Presence
Disclaimer- nope. Still don't own anything. Sorry to disappoint.
AN- The spacing on here may be a bit messed up. My computer is being mean (insert scowl). Between school and whatnot, I will try to get at least one chapter up a week, unless I hit writer's block. As before, r&r, let me know if anyone is reading, or if I am wasting my time... even then, I may continue. Let the muses have their way with me. And BTW, last time, the telepathy didn't show up right... visions, if any more occur, will be in **...** Telepathy will be , and thoughts will be '...' Darn computer.
Chapter Two
A few days later, there had been no sign of the girl. Angel and Doyle had been to the streets, searching for information on the mysterious girl, to no avail. They were not going to give up, though. The girl obviously needed help controlling her abilites. So, three days later, Angel and Doyle agreed to meet in the morning, and go looking for her again. Cordelia had heard what had happened, and wanted "Nothing to do with some girl that can throw stuff at me without even meaning to, when I try to help her. I DO have SOME reservations about helping the helpless, and she clearly isn't", as she had so elegantly put it.
(AN- Now it switches to first person POV, which is the girl's, and we finally learn her name. Sorry, I forgot to put it in the last bit)
I walked nervously to the door marked ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS, and slowly opened it. After reading the one guy's mind, I wouldn't be surprised if they threw me out. I entered, and raised my eyes nervously from the worn, carpeted floor.
There was a guy behind the desk, and he glanced up as I entered. Okay, I wasn't as quiet as I thought I was, obviously. "Um... hi?" I said, as if asking a question. I hadn't talked to many people since my brother had died. "I, um, met you the other day, in the street..." I trailed off. The guy rose, and came toward me. I stepped back, and he slowed down, backing off. He had a very pale complexion, and dark hair and eyes. He took another step, and I forced myself to stand my ground.
I was nervous- I hadn't been this close to a person in a while. Except the people who wanted to hurt me, of course. I was so nervous, everything in the office began to vibrate. Some things fell off the guy's desk, and I stammered, "I am SO sorry. I-I.." Then, I heard, 'Doyle was right, she IS a psychic. And a pretty strong one too.' Terrified, I pushed the thoughts from my mind, and ignored them. I was no psychic. I was just... cursed.
So, the guy came over, and said, "Hey, it's okay. I'm Angel, and I'd like to help you."
"You mean, you can make it go away?" I asked eagerly, emotion seeping into my voice after oh-so-long. I knew my face wasn't showing what I was feeling, but if my voice could still carry emotion, maybe all wasn't lost after all.
"No, that's not what I meant. I can help you get control of your powers, though." I backed away, asking, "What powers?" He ignored me, continuing as if I hadn't spoken.
"You have to learn to control your abiliy. Otherwise, you will end up destroying things, and eventually yourself." "I- huh?" Pause. "Do you have a place to stay?"
"No," I replied. "Why are you being so nice? Aren't you afraid I'll read your mind?" He answered, looking me straight in the eyes, "No, I am not. I... I'm a vampire. I have soul, though, and am destined to walk the earth for all eternity..." Amazed, I said, "And you say all this casually?"
I woke up with a start, in the building I had entered last night. I had had this dream for the past two nights, after those two morons had tried to heroically save me. How could two normal humans help me? Anyone else who had even come close to me had been hurt.
'Was the one guy truly a vampire with a soul?' I thought now. I was new to the whole supernatural scene, but from what I knew, this was really rare, if not impossible. I knew what the dream was trying to tell me- I had to go to them.
I got up with a sigh, and rubbed sleep from my eyes. I picked up my bag, and went to make myself presentable. After I did, I went out the door, and took one step before I tensed,
A guy jumped out of the shadows. I pulled away, as he grabbed my wrists. I tried to pull away, but he was stronger than I. I could smell the liquor on his breath as he whispered, "Come on. Play nicely now." He leered at me, and I kept my face blank, as was habit, almost instinct, by now. He stopped leering, and asked drunkenly, "No fear? What are you, retarded?" As he leaned in to kiss me, I struggled, as I felt a pull at my mind.
Suddenly, the stranger was struck by a huge stuffed armchair, knocking him off, as he tried to approach me further with his mouth. As he was hit away, the pulling sensation at my mind was relieved, and I relaxed. Before he could rise, I ran away, bag bumping agaimst my side.
A little while later, I walked to the door marked, as in my dream, ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS. I opened the door, and was hit by a sense of dejá vu. I closed the door softly, and looked up to see the guy from my dream behind the desk. No one else was in, apparently, probably because it was only 7:00 in the morning.
As in my dream, once more, when I came in, the guy (Angel?) came around the desk to me. I forced myself not to back away. He asked me gently, "Hey, how are you?" I pointed at myself, and mouthed, me? He nodded, and continued, "I'm Angel. And you are?"
"Um... I'm Caitlin." I thought to myself. Angel looked at me, and asked, "Why don't you need your last name anymore? And why are you nervous?
NOW, I backed away slowly. I headed toward the door, wondering how he had heard what I was thinking. I reached the door, just as it swung open once more, admitting the guy whose mind I had read in the alley the other day. I ran into him, not seeing him at all. We fell to the floor, and I rolled off from on top of him, and prepared to run. Just like in the dream, everything in the office began to vibrate, as if sensing my discomfort. I stood, turned, and stepped forward to flee, only to be grabbed by the second guy. My shoulders held fast, I was stopped in my attempt to escape.
"Hey, where are ya going? We only want to help you." I tensed, apparently visibly, because the guy's hands let go of my shoulders, just after everything in the office began to vibrate more violently. I backed away firther still, as Angel said, "Hey, it's okay. This is Doyle, you met him before."
I shot a glance at the office, and said "STOP." I didn't really expect it to work, but the rattling was threatening to drive me insane. It did work, however. Abruptly, the rattling and vibrating stopped. Angel looked at me approvingly (Oh, how I had never recieved an approving look before. I almost longed for that... STOP IT! I don't care anymore.), and stated, "You've already learned to control your power..."
"No, I haven't. That was just me, getting lucky." I said flatly. "I was wondering if you could help me. I've been having dreams telling me you could..." I faded off.
Angel looked at curiosly, and asked, "You've been having dreams? Like, precognitive dreams?" I nodded. Out of things to say to break the ensuing silence, I asked suddenly, "Are you really a vampire with a soul?" More silence met my query. 'I have GOT to work on my people skills,' I thought to myself wryly.
Finally, Angel replied, "Yes, I am. If we are going to work together, you need to know the truth, and trust me." I nodded again, silently. "I don't feed on people anymore. I'm trying to atone for my past, so you can trust me. If you want to. Now, what can you do, exactly?"
I started to back away, before I stilled myself. I was still nervous, because I hadn't been around people for a few months, and he was rushing right in to help me. I had almost never had someone be that nice to me. Angel seemd to notice my reaction, and asked, "Why are you so nervous?" Doyle spoke for the first time in a while, and added, "We won't hurt ya... er, what was you're name?"
Deciding to keep it short, I replied, "I haven't been around people much for the past while, and I don't trust them... you... much anymore. I am just wondering why you are being so nice, rushing right in to help me, a stranger." Warning bells were ringing insistently in my head, telling me to shut up, I was talking too much. Too much, I was going to get hurt. "And, it's Caitlin." I finished, now heeding the bells. Too many words always led to pain. The bells, imaginary thought they were, began screaming, as I felt extremely nervous from my speech. At least, it seemed a speech to me. My face blank, I hid my emotions, as once again, the office began to vibrate. Apparently, I wasn't as good at hiding my emotions as I had thought. A book hurtled through the air, flying straight for Doyle's head. As he ducked, I snatched it out of mid-air.
Angel ducked his own stray book, and said, "Caitlin, your powers are connected to your emotions. Can you calm down, or at least-" Angel stopped in mid-sentence, as everything had frozen. Literally. The books hung in mid-air, along with papers and everything else. It was rather eerie, seeing everything flying around one second, and frozen the next.
"Well, that was fast," Doyle commented at last. He looked at me, and asked, "How did you get control of your emotions so fast?" I stammered, "I- I can't explain. I... I just know how to hide my emotions." I stared at the floor. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I can do this stuff, or how. I'll leave if you want me to..." I walked to the door. As I laid a hand on the doorknob, just as I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned, and Doyle put a finger under my chin, forcing me to look at him.
Over his shoulder, Angel said, "You can stay. You NEED to stay; you have to learn to control your abilities. Otherwise, you will bring destruction to your path, eventually destroying yourself." I met Doyle's eyes, seeing the good intents there, my distrust fading slightly, and I didn't flinch as I met his eyes. The only time someone had bothered to look me in the eyes before was to hurt me, so this was a big achievement. I realized, masking my shock, that his eyes were that same dark green as my own.
"I already am destroyed; inside I mean."
AN2- This was actually going to be about another page longer... but my head hurts from staring at the screen. It's about 10:00, and I am exhausted... long day. PLEASE review, and I don't care if I get flames or not. Cordelia may not end up appearing in here very much, I can't get her character down just right. Anything I tried in this chapter came out sounding... forced. Not with the goodness. So, yeah. Review, please. New chapter soon. ~Cayt~
Disclaimer- nope. Still don't own anything. Sorry to disappoint.
AN- The spacing on here may be a bit messed up. My computer is being mean (insert scowl). Between school and whatnot, I will try to get at least one chapter up a week, unless I hit writer's block. As before, r&r, let me know if anyone is reading, or if I am wasting my time... even then, I may continue. Let the muses have their way with me. And BTW, last time, the telepathy didn't show up right... visions, if any more occur, will be in **...** Telepathy will be , and thoughts will be '...' Darn computer.
Chapter Two
A few days later, there had been no sign of the girl. Angel and Doyle had been to the streets, searching for information on the mysterious girl, to no avail. They were not going to give up, though. The girl obviously needed help controlling her abilites. So, three days later, Angel and Doyle agreed to meet in the morning, and go looking for her again. Cordelia had heard what had happened, and wanted "Nothing to do with some girl that can throw stuff at me without even meaning to, when I try to help her. I DO have SOME reservations about helping the helpless, and she clearly isn't", as she had so elegantly put it.
(AN- Now it switches to first person POV, which is the girl's, and we finally learn her name. Sorry, I forgot to put it in the last bit)
I walked nervously to the door marked ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS, and slowly opened it. After reading the one guy's mind, I wouldn't be surprised if they threw me out. I entered, and raised my eyes nervously from the worn, carpeted floor.
There was a guy behind the desk, and he glanced up as I entered. Okay, I wasn't as quiet as I thought I was, obviously. "Um... hi?" I said, as if asking a question. I hadn't talked to many people since my brother had died. "I, um, met you the other day, in the street..." I trailed off. The guy rose, and came toward me. I stepped back, and he slowed down, backing off. He had a very pale complexion, and dark hair and eyes. He took another step, and I forced myself to stand my ground.
I was nervous- I hadn't been this close to a person in a while. Except the people who wanted to hurt me, of course. I was so nervous, everything in the office began to vibrate. Some things fell off the guy's desk, and I stammered, "I am SO sorry. I-I.." Then, I heard, 'Doyle was right, she IS a psychic. And a pretty strong one too.' Terrified, I pushed the thoughts from my mind, and ignored them. I was no psychic. I was just... cursed.
So, the guy came over, and said, "Hey, it's okay. I'm Angel, and I'd like to help you."
"You mean, you can make it go away?" I asked eagerly, emotion seeping into my voice after oh-so-long. I knew my face wasn't showing what I was feeling, but if my voice could still carry emotion, maybe all wasn't lost after all.
"No, that's not what I meant. I can help you get control of your powers, though." I backed away, asking, "What powers?" He ignored me, continuing as if I hadn't spoken.
"You have to learn to control your abiliy. Otherwise, you will end up destroying things, and eventually yourself." "I- huh?" Pause. "Do you have a place to stay?"
"No," I replied. "Why are you being so nice? Aren't you afraid I'll read your mind?" He answered, looking me straight in the eyes, "No, I am not. I... I'm a vampire. I have soul, though, and am destined to walk the earth for all eternity..." Amazed, I said, "And you say all this casually?"
I woke up with a start, in the building I had entered last night. I had had this dream for the past two nights, after those two morons had tried to heroically save me. How could two normal humans help me? Anyone else who had even come close to me had been hurt.
'Was the one guy truly a vampire with a soul?' I thought now. I was new to the whole supernatural scene, but from what I knew, this was really rare, if not impossible. I knew what the dream was trying to tell me- I had to go to them.
I got up with a sigh, and rubbed sleep from my eyes. I picked up my bag, and went to make myself presentable. After I did, I went out the door, and took one step before I tensed,
A guy jumped out of the shadows. I pulled away, as he grabbed my wrists. I tried to pull away, but he was stronger than I. I could smell the liquor on his breath as he whispered, "Come on. Play nicely now." He leered at me, and I kept my face blank, as was habit, almost instinct, by now. He stopped leering, and asked drunkenly, "No fear? What are you, retarded?" As he leaned in to kiss me, I struggled, as I felt a pull at my mind.
Suddenly, the stranger was struck by a huge stuffed armchair, knocking him off, as he tried to approach me further with his mouth. As he was hit away, the pulling sensation at my mind was relieved, and I relaxed. Before he could rise, I ran away, bag bumping agaimst my side.
A little while later, I walked to the door marked, as in my dream, ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS. I opened the door, and was hit by a sense of dejá vu. I closed the door softly, and looked up to see the guy from my dream behind the desk. No one else was in, apparently, probably because it was only 7:00 in the morning.
As in my dream, once more, when I came in, the guy (Angel?) came around the desk to me. I forced myself not to back away. He asked me gently, "Hey, how are you?" I pointed at myself, and mouthed, me? He nodded, and continued, "I'm Angel. And you are?"
"Um... I'm Caitlin." I thought to myself. Angel looked at me, and asked, "Why don't you need your last name anymore? And why are you nervous?
NOW, I backed away slowly. I headed toward the door, wondering how he had heard what I was thinking. I reached the door, just as it swung open once more, admitting the guy whose mind I had read in the alley the other day. I ran into him, not seeing him at all. We fell to the floor, and I rolled off from on top of him, and prepared to run. Just like in the dream, everything in the office began to vibrate, as if sensing my discomfort. I stood, turned, and stepped forward to flee, only to be grabbed by the second guy. My shoulders held fast, I was stopped in my attempt to escape.
"Hey, where are ya going? We only want to help you." I tensed, apparently visibly, because the guy's hands let go of my shoulders, just after everything in the office began to vibrate more violently. I backed away firther still, as Angel said, "Hey, it's okay. This is Doyle, you met him before."
I shot a glance at the office, and said "STOP." I didn't really expect it to work, but the rattling was threatening to drive me insane. It did work, however. Abruptly, the rattling and vibrating stopped. Angel looked at me approvingly (Oh, how I had never recieved an approving look before. I almost longed for that... STOP IT! I don't care anymore.), and stated, "You've already learned to control your power..."
"No, I haven't. That was just me, getting lucky." I said flatly. "I was wondering if you could help me. I've been having dreams telling me you could..." I faded off.
Angel looked at curiosly, and asked, "You've been having dreams? Like, precognitive dreams?" I nodded. Out of things to say to break the ensuing silence, I asked suddenly, "Are you really a vampire with a soul?" More silence met my query. 'I have GOT to work on my people skills,' I thought to myself wryly.
Finally, Angel replied, "Yes, I am. If we are going to work together, you need to know the truth, and trust me." I nodded again, silently. "I don't feed on people anymore. I'm trying to atone for my past, so you can trust me. If you want to. Now, what can you do, exactly?"
I started to back away, before I stilled myself. I was still nervous, because I hadn't been around people for a few months, and he was rushing right in to help me. I had almost never had someone be that nice to me. Angel seemd to notice my reaction, and asked, "Why are you so nervous?" Doyle spoke for the first time in a while, and added, "We won't hurt ya... er, what was you're name?"
Deciding to keep it short, I replied, "I haven't been around people much for the past while, and I don't trust them... you... much anymore. I am just wondering why you are being so nice, rushing right in to help me, a stranger." Warning bells were ringing insistently in my head, telling me to shut up, I was talking too much. Too much, I was going to get hurt. "And, it's Caitlin." I finished, now heeding the bells. Too many words always led to pain. The bells, imaginary thought they were, began screaming, as I felt extremely nervous from my speech. At least, it seemed a speech to me. My face blank, I hid my emotions, as once again, the office began to vibrate. Apparently, I wasn't as good at hiding my emotions as I had thought. A book hurtled through the air, flying straight for Doyle's head. As he ducked, I snatched it out of mid-air.
Angel ducked his own stray book, and said, "Caitlin, your powers are connected to your emotions. Can you calm down, or at least-" Angel stopped in mid-sentence, as everything had frozen. Literally. The books hung in mid-air, along with papers and everything else. It was rather eerie, seeing everything flying around one second, and frozen the next.
"Well, that was fast," Doyle commented at last. He looked at me, and asked, "How did you get control of your emotions so fast?" I stammered, "I- I can't explain. I... I just know how to hide my emotions." I stared at the floor. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I can do this stuff, or how. I'll leave if you want me to..." I walked to the door. As I laid a hand on the doorknob, just as I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned, and Doyle put a finger under my chin, forcing me to look at him.
Over his shoulder, Angel said, "You can stay. You NEED to stay; you have to learn to control your abilities. Otherwise, you will bring destruction to your path, eventually destroying yourself." I met Doyle's eyes, seeing the good intents there, my distrust fading slightly, and I didn't flinch as I met his eyes. The only time someone had bothered to look me in the eyes before was to hurt me, so this was a big achievement. I realized, masking my shock, that his eyes were that same dark green as my own.
"I already am destroyed; inside I mean."
AN2- This was actually going to be about another page longer... but my head hurts from staring at the screen. It's about 10:00, and I am exhausted... long day. PLEASE review, and I don't care if I get flames or not. Cordelia may not end up appearing in here very much, I can't get her character down just right. Anything I tried in this chapter came out sounding... forced. Not with the goodness. So, yeah. Review, please. New chapter soon. ~Cayt~