Chapter 17 - Early Evening

The fledging male bolts up in game face with a howling, otherworldly roar. His companions come immediately to attention. The sharing of blood and the resulting connections cause each to keenly feel his agitation. The fact that no spoken communication is needed to relay his distress is a positive turn because he is hard pressed to find words as he struggles with his demon.

Angel has never encountered a young vampire of this amount of strength and rage. He has already taken twice as much blood as a normal mortal during his turning. Not only that but the demon took hold of the mortal immediately twining around his being in a way that Angelus years has never seen in all his. While the fledging is immensely powerful, he is still a babe to their ways. Angel acknowledges this fact to himself as he acts quickly.

Angel knows that he must appease the demon's hunger before the boy - no, the man - can hope to grasp control from the demon. Still, Angel is the sire and the head on this family. It is his lone responsibility to steer them through this unforeseen event. With one motion to Buffy, she and Willow make their way out of the room, backing out slowly not turning their backs on the unpredictable raging demon in their presence.

Once the women are gone, Angel shifts to game face. The demon recognizes his sire. Vampires are pack animals at heart and until his sire shows weakness, the demon childe will follow his sire for the hunt and after. Angel stands, careful to not turn his back on his childe even as he weighs his confidence that Alexander Harris will follow him. As nothing else has followed the normal path with him, he is going to take nothing for granted.

Alexander Harris stands as well as. The turning has developed his musculature beyond that of a seventeen year old boy. That is unless said boy is massively abusing steroids. He is now a match for Angel in stature. With their dark hair and golden eyes, they are the very picture of demonic brothers.

Angel turns to Alexander, his voice low and rasping as he speaks through his fangs. "Can you understand me, brother?"

Alexander nods as he looks intently at his sire. He is breathing heavily. He is in pain, he feels as if he is starving - not only for blood - but for carnage as well. His mouth manages to form one word, "Hunt."

Angel nods, "Hunt." Oh Dear God, this one makes Spike look like a choirboy.

"We will hunt but we can't go out this way. Two naked vampires will cause a stir even in Sunnydale."

Alexander does not laugh at Angel's jest. He again comes to stand directly in front of his sire. He is growling now, his face in a perpetual sneer.'

"Ok, Ok Buddy. Let me get something to satisfy you for the moment." Angel opens a cabinet hiding another refrigerator and pulls out two blood bags. He tosses one to his childe and keeps one for himself. They both tear into the cold blood, each finishing in seconds.

The blood helps Alexander's control but it does nothing to subdue the demon. Angel remembers the feeling well. The demon is calling for the hunt, the kill - not only the blood. If his own demon had its way, he would always seek the same.

Angel throws down his snack, and reaches the wardrobe. He tosses some of his own clothes toward his childe. They dress quickly neither taking their eyes off the other. Soon both are dressed in similar attire - black boots, black jeans, black leather coats.

"We'll take the Rover and go to the waterfront. There are people there that won't be missed. Hell, the world may be a better place without them. Now, try to pull down your game face, can you?" His companion looks confused. Angel clears his own features, "Try, make it so."

The sight of his sire's human countenance pulls Xander's memory up though his demon's hunger, "Angel?" he questions as his face also shifts.

Angel extends his hand, "Alexander" he acknowledges. His childe reaches out tentatively and shakes his hand in a firm grip. The touch is staggering, surprising both. Power jumps back and forth between them, a palatable force. The power and its seductive allure overwhelm the fledging. He moves quickly, pushing Angel's back up against the wall. He crushes his mouth into Angel's. It is less of a kiss and more of a more intimate way to glory in the power they both share. Participating fully in this display, Angel is more than a little intrigued by this side of his newest childe. Who would have thought - this magnificent creature - out of the shell of that jumpy, nervous boy.

When they pull back an inch, they are in full game face. They nuzzle each other, scenting each other like animals. Alexander struggles to speak again, "Go now. please."

Hearing the plea, Angel finally turns his back on his childe satisfied that he is safe from attack - at least for the moment. His childe follows him out into the night.
Buffy has led Willow into the suite that she and Angel have claimed. After the near orgy next door, Buffy is somewhat relived to have her friend back in her right mind - more or less.

"Oh my God, Buffy. I mean, I get it the whole grrrr thing but Xander.it's like he's the grrrr-iest of all, ya' know?"

"I know. Don't worry Will. He's fine, Angel will take care of him, calm him down."

"Ummm, Buffy, I don't think he's going to need much taking care of. it's the rest of the world I'm worried about."

At that they both giggle like the schoolgirls that they so recently were.

On their way to the waterfront, Alexander asks for - no demands - a detour. Angel doesn't ask questions - he can guess. In this act, his childe is following his father - his new father - by murdering his parents.

Angel leans against the wall in the front hall of Harris home. Man, they have some bad taste. If Alexander didn't kill them, the fashion police would. He listens to the screams coming from the bedroom upstairs. He hasn't had this much fun in ages.

Xander is still well under layers and layers of blood lust but it is he - the lonely mortal boy - who lets this demon lose in the house he grew up in. He breaks their necks, he does not want any more of their blood than he already has. Once they are dead, he takes a few items, stuffs them in a pillow case and he's out to door with Angel.

Soon they are flying down the road with the sunroof and windows open, listening to Led Zeppelin on their way to hunt.
For those persons unfortunate enough to be haunting the waterfront bars on this starry night, it seems death has come to call. After the first rather messy kill, the two begin to hunt with more finesse. Playing with their prey. Enjoying having a partner, sharing in the kill.

After the forth kill in less the two hours, the blood lust seems to be clearing from Xander's mind. What he finds as it clears is a drastically changed landscape. His former foe has offered him more parental love and encouragement in the past hours than his father has in seventeen years. In the hunt, he has found confidence. He is not hiding behind a girl from monsters. He is a monster. His senses are a revelation. The power is a revelation. It is as if he is breaking out of a chrysalis. It is incredible.

Angel watches his childe with pride. This one is worthy of him, of the gift. He is pleased with his choice and presses himself to share this pride with Alexander. The sharing feels unnatural but he wishes to continue to bind his new family to him in different ways than before. Alexander accepts the praise, soaking it up like so much power. There is much unsaid between the two but in the face of their communion of blood nothing seems of any true consequence.

Back in the Rover, they drive back into town. Angel reaches out and clasps Alexander's hand. "I will call you Alexander. It is a conqueror's name. The women can call you what they will."

His childe repeats the name, "Alexander, yes, I like it. Nothing like a new name for a new life. Cher, Madonna, Prince .Alexander."

Angel laughs the old personality and wit is beginning to surface. It is good to see all the parts of the man come together. It would be dangerous to have a vampire this powerful unstable.

"Are you ready? Are you ready to face the women? When you woke, you gave us quite a scare. I must admit I wondered if you were going to attack. You looked as if you were surveying the room to take out the weakest first and little red looked like she was going to your appetizer."

"I would never hurt Willow, never."

Angel laughs darkly, "Don't underestimate yourself."
Buffy and Willow are sharing a bubble bath in Angel's bathroom. They have broken out the champagne and mixed it with blood. Each on an opposite side of the huge tub, they occasionally play footsie as they talk - Buffy finally catching Willow up on the past few days.

When the men arrive in the room they are treated to a happily domestic picture. Two rosy females, warm from the steaming water are there to greet them.

TBC

Thanks to everybody who has taken the time to review my efforts. It means a lot to me and is helpful! Please, Please continue. Special thank yous to Tariq, Rain & ms8309 for their faithfulness. Let me know how our new Xander is developing?