WOES
NOTE: I own none of these guys except for Skylar and any character that you haven't seen before.
A/N: This is the third Skylar story in the Skylar series. Like I said before each story has a different length. This one might be longer or shorter than the others. I don't know yet. But since this story goes with Angel's gift and Valentine's Surprise you might want to read those before you read this.
CHAPTER 13Skylar ran up to the double doors of the hotel. Her clothes were soaking wet from the rain. Her blonde hair was stuck to her back. Skylar looked inside the hotel through one of the glass doors. Buffy, Dawn, Connor, and the others were all scattered trying to find candles. None of them were paying attention to the doors. Skylar slowly crept in, leaving the door she'd open ajar. Sky managed to sneak past everyone and behind a sofa.
"This is hopeless," said Buffy, lighting a thin candle. "In one day everything has been shot to hell."
"Are we going to bring a candle downstairs?" Dawn asked, mainly trying to change the subject.
"To Angelus? We might as well," said Willow. "We're going to need light when we bring him back."
"I'll do it," said Anya. "I can handle men." She took a book of matches and two thick candles and headed downstairs. She lit a candle as she walked down. Light burned in the room, showing Angelus' face.
"Hey," said Angelus dryly. "How's it going?"
Anya lit the next candle, the basement turned brighter. "I don't have time for you. So… shut the hell up."
"Love the temper. Save it for later, though."
Anya scoffed. She advanced back upstairs. Skylar peeked out from behind the couch. She snuck passed everyone and managed to get downstairs. Anya hadn't closed the door. Skylar walked downstairs. She stopped at the barrier.
"Daddy?" Skylar asked. "Is it you?"
"Oh. There's my little girl. Tried to run away, huh?"
"Sorry about that."
"It is so pathetic the way you think Angel is your father, you little brat."
"You're still not Dad!" Skylar exclaimed. "I don't get it! I thought my dad would be back by now but no. You're still here. I want him back. I don't want you."
"You don't have a father, you little moron." Angelus knelt down inside the barrier. "Daddy's not your real daddy. He killed your real daddy. And then he killed your mommy, too. Your mommy was a monster, you know. And you're one, too."
"Stop it! That's not true. My dad loves me," Skylar protested. "He says I'm special."
"Special ed maybe. When will you realize that you have no family? The only reason your dad took you in was because he felt sorry for you. You were just a stray. Angel doesn't care about you."
Skylar turned her head away. Her heart fell like it broke into a million pieces. Was all of this true? Did Angel really not care about her? Tears began to streak down Skylar's cheeks. She sniffed.
"Oh, so now you're gonna cry, right?" said Angelus. "Just like you. You're a weak little twerp."
Back upstairs Buffy was sitting on a couch in the lobby. Dawn was sitting next to her, hugging her legs. Xander sat on the arm of the same couch.
"I just can't get over it," said Buffy.
"Yeah," said Dawn. "Maybe we should call police about Sky."
"It's not that," said Buffy. "Even though I'm as worried as hell. It's… something Angelus said."
"What'd he say?" Xander asked.
"He said… Angel didn't really want to marry me. That Skylar just needed a mother." Buffy released a sigh.
"What? You don't believe that do you?" Dawn asked.
"Dawn, I don't know. Angelus has manipulated me before. But I just don't know about this. It doesn't sound very fake."
"Come on, Buff. You're not really going to listen to some vamp are you?" Xander asked.
"I don't know," Buffy snapped. "I just
don't."
Willow, feeling a chill from where she as sitting, steered her eyes over to the
half closed door. "Hey, who left the door open?"
Connor went over and closed it. "I thought we shut it," he said.
All of a sudden Chad appeared in the lobby. "Uh, who is that?" Anya asked. "I saw him during the wedding."
"Chad. He's the angel of destiny," said Dawn. "Well, one of them, anyway."
"Where's Skylar?" Chad asked.
"We can't find her," said Buffy. "Chad, there has to be some way you can."
"Oh, no," said Chad. "Kevin told me that he saw Skylar. She ran back here and—"
"Wait. Hold on, angel boy," said Lorne. "If Princess is here then where is she?"
"Oh, my God," Buffy suddenly realized.
"It's amazing how much pain and misery you cause," said Angelus to Skylar. "The only reason Angel keeps you around is because he never got a chance to be a father to a real kid. You're just his own personal toy."
"No, stop saying that. It's not true!" Skylar yelled, kicking a crystal of the barrier. The crystal shoved off away from the circle. The barrier around Angelus was removed. "Huh?"
"Hmm. Thanks, kid," said Angelus. The others began to file down the stairs. "Here come the troops."
"Skylar!" Buffy exclaimed. Angelus swiftly grabbed the small seven-year-old. "Let her—"
"Shut up!" Angelus ordered through clenched teeth. "I'll break her neck right now."
"Mom, help! I—" Angelus put his hand over her mouth.
"Let her go," Spike commanded finally breaking his quiet spell.
"Not happening, junior. I'm cashing this deposit in at the blood bank." Angelus moved rapidly past them, knocking Xander, Dawn, Willow, and Lorne all down.
Connor, Buffy, Anya, Chad and Spike followed after Angelus. He turned to the four of them at the door, still gripping Skylar.
"Thanks for everything, guys," said Angelus. "It's been a real slice." He speeded out the door and was gone.
A/N: So many plot bunnies are forming over Skylar. What are you guys thinking, huh? I seriously want to know. So let me know, OK?
