was now 1:35pm. Wesley had been careful not to mention what had happened, although he was positive the hospital staff suspected him of something. The way she kept crying and crying, refusing to talk. They had been staring and whispering at him all the while he was there. Most giving him dirty looks if he dared ask them how she was.
A thick white patch had covered the marks in her neck. The doctor had insisted she was kept in over night to rest and recover but she hadn't slept. Nor had Wesley. He had been terrified Angelus might turn up again. He had sat faithfully at her bedside all night, occasionally leaving to get coffee and check the hallways, checking they were empty.
If Angelus did appear, Cordelia wondered what Wesley would do. He hadn't been so helpful before. That night, she didn't really give a fuck if he turned up or not. She was past caring. Let him come and torment her some more. It didn't get much worse than this. She felt so flat. Like it didn't matter what happened next. In the grand scheme of things, she didn't matter. If she departed this life....would it be so bad?
"Here we are. Home." Wesley told Cordelia and got out of the car, limping slightly. The doctors had been mildly interested in his injuries, but Wesley had done a good job of convincing them that it was nothing. He could deal with it himself. All his attention was fixed on Cordelia.
Wesley hobbled around the car and opened her door for her. She made a weak attempt at a smile and gratefully accepted his hand. She paused after getting out of the car and got her bearings. She shivered a little in the cool breeze. Her eyes scanned the street, looking for a sign of him.
"It's ok. Daylight." Wesley comforted her. Cordelia nodded and looked over to the building.
"I just want to be home." She croaked.
"I'll stop by my apartment soon. I have the supplies that will allow me to perform the spell that will un-invite a vampire from your home." Wesley said tentatively.
"Ok." She shrugged.
As soon as Wesley was sure Cordelia was settled in her apartment he decided to perform the spell as soon as possible.
On his drive over to his own place he wondered about Lorne and Fred and Gunn. He should catch up with them, make sure they were ok. As long as they had stayed in Caritas they would be ok. He hoped they had managed to complete the ritual. He doubted it though, it was a highly complex spell. He knew they should have asked Willow to do it for them.
As he parked the car he fished around through the small drawer in the front of the car for his cell phone. Wesley switched of the engine and dialled Gunn's number.
When Wesley put the key in the lock he heard it. He could hear the shrill repetitive ringing of a cell phone. Wesley's suspicions were aroused at once. The door was still locked, which meant somebody had got it with a spare key.
"Gunn?" Wesley called clearly and stepped into the apartment. The phone was still ringing. It was coming from the other side of the bedroom door. Wesley called his name again louder this time and started striding towards the door.
Wesley pressed his ear against the blue door and strained to hear any sign that the room wasn't empty. He couldn't hear anything other than the constant ring of the phone. He pressed the End Call button on his own phone and slowly opened the door.
The sight was disgusting. The stench consumed Wesley and the picture in front of him so vile he threw up. Blood, guts and sex filled his nostrils and he retched again, staggering onto his knees taking deep shuddering gasps. This was another nightmare that Angelus had concocted for him.
Fred's mangled naked form lay draped across Wesley's usually neat bed. Now the sheets were crumpled and rich dark blood splattered across them. She was so pale.and her eyes so dead, glazed over but still staring. It was unnerving. Gunn lay on the floor, his head facing the floor. On his leg was a deep gash; it was identical to the one on Wesley's own right leg.
In Fred's stiff, icily cold hands, she grasped a piece of paper. In blood letters were the words;
"Your turns will come."
I
***Thank you to all who reviewed! I thrive of feedback. ( This is more of a filler chapter, but please still review!***
