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Where do we go from here: THE SUPPORTERS OF THE FIRST

Spike took a deep breath and stared at the punch bag in front of him. He clenched his fists tightly and conjured up and image to make him angry. With force, he kicked out with his leg at the punch bag, sending it swinging wildly back and forth. He hit it with his fist on the way down. It hurt more than it should've but he didn't care. Being angry meant he could hit harder and hitting was what he needed to do at the moment.

"Don't think of Buffy," he said to himself. "Don't think of sex…with Buffy. Just think of Angel, think of the First, think of me!" He lashed out again whacking the punch bag so hard that it flew off the chain it was hanging on and slammed to the floor further down. In frustration he kicked the wall as well but not hard enough for his foot to go right through.

The door opened and someone walked down the stairs. Spike didn't turn around. He just stood breathing heavily. "You gonna trash the place or come up?" Gunn's voice said down to him.

"Sod off," he shouted.

Gunn came down the stairs. "No, I don't think I will. Angel won't be too pleased you messin' up his crib. You better just do as he says."

Spike turned round and spread his hands, and bitter smile on his face. "Yeah. And we all gotta do what Angel says. He governs us all."

Gunn stood at the bottom of the stairs just glaring at him. "He's better than what you are at the moment. Angel's nice enough just to take you in. I don't know what's up with you and I don't care. Just get your ass upstairs."

Spike watched out of the corner of his eye Gunn going up the stairs. A cruel smile played on his face. "Does he always give you the orders. Do you even have a say in what you lot do anymore or is his word still bleedin' God. If I were you…I wouldn't let him boss you around. But after all, you are just the plain muscle. No thinking up in there."

Gunn came back down the stairs and walked right up to Spike. Spike straightened and looked up at him pointedly. Gunn narrowed his eyes. "You better watch what you say. You may have a grievance against Angel, man, but at least he letting you stay here. If it were me, I'd be driving the stake through you myself when you walked through the door."

"I'd jolly well like to see you try."

"Well, if you don't die or get us all killed when the apocalypse comes, we'll. Now come upstairs. Don't wan' daddy vampire to come and get you."

Gunn walked back up and Spike followed and few seconds later, kicking the punch bag again. He was angry and frustrated and in desperate need for a physical fight with someone. He stomped up the stairs to listen to Angel. "Willow, who is he exactly?"

Willow sighed. She was sitting on the couch, next to Faith. Wesley was standing next to Angel and Gunn had joined them. Lindsey was quietly standing by the side again, watching. "Andrew? Well, he's nothing really—remarkable. He's just an ordinary boy. He's Tucker's brother."

"Oh." Angel then frowned.

Willow sighed. "It's a long story. He's a former 'super villain' turned good. He's the reason the First kind of became strong. He was tricked into killing his best friend to open a seal connected to the First."

"Andrew?" Spike asked.

Willow turned round. "Oh, hey Spike," she said brightly. "Andrew's gone missing. He ran away from Sunnydale two days ago and no one's seen him. Apparently he's gone a bit hysterical and he's got the knife he used to kill Jonathan."

Spike paused. "Oh. That's bad then."

"Underestimation," Gunn muttered.

Spike frowned towards Gunn. "Well if I know sod all about the bloody knife, I'm sure you know below my knowledge. And get off my back—or I'll tear you off."

"Just leave it," Lindsey said quietly straightening up from where he was leaning against the wall. "What exactly is the problem with Andrew leaving Sunnydale? With this knife?"

Willow shrugged. "I don't exactly know. I haven't examined the knife. This is the first time it's come up. But according to Buffy, if the First needs the knife and now sees Andrew as a threat—someone he can't control—he'll kill him. We need to find him. He's the least dangerous out of all of us."

Lorne walked through the door, smiling slightly. "Buckle up, kiddos, I've got a ride that'll take us faster than any theme park. Because yours truly has found out some information."

Angel got up, suddenly optimistic. "Well?"

Lorne smiled. "Well, I had to get it from this bouncer demon—the most annoying man in your life, you have no idea. He wouldn't sing and even when he did it was awful. But anyway, he knew where Karl was hiding and I managed to find it. Completely abandoned warehouse on the other side of town. I passed by quickly and boy did I get some scary mystical vibes there."

Wesley hummed. "Karl must be using his dark magic to draw in the vampires. If that's the case then he's definitely strong. Staking him or creeping up on him won't work. You'd need to magically bind him. Willow, do you know any particular spells that can hold in a person, enough to weaken them."

Willow thought for a second. "There is a spell. It's not too strong but I'm not very good at it. The hold could be weak. But I think—Lindsey  might be able to help me. His power is probably strong than Karl's anyway."

Lindsey smiled wickedly. "Finally, something a little more challenging."

Angel grabbed his sword. "Let's go."

New York, 1923

The agent hummed from behind his desk, tapping his pencil on the paper in front of him. He was a big guy and Karl felt slightly threatened but it. He wasn't really much on the physical side. He was thin and weedy and pasty looking with a nervous twitch when being given any form of third degree. "I'm afraid to say it, Karl, performance has been kinda down. The crowd aren't lovin' it, they're just likin' it and that ain't good 'nough."

"What am I supposed to do?" Karl asked.

His agent shrugged. "How should I know? I've done everything I can for you, boy, even got you into the best hot spots in town and you still screwed them up. You're never gonna make it big, you may as well quit whilst you still can."

Karl sat back and clenched his fists. "You're firing me?"

"I'm lettin' you go, kid. This is no place for you. This ain't your career obviously. I don't wanna make it sound mean but it's the truth. Something'll come up for you but I gotta work with the big names…focus attention on them."

Karl stood up and grabbed his hat. "You're going to regret this," he hissed. "Fine, you won't appreciate at me as musician but you'll pay for it. Someday I'll so big you'll be lapping at my feet to take me back."

"Somehow I doubt that but whatever works for you."

Karl stormed out of the office and out into the street. It was pouring down with rain at this time of year in the city and he hated it. His apartment was only a couple of blocks away but he would get drenched. He didn't have any money for a cab. He pulled up the collar of his trench coat and looked across the street, opposite the theatre.

There he saw something that made his heart almost leap. He ran across the road, narrowly avoiding a car and came to the person sitting at the bench. "Hey," he said.

The person looked at him. Then again, Karl knew it wasn't a person. It was a vampire. "What?"

"Listen, I'm Karl. You don't know me but I know you. Or at least, know what you are. You have to help me."

Angel looked away. "I'm not in the business of helping people. Go away."

Karl shook his head. "No, you have to. I'm offering myself to you. Go ahead, bite me, I don't care, I want it." He pulled his trench coat collar and shirt aside to reveal his neck. Angel looked at it and then looked away but his eyes glossed over the neck again, being exposed to him, just waiting to be bitten. He licked his lips slightly but then looked away, trying to compose himself.

"No. Now go away. Don't make me do anything."

"Please."

Angel got up and pushed Karl into the wet street. "No. Now go away!" With that, he stormed off down the street.

Karl picked himself up off the ground. He was soaking wet but that didn't seem to matter again. He was beside himself with anger. In fury, he kicked out at a puddle. He knew who the vampire was. He had only begun collecting the old books from magic shops and being interested in the occult but Angelus was one of the vampires that featured often. A soul had really twisted his morals and nature. Frowning, Karl walked back to his apartment, now even more focused than ever to find away out of the pain in this world and lead a more free life.

He wanted to be noticed.

*  *  *  *  *

All these years later, he finally got his wish. He sat on a high chair in the back of a room, waiting. He was thinking. Further behind him were the texts he had been reading and ancient scrolls laid out on the floor. He was fed up with working now. He had searched high and low for his text and finally found it so now settled back in his chair, simply thinking.

His ultimate sacrifice to the First would have to be something great, that was for sure. The First was putting its trust in him. Karl and his followers were the ones providing it with the energy of ancient chants dating before written scrolls and human sacrifices much more worthy and powerful than any form of power.

Serpentine came through and smiled sweetly. "It's all ready," she said in a bright voice. One again, she walked forward and climbed onto Karl's lap. "They're all doing the ritual assigned to them. They should be burning the virgin's marked body right as we speak, honey." She leaned forward to kiss Karl passionately and he responded for a few seconds before pulling away. Serpentine looked at him. "Now, what you go and do that for."

"I'm not in the mood right now," Karl said, shifting backwards.

Serpentine slid off him and walked off huffily. "You're never in the right mood these days. It's always so serious so one focused. You ain't got no time for me any more. Am I boring now? Have my looks faded?"

"You're neither boring nor faded, beautiful, but right now, things are very—tight. You should know that. The First is relying on us. We could get our big reward. We could own Los Angeles if everything goes to plan. This city is our oyster just waiting to be opened."

"With all its glorious pearls," Serpentine muttered. "I know. But the First must have some kind of feeling. It's spoiling all my fun. It's making you into a jerk."

A laugh rippled from somewhere and a woman dressed in a long silver dress walked out. She had long blond hair and a fair complexion. She looked rather plain. "Now, now, Serpentine, don't ruin all Karl's fun as well. You know that he's thinking hard to make me bigger and stronger."

Serpentine's eyes glowed angrily as she morphed into her vamp face. "Karl!" she screamed with hurt in her voice. "Why does it always have to come as your ex-wife. Why can't you change into something else, something ugly."

Karl sighed. "Serpentine, go and see how the ritual is doing." Serpentine pouted. "Now." She ran off, knowing she wasn't going to get her own way. Karl sat back and looked at the First in thought. "You know, I never realized how beautiful you were when I had you. Why I killed you is beyond my thought. I suppose the vampire instincts were too hard."

"I hear forcing the form of a demon within yourself my magic is more vicious than having the demon simply coming out the normal vampire way. But I see Serpentine is much more annoyed."

Karl sighed and got off his seat. "She'll come around. But now, I have something to show. I found the incantation for the ritual I those books that you led me to. I had to kill the shopkeeper to find it but they were there. The words to the sacrifice are all written out here. All I have to do is find the sacrifice and do it when the moon is full—which is tomorrow night."

"Excellent," the First said. "Do you have a volunteer."

Karl laughed. "If only that were possible. Some of the more positive followers volunteered but their blood cannot match your standard. It's too plain. So I think the safest option would be Angel."

The First posing as his ex wife raised an eyebrow. "Really? How convenient considering I planned to eradicate him myself. His plans could seriously get in my way. But as it were, Angel is much stronger with you, even with your power."

Karl laughed. "He alone cannot match me."

The First shook its head. "No, not alone. But he has enough supporters of his own to do serious damage. He has powers on his side which could outmatch yours. They could destroy your ritual. Unless a miracle would occur to capture Angel and killed all of his clan was to happen, here is no chance."

Karl frowned. "Then what would you propose?"

The First pushed all the books aside and sat on a table. "There is an ally of Angels that has come into the city a few days ago. A boy by the name of Andrew. He doesn't know what kind of power he has yet. He is a seer, sent from the Powers that Be that are meant to guide Angel. If they were to meet, then even more good forces would be on Angel's side."

"A seer?"

"One with the sight, the visions to see events that will commence. But he has an even more special power behind him. He can see more than what will happen. He can see into people, if you understand what I mean."

Karl nodded and put a book down. "Yes. Yes, I believe I do. He poses as a great threat to you."

"He also holds a very valuable possession."

"Then I gather you shall want this possession back. I'll do everything in my power to return it to you. I shall use this boy as your sacrifice. He would almost certainly extend beyond anything that Angel could give. But what are we to do about them."

The First held out its hands. "I am unable to do anything about that. My other soul ally in the city is a second power, another evil brought into this dimension who also has yet to take on a form. They are unable to kill the boy because of the sight he possesses but you, a vampire with no conscience or guilt should have no trouble and will not be held back by what he is."

Karl nodded. "I shall send someone to get him."

The First slid off the table. "I might warn you that Angel knows that you are here. He knows where you are hiding and he shall come at any moment. I suggest you retreat to a different location and perform the ritual there." The First vanished leaving Karl thinking for a moment beside his table and books.

Then he walked back out into the main area. A strong smell of burning and rot went through the air. It gave Karl and pleasant feeling. He had always liked fire. He clapped his hands. "Brothers and sisters!" he called out loudly and they all stopped. "Hold what you are doing! News has come from our master. We are to leave this vicinity before the powers that try to overthrow us arrive."

"Too late." Karl turned round at the voice and looked towards the entrance of the doorway where Angel had just entered. From other entrances his forces had arrived, surrounding them, armed in all sorts of ways.

"Angel!" Karl shouted. "I'm glad you have finally come. Now we have a chance to meet again, in different circumstances. Kill them all!"

The fighting commenced and Karl looked on from his podium. He heard a shot sound from behind him and he spun round and caught the crossbow that had been on the path to his heart. He snapped it in two. "Slayer," he called down to Faith. "I admit your determination and aim but you'll have to do better than that."

"Oh I will," Faith said to herself.

Wesley grabbed her arm. "Be careful," he said and she nodded.

Karl watched as the battle commenced. Although his numbers were many, Angel's army was stronger. His vampires were untrained that had come from all over where he had summoned them. They were large in number but useless. Angel's army was trained. They knew how to fight. The screams of vampires echoed in the air.

It was a carnage in the warehouse. The dust of vampires almost choked them. They were being killed off one by one.

Gunn swung his axe round, expertly and chopped a vampires head. It screamed as it scattered into millions of pieces on the floor but his momentum meant he almost knocked Spike. "Watch where you swing that thing. You almost had my head."

"Like what would be a bad thing."

Spike was about to advance towards Gunn but a random vampire from the side beat him to it, sending Gunn to the floor with the vampire on top. His axe went flying across the floor. The vampire had the advantage of surprise and growled down at Gunn who was shocked. Before he knew it, he felt teeth coming down towards his neck and a piercing of his skin.

He cried out and kicked in desperation but in the chaos of the warehouse no one seemed to notice. Then the vampire seemed to explode on him. Gunn coughed and breathed heavily, shocked by the sudden attack. Spike helped him to his feet.

"Don't do me no favors, man," Gunn said, holding a hand to the wound on his neck.

"I wasn't. I did myself a favour. Angel would kill me if I let any of you die. Just watch out." Gunn glared at Spike. He knew his wound was bad but at least they were winning the fight.

Karl knew that too. He decided that now was the time to retreat. He motioned for Serpentine to follow. She had been cowering in the corner behind some tattered curtains but followed Karl to a back entrance which Angel didn't seem to know about. Karl looked behind him and then forward again to find someone standing in front of him. "Stay," Willow said.

There was a screaming sound behind Karl and when he turned around, Serpentine had been reduced to dust on the floor and behind her was standing Lindsey, armed with a stake. He looked straight at him. "Bastard," Karl spat. "Witch! All possessing powers. What do you think you will do?"

Willow smiled. "Bind you. Reve tempori, non Sanctus. Dos mei Domini fortue!" Karl flew backwards on the floor suddenly find himself very stiff. He attempted to get up and with some difficulty managed to.

"Do you think such a simple spell will weaken me? My power shall regenerate."

"We know," Lindsey said. "That's why we took extra precautions. I think you'll enjoy this one." He lifted out his hand touching Karl's arm and the vampire flew back again, landing on his knees as Lindsey forced him down with his power. He could feel the dark magic with Karl arising, trying to defeat so he tried harder to force it down and keep it down so Karl could be bound until they reached the Hyperion.

Lindsey's body shook with the force of the power he was releasing. He closed his eyes, trying not to feel the pain. Willow put an encouraging hand on his shoulder. Lindsey took a step back and then from his hand let out a single burst of green light which hit Karl in the chest. Karl flew back and his eyes closed. Lindsey smiled weakly at Willow and then dropped to the ground himself.

*  *  *  *  *

Andrew had fallen asleep. The overwhelming tiredness had finally consumed and he fell into a restless sleep in the warehouse. Just to be sure, Cordelia made Conner tie his hands and feet, which he did so reluctantly. Conner stood up and watched the boy as he tossed restlessly in his sleep, sometimes muttering incoherently.

"What did you say before?" Conner said to Cordy. "You said he had some kind of sight."

Cordelia frowned, wrapping her arms around herself. "He has the sight. He had the visions which I had. The Powers have taken them away from me and put them into this foolish boy. He was probably making his way towards Angel."

Conner frowned and looked back at Andrew. "Maybe we should let him go back to Angel. We have nothing to do the battle they're fighting but we want them to win against the end of the world. Why not just let him go. He's no use to us here."

Cordelia turned around and walked away to the old couch in the warehouse. "We can't do that," she answered, her voice echoing around the emptiness. "We were told that we had to kill him. We need to in order for everything to work out, to make our lives worthwhile and our child happy."

Conner didn't say anything that Andrew had told him. Suddenly he was very unsure. If Andrew had been telling the truth then everything Cordelia said would have been a lie. It did seem that Cordelia was partnering with something evil known as the First. Her intentions were evil…kill a harmless boy who could barely attack with words because Cordy said so? Conner found himself at a crossing point but he decided to go with Cordelia.

"Why couldn't we kill him?" Conner asked. "You felt it to. You looked at him, you were so close to killing him and in the final second you couldn't. What's with that? I felt the same thing."

Cordelia frowned at Andrew who had turned restlessly again and mumbled something. "We needed the blood of the innocent to bring forth our baby. He was guilty, but since getting the sight he has been purified. Now with the visions, lives of people hang in the balance, people who may have already died. Those deaths are on his hands. He doesn't work for us."

"But what has that got to do with us not being able to kill him."

"He may not have been able to save lives but originally, having the visions were not his choice. He's more special than I am. He has more power than I was given. His conscience is so pure now that it pains for us to kill him."

"Why, because we're guilty?" Conner asked. "Because we killed people to get to where we are? We hurt, we lied? Is that why we can't kill him? Because he's like a saint."

Cordelia frowned. "The Powers are protecting him."

In the back of his mind, Conner knew that the Powers were for good. If they were protecting this boy he and Cordelia shouldn't be standing in the way. But he thought for the good of the baby it had to be done. "Then what do we do if we can't kill him?"

"We wait," Cordelia said. "There's a difference from us physically killing him with, say, a sword, and just…well, leaving him to die." She turned around and finally sat on the couch, feeling no guilt. Inside, the real Cordy wept.