Title: Perfectly Happy part 6 --
Duplicity
Author: Anna
Pairing: Angelus/Cordelia (W/L)
Disclaimer: Not mine. Phooey.
Rating: R
Distribution: Anyone who has already had permission has it again. Anyone else, let me know.
Feedback: Yes please. Makes world go round.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. And special thanks to Ando and Pato, who bugged me till I wrote this. :D
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Lilah reclined, breathless and covered in a post-coital sheen. She ran her sharp nails through Wesley's hair.
"Mmm, I missed that," she purred.
"Yes?" panted Wesley as he lay his cheek on her breasts. He laughed breathily. "Me too," he said, his voice husky with lust. "It's been too long."
"Far too long," agreed Lilah. "Since you were so rude in the Hyperion."
Wesley idly toyed with her nipple as he moved his face against the soft skin between her breasts. She liked that, his rough stubble against her.
"You know you love it," he murmured.
Lilah sighed, smiling.
"True. Your abruptness can be a turn-on. So," she said, after a pause. "Any visits from our mutual evil friend lately?"
Wesley laughed.
"I thought this was just sex, Lilah," he said. "It's business too?"
"You know I always mix business and pleasure," she replied, looking down at his upturned face and grinning. "I love my job."
"Yes, you do." Wesley kissed his way up to her mouth, grating against her skin with his cheeks. "And I love your methods of extracting information." He kissed her savagely, ravishing her face with his passion. She moaned and arched up against him.
When he pulled back she was breathless and her eyes gleamed.
"Yes, you do," she whispered in reply. She turned him onto his back and straddled him, watching his heavy eyes invade her body as he became aroused once more. "But you didn't answer my question."
Wesley ran his hands over her belly and around her hips, holding her down against him.
"No, I didn't," he agreed. He began to move slowly under her and felt himself harden. He lifted her hips and she obliged, taking him inside her again. Wesley moaned. Lilah looked pleased.
"I can tell you," he continued between pants, "that I have not seen him, nor have any of us. Though I hear there are bodies."
"Aren't there always, when Angelus comes out to play?" replied Lilah. She moved up and down in slow circles. She scraped down his strong chest and watched his face contort in pleasure. "Your question is, how many? And where does the trade-off end between those he's saved and those he's killed?"
Wesley opened his eyes and watched her scheming face. He smiled through the pulsing in his veins.
"And your question, my dear Lilah, is how can you tame him." He laughed, and began to thrust more deeply inside her.
Lilah threw her head back, guttural sounds of pleasure escaping her.
"He can't be tamed," continued Wesley. "Remember that before you call round to his door with an invitation to the next board meeting."
"Please," countered Lilah. "I'd send a courier." She moaned again, watching Wesley's face crease as she squeezed him tightly. "Anyway," she said, "everyone can be tamed. Everyone wants something, even him."
"He wants nothing you can give him," panted Wesley. He opened his eyes and stared at her piercingly. "Unlike me." He half smiled at her, a sheen of sweat on his face.
Lilah laughed deep in her throat, watching him underneath her. She felt buzzing pleasure build up between her legs, ready to shoot through her veins like quicksilver.
"He joins us, or he's dust," she managed to say. "The senior partners will have their apocalypse with or without him."
"I thought he was a major player," slurred Wesley against the throbbing in his blood.
"But maybe for the other side," she said. "Wesley - " She cut herself off with a guttural scream of pleasure, as she felt her orgasm shooting through her body. Wesley thrust deep inside her as she milked his orgasm from him, an answering cry issuing from his throat. It seemed that everything stopped for those seconds, and nothing but that near-pain in the blood existed.
She collapsed against him as she came down, panting against his sweat-coated skin. Wesley wrapped his arms around her.
"Lilah," he breathed.
They lay entwined in each other until they fell asleep.
Cordelia strode down into the office as the sun set red in the west. The soft fall of evening; how her heart began to race now as the day closed. She bustled to the filing cabinet and opened it with purpose. A purpose that seemed to drain as soon as she looked inside. All the files hung neatly in rows, not a page out of place. She sighed and shut the cabinet again.
"Wesley!" she cried as he came in the door. "Hi!"
Wesley stopped and looked at her.
"Hello," he said cautiously. "Are you feeling alright, Cordelia?"
"Yeah!" she said. "I mean, no. Not really, you know with …" she gestured to the world in general. Wesley understood. He sighed heavily, his face tired and drawn.
"There is more we need to discuss," he said. "New information."
"Gunn came back," said Cordelia. "He's upstairs. I'll go get him."
Wesley watched her walk towards the stairs. He frowned as he noted the nervous spring in her stride, the fidgeting energy that almost fizzled as her eyes flicked this way and that.
She returned with a heavy-hearted Gunn in tow. He almost staggered after her, all his poise, all his strength sapped. He sat without a word on a couch in the lobby. Wesley regarded him with concern.
"Gunn," he said. Gunn managed to raise his head. "I'm glad you're back."
Gunn nodded.
"There wasn't much place to go," he replied. "Not really."
Wesley said nothing. He turned to Cordelia. Her gaze was fixed on the window, and for once she was still. He followed her eyes but saw nothing except the darkening sky.
He cleared his throat.
"I've been doing some research," he began. "Talking to various contacts, and so on."
"Is that where you were all day and all last night?" cut in Cordelia. Wesley imagined he heard an edge to her voice.
"Yes," he said hurriedly. "There were many people to talk to. But I have some information."
Gunn's eyes flicked towards him.
"What's up?" he said, with slightly more life than before.
"It appears that Wolfram and Hart plan to recruit Angelus."
Gunn looked interested. Cordelia laughed.
"There's something funny about our arch enemies getting in bed together?" said Gunn sharply.
Wesley blanched, but hid it under a cough.
"Yeah!" said Cordelia, still laughing. "What do they think, like he'll play nice with the lawyers? I don't think so!"
Her laughter faded as she looked at the faces of her companions. Neither seemed to find the idea quite so amusing.
"Unlikely as Angelus's cooperation may be," continued Wesley after a pause, "the situation still presents us with a dilemma, as I see it."
"Which is?" said Gunn, sitting up straight.
"Should Angelus not comply with their wishes, then apparently they will kill him."
The statement hung in the air.
Cordelia laughed again, though this time nervous and edgy.
"They couldn't. They never could. No one can."
"Buffy did," pointed out Wesley.
"Because of his soul's big untimely return! Angelus would never let that happen."
Wesley looked at Gunn, who raised an eyebrow. Cordelia did not notice.
"Cordy," said Wesley gently. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Cordelia looked annoyed.
"Yeah, Wes, I'm fine." She stood with her arms folded across her chest.
Wesley did not reply.
"So what's the dilemma?" said Gunn, almost chirpily.
Wesley looked at him.
"I should have thought that was fairly obvious," he replied.
"Explain it to me like it's not," said Gunn.
"Hello?" cut in Cordelia. "If Angelus dies, then so does Angel!" She frowned suddenly, as if caught in an unspoken thought.
"Yeah, but we can't find an orb," said Gunn. "I hate to say it, but someone's got to. Maybe Angel won't be coming back. And if that's true, then hey, the lawyers want to do the deed, that's fine by me. Though I'd like to see his dust myself, after… After Fred. And Connor."
Gunn looked away, but with dry eyes.
"We'll find an orb," said Cordelia quietly. "We will."
Wesley and Gunn again exchanged a glance. Cordelia's mood seemed to have plummeted in an instant. She stood sullenly, her eyes, unseeing, fixed on the floor.
"Gunn is right," said Wesley gravely. "We may not. With the council uncooperative, and none anywhere on the black market, it seems, well, it seems very unlikely." Wesley removed his glasses and held the bridge of his nose. "I am so sorry Cordelia. But it's time we faced that possibility."
Cordelia's head snapped up at her name. Her eyes were full of anger.
"No," she replied simply.
Wesley sighed.
"He asked us, and I know you in particular, to kill him should he lose his soul once more," said Wesley. "He would hate to see himself this way, Cordelia."
"So what, we put him down like a dog?"
Wesley looked at her, helpless.
"No, Wes. And you're forgetting something." Cordelia looked triumphant. "He was preparing for this himself. All those houses, all the money? He doesn't want us to kill him."
"Cordelia, I can't explain why Angel would keep that property and wealth. But I know him, and he does not want to be a soulless killer!" Wesley was quite insistent, though he kept his calm. He felt as though he was walking on glass around Cordelia.
"You know him! Ha!" Cordelia blazed. "You stole his son! You left! You left him. I was taken, and I came back. We are not killing him! I came back…"
"If we don't, Wolfram and Hart will," said Gunn, rising from his seat.
"Find a way. Find a way, Wesley! I am not losing him, not now!"
Wesley shook his head.
"I really don't think it's possible, Cordelia - "
"Wesley." She cut him off, steel in her voice. "Find a way."
Gunn looked warily at Wesley.
"Okay. I'll try." Wesley sagged as he replied.
Cordelia looked coldly at both of them.
"Good. And until you find it, we keep him alive," she said shortly, before turning on her heel and striding upstairs.
Gunn turned back to Wesley.
"You as worried about her as I am?" he asked quietly.
"Absolutely. She is not herself."
"Nuh uh. She's pretty cut up."
"Yes, she is." Wesley took a deep breath. "We have to try to find a way, Gunn. For her, now, more than anything."
"But if we can catch him, I still say we kill him."
Wesley nodded slowly.
"Yes. If Lilah … if Wolfram and Hart don't get to him first."
They sighed in unison. The future looked bleak.
Cordelia walked to her suite, knowing without the slightest doubt that he would be there, on her balcony, waiting with that knowing smile on his face. She hated that smile. It was not merely an expression. It revealed his true knowledge of her, his insight into her very heart. He invaded her with every flippant glance.
He was not there. She drew the curtains across the window that night without stepping outside. She lay awake until she realised that the tapping on the window she was expecting would not come. She bit her tongue to stop the tears.
Angelus stood in front of the bare cream wall. He had angled the lamp to shine bright white against his back.
He ruffled his hair and smoothed a cuff.
Pretty good, he said to his shadow. Knock her dead. He smiled and turned.
He left the apartment with a spring in his step. The darkling sky twinkled as he walked.
The vision seared through her troubled dreams, jolting her out of sleep. She rose in the middle of the dark night with a clarity of purpose she had never known before. Donning expensive clothes, and tiptoeing through the lobby in the watery moonlight, she made her way to the car. She drove blindly fast to get there in time. Finally she pulled in, staring up at the one light on in the apartment block. The penthouse, naturally. Lilah would live nowhere else.
The elevator was agonizingly slow. She had never seen the light travel from number to number with less speed. She willed it to go faster. Damnit, she should have taken the stairs.
Finally it reached the penthouse. She pounded on the door with a fist.
"Lilah," she shouted, her lungs bursting. "I know you're in there. Open up!"
She did not expect him to answer, though she knew he was there. He looked her up and down with those appraising eyes. He smiled.
She felt naked before him. She was grateful she had taken the time to dress properly. Without her armour, she would be entirely at his mercy.
"Cordy," he said, his voice rolling in his throat.
"Angelus," she replied.
"Hey, honey, don't get the wrong idea, okay?" The ice in his whiskey clinked. "Me and Lilah? We're just … associates. Right, Lilah?"
Lilah came to the door with a smile.
"I knew you'd be here, and why," replied Cordelia bluntly. "Vision Gal, remember?"
Angelus felt his face register surprise. He laughed. She kept him guessing, he appreciated that.
She pushed past Lilah and stepped inside.
"Come in," said Lilah. "Make yourself at home."
"Whatever," said Cordelia offhandedly. "Angelus, I'm not here for you. I'm here for Angel."
"Haven't we been through the whole I-am-him thing?" Angelus sipped his whiskey. Now this he could taste. It was rich heat in his belly.
"And again I say, whatever," replied Cordelia. "You know she's going to have you killed if you don't agree to her little proposal, right?"
"I expected no less," said Angelus. "But I'm touched that you care. Really."
Lilah made her way to the long black couch and sat, her head cradled in her hand.
"You mean you've agreed?" asked Cordelia, frowning.
"I didn't say that," laughed Angelus. "They couldn't kill me, Cordy." He stepped close to her and touched her face lightly with the back of his fingers. She hardly seemed to notice. "I've been chased by slayers and vampire hunters for two and a half centuries. You think one law firm can take me down?"
"Vampire hunters that had you cowering in barns," cut in Lilah. "You think we couldn't do worse?"
Angelus turned and laughed, stepping beside Cordelia and draping his arm over her shoulders. She looked resigned.
"A barn can be fun, when you're with the right woman," he drawled in his accent of old, nuzzling Cordelia's cheek. He watched her suppress the tingling thrill that came unbidden with his touch.
She shook his arm away.
"So you've got it all figured, huh? The assassin set to go if you refuse tonight? The big pile of dust you could be in the morning? You've got a big plan, have you?" Cordelia looked enraged. It thrilled him.
"Lilah," he said. "Is this true?"
Lilah no longer looked amused.
"I knew we should have killed you when we raised Darla," she said through her teeth to Cordelia.
"Hey, been up there, bored, came back, you deal," replied Cordelia with equal venom.
"Who says I'd send you up there?" came the reply. Lilah stood, her jaw set.
Angelus regarded her for a moment. This was a twist. While he loved the unexpected, this was not what he had in mind.
"Go to hell," said Cordelia.
"Hell will come here first. With or without you, Angelus." She stared at the vampire, her dark eyes now hard and cold.
He sipped his whiskey once again, putting a hand in his perfectly tailored pocket.
"I was once into that," he said lazily. "Trust me, the phase will pass."
"Not this one. You know the deal. You want to come out on top? You join us."
"While I do enjoy being on top, Lilah, sometimes it's fun to try new things. Let me show you what I mean." He sprang forward too fast for the human eye to see and caught her by the throat. "I'm leaving now, and you're coming with me." He began to walk towards the door, Lilah held tight against him. She walked reluctantly, her eyes darting around. "Cordelia? You got the car?"
"What am I, your chauffeur?"
"That would be chauffeuse. I thought you were here to save me."
Cordelia threw him a withering look, but, sighing, walked close behind him. They made their way to the elevator and down to the car, Lilah unwillingly blocking any shots taken at her captor.
"You know your problem, Lilah? You want things too quickly. No patience. A long, relaxed evening is not enough for you." He squeezed her cheeks between his thumb and fingers as he shoved her towards the convertible. "But then, you had one of those last night with Wes. Maybe you're tired."
"With Wes?" echoed Cordelia.
"That's right, with Wes," said Lilah. "You think he could give me up because you what, told him to?"
Angelus threw her in the back seat and hopped over the door after her. Cordelia got in the front, fumbling with the keys. She turned on the ignition and raised the cover.
"That's where he was last night." she said quietly. "And that's how he knew."
"Of course," said Lilah scathingly. "You're surprised? Cordy, of all people, I thought you'd get how hard it is to stay away from the dark side."
Cordelia watched her in the mirror as she looked pointedly at Angelus. Angelus merely smirked, his hand clamped on Lilah's arm.
"I'm here for Angel," she said again.
"Keep telling yourself that, sweetie. I'm sure someone will believe you sometime." Lilah looked away, feigning indifference.
Angelus said nothing.
Cordelia drove automatically to her old apartment. Angelus watched her from the backseat. He saw her mind in turmoil, could sense the battle in her breast.
She parked outside the apartment and wordlessly took Lilah's other arm as they discreetly forced her to the door. He pushed open the door and threw her inside. Cordelia stepped in after him and shut the door behind her.
She looked around the living room while he took Lilah into the bedroom. She heard cries, and assumed the rope was cutting into Lilah's flesh too tight. Cordelia did not care. She stared at the drawing of her face that adorned the wall over the mantle piece.
"You like it?" came the low, feral voice from behind her.
"Yeah," she answered. "How's Lilah?"
"Bound, gagged," he answered lightly.
"Won't the Wolfram and Hart heavies come to find her?" Cordelia turned to face him. "We were probably followed."
"I doubt it. They'll probably throw a party that she's gone and then kill each other for the top spot." Angelus smiled. "Who cares?"
Cordelia shrugged.
"But you know who will come for her," he continued.
"Wesley," she replied flatly.
"That's right," said Angelus.
"And you'll kill him."
"He'll try to kill me, you know that."
"But now you've given him another reason." Cordelia closed her eyes in resignation.
"Yes. Thanks for your help."
She looked at him again. He tried not to smirk. It was tough.
"I did this for Angel."
"What is that, some kind of catchphrase?" He laughed. "Angel. He's gone, baby. There's just me now. And don't try to tell me you find that too sad."
She shook her head in disbelief.
"Okay, one, Angel! Not you, I'm here for Angel! And two, no self-esteem issues with you, huh?" She stood with her hands on her hips.
"Nice try," he said to her. "Soon you'll lie as well as I do."
Cordelia raised her hand to her head.
"Stop. Just stop."
"You're tired."
She could only drop her head. Angelus saw the fall of her shoulders.
"I'm leaving," she said wearily. "If you're going to kill her, please do it quickly. No pain."
"As you wish. We don't want her to enjoy it too much." Angelus walked beside her as far as the door. "Though I won't be killing her for some time yet."
Angelus watched her face but saw not the flicker of an expression.
"Goodbye," he said as she walked out the door. "And Cordelia."
She stopped and turned back.
"Thanks," he said. The smile that saw right through her was back.
She wrapped her arms around herself and looked at him with bruised eyes.
"It wasn't you," she said. "It will never be you."
He watched her walk away towards the car.
"Yes it will," he whispered into the night. The taillights glowed red as she pulled away. "It always is."
Author: Anna
Pairing: Angelus/Cordelia (W/L)
Disclaimer: Not mine. Phooey.
Rating: R
Distribution: Anyone who has already had permission has it again. Anyone else, let me know.
Feedback: Yes please. Makes world go round.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. And special thanks to Ando and Pato, who bugged me till I wrote this. :D
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Lilah reclined, breathless and covered in a post-coital sheen. She ran her sharp nails through Wesley's hair.
"Mmm, I missed that," she purred.
"Yes?" panted Wesley as he lay his cheek on her breasts. He laughed breathily. "Me too," he said, his voice husky with lust. "It's been too long."
"Far too long," agreed Lilah. "Since you were so rude in the Hyperion."
Wesley idly toyed with her nipple as he moved his face against the soft skin between her breasts. She liked that, his rough stubble against her.
"You know you love it," he murmured.
Lilah sighed, smiling.
"True. Your abruptness can be a turn-on. So," she said, after a pause. "Any visits from our mutual evil friend lately?"
Wesley laughed.
"I thought this was just sex, Lilah," he said. "It's business too?"
"You know I always mix business and pleasure," she replied, looking down at his upturned face and grinning. "I love my job."
"Yes, you do." Wesley kissed his way up to her mouth, grating against her skin with his cheeks. "And I love your methods of extracting information." He kissed her savagely, ravishing her face with his passion. She moaned and arched up against him.
When he pulled back she was breathless and her eyes gleamed.
"Yes, you do," she whispered in reply. She turned him onto his back and straddled him, watching his heavy eyes invade her body as he became aroused once more. "But you didn't answer my question."
Wesley ran his hands over her belly and around her hips, holding her down against him.
"No, I didn't," he agreed. He began to move slowly under her and felt himself harden. He lifted her hips and she obliged, taking him inside her again. Wesley moaned. Lilah looked pleased.
"I can tell you," he continued between pants, "that I have not seen him, nor have any of us. Though I hear there are bodies."
"Aren't there always, when Angelus comes out to play?" replied Lilah. She moved up and down in slow circles. She scraped down his strong chest and watched his face contort in pleasure. "Your question is, how many? And where does the trade-off end between those he's saved and those he's killed?"
Wesley opened his eyes and watched her scheming face. He smiled through the pulsing in his veins.
"And your question, my dear Lilah, is how can you tame him." He laughed, and began to thrust more deeply inside her.
Lilah threw her head back, guttural sounds of pleasure escaping her.
"He can't be tamed," continued Wesley. "Remember that before you call round to his door with an invitation to the next board meeting."
"Please," countered Lilah. "I'd send a courier." She moaned again, watching Wesley's face crease as she squeezed him tightly. "Anyway," she said, "everyone can be tamed. Everyone wants something, even him."
"He wants nothing you can give him," panted Wesley. He opened his eyes and stared at her piercingly. "Unlike me." He half smiled at her, a sheen of sweat on his face.
Lilah laughed deep in her throat, watching him underneath her. She felt buzzing pleasure build up between her legs, ready to shoot through her veins like quicksilver.
"He joins us, or he's dust," she managed to say. "The senior partners will have their apocalypse with or without him."
"I thought he was a major player," slurred Wesley against the throbbing in his blood.
"But maybe for the other side," she said. "Wesley - " She cut herself off with a guttural scream of pleasure, as she felt her orgasm shooting through her body. Wesley thrust deep inside her as she milked his orgasm from him, an answering cry issuing from his throat. It seemed that everything stopped for those seconds, and nothing but that near-pain in the blood existed.
She collapsed against him as she came down, panting against his sweat-coated skin. Wesley wrapped his arms around her.
"Lilah," he breathed.
They lay entwined in each other until they fell asleep.
Cordelia strode down into the office as the sun set red in the west. The soft fall of evening; how her heart began to race now as the day closed. She bustled to the filing cabinet and opened it with purpose. A purpose that seemed to drain as soon as she looked inside. All the files hung neatly in rows, not a page out of place. She sighed and shut the cabinet again.
"Wesley!" she cried as he came in the door. "Hi!"
Wesley stopped and looked at her.
"Hello," he said cautiously. "Are you feeling alright, Cordelia?"
"Yeah!" she said. "I mean, no. Not really, you know with …" she gestured to the world in general. Wesley understood. He sighed heavily, his face tired and drawn.
"There is more we need to discuss," he said. "New information."
"Gunn came back," said Cordelia. "He's upstairs. I'll go get him."
Wesley watched her walk towards the stairs. He frowned as he noted the nervous spring in her stride, the fidgeting energy that almost fizzled as her eyes flicked this way and that.
She returned with a heavy-hearted Gunn in tow. He almost staggered after her, all his poise, all his strength sapped. He sat without a word on a couch in the lobby. Wesley regarded him with concern.
"Gunn," he said. Gunn managed to raise his head. "I'm glad you're back."
Gunn nodded.
"There wasn't much place to go," he replied. "Not really."
Wesley said nothing. He turned to Cordelia. Her gaze was fixed on the window, and for once she was still. He followed her eyes but saw nothing except the darkening sky.
He cleared his throat.
"I've been doing some research," he began. "Talking to various contacts, and so on."
"Is that where you were all day and all last night?" cut in Cordelia. Wesley imagined he heard an edge to her voice.
"Yes," he said hurriedly. "There were many people to talk to. But I have some information."
Gunn's eyes flicked towards him.
"What's up?" he said, with slightly more life than before.
"It appears that Wolfram and Hart plan to recruit Angelus."
Gunn looked interested. Cordelia laughed.
"There's something funny about our arch enemies getting in bed together?" said Gunn sharply.
Wesley blanched, but hid it under a cough.
"Yeah!" said Cordelia, still laughing. "What do they think, like he'll play nice with the lawyers? I don't think so!"
Her laughter faded as she looked at the faces of her companions. Neither seemed to find the idea quite so amusing.
"Unlikely as Angelus's cooperation may be," continued Wesley after a pause, "the situation still presents us with a dilemma, as I see it."
"Which is?" said Gunn, sitting up straight.
"Should Angelus not comply with their wishes, then apparently they will kill him."
The statement hung in the air.
Cordelia laughed again, though this time nervous and edgy.
"They couldn't. They never could. No one can."
"Buffy did," pointed out Wesley.
"Because of his soul's big untimely return! Angelus would never let that happen."
Wesley looked at Gunn, who raised an eyebrow. Cordelia did not notice.
"Cordy," said Wesley gently. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Cordelia looked annoyed.
"Yeah, Wes, I'm fine." She stood with her arms folded across her chest.
Wesley did not reply.
"So what's the dilemma?" said Gunn, almost chirpily.
Wesley looked at him.
"I should have thought that was fairly obvious," he replied.
"Explain it to me like it's not," said Gunn.
"Hello?" cut in Cordelia. "If Angelus dies, then so does Angel!" She frowned suddenly, as if caught in an unspoken thought.
"Yeah, but we can't find an orb," said Gunn. "I hate to say it, but someone's got to. Maybe Angel won't be coming back. And if that's true, then hey, the lawyers want to do the deed, that's fine by me. Though I'd like to see his dust myself, after… After Fred. And Connor."
Gunn looked away, but with dry eyes.
"We'll find an orb," said Cordelia quietly. "We will."
Wesley and Gunn again exchanged a glance. Cordelia's mood seemed to have plummeted in an instant. She stood sullenly, her eyes, unseeing, fixed on the floor.
"Gunn is right," said Wesley gravely. "We may not. With the council uncooperative, and none anywhere on the black market, it seems, well, it seems very unlikely." Wesley removed his glasses and held the bridge of his nose. "I am so sorry Cordelia. But it's time we faced that possibility."
Cordelia's head snapped up at her name. Her eyes were full of anger.
"No," she replied simply.
Wesley sighed.
"He asked us, and I know you in particular, to kill him should he lose his soul once more," said Wesley. "He would hate to see himself this way, Cordelia."
"So what, we put him down like a dog?"
Wesley looked at her, helpless.
"No, Wes. And you're forgetting something." Cordelia looked triumphant. "He was preparing for this himself. All those houses, all the money? He doesn't want us to kill him."
"Cordelia, I can't explain why Angel would keep that property and wealth. But I know him, and he does not want to be a soulless killer!" Wesley was quite insistent, though he kept his calm. He felt as though he was walking on glass around Cordelia.
"You know him! Ha!" Cordelia blazed. "You stole his son! You left! You left him. I was taken, and I came back. We are not killing him! I came back…"
"If we don't, Wolfram and Hart will," said Gunn, rising from his seat.
"Find a way. Find a way, Wesley! I am not losing him, not now!"
Wesley shook his head.
"I really don't think it's possible, Cordelia - "
"Wesley." She cut him off, steel in her voice. "Find a way."
Gunn looked warily at Wesley.
"Okay. I'll try." Wesley sagged as he replied.
Cordelia looked coldly at both of them.
"Good. And until you find it, we keep him alive," she said shortly, before turning on her heel and striding upstairs.
Gunn turned back to Wesley.
"You as worried about her as I am?" he asked quietly.
"Absolutely. She is not herself."
"Nuh uh. She's pretty cut up."
"Yes, she is." Wesley took a deep breath. "We have to try to find a way, Gunn. For her, now, more than anything."
"But if we can catch him, I still say we kill him."
Wesley nodded slowly.
"Yes. If Lilah … if Wolfram and Hart don't get to him first."
They sighed in unison. The future looked bleak.
Cordelia walked to her suite, knowing without the slightest doubt that he would be there, on her balcony, waiting with that knowing smile on his face. She hated that smile. It was not merely an expression. It revealed his true knowledge of her, his insight into her very heart. He invaded her with every flippant glance.
He was not there. She drew the curtains across the window that night without stepping outside. She lay awake until she realised that the tapping on the window she was expecting would not come. She bit her tongue to stop the tears.
Angelus stood in front of the bare cream wall. He had angled the lamp to shine bright white against his back.
He ruffled his hair and smoothed a cuff.
Pretty good, he said to his shadow. Knock her dead. He smiled and turned.
He left the apartment with a spring in his step. The darkling sky twinkled as he walked.
The vision seared through her troubled dreams, jolting her out of sleep. She rose in the middle of the dark night with a clarity of purpose she had never known before. Donning expensive clothes, and tiptoeing through the lobby in the watery moonlight, she made her way to the car. She drove blindly fast to get there in time. Finally she pulled in, staring up at the one light on in the apartment block. The penthouse, naturally. Lilah would live nowhere else.
The elevator was agonizingly slow. She had never seen the light travel from number to number with less speed. She willed it to go faster. Damnit, she should have taken the stairs.
Finally it reached the penthouse. She pounded on the door with a fist.
"Lilah," she shouted, her lungs bursting. "I know you're in there. Open up!"
She did not expect him to answer, though she knew he was there. He looked her up and down with those appraising eyes. He smiled.
She felt naked before him. She was grateful she had taken the time to dress properly. Without her armour, she would be entirely at his mercy.
"Cordy," he said, his voice rolling in his throat.
"Angelus," she replied.
"Hey, honey, don't get the wrong idea, okay?" The ice in his whiskey clinked. "Me and Lilah? We're just … associates. Right, Lilah?"
Lilah came to the door with a smile.
"I knew you'd be here, and why," replied Cordelia bluntly. "Vision Gal, remember?"
Angelus felt his face register surprise. He laughed. She kept him guessing, he appreciated that.
She pushed past Lilah and stepped inside.
"Come in," said Lilah. "Make yourself at home."
"Whatever," said Cordelia offhandedly. "Angelus, I'm not here for you. I'm here for Angel."
"Haven't we been through the whole I-am-him thing?" Angelus sipped his whiskey. Now this he could taste. It was rich heat in his belly.
"And again I say, whatever," replied Cordelia. "You know she's going to have you killed if you don't agree to her little proposal, right?"
"I expected no less," said Angelus. "But I'm touched that you care. Really."
Lilah made her way to the long black couch and sat, her head cradled in her hand.
"You mean you've agreed?" asked Cordelia, frowning.
"I didn't say that," laughed Angelus. "They couldn't kill me, Cordy." He stepped close to her and touched her face lightly with the back of his fingers. She hardly seemed to notice. "I've been chased by slayers and vampire hunters for two and a half centuries. You think one law firm can take me down?"
"Vampire hunters that had you cowering in barns," cut in Lilah. "You think we couldn't do worse?"
Angelus turned and laughed, stepping beside Cordelia and draping his arm over her shoulders. She looked resigned.
"A barn can be fun, when you're with the right woman," he drawled in his accent of old, nuzzling Cordelia's cheek. He watched her suppress the tingling thrill that came unbidden with his touch.
She shook his arm away.
"So you've got it all figured, huh? The assassin set to go if you refuse tonight? The big pile of dust you could be in the morning? You've got a big plan, have you?" Cordelia looked enraged. It thrilled him.
"Lilah," he said. "Is this true?"
Lilah no longer looked amused.
"I knew we should have killed you when we raised Darla," she said through her teeth to Cordelia.
"Hey, been up there, bored, came back, you deal," replied Cordelia with equal venom.
"Who says I'd send you up there?" came the reply. Lilah stood, her jaw set.
Angelus regarded her for a moment. This was a twist. While he loved the unexpected, this was not what he had in mind.
"Go to hell," said Cordelia.
"Hell will come here first. With or without you, Angelus." She stared at the vampire, her dark eyes now hard and cold.
He sipped his whiskey once again, putting a hand in his perfectly tailored pocket.
"I was once into that," he said lazily. "Trust me, the phase will pass."
"Not this one. You know the deal. You want to come out on top? You join us."
"While I do enjoy being on top, Lilah, sometimes it's fun to try new things. Let me show you what I mean." He sprang forward too fast for the human eye to see and caught her by the throat. "I'm leaving now, and you're coming with me." He began to walk towards the door, Lilah held tight against him. She walked reluctantly, her eyes darting around. "Cordelia? You got the car?"
"What am I, your chauffeur?"
"That would be chauffeuse. I thought you were here to save me."
Cordelia threw him a withering look, but, sighing, walked close behind him. They made their way to the elevator and down to the car, Lilah unwillingly blocking any shots taken at her captor.
"You know your problem, Lilah? You want things too quickly. No patience. A long, relaxed evening is not enough for you." He squeezed her cheeks between his thumb and fingers as he shoved her towards the convertible. "But then, you had one of those last night with Wes. Maybe you're tired."
"With Wes?" echoed Cordelia.
"That's right, with Wes," said Lilah. "You think he could give me up because you what, told him to?"
Angelus threw her in the back seat and hopped over the door after her. Cordelia got in the front, fumbling with the keys. She turned on the ignition and raised the cover.
"That's where he was last night." she said quietly. "And that's how he knew."
"Of course," said Lilah scathingly. "You're surprised? Cordy, of all people, I thought you'd get how hard it is to stay away from the dark side."
Cordelia watched her in the mirror as she looked pointedly at Angelus. Angelus merely smirked, his hand clamped on Lilah's arm.
"I'm here for Angel," she said again.
"Keep telling yourself that, sweetie. I'm sure someone will believe you sometime." Lilah looked away, feigning indifference.
Angelus said nothing.
Cordelia drove automatically to her old apartment. Angelus watched her from the backseat. He saw her mind in turmoil, could sense the battle in her breast.
She parked outside the apartment and wordlessly took Lilah's other arm as they discreetly forced her to the door. He pushed open the door and threw her inside. Cordelia stepped in after him and shut the door behind her.
She looked around the living room while he took Lilah into the bedroom. She heard cries, and assumed the rope was cutting into Lilah's flesh too tight. Cordelia did not care. She stared at the drawing of her face that adorned the wall over the mantle piece.
"You like it?" came the low, feral voice from behind her.
"Yeah," she answered. "How's Lilah?"
"Bound, gagged," he answered lightly.
"Won't the Wolfram and Hart heavies come to find her?" Cordelia turned to face him. "We were probably followed."
"I doubt it. They'll probably throw a party that she's gone and then kill each other for the top spot." Angelus smiled. "Who cares?"
Cordelia shrugged.
"But you know who will come for her," he continued.
"Wesley," she replied flatly.
"That's right," said Angelus.
"And you'll kill him."
"He'll try to kill me, you know that."
"But now you've given him another reason." Cordelia closed her eyes in resignation.
"Yes. Thanks for your help."
She looked at him again. He tried not to smirk. It was tough.
"I did this for Angel."
"What is that, some kind of catchphrase?" He laughed. "Angel. He's gone, baby. There's just me now. And don't try to tell me you find that too sad."
She shook her head in disbelief.
"Okay, one, Angel! Not you, I'm here for Angel! And two, no self-esteem issues with you, huh?" She stood with her hands on her hips.
"Nice try," he said to her. "Soon you'll lie as well as I do."
Cordelia raised her hand to her head.
"Stop. Just stop."
"You're tired."
She could only drop her head. Angelus saw the fall of her shoulders.
"I'm leaving," she said wearily. "If you're going to kill her, please do it quickly. No pain."
"As you wish. We don't want her to enjoy it too much." Angelus walked beside her as far as the door. "Though I won't be killing her for some time yet."
Angelus watched her face but saw not the flicker of an expression.
"Goodbye," he said as she walked out the door. "And Cordelia."
She stopped and turned back.
"Thanks," he said. The smile that saw right through her was back.
She wrapped her arms around herself and looked at him with bruised eyes.
"It wasn't you," she said. "It will never be you."
He watched her walk away towards the car.
"Yes it will," he whispered into the night. The taillights glowed red as she pulled away. "It always is."