A.N: All right, I'm sorry this chapter has come a bit late. The last chapter left you hanging a bit but this one will rap it on for me to carry on with my own version of the season (Will contain elements of the actual season, which was very good.)
Chapter 4:
The seas rang like church bells far from the battle sight, and Adrian watched them with great interest. He had been drawn out to the ocean by some kind of powerful magic, which called him oh so often. Life as a shaman suited Adrian just fine, practicing blood rites and other rituals of the dead was his life.
Blood, it was far from his ships but he could smell it, someone in that battle was bleeding. Death also called from beneath the ocean depths, stronger than any he had sensed in a long time. Something bad had happened the death had been that of a champion or some other pivotal figure.
Death constantly hung in the air, in a city like Los Angeles, it was what had caused him to move there this past year, the high vampire and demon population made for an interesting life. Adrian's thoughts began to wander, and his sense flared, as death appeared closer to him, there was something near him, an undead beast. There was a vampire on his ship.
Adrian had made sure to keep weapons with him at most times and there were a few things he could use down below deck. He looked around the visible deck seeing nothing; though vampire could easily hide themselves form their victims. Adrian rushed towards the door for the lower deck and just as his foot entered to doorway he could sense the vampire coming up behind him, at speeds to fast for him evade.
The vampire grabbed the back of Adrian's shirt and pulled him down to the floor of the boat, the vampire bashed its fist into Adrian's face and pulled him out onto the deck. Another vampire joined him there as they looked over the body they waited as a dark figure moved out from the shadows.
The man sported a pointed witches had, his clothes were disheveled rags that hung over his body as a huge cloak. The elderly man sported a long gray beard, he didn't look as if he was from this time and place, he looked very out of his element in a place like this, but just as Adrian had been drawn by death, this elderly man had been brought here by Adrian's magic; for this elderly man was a powerful Necromancer.
The Necromancer held a dark wooden cane, which he pointed forward at Adrian's unconscious body. The Necromancer's eyes turned a cold black has he opened his mouth and whispered something of an unheard language and called Adrian's soul from his body.
Bright lights moved from Adrian's body, the floated in the air above Adrian's body for a few seconds till black mist shot out from The Necromancer's cane and swallowed the soul into itself, shooting the magic into The Necromancer's body giving him a large jolt of power.
"Very well," The Necromancer spoke after immersing in the power for a few moments. "You two can have the body." Instantly his two vampire lackey's descended upon the Adrian's corpse.
The Necromancer walked to the edge of the boat and looked out at the ocean, he could easily make out the battle going on, it appeared things were going even better than he had expected, the vampire remained dormant where his friends could not reach him. The battle brought a wave of joy over The Necromancer, he loved it when things went his way, and they mostly did.
There was something else though, perhaps this had been what had brought Adrian out here, the ripe odor of death, The Necromancer could feel it calling from beneath the surface something called to him, and it was his nature to answer the call of death.
*****************
"Connor!" Cordelia couldn't let this happen, Connor couldn't die, he had gone there to save Angel, and she couldn't let him die now. She knew she could do something about it, but how? Cordelia still didn't understand how all her powers worked, and if she was going to save Connor she could need them.
Cordelia looked down at Connor's placid body, void of all life, he was truly dead. But he couldn't stay that way, Cordelia began to focus, the same way she ad when learning to use her demonic powers, the powers had made her this way for a reason and she knew Connor's was important, he had a destiny to fulfill and she had to help him to fulfill it. Her focused hardened on Connor's body and she felt something happening, she had no idea how but life was flowing into Connor. He would live.
*****************
Connor's eyes shot open from under the water and suddenly his lungs were filled with oxygen and clear of water. Connor headed instantly to the surface of the ocean, he could feel the creature's presence it was fighting, and though he had seemed to have been killed by it only minutes ago, he felt more ready than ever to fight it.
On reaching the surface Connor saw the large creature, though it still fought furiously he could see that great damage had been done to it as many arrows were lodged into it's tentacles. Connor looked around and saw that Fred and Gunn were fighting it, along with someone else on a larger boat, also the unknown man had a company who Connor recognized all too well, Justine.
"Gunn!" Connor called to his comrade who had just been knocked down by the violent creature. Gunn looked at Connor in amazement, they didn't know he had come out here or why, nor did he know what they were doing here. "I need a weapon!" Connor commanded.
Gunn looked frantically around the boat but saw nothing, only the ax in his own hands, and though he hated to part with it, Connor was the only one who could kill that creature. Gunn tossed his ax to Connor who caught it then dived, once again, beneath the surface.
The creature was quite close to Connor, but it seemed confident that he was dead, and was unaware of his presence. Connor swam speedily toward the creature; it seemed to be more vulnerable underneath, where it didn't have so many protective tentacles. Connor was now underneath the creature ready to hack into it's soft underbelly, he psyched himself for the slash and swung up at the creature, only to have his hands clasped and held. Connor struggled in the creature's grips but it's tentacles were to strong for Connor to break free of, with so many tentacles there was no way Connor could kill it, he only knew one person strong and fast enough to kill this thing. Connor spun his body upside down and used his feet to kick the creature's underbelly shooting Connor far enough away to escape the creature's grasp.
The surface broke around Connor's head as he immersed for air, he looked up to the moon for a moment before doing the deed he had dreaded for so long, he was ready to turn back now, but if he didn't free Angel, this creature would kill Gunn and Fred, Angel was there only hope.
Shooting down into he water again, Connor really wanted to be dry and warm but that might not happen for a while, if he didn't side, things would still never be the same once he freed Angel, that what had delayed him for so long, Gunn and Fred could they forgive him?
[They wont]
Connor had to ignore those thoughts, he had a mission and that was all he could think about right now. Freeing Angel was all that mattered.
The huge metallic construct sat on the ocean floor just as it had for three months, but it was time for all that to end. Connor held the ax tightly ready free his father, and make his first step towards atonement. Just like his father.
Connor swung his ax repeatedly as hard as he could, his muscles felt exhausted and his lugs felt like they were going to burst but Connor was close to breaking Angel free only a few more swings.
*****************
Yet another arrow was released from Fred's crossbow, but without Gunn's ax the battle was becoming hopeless, it looked as if the creature was about to swallow their speed boat whole.
"Charles!" Fred yelled as the creature wrapped dozens of its tentacles around the front of there boat. Gunn grabbed around Fred's waist and pulled her back. He looked up at Wesley's boat to see Wesley, reaching over the side of the boat and throwing a sturdy rope over the side for Gunn and Fred to abandon their vessel.
"Gunn!" Wesley called to his former colleague who was still wary of accepting help from Wesley. But this situation was life or death, and with Fred gripped tightly in his arms Gunn took a firm hold of Wesley's rope, while he and Justine pulled them up.
"Thanks," Gunn muttered after crashing on the deck, he and Fred struggled to an upright position and took a curious look at Wesley and Justine. "What the hell is she doing here?" Gunn asked helping Fred to her feet.
"She's the one who told me where to find Angel," Wesley said without expression; as the creature continued it's assault one Wesley's boat. "I believe you should have spent more time looking for her." Wesley knew they would have spent some time looking for her, just as he had, if those vampires hadn't kidnapped her it would have been a lot easier.
The creature's violent attacks caused both Gunn and Wesley's eyes to shift to the front of the boat; they had to stop the creature some how. Gunn was still waiting for Connor, but something must have happened.
"We need to get this boat out of here Wesley," Fred said moving towards Wesley's weapon bag, which had more crossbow bolts for her weapon. "We can't fight this thing without..." Fred wasn't sure what she could say, they needed Angel but there was no way they were going to get to him with that creature there. Connor had been there only hope, what had happened to him?
Just as Wesley moved into action a large tentacle wrapped around the boat's front railing, the creature pulled violently causing the four of them to slip towards the front of the boat. Wesley was first to his feet, trying to unhook the creature's tentacles, it used another to send him sprawling backwards knocking over Gunn on the way. Fred stood up in an act of concern as both Gunn and Wesley hit the floor. Before Fred could run to their aid a tentacle wrapped firmly around her waist, taking her off the side of the boat, she screamed in panic and in an instant both Gunn and Wesley got to their feet to help her, as Justine moved away to save herself.
"Fred!" Gunn yelled in panic as the creature began to squeeze Fred. "No!"
It seemed more hopeless that ever as the creature began to crush the life out of Fred all Gunn and Wesley could do was watch the woman they both loved die. As the creature shot more tentacles towards the boat it let out a harsh screech and dropped Fred toward to ocean, and into Connor's waiting hands.
The creature continued to howl in pain as if it was being torn apart inside, and before long blood began to shoot of from the creatures large body, and in one finally screech the creature died and Angel emerged through the top of the demon's body holding Gunn ax tightly, his face was fully vampiric with a look of insanity, as he shot out from the creature's body, covered in its hideous crimson blood. Angel shot high above the creature's body into the air, his pale skin shone in the moonlight beholding a truly marvelous sight for everyone's eyes, the return of a champion.
Connor held Fred's exhausted body above the water, and he let a small smile cross his face, Angel was back, and Fred and Gunn were safe. It was all he had hoped for, if the world could stay in this moment then he would die happy, but in a few minutes everything would be brought into light and things would be different.
Gunn was the first to move, as Angel crashed back down into the water, he grabbed Wes' rope and climbed down the side of the boat to Fred and Connor. Connor handed Fred to Gunn and swam out to his father, Angel seemed to be sinking, all his energy seemed to have run out and he was back to the state of fatigue he had been in when Connor had broke him free.
Connor saw his father sinking back to where Connor had banished him three months earlier and he shpt beneath the surface and grabbed Angel's limp body puling him to the surface. Gunn was waiting at the bottom of the boat, and when Connor swam over Gunn pulled Angel's body to his own and climbed the rope with Connor's help.
As Angel's body was pulled over the side of the boat onto the deck, Wesley moved from, a half unconscious, Fred's side. Connor came onto the deck soon after and all eyes turned to him, from the water it was easy to see wet blood down Connor's bare chest ad stomach, emanating from a wound in his neck, a bite mark upon closer inspection.
Gunn's eyes moved from Connors neck to Angel's mouth in horror, and Wesley was the first to explain.
"Blood deprived for three months would have done colossal damage to Angel's higher brain function's," Wesley lifted his head firmly. "If Connor hadn't fed Angel he would still, be a vegetable."
Connor wasn't sure who this man was, he seemed to know Gunn Fred and Angel quite well but he had never met him, whoever he was he came here with Justine which means he might know. Connor's eyes shifted to Justine's hideous expression of rage and disappointment. Gunn followed Connor's gaze.
"What's the matter?" Gunn asked Justine angrily. "Pissed we worked out your little scheme?"
"How could you do that?" Fred asked standing up furiously.
"How could I do that?" Justine asked. "Do you really think I could force Angel to the bottom of the ocean by myself?"
Fred hadn't thought about that, Justine wasn't strong enough to take Angel on in a fight she had an accomplice. "Then who..." Fred stopped her question noticing Justine's eyes fixated cruelly on Connor.
It had dawned on those who didn't already know, Connor had done this to his father, and he had lied to Gunn and Fred for three months.
"Connor...?" Fred couldn't get any other words out, what could she say? How could he?
"How could you do that man?" Gunn asked moving towards Connor. "Why?"
"Holtz."
Everyone turned at the sound of Angel's voice Justine turned her head away as the rest looked on in confusion, Angel had told them that Holtz wanted Connor to be with his real father.
"Justine told you I killed Holtz," Angel said while climbing to his feet. "So why did you come for me? If you really think I killed Holtz why did you come to rescue me?"
Connor was speechless, he didn't know what he could do or say. Connor felt all the fears he had, had over the summer come to life, they had turned against him...
[You knew they would]
... and he deserved it, what could he ever do or say to make it right? Couldn't he take back this stupid mistake?
Run. Connor turned away and shot himself into the water over the edge of the boat, if he stayed under water they couldn't trace him and Angel was too weak to track him. Connor's pale skin was once again immersed in water has he fled, never looking back try to keep his thoughts on swimming, glad the ocean was hide his tears.
"Connor!" Gunn yelled frantically after him, both he and Fred were full of confusion and anger. They didn't understand how this could all happen. They didn't know how Connor could have lied to him, when they had trusted him, cared about him, like part of their family.
"Let him go," Angel said quietly. "Wes take us back to shore."
*****************
Despite all his hopes the tears hadn't stopped flowing yet, Connor couldn't understand how this could happen, when he had first came to LA he had been full of rage, rage which was only revamped by the death of Holtz, but now there was only despair. Part of Connor wished he had stayed in Quortoth where things were simpler. There had only been pain and survival, but to have friends and lose them was a pain far worse, to have done something so horrible and remorse... Connor's thoughts traveled back to everything he had ever learnt about Angel: cursed with a soul force to feel remorse for all those he slaughtered. Was Connor destined to lead his father's destiny? And as for everything Holtz, his other father, had taught him: where was god now?
There was now sand beneath Connor's feet, he had reached the beach where he had left his ax, shirt and jacket. There were all gone now, Connor had nothing. He broke down and fell to his knees, his eyes had dried from crying a thousand tears and he was left with nothing but a strong sense of loss and exhaustion, he allowed his thin muscular body rest and collapsed into the soft sand, burying his face in it for a moment's rest, he couldn't stay there for long, he had to head back to the hotel and get his stuff before the others got back. Then could he rest?
*****************
Connor had climbed up the side of the hotel, it didn't seem like anyone was home but they could be waiting for him trying not to make there presence known, once he entered his room Connor closed and locked the door behind him. He hated walking across the city in nothing but a pair of wet jeans, after locking the door Connor stripped and walked into the bathroom.
Hands groped for the light switch upon entrance and Connor felt burned by the light, it had been so dark walking through the city and the light felt unfamiliar. Connor positioned himself in front of the mirror and took a look at his now healed bight mark, it would probably leave a scar, just his luck. Connor kneeled down and opened the cupboard below the sink and pulled out some bandages to put over the wound incase it opened.
After bandaging the wound Connor turned to the shower and turned it on, he didn't have much time but he figured he could fit in a quick shower before he left. He wished there was another efficient way to clean, he wanted to avoid water as much as he could. No baths anyway, that was certain.
After a few minutes of scrubbing Connor turned the shower off and dried himself quickly with a towel, then wrapping it around his waist to keep his nude figure warm. Connor walked back into his room and reached under his bed for his backpack, once he found it he opened his drawers, got himself dressed and picked out some clothes to put in the bag, also a few stakes.
That was it, Connor's business in the hotel was done, or he thought it was. Just as Connor headed towards his door he saw Angel standing in the doorway watching him. Connor's eyes scanned the room for an escape, but he couldn't avoid this.
"Connor you don't have to be afraid," Angel assured Connor he was only there to talk. "So you're leaving?"
"I can't stay here," Connor replied resting himself on the edge of his bed.
"Connor I don't blame you..." Angel cut off.
"Why shouldn't you?" Connor asked getting to his feet. "It's all my fault."
"You thought I killed your father," Angel said recognizing who had raised Connor. "I understand why you did what you did."
"What reason would you have to kill Holtz?" Connor asked putting out his own idiocy. "I knew you well enough o know you would never do that. God, I'm a fool."
"You rescued me."
"It doesn't matter," Connor sighed walking to the door. "They wont understand... I don't understand."
"I'm sorry," Angel called out behind Connor. "Sorry for what happened to Holtz, sorry for biting you."
"No," Connor said turning back to face Angel. "I trust you Dad." Connor said with a pained expression. "And I know that in that moment you wanted to kill me."
Angel moved towards his son in comfort, but there had already been too many lies. The insanity had made him want to kill Connor, he couldn't lie about it, for so long he had wanted revenge, and it was sickening.
"You don't have to leave."
"No," Connor said before turning away. "But I think I should."
Connor and Angel parted ways, both with self-disgust residing in their stomachs, they both hated themselves for what they had done and thought, and though Angel was back, things weren't back to normal, there were worse than they had ever been. Connor was leaving his father, and they had just been reunited. That fact killed Angel but he had another issues to deal with. He had to find Cordelia, he would restore his family no matter what it took. For a moment he wanted to stop Connor and ask him about Cordelia, but he didn't know anything.
Angel went back down to the lobby, to talk to Fred and Gunn, they would rest for now, the sun would rise soon. But tomorrow they had to continue to search for Cordelia, whatever it took they had to find her.
*****************
"Angel..." Cordelia looked down on her friends in all their misery, ever since she had started fighting demons with Buffy back in Sunnydale they had used humor to mask there pain and she knew Angel wouldn't stay in this slump while she needed him so much.
"I love you."
*****************
And Connor continued down the street away from the Hyperion towards whatever waited him in the city, and with him he took his anger sorrow and remorse.
[Ha, ha, ha]
Chapter 4:
The seas rang like church bells far from the battle sight, and Adrian watched them with great interest. He had been drawn out to the ocean by some kind of powerful magic, which called him oh so often. Life as a shaman suited Adrian just fine, practicing blood rites and other rituals of the dead was his life.
Blood, it was far from his ships but he could smell it, someone in that battle was bleeding. Death also called from beneath the ocean depths, stronger than any he had sensed in a long time. Something bad had happened the death had been that of a champion or some other pivotal figure.
Death constantly hung in the air, in a city like Los Angeles, it was what had caused him to move there this past year, the high vampire and demon population made for an interesting life. Adrian's thoughts began to wander, and his sense flared, as death appeared closer to him, there was something near him, an undead beast. There was a vampire on his ship.
Adrian had made sure to keep weapons with him at most times and there were a few things he could use down below deck. He looked around the visible deck seeing nothing; though vampire could easily hide themselves form their victims. Adrian rushed towards the door for the lower deck and just as his foot entered to doorway he could sense the vampire coming up behind him, at speeds to fast for him evade.
The vampire grabbed the back of Adrian's shirt and pulled him down to the floor of the boat, the vampire bashed its fist into Adrian's face and pulled him out onto the deck. Another vampire joined him there as they looked over the body they waited as a dark figure moved out from the shadows.
The man sported a pointed witches had, his clothes were disheveled rags that hung over his body as a huge cloak. The elderly man sported a long gray beard, he didn't look as if he was from this time and place, he looked very out of his element in a place like this, but just as Adrian had been drawn by death, this elderly man had been brought here by Adrian's magic; for this elderly man was a powerful Necromancer.
The Necromancer held a dark wooden cane, which he pointed forward at Adrian's unconscious body. The Necromancer's eyes turned a cold black has he opened his mouth and whispered something of an unheard language and called Adrian's soul from his body.
Bright lights moved from Adrian's body, the floated in the air above Adrian's body for a few seconds till black mist shot out from The Necromancer's cane and swallowed the soul into itself, shooting the magic into The Necromancer's body giving him a large jolt of power.
"Very well," The Necromancer spoke after immersing in the power for a few moments. "You two can have the body." Instantly his two vampire lackey's descended upon the Adrian's corpse.
The Necromancer walked to the edge of the boat and looked out at the ocean, he could easily make out the battle going on, it appeared things were going even better than he had expected, the vampire remained dormant where his friends could not reach him. The battle brought a wave of joy over The Necromancer, he loved it when things went his way, and they mostly did.
There was something else though, perhaps this had been what had brought Adrian out here, the ripe odor of death, The Necromancer could feel it calling from beneath the surface something called to him, and it was his nature to answer the call of death.
*****************
"Connor!" Cordelia couldn't let this happen, Connor couldn't die, he had gone there to save Angel, and she couldn't let him die now. She knew she could do something about it, but how? Cordelia still didn't understand how all her powers worked, and if she was going to save Connor she could need them.
Cordelia looked down at Connor's placid body, void of all life, he was truly dead. But he couldn't stay that way, Cordelia began to focus, the same way she ad when learning to use her demonic powers, the powers had made her this way for a reason and she knew Connor's was important, he had a destiny to fulfill and she had to help him to fulfill it. Her focused hardened on Connor's body and she felt something happening, she had no idea how but life was flowing into Connor. He would live.
*****************
Connor's eyes shot open from under the water and suddenly his lungs were filled with oxygen and clear of water. Connor headed instantly to the surface of the ocean, he could feel the creature's presence it was fighting, and though he had seemed to have been killed by it only minutes ago, he felt more ready than ever to fight it.
On reaching the surface Connor saw the large creature, though it still fought furiously he could see that great damage had been done to it as many arrows were lodged into it's tentacles. Connor looked around and saw that Fred and Gunn were fighting it, along with someone else on a larger boat, also the unknown man had a company who Connor recognized all too well, Justine.
"Gunn!" Connor called to his comrade who had just been knocked down by the violent creature. Gunn looked at Connor in amazement, they didn't know he had come out here or why, nor did he know what they were doing here. "I need a weapon!" Connor commanded.
Gunn looked frantically around the boat but saw nothing, only the ax in his own hands, and though he hated to part with it, Connor was the only one who could kill that creature. Gunn tossed his ax to Connor who caught it then dived, once again, beneath the surface.
The creature was quite close to Connor, but it seemed confident that he was dead, and was unaware of his presence. Connor swam speedily toward the creature; it seemed to be more vulnerable underneath, where it didn't have so many protective tentacles. Connor was now underneath the creature ready to hack into it's soft underbelly, he psyched himself for the slash and swung up at the creature, only to have his hands clasped and held. Connor struggled in the creature's grips but it's tentacles were to strong for Connor to break free of, with so many tentacles there was no way Connor could kill it, he only knew one person strong and fast enough to kill this thing. Connor spun his body upside down and used his feet to kick the creature's underbelly shooting Connor far enough away to escape the creature's grasp.
The surface broke around Connor's head as he immersed for air, he looked up to the moon for a moment before doing the deed he had dreaded for so long, he was ready to turn back now, but if he didn't free Angel, this creature would kill Gunn and Fred, Angel was there only hope.
Shooting down into he water again, Connor really wanted to be dry and warm but that might not happen for a while, if he didn't side, things would still never be the same once he freed Angel, that what had delayed him for so long, Gunn and Fred could they forgive him?
[They wont]
Connor had to ignore those thoughts, he had a mission and that was all he could think about right now. Freeing Angel was all that mattered.
The huge metallic construct sat on the ocean floor just as it had for three months, but it was time for all that to end. Connor held the ax tightly ready free his father, and make his first step towards atonement. Just like his father.
Connor swung his ax repeatedly as hard as he could, his muscles felt exhausted and his lugs felt like they were going to burst but Connor was close to breaking Angel free only a few more swings.
*****************
Yet another arrow was released from Fred's crossbow, but without Gunn's ax the battle was becoming hopeless, it looked as if the creature was about to swallow their speed boat whole.
"Charles!" Fred yelled as the creature wrapped dozens of its tentacles around the front of there boat. Gunn grabbed around Fred's waist and pulled her back. He looked up at Wesley's boat to see Wesley, reaching over the side of the boat and throwing a sturdy rope over the side for Gunn and Fred to abandon their vessel.
"Gunn!" Wesley called to his former colleague who was still wary of accepting help from Wesley. But this situation was life or death, and with Fred gripped tightly in his arms Gunn took a firm hold of Wesley's rope, while he and Justine pulled them up.
"Thanks," Gunn muttered after crashing on the deck, he and Fred struggled to an upright position and took a curious look at Wesley and Justine. "What the hell is she doing here?" Gunn asked helping Fred to her feet.
"She's the one who told me where to find Angel," Wesley said without expression; as the creature continued it's assault one Wesley's boat. "I believe you should have spent more time looking for her." Wesley knew they would have spent some time looking for her, just as he had, if those vampires hadn't kidnapped her it would have been a lot easier.
The creature's violent attacks caused both Gunn and Wesley's eyes to shift to the front of the boat; they had to stop the creature some how. Gunn was still waiting for Connor, but something must have happened.
"We need to get this boat out of here Wesley," Fred said moving towards Wesley's weapon bag, which had more crossbow bolts for her weapon. "We can't fight this thing without..." Fred wasn't sure what she could say, they needed Angel but there was no way they were going to get to him with that creature there. Connor had been there only hope, what had happened to him?
Just as Wesley moved into action a large tentacle wrapped around the boat's front railing, the creature pulled violently causing the four of them to slip towards the front of the boat. Wesley was first to his feet, trying to unhook the creature's tentacles, it used another to send him sprawling backwards knocking over Gunn on the way. Fred stood up in an act of concern as both Gunn and Wesley hit the floor. Before Fred could run to their aid a tentacle wrapped firmly around her waist, taking her off the side of the boat, she screamed in panic and in an instant both Gunn and Wesley got to their feet to help her, as Justine moved away to save herself.
"Fred!" Gunn yelled in panic as the creature began to squeeze Fred. "No!"
It seemed more hopeless that ever as the creature began to crush the life out of Fred all Gunn and Wesley could do was watch the woman they both loved die. As the creature shot more tentacles towards the boat it let out a harsh screech and dropped Fred toward to ocean, and into Connor's waiting hands.
The creature continued to howl in pain as if it was being torn apart inside, and before long blood began to shoot of from the creatures large body, and in one finally screech the creature died and Angel emerged through the top of the demon's body holding Gunn ax tightly, his face was fully vampiric with a look of insanity, as he shot out from the creature's body, covered in its hideous crimson blood. Angel shot high above the creature's body into the air, his pale skin shone in the moonlight beholding a truly marvelous sight for everyone's eyes, the return of a champion.
Connor held Fred's exhausted body above the water, and he let a small smile cross his face, Angel was back, and Fred and Gunn were safe. It was all he had hoped for, if the world could stay in this moment then he would die happy, but in a few minutes everything would be brought into light and things would be different.
Gunn was the first to move, as Angel crashed back down into the water, he grabbed Wes' rope and climbed down the side of the boat to Fred and Connor. Connor handed Fred to Gunn and swam out to his father, Angel seemed to be sinking, all his energy seemed to have run out and he was back to the state of fatigue he had been in when Connor had broke him free.
Connor saw his father sinking back to where Connor had banished him three months earlier and he shpt beneath the surface and grabbed Angel's limp body puling him to the surface. Gunn was waiting at the bottom of the boat, and when Connor swam over Gunn pulled Angel's body to his own and climbed the rope with Connor's help.
As Angel's body was pulled over the side of the boat onto the deck, Wesley moved from, a half unconscious, Fred's side. Connor came onto the deck soon after and all eyes turned to him, from the water it was easy to see wet blood down Connor's bare chest ad stomach, emanating from a wound in his neck, a bite mark upon closer inspection.
Gunn's eyes moved from Connors neck to Angel's mouth in horror, and Wesley was the first to explain.
"Blood deprived for three months would have done colossal damage to Angel's higher brain function's," Wesley lifted his head firmly. "If Connor hadn't fed Angel he would still, be a vegetable."
Connor wasn't sure who this man was, he seemed to know Gunn Fred and Angel quite well but he had never met him, whoever he was he came here with Justine which means he might know. Connor's eyes shifted to Justine's hideous expression of rage and disappointment. Gunn followed Connor's gaze.
"What's the matter?" Gunn asked Justine angrily. "Pissed we worked out your little scheme?"
"How could you do that?" Fred asked standing up furiously.
"How could I do that?" Justine asked. "Do you really think I could force Angel to the bottom of the ocean by myself?"
Fred hadn't thought about that, Justine wasn't strong enough to take Angel on in a fight she had an accomplice. "Then who..." Fred stopped her question noticing Justine's eyes fixated cruelly on Connor.
It had dawned on those who didn't already know, Connor had done this to his father, and he had lied to Gunn and Fred for three months.
"Connor...?" Fred couldn't get any other words out, what could she say? How could he?
"How could you do that man?" Gunn asked moving towards Connor. "Why?"
"Holtz."
Everyone turned at the sound of Angel's voice Justine turned her head away as the rest looked on in confusion, Angel had told them that Holtz wanted Connor to be with his real father.
"Justine told you I killed Holtz," Angel said while climbing to his feet. "So why did you come for me? If you really think I killed Holtz why did you come to rescue me?"
Connor was speechless, he didn't know what he could do or say. Connor felt all the fears he had, had over the summer come to life, they had turned against him...
[You knew they would]
... and he deserved it, what could he ever do or say to make it right? Couldn't he take back this stupid mistake?
Run. Connor turned away and shot himself into the water over the edge of the boat, if he stayed under water they couldn't trace him and Angel was too weak to track him. Connor's pale skin was once again immersed in water has he fled, never looking back try to keep his thoughts on swimming, glad the ocean was hide his tears.
"Connor!" Gunn yelled frantically after him, both he and Fred were full of confusion and anger. They didn't understand how this could all happen. They didn't know how Connor could have lied to him, when they had trusted him, cared about him, like part of their family.
"Let him go," Angel said quietly. "Wes take us back to shore."
*****************
Despite all his hopes the tears hadn't stopped flowing yet, Connor couldn't understand how this could happen, when he had first came to LA he had been full of rage, rage which was only revamped by the death of Holtz, but now there was only despair. Part of Connor wished he had stayed in Quortoth where things were simpler. There had only been pain and survival, but to have friends and lose them was a pain far worse, to have done something so horrible and remorse... Connor's thoughts traveled back to everything he had ever learnt about Angel: cursed with a soul force to feel remorse for all those he slaughtered. Was Connor destined to lead his father's destiny? And as for everything Holtz, his other father, had taught him: where was god now?
There was now sand beneath Connor's feet, he had reached the beach where he had left his ax, shirt and jacket. There were all gone now, Connor had nothing. He broke down and fell to his knees, his eyes had dried from crying a thousand tears and he was left with nothing but a strong sense of loss and exhaustion, he allowed his thin muscular body rest and collapsed into the soft sand, burying his face in it for a moment's rest, he couldn't stay there for long, he had to head back to the hotel and get his stuff before the others got back. Then could he rest?
*****************
Connor had climbed up the side of the hotel, it didn't seem like anyone was home but they could be waiting for him trying not to make there presence known, once he entered his room Connor closed and locked the door behind him. He hated walking across the city in nothing but a pair of wet jeans, after locking the door Connor stripped and walked into the bathroom.
Hands groped for the light switch upon entrance and Connor felt burned by the light, it had been so dark walking through the city and the light felt unfamiliar. Connor positioned himself in front of the mirror and took a look at his now healed bight mark, it would probably leave a scar, just his luck. Connor kneeled down and opened the cupboard below the sink and pulled out some bandages to put over the wound incase it opened.
After bandaging the wound Connor turned to the shower and turned it on, he didn't have much time but he figured he could fit in a quick shower before he left. He wished there was another efficient way to clean, he wanted to avoid water as much as he could. No baths anyway, that was certain.
After a few minutes of scrubbing Connor turned the shower off and dried himself quickly with a towel, then wrapping it around his waist to keep his nude figure warm. Connor walked back into his room and reached under his bed for his backpack, once he found it he opened his drawers, got himself dressed and picked out some clothes to put in the bag, also a few stakes.
That was it, Connor's business in the hotel was done, or he thought it was. Just as Connor headed towards his door he saw Angel standing in the doorway watching him. Connor's eyes scanned the room for an escape, but he couldn't avoid this.
"Connor you don't have to be afraid," Angel assured Connor he was only there to talk. "So you're leaving?"
"I can't stay here," Connor replied resting himself on the edge of his bed.
"Connor I don't blame you..." Angel cut off.
"Why shouldn't you?" Connor asked getting to his feet. "It's all my fault."
"You thought I killed your father," Angel said recognizing who had raised Connor. "I understand why you did what you did."
"What reason would you have to kill Holtz?" Connor asked putting out his own idiocy. "I knew you well enough o know you would never do that. God, I'm a fool."
"You rescued me."
"It doesn't matter," Connor sighed walking to the door. "They wont understand... I don't understand."
"I'm sorry," Angel called out behind Connor. "Sorry for what happened to Holtz, sorry for biting you."
"No," Connor said turning back to face Angel. "I trust you Dad." Connor said with a pained expression. "And I know that in that moment you wanted to kill me."
Angel moved towards his son in comfort, but there had already been too many lies. The insanity had made him want to kill Connor, he couldn't lie about it, for so long he had wanted revenge, and it was sickening.
"You don't have to leave."
"No," Connor said before turning away. "But I think I should."
Connor and Angel parted ways, both with self-disgust residing in their stomachs, they both hated themselves for what they had done and thought, and though Angel was back, things weren't back to normal, there were worse than they had ever been. Connor was leaving his father, and they had just been reunited. That fact killed Angel but he had another issues to deal with. He had to find Cordelia, he would restore his family no matter what it took. For a moment he wanted to stop Connor and ask him about Cordelia, but he didn't know anything.
Angel went back down to the lobby, to talk to Fred and Gunn, they would rest for now, the sun would rise soon. But tomorrow they had to continue to search for Cordelia, whatever it took they had to find her.
*****************
"Angel..." Cordelia looked down on her friends in all their misery, ever since she had started fighting demons with Buffy back in Sunnydale they had used humor to mask there pain and she knew Angel wouldn't stay in this slump while she needed him so much.
"I love you."
*****************
And Connor continued down the street away from the Hyperion towards whatever waited him in the city, and with him he took his anger sorrow and remorse.
[Ha, ha, ha]