Obscenities rushed forth in every language the 300 year old plus vampire
knew. Angel knew quite a few.
They sat on the side of the road not knowing where to head. Twilight had
long gone and darkness was beginning to fade, pre-dawn was approaching. No
clues offered themselves and Angel was out of time.
Once more, he banged the steering wheel.
"This frustration does no good." A strangled voice said from nowhere, giving a good scare to all three occupants of the car.
"Enfi!" Cordelia said, spotting the girl as she appeared beside the car, again out of thin air."
"Where did you go?" Angel demanded. "You just disappeared."
"My mistress."she whispered. "I followed."
Angel shifted the car into gear. "Where'd she go? Get in the car."
Enfi hopped in beside Wesley in the back seat. She has my brother. They are heading back to the wharehouse for now.
Angel floored the engine.
Enfi tried in vain to keep her blonde locks from whipping about her face as they sped through town in the convertible. She listened half- heartedly to the three make plans about how to proceed. Inside herself, her main attention was focused on the gathering forces. Ta-Ley anger was building. They had had centuries to become agitated, and more still to become irate. Easy prey was an apt description of them because of their small size, trusting , easy going nature, and phlegmatic tendencies. No Ta-Ley was a strategic planner. Through their years of suffering none had been able to come up with a suitable plan to thwart their adversaries. . Rather, their vested interest in finding the One had propelled them onward, reason enough to stay in Gwain's power. He had chosen his army well in that respect. But now, with Tnar found, with three people willing to fight for them, and Gwain dead, the Ta-Ley were awakening from their apathy. She could feel them inside her, swarming, becoming,...and experiencing an emotion which had not been used in their language since The Secret War of many centuries before the Slaughter..Rage.
It was time.
"Do you agree?" Enfi jerked herself from her communing, realizing she had completely zoned out. "I'm sorry."She said.
"I said, what do you think of our idea?" Cordelia said impatiently.
Enfi looked around. They had reached the wharehouse. Angel had parked the car. They were all looking at her.
She shrugged. "What is the plan?" she asked slowly, feeling her throat muscles straining.
"Weren't you listening?" Cordelia snapped.
Wesley interrupted her.
"We've thought it best to try to attempt another surprise attack. Given our lack of information, we'll just go in and get him, basically. We really don't have much of another option since there's only one entrance to the room and that isn't concealed."
Enfi seemed to withdraw inside herself for a moment, her eyes going dull.
Alarmed, Wes, Cordy, and Angel each reached for her but then she was back.
I'm sorry.She thought But this is where the Ta-Ley take over. Perhaps you would wait outside. We will need your assistance soon. Wait for us back at your office.
The three of them could only gape. "You're not serious!" Wesley stammered. Angel stared thoughtfully at the determined Ta-Ley before his attention was diverted by a soft whispering .He glanced at the others but they appeared not to hear it. Enfi heard it and she smiled. The thoughts of the Ta-ley combined are a powerful thing indeed. Alone, one can be as strong but together their mental force has no rival.
"But only Tnar can affect the undead. How can they defeat Claire with a power that has no control over her?" Cordelia hated to point out the obvious flaw.
Angel was beginning to catch on however. "Tnar . He's their focal point, their conduit."
"What?" Cordelia asked but Wesley caught on.
"One Ta-ley isn't much of a threat, not on a global scale at any rate. But one living Ta-Ley backed by the power of the tribe.." His voice trailed off at the possibility. Cordelia was still lost. Enfi appeared to be in some sort of trance.
"Someone want to clue me in here?" she snapped.
Angel grabbed his head, hearing something no one else could. "It's getting stronger!"
Wesely answered Cordy. "It's like a laser. Take scattered light , all the dead ta-ley and funnel it through one small point, Tnar, and you get a sharply focused, highly powerful beam. Psychic emotion tuned to a devastating frequency."
"I'm betting Gwain knew about this." Angel said, shaking his head.
The whispering had intensified to a roar. "It's not the ocean anymore, " he said "It's a tsunami."
"But the Ta-Ley are peaceful."
As if on cue, Enfi broke from her trance and bolted into the wharehouse. The three followed her but she had already disappeared.
Angel made a dash for the coat closet.
Cordelia grabbed him but let go immediately when he growled at her. "What?" he snapped.
"I know this is urgent but..should we interfere? What can we do that the Ta- Ley can't? If they can end it, they don't need our help. We could just end up dead. And I bought a beautiful dress at Neiman Marcus that I haven't even worn yet!"
"Then stay here." Angel glared at her. Then he was in the closet, and through the door into the inky blackness.
Wesley moved to follow but stopped short. "You may have a point Cordelia" Then he stepped into the void. Cordelia muttered under her breath for a few seconds, threw up her hands in disgust, and followed.
Angel seemed to run forever. He could gain no sense of movement from running. All he saw was dark, and still more dakness. Had the tunnel been this long before? But he knew he was approaching because the whispers had reached a deafening crescendo. He burst through the door, to a scene of horror.
Claire was on her knees, face transformed into feral form, and screaming. Tears ran down her face as it writhed in pain. She was shaking trying in vain to clear the noise from her head. Angel could barely think, the noise was unbearable. It was like being in an enormous, raging beehive. The voices swarmed, providing an odd illusion because only a handful of Ta- Ley were in the room. None of them were making violent motions toward Claire or her vampire henchmen. Rather they were glaring at her, appearing to be waiting for something. All six of them formed a cresent about 20 feet from their target. Angel guessed the one in the middle, being supported slightly byt two of the Ta-Ley must be Tnar. He appeared to be struggling to maintain the contact. If he were human, Angel would guess his age to be about 16. Providing the focal point must be incredibly draining. Angel knew that rather than physical harm, a non aggressive species, they were doing what they did best. Inflicting emotional trauma. But to what end? Only beheading, fire, or a stake through the heart would actually kill Claire. Wouldn't it? He had a terrible feeling in his gut that he was wrong. The noise drove him to his knees as well, he felt his visage changing, his fangs elongating.
In agony, he crawled over to Claire who appeared to be aware of nothing but the pain. Looking around, he saw the other vampires were in a catatonic state. Only Claire was suffering the severe penalty for her crime. Angel knelt beside her and took her in his arms. Enfi looked at him sharply. "Do not!" she shouted hoarsly. "Or risk her sentence."
"This frustration does no good." A strangled voice said from nowhere, giving a good scare to all three occupants of the car.
"Enfi!" Cordelia said, spotting the girl as she appeared beside the car, again out of thin air."
"Where did you go?" Angel demanded. "You just disappeared."
"My mistress."she whispered. "I followed."
Angel shifted the car into gear. "Where'd she go? Get in the car."
Enfi hopped in beside Wesley in the back seat. She has my brother. They are heading back to the wharehouse for now.
Angel floored the engine.
Enfi tried in vain to keep her blonde locks from whipping about her face as they sped through town in the convertible. She listened half- heartedly to the three make plans about how to proceed. Inside herself, her main attention was focused on the gathering forces. Ta-Ley anger was building. They had had centuries to become agitated, and more still to become irate. Easy prey was an apt description of them because of their small size, trusting , easy going nature, and phlegmatic tendencies. No Ta-Ley was a strategic planner. Through their years of suffering none had been able to come up with a suitable plan to thwart their adversaries. . Rather, their vested interest in finding the One had propelled them onward, reason enough to stay in Gwain's power. He had chosen his army well in that respect. But now, with Tnar found, with three people willing to fight for them, and Gwain dead, the Ta-Ley were awakening from their apathy. She could feel them inside her, swarming, becoming,...and experiencing an emotion which had not been used in their language since The Secret War of many centuries before the Slaughter..Rage.
It was time.
"Do you agree?" Enfi jerked herself from her communing, realizing she had completely zoned out. "I'm sorry."She said.
"I said, what do you think of our idea?" Cordelia said impatiently.
Enfi looked around. They had reached the wharehouse. Angel had parked the car. They were all looking at her.
She shrugged. "What is the plan?" she asked slowly, feeling her throat muscles straining.
"Weren't you listening?" Cordelia snapped.
Wesley interrupted her.
"We've thought it best to try to attempt another surprise attack. Given our lack of information, we'll just go in and get him, basically. We really don't have much of another option since there's only one entrance to the room and that isn't concealed."
Enfi seemed to withdraw inside herself for a moment, her eyes going dull.
Alarmed, Wes, Cordy, and Angel each reached for her but then she was back.
I'm sorry.She thought But this is where the Ta-Ley take over. Perhaps you would wait outside. We will need your assistance soon. Wait for us back at your office.
The three of them could only gape. "You're not serious!" Wesley stammered. Angel stared thoughtfully at the determined Ta-Ley before his attention was diverted by a soft whispering .He glanced at the others but they appeared not to hear it. Enfi heard it and she smiled. The thoughts of the Ta-ley combined are a powerful thing indeed. Alone, one can be as strong but together their mental force has no rival.
"But only Tnar can affect the undead. How can they defeat Claire with a power that has no control over her?" Cordelia hated to point out the obvious flaw.
Angel was beginning to catch on however. "Tnar . He's their focal point, their conduit."
"What?" Cordelia asked but Wesley caught on.
"One Ta-ley isn't much of a threat, not on a global scale at any rate. But one living Ta-Ley backed by the power of the tribe.." His voice trailed off at the possibility. Cordelia was still lost. Enfi appeared to be in some sort of trance.
"Someone want to clue me in here?" she snapped.
Angel grabbed his head, hearing something no one else could. "It's getting stronger!"
Wesely answered Cordy. "It's like a laser. Take scattered light , all the dead ta-ley and funnel it through one small point, Tnar, and you get a sharply focused, highly powerful beam. Psychic emotion tuned to a devastating frequency."
"I'm betting Gwain knew about this." Angel said, shaking his head.
The whispering had intensified to a roar. "It's not the ocean anymore, " he said "It's a tsunami."
"But the Ta-Ley are peaceful."
As if on cue, Enfi broke from her trance and bolted into the wharehouse. The three followed her but she had already disappeared.
Angel made a dash for the coat closet.
Cordelia grabbed him but let go immediately when he growled at her. "What?" he snapped.
"I know this is urgent but..should we interfere? What can we do that the Ta- Ley can't? If they can end it, they don't need our help. We could just end up dead. And I bought a beautiful dress at Neiman Marcus that I haven't even worn yet!"
"Then stay here." Angel glared at her. Then he was in the closet, and through the door into the inky blackness.
Wesley moved to follow but stopped short. "You may have a point Cordelia" Then he stepped into the void. Cordelia muttered under her breath for a few seconds, threw up her hands in disgust, and followed.
Angel seemed to run forever. He could gain no sense of movement from running. All he saw was dark, and still more dakness. Had the tunnel been this long before? But he knew he was approaching because the whispers had reached a deafening crescendo. He burst through the door, to a scene of horror.
Claire was on her knees, face transformed into feral form, and screaming. Tears ran down her face as it writhed in pain. She was shaking trying in vain to clear the noise from her head. Angel could barely think, the noise was unbearable. It was like being in an enormous, raging beehive. The voices swarmed, providing an odd illusion because only a handful of Ta- Ley were in the room. None of them were making violent motions toward Claire or her vampire henchmen. Rather they were glaring at her, appearing to be waiting for something. All six of them formed a cresent about 20 feet from their target. Angel guessed the one in the middle, being supported slightly byt two of the Ta-Ley must be Tnar. He appeared to be struggling to maintain the contact. If he were human, Angel would guess his age to be about 16. Providing the focal point must be incredibly draining. Angel knew that rather than physical harm, a non aggressive species, they were doing what they did best. Inflicting emotional trauma. But to what end? Only beheading, fire, or a stake through the heart would actually kill Claire. Wouldn't it? He had a terrible feeling in his gut that he was wrong. The noise drove him to his knees as well, he felt his visage changing, his fangs elongating.
In agony, he crawled over to Claire who appeared to be aware of nothing but the pain. Looking around, he saw the other vampires were in a catatonic state. Only Claire was suffering the severe penalty for her crime. Angel knelt beside her and took her in his arms. Enfi looked at him sharply. "Do not!" she shouted hoarsly. "Or risk her sentence."