Chapter 19-Apt Pupil

-Angel-

I remain crouched on the floor, listening until the sound Dawn's footsteps have completely disappeared from my keen hearing. I get up slowly and squeeze my eyes tightly shut. It's a nightmare. When I wake up Buffy will be sitting up in bed looking at me like I've grown a second head. Any moment I will hear her ask "Angel, what's your damage?" I keep my eyes shut, any moment now. I open my eyes slowly. The blonde woman is still in my bed. The air is heavy with the scent of human blood. I put my hand over my chest as if I could physically feel my soul inside. It's still there, I know it is, yet somehow there is a dead woman in my bed, other then the obvious dead woman who should be in my bed.
It's inevitable. I've got to get closer to find out what's going on. I turn the woman onto her back. There are several bites on her throat and one on each wrist. Whoever did this had fun, a lot of fun. I can feel the demon in me rejoicing at the sight and smell of so much carnage. Oh, God, what if Angelus has finally found a crack in my armor after all these decades. I pace the room. I've gotta find Buffy. If Angelus can get loose, she's in danger. I've also go to get out of the room, the smell of human blood fills the air and makes Angelus howl even louder, struggling to get out.
My first call is to Giles.

"Is Buffy there?"

"Well, no. Dawn just showed up. Angel, what's going on?" Giles asks.

"I don't know. I need to find Buffy. Something has happened. Call Willow; have her do uninvited spells on her house, yours and Xander's. Close the Magic Box and get home now. If Buffy comes by call me, but don't invite her in. Don't invite me in for that matter and keep Dawn with you. I'll let you know more when I do." I hang up the phone and rush out the door. I've got to find Buffy.

*

The sky has lightened and I rush into the courtyard of the mansion with my jacket pulled up over my head. I knew I was pushing it but I had hoped to find her, or some sign of her at the last minute. I found nothing. I couldn't pick up her scent or feel her. I pick up the phone to call Giles, knowing he's either already awake for the day, or more likely he didn't sleep the night before.

"Hello," He answers the phone. His voice sounds weary, but not in the least sleep fogged.

"It's Angel. Have you heard anything from her?"

"No, not a word. Xander, Willow, Tara and Anya are here also." Giles said. I could almost hear him take his glasses off and clean them.

"I couldn't pick up a scent or feel her, there was nothing. It's like she's disappeared." I choke on the word disappeared. I try to shut out thoughts of her being dust, another reason for no scent or feel. She's a slayer. She's stronger then other vampire out there. There's no way she got dusted. I try to reassure myself. "Dawn is okay?" I ask.

"Other then being upset about her sister, she's holding up well. She'd like to speak to you."

There is a pause on the line and then I hear Dawn's shuddering breath that lets me know she's been crying. "Dawnie, I'll find her. I promise." It's a promise I hope I can keep, I'll die trying.

Its morning but I know there will be no sleeping until I find Buffy. I use the mansion's sewer access and spend the better part of the day in Sunnydale's extensive sewer system. I even pound on Willy. He's got nothing for me. It's dark when I get back to the mansion. I stop a few feet from the door. It smells like Buffy. I can't feel her but I can smell her. I quicken my pace and burst through the front doors. The entire place smells like her again. It also still smells like human blood. I fall to my knees in front of the new coffee table Buffy bought only a few weeks ago. On top of it is a human heart with a note.

Love you with all my heart and soul, oops, well heart at least.

Buff

Nightmares are coming true and not just mine. Buffy may have been human when she learned it, but she learned about evil from the best of them. She learned from Angelus and her gifts to me smack of his teaching.

I pick up the phone and make the call I've been dreading. At least I know I'm not a danger to them now. I also know I am not going to be welcome over there. This is my fault. I should have taken control. I should have had more willpower. I had no right to put Buffy and the others in such danger. I was so foolish.
I have one more call to make before I go back out into the night to search for Buffy. I have to think like Angelus now. I dial the number for the Hyperion. Cordy answers in her usually cheerful tone.

"Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless."

"Cordy, it's Angel. Gather everyone up, go in Wes' office and turn on the speakerphone. I have a lot of things to tell you and not much time." For once in her entire life Cordy doesn't argue with me.

I pace the entire time I'm telling the story. I can only assume they are in shock as the only I hear is an occasional gasp from Cordy or and Oh dear from Wesley.

"So Buffy, the slayer, stronger then a normal vamp anyway, is running around without a soul?" Cordelia says.

"Don't underestimate her. She's stronger then any vamp I've ever come across. She would take the group of you down without even breaking a sweat. I want Angel investigations moved to either Cordelia's apartment or Wesley's. Take Fred and Gunn with you. I'll let you all know as soon as I find out anything."

"Angel, if you like we could come to Sunnydale, perhaps we could be of assistance. There is really nothing pressing here, certainly nothing like a Slayer turned vampire gone evil." Wes says.

I sigh and push my hands through my hair. The help would be invaluable. I don't know if they are any safer there then they are here. If Buffy wants to hurt me it's just as easy for her to get to my friends in LA as it is to get to them here. "That's up to you guys. I can't guarantee your safety from either place."

"So, Angel, how bad is this chick? I mean we've faced some pretty bad vamps." Gunn says.

I only need to say one thing. Gunn won't get it but Wes and Cordy will. I'm sure they can adequately explain the nuances of it. "She learned from Angelus. Let's just say she was a very apt pupil."