Chapter 8: To Sleep Perchance to Dream
They headed back to Wolfram & Hart not long after; Wesley was eager to check out Dawn's role in the prophecy before giving the heads up to Giles and the others.
"Where's Connor at?" Cordelia said when they were finally alone in Angel's office.
"Outside Palo Alto, why?"
"Just trying to figure out their chances of meeting," she shrugged. "Dawn's in Cleveland, so chances are pretty slim for the time being."
"So you think the 'two' are Connor and Dawn?"
"I lived on a Hellmouth and faced a couple of apocalypses-call it a hunch," she shrugged. "But only you and I know about him."
"And Lilah," Angel added.
"But as far as the rest of the world is concerned he's Joe Regular," she flopped down onto a leather couch. "Nice set up, by the way, Mr. Angel. Good view too."
"You should see it during the day."
"What?"
"Nevermind." He saw her yawn. "You should get some rest."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Hello, just woke up after four months of sleep! I think I'm set for life. And luxurious as that room you had me in was, I don't think I could sleep here unless I was in a coma. No offense."
"None taken," he smiled. "I've heard rumors that they haven't been able to rent your old apartment. Something keeps scaring prospective tenants off."
"Phantom Dennis! A girl couldn't ask for a better ghoul."
"I think I can pull some strings and get you moved in within a few days."
"Does everyone live here now?"
"Wes still has his place and the Hyperion's still there, but we've stayed here for the most part."
"Everything's here; it makes sense," she yawned again. "Guess I am kinda beat. Waking up takes a lot out of a girl."
"I've got a room set up next door, if you want to crash there," he offered.
"I could deal with that," she smiled.
~*~
"Mother," a soft voice called. "Mother, wake up. Please, Mother."
Cordelia felt herself shook awake. Opening her eyes she came face to face with her daughter.
"Mother, I have something I must show you," the woman pulled Cordelia to her feet.
Cordelia followed, or more aptly, was dragged, a bit uncertainly. In a few minutes, Cordelia found herself looking out over L.A. in its entire nighttime splendor.
"It is so beautiful up here," Jasmine sighed. "I only meant the best."
"You aren't going to snatch my body again, are you?" Cordelia asked hesitantly. Once was more than enough, thank you very much.
"It was the only way," she smiled pleasantly. "For what it's worth, I am sorry for hurting you."
"You meant well," Cordelia nodded in understanding. "But Angel's son? That was, well, disturbing."
"It was the only way."
They stood there in silence.
"This is great and all, but-"
"Why did I bring you here?" Jasmine smiled again. Cordelia could see how the world fell in love with here so easily. "Events have been set into motion. My role was but a small part."
"So all that happened wasn't just meant to bring you into the world?"
Jasmine laughed. "We all have our moments of pride. Sometimes even directors are merely players.
"Your friends have grown apart," she continued sadly. "Each in their own world; alone and growing distrustful of each other. And while their reasons are pure, they will be corrupted."
"Never trust lawyers, let alone evil lawyers," Cordelia muttered.
"Power affects us all and taints the best of intentions."
"What can I do about it? You want to talk about distrust about each other; I'm number one in that category after what went down last year. Not that I blame them."
"That's never stopped you before, Mother. You always find a way to get your way. That's why I chose you."
"So what am I supposed to do? Mend fences? Unite the divided?"
"Nothing more than you've always done. Just watch out for them and be there."
"That's it? All of this to tell me to do what I've been doing?"
"And always look beyond. Things are not always as they seem," Jasmine added, her features now decayed. "Which one is my true face? Which one reveals who I really am? Maybe neither does."
They headed back to Wolfram & Hart not long after; Wesley was eager to check out Dawn's role in the prophecy before giving the heads up to Giles and the others.
"Where's Connor at?" Cordelia said when they were finally alone in Angel's office.
"Outside Palo Alto, why?"
"Just trying to figure out their chances of meeting," she shrugged. "Dawn's in Cleveland, so chances are pretty slim for the time being."
"So you think the 'two' are Connor and Dawn?"
"I lived on a Hellmouth and faced a couple of apocalypses-call it a hunch," she shrugged. "But only you and I know about him."
"And Lilah," Angel added.
"But as far as the rest of the world is concerned he's Joe Regular," she flopped down onto a leather couch. "Nice set up, by the way, Mr. Angel. Good view too."
"You should see it during the day."
"What?"
"Nevermind." He saw her yawn. "You should get some rest."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Hello, just woke up after four months of sleep! I think I'm set for life. And luxurious as that room you had me in was, I don't think I could sleep here unless I was in a coma. No offense."
"None taken," he smiled. "I've heard rumors that they haven't been able to rent your old apartment. Something keeps scaring prospective tenants off."
"Phantom Dennis! A girl couldn't ask for a better ghoul."
"I think I can pull some strings and get you moved in within a few days."
"Does everyone live here now?"
"Wes still has his place and the Hyperion's still there, but we've stayed here for the most part."
"Everything's here; it makes sense," she yawned again. "Guess I am kinda beat. Waking up takes a lot out of a girl."
"I've got a room set up next door, if you want to crash there," he offered.
"I could deal with that," she smiled.
~*~
"Mother," a soft voice called. "Mother, wake up. Please, Mother."
Cordelia felt herself shook awake. Opening her eyes she came face to face with her daughter.
"Mother, I have something I must show you," the woman pulled Cordelia to her feet.
Cordelia followed, or more aptly, was dragged, a bit uncertainly. In a few minutes, Cordelia found herself looking out over L.A. in its entire nighttime splendor.
"It is so beautiful up here," Jasmine sighed. "I only meant the best."
"You aren't going to snatch my body again, are you?" Cordelia asked hesitantly. Once was more than enough, thank you very much.
"It was the only way," she smiled pleasantly. "For what it's worth, I am sorry for hurting you."
"You meant well," Cordelia nodded in understanding. "But Angel's son? That was, well, disturbing."
"It was the only way."
They stood there in silence.
"This is great and all, but-"
"Why did I bring you here?" Jasmine smiled again. Cordelia could see how the world fell in love with here so easily. "Events have been set into motion. My role was but a small part."
"So all that happened wasn't just meant to bring you into the world?"
Jasmine laughed. "We all have our moments of pride. Sometimes even directors are merely players.
"Your friends have grown apart," she continued sadly. "Each in their own world; alone and growing distrustful of each other. And while their reasons are pure, they will be corrupted."
"Never trust lawyers, let alone evil lawyers," Cordelia muttered.
"Power affects us all and taints the best of intentions."
"What can I do about it? You want to talk about distrust about each other; I'm number one in that category after what went down last year. Not that I blame them."
"That's never stopped you before, Mother. You always find a way to get your way. That's why I chose you."
"So what am I supposed to do? Mend fences? Unite the divided?"
"Nothing more than you've always done. Just watch out for them and be there."
"That's it? All of this to tell me to do what I've been doing?"
"And always look beyond. Things are not always as they seem," Jasmine added, her features now decayed. "Which one is my true face? Which one reveals who I really am? Maybe neither does."