"Who is this?" Xander asked. It wasn't often he got calls. But hey, all you
need is a witch, slayer and vengeance demon, and Xander had all three.
"Angel," Angel's voice played with the two men. Angel didn't want to sound human but he's grown to like how he acted and sounded now instead of 4 yeas ago.
"Oh." Well that makes since, suppose you might need a vampire too, occasionally. "Well, what do you want?" Xander asked, he didn't mean to be rude but that's all he could be toward Angel after what had happened with Angel and Buffy.
"I heard about Buffy and I want to know more. I wanted to talk to some one close but not too close, that seems to be you," Angel's voice filled with the harshness Angelus once used on Xander during taunting him about Angel getting to Buffy first.
"You must be mad. Knowing that Spike gets a girl you did and will always love. Knowing that Spike got to Buffy in half the time it took you. That must hurt," Xander, returned the harshness in spite of what Angel put him through.
"Why did she do it?" Angel asked trying desperately yet not at all to hide his pain. Angel's mind searched thoroughly for answers but there was none to come.
"She needed someone to occupy her lust," Xander kidded. "You left her, who else was there to turn to?" Xander asked not really expecting an answer but giving Angel enough time anyway.
"You," Angel answered. Well that was the obvious answer, but friends just aren't cut out to be lovers and lovers aren't cut out to be friends. It's a law; dun matter how hard you try it can't work both ways. Angel and Buffy aren't friends, it doesn't matter how much they tell each other they are, they're not. They will forever remain lovers, without a fight, they accept it.
Xander paused. Yeah, me. He thought. But that's not how it would work; it hurt. Buffy would rather go with two vampires, undead people, than go with her best friend? What's that all about? "Well, I guess I'm not good enough," Xander said, succeeding hiding the pain that rest so deep in his heart. "Guess she's after the old folks, the ones that are 200 years old than her. I don't occupy that," Xander answered. The pain that he felt for Buffy lifted a little as the time grew. He met Anya, the greatest person in his life and he loved her, that's all there is to it.
"Is she happy?" Angel missed Buffy dearly; she was the only human he could stand to love. She has had a dosage of what life was like for Angel; Cordelia, well now she's different. Cordelia was a prep from the start and she's changed dramatically, yeah, but she'll never be like Buffy.
"She's not as happy as a person can get," Xander admitted. "It's too hard for her, the slaying and the whole sister thing and Spike thing. She hates it, Angel. She thinks that Willow should have left her dead. But what she doesn't get is that we need her, everyone does, it's her who doesn't need us," Xander admitted. He had been noticing that lately. Now Buffy never seemed happy, that fake smile she pulled just wasn't working.
"Oh." Well this news didn't please Angel. Angel was miserable, and all he wanted was the people he used to see everyday happier than him, and that just didn't happen.
"You're gonna make a show?" Xander asked what Angel was planning on doing. Everyone knew how Angel felt, even if he did try to hide it. Plus he needed a break from all this Connor drama.
"I don't know," Angel lied. Angel couldn't help this. He knew that if he were to leave L.A. something bad might happen; but this jealous and anger that burned so deep and so strong was winning him over. "Thanks," Angel thanked Xander.
"All right, man," Xander, said. They both hanged up. Angel rose from the seat that he had sunk into second before.
"Well?" Asked Fred, watching Angel as if he would strike out at them any second. Fred's face concerned wariness, mostly. But she was always worried; it appeared to be a lady's gene.
"I've got to see Buffy." Angel unwilling showed his fear and pain. But nevertheless he pushed his way past the uncertain Gunn and Fred and onto the door. With a glance out he realized it was daytime. "Damn." He made his way to the kitchen and pulled up a trap door on the floor.
"I didn't know that was there," Gunn informed Fred and Angel. "How come?" He asked.
"I haven't used it since.Doyle died." Pain seemed to be all around him, why won't it just leave him be? Angel didn't wait for another question he dropped down into the sewers and allowed Gunn to kick the door close. Angel walked freely through the sewers. He had planned to drive to Sunnydale or at least take a bus, but that seemed impossible right now and he needed to see her. No one can say why, it's just a must. Connor hadn't gone to Angel's he went straight to his apartment, to find Cordelia. "Cordelia?" His voice grew louder with curiosity. Cordelia loved Angel, not Connor; Cordelia should live with Angel, not Connor.
"Connor. Where have you been?" Cordelia asked. She laid on his bed, looking a thick book.
"Around. What are you doing here?" Connor asked stepping further into the room.
"I still need a place to stay," Cordelia answered without glancing up at him. She continued flipping through the book, it was a book on demons, and she was obviously looking for something.
"What about Angel?" Connor asked as he inched forward. How was Angel? Besides mad and sad.
"He's still a little mad. I didn't want to crowd." Cordelia's eyes finally found Connor making him even more uncomfortable. Connor had nothing else to say. He had no questions for Cordelia.
"What are you doing?" Connor asked, in a move to change the subject. Connor sat on the bed besides Cordelia and looked into the book. Demons of all sorts, ghost, goblins, it went beyond most of the books Fred, Wesley and Angel used.
"I'm trying to figure out more on that beast," Cordelia answered.
"Oh." Well it was pretty obvious. "You've known Angel for a while huh?" Connor asked. It's been aching badly. She's known Angel for 7 years, that's a long time.
"Yeah. Guess we went to high school together except we didn't." Cordelia wasn't paying attention to Connor and that made him mad except he found it hard to be mad at Cordelia; what with what she grew up know and had to go through.
"How did he act?" Connor asked. He did see how Angel acted but that was 4 different acts.
"He acted dead. He was always sorry and he didn't want to crowd Buffy so he would let her run the show. Except when we all were kidnapped in an attempt to rise the master again, he took lead, only to see why Buffy acted like such a bitch. He's changed, Connor. Since Doyle." Cordelia trailed off. Doyle, ah yes, the half demon that died saving Angel, Cordelia's and thousands others lives.
"How did Doyle act?" Connor asked. Sure he'd seen a part of when Doyle and Cordelia were acted like the faithful, loyal sidekicks, but that was only once.
"He was cute. He didn't want me to know bout the whole him being demon thing, and he was pretty good at hiding it. I found out about him like an hour before he was killed. I loved him and he loved me." She was staring into space. She paused and looked down at the book but she made no attempt to read it. Visions of Doyle crowded her mind. "He had a gift. The powers to be sent him to help Angel, they sent him with a gift. He had visions. And you know, I grew up at Sunnydale so it came natural, I just thought that he was human, how stupid was I. I would have noticed him if he wasn't always with Angel. And how he loved me, it's sad. In the concept that a person as I am now would love him, but 3 years ago I wouldn't waste a breath on him." Cordelia's eyes went wet, no tears ran, they just stayed there.
"You miss him?" Connor asked, staring at Cordelia and some how feeling her pain.
"Yeah." The tears now ran down. "I miss him so much. I never really got to know him. All he was to me was some Irish freak that Angel liked. He was as source of information, nothing more. Now, he's gone and." Cordelia couldn't admit to loving him anymore, it hurt more that it appeared to.
"Over think the powers to be would send him back. To help you and Angel. It would help, wouldn't it?" Connor asked, his face no longer held that of what it used to, it twisted with pain. Pain for Cordelia and Angel.
"It would help a lot. It would remove what pain we felt. But they wouldn't. They just want to keep throwing tastes at us without any care of what we're going through." The anger for the PTB grew and touched Connor.
"Maybe they don't know," Connor suggested but the suggestion was turned down with a shake of the head from Cordelia.
"No, they can see all, past and future. They just don't care." Cordelia wiped the tears away. It's been so long since she had cried.
"Sorry." Connor was sorry, he truly was. "Cordelia, you know Spike, don't you?" Connor asked changing the subject from Doyle.
"Yeah. Last time I saw him he was helping Buffy destroy Angel," Cordelia answered.
"Well, they're more than that. They slept together. And I don't know if Angel believed me when I told him or not but I can't go back to see. And since you've known all these people I don't for so long, I thought you might want to know." Connor took the book from Cordelia's lap and began to flip through it. It seemed like hours Angel had been walking in the sewers. He wasn't tired, he could go forever but he was running impatient. Angel finally stopped; the smell was getting too strong. He climbed a rusty ladder and pushed aside a sewer hole lid to realize that it was night. Angel climbed out of the sewers and stood. He looked around, in all directions, this was it, he was in Sunnydale. Angel sniffed then turned around and started to walk. "What kind of demon was Doyle?" Connor asked without looking at Cordelia.
"Well.I don't know. He never told me. But that doesn't matter, he was on the home team." Cordelia could no longer look at Connor. She couldn't keep herself from answering his questions; the same as she couldn't keep herself from seeing Doyle, seeing him where he only lived, in her mind.
"Did he know the slayer?" Connor asked as he continued to go through the books. There were lots of demons, most he's never heard of.
"Buffy, yeah. But that wasn't the best encounter. Angel got turned human and they renewed their love then he chose to remain a vampire and she returned to Sunnydale. Doyle basically just fed Angel. He was very hungry." Cordelia grinned at the memory; those were the times when happiness didn't seem so impossible. Those were the times when love was easy.
"You don't belong with Angel," Connor told her, his voice so cold, so soft. Connor stopped flipping and looked closer at a demon.
"Why do you say that?" Cordelia asked, her eyes now shone on his face.
"Because. Angel loves Buffy; he'd pick her over you any day. So you shouldn't be throwing yourself at him when he'd dismiss you that easily. And you love Doyle. He was better than Angel. Don't sink." Connor read silently about the demon.
"What is that?" Cordelia asked looking at the book.
"A manticore. It's a magical creature. I saw one.in town, as in L.A. You know how there's mysterious killings going on? Well that thing fits the description for all of them." Connor was beginning to make sense. Yeah, true there had been quite a few murders lately. The victims were said to be poisoned but not the regular way. A needle injected the victim, sometimes more than once. The needle had some resemblances to the scorpions but it was not that. There's a drawing of the Manticore in the book. The creature had a body of what looked like a lion but the face was of a man. Connor had seen that thing in the bushes but he didn't care that much for it then, only now did he wish he had.
"We should tell Angel," Cordelia told Connor. Connor gave her an unhappy face.
"Always running to Angel. Just because he's been a live for 300 years doesn't mean anything. I know some vampires too. Here you go to Angel, get his scope and I'll go to.Eve." Connor seemed pretty satisfied with his decision.
"Who's Eve?' Cordelia asked. Cordelia ripped a piece of paper out of her notebook. She folded it and stuck it in the book as a bookmark then she closed the book.
"Eve's a vampire. She's been around for about 600 years and experienced quite a lot. Before she was changed she was a witch so she knows all about these magic beasts and stuff. She has a 21st century style despite her age. You wouldn't like her." Connor slide off the bed and to a standing position.
"Oh. Okay. That seems like a good idea." Cordelia stood next to Connor. They both walked out of the apartment then went their separate ways. Connor took his to an empty warehouse while Cordelia went the path to the Hyperion hotel. Angel knocked rather harder than necessary on Buffy's door. Buffy pulled the door open and froze. She didn't know how to react.
"Who died?" Buffy finally asked her face not at all a joke.
"No one," Angel answered uncomfortably. "Can I?" Angel asked, he wasn't allowed in her house without her permission.
"Oh! Right," Buffy said in that girly tone as she remembered about the whole vampire thing. "Angel, come in."
Angel walked into her house. Buffy turned and closed the door after Angel. Dawn and Willow was in the kitchen, they just stared at him. Where Xander was? Well probably sleeping with Anya. Spike walked into the living room and stared at Angel.
"Howdy dad," Spike said with a nod. The anger grew in Angel; if he could he would have chopped Spike's head off by now. Angel looked at Spike, a look that could kill, and then he turned back to Buffy.
"Can I talk to you?" Angel asked in that dead tone he liked to use. Buffy nodded and led Angel up the stairs and to her room. She shut the door behind him.
"Something wrong?" Buffy asked taking a seat on her bed.
"Yeah. Why'd you sleep with Spike?" Angel asked. Anger filled every inch but some how love devoured it. "Eve?" Connor asked a little above a whisper. A shadow showed it self. It took hold of Connor by the neck and shoved him into a wall. The face was now visible. "Eve?" Connor asked. The vampire released her grip from his neck and took a step back.
"Connor," she said with a grin. "What brings you?" She asked knowing that the destroyer wouldn't show up on his own.
"Found out who did all those murders and I need more info on it. You being an expert, you should know." Eve face was expressionless so Connor continued. "It's a manticore."
"A manticore? Oh dangerous folk it is. No human can go up against it. When one gets scared his tail needles let fly and they sting whom ever falls in its path. It will poison every human. But vampires are different things. We're already dead." Eve gave a look of sarcasm and proudness.
"So would you-" Connor began but Eve interrupted.
"No. But Angel would. Angel, that goody-too-shoes, how is he?" Eve asked changing the subject smoothly.
"Pissed. Why won't you?" Connor asked, changing the subject back.
"Because, hello they're vicious and more than likely are working for someone and I don't want to get involved with this crap." Eve had pretty good reasons. Every bad guy lose in this city wanted her dead, and it was easy to kill a vampire. Sun or stake, it's not that difficult.
"But-come on Eve," Connor whined then stopped abruptly whence he realized it.
"Aw. Look at you. You've changed, young destroyer. That's cute. Looks like you papa took effect. But he'd be more up to the job." Eve turned to go.
"Eve," Connor protested.
"Shh!" Eve ordered. She stood still. There was noise no human could hear. As soon as Connor quieted down he heard it too and stood to listen as well. "What is that?" Eve asked as she slowly stepped past Connor and further into the warehouse.
"Sounds like a person," Connor answered as he turned to look at Eve but made no attempt to move.
"No. People are much too loud," Eve pointed out. "It sound like-" Eve turned around and got knocked down by something inhuman. Connor stepped forward to go up against that thing but was easily pinned against a wall.
"What are you?" Connor asked. The air seeped from him, he couldn't breath, the hold was too strong.
"No human," the thing answers. The thing observed Connor with much interest. "Destroyer?" it asked.
"Get off," Connor ordered as he struggled to obtain what was his. The thing had no hair and a scaly head. His hands were made of scales as well, leaving scratches when he touched Connor.
"You don't seem so strong," The thing pointed out.
"Well, I am," Connor, protested with the little breath he had.
"Demons would kill to have you where I do," the thing remarked. His sharp nails trailed down Connor's cheek while one arm pinned Connor. Connor couldn't say anything because of the lack of air.
"Get away from him!" Eve ordered standing to her feet. Eve swung a fist at the demon. In return the demon pushed Connor to the ground and caught her fist. The demon pushed, sending her flying into a wall. Connor rose slowly to his feet. A blade extended out of the demons palm. He turned and shoved it into Connor's gut. Connor's face screwed into a mixture of pain and fear. The demon pulled his blade out, sending the blade back into his skin.
Connor's hands slide over to his wound. Weakness and pain overtook him; he fell back and onto his back.
"Angel," Angel's voice played with the two men. Angel didn't want to sound human but he's grown to like how he acted and sounded now instead of 4 yeas ago.
"Oh." Well that makes since, suppose you might need a vampire too, occasionally. "Well, what do you want?" Xander asked, he didn't mean to be rude but that's all he could be toward Angel after what had happened with Angel and Buffy.
"I heard about Buffy and I want to know more. I wanted to talk to some one close but not too close, that seems to be you," Angel's voice filled with the harshness Angelus once used on Xander during taunting him about Angel getting to Buffy first.
"You must be mad. Knowing that Spike gets a girl you did and will always love. Knowing that Spike got to Buffy in half the time it took you. That must hurt," Xander, returned the harshness in spite of what Angel put him through.
"Why did she do it?" Angel asked trying desperately yet not at all to hide his pain. Angel's mind searched thoroughly for answers but there was none to come.
"She needed someone to occupy her lust," Xander kidded. "You left her, who else was there to turn to?" Xander asked not really expecting an answer but giving Angel enough time anyway.
"You," Angel answered. Well that was the obvious answer, but friends just aren't cut out to be lovers and lovers aren't cut out to be friends. It's a law; dun matter how hard you try it can't work both ways. Angel and Buffy aren't friends, it doesn't matter how much they tell each other they are, they're not. They will forever remain lovers, without a fight, they accept it.
Xander paused. Yeah, me. He thought. But that's not how it would work; it hurt. Buffy would rather go with two vampires, undead people, than go with her best friend? What's that all about? "Well, I guess I'm not good enough," Xander said, succeeding hiding the pain that rest so deep in his heart. "Guess she's after the old folks, the ones that are 200 years old than her. I don't occupy that," Xander answered. The pain that he felt for Buffy lifted a little as the time grew. He met Anya, the greatest person in his life and he loved her, that's all there is to it.
"Is she happy?" Angel missed Buffy dearly; she was the only human he could stand to love. She has had a dosage of what life was like for Angel; Cordelia, well now she's different. Cordelia was a prep from the start and she's changed dramatically, yeah, but she'll never be like Buffy.
"She's not as happy as a person can get," Xander admitted. "It's too hard for her, the slaying and the whole sister thing and Spike thing. She hates it, Angel. She thinks that Willow should have left her dead. But what she doesn't get is that we need her, everyone does, it's her who doesn't need us," Xander admitted. He had been noticing that lately. Now Buffy never seemed happy, that fake smile she pulled just wasn't working.
"Oh." Well this news didn't please Angel. Angel was miserable, and all he wanted was the people he used to see everyday happier than him, and that just didn't happen.
"You're gonna make a show?" Xander asked what Angel was planning on doing. Everyone knew how Angel felt, even if he did try to hide it. Plus he needed a break from all this Connor drama.
"I don't know," Angel lied. Angel couldn't help this. He knew that if he were to leave L.A. something bad might happen; but this jealous and anger that burned so deep and so strong was winning him over. "Thanks," Angel thanked Xander.
"All right, man," Xander, said. They both hanged up. Angel rose from the seat that he had sunk into second before.
"Well?" Asked Fred, watching Angel as if he would strike out at them any second. Fred's face concerned wariness, mostly. But she was always worried; it appeared to be a lady's gene.
"I've got to see Buffy." Angel unwilling showed his fear and pain. But nevertheless he pushed his way past the uncertain Gunn and Fred and onto the door. With a glance out he realized it was daytime. "Damn." He made his way to the kitchen and pulled up a trap door on the floor.
"I didn't know that was there," Gunn informed Fred and Angel. "How come?" He asked.
"I haven't used it since.Doyle died." Pain seemed to be all around him, why won't it just leave him be? Angel didn't wait for another question he dropped down into the sewers and allowed Gunn to kick the door close. Angel walked freely through the sewers. He had planned to drive to Sunnydale or at least take a bus, but that seemed impossible right now and he needed to see her. No one can say why, it's just a must. Connor hadn't gone to Angel's he went straight to his apartment, to find Cordelia. "Cordelia?" His voice grew louder with curiosity. Cordelia loved Angel, not Connor; Cordelia should live with Angel, not Connor.
"Connor. Where have you been?" Cordelia asked. She laid on his bed, looking a thick book.
"Around. What are you doing here?" Connor asked stepping further into the room.
"I still need a place to stay," Cordelia answered without glancing up at him. She continued flipping through the book, it was a book on demons, and she was obviously looking for something.
"What about Angel?" Connor asked as he inched forward. How was Angel? Besides mad and sad.
"He's still a little mad. I didn't want to crowd." Cordelia's eyes finally found Connor making him even more uncomfortable. Connor had nothing else to say. He had no questions for Cordelia.
"What are you doing?" Connor asked, in a move to change the subject. Connor sat on the bed besides Cordelia and looked into the book. Demons of all sorts, ghost, goblins, it went beyond most of the books Fred, Wesley and Angel used.
"I'm trying to figure out more on that beast," Cordelia answered.
"Oh." Well it was pretty obvious. "You've known Angel for a while huh?" Connor asked. It's been aching badly. She's known Angel for 7 years, that's a long time.
"Yeah. Guess we went to high school together except we didn't." Cordelia wasn't paying attention to Connor and that made him mad except he found it hard to be mad at Cordelia; what with what she grew up know and had to go through.
"How did he act?" Connor asked. He did see how Angel acted but that was 4 different acts.
"He acted dead. He was always sorry and he didn't want to crowd Buffy so he would let her run the show. Except when we all were kidnapped in an attempt to rise the master again, he took lead, only to see why Buffy acted like such a bitch. He's changed, Connor. Since Doyle." Cordelia trailed off. Doyle, ah yes, the half demon that died saving Angel, Cordelia's and thousands others lives.
"How did Doyle act?" Connor asked. Sure he'd seen a part of when Doyle and Cordelia were acted like the faithful, loyal sidekicks, but that was only once.
"He was cute. He didn't want me to know bout the whole him being demon thing, and he was pretty good at hiding it. I found out about him like an hour before he was killed. I loved him and he loved me." She was staring into space. She paused and looked down at the book but she made no attempt to read it. Visions of Doyle crowded her mind. "He had a gift. The powers to be sent him to help Angel, they sent him with a gift. He had visions. And you know, I grew up at Sunnydale so it came natural, I just thought that he was human, how stupid was I. I would have noticed him if he wasn't always with Angel. And how he loved me, it's sad. In the concept that a person as I am now would love him, but 3 years ago I wouldn't waste a breath on him." Cordelia's eyes went wet, no tears ran, they just stayed there.
"You miss him?" Connor asked, staring at Cordelia and some how feeling her pain.
"Yeah." The tears now ran down. "I miss him so much. I never really got to know him. All he was to me was some Irish freak that Angel liked. He was as source of information, nothing more. Now, he's gone and." Cordelia couldn't admit to loving him anymore, it hurt more that it appeared to.
"Over think the powers to be would send him back. To help you and Angel. It would help, wouldn't it?" Connor asked, his face no longer held that of what it used to, it twisted with pain. Pain for Cordelia and Angel.
"It would help a lot. It would remove what pain we felt. But they wouldn't. They just want to keep throwing tastes at us without any care of what we're going through." The anger for the PTB grew and touched Connor.
"Maybe they don't know," Connor suggested but the suggestion was turned down with a shake of the head from Cordelia.
"No, they can see all, past and future. They just don't care." Cordelia wiped the tears away. It's been so long since she had cried.
"Sorry." Connor was sorry, he truly was. "Cordelia, you know Spike, don't you?" Connor asked changing the subject from Doyle.
"Yeah. Last time I saw him he was helping Buffy destroy Angel," Cordelia answered.
"Well, they're more than that. They slept together. And I don't know if Angel believed me when I told him or not but I can't go back to see. And since you've known all these people I don't for so long, I thought you might want to know." Connor took the book from Cordelia's lap and began to flip through it. It seemed like hours Angel had been walking in the sewers. He wasn't tired, he could go forever but he was running impatient. Angel finally stopped; the smell was getting too strong. He climbed a rusty ladder and pushed aside a sewer hole lid to realize that it was night. Angel climbed out of the sewers and stood. He looked around, in all directions, this was it, he was in Sunnydale. Angel sniffed then turned around and started to walk. "What kind of demon was Doyle?" Connor asked without looking at Cordelia.
"Well.I don't know. He never told me. But that doesn't matter, he was on the home team." Cordelia could no longer look at Connor. She couldn't keep herself from answering his questions; the same as she couldn't keep herself from seeing Doyle, seeing him where he only lived, in her mind.
"Did he know the slayer?" Connor asked as he continued to go through the books. There were lots of demons, most he's never heard of.
"Buffy, yeah. But that wasn't the best encounter. Angel got turned human and they renewed their love then he chose to remain a vampire and she returned to Sunnydale. Doyle basically just fed Angel. He was very hungry." Cordelia grinned at the memory; those were the times when happiness didn't seem so impossible. Those were the times when love was easy.
"You don't belong with Angel," Connor told her, his voice so cold, so soft. Connor stopped flipping and looked closer at a demon.
"Why do you say that?" Cordelia asked, her eyes now shone on his face.
"Because. Angel loves Buffy; he'd pick her over you any day. So you shouldn't be throwing yourself at him when he'd dismiss you that easily. And you love Doyle. He was better than Angel. Don't sink." Connor read silently about the demon.
"What is that?" Cordelia asked looking at the book.
"A manticore. It's a magical creature. I saw one.in town, as in L.A. You know how there's mysterious killings going on? Well that thing fits the description for all of them." Connor was beginning to make sense. Yeah, true there had been quite a few murders lately. The victims were said to be poisoned but not the regular way. A needle injected the victim, sometimes more than once. The needle had some resemblances to the scorpions but it was not that. There's a drawing of the Manticore in the book. The creature had a body of what looked like a lion but the face was of a man. Connor had seen that thing in the bushes but he didn't care that much for it then, only now did he wish he had.
"We should tell Angel," Cordelia told Connor. Connor gave her an unhappy face.
"Always running to Angel. Just because he's been a live for 300 years doesn't mean anything. I know some vampires too. Here you go to Angel, get his scope and I'll go to.Eve." Connor seemed pretty satisfied with his decision.
"Who's Eve?' Cordelia asked. Cordelia ripped a piece of paper out of her notebook. She folded it and stuck it in the book as a bookmark then she closed the book.
"Eve's a vampire. She's been around for about 600 years and experienced quite a lot. Before she was changed she was a witch so she knows all about these magic beasts and stuff. She has a 21st century style despite her age. You wouldn't like her." Connor slide off the bed and to a standing position.
"Oh. Okay. That seems like a good idea." Cordelia stood next to Connor. They both walked out of the apartment then went their separate ways. Connor took his to an empty warehouse while Cordelia went the path to the Hyperion hotel. Angel knocked rather harder than necessary on Buffy's door. Buffy pulled the door open and froze. She didn't know how to react.
"Who died?" Buffy finally asked her face not at all a joke.
"No one," Angel answered uncomfortably. "Can I?" Angel asked, he wasn't allowed in her house without her permission.
"Oh! Right," Buffy said in that girly tone as she remembered about the whole vampire thing. "Angel, come in."
Angel walked into her house. Buffy turned and closed the door after Angel. Dawn and Willow was in the kitchen, they just stared at him. Where Xander was? Well probably sleeping with Anya. Spike walked into the living room and stared at Angel.
"Howdy dad," Spike said with a nod. The anger grew in Angel; if he could he would have chopped Spike's head off by now. Angel looked at Spike, a look that could kill, and then he turned back to Buffy.
"Can I talk to you?" Angel asked in that dead tone he liked to use. Buffy nodded and led Angel up the stairs and to her room. She shut the door behind him.
"Something wrong?" Buffy asked taking a seat on her bed.
"Yeah. Why'd you sleep with Spike?" Angel asked. Anger filled every inch but some how love devoured it. "Eve?" Connor asked a little above a whisper. A shadow showed it self. It took hold of Connor by the neck and shoved him into a wall. The face was now visible. "Eve?" Connor asked. The vampire released her grip from his neck and took a step back.
"Connor," she said with a grin. "What brings you?" She asked knowing that the destroyer wouldn't show up on his own.
"Found out who did all those murders and I need more info on it. You being an expert, you should know." Eve face was expressionless so Connor continued. "It's a manticore."
"A manticore? Oh dangerous folk it is. No human can go up against it. When one gets scared his tail needles let fly and they sting whom ever falls in its path. It will poison every human. But vampires are different things. We're already dead." Eve gave a look of sarcasm and proudness.
"So would you-" Connor began but Eve interrupted.
"No. But Angel would. Angel, that goody-too-shoes, how is he?" Eve asked changing the subject smoothly.
"Pissed. Why won't you?" Connor asked, changing the subject back.
"Because, hello they're vicious and more than likely are working for someone and I don't want to get involved with this crap." Eve had pretty good reasons. Every bad guy lose in this city wanted her dead, and it was easy to kill a vampire. Sun or stake, it's not that difficult.
"But-come on Eve," Connor whined then stopped abruptly whence he realized it.
"Aw. Look at you. You've changed, young destroyer. That's cute. Looks like you papa took effect. But he'd be more up to the job." Eve turned to go.
"Eve," Connor protested.
"Shh!" Eve ordered. She stood still. There was noise no human could hear. As soon as Connor quieted down he heard it too and stood to listen as well. "What is that?" Eve asked as she slowly stepped past Connor and further into the warehouse.
"Sounds like a person," Connor answered as he turned to look at Eve but made no attempt to move.
"No. People are much too loud," Eve pointed out. "It sound like-" Eve turned around and got knocked down by something inhuman. Connor stepped forward to go up against that thing but was easily pinned against a wall.
"What are you?" Connor asked. The air seeped from him, he couldn't breath, the hold was too strong.
"No human," the thing answers. The thing observed Connor with much interest. "Destroyer?" it asked.
"Get off," Connor ordered as he struggled to obtain what was his. The thing had no hair and a scaly head. His hands were made of scales as well, leaving scratches when he touched Connor.
"You don't seem so strong," The thing pointed out.
"Well, I am," Connor, protested with the little breath he had.
"Demons would kill to have you where I do," the thing remarked. His sharp nails trailed down Connor's cheek while one arm pinned Connor. Connor couldn't say anything because of the lack of air.
"Get away from him!" Eve ordered standing to her feet. Eve swung a fist at the demon. In return the demon pushed Connor to the ground and caught her fist. The demon pushed, sending her flying into a wall. Connor rose slowly to his feet. A blade extended out of the demons palm. He turned and shoved it into Connor's gut. Connor's face screwed into a mixture of pain and fear. The demon pulled his blade out, sending the blade back into his skin.
Connor's hands slide over to his wound. Weakness and pain overtook him; he fell back and onto his back.