A New Breed of Slayer
A/N: Thank you to everyone who read the last chapter and reviewed. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Anyway, enjoy and please review.
Ch 3 Vampire Hunt
For the first time since the potentials had arrived, maybe even before that, Dawn felt wanted. Unlike back home in Sunnydale with Buffy, Faith had actually invited her to join the hunt. Usually she would be forced to stay home and do something 'useful'. Of course Faith's treatment of Dawn had always been different from that of Buffy's. Although Dawn had been thirteen when Faith ruled the streets of Sunnydale the slayer still insisted on showing the young girl how to protect herself at night in Sunnydale. Secretly each night Faith would sneak into the Summers' home and then Dawn would leave with the slayer. Even after Faith began to torture and hurt Buffy and her friends Faith always made sure Dawn was safe and out of the way. Soon enough, before Faith was put into a coma, Dawn had mastered the slaying of vampires. Of course she never allowed Buffy to know about her skills. Dawn had always felt that by letting Buffy in on her secret with Faith she would be betraying the one person who always treated her as and equal and not as a child. Now, Dawn prepared to show Faith that all her training had not gone to waste. Buffy and the others may hate Faith and refuse to allow her to redeem herself, but Dawn on the other hand would not leave Faith's side. The slayer, although she liked to put on a tough façade, still needed support and Dawn was willing and eager to give her that. Faith had been more of a sister to Dawn than Buffy ever could, or would be. Although Faith had been absent for the past four years of Dawn's life it seemed that Buffy had been gone a lot longer than that. Even in saving Dawn's life Buffy managed to make Dawn resent her. "Dawnie," Faith's worried voice broke into her thoughts, "You okay?"
"Huh?" Dawn looked up and then managed to smile, "Five by five." The slayer smiled widely at the teenager.
"Good," Faith's smile faded and her voice became stern, "Stay focused. If you're going to slay you need your undivided attention. Got it?" Dawn nodded in understanding and noticed Faith send a small wink her way.
"Do you have a plan?" Wesley wondered as he stopped and waited for the two to catch up. Dawn and Faith looked at the ex-watcher. They had both almost forgotten about the other four present.
"What Wes? Doubt my ability to do this job?" Faith wondered.
"Of course not Faith," Wesley said dryly, "But we are dealing with Angelus. A plan would help."
"Alright," Faith nodded, "Here's the plan: We find Angelus, I capture him and we return to the hotel so Willow can restore his soul. Everyone got it?"
"Sure thing," Gunn nodded in agreement. Spike and Wesley silently agreed. Faith then turned and continued to walk down the street.
"No," Conner suddenly put in. Faith whirled around.
"Kid's got a problem huh?" Faith inquired. She looked over the teenage boy, examining him carefully. He did have Angel's whole dark and broody thing down. All she was curious about was why he seemed to have a problem with the plan.
"Yes, I do," Conner replied, "If I find Angelus, he's dead." With these words Faith grew extremely angry. She shoved Conner against a nearby wall and lifted her chosen weapon, a crossbow, to his forehead.
"Listen and listen good," Faith hissed, "I'm in charge here so you do what I say. You will not go anywhere near Angelus or stake him for that matter. If Angelus needs to be staked I'll be the one doing it. Got it? If you have a problem then go back to the hotel and help them out there. You're not going to be getting in the way here. I must remind you that I'm a murderer and if it comes between choosing you or Angel I will not hesitate to kill you. Understand?" Conner smirked and nodded. "Good."
"I like this girl," Gunn whispered to Wesley who just watched Faith, emotionlessly. Dawn smiled as Conner dutifully followed Faith this time. Glancing over at Spike she saw the vampire grunt in laughter as he too followed the slayer. That was another thing about Faith. She always got her way.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(Meanwhile at the Hyperion)
After Faith and the rest had left Xander proceeded to go in search of Willow and Fred. He couldn't help but admire Faith for allowing Dawn to go out on the hunt with them. Although Buffy would certainly disapprove of Dawn out on the same streets that Angelus was roaming Xander thought it was for the best. After all with all this business with the First he could tell that Dawn was beginning to feel neglected. He couldn't help but relate to that feeling. No longer wanting to think of Buffy and the trouble in Sunnydale Xander examined the hotel. It was rather large. Each window had the curtain carefully position so that if Angel were to walk into that room at any point during the day he wouldn't burst into flames. Heading up the stairs in the direction Fred and Willow had gone Xander continued to ponder on his situation. His thoughts drifted away from the décor of the hotel and over to Cordelia Chase, his ex-girlfriend and the ex-cheerleader. He would have been able to easily believe she was in LA, but in LA working for Angel was kind of hard to imagine. Throw in Cordy having visions and becoming part-demon and it was hard to believe that they were still talking about the same Cordelia Chase. The Cordelia he had known back in Sunnydale, and loved, had hated Angel, Buffy and anything to do with slaying but she had still done it. Voices from down the hall caught Xander's attention. He couldn't make out what was being said but he knew it was Willow and Fred talking lowly. He followed the noises as they became more distinct, he opened the door to a room and found the two girls searching through a big trunk in the closet. "Everything alright here?" Xander quizzed as both girls jumped.
"OH," Willow sighed in relief realizing it was only Xander, "Yeah, we're alright. I thought you would've gone out with Faith and the others."
"Nah, slaying vamps is getting old," Xander shrugged.
"And where's Dawnie?" Willow wondered peering around Xander.
"She's out hunting Angelus with them," Xander informed. Willow nodded slowly and the two shared the mutual understanding that if Buffy found out they would both be very, very dead. Fred watched the two closely before turning back to the trunk. Willow stood up and dusted off her knees.
"I'm going to call Buffy," she stated, "Tell her we're all here and working the mojo to get Angel back and get home."
"Tell Kennedy I say hi," Xander smirked as Willow blushed and hurried out of the room. He was happy that Willow finally seemed to be moving on. Especially considering how hard she had taken Tara's death. They all missed sorceress. She had brought something into all of their lives that could never be replaced and he knew it hurt Willow most that she couldn't prevent it. That she couldn't bring Tara back. He and Willow both knew that she was better off wherever she was now. After all last time they had brought someone back from the beyond they hadn't exactly been happy about it.
"Did she really almost end the world?" Fred asked timidly. Xander turned to the girl and nodded.
"She lost someone she loved and couldn't take it," Xander explained, "She killed the person who killed Tara and then went after his companions. Giles came back and when she absorbed his power...she felt the pain of the world and wanted to destroy it."
"Oh," Fred sighed, "Did Buffy stop her?"
"No," Xander shook her head, "I did, with my love for her." Fred smiled slightly. Sometimes Xander was still in awe with the fact that it had be he, with no magic or slayer strength, which had brought the real Willow back from the dark side with words of love. To him, that was the real magic.
Willow returned to the room minutes later. Apparently Buffy had been out at the time some last minute thing she had to deal with. Andrew had been the one to answer the phone swearing to inform Buffy of the call. Xander wondered if he was still afraid of Willow. The nerd rarely commented on how Willow once had tried to kill him sending him and Jonathan fleeing to Mexico. Then, the three of them heard a loud crash sounded from somewhere down the hall. Fred and Willow stood and headed to investigate but Xander stopped them. "I'll do it," he said before heading out the room, "Stay here and get ready for the spell." Willow nodded dutifully and led Fred back over to where their ingredients were scattered around on the floor.
Creeping down the hall Xander prayed that it wasn't Angelus or the Beast stopping in to feed on him or the other two. Pushing open a slightly ajar door a little away from the room he had just exited Xander peeped in. To his surprise there was someone in the room, and it was not either Angelus or the Beast, it was a girl with short brown hair huddled into the corner of the room naked. She hugged her bare legs tightly and her head was bent her forehead resting against her knees. "Are you alright?" Xander questioned. Startled the brunette's head swung up to see the intruder before trying to huddle deeper into the corner, Xander gasped as he recognized the face of the girl.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(Back on the Streets of LA)
Faith and Dawn stood in fighter's stance back to back each holding their weapons, stakes, readily. Not long after Faith had threatened to kill Conner they were attacked by a large group of vampires. Not long into the fight Faith had tossed the crossbow aside and pulled out a trusty stake, but not before tossing one over to Dawn. They had all split into groups of two, Faith and Dawn, Spike and Conner, and Wesley and Gunn. Now, Faith and Dawn stood staring at their group of opponents. The first of the vamps launched towards Dawn who immediately ducked and kicked sending the Vamp tumbling back a few feet. While the Vamp tried to regain his stepping Dawn, remaining low, twirled and sent the Vamp hurtling onto his back. Not wasting a second Dawn jumped to her feet and staked it, she brought her arm back quickly as the dust appeared and staking the Vamp coming from behind. She might not be a slayer, but she was trained well.
Proudly watching Dawn stake the two Vamps just as easily as any slayer would Faith took on her own attackers. The vamps weren't bright which led Faith to conclude that they were newbies. Vamps that had been sired since the sun had been blocked. They didn't know what slayers were and that was why they weren't running away. They were set on a meal. Faith knew one thing, neither she nor Dawn were going to be their meal ticket. Swiftly staking the three remaining Vamps surrounding her Faith turned to help Dawn out with the last one before joining Wesley and Gunn. Faith realized immediately that the old watcher who Faith remembered as the bookish Englishman that she had tortured didn't need her help, neither did Gunn, or Conner nor certainly not Spike. So, Faith nudged Dawn and nodded off down towards an old, abandoned looking factory. "Where do think I would hide out if I was Angelus?" Faith whispered.
"Or any Vampire for that matter," Dawn added, "Let's go get ourselves a vampire." Faith grinned and the two took off sprinting towards the factory. Halfway there though they were ambushed by three more vamps. Faith could tell right off that these guys knew what they were doing and groaned looking longingly at the factory which may be housing either the Beast or Angelus. "Go!" Dawn shouted as she launched to the Vamps, "I'll take care of them." Faith hesitated a second but saw that in the horizon there were only five figures left where the others were fighting and as she took another step towards the factory the remaining Vamp was staked and the four they had left behind were heading their way. Faith knew that if anything happened to Dawn Buffy would not hesitate to kill Faith, but she had to do what she had to do. She then began to run off towards the factory once more, but her conscious got the best of her and she returned to help Dawn dust the Vamps. As they staked the last one Wesley, Spike, Conner, and Gunn rejoined them just as another pack of Vampires jumped out.
"My god!" Faith exclaimed exasperated, "When did Vamps become so fucking organized."
"Since the slayer came to town," one of the Vamps growled.
"Really?" Faith tilted her head questioningly before jumping the Vamp, pining him and staking him, "Anyone else?" The Vamps took a step back. "Aw...too bad," Faith faked disappointment. Then nodding at Dawn and the others they attacked the Vamps. Some of the Vamps put up a pretty good fight, as the three Dawn and Faith had taken before but most of them were just newbies that were still hungry. They were taken out easily.
"So, think we'll finally get there without interruption?" Dawn wondered hopefully.
"Now what's the fun in that?" Faith smirked walking on down the street, "Can't wait to see who Angelus' minions are."
"Can't 'ave that many can 'e?" Spike put in, "Poof had Dru and me last time. An' we were the smart ones."
"Dru was a smart one?" Dawn laughed. She had only one encounter with the infamous Drusilla but had heard many stories and knew that Dru was as crazy as they come.
"Smarter 'n most," Spike encountered. The others nodded disbelieving.
"Either way Angelus' minions are not a problem," Wesley interjected, "We have to worry about Angelus and the Beast."
"And Evil Cordy," Gunn added.
"Yes," Wesley continued, "Just remember we need to capture Angelus." Wesley looked pointedly at Conner.
"What, talking about me?" a voice boomed from the shadows, "I'm flattered, really."
"Angelus," Faith whispered.
"Not the slayer I wanted," Angelus stepped into the street light, "Then again any slayer would do. How are you Faithie?"
"Dying to see you," Faith responded dryly.
"Dying is right," Angelus smirked, his voice fill of amusement and Dawn shuddered, "And look you brought the Slayer's sister too."
"Watch it Angelus," Spike warned, "Don't want to give the slayer another reason to kill you."
"Spike," Angelus growled, "I'm ashamed. Getting a soul and sleeping with the slayer. I smell her all over you. She's mine you know, Angel marked her." Dawn remembered that. Buffy came home one night two puncture wounds in her neck that she immediately hid under turtle necks and scarves. It was only much later that she found out what it meant when a Vampire bit you and left you alive. You were his territory and other Vamps had better stay away. Dracula had marked Buffy as well. Riley had been upset about that alright.
"Come on Angelus," Faith coaxed, "I know you want a piece of me, the slayer, think of all the power."
"I do Faithie," Angelus admitted, "I just want to introduce you to a friend of mind first." With that said the big ugly Beast stepped into the light next to Angelus. Faith was immediately in fighter stance. "And just so your friends don't interfere," he continued, "I've brought them a distraction too." Confused, the gang looked around them as ten Vampires stepped out of the shadows and attacked as Faith and the Beast went at it. Angelus leaned against the wall of the building behind him, arm crossed watching amused.
Dawn staked her attacker, a female vampire, after a little struggle. Not leaving a chance for another to attack she headed to Angelus. Faith immediately caught on to what was happening. "Dawn!" she called out as the Beast slammed his rocked hand across her cheek sending her flying, "Here!" Dawn caught the tranquilizer gun Faith tossed to her and tucked it away carefully in her pocket. Angelus smirked as Dawn continued towards him.
"So, kid thinks she can take me?" he chuckled, "You've got too much of your sister in you. Of course you were made from her."
"Unlike Buffy I'm not into the small talk," Dawn spat, "I'd rather just fight."
"So, it wasn't Buffy who trained you after all," Angelus lifted his body off the wall and approached Dawn, "Didn't think so. She's too protective, or maybe insecure."
"I said no small talk," Dawn growled remembering not to show her vulnerability. She lurched forward with a kick with Angelus blocked with no problem before grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards him. Dawn looked up into Angelus' eyes and saw pure evil. She knew what he saw too, fear. It was hard not to be afraid. Angelus smirked, as if reading her thoughts and stroked her cheek before brushing her hair away from her neck.
"You'll make a delightful snack," Angelus cackled.
"Leave the nibblet alone," Spike ordered, "She's mine."
"Nice try William," Angelus nuzzled Dawn's neck longingly, "But she hasn't been marked, ever. Not even a bite." Dawn took Spike's interrupting to her advantage and tried to worm out of Angelus' hold, hut it was too strong. "Unh, Unh, Unh," the vampire scolded, "No running away."
"Let...go....of...me!" Dawn demanded stepping hard on his toes.
"Wow, a real teenager you are," Angelus shook her head un-impressed, "How about you an' me go get some privacy huh?" Dawn shook her head profusely. The last thing she needed was to be alone somewhere with Angelus. She shouldn't have thought she could take him. This was all Buffy's fault. If Buffy wasn't constantly driving Dawn to prove herself worthy of her attention then Dawn would never have thought of trying to fight Angelus. Then, she remembered the tranquilizer gun. If somehow she could get a hold of it, but it was useless, Angelus now had flipped Dawn over his shoulders and turned to the Beast and Faith. "Finish her off and bring her to me alive," he ordered, "Oh, and Faith maybe this will even out the fight a bit." He tossed Faith a sword carefully carved out of the Beast himself before taking off with Dawn.
Faith cursed to herself as the Beast flung her once more against a wall. She was scraped badly and weak. Conner, Wesley, Spike and Gunn seemed to be struggling with their fight as well and if it wasn't bad enough Angelus had just gotten a hold of Dawn. Yes, this was real great. After all what more could a girl want than for the sister of the girl who hated more than anything to be kidnapped by probably the worst Vampire of all time? Spike seemed equally upset about this. As if he was in charge of Dawn. It had been Faith who had invited Dawn to join the hunt, Faith who had taught Dawn to fight and Faith who encouraged Dawn to go after Angelus by handing her the tranquilizer gun. Now, Dawn was as good as dead if Faith didn't get to her soon. In a burst of energy and anger Faith launched at the Beast once more, the sword first stabbing him right in his lower bicep. Spike immediately staked his Vamp and ducked into a building behind him. As soon as the Beast crumbled to dust the Sun burst out from behind its dark cover and the Vamp attackers burst into flame. With a sigh of relief Faith collapsed onto her knees. Gunn, Wesley and Conner smiled staring up into the light sky but Faith wasn't all too happy about the sun. Dawn was still with Angelus and that was a bad thing, a very bad thing.
~*~*~*~*~*~
(Over in Sunnydale; the grocery store.)
With all the new arrivals there was a major shortage in food which was why Buffy along with Kennedy and Chloe were grocery shopping. Throwing in another three boxes of cereal into the already filled carriage Buffy felt an odd chill run through her spine. Something was wrong. Pulling out her cell phone while checking on the two potentials in the next aisle Buffy quickly dialled the Summers' home, Andrew almost immediately picked up. "Hello?" Anya answered the phone immediately after the first ring.
"Is everyone alright?" Buffy quizzed.
"Oh, Buffy it's you," she said unenthusiastically, "Yeah, why?"
"All the potentials are alive?" Buffy ignored the boy's question.
"Yes, they're training out back," Anya informed the slayer, "And not very well either."
Buffy was semi-relieved, "And have you heard anything from Willow and the others?" At Willow's name Kennedy perked up and began to listen.
"Willow called," Anya assured Buffy, "Told Andrew they were all there and getting ready to get Angel back."
"And everything was fine?" Buffy had to make sure that they were safe. If anything had happened to any of them...
"I don't know," Anya responded nonchalant, "He didn't ask.". Buffy shook her head and hung up the phone without saying goodbye. Resisting the temptation to call LA she shrugged off the feeling she had had as paranoia. Turning into the next aisle leaving Chloe and Kennedy to fight over some kind of chocolate or snacks Buffy froze. Someone who was very, very dead stood right in front of Buffy's carriage smiling at the slayer, Jenny Calendar.
"Well, hello Buffy," the woman greeted, "How's Rupert?"
"You can't get to me," Buffy informed the First, "Jenny's dead and you're the first."
"Remember how I died?" The first questioned, "Remember what Angelus did to me. Did you really send your friends out to take care of that Monster? What kind of slayer are you? What kind of sister?"
"They can handle Angelus, they have Faith," Buffy snapped at the First.
"Can they?" The First smiled snidely, "Willow might've restored his soul once, but it's too powerful a spell for her and what about you're precious Spike? Will he resist the temptation of working with his Grand-Sire again?"
"Faith will keep them in line," Buffy clenched her jaw together now allowing the First to see she was unsure about that fact.
"Your rogue slayer?" The First in Jenny's form laughed as she walked around Buffy turning into Angel, "She once tried to bring Angelus back remember? Will she be able to resist the evil he offers her? And your sister, what kind of danger are you putting Dawn in? They're going to die and so are all of you."
"Go away!" Buffy demanded, "You can't mess with my mind!"
"Buffy?" Chloe turned into the aisle pushing her own carriage, the First winked and disappeared, "You alright?" Buffy turned and looked at the potential who posed a good question. Was she alright? She had just sent four people she cared about into a potentially deadly situation. Everything the First had pointed out was true, everything. What had she been thinking sending Dawn out there? Allowing them to visit Faith and break her out of jail. And she had even sent Spike along with them. That had been a very, very bad idea. They were all going to die and it would be all her fault. These potentials were going to die, most of them in the final battle and she would be to blame. What was she doing? What was the point of all this?
"Buffy?" It was Kennedy now speaking. Buffy snapped out of her trance and nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied, "Just had a visit from the First is all." Chloe and Kennedy's eyes widened and Buffy realized that these girls needed her to be strong. Needed her to fill them with words of hope but how could she do that when she didn't believe there was hope. There was no hope.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(At the Hyperion; The room with Xander and the strange girl.)
All Xander knew was that it couldn't be, that the naked woman huddled in the corner was not who she appeared to be. Yet, she was, there was no other explanation. The girl was looking at him, fear in her eyes as if her were going to hurt her and yet Xander continued to stare in awe. It had been so long, so long since he had last lay eyes on the person in front of him now. Of course her hair had been longer, and she had shown no fear at all. All her bitchiness was gone and all that remain was a frightened, naked, girl. Willow and Fred now appeared behind him, curious as to what was going on but Xander hardly noticed them. Fred pushed passed him to see who was in the room. "Cordelia!" she exclaimed rushing over to the girl. Willow was now next to Xander staring in awe as well.
"Is that really her?" Willow wondered almost inaudible, "I mean it can't be the First because Fred is touching her but it doesn't look like Cordy."
"Know what you mean," Xander managed. Fred had now pulled the blanked off the bed and wrapped it around Cordelia.
"Is it really you?" Fred now asked, "You're not all evil?" Cordelia looked confusedly at Fred, then around the room at Xander and Willow.
"Where am I?" she squeaked, "What happened to all the brightness?"
"She doesn't have her memory," Fred sighed, disappointed, "Neither did evil Cordy when we found her."
"Is...Is that my name?" Cordelia wondered. Fred nodded. Xander and Willow now moved over to where Fred and Cordelia sat on the bed.
"I'm going to get Lorne," Fred stated, "See if he can get her memory back. Will you watch her?" Willow nodded as the girl ran out of the room in search of the Host. Xander examined the new Cordelia. She was certainly not the same Cordelia that was for sure.
"Who're you?" she looked at Xander confusion still all over her face.
"Xander Harris," he introduced, "We used to date."
"And I'm Willow," Willow put in, "I broke you guys up. Not purposely though."
"Okay," Cordelia moved away slightly from the two. Xander and Willow were not offended though. She had just been launched back into the world, stark naked, from some other dimension with no memory of whom she was or where she came from. If they were in her position they would be afraid too. As they sat now in silence waiting for Fred to return with her demon friend the sudden brightness peaked out from under the curtain. Xander lifted himself off the bed and pulled the curtain open. The three squinted at the light as their eyes adjusted to the brightness. One they did Fred burst into the room with a bright smile on her face, Lorne right behind her.
"They did it!" Fred exclaimed joyously, "They defeated the Beast! They brought the sun back!" Xander and Willow couldn't help but smile broadly as well. Lorne moved over to the cowering Cordelia.
"Well, welcome home honey," Lorne greeted the poor confused girl before turning to the other three, "Let's wait for Wesley and the others to get home before we do anything." Fred, Willow, and Xander nodded in agreement.
"In the meantime let's get her some clothes," Willow suggested. Fred coaxed Cordelia up and led her to her to her room. Xander and Lorne returned silently to the lobby of the Hotel. Minutes later Fred, and Willow joined them with a fully clothed Cordelia who seemed less confused but still equally awkward. The three women all took a seat, remaining quiet. The silence was awkward for all of them. Most of all for Xander, usually he would make some quip but now didn't seem like the time. The world seemed to be in too much danger to be making jokes.
After another fifteen minutes of silence the doors to the Hyperion flew open and the group of hunters entered the hotel, two short of what they had left with, but Spike had appeared less than a second later exiting from on of Angel's tunnels he had taken to avoid the sun. Xander was the first to pick up on the still missing person and approached Faith angrily. "Where is she?" he demanded, "Where is she Faith?" Faith looked guiltily to the ground. Willow curiously looked around at the group as she finished looking over each person her eyes widened.
"Oh god," she muttered. Xander clenched his fists together anxiously awaiting Faith's answer.
"Where's Dawn!" Xander asked roughly.
"Calm it Harris," Spike ordered, "Wasn't the slayer's fault."
"God damn it Spike, shut up!" Xander shouted, "Where the hell is Dawn Faith?"
"He took her," Faith whispered guiltily before looking Xander straight in the eye, her voice growing fierce now, "I was fighting the Beast and she went after him. He got her and took her away!" Xander shook his head and stormed off to the other side of the lobby. Willow went to calm him down as Faith closed her eyes, took a deep breath and stomped out of the hotel taking a seat on the steps outside.
As the other stared helplessly at the ground Conner looked around the room and his gaze fell upon Cordelia. "What's she doing here?" he directed his question towards Fred who was still sitting next to her.
"It's the real Cordy," Fred informed him, "She...came back."
"Does she have her memory?" Wesley wondered. Fred shook her head, negative.
"Are we gonna have to do that memory spell again?" Gunn wondered tiredly. Wesley shrugged. They had too much to think about now.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(In some dark, abandoned building.)
"Where the hell have you been?" Evil Cordy shouted at Angelus as he and Dawn entered.
"I had to take Angel's stupid tunnels," Angelus growled tossing Dawn onto the floor. Evil Cordelia looked at Dawn who sat up slowly and then back at Angelus.
"God, that's all we need," she sighed, "The Beast is dead, the sun is back and you brought home a snack, the slayer's sister on top of that."
"Then let me go if I'm a nuisance," Dawn offered.
"NO!" Angelus snapped at Dawn kicking her down as she stood up. Dawn grunted and remained on the floor.
"She's back too," Evil Cordelia snapped, "Those damn Powers That Be sent her back earlier."
"So?" Angelus snarled, "What's it matter?"
"She'll find us," 'Cordelia' informed him, "When they find out how to get her memory back she'll find us and we're in trouble."
"I'm not," Angelus put in.
"Yes, you are," she smiled, "They'll find his soul and Angel will be back."
"Ah, but he would have been back anyway," Angelus pointed out, "The witch is here to return his soul. So, I have nothing to lose either way."
"Angelus, don't be so sure about the witch," Evil Cordelia walked by Angelus stroking his cheek, "She hasn't used this much power in a while. There might still be a chance that she won't be able to do it without going evil again."
"Either way I have something to take care of," Angelus smirked down at Dawn who watched the two of them, "If Angel does come back he'll have something new to feel guilty about, something that he won't get redemption for, from anyone." Dawn's eyes widened realizing what was happening. Angelus was playing a game with himself, with Angel. He was going to use her as something to torture Angel with when he came back, something to make him feel guiltier than he ever had been before about the people he killed as Angelus. Dawn just hoped Faith, or someone found her before she was dead.
