Chapter 42

"Still drawing?" Buffy asked, walking into the apartment she and Angel shared at the Hyperion.

"Yeah." Angel replied.

"Everything ok? You seem a little agitated."

"It's fine."

"No, you act like something's bothering you. What's up?"

"Nothing."

"Angel, I know you better than you know yourself. Something's up. If you don't spill, then I'm going to chain you up and force you to."

"It's Connor."

"What about him?"

"I can't help thinking that Gunn's right. Maybe Connor is connected to the Beast."

"No, I don't think he could be. He's not evil. Our son is not evil. But that's not all that's on your mind. Spill buster."

"That was it. Nothing else." Buffy rolled her eyes and took the drawing pad away from Angel. "Hey! I wasn't finished with that."

"Does it look like I care?" She tossed the pad on the bed and straddled Angel in the chair. "What's up?"

"Me."

"I can see that." Angel stared at her for a moment. "Oh, I know."

"Know what?"

"You're a little pissed about Xander and Cordy."

"Why would I be pissed about that? I'm happy for them."

"You're afraid that Xander will hurt Cordy again. Well, he's not. I doubt they're that serious again anyway."

"They walked in the other day holding hands and making googly eyes at each other."

"So? I know Xander. He's not ready to jump back into that relationship yet. He's still not completely over Anya."

"Whatever."

"Fine, we don't have to talk about that now. But about Connor, he's not connected to this. I just know. If he is, I'd feel it. Or maybe dream about it. Cordy's not the only one with visions."

"I know, but id Connor is connected.. What're we going to do?"

"We'll deal."

"So, you guys do think I'm connected." Connor said from the doorway.

"Connor, no." Buffy said, getting up. She went to push his hair out of his eyes, but he shoved her hand away. "Sweetie, we don't think that. We're just taking precautionary. That's all."

"No, you guys still don't trust me. Especially you." Connor directed the last comment to Angel.

"Connor, now that's not fair. He's your father and he loves you. We both love you."

"Then why are you blaming this on me?"

"We're not. Honey, we're going to figure this out and when we do, it's not going to have anything to do with you."

"You know what? I'm just in your way. I'm going to stay with Cordelia and Xander."

"Connor wait!"

It was too late, he had already ran down the hallway and down the steps. Buffy was about to go after him, but Angel stopped her. "He'll be back. Just give him some time. He's like his mom."

"I am not that pig headed." Buffy said, turning and staring at Angel.

"You can be." Buffy gawked. "What? You can. Come on. Come back in here and spend some time with me. We have had much of a moment's rest since.. Well, I can't exactly remember."

Buffy took Angel's outstretched hand and allowed him to lead her to a chair where she curled up in his lap. "I wish we could go on like this forever."

"Busy and bogged down with evil forces?"

"No! God no. I meant like this. Curled up together and peaceful. But the longer I stay comfortable, the more likely it is I'll fall asleep. Then the dreams will come and I can't wake up from them. They keep getting longer and worse. More clear. And there's one where I'm standing on a battlefield looking around at all this.. Destruction. There's death everywhere. I can smell the blood in the air. When I look down from the hill I'm on, I can see the Beast talking to someone with long brown hair and he seems familiar, but I can't see his face."

Angel was about to say something, but Lorne walked in. "Room service. Hey. Got you some nice O positive here. Freshly nuked for that 'right out of the jugular' taste. And for Blondie here I have some freshly poured OJ."

"Just put it on the table." Angel said.

Lorne did and saw the drawing pad lying on the bed. "Hmm.. good likeness. You guys wouldn't mind if I ran screaming from the room, would you?"

"Shut the door on your way out."

"Oh, all right. You want to play it this way, we'll play it this way."

"Play what?"

"Angel, sweetie, why so down? You're both 'Don't interrupt us, we're brooding."

"We're not brooding. We're researching."

"The apocalyptic beast who's turned our city into his personal abattoir? Yeah, so is everybody else, Wesley included, downstairs. Together."

"We work better alone."

"Oh, that's it. I see. It's all about you two. Silly old Lorne, thinking it was about saving the world from ending. Welcome to the big leagues, Angel. You're champions. You don't get personal days."

"There's nothing on this Beast, Lorne. Buffy and I fought it once and it nearly decapitated me with my own stake and almost killed Buffy. It's killed hundreds of people that we couldn't save and it keeps showing up around our kid. Our kid who's.."

"Starting to turn into a teenager and runs out when he doesn't feel like dealing?"

"He doesn't do that." Buffy said.

"Oh, so that was my imagination playing tricks on me. I didn't really see Connor running out of the hotel."

"Ok, so maybe he did. Just this once. But not all the time."

"And that wasn't Connor who ran off to Wolfram and Hart and nearly got you killed by a pack of rabid zombies?"

"Ok, he's done it more than once. He's a good kid. He's got issues. We all do."

"Oh, I understand. He's gotta deal guys. If he is connected to this, he's going.."

"To what Lorne? We know the drill ok? Just let him and us alone for right now."

"Didn't mean to piss you off cupcakes. I'll just go downstairs and help." Lorne backed out the door and shut it gently.

"Is it just me, or are we all on edge?" Buffy asked.

"It's not just you." Angel said. "We're all stressed. Two potential apocalypses on our shoulders isn't a stress reducer."

"And our happy little home has just turned into Potential Slayer HQ. Maybe we should buy a hotel in Sunnydale."

Angel snorted and started drawing again as Buffy paced. When a knock sounded at the door an hour later, Buffy was sitting on the bed staring at the ceiling.

"What is it?" Angel called.

"It's me. I know I don't have to be invited in but it is polite." Cordy said from outside the door.

"Come in." Buffy said.

Cordy came in and shut the door. No one spoke for what seemed like an hour. Finally, Cordy broke the ice. "Aren't you going to ask how Connor's doing?"

"How's Connor doing?"

"He's scared to death. Scared that you two think he's connected to the Beast."

"Well, you know, it does tend to show up whenever he's around." Angel said.

"I swear. Like father, like son. The two of you have cornered the market on teenage snits."

"What exactly do you want Cordelia?"

"I had a vision this morning of the Beast."

"Ok, tell me about the vision."

"It was.. different from any other. I felt like I was inside someone else listening to the demon talk but I couldn't tell if it was in the past or in the future or even where we were exactly."

"Who was it you were inside?"

"I couldn't tell. But I did feel like there was more I wasn't getting, like I was just scratching at the surface of something. Maybe it'll come to me."

"So what did the demon say?" Buffy asked.

"Don't know. All I got was the visual."

"Not much to go on, Cordy."

"But it's something! And a vision means the phone lines between us and the Powers That Be are still open. Maybe they'll send us a clue."

"As if there's somebody up there watching." Angel said.

"I was. But I'm back now so you guys are going to have to suck it up and deal because things are going to hell and.. and you're the leaders. So lead."

Buffy and Angel stared at Cordy for a moment and then walked out of the apartment. When everyone saw them coming, they sort of gathered around in front of the steps. Cordy joined them on the floor and looked at Buffy and Angel as the gang filled them in on what was going on.

"The Powers are sending us a wake-up call, people. Sure, we've been.. I don't want to say 'demolished'.. beaten. And sure it's slightly demoralizing but from here on out, we're on the offensive." Angel said.

"We're going to find out this thing's weaknesses, we're going to go in prepared and we're going to fight smart. It's time to take down the Beast." Buffy said.

"Um.. we're all behind you, guys, 100%. But how can we be prepared when there's nothing on this thing?" Fred asked.

"And weaknesses? It's not a sure bet El Destructo has any." Lorne said.

"Everyone has an Achilles heel." Angel said, looking at Buffy.

"Yeah, well until we find his, we're gonna be cooling ours cause we got nothing without a new lead." Gunn said.

Angel wasn't listening. He was staring at the new face in the crowd standing at the door. Gwen stood framed in the doorway, wearing a short black half-shirt and red leather pants. Cordelia eyed her skeptically.

"Gwen?" Angel asked.

"Hi, there. Long time no hand-to-hand." Gwen said. She looked at Gunn. "I remember you."

Fred stood protectively in front of him. "The guy you killed? Yeah, that's him."

"Kicked you in the face, too, didn't I, cherry? Sorry about that. I really do try to avoid contact. Mostly." Gwen said, staring at Angel for the last word.

"Cordelia, this is.." Angel started, but Cordy cut him off.

"I know who she is. Caught your little show on the omniscient higher-plane channel, thanks." Cordy said, standing next to Buffy and offering her comfort. Buffy gave her a small smile and then moved closer to Angel, taking his hand. He squeezed it lightly and looked down at her with a smile.

"I remember you too. Guess you guys made up. You must be so happy." Gwen said.

"We are. Not having the best week, to be honest." Angel said.

"Tell me about it. I mean, really. Tell me. Freak to freak. Is the world about to end or what?"

"Something happen to you?"

"Met with a client last night, in the oil fields, which is odd because I've bagged for this guy six years, big money, and he never wanted to meet before."

"Fascinating as these details must seem to you, we're dealing with much more important stuff right now. Apocalypses. End of the world." Buffy said, glaring.

"Also, while we were talking, he got his chest punched out by a big demon with a head made of rock. Demon, okay? The whole nine: cloven feet and horns and teeth and.. he wasn't wearing lamé, though." Gwen said, looking at Lorne.

Lorne puffed up. "Yeah, the evil ones can't pull it off. It gets camp."

"This client of yours, was anything removed from the body?" Wesley asked.

"Didn't see." Gwen looked at Angel. "But you are hands down the weirdest person I know, so I figured I'd ask you what's going on."

Fred picked up a book and walked over to Gwen. "Excuse me, not that I don't still bear a grudge against you, because I do, but your client didn't happen to be a skinless saber-toothed tiger or composed entirely of light, maybe?"

"The light.. it came out of his chest. How did you know?"

"You wanted a pattern. That makes three." Gunn said to Wes.

"He's killing the Ra-tet." Fred said.

"What's a Ra-tet?" Gwen asked.

"A mystical order. Each totem representing a stage in Ra's journey across the sky." Wesley said. "Here's your client. Two others, these, are dead."

"That means there's two totems left: Manjet and Semkhet." Buffy said.

"The last sighting of Manjet was rumored two years ago in Belize and Semkhet is said to live in a cave in Death Valley." Fred said.

"Then that's easy. All we have to do is find Semkhet and protect him." Angel said.

"Yeah, well won't that be hoot." Lorne said, looking at a picture in a book. "Looks like Semkhet is puddy-tat to the world's scariest six-year- old."

"It could be dangerous." Cordy said.

"I'll take Gwen." Angel said. Buffy cleared her throat and glared at him. "And Buffy of course."

"Gee, I feel all warm inside." Gwen said.

"Well, shouldn't we all go? It might.." Cordy said.

"We can handle it. Superpowers. Buffy and I'll catch Gwen up on the drive." Angel said.

"But it's a four-hour trip. Both ways."

"I'm sure we'll find something to talk about." Angel hurried out with Gwen on one side and Buffy firmly attached to his hand possessively on the other.

The drive was long, but Gwen was filled with information about the Sunnydale status along with the Los Angeles status. Gwen had been forced to sit in back by Buffy who didn't even sit in the passenger's seat. She was still firmly attached to Angel's hand. Buffy was going to let Gwen know just who Angel belonged to.

Angel, Buffy, and Gwen climbed down a steep cliff face toward the entrance of Semkhet's cave. Angel's foot slipped and Gwen shushed him.

"Jeez! Where were you two when they taught stealth in superpower school?" Gwen asked.

"The janitor's closet." Buffy replied. She started to climb down after Angel and lost her balance, tumbling off the side. Angel caught her in his arms and smiled ironically at her.

"Obviously." Gwen said.

"I did that on purpose." Buffy said sheepishly.

"That's pretty pathetic." Angel said.

"Bite me." Angel pointed to her scar and held up two fingers. Buffy nodded. "Point well taken."

Candles lined the walls as Angel, Buffy, and Gwen entered a huge cavern. Buffy drew her sword.

"I thought we were here to protect this thing?" Gwen asked.

"We are.. unless it's evil. So if it is, we prevent the Beast from killing it by killing it ourselves." Buffy said. They rounded a corner and found Semkhet, a human-like cat, lying on the cave floor, eviscerated. "Or not."

"So much for protecting it, huh?"

"Looks like it was ripped apart. Charring around the edges.. this was definitely our guy. The Beast is systematically executing these totems. I just don't know why." Angel said.

"I do." A voice said behind them. Buffy, Angel, and Gwen turned to find a short dumpy man in a loud Hawaiian shirt and a straw hat peering around the corner. "He's going to turn out the sun."

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" Buffy asked.

"Standing in the remains of my fallen brethren, trying not to have an anxiety attack. Who are you three?"

"I'm Angel, that's Buffy and Gwen. You got a name?" Angel asked.

"I am Manjet, Sacred Guardian of the Shen, Keeper of the Orb of Ma'at and Devotee of Light. Off hours I like Manny."

"You're Manjet?" Buffy asked.

"Right."

"The last totem of the Ra-tet?" Angel asked.

"Right."

"I thought you were in Belize." Gwen said.

"Was till I heard Mesektet got whacked. Never liked that chick. Evil right down to her Mary Janes but.. family. What are you gonna do?"

"What did you mean before? 'The Beast is going to turn out the sun.' Is that some kind of metaphor?" Angel asked.

"Sorry. I don't speak 'college boy.' I said what I meant. This Beast you're talking about? He's looking for a way to put an end to daylight. He wants to blot out the sun permanently."

"You're saying once the totems are dead, the sun disappears?" Buffy asked.

"Not disappears, exactly. And it's not just killing us, either. There's props and a ritual and a chant and a thing and a.. suffice to say, it ain't easy. And folks in the Ra-tet, they got some serious juice which is why I never felt worried before."

"But you're worried now."

"Well, four out of five down.. let's just say I'm not looking forward to my retirement in Boca."

"So the lights go out. Then what?" Gwen asked.

"The city sinks into never-ending darkness, that's what. Vamps, creepies, crawlies, things that go bump in the night are suddenly bumping 24/7. The whole of Los Angeles turns into a.."

"Demon playground." Buffy and Angel said together.

"Bingo. And that's before it starts to spread. California.. North America.. eventually, hello global blackout. The world is the devil's oyster."

"Well, we gotta stop him." Angel said.

"Yeah, you sure do and good luck with that." Manny started to walk out of the cave.

"Whoa, whoa.. where do you think you're going?" Buffy asked, raising her sword.

"Look, it's probably just a few hours till this guy catches up with me. I want to spend my last moments with my oldest, dearest friends down at the Pink Pony Lounge." Manny looked at Buffy, then Gwen, and back at Angel. "I'll buy you a lap dance if I can watch."

"Forget that. We can take you somewhere safe, Manny. We can protect you." Angel said.

"Right. Superhunk, Wonder Woman, and Spandexia. This thing takes out Mesektet and you three are going to protect me?"

"I don't see anybody else lined up for the job." Buffy said.

Manny hesitated, then leaned over to Angel, conspiratorially. "You think she'd give me a lap dance?"

Angel looked at Manny. "That's my wife."

"Oh! Sorry. What about her?" Manny flicked his thumb at Gwen.

"If you want a pretty good electrical shock, go right on ahead." Buffy said, walking out.